Welcome to Gaia! ::

Today, the calmest place Ever had been able to find in the library was on the second floor, nestled with his back up against a row of battered novels. It was away from the concerned and worried looks that Tony tended to give him, and at this hour of the day, a relatively quiet area to sit. Late enough in the afternoon that most of the women who indulged in these books were at home with their kids, he wasn't too concerned about blocking the flow of traffic down the aisle...

He was still in reach of the book cart, able to pretend at any moment that he was doing his job should the awkward-and-distinctive clopping of limping Tony came creeping down the aisle, but with a book open in front of him. The pages were covered in scenes of cattle-driving, it looked like: somewhere in Arizona, faded photographs taken with a long-outdated camera. He was immersed, fingers holding water-stained pages in place as his eyes scanned the words...

For a long moment, it seemed like he wasn't even going to acknowledge her harumphing summons, opting instead to stare intently at the description of several Spanish hunting knives -- or perhaps of the strange rope-like weapons above them. When his eyes finally did flick upward, it was a subtle look. Mostly hidden by a too-long mess of white hair, he watched her, trying to decide if she was the sort who'd give up and run off or the sort who would stomp down to the front desk and complain that one of the employees had been rude to her.

Apparently, he decided on the latter. With a quiet breath of a sigh, he straightened and stretched out his legs, raising his eyebrows at the girl. "Lost?"

It looked less interesting once he'd closed it -- the cover was the boring brown of an old encyclopedia, informative non-fiction written in the driest of dry tones. Ever, however, had seemed wrapped up in, probably because he was avoiding actually working with every method he could. His book cart was still rather full, and he was getting toward the end of his shift. In the last hour he'd probably put everything away...

For now, though, an eyebrow raised, he looked at the shelf above her head. After a moment, he marked his page and stood, easing forward a couple steps. He was tall enough that he probably wouldn't even have to go up on his toes.

"Which one?" His tone was somewhat dubious. He wasn't sure about this section of books...

"I wasn't reading, I was researching." It was tossed absently down at her, his fingers walking across the spines of the books and -- pausing. Her choose of reading material was rather innocent, for this section of the library. His eyes had lingered on something a little less soo. Pulling the book out a mere two or three inches showed a rather risque cover, a broad expanse of massive man-chest. Ever had to bite down on a noise, flicking a sideways look down at her as he pushed it back into place.

He pulled out the right one for her, instead, but as he handed it over his attention wandered back to the spines. His tone went mildly teasing, amused. "What are you reading, here?"

"Romance." Okay, yes, his tone was definitely teasing, at this point, with a suggestive rumble behind it as his eyes danced over the spines of the books at eye-level. Most of them weren't schoolhouse appropriate -- not with those covers -- and he raised an eyebrow in question down at her.

"Is that what they're calling it these days." A grin. No longer worried that she might go tattling on him, perhaps. Or maybe just too caught up in the moment to remember that might be a concern...

"Honey, I work in the library." Only mildly sarcastic, but he hoped it made his point: Ever was a man of books. Maybe, if he owned a TV, he'd indulge more in the visual aspects of storytelling -- but even then, The Scarlet Letter wouldn't be the kind of thing he'd choose to watch. Period pieces. Television didn't do them justice.

"Do you, uh, do you read anything else?" He didn't even try to keep the amusement out of his tone of voice, dark eyes drinking in the highly inappropriate ones as opposed to the pretty romance. He'd probably come back and look more seriously, later. Or, well, maybe seriously was the wrong word.

"I could probably find you something that's, um, romantic but..." With more literary value? He didn't come out and say it.

Ever's expression went slack, distracted, as he pondered the possibilities. Romance actually hadn't been particularly high on his reading list, back when he was still restricted to what his parents considered 'worthwhile novels', and the ones that had been campy, romantic, had never hit him quite right. Wilting violet women pining after jackass men...not exactly his idea of a good story.

So Pride and Prejudice was right out, anyway; besides, she'd probably read that one herself. Something else clicked in his head and his eyes lit back up, focusing on her as he started back.

She was probably expecting a jaunt into fiction. Instead Ever drew her along into reference. He might have been a slacker, but he did at least know the library. Long fingers danced over books unfamiliar authors until he made a satisfied noise and drew one out.

Doubtful Alexis would be thrilled with his selection. Ovid's Metamorphoses looked like a dry translation of a dry poem. Probably because it was. But it was also very romantic.

"I'm Ever. And, uh..." His eyes took in her stack of books, considering, weight rolling on the balls of his feet. A true gentleman would have offered to carry them for her, to help her along to the front desk. It might have been wise for Ever, too, because then Tony could have taken in just how useful Ever was to have around, hopefully drive away the last of concerns from his impromptu work off.

The book he'd left marked near his book cart was pulling him back in that direction, though, so instead he shook his head and backed up in that direction. His eyes were bright. "Just tell Tony I was helpful."