LSRO: Ch355 - Laugh More

It's been a bit of a weird week, but I've been diligently writing, although I had a pretty bad migraine day.

I'll try to get another 2-3 chapters edited over the weekend.

This is not my usual process. Normally, I put rough drafts up here, but right now I have to focus on getting the story written and then editing what I can as soon as possible because my deadline is closer than usual.

Don't get me wrong. It hasn't been copy edited yet. But I've gone through, tidied it up, hopefully caught most of the typos, and added in some things for consistency and tidying up loose ends as I go. Fingers crossed.

With this being the last book in this series, I'm nervous as hell that I'm going to fuck it up somehow. I think All the threads are coming together. There's a few I almost surprised myself with.

Anyhu! Here's a chapter.

~~

Chapter 18

Laugh More

Quinn made her way back to her office in a bit of a haze. So much that she stopped by the kitchens before she’d ever realized it. Just came to a standstill in front of Cook, watching as they busied themself at the stove. A few minutes passed, and while Quinn knew she should meet Betty in her office, she was also aware of the need for some guidance, and perhaps comfort.

After plating up the meal and pushing it toward her, Cook cocked their head to one side, waiting. They didn’t speak as Quinn bit into the toasted cheese and onion sandwich, nor did Cook make a comment about the way her eyes closed in bliss at the tangy, salty taste. A couple of bites later, and Quinn felt more grounded than she had in the last couple of days. Food memory. That’s what it was. Always accurate.

“Now,” Cook paused, as if searching for the right words. “What is on your mind that you are walking around with such distraction?”

“End of the universe good enough a reason for you?” She asked acerbically as she took another bite.

“Valid reason, but not the one I think is bothering you.” Cook’s demeanor didn’t change.

Quinn sighed. She’d obviously come here for a reason. Even if it was a subconscious one. Cook had this Zen way about them. Always knowing what she needed, what to say, how to draw her out of her contemplative spirals of gloom. “There’s just some... I don’t know. Information that isn’t lining up for me? I’m feeling disjointed.”

“Could it be the refreshed connection you have? Are you used to it yet?” Cook asked, their voice smooth and non judgemental.

“Maybe. I think that’s part of it, but...” She tried to figure out how to phrase her concerns. “It’s not just some sort of disorientation. This is more like the knowledge that while on the surface it looks like I have the right information, or on the surface it seems to click — that I can take in the information I receive and extrapolate from it and should be happy with the outcome. I’m not. There’s something missing. While I keep thinking I have all the information, it’s obvious to my intuition, I guess, that I don’t. But I don’t know what the information is that I don’t have.” Frustration welled up in her, because that’s exactly what the problem was. 

She felt like things had been laid out for her. Sort of like stepping stones across a river that already had a natural bridge. If she squinted, they looked out of place, even if they felt natural at first glance.

Cook appeared to consider every word she’d said. Even their eyes flickered briefly, something Quinn hadn’t seen them do before. She waited patiently, nibbling at the rest of her rapidly cooling toasted sandwich.

“It might seem like a simplistic answer,” Cook finally began. “But as with any problem or equation when you get an answer that does not work, I believe you have to go back to the beginning and examine everything in the order of appearance so it makes sense at the end. Do you follow?”

They watched her with an intensity that might have felt intimidating had she not known them as well as she thought she did.

Slowly, Quinn nodded. It made a weird sort of sense. Sitting down and going through everything she’d been through since the damned Library shook like a wet dog and deposited her here in the Core room. “I think that’s an excellent idea.”

“Very well. Let me know if there is anything else I can help with.” Cook went to move back to their stove but paused and glanced back at Quinn. “I will have dinner delivered to your office today. If you are going, come and see me before you sleep. You are not taking good enough care of yourself, so the rest of us must see to it.”

“Thanks,” Quinn grinned, stuffed the last of the sandwich in her mouth, and walked the rest of the way to her office where she knew Betty would be, probably impatiently, waiting. Frankly, right now, Quinn was the more impatient. She wanted to take the time to go up to her room and meditate her way through her entire journey with the Library so far. Cook was right. There had to be something she’d missed. And if she didn’t look for it methodically, she’d never find it.

Just as she expected, Betty waited in Quinn’s office, darting around from one corner to another as she worked on what appeared to be a long list in her hands if the parchment paper that trailed after her was anything to go by. 

“Sorry. I had to stop by and see Cook,” Quinn lied smoothly, walking to her seat as Aradie left the perch on her shoulder for the one next to the couch.

Betty smiled brightly. The tiny sprite darted back over to Quinn’s desk, waving one hand as if to dismiss Quinn’s apology. “That’s quite alright. I know you’re very busy. Running an intergalactic Library is, after all, very time-consuming. With everything that’s been happening recently, you must be exhausted. What with all the power you’re using to fix things, and to reboot the Library. I can’t even imagine how much effort this must take. Korradine certainly never put so much elbow grease into anything to do with the Library. Although I guess you could say she diverted her attention with all of those memory things, right?” A tinkle of a laugh echoed through the room as Betty finally took a breath.

Quinn interrupted her before the sprite could get started again. “What was it you wanted to talk to me about?”

“Oh,” Betty blinked as if she’d forgotten she was the one who asked to see Quinn. “Of course! My people. Eric is gone, Geneva is gone... I can’t even find Malakai, even though he seems to be an assistant in name only. They’ve also taken other assistants with them, and I do not know what they’re doing. I do so hope they’re doing something on your command.” She sounded mildly concerned, but the smile never left her face.

“Of course it was me,” Quinn kept her voice calm and even, trying not to let any irritation show through. She had, after all, delegated responsibility for the rosters and organization of the Library staff to Betty, and she couldn’t get angry that the sprite wanted to do her job. It just felt a little off when the sprite was vaguely accusing Quinn of using the Librarian Assistants to run errands, when that was literally what she had Librarian Assistants for. “I can’t be in multiple places at once. Of course, I have to send some of my assistants out there to do things I need done. We still need to retrieve books for the last two branches. That’s a task much better delegated.” First up, she couldn’t help the emphasis on my, and she suddenly didn’t want to mention where it was Malakai had taken off to. It seemed sort of personal for the two elves, and none of Betty’s business. 

Betty’s brow scrunched up in concentration as she made several notes on the massive roll of parchment she’d been filling in. “Excellent. It’s good to know where everyone is. That way, I can organize others to cover shifts. Have to make sure we’re never empty-handed, you know.”

Quinn kept her expression as even as she could, but frowned internally. There were still plenty of assistants available. She knew because she’d been out in the Library and seen for herself. Not to mention that they often spent time in the upstairs dormitories. She could feel them, even now. If she concentrated, she realized just how many there were. About two dozen. The dormitories had changed over time. Now each housed four people per small eating area and bathroom. Much like college dormitories. Granted, the Library was huge, and she knew they all worked in shifts. At least this was another perk of working in the Library. It also had many golems to complement the Library Assistant staff. Maybe Betty felt upset because no one had asked her first. Considering her job, Quinn guessed that was understandable.

“Sorry about that. But you weren’t around, and it was easier to just take charge and delegate the way I needed to. Next time I’ll leave you a note through the system about what I’ve done so you can compensate for my heavy-handedness,” Quinn tried to smile, but Betty’s attitude had irritated her more than she’d realized. Which was much more of a Quinn problem than anything else.

Betty, however, not privy to any of Quinn’s inner diatribe, brightened considerably. “That’d be perfect. It’ll make a big difference if I can get it sorted before I get into work and have to compensate.”

“Great. Was there anything else you needed?” Quinn’s patience was so thin today it felt like filo pastry. 

“No, no!” Betty said, smiling in that full-faced way she did. “I have to make my sprite dust rounds now, and then I’ll be at the front desk should you need me.” She flitted out of the office so fast Quinn would have missed it had she blinked. How had they ever managed without sprite dust if she always seemed to donate it?

She took a deep breath, and then another. Betty was... a lot. And in her more introverted moments, Quinn found it difficult to deal with.

Penny for your thoughts The Library’s voice whispered in her mind, the mirth hard to miss.

You’re just being entertained at my expense

Can you blame me? Betty is an abundance of energy given form.

Quinn barked out a laugh. You know, I keep thinking I’m missing something.

The Library didn’t respond for several seconds, and Quinn almost thought it’d gone before it finally spoke. We are. Me more than most. Still missing some key memories, even if I have myself back whole once again. 

Harish and Siliqua having any luck helping you restore them?

A lot, actually. I’m eternally grateful to them. A note of relief lingered in the Library’s words. They’ve done some backbreaking work for me.

Quinn had to agree. The Library and Lynx had been such a mess. More of a mess than they’d ever imagined when they first set out to restore it. For a few moments they just sat in silence, Quinn reminiscing slightly and the Library a silent but comforting presence in the back of her mind.

When the Library broke the silence in such a quiet whisper, Quinn almost didn’t catch it. I’m not sure I can keep the Library safe... I don’t know if I can stop whatever is planned. There was fear in its tone, a lost bewilderment. 

Quinn did her best to soothe it and could only hope it was enough. You’re not alone, though. You have me, and I’m pretty much in for the ride. Lynx, Milaro, Dottie, Malakai, Nishpa... your siblings. Or at least most of them. You don’t have to go through this fight alone. Your family is here. We will stand with you. She didn’t add that the alternative was unthinkable.

The pause in her mind showed the Library’s surprise and amusement. Just another hint of how much deeper the connection ran. That’s a valid point, you know. The whole not-alone thing. I always thought when I initially threw this idea around that I’d end up all alone. It’s nice to know I’m not.

Quinn smiled, but then a thought hit her. It’d already been a full day. Speaking of not being alone. We should probably have a chat with the members of our family who don’t want to annihilate the universe. Quinn pushed herself up from her seat to a peel of laughter in the back of her mind. I’m glad you find me amusing.

It only seemed to make Drevicia laugh more.

~~

I like the Library so much

Much love

KT