fandomhigh | Library [18/01]

Library [18/01]

Karal was smiling as he arrived at the library, Altra trotting at his heels.

He unlocked the doors, made sure the librarian's office was tidy, and did a quick round to make sure everything was in order before settling in at the counter with a cup of tea and a purring Firecat.

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"You have to go back to your room sometimes! And remember to eat." Not that he'd ever forgotten to eat because he'd been lost in the library, oh no. "And the library does have to close, though if you're here on Fridays, I promise not to chase you out. I'll even share my lunch, so you can eat and not have to leave."

Her cheeks pinkened a bit, her smile turning shy. "Thank you. I wasn't wrong, though. It's almost overwhelming. And I've only looked at this little bit."

He straightened and started fiddling with the books, lining up their spines. "That's exactly how I felt when I came in here the first time. I think I just stood and stared with my mouth hanging open."

"Our former chancellor didn't care for silly things like knowledge, or books that might breed...ideas," she explained, replacing the book and considering another. "The ban lists got so long that most households only had things like cookbooks and the approved version of the Bible by last year. You know, if they were lucky. And we don't have the resources right now to reprint all the editions we have in custody. So I'm just...really not used to seeing so many books like this."

"If you keep people ignorant and obedient, they won't questions what's being done to them," he said, almost to himself, then shook his head. "Your world sounds as if it were very bleak; I'm glad to hear it's changed."

"It was. And it is," she said, looking almost proud. "And yes, that's exactly it. My father was a writer, and used to say that while artists use lies to tell the truth, politicians use them to cover it up." She paused, considering. "I'd like to think it's not true of all politicians, considering I may actually...be one now, at least in theory, but he wasn't wrong about the ones running the country before."

"Not just politicians. Priests as well, if they lose their way." Or choose to ignore it, but he didn't say that, too busy digesting what Evey had said. "Anyone in power, when they start to care more about the power than their duty. I don't think you will be one of those," he added. "Not having lived through what happens when they do."

"Priests as well," she conceded. "Anybody in power, anybody who has any sort of control like that. And thank you."

She shook her head, replacing the book. "So you get to work here? Lucky you. Spending your entire day in here, amongst the books. I'd get lost."

"I love working in the library," he said happily. "I didn't ever get lost, but I did sometimes get disorientated, mostly because I didn't even know what some of the subjects were."

Karal smiled and leaned forward the smallest bit, careful not to get too close. "Do you want to know a secret?"

"Always," she said, leaning in just a touch.

"I made a map!" He beamed and held up a hand. "Wait here? I won't be more than a moment."

Evey nearly laughed, but contented herself with smiling. "I won't go anywhere."

Karal smiled again before disappearing, returning to the counter where he dug out his map.

He hurried back and offered it to her almost shyly. It was a sketch of the shelves across two pages taped together, with all the subjects marked out on them. "I don't need it any more, so you can have it."

Evey tentatively took the map, examining it. "Oh, thank you, Karal," she said softly, smiling widely as she held it out to look at it carefully. "Now, where is the purple giraffe section?"

Karal laughed softly. "You'll have to discover it and put it on the map yourself," he teased. "And then you can show me where it is."

"I'll have to do my research," she decided. "If there's no purple giraffe books here now, I shall have to fix that."

"What if I leave you to start while I close up the library?" he suggested. "If you get lost, sing out and I'll come and find you."

Not that he thought she was going to get lost.

"I've got my map," she assured him, smiling. "I won't get lost. I can handle myself on my own, by all means."

"Of that I have no doubt," he said seriously. "I won't be long."

He made his way back to the desk, smiling to himself as he began shutting things down.

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