Not-So-Sexy Librarian [Library] [Hali and Arthur]

Arthur loved libraries so much. He had a library card for every borough, so he could take out all books within a good 8 mile radius. He'd taken out most the adult books (apart from the chick-lit drivel that he refused to even look at) at the closest library, but there were still some that had evaded him. He liked them so much that he'd decided to even work as a librarian. Sure, he was only volunteering for two hours a week, but it was two hours that he got to be around all these books, to see them all, to make them look perfect. Certianly some of it was deathly dull, but he hoped he was making a little bit of difference in his community.

He sat behind the help desk one sleepy Sunday afternoon, rocking on his chair. It was a bright day and unseasonably warm, so a lot of people were out on the streets and parks. When it was raining they had far more visitors since it was a good place to escape from the downpour. He sighed, closing his eyes, he didn't even have any work to do.

Arthur sat up when someone came over, trying to look at least a little professional. "Oh, sure." He said, nodding, as she asked him about her card. "What's wrong?" He asked. He hoped he could help; he wasn't the best when it came to technology, so there was a high change he would spend fifteen or so minutes fiddling about on the computer. He held out his hand for her card so he could see what was wrong.

She seemed (at least vaguely) familiar. Pretty and Mediterranean, he was sure he'd seen someone who looked like her around before. He pulled up her details and realised, "Oh, you live in the same building as me!" He gave her a polite smile, "What a coincidence." He seemed to be bumping in to a lot of his neighbors recently.

Arthur frowned, how very odd... he didn't know how to fix that. "Well I'm sure it's just a clerical error, we can fix that quickly." He assured her, smiling politely and trying to be cheerful. He wasn't very good at being social, so he really had to force himself when he was working at the library. "And you're sure you don't have any books at home?" He asked, just to make sure. It would be the most simple explanation, so it was best to check.

"What a coincidence." He said politely. He didn't care much, he was just trying to make light conversation. He yawned, looking over the application, "Right, it says here you've still got a book out."

Arthur frowned. Yes, clerical errors often happened, but he knew they did happen. He should probably refer her to another member of staff who worked her more often than he did, but he was sure he could fix it. "Must be an error, happens sometimes if the librarian is busy. Someone will hand in their books and one of them won't be filed as returned. The book is Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire. You did take that out, right?" He asked. "If not then a quick inventory can be done and hopefully, we can have the charges annulled. I'm very sorry for the inconvenience."

'Around your age', it sounded so condescending, and made him sound so young. He didn't much like it, actually, but he tried to keep himself polite and professional. "Well, I'll have a look around. If we take stock, that should prove that you have it. I'll also check the put away box." He ran a hand through his hair, slightly stressed. He had the feeling this woman didn't like him, though why he didn't know. Maybe because of his age, she didn't think he should have the responsiblity of working in a library?