Name: Anthony Darrow
Nicknames: --
Pronouns: He/Him
Age: 35
Birthday: April 20
Occupation: Head Librarian
Hobbies:
Gameboy -- Tony once found an forgotten Gameboy SP in the reading corner nearest the Young Adult section of the library. He put it in the Lost and Found at the front desk, as any good employee of a local library would, and waited for its owner to come looking for it. That owner never came, either never noticing it went missing or forgetting their time spent playing it in a house of reading. The fact that Tony ordered a charger for it online had nothing to do with the time he spent playing with it idly on his lunch breaks, nor was it related to him discovering the game, some sort of a puzzle situation, was quite addicting. He was curious about getting more games for it, though his resources and knowledge were limited. All he knew was more than enough time had passed for him to adopt the abandoned gaming device as his own. From time to time, one might find him in a used game store. Especially if they specialize in the retro.
Legends -- Tony has always had an appreciation for the written word, if his chosen occupation in life did not make that apparent. Away from his work, though, he still maintains an extensive collection of books and items centered around Arthurian legends. Avid in his interest, he spends some free time searching out rare oddities and beautifully bound editions for his personal collection. That said, he finds the subject of his focus often finds its own way to him, and has a hard time turning down an interesting purchase when he is out doing other things. More than once he has had to sprint home in the rain while sheltering a book, a tired, grumpy corgi, and half the groceries he actually had gone out to buy in the first place.
Baking -- A newer interest for the librarian, Tony has found himself spending his evenings at home trying out different ways of baking bread and pastries. He is still a beginner in this effort, but he has enough practice under his belt to feel comfortable sharing the fruits, or mostly buns and loafs, of his labor with those that visit the library. The smell of freshly baked bread now often lingers around the front desk of the library, where a tray of free, neatly wrapped and presented baked goods sits. Though Tony does make as many as he can, he is baking in his rather small kitchen at home, and has to maneuver bringing the trays into work in the morning. It is a very good idea to come to the library earlier in the day for the best freebies.
Pros:
A Mother Hen Kind -- Tony has a very gentle demeanor and a kind, giving heart. He cares deeply for others and often invests himself in the care and day to day lives of those around him. From the regulars that visit his library to the troubled he meets on the streets, Tony will do what he can for those that need him, and in whatever capacity that might take. He is not selfish, and gives what he can be parted with when the need arises, but also seems to always have time to listen and talk when someone just needs an ear. He worries about his friends and acquaintances, and will go out of his way to check in on them when things seem rough or troubled. He endeavors to make his library a safe, comfortable space for any denizen of the city, from the student to the workers and everyone in between. There are always basic amenities and resources spare and available for those in need.
Mine to Protect Chivalrous -- Who says chivalry is dead? Tony does his best to keep its essence alive and well by carrying himself with a strong sense of honor and duty. He applies this to all aspects of his life, from the way he goes out of his way to help others, to showing up to work on time and putting in his 110% every day. He holds doors for people behind him, and helps people and pets across the street. This demeanor of duty even extends to animals, as he always puts critters that get in the library outside or finds humane ways to invite unwanted pests to leave. Small things can mean a lot to those that pass him, two lives not destined to meet directly but still able to impact one another. With that in mind, he bears himself responsibly and nobly, answering to a personal calling to serve the world around him as a knight would serve a King. It just so happens that his kingdom is a library, and most of its people are actually books.
Make a Library a Home Comfortable -- Despite how stuffy the knights in his books and stories tend to be in their pursuits, Tony approaches his own life with a smile. He likes to be warm and friendly, though he is not the best with jokes and they are often beyond Dad level in execution. He does think laughter is the easiest way to break the ice, though, and that works in his favor. He is naturally on the awkward side, and it has taken many terrible attempts at conversation for him to realize that bumbling is just a part of his overall presentation. He uses it as a brand of charm, always wanting his library and the spaces he occupies to feel relaxed and welcoming. His sweet puppy, the trouble maker corgi Dogby, adds to this with her innocent exuberance and puppy wiles.
Cons:
Maybe Draw A Line Hero Complex -- It is very difficult to protect the city from inside a library and while robed in tweed rather than armor. In the day to day, Tony is not a knight of legend. Sometimes, he forgets that and allows his strong desires to help other to get in the way of his own life. He puts others first: even to the point of damaging himself. Be it in a physical way, by protecting someone in a fight or entering a dangerous situation in an effort to help where a professional might be a better choice. He has gotten his butt kicked more than once for sticking his nose in where it was not welcomed, but beyond that he has made efforts to help those that were not as open to the idea as he thought they might be. He does not mean to be pushy or to pry, but can oversteps his boundaries as a simple librarian when his protective instincts are in overdrive. On the other side of that, he also has very little power to say no to someone that asks him for help, even if it interrupts his life or causes him difficulty or harm.
Ever Creeping Shadows Anxious -- There is a lot to worry about in this world. Tony likes to worry about all of it, usually at once, and generally at night when sleeping would be a better choice. Sometimes, the immensity of it all gets too overwhelming, and his mind races with all the terrible things that may or may not be happening around him. He worries about the people he knows, about their problems, their lives. He worries about their health, if they're eating enough. He worries about Dogby and if she has water in her bowl, or if she's getting enough exercise. He worries about shadows in the corners of the alleys he passes during the day, when he gave them no thought before. Anxiety is his private dragon, and he feels like he does battle with it every now and then with ranging levels of success. It is not an every day thing, or even an every week or month thing. The trouble with this dragon is it shows up when it feels like it, sometimes without a warning that Tony can rationally trace. He feels he must face it alone, however, and does not talk to many people about it.
Act First, Think Later Reckless -- Tony has a habit of reacting to a situation in the moment. His instincts are strong and if someone needs protecting or help, he leaps in before he knows what is actually going on, or if there is a real danger to be wary of. He has no tolerance for violence toward others, but also no skills to fight back once he inserts himself into a fight. Sometimes, words are just not enough to calm a situation. He will attempt to catch falling books from shelves, put himself bodily between someone and an oncoming danger, or even draw the attention of dogs barking at a mail man. He advocates thought and care to others, but rarely takes the time to consider it for himself when faced with an emergency. Or an almost-could-be-emergency. Or, most often, something that was not that dire in the first place but at least it all turned out alright. This time.
General Appearance
Anthony Darrow is a tall gentleman with strong features and an average build. He is not the most athletic out there, but he does keep himself in shape with walks and a rigorous work routine. Books can be alarming heavy, and there are a lot of stairs in the library. His face is kind, square but with a prominent nose and strong jaw. He keeps a neatly trimmed beard and goatee, brown like his hair and thick eyebrows. He tries to keep his hair neat, but it tends to have a mind of its own, and he does not try to hide the salt and pepper, ever increasing, from his stress. His eyes are deep and warm, lacking any kind of edge or malice, and a soft olive green in color. He is not very adventurous in his attire, opting for tweed and blazers, slacks and button up shirts or vests for his day to day at the library. He does own a very worn brown leather jacket that he wears on his days off, when the weather allows and he does no think he'll run into anyone that knows him.
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