fandomhigh | Library, [01/23]

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Library, [01/23]

Today was a 'busy work' sort of day in the library. Jonothon had even showed up for his shift early, like he'd threatened to do earlier in the week, armed with incentive and not much else.

There were things that were eating at him. So he had to throw himself bodily into whatever task he might notice today, because if he was thinking about alphabetizing the misplaced books throughout the entire sci-fi section, or about straightening all of the dog-eared pages that he stumbled over, or poking through the system to figure out who needed to get notices for late books, then he wasn't thinking about anything else.

That worked nicely in his favour.

Off to the side, he had a few books waiting, at least. He'd taken a few moments today to dig out a few favourites, as per Rosalind's request. Something else to drown his thoughts under, he was certain. But he wasn't complaining.

[Open!]

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She eyed the way he pushed the books across the counter and said nothing about it. He would get over it in his own time and her pushing him would accomplish nothing.

But push him further away.

"I'll look at them," she replied, picking them up. "I've read worse, after all."

Those faerie books, for instance... and she was peculiarly attached to those.

//You have,// Jono agreed with a roll of his eyes that was very nearly good-natured, even. He'd read the fairy books as well, after all.

Never again.

//For what it's worth, I actually did take yer request for reading material seriously this time, luv.//

"I would never have guessed that you hadn't the last time," she murmured, but lightly.

//It had been an inspired choice, perhaps,// Jono noted, trying for a light tone of his own. //Th'cover sparkled.//

Plus, it was brainless fantasy, which was essentially what she'd asked for, so...

"It did," she said agreeably. "And was entirely in pastel colours."

//Really, if you stared at it long enough, I imagine you could just about see that fairy flutter right off th'page.//

No. You couldn't.

Which was for the best.

//If you don't like the Vonnegut, I might be able to dig up more books like those fairy ones, if you rather.//

"I don't know if I'll like the books or not," she replied, arching an eyebrow at him. "Allow me to try before deciding I will not, kindly."

//I'm not deciding,// Jono replied, shrugging and trying not to sound maybe a little stung. //I'm just trying not to block you in or anything. I mean. Tastes differ...//

He was maybe a touch oversensitive about trying to stay on the good sides of people, today.

//Let me know what you think when you've read some, maybe.//

Rosalind arched an eyebrow and just looked at him.

Truly, he was going to be like that?

Apparently!

//... What?//

At least he wasn't too sensitive to raise an eyebrow right on back, right?

"I would ask who are you and what have you done with Jono," Rosalind began, her voice sliding into that crisp, professional way she spoke when working. "But as this is an improvement over last week, I must concede that you are him."

Nonetheless, she would like her friend back.

//Oh...//

Right. Last week. When he'd been too out of it to dress himself, for Christ's sake. He still couldn't help but feel as though he owed her a great deal, but he wouldn't have any idea where to start, expressing that.

//Yer too kind, luv.//

Maybe flat and dry was the way to go, here. He wasn't entirely certain, anymore.

"Funny," she murmured, "I normally don't hear that."

Rosalind lifted her eyes to study him.

"You may disagree with me," she said, seeing little reason to beat around the bush. "Argue with me. Be yourself around me. If you hurt me, I will handle it, and I will handle it decisively. I am not one to forgive easily, Jono. Trust that."

//Be myself?//

Now, right there was something that Jono didn't hear often. Because being himself, more often than not, just seemed to frustrate people. His emotions were like a black hole of despair on a good day, and most of the people around here tended to prefer repression to emotion, when emotion lead to a tendency to mope.

//If I was being myself right now, I wouldn't be here at work.//

Because there were too many people here. There were too many in the dorms, too. Maybe he could just move out into the preserve and become a hermit.

But then people would drag him back, so that notion was no good, either.

Rosalind actually smiled faintly.

"Then be yourself," she murmured, "and this time I'll refrain from calling you lazy. It is no crime to feel."

Jonothon nodded a little, looking down at the floor. It was weird, being told something like that. It just... was.

//Maybe I'll leave a little early today,// he allowed, finally. //For right now... keeping occupied isn't so terrible, either.//

Going through the motions.

She inclined her head and got up from the desk.

"I will read here for awhile," Rosalind informed him, "before I go about other business."

Jono watched her for a moment, and then nodded, again.

She was sticking around for his sake, he imagined. And even if she wasn't... he appreciated it. The fact that there was a friend just a stone's throw away, if he decided that he needed one between now and the time that she left.

//Enjoy th'Vonnegut,// he offered, his tone a little softer than usual. //Or at least don't hate it too much when it starts going weird.//

Which it did. And would. But in fascinating ways.

"If I minded weird," she mused, "I'd have not lasted long here."

Which was true.

"Thank you for the books, Jono."

//Thank you for th'vist, luv,// Jono replied, that softness still lingering in his voice. //I... appreciate it.//

A lot.

"You're welcome," she murmured, almost lightly. And, as she turned to go and find a table, added, "I trust I'll see you at club every week?"

But she didn't really wait for an answer, her back straight and shoulder a sharp line in her uniform as she headed for a different table. To start reading.

And keep an eye on him, of course, but she wouldn't push.

//Of course,// Jono replied, watching her go to sit down.

It wasn't like he... had anything better to do, or anything, on Friday evenings.

And it helped that it had been mostly Apathy Club members who had been checking up on him, over the course of the week. Like one big, cranky, antisocial family.

He watched her sit down, and then, a few moments later, set himself back to his mindless busy work. There were books to sort.

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Library, [01/23]

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