"Grass is dumb." She insisted as her stack of books grew. And as her stack of books grew, so did her smile. She just couldn't help it! She could see words again.
Maya was never not gonna be impressed with that. "Gotta learn to enjoy the sunshine instead." Because... analogy? Oof. Her arms trembled under the weight of the books, but Maya was more than stubborn enough to hold on. Even if she would be sore. Even if her arms fell off.

One more round of reassurance that he wasn't going to get in trouble and then all that was left was for Maya to get to the door and give her demonstration. Her arms were visibly wobbling, the stack of books only held in place by her chip on top.

"I promised you a demonstration." Okay. So the books did wobble some when she talked. "Outside? So I don't make anyone lose their notes? I guess you'll have to stand at the door and wave." That was sad. Maya would never get to take Mr. Bookman on a wind ride. Unless there was some kind of hot air balloon something that could both hold him and be out of his range?

Rather than try to talk through that one, Maya let herself daydream as they made their way to the library doors. Yes. It would have to be some kind of balloon or large surface area something. Parachute? Hmm. Maya had avoided even Gemma for fear of what it'd do to her, but perhaps it was time to experiment around the limitations of an adapted. Maybe... maybe they could recruit one as a hero? Mr. Bookman was already a hero in Maya's mind. So it really fit well.

By the time they made it out to the bustle of the street, Maya's arms were shuddering against the strain. It wouldn't be much longer before she didn't feel them at all, now that she knew her power wasn't wholly busted, she wouldn't worry.

"Thank you again, Mr. Bookman. If there's anything I can ever do to return the favor, please let me know. You just sit back and enjoy the show, mmkay?"

A few paces out and the living, breathing pulse of New York hit her like a freight train. She had to stop. She nearly lost her book stack, but managed to reel it back in before anything truly tragic happened.

That extra sense was like seeing all around, all at once. She was used to it, though it was less while she was more. Maya took a moment to breathe in and out before she turned around.

"Alright!" She shouted back enthusiastically. "Get your binoculars ready and watch closely. I'll try to go slow for you to see properly."

Maybe... starting with the arms then.

Maya breathed out and the street around them picked up with a swirl of wind activity that sent her skirt billowing.

She breathed out far longer than any human should have been able to, and then very slowly began to breathe in. As she did, her body began to change. Starting at her chest and around her lungs her body became less visible and far more smokey. It spread the longer she inhaled-- up to her shoulders, down her arms, to her hands, up the stack up books like the mercury in a thermometer. Her head and face dissipated next and finally it spread down to her legs and feet and shoes.

A Ghost of Maya's form stood hollow and smokey where minutes before a woman had been. The bright splotches of color on her dress, the yellow shoes, and her brown hair had all faded to varying opaqueness of white. She moved her arms and the ghost of her stack of books moved as well. She split them, formed them into little fluffy clouds and tried to remember what juggling looked like.

"Don't worry. They're still books." It was hard to tell the features of her face, but her voice was emotive enough to carry a hint of laughter. She started to move forward, but without the clearest delineation in where was safe and where she might be ejected from her incorporeal form, Maya wised up and remained where she was.

"Thank you again, Mr. Bookman. You're my hero!" She waved and summoned a breeze that pulled the sharp image of her form apart until, eventually, there was nothing but a normal sunshiney day.

It was actually quite comical to watch the X-Man as she tried to balance the precarious tower of books in her arms. Each time he placed on upon the other, he could see that small quiver in her arms. It steadily grew into a tremor as she tried to hold up her volumes upon volumes of materials, determined to make sure that each and every single one of those books that she was checking out made it home. Booker was still curious as to how she was going to achieve this wonder, but knowing what he did of her abilities, he was sure it was within her power.

Besides, he was going to get a demonstration and that was something that the zealous librarian simply couldn’t pass up.

Maya had tried cheer him up, dissuading the allure of greener grass in favor of bright, shiny sunshine. That was something that Booker could most certainly try to relate to. Besides, when you look at the sun, you’re looking up, aren’t you?

With the reminder that she hadn’t forgotten his demonstration, Booker bounced on his feet happily. Nodding his head, agreeing that outdoors would be best, he followed Maya as she struggled to maintain her balance under the weight of the all those books. With every step by her side, he watched her, gently tipping the tower of books back into place as she tried to keep them balanced with her teeth. Again, it was probably most humorous thing he had ever seen, but it was also quite endearing. He loved it when people wanted to read and went to anything lengths to achieve it – even the personal suffering that the X-Man was putting herself through now.

As they reached the front doors of the library, Booker pulled it open for her, smiling as he allowed her pass through first.

>> "Thank you again, Mr. Bookman. If there's anything I can ever do to return the favor, please let me know. You just sit back and enjoy the show, mmkay?"

”I’ll remember that,” he said with a grin. He crossed the threshold of the door but he didn’t follow. Instead he hung back, his arms crossing over the chest as he moved aside from the door to allow others to come and go, and pushed his back against the wall. ”And you’re more than welcome!”

She was getting smaller now as she stepped away, arriving at the edge of the steps. It still looked like she was having trouble balancing said books but she managed to keep herself grounded, her arms quivering as she prepared for the demonstration. Booker didn’t mean, fearing any step could cause her to step into his aura and instead watched with rapt attention.

>>"Alright! Get your binoculars ready and watch closely. I'll try to go slow for you to see properly."

He gave her a thumbs up and held his breath.

Yeah, he had forgotten how to breathe period. Standing back, Booker watched in utter amazement as the woman before him became something out of a tale of fantasy. Flesh melted away, becoming thinner, translucent, vanishing into wisps of air. Most surprising was that it wasn’t just her flesh but her clothing, accessories, even the books!

OH MY GOD, THE BOOKS!

>>"Don't worry. They're still books."

The voice called out ethereal and dream like. Booker paused, relief washing over him as he gave the woman (or remnants of) a bright smile. He still couldn’t believe what he was watching. Reading about it, watching ViewTube videos, were one thing, but to witness it was something entirely different. This was certainly not the same feeling as watching it on a screen. Booker held his breath, unable to look away, unable to fully process everything he was seeing. And, before he knew it, woman and books were gone, simply the vaguest outline of what they used to be.

What else could he do?

”SQUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!” he giggled and hopped. ”OH MY GOD! THAT WAS BETTER THAN I COULD HAVE HOPED!! WOW!!”

He still didn’t want to move forward. He was certain it was dangerous for her if he did so Booker remained planted in spot, fighting the urge to run about in excitement. He would wait, of course, until his new friend was gone so that he couldn’t cause her harm.

>>"Thank you again, Mr. Bookman. You're my hero!"

He grinned, wide, the glee of a child in his eyes as he watched the air dissipate around him. He waved enthusiastically in any and all directions, unsure of where the X-Man had found herself now, but assumed it was away from him. Cheerily he bid her farewell. ”Good bye, Ms. Swift! Come back any time!” He waited, smiling still, and just breathing the air of excitement as he watched the air around him. He knew that she was gone already but found himself unwilling to move just yet. Eventually Booker would return to work, but for now, he just wanted to bask and be happy.