Blue had first come to Shrike to browse the bookstore for information on the long-extinct Evil Magic, but what he found instead was... interesting. Very interesting.

He read with a deep furrow between his brows. Riki, the blasted monster, popped up at knee-height. "Hey, Mister Blue," he chirped, ears flicking. "Whatcha reading?"

Blue quickly raised the book out of Riki's reach. "None of your business, you mangy, filthy rodent."

Riki's eyes grew huge and filled with tears. "...Riki's not a rodent... or mangy..."

Blue was still contemplating a particularly scathing response when the book was snatched out of his hands. He turned to glare at Lute, who was flipping through it with a bemused expression.

"A bodice-ripper, Blue?" Lute waved it in the air, its breasts-and-muscles cover flapping with every move. "Didn't think that was your thing."

"It isn't," Blue managed, flushed. "I wasn't-"

Nusaken took the book from Lute. "You read this garbage, Realm Mage?" he murmured, voice low. "It's bad for you. Don't make the doctor give orders."

"..." Silence agreed silently.

Blue glared at them, regally. "I hate you all," he informed them, and stalked out of the bookstore.