ArchivedLogs:The New Librarian

The New Librarian
Dramatis Personae Faelan, Mallory	2013-06-22 The new librarian meets her new assistant
Location <XS> - Library
It is a Saturday morning, the first of the summer term at Xavier's, and the Library is understandably quiet. Very few research papers have been assigned thus far, and even those students who have received such assignments aren't going to jump right on them and waste the gorgeous sunny day sitting inside. The cavernous library is comfortably cool and shady though, providing respite for those who prefer to not be outside. The sharp sound of hooves against the parquet wood floor pierces the still silence of the room, though thankfully the sound is muffled as Mallory reaches the carpeted flooring that covers the rest of the room. Glancing around curiously, the newly hired librarian takes stock of her domain, running her fingertips gently along the spines of the books on a nearby shelf. Slowly the demonic looking woman makes her way to the center of the library, making mental notes as she goes. She finds herself at the information desk, ducking back behind the counter and starting to ruffle through the paperwork and folders left on the desk. Coming back around to the information desk with his empty shelving cart, Faelan is mostly running on autopilot. Wearing a plain blue polo shirt and khaki slacks, the young man is trying to do his new duties that keep him safely inside the walls of the Institute. Its been less than a month since he has graduated, and he is fairly content with the task, primarily because so few people want to bother with a library during their summer vacation. However, as he slides the cart back into its normal spot, he sees the demonic looking woman going over paper work, and he pauses to let his brain try the logic thing instead of instant fear. He had been told there would be a new librarian he would be talking to, but is this her? Standing up from her stooped position behind the desk as she hears the approach of the shelving cart, Mallory looks curiously at the young man, a small smile spreading over her wine colored lips. Neatening her crisp white blouse, Mallory cautiously steps forward, offering a hand as though expecting a handshake. "Hello there," she greets quietly, her Oxford-accented voice hushed in deference to the location, "You must be young Mister Carter, yes? I was told that a librarian's assistant had just started, as well. I am Miss Winthrop, although you may call me Mallory, if you prefer, as we will be working together. I am the new librarian." The small smile expands into a cheery expression, which does demonstrate her elongated canines rather decidedly, "I apologize if I had startled you. I am just working on getting acquainted with the library systems here." "Oh, um, yes. I'm Faelan," he says with a nod. As the hand raises up to him, there is a slight momentary look of panic in his eyes before it calms, and he tentatively shakes. "It is nice to meet you Miss Winthrop," he states, but there is perhaps not absolute sincerity so much as just proper responses. "I'm easily startled, I don't mean to offend. I apologize ahead of time if my, uh, powers are triggered ahead of time." He seems a little embarrassed at statement. "Its been fairly quiet so far, but there haven't been any assignments yet. Around finals is when it gets really busy." The mention of his powers gets a slightly curious and appraising look from Mallory, as she smiles kindly, "It's ok. I understand - sometimes powers aren't always the easiest to command, especially at a young age." There's the slightest flicker of orange in her dark eyes as she says this, offering a slight shrug of her shoulders, "I am typically not very sneaky," she shifts one of her feet, producing a clacking noise against the floor, "So as long as I'm walking, you'll have a good deal of warning." With regards to assignments, Mallory smiles, although she tries to keep it not as broad, and not quite as fangy, "You seem to have the right idea. I will likely ask you to assist me in reshelving items and the like, keeping it neat. Are you interested in Library Sciences, or was this just a position of convenience?" Despite her professional attire and imposing height, she assumes a rather relaxed stance, although she seems to need to keep shifting from one hoof to the other, redistributing her weight every few minutes. Nodding at the mentioning of her lack of stealthiness, Faelan's eyes glance to her hooves then back up to her eyes. "I can be, if you can't find me on my shift, well er, I will call if its because I'm not on campus. It happens." Shaking his head as if he's used to the inconvenience. "Its a position suitable for my temperament. Its quiet and safe, and on campus. I know some of the others have jobs out in the city, but its not exactly a good idea to be out in the city still." Leaning against the cart, the young man is relaxed for now. "I don't really know what I want to do for college yet. Some kind of science maybe? Ecology or life sciences wouldn't be too bad. People scare me more than nature does, usually." "Ah. Teleportation?" Mallory questions, idly shuffling through some of the records that are yet to be filed, absently starting to alphabetize them. "Understandable. As long as you call, or somehow manage to let me know, it'll be fine. I'm not /that/ hard of a person to work for, really." The mention of the city not being safe gets a slight smirk from the librarian, and she idly runs a hand over the polished black surface of her horn. "I understand that there has been some trouble in New York recently. I was escorted directly to campus, and as such didn't have to pass through the city. I doubt my appearance would have been exactly welcome," she smiles delicately, offering a shrug and a roll of her eyes. "Well, if you find you enjoy working here, I can help you look into further studies. Libraries are certainly quiet, often safe places. And books don't judge people," she says with a glance around the library. "That is one of the things I can do yes," Faelan nods at the question. "And I'm used to the process, I had to call the school often enough when I would be missing campus or curfew." He just seems matter of fact about it, as if it had become a fact of life. "The school has been doing lockdowns and requiring escorts more often lately. And yes, you are at least as noticeable as Dr. McCoy and Professor Wagner, let alone some of the students. " Giving her a slight smile at the offer of help, he shakes his head. "Libraries are quiet and peaceful, but I don't see myself spending my life in one. I think something out in the forests wouldn't be too bad. I could probably be a park ranger or something like that. I don't have to worry about a lot of the concerns other people would, and I have already been given a lot of training in wilderness survival just in case." There's a little bit of a chuckle as Faelan explains his aspirations, and Mallory smiles. "Not too much of a people person?" she asks, offering a shrug and a glance, "Nothing wrong with that. And if nothing else, I hear that New York State has some spectacular parks and forests." Mallory glances around and scowls slightly at the traditional, rather plush looking closed back chair, grumbling softly, her tail lashing a little bit,"I'm going to need to ask for a replacement for that. Or at least a secondary backless one." Her cheery smile returns again as she regards Faelan, "I'm afraid I have not had the opportunity to meet my colleagues, yet. The only one I have met is my twin, and he doesn't count." She snorts and grins glancing back towards the door as though expecting him to waltz into her library. "Anyway, as long as it takes you to find your calling, I'm happy to have you as an assistant. This is, truthfully, a larger library than I was expecting to see at a high school," she says, smiling and looking around at the large room. "Not particularly. People don't make much sense, but then my therapist says I spend too much time avoiding them to develop my interpersonal skills." Faelan gives a shrug, indicating his opinion on that subject. Glancing to the aforementioned chair, then to her tail, he makes the oh of understanding before nodding. "They are accommodating of most people's specific needs. Thankfully we haven't had any students yet who needed to stay in a hamster ball. I don't think the doorways would work too well." Raising a brow at the twin comment, he hrms. "You have a twin who works here? Is he new as well, I assume as such, since we do not have any Professor Winthrops that I knew." He stands back up from his leaning against the cart, glancing about the library. "I will do my best to help out here. And you get used to the school not really matching expectations. I don't think there's anywhere quite like here, and if there is nobody has told me about it yet." Mallory smirks, "I didn't actually develop interpersonal skills until I went for my Master's degree. My family, " this phrase is said with a twinge of bitterness, "Didn't exactly let me out to play with the normal children. And there's only so much talking you do with tutors and nannies. I'm sure you'll get there. It just takes time, and the right people to make it worth actually trying." She nods and smiles, speaking from experience, "And yes, my brother was just hired, independently of myself. Still not sure just what brought about that coincidence. He is to be teaching chemistry starting in the summer term, if I"m not mistaken. This school has already proven itself to be rather surprising - I'm certain there are far more in store." She digs around for a sticky note and a pen, writing herself a reminder to ask about the chair for herself, before folding it up and tucking it into the pocket of her skirt. "I guess so. It would make certain mysteries more clear. I still don't know why Megan wouldn't just tell me who wanted to take me to the dance," Faelan says more to himself, shaking his head. "My family was going to give me to a mob. At least yours wanted to protect you. I'd say that is points in their favor yes? And you have a brother, so that is something." It is not perhaps the most convincing of statements from the young man, but it is the thought that counts. "Is there anything else you will need to make the library duties more accessible? Some of the ladders may not work too well with your foot situation for example." "Because, assuming she's a fellow student, teenage girls are notoriously contrary, and expect boys to pick up on all sorts of random clues and hints that they think are obvious," Mallory offers quietly, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning against the information counter, eyeing Faelan with a quirked eyebrow, "I'd listen in on the girls talking to Thomas when we were younger - they'd flirt, and it would just go right over his head. I am willing to bet you she wanted you to ask her - some deranged sense of "tradition" that the boy must make the first move, and it isn't appropriate for a lady to ask." She snorts at this, tail flicking,adding sarcastically, "It is quite rubbish, but good to know the same traditions are still getting ingrained into the brains of young women on this side of the pond." The mention of his family situation gets a decided frown, "That is horrible." She pauses, gently itching her shin with a hoof, dark eyes looking off into the distant stacks, "My family was protecting themselves. They only let me leave for university after I burned out a wing of the estate." Her dusky skin flushes a deeper shade of red at this admission, apparently it is not something she is proud of from her past. Shaking her head, she glances at the ladders, "I should be able to handle it. It isn't the easiest task, to be honest, but I had to do it in undergrad a few times. You'll probably be stuck shelving some of the higher up stuff, though, if that is alright with you?" "I had asked her. Kinda. Well, she hadn't liked it so I don't think she does." Faelan shakes his head, all this talk of social matters going well over his head. "And I am sorry you had to burn down part of your house to go to college. But it seems to have worked out well. You are here after all." He gives her a smile at that, and nods at the shelving discussion. "Alright, if you leave those for me I can manage. I just wanted to let you know about the ladders ahead of time. It would be the same if you were in a wheel chair really. But at least you can use some of the ladders fine." "You'll get the hang of it eventually. In theory, anyway. I was never good at the whole playing coy thing - not enough time in the day to be fawning and indirect. But, if she is truly interested, or another person was, they will eventually speak up about it. It takes time," Mallory offers finally with a shrug, smirking lopsidedly, "Granted, take my advice with a grain or two of salt - most of what I know comes from books." She makes a grand gesture at the library with a smile, as though to indicate that everything can be solved with judicious application of books. "As for things working out - you are here as well, Mister Carter. So even though it is through considerably less than ideal circumstances, the both of us have found our way to this institution. I hate the 'everything happens for a reason' line, but at least you found your way to a safe place." The mention of a wheel chair gets a slight wince from the woman, and she shakes her head, "I appreciate the help, as I still have lingering balance troubles at times, especially with heights." "I will have to wait and see. Or ask more precisely. Or have someone ask for me," Faelan replies with a shrug. "I wouldn't have been very good at dancing anyway. I didn't pay much attention during the practices they provided." Sighing at her talk of things happening for a reason, he shook his head. "The teachers of the institute came and rescued me from the middle of the woods, I know not where. If they hadn't, I probably would have been eaten or something else unpleasant. All I know from that first time, I was long jumping to my limits." At her appreciation, he inclines his head. "It is my job here after all. If they didn't want someone helping the librarian, I would have had to find another task that I wouldn't be too poor at. Or I'd have had to find a job out in the city...during all of that. I do not begin to pretend to know what would have happened, to myself or others." Mallory offers a little bit of a shrug, “You’re likely better at dancing than I am, Faelan. I think I’ve taken two lessons in my life, and nearly broken my poor brother’s toes in the process. Not that I ever actually got to attend dances.” She listens to the description of how he ended up at the school, nodding her head slowly as he explains. “I am quite glad that you made it here. Even though the path you had to take was more than just a little bit harrowing,” Mallory says quietly with a smile. “I suppose I should get to seeing what else this library has to offer - would you care to give me a tour? You are apparently more familiar with the setup than I am, and I would appreciate it,” the newly arrived teacher says with a gesture to the library at large, “Otherwise I can just wander my way around and find stuff eventually.” “I have the time to tour you around if you’d like. I just finished the shelvings of the morning, and I don’t anticipate Kisha coming around for a giant stack of books today at least.” Faelan gives a nod at that as he looks towards the door. “Its fairly big, but you just need to know the main sectioning and you’ll get the hang of it easy enough. Would you prefer to start in the fiction or non-fiction section?” He steps out from behind the counter, merely waiting for the answer before heading off in that direction. Mallory chuckles as she steps from behind the desk, “I have a feeling that the library will not be that popular of a hangout on a gorgeous day like this.” She glances between the two offered sections, smiling slightly, “Let us start with fiction, if you don’t mind.” The librarian bows slightly, a little bit of a flourish to her movement, “Lead on, Mister Carter.”