fandomhigh | Library [01/02]

Friday was near the service desk drawing pictures where Thursday could keep an eye on him while she worked on her notes.

Second verse, same as the first, only with sandwiches. The library was still open for all.

Still here! Funny that.

I feel slightly mean sending her back, knowing what's coming over the next decade.

Karal came by as soon as he got the message, looking at Thursday a bit sadly as he made his way to her office, Altra walking by his side. He didn't want her to go. "Can we help with anything?"

:I'm not Jumping you anywhere,: Altra added, whiskers twitching.

Edited 2008-01-02 10:20 (UTC)

"And a cheerful morning to you too," Thursday replied to Altra, then looked back at Karal. He was always wanting to look after her and she knew that if she didn't give him something to do, he'd probably get frustrated. "There are some books here that need to be sorted before they're put back on the shelves. How are you?"

"I'm well, for the most part," he replied with a smile. "And you?"

Altra sauntered in to look around the office, possibly rubbing against Thursday's legs while he did so.

"I'd be happy to look after the books." Karal followed Altra in, grateful for something to do, and began reorganising the books, movements quick and sure. "I wish you didn't have to leave," he said quietly, eyes on what he was doing.

Edited 2008-01-02 10:33 (UTC)

She side-stepped the question about how she was and went for the one with the easier explanation. "It's time to go home. There's nothing stopping us now." Thursday looked up from the files she had started to sort. "We found him - the man from the BookWorld."

Karal looked up, startled. "You did? Glory, that's wonderful!" He studied her for a moment. "Isn't it?"

"He's now a known criminal and in the hands of the authorities awaiting trial," she explained, stopping what she was doing. "He managed to add kidnapping to his list of crimes before he was done, but he's been discredited on a national scale and he won't be hurting anyone again."

Karal nodded. "Then it is good news, and it's good to know that he'll receive what he deserves," he said, still studying her. "Would I be right in guessing you had a hand in his capture?"

She gave a slight nod. "I had help, but yes. Taking over the television and radio networks wouldn't have been possible without a few things I took home from here. I confronted him while my friends monitored the broadcast and moved into position to rush the warehouse when I gave the signal. He had Friday." Not wanting to dwell on that, she went back to organising her files. "As it turns out, his name wasn't Sullivan Pheces at all. It was Cocytus Hades. No relation to the Vice Principal, but he is the younger brother of two others of the Hades clan that I've run into before. We don't get along."

"That--" Sunlord. He shook his head and set the book he was holding down. "I'm even happier to know you and your son came through safely, and had good friends to aid you. Will it always be so dangerous for you?"

"I'd like to think not," Thursday replied. Between SpecOps and Jurisfiction, her life had always been somewhat complicated. She didn't see that letting up if she did take Bowden up on his 'carpet business' offer. "The immediate threats are gone for now. The Minotaur, the reason we came here in the first place, is trapped back in the BookWorld and with Cocytus out of the way, it's safe to go home. Life should be quiet and simple as long as I'm on my best behaviour and don't make any new enemies. If I do, I'll set my mother's cooking on them and they won't bother us again. Enough about me. I trust you're staying on for at least another semester?"

"A threat indeed," he said with a small smile. "I have been enrolled for another semester, but," he lifted one shoulder, "my duty must come first. My world is in danger, not immediate, not yet, but that could change. If it does, I will be called home." He glanced down as Altra settled at his feet. "There's something I would give you before you go, if I may."

Thursday nodded, but said, "you really don't have to give me anything, Karal."

"I know, but this is important." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small wooden box (http://pics.livejournal.com/vkandis_son/pic/000077rw), offering it to her shyly. "This will mark you as a friend to the Kin of Vkandis, wherever you might find them, in fiction or without."

Accepting the box, Thursday opened it and looked back up at Karal. She didn't understand all of the connotations of the gift, but she knew enough to understand who Vkandis was and what this kind of gift meant to Karal. "Thank you, Karal," she said sincerely, then closed the box gently to keep its contents safe. "Wherever you end up, be yourself. The people around you will be lucky to have you with them."

He blushed and looked down at his feet. "My thanks," he said quietly, then glanced back up hopefully. "There is something else, a traveller's blessing. I'd like to speak the words for you, if I may?"

A fleeting thought passed through Thursday's mind that Karal would have enjoyed the Oral Tradition section of the Great Library if it wasn't so perilous. She nodded. "Of course."

Karal broke into a smile and moved to rest his hand on her shoulder. "May the Sunlord grant you clear sight and the wisdom to choose well. He is a light in the darkness, a fire to warm you, and a flame to hold between you and those who would harm you and yours, until you reach journey's end," he recited, voice warm and clear. "Wherever and whenever that may be."

When Karal was done, Thursday placed her hand over his on her shoulder to show her thanks. "You'll write?" she asked hopefully.

"I will," he replied solemnly. "And I will miss you." He turned his hand and briefly closed his fingers around hers. "But I'm thankful that Vkandis granted me a chance to know you."

"Vkandis and I may not be on familiar terms, but I'm thankful to him as well that we met. Don't stop doing what you know is right." Thursday gave his hand a squeeze and let go. "Enough emotional drama," she said in a more assertive voice, knowing it was the best way to avoid dealing with the difficulty she was having with this goodbye. "There are books to pack. Do you think the school would notice if I took the entire collection with me?"

Karal looked utterly scandalised, and Altra snickered. Gathering up the stack of books on her desk, he held them protectively, trying to hide a smile. "I think I'd best go and reshelve these, lest you give in to temptation!"

Thursday didn't hide her smile. "Go on then. I still have the authority to boss you around for another day."

Karal grinned and gave her the best bow he could while holding an armful of books. "Yes, ma'am," he said smartly, turning towards the door. "I'll be in the stacks if you need me for anything else."

Sam got Thursday's message, and headed for the library, frowning softly when he saw her. "Good afternoon, ma'am," he said. "Are you getting everything ready to leave us?"

*sob* Jenny.

"Hello Sam," she replied with a smile. "Making sure everything's in order. I'm sure they won't leave you without a librarian for too long."

Exactly. :(

"I hope not. The aides could maybe run the library on our own, but it wouldn't be pretty," he said. "Do you need help with anything?"

"I think I have everything under control for the moment. How were your holidays?"

"They were good," Sam said, breaking into a smile. "It was Grace's first Christmas, so there was a lot of trying to keep her from eating wrapping paper."

"The normal paper isn't toxic. It's the metallic foil paper you have to worry about. I'm glad it went well." She put her pen down. "In good New Year news, the man from our little adventure into the BookWorld is now being held in custody until he can go on trial."

"He is?" Sam asked, perking up. "That's great. Do you think the trial will go well?"

"There's enough evidence to put him away for a very long time and I doubt even his well-paid legal team can refute some of the facts. That's why it's safe to go back to England now."

"That's awesome. I mean, not awesome that you're leaving, obviously," Sam said. "But I'm really glad it's going to be safe for you now."

She nodded. "I'll miss this place," she mused. "Maybe not the part where that book tried to eat my hand, but the rest of it certainly."

"Even the Special Collections?" Sam asked.

"Parts of it," she nodded. "The parts that didn't involve flamethrowers, croquet mallets and bees. I'm sure I'll keep myself busy enough that I won't pine for the bees."

"Admit it, you're going to miss how crazy this place is, just a little," Sam said.

"Maybe a little. Not really the invasions or some of the bad weather, but some things definitely. It's not everywhere you find yourself with a group of people willing to run off, save the day and stop you from bleeding to death."

Sam smiled bashfully. "Well, if you ever need a group like that again, you know where to find us."

"I certainly do. Try not to get into too much trouble, Sam, and if you need a college recommendation, I'll be happy to help."

Sam perked up at Thursday's offer. "Thank you, ma'am. I may just take you up on that in the future."

"Let's not get started about whose future and past it's going to be. I'll get a headache if we do. I'd best get back to writing these notes for the next librarian. I'm glad you stopped by. Take care of yourself."

"You too," Sam said, giving Thursday a little wave before leaving.

Library [01/02]

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