![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xp_loa posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
xp_logsAlani walks into the library and meets Topaz.
Alani carefully peaked into the library, still trying to get used to even the idea of this mansion. A library, though, she could handle. Now she just had to figure out what kind of cataloging system the mansion's library used. "Excuse me? Is, uh, anyone here?"
Topaz had just ducked under the desk to retrieve the pen she had dropped, and frowned at the unfamiliar voice, tilting her head for a minute. Unfamiliar emotions, but mostly curiosity and a little overwhelmed. Satisfied with the assessment, she stood up, dusting her pants off. "Hullo. Can I help you?"
A small smile appeared as the other woman came into view, and Alani walked towards her. "Hello. That would be appreciated. I've got two questions. One, I'm looking for a good book to read for fun. So I was wondering if you had any suggestions? And two-" She tried to school her features but a toothy grin took over. ''-'No Magic Allowed'? What's that about?"
Definitely new. Topaz leaned against the counter, tilting her head. "Depends on what you're into. Scifi, fantasy, horror, romance - I'm no good for romance, don't read it, don't know anything about it. As for the magic - one too many mishaps and I got tired of cleaning up ruined books, so now it's banned."
Alani starred blankly, waiting for some kind of indication that this was a joke, before it hit her that that wasn’t the case. "Oh. Well then. Wasn't expecting that at all. Alright, okay, alright." She nodded for a moment, before nervously chuckling. "Got any Terry Pratchett?"
"No one ever expects it, it's okay." Topaz stepped out from behind the counter, gesturing for the girl to follow her. "I'm Topaz, by the way."
"Shoulda listened to my nan, I guess." Alani's tried to joke, but her brain shifted as she followed after Topaz. "I'm Alani. Nice ta meet ya, Topaz."
"The mutant rights activist, yeah?" Topaz asked over her shoulder. "Saw you on the journals."
"The very same." Alani beamed, walking a little quicker so she could move in stride with Topaz. “Was it a good impression or a bad one?”
Topaz tilted her head, thinking for a moment. "Well, you don't seem evil, and that's about where the bar starts for me, so good so far."
Alani snorted, trying not to laugh. “Finally, the news I’ve been waiting for - I'm not actually evil. Just a mutant." She hummed in thought, before continuing. "Well, I'm glad it's good so far, though. Especially if you run the library. I intend to live here."
"I've been told living in the library isn't allowed," Topaz said with a clear note of regret in her voice. "Something about socializing and being around other people being good for you." She paused, tilting her head. "Or maybe that's just me. Anyways, fantasy." She stopped in front of a row, gesturing toward the shelves.
The curiosity that had been building in Alani as Topaz spoke, shifted to joy suddenly at the gesture. But Topaz was a person, who came before books. “Well, if ya put up with me, it’s kinda like socializing, right?” She almost winked, maybe if she wasn’t so caught up in being so close to maybe finally finishing a new book she would have. “Is it alphabetical?”
"Alphabetical by author's last name," Topaz confirmed with a nod. "If more than three people come into the library, I consider it socializing quota for the day. Anything in particular you're looking for?"
"Ah, perfect." Alani hummed, walking down the row, left hand reaching out a few times to touch the spines of books. "Oh, yes. I'm looking for Small Gods. I never got around to reading it, and I never read them in order, so I thought, what the heck, why not today?"
"We have his entire collection, in triplicate since they keep disappearing and reappearing." In some cases because they had been in Topaz' suite. She conveniently left that part out.
Alani turned back to the other woman, pleased with the fact that she wouldn't be depriving other people of a book. "Something he'd approve of, I'm sure. But, that's good to know. I'm usually a quick reader with his books, but I don't wanna hog the one copy if it came down to that." She searched the shelf. "What's your favorite genre? If that's not too personal a question. If you'd rather not answer that - mind telling me how you got a sweet library gig and if I'd be able to get one too?"
"Fantasy, urban fantasy, magic - it's interesting to see what people accidentally get right. And no, Harry Potter didn't get anything right." Topaz raised an eyebrow at the other woman, slightly bemused. "Well, the last librarian... left, and I spent a lot of time here, so I just started taking care of it on me own. And someone started paying me at some point." She shrugged. "Not sure how the paying part happened, but if you ever want to help out, you're more than welcome."
"Huh, that's neat to know -" She gasped then, turning to Topaz in realization. "Like that one guy in that tv show who got high and figured out the system that heaven and hell are prescribed. Oh man... that's - that's a lot to think about actually. Though, I can't say I'm surprised Harry Potter didn't get anything right, between you and me." Finally, Alani found the book she'd been looking for and plucked it off the shelf. "You know, I wouldn't mind helping out. I like books, and one's never shown a dislike for me, so that's...good, right?"
"Trust me, you wouldn't be the first person to talk down Harry Potter," Topaz said dryly, casting a look around the library. "I guess I could use some help around here. The system is pretty easy to learn. And for the most part you don't seem like you have a destructive mutation."
Alani opened her mouth to reply before she froze, a bit of dread creeping in. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her posture and cast Topaz a sheepish look. "Oh. Um, that's a bit far from the truth, actually. I do have a destructive mutation, just lots of mediation and breathing exercises to keep it in. Don't worry, I'd don't, like, willingly use it for shits and gigs, though."
Topaz' outward expression didn't change, which anyone who knew her would have recognized as her 'screaming inside' expression. "You know what? That's okay. You can be in charge when there's a disaster and the library is destroyed. Deal?"
Alani, who did not know Topaz long enough to place the expression, beamed at her. "Oh dang, yeah - deal. I'm down for that." She let herself laugh, stiffness leaving her shoulders. "Hoping that means I'm never in charge, but didn't expect to get a confirmed time slot either."
"You can help when there isn't a disaster, too. I mean, I don't think I'm authorized to hire people or anything, but...." Topaz shrugged. "Just do what I did. Hang around long enough and someone will start paying you."
“That’s quite alright, really. I don’t need it as a payment job. Maybe let me hoard books under the table, all secret-like, eh?” Alani wiggled her eyebrows at Topaz, as she made her joke offer. “Care to show me the checkout process, Topaz? I can take notes in case you quiz me later.”
Topaz gave her a wry smile. "Sounds good. Try not to miss the little things - those are always where someone passes or fails."
Alani flashed a smile in return, standing up a little taller. "Gosh, you're right. I'll do my best, but I can make no promises. I will read the guidelines, at the very least."
Alani carefully peaked into the library, still trying to get used to even the idea of this mansion. A library, though, she could handle. Now she just had to figure out what kind of cataloging system the mansion's library used. "Excuse me? Is, uh, anyone here?"
Topaz had just ducked under the desk to retrieve the pen she had dropped, and frowned at the unfamiliar voice, tilting her head for a minute. Unfamiliar emotions, but mostly curiosity and a little overwhelmed. Satisfied with the assessment, she stood up, dusting her pants off. "Hullo. Can I help you?"
A small smile appeared as the other woman came into view, and Alani walked towards her. "Hello. That would be appreciated. I've got two questions. One, I'm looking for a good book to read for fun. So I was wondering if you had any suggestions? And two-" She tried to school her features but a toothy grin took over. ''-'No Magic Allowed'? What's that about?"
Definitely new. Topaz leaned against the counter, tilting her head. "Depends on what you're into. Scifi, fantasy, horror, romance - I'm no good for romance, don't read it, don't know anything about it. As for the magic - one too many mishaps and I got tired of cleaning up ruined books, so now it's banned."
Alani starred blankly, waiting for some kind of indication that this was a joke, before it hit her that that wasn’t the case. "Oh. Well then. Wasn't expecting that at all. Alright, okay, alright." She nodded for a moment, before nervously chuckling. "Got any Terry Pratchett?"
"No one ever expects it, it's okay." Topaz stepped out from behind the counter, gesturing for the girl to follow her. "I'm Topaz, by the way."
"Shoulda listened to my nan, I guess." Alani's tried to joke, but her brain shifted as she followed after Topaz. "I'm Alani. Nice ta meet ya, Topaz."
"The mutant rights activist, yeah?" Topaz asked over her shoulder. "Saw you on the journals."
"The very same." Alani beamed, walking a little quicker so she could move in stride with Topaz. “Was it a good impression or a bad one?”
Topaz tilted her head, thinking for a moment. "Well, you don't seem evil, and that's about where the bar starts for me, so good so far."
Alani snorted, trying not to laugh. “Finally, the news I’ve been waiting for - I'm not actually evil. Just a mutant." She hummed in thought, before continuing. "Well, I'm glad it's good so far, though. Especially if you run the library. I intend to live here."
"I've been told living in the library isn't allowed," Topaz said with a clear note of regret in her voice. "Something about socializing and being around other people being good for you." She paused, tilting her head. "Or maybe that's just me. Anyways, fantasy." She stopped in front of a row, gesturing toward the shelves.
The curiosity that had been building in Alani as Topaz spoke, shifted to joy suddenly at the gesture. But Topaz was a person, who came before books. “Well, if ya put up with me, it’s kinda like socializing, right?” She almost winked, maybe if she wasn’t so caught up in being so close to maybe finally finishing a new book she would have. “Is it alphabetical?”
"Alphabetical by author's last name," Topaz confirmed with a nod. "If more than three people come into the library, I consider it socializing quota for the day. Anything in particular you're looking for?"
"Ah, perfect." Alani hummed, walking down the row, left hand reaching out a few times to touch the spines of books. "Oh, yes. I'm looking for Small Gods. I never got around to reading it, and I never read them in order, so I thought, what the heck, why not today?"
"We have his entire collection, in triplicate since they keep disappearing and reappearing." In some cases because they had been in Topaz' suite. She conveniently left that part out.
Alani turned back to the other woman, pleased with the fact that she wouldn't be depriving other people of a book. "Something he'd approve of, I'm sure. But, that's good to know. I'm usually a quick reader with his books, but I don't wanna hog the one copy if it came down to that." She searched the shelf. "What's your favorite genre? If that's not too personal a question. If you'd rather not answer that - mind telling me how you got a sweet library gig and if I'd be able to get one too?"
"Fantasy, urban fantasy, magic - it's interesting to see what people accidentally get right. And no, Harry Potter didn't get anything right." Topaz raised an eyebrow at the other woman, slightly bemused. "Well, the last librarian... left, and I spent a lot of time here, so I just started taking care of it on me own. And someone started paying me at some point." She shrugged. "Not sure how the paying part happened, but if you ever want to help out, you're more than welcome."
"Huh, that's neat to know -" She gasped then, turning to Topaz in realization. "Like that one guy in that tv show who got high and figured out the system that heaven and hell are prescribed. Oh man... that's - that's a lot to think about actually. Though, I can't say I'm surprised Harry Potter didn't get anything right, between you and me." Finally, Alani found the book she'd been looking for and plucked it off the shelf. "You know, I wouldn't mind helping out. I like books, and one's never shown a dislike for me, so that's...good, right?"
"Trust me, you wouldn't be the first person to talk down Harry Potter," Topaz said dryly, casting a look around the library. "I guess I could use some help around here. The system is pretty easy to learn. And for the most part you don't seem like you have a destructive mutation."
Alani opened her mouth to reply before she froze, a bit of dread creeping in. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her posture and cast Topaz a sheepish look. "Oh. Um, that's a bit far from the truth, actually. I do have a destructive mutation, just lots of mediation and breathing exercises to keep it in. Don't worry, I'd don't, like, willingly use it for shits and gigs, though."
Topaz' outward expression didn't change, which anyone who knew her would have recognized as her 'screaming inside' expression. "You know what? That's okay. You can be in charge when there's a disaster and the library is destroyed. Deal?"
Alani, who did not know Topaz long enough to place the expression, beamed at her. "Oh dang, yeah - deal. I'm down for that." She let herself laugh, stiffness leaving her shoulders. "Hoping that means I'm never in charge, but didn't expect to get a confirmed time slot either."
"You can help when there isn't a disaster, too. I mean, I don't think I'm authorized to hire people or anything, but...." Topaz shrugged. "Just do what I did. Hang around long enough and someone will start paying you."
“That’s quite alright, really. I don’t need it as a payment job. Maybe let me hoard books under the table, all secret-like, eh?” Alani wiggled her eyebrows at Topaz, as she made her joke offer. “Care to show me the checkout process, Topaz? I can take notes in case you quiz me later.”
Topaz gave her a wry smile. "Sounds good. Try not to miss the little things - those are always where someone passes or fails."
Alani flashed a smile in return, standing up a little taller. "Gosh, you're right. I'll do my best, but I can make no promises. I will read the guidelines, at the very least."
