#brightwindsbarony

"Yeah, your mom might kick someone in the groin if the block her" She says with a bit of a smile "Now, you got a library card? We can check out things if you like?"

A nod, and library card produced! It's seen some wear. "I wonder if they are hiring here. It wouldn't be so bad..."

"Even part time. I could look at other work, but... even thinking of crowds in a grocery store makes me a little spinny."

"Huh. " She nods "I'm sorry , something to look at "

"SHHHH" A voice says and a young boy grins after making the noise. The owl pooka is not a complete stranger to the Centaur, she's seen Stu around.

"Stu? Why are you here ?" The Troll asks "I thought you were handling our library" A low voice

The floofy kid looks left, then right, then says faux mysteriously , "Owl libraries are my domain, for I am one with owl things"

Pepper winces , then looks to Nessi, "You've met Stu, right?"

"Owl libraries?" She asks, curiously. "Would those be hidden away in a hollow tree?"

"I was introduced to a group of youngsters, I'm afraid I may not have caught all their names. But I will remember you now, Stu."

"All trees are hallowed" The boy says "Particularly those that become books. Nice to meet you, satyr with redundant parts" He grins "You're wanting a job?"

"I hadn't planned on it, but I seem to need one. After all, I've been learning, and have been told that it is important to repay all debts."

"And I don't think my parts are redundant. They make sense for me." A little smile. "As I'm sure those wings do for you?"

"You could go Unseelie" He says "oh, no, even they get money focused... Change is good. Though really who needs that many dimes?" At the mention of the wings he blushes a bit "I'm a late fluffer is all. "

Pepper fights a smile

"I think they look marvelous, and suit you. If you had your full plumage now, why, your wings would drag the ground. Very sensible, whatever Fate planned for you. Once you're a bit taller, then it will come."

He smiles at that and pushes his glasses to his nose then calls out to a librarian "Mr. Abnorman, this lady is nice to me so you should hire her. Sight unseen.. in fact, don't look at her. Just close your eyes and tell her she's hired"

A figure, the librarian, starts to turn around. He's got a blue denim jacket over a plain white shirt, and a somewhat dorky smile. He appears to be of Asian descent, but has a Texan drawl.

"It's just norman, Stewart" The man says "oh hi"

Pepper whispers "Do people do this 'rush introduction' stunt on you a lot or is it just your mom and Stu?"

She whispers back, "It seems to be spreading!" And she offers a hand to the librarian. "Hi, sorry about my friend here. I was curious if you might be hiring, maybe for part time?"

The man is mortal, and doesn't seem to be freaking out he's shakingg hand with a centaur, because far as he's concerned, he's not, but he seems friendly enough and Stu likes him, "Norman Wen... head librarian here. Nice to meet you. A job? Well, I suppose I'm open to considering part time help. Ever work in a library before?"

the owl pooka fights a smile, and hoots very low "When, when, when?"

"I haven't, but I'm a quick learner, and I don't mind lifting and carrying either... And I've put in plenty of library hours on my own. My card is almost worn through!"

"Nessa Phillips." She adds belatedly.

"Well, Nessa, I'll be honest, Mrs. Nesbit was our head librarian, but she died from the Covid months ago" A sigh "And the town council would rather sell my kidneys rather than pay much more for this place out of their own pocket. Best i might be able to do is part time at terrible pay. I'm talking minimum wage for two days out of the week is all I CAN promise you, and I'll fight to see if I can get more approved. It's not all bad, there are good folk in this town, but they can be quirky. In fact, as you can see," He glances a Stu, "We get some oddballs, adorable oddballs but there you go. If you're interested you have but to answer three questions and you're in"

At Mister Wen's comment about 3 questions, the whimsy in him seems to cause him to be.. brighter than some mortals she's seen, not smarter, like literally brighter.

She blinks, resisting the urge to rub her eyes. "Even terrible pay is better than no pay, and I have so much free time on my hands. I don't mind at all."

"then... the first question, what's your favorite genre of fiction? Be as open or as specific as you like"

Stu whispers his own answer "libertarian steampunk cowboy thrillers"

She thinks about this for a moment, then answers. "I like survival stories. Not the gory stuff with zombies, or the really dark post apocalypic things so much, but someone stranded in the woods, or on a deserted island? One of the first stories I remember reading over and over again was Robinson Crusoe. And it wasn't until I was in high school that I realized I had an abridged copy all that time - and it was like reading it the first time all over again."

"Good way to look at that, as an opportunity" He approves "if you could live in any fictional setting from any book, any world or location made up by an author, which would you choose to live in?"

That one she grins and answers almost immediately. "I would choose to stay here. I imagine that if I was in most fantastical settings, I would be off on adventures all the time... but in the real world, it's a canvas for me to choose any path. AND I can read every story and explore it, rather than be only in one."

"Oh, she chose the blue pill" A sigh from the owlett "She's got an ordinary life now"

There may be something more about being in a fantasy setting that she doesn't say aloud, but a glance to Pepper and she smiles.

Pepper pokes hte boy

then nods

"Sounds good to me," Wen says "Particularly when you put it that way. And lastly, if you could get an hour to talk to any character from any book, assuming that language was no barrier, who would you pick?"

That takes her longer, and she hems and haws. Just one? So many come to mind. Dorothy Gale or Lucy Pevenslie? Mary Lennox or Sara Crew? Mmm.... Finally, she settles on, "Meg Murray, from A Wrinkle in Time. She's smart and stubborn, and headstrong and brave."

"A classic. I think we can work together," Norman Wen smiles

"Really? Thank you! You won't regret it." A thumbs up to Stu!

Stu winks

Pepper chuckles. "Does she need to sign some papers or..."

"Oh, of course, of course... right, forms. Non book related forms- they throw me" he admits and gathers some papers and shows her "If you don't want to finish it out now, you can just return later" he says "Oh, once you do fill it out and gain employee hood, well, one of the benefits I CAN give you is instead of capping it at 5 books like we do for most, you.." he lowers his voice "Well, check out as many as you like. Just don't tell anyone"

A grin! And a sidelong glance over at Stu. She murmurs back, "If I vouch for them, can I take out a few extra for a friend who just did me a solid favor?"

Mr. Wen says "You'll have to track him down if he's late returning them" A warning but, that's still a yes.

Nessa crosses her heart and accepts the paperwork. "I'll bring this back soon." She promises.

"No problem, my contact info is on the paperwork"

"Thank you!" She gives Pepper a grin. "Well, that's a nice switcharoo from earlier."

"It is." PEpper motions "Ready to head back?"