It's close to midday and the door coming from the main area of the Bookstore opens without much hesitation or care and from the outside comes Ben on one of his usual suits."Kip. Are you there?" He asks as he comes further in followed by the goblinoid creature on his heels and the bird perched on one of his shoulder."It's me, Ben."
Kip is, indeed, there in the back room. But he's not seated at the small table. Probably because the entire table and the chairs are all stacked with books. Stacks that match the ones that surround him as he sits on the floor in the middle of the open space. There are several emptied boxes stacked in a messy pile as well and he's very carefully placing books into a box that's directly next to him. Someone decided to clean, and that includes going through the boxes of inventory stashed in the back storage space. He's not wearing a suit or anything, but is in his usual black skinny jeans, black beat up Converse sneakers and a charcoal colored t-shirt. His hair's in a ponytail. He's frowning a bit, distracted. "Bets, did you see--" He pauses as he looks up and realizes it's not Betsy who is manning the front of the store, but is instead, "Ben. Hey. I was just... inventory. Trying to see what I can get rid of. Maybe send some back, see if I can get credit for some new stuff that might sell better."
Ben arches a brow slightly in mild curiosity. His wicked eyes stare at the other man carefully as if they were looking for something there, in the man. Or the lack of something."Good idea." He murmurs as he takes one of the books closer to him to check on it."Are you feeling good?" He asks a moment later without taking his eyes from the book.
"You mean aside from holes in my memory that include re-learning just how screwed I'm gonna be if business doesn't turn around, random panic attacks and not being able to sleep? Yeah, I'm peachy," Kip mutters as he shoves, carefully of course, the rest of the books into the box. "But yes, I'm apparently perfectly healed from the fugue stuff and unless I find myself infected again, I'll be fine. I'm pretty lucky, actually. Looked into the fuguespores more, turns out I could have died, and maybe came closer than I'd like to realize judging by how far gone I was when I got that Hera Pear. I'm pretty lucky to have good friends."
Ben listen all that and nods sagely."Yes. You have." He murmurs as he lands the book back to is proper place to focus on the other Lost. His hands going into his pocket as he hesitates for a moment."Do you remember you owe me a favor. I'd like to talk about that. If you have the time." He says looking still cautionous.
Kip's hand stills over the book he was about to settle into the box, trying to pack up with more speed than before so he can get up from his spot. But he stops and slowly looks up again for a moment before putting the book back in place like there's been no momentary distraction. "I do," he drawls out quietly, leaving the tail end of the sound open like he might be adding onto it, but instead goes with a silent expression of 'Continue.'
"I talked to Ashe and I joined the Custodians. She told me I need a mentor." That last part is said with a bit of a disdain, but the Witchtooth continues after a moment."I talked to some people and I dicovered that you're a mentor. I want you to take me as your apprentice. I'm already have my hands on some researching, though. Not sure if that is permitted without a mentor."
There's a moment where Kip just sort of stares as if he's not quite sure he's hearing the words that he thinks he is hearing. Or perhaps he's musing over the meaning of the words. "Uh-- me?" he asks, almost a squeak. "I mean, uh yeah, I uh, I'm technically a mentor, yeah. I'm a Librarian, so I help everyone with Library stuff. Part of that is uhm, it's considered mentoring, yeah. I just..." He pauses a moment and then blurts out, all at once, "I'm not very good in the field. Yet. Still getting there which is why Ashe has me going out with Sato, so you might want to talk to Logan who is who took me out to get my bearings on the going out to find things, but the rest of it... uh, I could. I'm good at the rest of it."
"I heard Logan is mentoring that asian boy. Haruki, I guess. Besides, I feel more confortable being around you." Ben says calmly as if how Kip feels when around him wasn't important at all."But don't worry. I'm not an ignorant. I have academic knowledge and I know enough things about the occult to avoid being around you making silly questions. See this as mere formality if you want."
Kip moves to push his hair back from his face, but it's mostly still held back in the ponytail. "Uhm, well there's... there's a lot to it," he mentions. "I mean there are procedures and things to learn so you can follow the right way to do things, all that. But I'd uh, I'd be honored to. Mentor you. I just didn't expect anyone to /want/ me to. I know I don't uhm, I don't give off the most uh... confident vibe sometimes."
Ben grins to that confession."You don't need to worry on that. I don't judge people by their vibes. You'd be impressed how that can lead to misjudments most of the time. Look at me." He says and gives Kip another smile. It's still menacing as it used to be, but it's now less menacing.
Kip doesn't seem to mind that smile even when it is menacing. It's Ben so menacing goes without saying, usually. "Uhm, it's really not /hard/ to be a Custodian, it just takes... work. Everyone seems to think it's go out, find information, bring it back. But there's cataloging it, recording it, making sure that those who need it get it, all that. Plus the Library stuff... I mean Aaron and I take care of most of it, but it's important that everyone actually does their part keeping it all organized and cleaned and stuff, too. And most new recruits get sent to collect overdue materials. Ashe will probably want you to do some of that, too."
Ben nods to that bit of information."I see." He murmurs."I don't mind going around collection books and spreading information. But motst people will not welcome me very well." To that, he grins."I but can try for sure. And about the Library, I took a look at it, I did some researching and wrote a few things. Looks like we need to put a lot of effort in rebuilding that section of the Hollow. You can could on me on that. If you need something from the Market, or from the Hedge, let me know. I can do it. I'm a Magus."
Kip gives a slight grin as he finishes getting the books into the box, clearing enough space for him to be able to finally stand up. He brushes his hands across his thighs absently as if brushing away dirt. "Yeah, I've finally got the part we're currently using in good enough order. And hopefully it'll stay that way if they stop using it as a holding spot for dead things," he grumbles, though it's goodnaturedly. "Actually, I've been learning more about the Hedge. Been going with Aspirant Sato. I got the fun task of following her around as she goes on her little epic quests to write them up for posterity and to further her glory or whatever she's trying to do. It's... not as bad as I thought. Though seems like every time I'm in there, I come away with fun new scars or life threatening insanity-causing diseases." He tugs the neckline of his shirt back to show the start of a healing up gash that starts at the back of his shoulder and disappears further into his shirt across his back.
Ben looks the healing scar and nods."Sounds like you have your own Custodian project, then." He comments and pauses for a moment. To organize his thoughs, apparently."So. Should we meet on a week basis or something like that? To discuss our investigations and academic knowledge?"
"Apparently I'm supposed to be a good storyteller, able to best spin tales about her glorious victories or something," Kip mentions with a shrug. He bends down and picks up the filled box of books to move slightly out of the way. It's probably very heavy. He picks it up like it weighs nothing, though. And since he's wearing a t-shirt instead of one of his baggy sweaters, it actually serves to accent his arms. Wait, Kip's got /muscles/? Were those always there and just hidden by his bad fashion choices and nerdishness? "So I got tasked with writing it all up for her. Copies'll be in the Library if you are ever interested in the tales. Anyway, weekly if not necessary for sooner works for me. I actually could use some help, I can give you some of the stuff we'll need if you wanna get started on that. I /think/ Aaron mentioned wanting something from a Market at some point but nobody's had a chance to go for it yet."
Kip muscles don't go unnoticed and make Ben arches a brow heavily, making him look really surprise."Sure. Give me something to do." He says after a moment of deviation."Are we going to meet here at your bookstore or we should meet at the Libray?"
"Depends on what's going on. If you want to keep that part of your life separate from everything else, Library is a good place. Otherwise if you're like me where it's really all sort of mixed up together, the mortal life we pretend is all there is blending with the reality of it all, either place works," Kip says with a bit of a shrug. There's almost something different about him, and it's not just the clothing shift that gives him a faintly different appearance. There's still that shy quality to him, but it's not entirely as timid as it has been before. He doesn't seem ready to run from his own shadow at least, and he's not entirely defering to others to make decisions even though he offers up options. The old Kip would stammer more and mumble something about it not mattering to him, making him more passive than he is currently. It's like there's at least the first stick of a backbone starting to sprout in the base of his spine somewhere.
Ben nods to Kip's words. For some reason, they, the words, make him smile."I can come to your bookstore for Custodian matters. I don't really care. And it's closer and safer than heading into the Hedge just to have a meeting. Do you allow me to come to your place as I wish?"
Kip nods. "Yes, of course. Just with the usual precautions that we don't talk in the open where customers or Bets can overhear." It's hard, having one employee In The Know and one he keeps protected from that knowledge.
Once more, Ben nods to Kip's words and that smile from before goes wider."It's a deal, then." He says offering his black hand to Kip to shake.
Kip reaches out to take the hand, shaking it with a firm grip. "Welcome to the Custodians, by the way, Recruit." His lips twitch slightly at the edges as he says that word, like he's maybe perhaps enjoying being able to call him that. Hey, it's not often one gets to lord rank and title over Ben, or any other Utridge for that matter. So yeah, he's going to enjoy it a tiny bit while he can.
Ben laughs this time when he sees the amusement coming from the other man."Are you liking it, Kip? Being the mentor of someone like me." He asks as he releases the other man's hand. He too likes satisfied, though, and, surprisinly, in a very good and relaxed mood. There is no intimidation mask on his face today. It's more human-ish. Or, at least, as far as a man like him can get to being human.
One shoulder lifts in a tiny bit of a shrug as Kip grins. "I haven't decided yet. So far... not hating it," he jokes. "Actually, I'm just glad that anyone thinks I have experience or knowledge worth sharing. Which I'd do even if I'm not a mentor." His hands slide into the pockets of his jeans and for a brief moment his shoulders slump forward in his usual shy posture, but he straightens back up again after a second.
Ben grins and nods."Get used to it. You have a very imporant position within the Freehold." He says landing his black hand on the other man's shoulder and squeezing it gently in a supportive way."And if someone do something bad for you, they'll have to deal with someone like me."
Kip gives a little laugh at that. "I'll keep that in mind next time Mina throws a mug at my head for saying something stupid," he jokes.
Ben joins that laugh, but shakes his head."Sorry. But dealing with Mina is far from what I can do for you, Kip. We're not that close." He jokes and takes his hand off of him and putting it back into his pocket."But, well. If you need something from me, you can count on me. You're one of the very few that treat me like a normal person." That last bit is said with his eyes staring straight at Kip's as his voice is, very slightly, gentle and warm. Maybe even a tidbit friendly.
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