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On this quiet Folsen day, all was as right and well in Zadash today.
“-The fuck d’you mean I’m on ‘Archivist Duty’ today!?” a disbelieving voice shouted from within the High Curators office.
Well, it was a quiet day everywhere but within the bustling halls of The Valley Archive of the Cobalt Soul, a young Expositor stood in front of her seniors in complete dismay: an aging Human male who waited with experienced patience and a bald Elf, arms folded.
“Beauregard…” they calmly chided, halting the younger Monks coming tirade.
“I understand your apprehension to the situation, but it is something that all Expositors will do – likely many times during their employment.” He began.
“You have been settled here in Zadash for a few months now – this means for now the Zadash Archive is your nexus point for research and travel within the other Archives. As such, it is important at times to be on the ground occasionally with everyone; get to know those you will interact with on a more level basis and meet some of the local citizens.”
“-It also means that you can assist in the event of a busier day or if we lack the staff.” Dairon added, matter-of-factly. Beau was really trying to figure out if they were enjoying this rug pull or not.
Today was meant to be a quick day for her: come in, check on a few tidbits and then join up with Yasha for a day trip out to Port Damali. That wasn’t going to happen now though as what seemed like half of Zadash had decided they wished to become enlightened and at least a half of the Archivist stationed here had decided to fall ill and no one had a spare lesser restoration spell handy or anything.
She’d be tempted to blame Artagen for this for them not inviting her and Fjord to join them over there.
“So, if you’re saying this is something Expositors will do, how come I never noticed any when I was couped up here?” she pointed out, turning an accusatory gaze at the other Expositor in the room, “How come I never saw you out in the halls.”
The elf in question broke their usually stoic tone, letting out a brief snort of amusement before answering, “Beauregard. In the time you were here under Former Archivist Zeenoth’s ward, how many members of the Soul did you actively acknowledge or interact with outside of your studies or training with him. How many of their faces or voices do you remember?” they countered, chewing out the former with a satisfaction beau could probably mirror were it not for the current circumstances.
She felt her hand raise up instinctively, primed to gesticulate the response… that she didn’t have.
“Fuck. What am I to do then; Just dodder about the halls and make small talk?” she asked defeated and in silent dread of the inevitable.
The look on the High Curators face planted the nail in the coffin that was her plans for today, “I’m sorry, Expositor – should things quiet down enough, you will be the first of the support to be relieved.”
“Sure, okay.” She mumbled, turning to leave the office and head into the throngs of people.
Letting the door close behind her, she thumbed for the sending stone within her clothes, she was only partially wearing her Soul garbs, not expecting to be needing them all on for what was going to be a few isolated hours before leaving.
“Hey Yash, somethings came up here and gotta stick around for a lot longer. I think we’ll need to put a pin in the day trip. Love you.” Beau felt the magic end before she finished, fuck she should of counted that out, she’s gonna think I’ll be away all d- her metal self-beratement was interrupted as a reply met her mind
- “Oh, well that’s alright – we can always go another time then; invite Jester and Fjord – maybe Veth too. See you later tonight – love you too.” The beautiful voice of her girlfriend spoke, and while she was trying to mask it in optimism, Beau could hear the disappointment lingering behind it.
Great, she was stuck playing the role of an actual librarian today and she’d disappointed Yasha. Could this day get any worse?
“Excuse me, do you work here?” a voice called out behind her, and she felt herself wither away just a little more.
“Yup.” ‘Temporary Archivist’ Beauregard Lionett answered bluntly, not turning round.
The first time she was asked that - not half an hour into her new Folsen day, she’d put on a brave face and answered with all the combined charisma of all the lessons that Fjord had taught her. Their request had actually not been that bad, they wanted to reach book up on one of the higher shelves and the attached ladder had broken. Happily, then, rather than get a free standing ladder, she took great liberty in deftly climbing the shelf itself to the awe of the older women as she clung up there smugly and asked what she needed.
By the ninth time today and forth hour later, she about ready to just bring the shelf down instead.
“Do you know where -oh, nevermind, its over there, thanks.” The person, red-haired and gangly she noted with tired suspicion, asked before quickly scuttling off in the opposite direction to her.
“How’d you do it, how can you stand half these stupid questions without wanting to just punch them.” Beau exclaimed to the Goliath Archivist she’d taken to shadowing at the five hour mark.
The figure, Katieresk she recalls they’d said their name was, listened as they restocked the shelf with freshly read tomes from the day, “well, I find when I really, really want to and the rage starts building, I’ll find an isolated area to just breath for a couple minutes in.”
“really?”
“-Then I’ll punch the nearest soft object when that doesn’t quite cut it.” They added.
“Ah, good to know. You should meet my girlfriend, she’s great at that kinda rage thing.” Beau mentioned.
The Goliath stopped in their stacking to look at her, an eyebrow piqued, “Yasha, right?” at Beau’s nod, they continued, “yeah, seen her a few times here – gotta admit I wasn’t a huge fan of her the first time I saw her with those two other figures.”
Oh shit, Beau’s mostly languid posture suddenly snapped up at what they were likely referring to, body whirring into fight mode; defend mode.
But the taller Archivist met her first with outstretched hands, “I know – I know, ‘wasn’t her fault’. Domination effect, I know; that phoney that led them got a couple people here with it before all hell broke loose in here.”
She felt her posture relaxed slightly at their words. For the most part, it had seemed like what Ludinus had said about sweeping her involvement in it under the rug had been mostly true and the conversation they’d had with the High Curators Fon and Turray a few weeks in once they’d both settled had helped keep Yasha domestic start cleaner.
“In truth, yeah, I’d like to actually talk to her at some point, I hear she has a wonderful garden planted I’d love to see.” Katieresk admitted before their attention shifted away to something away from them.
The sounds of scuffles sounded a few shelves away as an argument over some book was turning quickly into a full scaled fight. The Goliath looked back to Beau with a grin, “Mind seeing what that’s all about? Kinda got my hands full here.”
Just a couple hours left, couple more and she could race back home, tackle Yasha into the biggest hug she could, fail at tackling her and instead just weld herself onto her girlfriend and never let go until she’s nothing but a time-worn dust.
Just a few more…
It was quiet in this section of the library she’d retreated into. Quiet enough to easily hear the footsteps of the person approaching behind her.
Not another person. Not another person. Not another person.
She was almost ready to make this section look worse than when Yasha’d went through here, as she spun around silently to meet this new person head – or maybe fist on.
“Hi Babe.” The voice she was longing to hear said as she was met with the shorter cut white hair and mismatched eyes of Yasha.
She’d died. Died and was on her way to the astral sea, “Hey angel, come to see me off?” she half-joked, earning beautiful chuckle from the visage before her. It was wearing the outfit she’d gifted Yasha, reminiscent of the clothes she’d worn when they’d first met – thought they were also sporting a large brimmed straw hat along with it
“I’ve come to take you out, or home if you’d prefer?” she offered instead with a brilliant smile.
“wait. Shit, Yasha, you’re here?!” Beau exclaimed, this was not in fact a hallucination but the real deal.
Before she could react, in a blur the retired barbarian was swiftly lunged upon with all the desperation of a starving lion to its saving meal. There was the thudding of something hitting the ground before a pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around the Monk and held her close.
“What’re you doing here, babe – not that I’m not happy you’re here, but…”
“Like I said,” Yasha reiterated as she loosened her hold on her girlfriend and pulled back to look at her, “I’m here to walk you out and then maybe we could go out for the remained of the day – if you wanted that is?”
Fuck she wanted to so bad, but, “They still need me for a few hours more, Yash.”
“No, they don’t,” Yasha happily corrected, “Dairon contacted me and said you were clear to be relived for the day, so I figured while its still bright; while we can’t go to Port Damali today, we could still go out and have a picnic instead?” she tilted her head to the item that’d fallen from her grasp, a healthily stocked wicker basket.
Fuuuck, while she didn’t physically need it, the idea of a picnic right now felt so good.
“Gods, I fucking love you, Yasha. Let’s go!” she readily agreed, dipping down to grab the basket with more energy than she’d thought she had left today – that was before Yasha turned up though.
The next minute, they’re practically racing for the exit, Beau pausing for a moment to wave goodbye to the Goliath Archivist, she’ll bring them up with Yasha later.
“Enjoy the weekend, Expositor Lionett.” A voice calls to her before they reach the front doors, she recognises the voice, spinning back to find the tell-tale robes but instead finds them in matching Archivist robes to the rest – Dairon is heading deeper into the library but not before saying goodbye with a nod to Yasha.
Walking out into the still bright sun, Beau breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Gods, she hoped she didn’t have to go on Archivist Duty again for a while.
One hand in Yasha’s and the other holding what was their Folsen now.
She was going to savour ever second of it.