January 6th, 1890 — Crowdy Library

After taking something of a hiatus on her research over the Christmas holiday, Juliana was eager to jump back into things. The manuscript for her book was already in and she was waiting on comments and revisions from her editor, so she had shifted her attention to another focal area. As much as she rejected Piccardy's "scholarship" out of hand, his early criticism of her work had been sticking in her mind. She trusted her sources, and what was more, she trusted herself to discern when her sources were being forthcoming and when there was something hidden — but she could not expect scholars, who would never meet her or her subjects, to have that same trust. She needed to do some physical experiments, she had decided, to provide some proof that the people she was talking to actually were inflicted with lycanthropy.

Unfortunately, chemistry and anatomy were far removed from qualitative interviews, which had been the focus of her work so far. She needed to get a functional knowledge of multiple subjects quickly if she were going to do any serious work. To that end, she'd spent a free afternoon more or less pillaging the library. She'd filled a book bag at her side and stacked up quite the tower in her arms, and was carefully treading towards the counter. She had quite a ways to go and was making slow progress, however, so when she saw a cart pull out in front of her in the aisle she immediately tried to get the attention of the man pushing it.

"Sorry to be a bother, but perhaps I could borrow that cart? Oh! Mr. Ainsworth! Hello," she said pleasantly, peeking over the top of her book tower.

Timothy Ainsworth Roberto Devine

  

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Prof. Marlowe Forfang

Jules

Timothy was doing one of his favorite things about being Head Librarian. Carefully cataloging everything and making sure things were in their right place. Lazy library patrons tended to just stick random books anywhere and it was one of the banes of his existence. He was idly moving through one of the aisles when he caught sight of a mountain of books with legs.

And a mildly familiar voice that was followed by the sight of a familiar face now that he had a better look. "Oh, of course. Quite a bit of reading to do, I see," Timothy said, lending a helping hand by setting the top half of her horde onto his cart. Timothy had an urge to ask her if she had seen the thing in the paper about Forfangs book deal but figured launching immediately into conversation about something that was causing a hoopla in the scholarly world might be a bit rude. He should at least get past some pleasantries first.

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"It is quite a bit, isn't it?" she said with a half-sigh, wondering if his comment was a veiled criticism and he was trying to imply she had far too many. Did librarians like it when people checked out a lot of books, because it meant the library was being used, or did they dislike it because it created more work for them than someone coming in and reading books off the shelves would? She could imagine, too, that with a stack such as this someone might think she was being too scattered or indecisive with her selections, and that she ought to narrow it down and leave some books for other patrons interested in the same subject.

"I'm not planning to read them all cover to cover," she explained, with a slight flush. "I'm picking up a new hobby and thought I might need to reference them... but I promise I won't have them out for too long," she continued as she unloaded more of her stack to the cart.

  

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Prof. Marlowe Forfang

Jules

A positive intial impression from their first meeting developed into a genuine like of this woman. Anyone who read this much was someone he could be friend with, easily. He was rather curious about what she was reading up on. "Chemistry? I confess I enjoy dabbling a bit in it myself." Though really that meant accidentally blowing up his inventions work shop and generally annoying his neighbors with his banging and hammering. "If you should like help, I am glad to provide it."

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"Oh," Juliana said, smile fading slightly as she lightly bit her lower lip. It was so nice of him to offer, but of course she couldn't agree to accept any help. How could she have explained anything she was trying to do without giving too much away? Of course, she was seeking outside help already, but she'd tried to be discreet about it — someone she could write letters to and send samples and conduct experiments with, without ever giving up her identity. Not exactly the type of relationship she had with Mr. Ainsworth.

"It's kind of you to offer," she said, cheeks flushing slightly. "But I really wouldn't want to be a bother. It's only a hobbyist's interest, anyway, and nothing too serious," she lied.

  

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Prof. Marlowe Forfang

Jules

"If you're sure but if it involves chemistry, I do have some other books I think you might like to look through. They are books on advanced alchemy." They were kept on top shelves because while they were available to the public, they were considered 'too advanced' by most. Most people overlooked them completely which Timothy felt was a waste.

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"Oh!" Juliana said, pleasantly surprised by this turn of events. She'd been worried that he might be put out by her refusal of his offer to help, but it seemed that wasn't the case at all. He was still offering to help, but in a way that was much more palatable to her as it allowed her to keep her purpose and the focus of her study secret. "That would be so lovely. If it's not too much trouble — I mean, I wouldn't want to take too much of your time," she said with a sympathetic smile. She expected that he might be busy — though she supposed she wasn't sure what he might be busy with. Helping people find books was sort of his job, wasn't it?

  

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Prof. Marlowe Forfang

Jules

"Oh, not at all. It's all part of the job." Plus Timothy loved imparting knowledge even if it was in the form of books he had read. Taking out his wand, he went to the row of shelves that housed the books on potions and alchemy. Using a levitating spell, he brought the books from the highest shelf down into his arms and brought them over to her. He wasn't sure what she was aiming for but they would likely be a big help.

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"Now the only question is how I'm going to get all of these home," Juliana said with a laugh as the new collection of books were levitated down and added to her pile. She had rather overdone it, she expected. It wasn't a long walk home from the Crowdy Library, but since she hadn't been able to make it down to the front desk, she wasn't sure she liked her chances on the streets of London.

  

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Prof. Marlowe Forfang

Jules

"Might I suggest an expanding-charmed bag?" Timothy said with a chuckle and the tone of one that could all too easily relate with her current predicament.

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"Ever practical," Juliana responded with a smile. "I didn't even bring a bag today, so I may be in a bit of a bind all the same. Perhaps I can ask your staff to hold these at the desk for me a quarter of an hour so that I can run home for something," she speculated with a slight chuckle. She certainly wasn't going to be able to carry them all home in her arms, so that was likely the only way forward.

"But thank you so much for you help, Mr. Ainsworth," she concluded brightly.

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Prof. Marlowe Forfang

Jules