019 - Library Spam

[thinkb4ublink]

[Slater is sitting back at the library's desk, reading Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay. He's just at the start of the book with a 'I haven't decided whether or not I'm taking this book seriously' look on his face, although he's fairly absorbed in it.

His job is to sign out books. He does this with a leery eye and and unimpressed look: the kind that anyone with previous dealing with police-like services is going to interpret as the look a cell-sergeant gives you before he hands back your belongings and lets you back into the wild world. You'll be back is a threat a little out of place in a library, but the implication behind it reminds the same. You'll be back here because you've failed: either at graduation or graduating someone else.

If he can get away with it, he'll say nothing to you beyond telling you when it's due back before shoving it in your direction. He continues staring at you as he reaches for his book and sits back. Properly seated, he returns his eyes to the page he left off. Consider yourself dismissed.

If you're the kind to walk out without going through the paperwork, it'll seem to the casual observer that he doesn't notice, such is his interest in his reading, but the more observant among you will notice his eyes flick up and watch you as you leave.

What'll come of that? Well, nothing, unless he can think of way to work to his advantage.]

Comments

[19centconstable]

Mr. Slater!

[George is, as always, happy to see you. It's highly likely that no one will ever be able to explain why.]

[thinkb4ublink]

[And Roy is, as always, annoyed to see you.] Library! [So less of the exuberance and more of the silence, please and thank you.]

[19centconstable]

[George winces appropriately.]

Right. Yes. Sorry. How have you been? Did you happen to get caught in that port we just made?

[thinkb4ublink]

No, I stayed put. [Slater does not appreciate getting killed, thanks.]

[19centconstable]

[You and George have so much in common!]

Thank goodness for that. I did as well. Just hearing about it all was bad enough.

[thinkb4ublink]

[Slater makes a non-committal grunt and shrugs at that. Even apart from not knowing anyone who went down, the reactions convinced him they were even more psychotic than he thought they were, so he's not wasting any compassion on them.]

[19centconstable]

Have you ever heard of such a thing before? Buying entirely new body parts?

[thinkb4ublink]

[Slater sighs.] I dunno. We can transplant healthy organs into others but buyin'? I mean dere's the urban legend about the guy finding his kidney gone, but that just fairy tale. You can probably make sure you're higher up on the donor list that you ought to be with the right cash in the right 'ands but... nah. It's done on the NHS.

[19centconstable]

How did he...find his kidney missing?

[thinkb4ublink]

[Slater narrows his eyes at the question.] He didn't, did he? 'Legend', mate. Not true!

[19centconstable]

But what was the legend? Did he simply stumple across it someplace and suddenly realize he felt...incomplete?

[thinkb4ublink]

No, you dimwit! It's a kidney not a [microwave. He frowned at that thought quickly before moving on.] shoe… [Bloody Del Boy.] You don't just forget it's missing, do ya? Vital organs tend to do vital things that you notice suddenly not occurring!

He was rendering unconscious, all right? Woke up with a scar, didn't he?

[19centconstable]

But how did he know that was what he was missing? And why not other parts?

[thinkb4ublink]

You're askin' me what imaginary people are thinking? They're not thinking anything! They. Are. Imaginary!

[19centconstable]

I suppose not. It's not a very well thought out story, is it?

[thinkb4ublink]

[Slater just rolls his eyes.]

[19centconstable]

I just mean: they might have given it more thought.

[thinkb4ublink]

Who the hell is 'they'? You don't even know their name!

[19centconstable]

That's quite a good question, Mr. Slater. Who are they?

[thinkb4ublink]

Somehow, I think you're missing the point. You're assuming I know the answer here.

[19centconstable]

Actually, I hadn't. I'd thought it was one of those questions which hadn't got an answer.

[thinkb4ublink]

Good.