@everbound &&. said... "my apologies. i did not mean to bump into you, friend." xingqiu apologizes out of pure respect, quickly kneeling down to pick up his fallen books. "i just needed to return these to the library."
there's  a  part  of  him  that  would  have  responded  with a cavalcade of  abject  CRUELTY.  hissed  vitriol,  questioned  if  this  human  carried  a  not  so  secret  wish  for  death,  even  fixed  him  with  a  heated  glare.  (  the  likes  of  which  had  once  compelled  grown  men  to  beg  for  their  lives.  )  it's  almost  comedic  how  subdued  the  wanderer's  reaction  is  by  comparison.  ren  merely  blinks  â  as  though  the  accidental  shove  has  done  little  more  than  pull  him  out  of  his  thoughts.  it  takes  a  moment  for  him  to  UNDERSTAND  what's  happening.  the  stranger.  the  sorrowful  words  spilling  from  his  lips.  the  mess  of  books  sprawled  haphazardly  across  the  ground.
the  wanderer  gives  a  faint  hum  under  his  breath.  he's  sorely  tempted  to  turn  around  and  continue  walking  â  it's  not  like  it's  any  BUSINESS  of  his  what  this  person  gets  up  to.  however,  one  of  the  books  has  slid  to  a  stop  at  his  feet.  curiosity  compels  him  to  crouch  down,  snatching  it  up  in  careful  hands.  ren's  brow  furrows  a  bit  as  he  looks  over  the  cover. ( martial arts ... ? ) he can't help but be nosy, even if it risks being pulled FURTHER into a conversation. it's his fatal flaw.
â  you're  one  of  those  types  who  devours  knowledge  like  air  to  breathe,  aren't  you?  â  the  wanderer  quips  dryly.  â  don't  tell  me  you're  on  your  way  to  get  more?  â  ren  supposes  he  doesn't  have  much  room  to  talk;  he's  something  of  an  avid  READER  himself.  being  the  sort  of  creature  who  doesn't  require  sleep  leaves  him  with  a  wealth  of  free  time  and  little  else  to  do  without  sunlight.  at  least  sitting  by  the  anemic  glow  of  a  campfire  affords  the  opportunity  to  thumb  through  a  novel  or  two.  â  ...  here.  â  sharp  words  aside,  he  still  holds  out  the  book  for  the  other  to  take.