Alter Ego [Karlnap]

A Mind Discombobulated

2-2 The Playhouse

'The Moon Over the Mountain,' a novella by Atsushi Nakajima and the last book Sapnap had read. Some of the pages were splattered in light blue paint, and an even darker theory would be it was the blood of the butterflies that flew around the library. Though, the paint wasn't opaque enough or in large amounts to cover the words.

Though Sapnap was excited to read Karl's next book and learn more about the brunet, he was more here to discover himself, and the other books in the library very much helped him get into the right mindset for that. Nevertheless, it was time for another session with Karl, the book Sapnap had finished being discarded back onto the shelf it originally came from. Upon arrival at the front desk, Karl stood just as he had before, though he seemed to have changed back to his signature block hoodie and more casual attire. 

"I had a strange and sudden thought that my words, and deeds, and private thoughts, were following a script someone prepared for me," Karl conferred, his body language portraying that of absurdity.

"Do I even have a will of my own, I wonder? Perhaps I am someone else's mindless puppet. Perhaps I'm the only one who doesn't know it," the brunet continued.

"It's just a thought, I don't really believe it, you needn't take it seriously. It was inspired by something I read in a book, it stuck with me for some reason."

Sapnap listened, sitting down on the stool he has grown accustomed to, however uncomfortable it may be.

"Could I... ask you a question? Are my words truly my own?"

Sapnap thought, fidgeting with the rings on his fingers before providing his unique answer.

"If you want them to be," he simply stated, glancing up at Karl before returning his eyes back to his rings.

"And... if not? Is it the wanting that matters? You strip away all my security, you do. The more you come to know yourself the less I seem to know myself. I see that now," Karl explained, he too finding something to fidget with in the form of his hoodie strings.

It wasn't at all Sapnap's intention to send Karl on a path that wasn't the same as his, but perhaps it was for the better.

"You're like my shadow, as my shadow grows longer... I end up..." Karl trailed off, seeming to think more on his next words before acting in the form of speaking.

"No, that's not right, if anything I must be your..."

Karl shook his head, whether it was a sign of 'no' or a gesture to clear his mind, Sapnap wasn't sure.

"Come again later, yea? I'll be waiting," Karl waved his hand to send Sapnap off to his usual spot, once again leaving Sapnap wondering what was going on in his head.

Sapnap stood from where he sat, giving the bell on the desk most likely its first ever ring, it startled Karl at first, clearly he wasn't used to the sound, but he quickly broke out into a fit of giggles that sent Sapnap to cloud nine. To hear Karl giggle was the rarest sight, but to know that the boy could even make such a sound and feel enough joy to uncontrollably do so, was enough to make Sapnap want to do everything in his power to make it happen again. Sapnap walked around the desk, coming to a stop in front of Karl who was still coming down from his giggle high but giving the raven his full attention regardless.

Sapnap pulled the brunet into a hug, which immediately silenced Karl and made his breath hitch. This was a big move, Sapnap knew this, Karl wasn't used to being touched and Sapnap couldn't see his reaction with his face buried in the slightly taller boy's neck. Karl was thoroughly enjoying it, though, he was just surprised at the sudden gesture is all.

Sapnap was the first to pull away, Karl visibly pouting when he did but quickly trying to cover it up when he noticed what he was doing. Sapnap's hands lingered on the brunet's waist for a moment too long for 'just friends,' but Karl didn't seem to notice, that or he just didn't mind. Sapnap wished Karl goodbye, the other doing the same, as he walked off to his usual spot in the library to raid the shelves surrounding it for a good book to read.

Or perhaps he should finally start on Karl's latest book that he had given him.