Book Haven, Thursday 11/20

[not-called-icky.livejournal.com]

Perhaps the books were going into hibernation, because they did seem quite asleep, all of them. Ichabod wasn't going to complain. He could go through the latest shipment without being disturbed, and when that was done he made a pot of tea and sat down to read, not feeling the least guilty about doing that at work. It was best to enjoy the silence while it lasted.

[Open and OCD-free!]

Comments

[pasunereveuse.livejournal.com]

Celia ducked her head in, peering cautiously at the books before moving forward. "They're behaving," she noted, keeping her voice low lest she wake the books or something.

What a bizarre thought that was.

[not-called-icky.livejournal.com]

Ichabod was, as usual, unable not to smile when he saw Celia. "They are," he agreed. "It is perfectly safe to come in."

[pasunereveuse.livejournal.com]

Celia did so, tugging her gloves off and flashing him a smile in return. "I didn't want to risk a disturbance of your peace, when it's so rare around here."

Between what she'd heard of the shop and the library, it was a wonder her own books hadn't started rebelling on her yet.

[not-called-icky.livejournal.com]

Ichabod walked over to the door to greet her properly with a kiss. "I would not ask you to leave even if it did mean the books would rebel," he said. "Can I offer you a cup of tea? It is reasonably warm still."

[pasunereveuse.livejournal.com]

"Absolutely," she said, rising onto her toes to return the kiss. "And should they choose to rebel, I'd rather be here to help you fend them off, anyway."

Again, such a completely bizarre thing to say, but still.

[not-called-icky.livejournal.com]

"And I would appreciate your help," Ichabod said, reaching for her hand. "It is quite strange how one gets used to books being in some sense alive, don't you think?"

[pasunereveuse.livejournal.com]

"No stranger than most of the things that happen here," Celia ventured thoughtfully, twining her fingers through his, "but it's odd to think that something I've loved and kept since I could read would ever turn on me. Books don't seem inherently aggressive."

[not-called-icky.livejournal.com]

"I agree," he said. "I've always found libraries peaceful places. Perhaps I am now almost ready to find that peace in the midst of raging books."

Laughing a little, he added: "But I much prefer days like this, especially when you decide to visit."

[pasunereveuse.livejournal.com]

"Then I shall have to do it more often," Celia declared warmly, already wandering over to see what he'd been reading when she'd interrupted. "If only to make sure the books haven't consumed you alive in my absence."

Literally or figuratively.

[not-called-icky.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps one day I will need you to come to the rescue," he said jokingly, although perhaps that wasn't something to talk about lightly. "Perhaps I should get one of those portable phones after all, for emergencies." And, you know, for wikipedia.

[early night for me now]

[pasunereveuse.livejournal.com]

Celia wrinkled her nose skeptically at him. "Just for emergencies, hmm?" she teased lightly. "And not at all for any of the other features that a cell phone offers, I'm sure. Though I think there's a Wikipedia feature...thing. An application."

She knew him pretty well, yes.

[niiiiiiiiiiiight!]

[not-called-icky.livejournal.com]

"Oh, just for emergencies," Ichabod agreed. "Although I do find that often I have a sudden need for an encyclopedia, don't you?"

[pasunereveuse.livejournal.com]

"Oh, certainly," Celia agreed, "but I'd think that having all that knowledge quite literally at one's fingertips might become addictive. I'd never stop looking things up."

She already had that problem, when she used computers.

"It's not a bad thing. But I'll miss you if you fall into some sort of encyclopedic rabbit hole," she teased.

[not-called-icky.livejournal.com]

He thought for a moment. "Perhaps I am trusting you to come and save me should that happen."

[pasunereveuse.livejournal.com]

"You're putting a lot of confidence in my ability to distract you away from an endless sea of knowledge," Celia replied playfully. "Goodness, however would I manage that?"

She had a few ideas.

[not-called-icky.livejournal.com]

"It might require that you experiment," Ichabod replied, managing to look quite serious.

[pasunereveuse.livejournal.com]

"It might require several experiments," Celia agreed solemnly, her cheeks coloring a little in spite of herself. "I'm fully prepared to follow the scientific process to see what method of garnering your attention works best, regardless of what my standing hypotheses might be."

[not-called-icky.livejournal.com]

"And I will encourage you to do so," Ichabod replied, now unable to stop the corner of his mouth to twitch. "Solely for the purpose of my safety, of course."

[pasunereveuse.livejournal.com]

"Oh, absolutely," Celia agreed, nodding even as she was clearly trying not to laugh. "I'm very tenacious, Ichabod. I don't care how many articles of clothing I have to vanish to get your attention -- for you, I'll make the sacrifice."

Such altruism.

[not-called-icky.livejournal.com]

As she mentioned clothing disappearing, Ichabod blushed a little, unable not to think about that week when they had, through a mistake of some kind, been allowed to share a room and a bed.

"I am pleased to hear that you care so deeply for me," he managed.