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Pope Sixtus

It had just turned noon and the library was as quiet as always. Nothing exceptionally interesting, out of the ordinary, or strange was going on.

Or, well, if you didn't count an eccentric looking brunette--that you may or may not find the slightest bit attractive but also maybe wished would drop dead or go missing--leaning over the library counter just staring at you from beyond your computer screen without saying anything, strange and out of the ordinary.

Girolamo really wanted to just stab him.

"Can I help you?" He fierce whispered, gripping the computer mouse with frustration. If there was one thing he hated it was people staring at him.

Look, asshole. I know I'm a failure, I don't need you to stand here and evaluate the reason of my existence.

"Me?" He asked quietly, pointing to himself as he turned to look behind him. If he could, Girolamo would have thrown the keyboard at him.

"Oh, no. Just--that lady there." He pointed to the empty space beside him, completely blank faced. The man glanced to the side but then turned back slowly to face him with a grin. Girolamo make a snort sound; it was something like a nasalised pfft, but kept his stoic eyes fixed on him. There was a elongated pause.

"What's your name?" He asked, his teal eyes smiling a mischievous grin that Girolamo couldn't read. He really didn't know why he was so interested in him all of a sudden. He wished he would be more interested in where the hell to put his books back.

"I might ask you the same." The man's gaze didn't faulter.

"Pope Sixtus." He proclaimed immediately, face entirely serious. Girolamo choked, clamping a hand over his mouth so as to not disturb the tranquility of the library. The man was grinning down at him with a toothy grin but Girolamo still kinda wanted to stab him.

"Ohhh, gosh." He mumbled, wiping a hand down his face before returning his gaze back to the man. He really needed that, if he was being honest.

"And you?" Then Girolamo chuckled.

"Holy Father," He started with a tiny, seated bow, "I am--"

"Count Girolamo Riario!" He turned and frowned at Vanessa as she popped her head from out of the small office that was situated behind the counter. The man chuckled under his breath.

"A count? Why, I had no idea." Girolamo tsked and rubbed the back of his head.

"Hardly. I'm more a stable boy than a count." He sighed with a smile, "But I do suppose I am the ruler of my own sort of kingdom." He gestured to the piles of books, pens, and scattered scanner cards on his desk.

"It certainly is a marvelous kingdom, Count Riario." A shiver ran down his spine.

"Uhh, well yes, Holy Father." Vanessa was failing miserably to hold in her laugh from behind them, and Girolamo could feel the heat rise in his cheeks. The man only smiled with a small breath of contentment before he drummed his fingers lightly against the counter and removed his arm from its smokey grey top.

"Well, I'm actually expected somewhere, so I best be off before I'm late. I'll see you then, Vanessa," then, just as he turned to walk away, he winked at Girolamo, "Count." And then he was gone with the little chime from the bell on the door. The silence flooded back into the library.

"You know him." And it wasn't a question. Vanessa stepped out of the office and purposefully leaned super close to him as she reached across his keyboard to grab a book.

"Who? Leo?"

"Leo?" Vanessa chuckled at his thoughtful expression, "So that's his name? So is it, what, short for Leonard?"