Rowan sat huddled up on their bed. The picture they made would have been odd to anyone who knew the Nixie freshling; draped over his neck was Weird, in his lap was Monster, and perched on the bed frame itself was Annoying. It wasn't that Rowan ever mistreated their familiars, but he rarely engaged in spending time with them. Creating distractions to keep them from bothering him at his studies, sure, but cuddles or conversations weren't really the Nixie's thing. But there they were, petting slime and coatl and even cockatriel, and taking comfort from their presence. Life had been turned completely upside down for him, what with the lockdown and that creepy broadcast. With no one he really felt comfortable around to seek out comfort from. Not that it ever bothered them when they had their routine of class and studying, but now they wished they'd put a little more importance into a social relationship. Feeling lost and a bit scared, but unwilling to go to someone to admit it, Rowan had taken shelter in his room, tried to find comfort with his familiars, and tried to distract himself with memories of places that made him feel most at home.
The library was the most recurring place to come to mind. Shelves filled with books in rows upon rows, all full of interesting and challenging things to know. How peaceful and quiet it was there. The smell of paper, ink, wood, and a hint of dust. It made their heart long to be in this place that promised safety and shelter, even as their head knew that it probably wouldn't be the same. Perhaps he could try to find one of the librarians. They didn't really talk much, except to steer him to particular books, but maybe it would help calm him down. But Rowan didn't want to get up and break the fragile peace they'd been building. Instead they continued alternating between petting Monster, Weird, and Annoying (the later making little grumbling sounds as they cleaned slime out of their feathers) turned their mind back to the library. It was really a nice place. Most libraries were. Perhaps that was what they'd do when they finished school. It didn't sound all that difficult or grand a job, but librarians had to be quite educated and knowledgeable to do their jobs. A lot of work went into organizing, upkeep, and up-to-date knowledge of where and what everything was, so they could help people visiting those vast halls of knowledge find what it was they needed. Some of the very best librarians could help you find things you didn't even know you needed until you found it. It would probably be really nice to be a librarian.
Nursing this dream in their heart, they tried their best to leave behind the uncertainty and fear of current times, and let their mind drift off to dreams of a more peaceful future, and the wondrous library they would surely one day care for.
