Chapter Text
Dannyl was in a huff as he walked through the automatic doors to main library. He had ordered a book weeks ago and had been impatiently watching its progress through the online portal ever since. Much to his frustration, nothing had happened for the longest time. He'd been relieved when it had finally changed from requested, to in transit. Very frustratingly though, a few days later it had gone right back to requested again. Then a few days after that it had gone straight to ready for collection.
Brilliant, I'll finally be able to make some progress, he'd thought.
But when he went to get it yesterday, the person on the desk claimed they'd never received it.
Some back and forth later he'd been given a phone number for someone from the stores department. The phone had eventually been picked up by a world-weary woman. Once she'd gotten over her annoyance at being called by a random postgraduate – not that Dannyl could really begrudge her for that – she had double checked their records and explained "Yes, we definitely sent it through on Tuesday." And "No, it's definitely not here anymore." Finally ending with, "Well I'm sorry honey, but you'll just have to go and ask them again because there's nothing we can do at this end now." Dannyl was fuming. He was rapidly running out of other things to look at. He really needed that book.
It was still the holidays, and despite Edinburgh's northerly latitudes they were experiencing a last blast of August summer which made the building uncomfortably hot as he waited impatiently in the queue. Thankfully the lack of students meant that he didn't have to wait too long before someone called "Next here please."
He stepped forward and looked at the man behind the counter. He was a short, with a head of blonde curls cut into a sort of mullet. His features were delicate, with perfect cupid's bow lips and bright intelligent eyes. He smiled as Dannyl approached.
"Morning, how can I help you today?" He was extremely chipper and excruciatingly posh.
Dannyl wondered for a moment what someone with an accent like that was doing working in the University library.
"Hello. I was in yesterday, I've got a book reserved but they couldn't find it. I'm hoping it's turned up?" He wasn't really all that hopeful, he wasn't the sort of person that had a lot of good luck.
"Oh no! Pass me your card and we'll see if we can find it."
"Thankyou." Dannyl said as handed over his student card.
The Librarian scanned it then went to hand it back. He paused to glance at it as he did, and commented "Dannyl, never heard of that name."
"Yeah, it's a bit of a weird one." Dannyl agreed. He'd had this exact conversation more times than he could count.
"Alright Dannyl, let me go and look." He first checked the shelves under the desk, then disappeared through a door behind.
He was gone for several minutes before reappearing, frowning. Dannyl sighed. This is exactly what had happened yesterday.
"I can't see anything for Vorin-Tellen, or either on their own. What book even is this anyway?" He seemed to be speaking to himself as much as Dannyl, so he said nothing while the man clicked around on his computer for a moment. "Hang on, I've seen this somewhere. Yes! It was on a trolley to go out on the shelves and I thought 'That's a bit niche' so I put it to one side. I meant to go and check what was supposed to be happening with it but I haven't had a chance. I wonder if it's still up there..." He looked away from his screen and back to Dannyl. "How do you fancy a trip to the back rooms?"
Dannyl was surprised for a second, he'd expected to sent round the houses again, rather than anyone actually taking an interest. "I'm happy to stay down here if that's easier?"
"No no, I'm not a hundred percent sure where I left it, and anyway someone might have gone and moved it by now. You can help me look." He smiled a disarming smile and came out from round the desk, revealing the rest of his outfit: library t-shirt with the sleeves rolled, tucked into high waisted shorts, and big, pristine white trainers.
He didn't look back to see if he was being followed. Dannyl took a couple of big steps to catch up. Walking side by side only emphasised how much bigger Dannyl was, he easily had a whole foot on the other man in height. Despite the difference in stride length he walked remarkably quickly, and scanned the card on his lanyard to take Dannyl through a side door which declared it was for AUTHORISED PERSONEL ONLY.
"Are you even allowed to take me back here?" Dannyl asked, a little concerned. While he was fine with bending rules on his own, he didn't want to get the Librarian into trouble on his account.
"It's fine, no one here is paid enough to care that much." he pushed through another set of double doors into a plain concrete corridor. "Just don't, like, steal anything too valuable."
Dannyl chucked at that, they rounded a corner and the man drew to a stop in front of a big grille door opening up to an empty lift shaft.
"I prefer to take the goods lift, it's much less crowded. Plus, more fun!" He pushed a big industrial looking button and Dannyl heard clunking and whirring. After a moment the lift appeared and came to a stop. The Librarian pulled back the security grille and indicated for Dannyl to enter, then quickly locked them inside and hit the floor button. The lift started moving with a jolt and they stood in silence for an awkward moment. Dannyl started absent-mindedly picking at his nails.
"I like the colour." The man commented, indicating their haphazard coat of polish.
"Oh," He laughed slightly nervously. "I went round for dinner to a friend from the department's house last night. His granddaughter was there, she's maybe... seven? And was in need of volunteers to practice on. Purple is my favourite colour, so it seemed a shame to turn her down." He offered in explanation. "I really didn't think it through though because when I got home I remembered that you need actual nail polish remover to get the stuff off. So I guess I'm stuck like this for however long."
"That's actually very sweet. Maybe you should make it a thing, it suits you."
Thankfully they juddered to a halt at that moment before Dannyl had to think of an answer.
"We're just through here." The man freed them from the metal cage and pointed to a door on the left. He led them through a short series of corridors before reaching another set of doors which he let them through with a second beep of his card.
The room beyond was some sort of large storage cupboard filled with shelves lined with stationary and cleaning products, an assortment of coats, pencil cases, and other random items a box with "lost property, 4th floor" scrawled on the side, and, of course lots and lots of books; books on trolleys, books in baskets, books on shelves.
"So I found it on the trolley, I thought it was probably a mistake. And, oh yes, the barcode was damaged! That's right. So I would have put it..." He squeezed through a gap between the paraphernalia and reached up on his tiptoes for a basket labelled Books for Repair. "Damn you Hussain, why do you always insist on putting things up so high!"
"Let me." Dannyl slipped in beside him and grabbed the basket with ease. He looked inside and grinned. "It's here, exactly like you said!" He eagerly grabbed the book before returning the basket to a more reachable location. "You must have an excellent memory, to remember one specific book when you must look at hundreds every day." Dannyl said as they both shuffled back out of the narrow gap.
"Yes, well, it comes in very useful for situations like this!" He held the door open for Dannyl and they started back towards the goods lift.
"I must say thankyou, I really do appreciate it. You've been extremely helpful!"
"No bother, it's nothing really. Happy to help!" He smiled a properly dazzling smile which brightened his already handsome features. With a face like that, Dannyl mused, this one must be a hit with the ladies.
"I have no idea what, but if there's anything I can do for you. I really do owe you one." Dannyl proffered.
"You could write a nice email to my boss explaining what a wonderful customer experience I have provided? Then he might give me an extra quarter pizza at our next mandatory staff bonding afternoon." He saw Dannyl start to open his mouth to earnestly ask for the boss' details and cut in. "Only kidding, we don't have a food budget for those."
"What was your name sorry?" The lanyard the little man was wearing kept bouncing around as they walked, he could only make out that it was long and began with a "T". Timothy maybe? He thought, he looks like a Timothy.
"Tayend." He held out the badge and tapped it with neatly trimmed nails. "Both of us got stuck with unusual names."
"Well thankyou Tayend. Unfortunately I need to get home and read this, but maybe I'll see you around?" Dannyl almost immediately regretted saying it. Tayend was just doing his job, it wasn't like he was looking for new friends.
But he got a bright smile in response. "I hope so!"
Dannyl smiled too, maybe he was finally in for some good luck.