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The front of Book's is just as claustrophobic and bibliophillic as ever. Nevermore is browsing the shelves, looking distracted, while an older man with graying brown hair and a severe expression sits behind the desk, reading from an old and dusty book.
Adam gingerly pushes open the door, and eases his body into the shop. He stops for a moment when he enters, scanning through the books before plucking several off the shelves. He then makes his way over to Nevermore and nods. "Hi there! I'm here about a book I ordered?" He says, shooting a questioning glance at the older gentleman.
The man looks up from his book, expression curious, but Nevermore jumps in. "I didn't have time to pull it yet. I'll show him to it, Mr. Book. Is that okay?" The man eyes Nevermore for a few moments, then makes a gesture of dismissal and goes back to his reading. Nevermore sighs and gestures Adam to follow them. "I swear, he gives me the creeps," They say under their breath. "He's not mean, just... I feel like he can tell how many library books I forgot to return when I was a kid, you know?"
Adam follows behind Nevy replying quietly, "I know what you mean. My mother is just like that." After they enter the back room Adam sets his books down, and takes a seat on anything that isn't a book or holding books. "Alright two things. One, did you also see the stuff on the broadcasts?"
Nevy holds up a hand. They close and lock the doorway on the small storage room, then nod. "They threatened you, too?"
Adam nods, appearing unconcerned. "Yeah, they did. I'm still trying to figure out what trick they used to do that. It wasn't like any spirit power I've ever seen. But, that's all they did to you, right? No attacks or horse heads in your bed?"
Nevy shakes their head. "Not yet. I'm... a bit spooked, I have to admit." They gesture around them. "It's why I'm trying to get this room set up for a bit of privacy."
Adam looks around and nods. "It's a good place. If you want advice or help, I'd be happy to be of service. And if you don't quite trust me for that, Dandelion is..." A short pause. "Actually Dandelion probably has more experience fortifying positions than I do."
Nevermore smiles and chuckles. "I planned to ask her. Although if you have any advice, I'm all ears." They take a seat at the folding card table in the middle of the room. "So... what else is up?"
"Uh, off the top of my head, your door is only as good as the frame it's attached to, and deadbolts with only one side exposed are your best choice for a place like this." Adam says after thinking for a moment. "But there's a security expert on Youtube that's got good advice for the basic mundane stuff. MarchWalker and some numbers."
He settles a bit more in his chari, and tents his hands. "So, I just wanted to make sure I didn't come off as a complete ass to you at Maddy's. And maybe answer more questions about the Mysterium, if you had any."
Nevy chuckles. "I love Marchwalker. Trust me,, I'll be making use of as much of his advice as I can," They raise an eyebrow. "Not... a complete ass, maybe. What you were describing... doesn't really appeal to me, though."
"And that's reasonable." Adam sighs. "I was mostly just explaining my role in the Order, and got a bit sidetracked from the other things we do, like conservation, research, and containment."
"But what do you do with all that stuff you're SCP-ing?" Nevy says, looking skeptical. "If knowledge is power, you guys must be collecting a hell of a lot of it. What are you using that knowledge and power to do?
"We exchange it. We make it available to the Mages who need it for reasonable prices." Adam admits. "Some of it we keep locked away until it's absolutely needed because of how dangerous it is. But mostly we try to piece together the objective Truth of the world, and preserve it."
They blink. "So... you're the magic library?"
"Sometimes, yeah!" Adam grins. "I'd say we're more of a magic college or university internally, but publicly we are most definitely a magic library."
They nod. "So... are you just telling me so I know, or are you wanting to recruit me to join up? Would I even be able to join up, as a Sleepwalker or whatever you call it?"
"I'm telling you this partly so you know what we offer, and partly as a recruitment pitch. You can definitely join if you want. Continuing the college metaphor, you'd be like a TA or an intern. It's not the most glorious job, but you'd be on even footing with the mages for the most part."
Nevy eyes him. "As a TA. How long has it been since you were in college?"
"Never went!" Adam says with a big grin. "Why, is being the teacher's assistant a bad deal? I thought they did research and taught classes?"
"It means 'Teacher's assistant.' They teach the low-level classes full professors can't be bothered to do. Act as gophers and stuff. Not exactly 'equal footing.'"
"Well that's disappointing to hear." Adam frowns. "Maybe a better analogy would be a researcher's assistant? But it's not a bad gig, regardless of the analogy."
Nevy shakes their head. "Still 'assistant.' I don't want to be someone's sidekick. I'm not Robin or Watson. I want to be my own person."
Adam nods. "Totally get you. I worked my ass off to get the position of being the 'professor'. And here in this Consilium you'd probably have a fair shot at getting there."
Nevy raises an eyebrow. "Given how you described the organization? I hope you'll excuse a note of skepticism."
Adam raises an eyebrow back. "What, like a college? Are those places really that bad? Should I stop using that metaphor in the future?"
"That's not it - although trying to use the metaphor if you don't actually have any experience to back it up is a little, uh... dicey?" They shake their head. "But every single thing you've told me about the Mysterium says that I'd be a second-class citizen at best. Assistant professor. Assistant researcher. A mere mortal who'll get any real magic I find taken away from me with a pat on the head and a 'good job, kiddo, but that toy's too dangerous for you. Maybe when you're older." Their voice is sarcastic, and it sounds as though they're working to keep the bite out of it - and not quite succeeding.
They shake their head and spread their arms, showing off their coat in its resplendent drama. "Do I look like someone who's willing to settle for second fiddle to you?"
"No, you don't." Adam shakes his head. "And it really isn't like that. You'd get research that you could understand, and the tools you'd need to handle it. In all likelihood, given your abilities you'd could be a Savant, someone specialized in one particular field."
Nevy sighs. "This might just be because of how the conversation's gone until now, but do you have any idea how condescending 'research that I could understand' sounds in this context?"
"Ah, yeah, I heard it as soon as I said it." Adam rubs the back of his head. "But for example, I definitely can't explain ghosts, hell I don't even have a way to see them until they manifest. So what do you think would happen if the Order put me in charge of researching them?"
Nevy shakes their head. "Look. I respect that you went running toward it when you heard someone screaming at the parking garage. I really do. That says something about you I can appreciate. But when it comes to recruitment? It might be time to take the L, okay?"
Adam chuckles. "Yeah, probably. I'm just digging more holes in the hole I want to get out of here, aren't I?"
Nevy pats him on the arm. "Any deeper and you'll find the foul, eldritch gods man forgot in ancient days."
"And those assholes are no fun to fight." Adam jokes. Probably. "Well, now that I've thoroughly made an ass of myself, I should be going, unless you have other questions I can embarrass myself on." He randomly selects a book from a pile that happens to be the book he actually ordered. "Nice chatting with you, Nevermore."
"Have you learned anything more about how we can stop those things, beyond what we already talked about?"
Adam shakes his head. "Sorry, no. I'm looking into banes, but it'll just be in general until I can test out some other stuff on them."
Nevy nods. "I haven't found anything on the rats themselves. If they have disease spirits following them, though? Fire, all the way."
"Fire is the great purifier." Adam agrees as he absentmindedly fiddles with a lighter in his pant pocket. "But it has to be controlled, otherwise it might be bad for the Shadow."
"And for any people nearby." Nevy says with a lopsided smile.
Adam smiles back. "And for those nearby. But I can control the fire like it's my own hand, so it's not likely to do anything I don't want it to."
Nevy eyes him. "Okay," They say begrudgingly. "That's... not uncool."
Adam grins. "Glad you approve! I could show you some time, when we aren't surrounded by books."
Nevy eyes him. "Only if you promise not to try to recruit me again."
"I swear I'm usually better at it." Adam shakes his head. "But yes, I won't try to recruit you again."
Nevermore nods. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Shoot."
"Why recruit me? Is it, like, a standard issue 'try to snag the sleepwalker' thing, or do I, as myself, have anything to offer your club?"
"Why you?" Adam stops and stares incredulously. "You came charging headlong down into that parking garage for a stranger who screamed with no back up, no weapon that I could see, and no armor. That's why I want to recruit you Nevermore. Because you're a hero."
Nevy snorts. "A hero? Hardly. Heroes have backup, weapons, armor, and plans."
Adam shakes his head. "Heroes want those things. They like them. But at the end of the day, what makes a hero is the courage to try and help people."
Nevy shrugs. "Agree to disagree," They say, chuckling. "I can't even fight."
"And? Who says you have to be able to fight? Malala Yousafzai can't fight, but she's a hero." Adam folds his arms across his chest. "You're too hung up on comic heroes here."
Nevy chuckles. "She's probably smarter than I am."
Adam snorts. "It doesn't take smart, strength, wit, or any other superhero nonsense to be a hero. It takes courage, a willingness to do what's right, and the ability to inspire the fire in other people's hearts."
Nevy looks wry. "I mean... to a point, but I'd say that knowing what's right and being able to effectively do it make a difference, too."
"Well, you know what's right, and have the ability to do the right thing effectively, don't you?" Adam counters.
"Do I?" They look at him with a lopsided smile.
Adam nods. "You do. I can tell you that much, beyond a doubt."
They shrug, chuckling. "I hope so."
Adam sighs. "Well, you asked about the reason I was trying to recruit you, and I'm not going to lie to you about something that simple. Any other questions before I leave?"
Nevy shakes their head. "Thanks. For what it's worth, I do try to do the right thing - and I think you do too."
"Alright. Take care of yourself Nevermore, and I'll see you around." Adam says as he leaves to pay for his books.
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