Library is Open -- 11/7

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

The librarian is in an exceedingly good mood today, even if he's currently trundling books that still need to be shelved after the Quickening the freak lightning storm that hit the library a week and a half past. Even more surprising, his mood does not seem to be dependant on caffeine, as there is no mug on the Collections Desk since Janet someone broke it.

Comments

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Methos has returned to tagging books behind the collections desk. "Good afternoon, Professor," he says formally, although is eyes are dancing. "What can I help you with this fine afternoon?"

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

"Would you believe I'm looking for a book?" Geoff grins and leans on the collections, tilting his head to look at the titles of the books being tagged.

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Sadly, most of the titles are in dead languages even deader than Middle English. "Can I interest you in a nice edition of The Collected Works of Nora Ephron?" Methos says blandly, holding out the book Ten had returned earlier.

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

Geoff shakes his head and replies, "No thanks, I was thinking something more along the lines of Jane Austen. Also...I need to know if there's any chance the library stocks a work called Troylus and Creseyd?"

[swerval_zero]

*tilts her head*

Jane Austen, Nineteenth-century British lit, five down, to the left, one stack back. Troylus and Creseyd...ah, doin' a wee bit of a vanity search, Professor? Four down, to the right, two stacks back.

*whimpers* Okay, now it's just gettin' weird.

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

GETTING, weird, Zero? I thought we passed weird well *before* Zombie Weekend.

[swerval_zero]

The Library wasn' in my squallin' head then.

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

Blushing just a little bit, he says, "Actually, I'd like it for my class, and I wasn't sure whether or not anyone would have a copy."

He tilts his head as well, smiling, and says, "Have we met?" Because the mun can no longer keep up with that and probably needs to start some kind of spreadsheet.

[swerval_zero]

I'm in your Creative Writin' class. Zero Hopeless-Savage, sir. Remember? The girl who jumped in Locker 327?

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

Geoff rolls his eyes and grins. "You weren't there for the first class, when I was memorizing faces. Although how I'd manage to forget 'The Girl Who Jumped into Locker 327', I don't know. My apologies. It's been an...interesting weekend. My mind isn't where it should be."


*headdesk*

[swerval_zero]

Ah, yes. I did apologise for that, didn' I?

These things happen.

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

"Yes, you did. And I hope you're fully recovered from the trip now." He casts a quick glance over at the librarian, and says, "So, about that 'vanity search'...do you have it?"

[swerval_zero]

Four down, to the right, two stacks back, like I said.

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

"You were serious about that? The library actually has a copy? I don't even have a copy." He grins and gives Zero a small bow, before heading off into the stacks.

[swerval_zero]

*calls after him* The Library has a lot of things most places don' have!

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

He spends a long while walking among the stacks, pulling out books and leafing through them, or simply running his fingers along the titles on the spines.

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

"Feasting on the abundance of literature?" Methos asks.

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

Geoff looks over his shoulder and smiles. "Yes, I suppose I am. It's really an incredible collection. I wish I dared read any of it."

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

"Why don't you? That's what it's here for."

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

"The earlier works, maybe I will. But for the bulk of it..." He shakes his head. "I'm not entirely certain I ought to even to reading the materials I'm going to be teaching. I mean, obviously if I'm to teach them I have to read them. It's just that...just being here has changed me, changed the way I think. And I know that my writings, at least some of them, are already known to people. How do keep from contaminating what I write, if I start reading the literature from a time that, for me, hasn't even happened yet?"

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

"I'm the last person to try to explain how this place works. But..." Methos draws one of the books from the shelf. "It's already written. Here, in my hand. While I'm not going to argue that it's immutable... it's here. And who's to say that you didn't have the grounding in the literature of the ages -- both before and after you -- when you wrote what you did? It's the alchemy of passing though your mind, and heart, and soul that made it what it is, not just the mechanics of putting the words together. Besides, it would be a damned shame to stop at Piers Plowsman and Sir Gawin and the Green Knight."

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

Geoff laughs. "There's a great deal of excellent literature before Piers Plowman. But...you do have a point. Tara mentioned once that she thought I must have picked up some...modern ideas about women while here and incorporated them into my writing. Which means, I suppose, that if she's right then the damage is already done." He gazes a moment at Methos, then gives him a sly smile. "All right, then, master Librarian. Recommend me something."

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

"Gods, it's like throwing open a candy shop and trying to recommend one confection at a time." Methos considers. "You had a good start requesting Austin. I'd offer you Dickens, but I'd imagine that you'd start hooting at him in short order. Aphra Behn, Christopher Marlowe, John Steinbeck... ah!" Methos pulls a book entitled, "The Short Stories of Mark Twain" off the shelf. "Read "The Diary of Adam and Eve (http://courses.washington.edu/hypertxt/cgi-bin/students.washington.edu/grace86/assignment1/home.html). Somehow, I think it's to your taste."

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

Accepting the book, Geoff gives him a smile of thanks. "You realize now that it's highly unlikely you'll ever get rid of me?"

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Methos doesn't let go of the book for a moment, and smiles at him. "What makes you think that wasn't my evil plan to begin with? Good literature can be like good whiskey; it can go to your head and render you incapable of sober judgement. I fully expect that you will be in regularly for your rations."