8.

 

Having gotten as far as logging into the new database and adding the base categories she planned to start with for the library's cataloging, Belle sighs, her head just not in the task for some reason. Thankfully the day had brought in several patrons for various reasons, thus giving her an excuse not to rouse the iMac from sleep mode more than a handful of times. Standing to gaze out the front window, she props one elbow atop the aged wooden card catalog with it's dark stained apothecary like drawers and yellowed, handwritten labels. In doing so, Belle notes the approach of Mr. Carson and smiles. He was such a positively delightful man. She moves to meet him at the door and pulls it gently open before him, causing a good natured grin to find way to his lips. "Isabelle, my dear. Lovely to see you. I take it things are a bit quiet if you've time to play doorman?" he says, his blue-gray eyes shining. Belle gives a slight shrug of one shoulder and returns his smile. "This time of day after lunch and before school lets out is always pretty slow." She steps aside, allowing him to enter then lets the large door draw gently closed behind him. "How have you been, Kenneth? I've not seen you for at least a week or so if I'm not mistaken." She leans in, offering her left cheek for the light peck she knows to be coming her way. While the act of kissing all the women in town might come off as creepy from most men, it was not as such from Ken. There was something about him which set a person at ease, and it was perfectly normal for him to come out of the grocery having placed kisses upon no less than 15 cheeks without so much as a slap to his handsome face. Once her peck of greeting is administered, Ken lifts both arms which currently cradle 3 books, then moves to place them upon the corner of her desk. "I have been totally engrossed in my reading for one thing. Bravo on your recommendations, dearest. The perfect mix of humor and intrigue." He eyeballs the new computer on the desk and quirks a brow. "This is new." Belle laughs and replies, "It has yet to be determined whether it shall prove useful or simply collect dust. Either way, the color is pretty." He chuckles, "That it is."

As Belle sets about logging the returned literature and reshelving, Ken moves to peruse the magazine rack, but soon the soft chime of the bell above the door has them both lifting their gazes to survey the newcomer. Dressed as usual in her officer's uniform, Sheyna Parvati steps within, her default neutral expression setting her full lips to a straight line. Pushing her shades up to rest atop her head she nods to each of them in turn. "Belle...Ken." then moves to stand roughly somewhere between the two, though pivoting out of habit to keep her body facing the door. Belle smiles and moves closer to the woman to ask, "Hey, Sheyna. What's up?" while Ken offers a smile and a nod, having promised the officer years ago to only smooch her cheek when she was NOT in uniform...which was unfortunately quite a rare occurrence. Yes, he was definitely going to take her up on that Sonny and Cher idea. The woman worked far too much in his opinion, and he would make it his mission to show her a fun night at the festival.

Sheyna props one well rounded hip against the nearby table. "Just making my way around this part of town to let folks know that we've had a few calls concerning wild animals within city limits. Wolves in particular. Belle, I know you walk to and from work, and while the creatures haven't given any indication at being hostile as of yet, the department is offering escorts to people like yourself who are out on foot in the hours approaching sunset." Belle blinks and lifts both arms to cross beneath her breasts. "Escorts? As in, someone to drive me home? Surely there's no need for that. It's only three blocks, and I have never seen more than a squirrel between here and there." Ken returns the magazine he had been thumbing through to the rack and moves closer to the women. "Do you see this as becoming an issue, Sheyna?" He asks, looking to Belle and adding, "Three blocks is three blocks, dearheart. If the department is urging not to walk alone, they've got reason. They're not the type to unnecessarily stir up panic." Sheyna nods, "As Ken said, we don't wish to frighten anyone, but in all the years I've lived here, we've never had so many reports of wolves actually IN Oakhaven itself. Sure animals wander in on occasion out of curiosity or to root around in trash bins, but this is different, and we just want to make people aware and offer up our assistance should anyone feel need of it. Really, Belle...it's a precaution is all, and we have more than enough officers on staff to see people like yourself safely home. Should I send someone by about 5:30?"

Belle adjusts her blue cardigan about her narrow shoulders then studies the officer for a moment. Shaking her head she says, "Really Sheyna. I don't feel that's necessary. And my father has always insisted that I carry pepper spray. I'll be sure it's in hand. Will that do?" Sheyna frowns, her dark eyes fixed upon the librarian's pretty, pale face. "Pepper spray is fine and good, but it doesn't beat a tranq gun against a hostile animal." she says, locking both hands behind her back and widening her stance. Belle sighs and protests, "But you said they aren't hostile." Sheyna shakes her head, "I said they aren't hostile as of YET. We have no idea why they're suddenly so bold as to come nearer than usual. There's likely a reason, but what that may be we don't yet know. Please, Belle, let me send Taggert on by this evening, if only for my own peace of mind." At this, Sheyna tilts her head to one side, the hint of a smile playing at one side of her mouth. "He volunteered personally for the task." Belle feels her cheeks flush crimson at the woman's words. Jace Taggert had harbored a soft spot for her since gradeschool, and while the man was far from unattractive, she had never really considered him in a romantic nature. Unable to meet Sheyna's eyes, and thus looking to Ken instead, she says softly, "He's likely to follow me home in his squad car anyhow if I don't say yes, isn't he?" Ken chuckles and nods his square jaw, "I dare say so. Let the poor boy carry your books home for you, Isabelle." Only once Belle offers a nod of consent does Ken return to his perusal of the magazines. At this, Sheyna offers a solid nod, pleased by Belle's decision. "Tag will be by shortly after five then.

Just as Sheyna is turning upon her heel to depart, the door's bell chimes again and in strides a slender woman cradling a clipboard in the crook of one arm, her platinum blonde tresses bouncing about her narrow shoulders and blue eyes wide with purpose. Before anyone can offer her a hello, she flashes an all encompassing smile of dazzling white teeth and says in a lilting, feminine voice, "Hi hi, everyone!" Ken, not needing to turn about to recognize the woman whom he had spent countless years of marital blisslessness with, quickly gathers up an armload of magazines. "Barbie...dear." he says, adding the 'dear' as an obligatory afterthought, and moves to Belle's desk so that he may check out and take his leave. Picking up on the poor man's cue, the librarian swiftly jots down Ken's selections, and when she looks back up, she spies Barbie peering about her ex-husband's shoulder, inspecting his magazine choices. Ken's reading material obviously vexing her, Barbie arches one perfectly groomed, flaxen brow and says softly. "Really, Kenny. You don't have to read the fashion mags anymore, those days are over for you. Besides, someone might get the wrong idea seeing you with your nose buried in the latest issue of Cosmo." Ken sighs, taking up not only his Cosmopolitan but also several female geared publications and the latest edition of ONE, which Belle had started carrying specifically for him. He and Barbie had been over the issue of his sexuality time and time again, and the woman would likely forever be in denial.

Sheyna, having overheard the remark, unconsciously clenches both fists and with a curt goodbye and muttering something about officer Taggert, quickly makes her exit. Shortly after Sheyna, Ken manages his own escape, leaving Belle listening to Barbie discuss the sign up sheet for the Fall themed, amateur fashion show which she will be coordinating. It was not that Barbie was a bad person, she was just a tad oblivious to so many of the goings on around her if they fell outside the realm of appearances and social functions. In her opinion Kenneth was lucky to have gotten out when he had. Agreeing to hang the clipboard on the wall near the other sign up sheets, Belle directs a smile to form upon her lips. "Just pop back when you're ready to collect it." she says, already walking toward the door to see Barbie out. With another cover girl grin, Barbie waggles her French tipped fingers in a Hollywood wave and says, "Then I guess I'm off. You know, Belle...if you ever want to borrow anything a bit less...librarian looking, I still have all my favorites from my modeling days. Feel free to pop over any time. We could make a day of it." Belle's teeth tighten a bit at this yet she manages to retain her smile, giving the woman a nod rather than speak and say something she shouldn't. She watches out the door's large, glass pane until Barbie's bouncing form disappears down the block then with a sigh of release sets about shelving the new fantasy series she got in last week, enjoying the library's wonderful silence. 

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