Library, Monday [6/28]

[ancientbschamp.livejournal.com]

It was break week, yes, and maybe Gabrielle didn't have to be in the library today but she was, a piece of parchment in Xena's scrawling hand dangling from her fingers as she went about her morning chores. The parchment ended up spread out on the desk in front of her once she was done tidying and reshelving, but the preoccupied look of concern on Gabrielle's face didn't go away then.

Quite the opposite, in fact; she looked even more preoccupied and worried, the longer she read over the letter. And there was a lot of re-reading the letter interspersed with periods where she'd jump up from the desk, spend a few frantic minutes tidying some section of the stacks or checking on the coffee supplies, go back to the letter, then leap up to find something else to do.

And she hadn't even had any of the coffee this morning.

Comments

Re: Mod Your Library

[ancientbschamp.livejournal.com]

Considering the way Gabrielle tended to make coffee (which was to say somewhat haphazardly, ranging from mild-pick-me-up to industrial-paint-stripping), it might not be too stinging a loss?

"I'm really sorry," Gabrielle told him, earnestly. "I can't explain, really, I just have to."

Re: Mod Your Library

[one-who-goes.livejournal.com]

The important thing, alas, was less the quality of the coffee and more its sheer presence.

"No, no, I understand that," Henry said, slouching a bit. "Stay safe and take care of your friend, and the books and I will await your return."

Re: Mod Your Library

[ancientbschamp.livejournal.com]

Oh. Well, then.

"You will?" Gabrielle hadn't yet gotten around to asking about that part; it'd been a concern, but on her list of priorities nothing was wrestling first place away from a certain reformed warlord. Possibly ever. Still, a little of the concern drained out of her expression. "That is, I mean, I hate to leave you short-handed, and I'd love to come back and work here again when I get back."

She looked down at the parchment, the rolled-up edge of it now about a breath away from being in absolute tatters, but managed a smile when she looked back up. "And . . . thank you, for understanding."

Re: Mod Your Library

[one-who-goes.livejournal.com]

"I've had to take some time off on short notice myself," Henry half-explained. "People were nice about it, so I always figured I'd pay it forward. Don't worry about it."

He glanced to the scrunched parchment. "... or about anything else, too much."

Re: Mod Your Library

[ancientbschamp.livejournal.com]

Gabrielle's forehead wrinkled in confusion for a moment before she looked at the parchment. "Well, I can't really help that, until I see for myself how she is. But -- that'll happen soon enough. For now I may as well do what I can to make sure this place is in order before the new kids show up." She laughed, self-consciously. "It'll give me something slightly more productive to do with my hands."

Re: Mod Your Library

[one-who-goes.livejournal.com]

"That would be," Henry said, a touch of irony in his voice, "greatly appreciated. I'll be in my office if you need me."

Re: Mod Your Library

[ancientbschamp.livejournal.com]

"I'll stop in to say goodbye before I go," Gabrielle agreed, and pushed the parchment away with a guilty look, then stood to go take care of a little reshelving.