Books Are Magic for everyone

"You flatter again." Rivkah just smiled, at ease. She laughed, shaking her head. "Seems like quite a bit of change to go through just to avoid creaky limbs. I might believe it more if you said it was to keep that youthful charm of yours." She turned away for a moment and hummed, tapping her fingers along the cup she'd been given. "A couple hundred years never seemed like something I'd see, you know. It still feels a bit fantastical. I'm not sure it's for me." At the next question, though, she faced Meena fully. "Sun-Hee is quite the brilliant witch. Gifted. Smart. She just needed a guiding hand when she was getting started out." A small shake of her head. "She's far surpassed me now, but I still wish to support her. Hence the--" gestured to herself, between them. "Though truthfully, I'm not sure the age thing has crossed her mind. We're a little focused on retrieving our stolen grimoire right now."

Finishing up on signing the last page of a form, Donna set it aside before moving to sit next to Rivkah rather than the seating opposite of her, sighing. "Tea might be the right move. I can always make myself some coffee later." Or a glass of wine, depending on what the night called for. Time would only tell. "I've only had a few more of these than you have," she stated wryly, taking a sip. "But there's always a certain amount of stress, I've noticed. It's hard sometimes to get everyone to agree. Though things are not always so... contentious."

Donna let out a quiet laugh. "You didn't cast a spell on my secretary, did you? Because that would be very rude, Ms. Rothbard." She gave Rivkah a long look, at the way she smiled, at how she settled into Donna's space so easily. Donna took another drink. "You haven't been here long enough. I don't know yet if you're bothering me or not."

What a treat, to have Donna join her on the couch. Rivkah would take whatever win she could get, especially when it came to her companion. Most would describe Donna as "prickly" or "brusque", but, truthfully, Rivkah found her to be neither of those things. Donna was a woman who knew what she wanted and who commanded authority, two qualities she herself admired. "That's still a few more than me," she said back, leaning back on the couch and crossing her legs, proper as always. "A lot of strong headed people in one room usually tends to end up arguing more than agreeing, I've found. Too many cooks and all that." The difference was that they were meant to compromise despite their disagreements. She hoped they'd be able to all work towards that. At the very least, Rivkah knew it would be easy to agree with Donna and her advisor, the Deputy Sheriff, on most things.

Rivkah smirked over her cup and took another sip of her tea. "I would never do such a thing." Truthfully, she hadn't needed to. Despite Rivkah's much more relaxed demeanor in comparison to Donna's, she had a reputation in the town of her own. She got what she wanted because she knew how to take it. Perhaps another thing they had in common, even if Donna was quieter about it all. "Is that your way of saying I can stay?'

Rivkah understood where Sun-Hee was coming from-- in regards to not only their community, but to the council themselves, it felt as if they had a lot of ground to make up for. A lot to prove. That they would not fumble their positions in the way their predecessors had. "I agree," she stated after a moment of contemplation. Not that she ever would've disagreed with that. "In front of the others, we must appear unified. Our disagreements are our business only. I'll make sure to always give you my support in meetings."

Now perhaps wasn't the time to say it, but Rivkah truly was proud of her former student. She'd always known Sun-Hee was destined for greatness, it was just nice to be able to see it come to fruition herself, and to be there next to her, still able to help her. "You know my respect for you knows no bounds as well." She gave her a steady smile. "We're a team."

Once he'd handed over the paperwork, Will dedicated his full and undivided attention to Rivkah, listening as she told her side of things. It was as different a life from his own as he could possibly imagine: growing up in a place where magic was common and unquestioned, waiting for your powers to come like you waited for the day you got your driver's license. "Did you ever do it?" he asked curiously. "Leave? I know humans can't, not without forgetting everything, but--" He let the question fade away, not sure if it was considered rude to ask someone their species.

"You'll adjust in time, I promise." Rivkah was a realist, sure, but at the end of the day, she wasn't out to hurt anyone. She wanted to help, to make things easier. Which, it seemed there might be more of a way for her to, in this situation, as she perked up at the mention of Will's young sister being a witch. "Oh? Your sister is a witch, then?" She leaned over just enough to glance once again at the two teenagers amongst the shelves. Bartholomew himself was a witch, too, one in the coven, which was why Rivkah knew him all too well. "Have you talked to her at all about joining the coven?" She nodded towards them. "Barry there is in it, as well as his mother. She'd be able to meet a few others who are like her, too, and around her age. And, you know, between you and me, if you have any questions, I'd love to answer them for you, considering I'm the advisor of said coven." She grinned at him, gave a wink.

Rivkah took his papers and opened the system to start transferring them into the computer, her least favorite part of this job. "I did, yes," she answered after a moment, not looking up from the screen quite yet. There was, perhaps, something wistful about her voice when she spoke again. "You wouldn't forget everything. Just-- what you've encountered here. The people, the magic." She understood it to be difficult, mostly on those who they left behind. "For her, she'd be okay. Leaving. But it's dangerous out there for people like her. Us. Here, she's well protected." For the most part, at least. She'd be much more so if she was in the coven, too, but Rivkah wasn't looking to fearmonger anyone into joining. Only present the facts and let them decide on their own.

"No, of course it's not their responsibility. I simply meant I knew, before our appointment to the council, they had discussed it amongst themselves." Rivkah tapped her fingers on the table. "But if we're discussing this here, then I suppose they found nothing." It figured. The rest of the council wasn't-- and shouldn't-- be as concerned about the missing grimoire and the witch who had betrayed them. She nodded her agreement. "No objections," she answered easily, her face showing none of the disdain and disgust she felt towards the previous Supreme. "We will get our grimoire back and she will pay for her crimes against not just the coven but witches as a whole."

It was a meeting that hadn't gone quite as Donna would have expected, and one that would continue again at a later date. As Donna had worked to gain her footing over the last few months in the new position, she hadn't voiced many of the concerns that she had. It was a bit of a hot potato sort of situation: Professor anak Bandi ran, he dropped, she ran, Vivek stepped in as her advisor, he stepped down, Lupe stepped up, and through it all was a merry go round of cycling witches before settling on two individuals that Donna believed were more than capable of doing their job. If only everyone could make it through the next few agenda points.

So, Donna sought out comfort in her office at Cove & Associates. Her home was nice, and she enjoyed being there, but she wanted time to work, to engross herself in something, and this was the place for it. The Coalition was important to her, and the council was a part of that, but this was her job. One that she had dedicated the majority of her life to. Here, there was comfort and control, and even the unexpected knock on the door didn't startle her, especially when she heard a familiar voice. "I'm surprised you made it past the lobby without an appointment," she teased, already motioning for Rivkah to take a seat at the small couch and coffee table across from her desk.. "I must have forgot to say that I didn't want to be bothered."

Sauntering into the room, Rivkah did as she was instructed and sat on the couch, patting the spot near her in hopes that Donna would join her. "I brought your favorite," she said, setting the cup across from her on the coffee table, as further incentive. "I know you prefer coffee, but I feel some calming tea might be in better form after that meeting. Are they always like that?" It was meant as both a tease and an actual question. While Rivkah knew things could get tense or stressful, she'd never imagined one of the leaders would simply leave the room. But with what had happened to them, it was understandable, in a way.

"Oh, please," Rivkah gave a dismissive wave, "she tried to stop me. She failed, obviously, but she tried, so don't be too hard on the secretary up front." She gave no further explanation, just smiled. Donna's dry sarcasm was one of the things Rivkah liked most about her. "Am I bothering you?" she hummed, sipping her tea.

"Hmmm," Rivkah hummed, "you are quite the exception." Despite knowing Meena was strictly spoken for, Rivkah was too used to complimenting the Clan leader, Mayor elect, and old friend to stop just because of that. She smiled, sipped her coffee, and let herself enjoy the company. It seemed as if Meena might need this more than her and she was more than happy to let her have this. "True, I'll give you that, but at least you're bones didn't start creaking the moment you turned fifty." A wry grin tugged up one side of her mouth as she eyed her companion. "Truthfully, I'm more than glad. I'd rather leave the future to the younger generation, anyway. My time passed, unfortunately, under the leadership of two ill picked heads." Her disdain for both Yasmin and Poppy wasn't anything she'd tried to hide, especially now that the previous coven leader had taken off with their grimoire. "Well, thank you, either way. You're not just saying that to make feel better, are you?" Another tease, this one accompanied by a soft bump of their shoulders.

"Hi," Meena cast a soft smile Rivkah's way as she extended the coffee she had brought for the newly appointed advisor out towards her. "I know it can be hard to find time to celebrate in this town, but I do think congratulations are in order, for both our win back at Capture the Flag and for your newly appointed advisor position."

"Oh, please," Rivkah said with a dismissive wave, "there's hardly any reason to celebrate that. But--" she took the offered drink-- "I suppose I'll make an exception for you." She gave a sweeping motion to the spot next to her for Meena to sit. "And thank you. Honestly, I was a little relieved when I was passed over for Supreme. Leave that to the younger of my ilk. Unlike you vampires, I only seem to get more tired with age."

He hummed. "You are kind. I imagine the humans who live in Lunar Cove, they know sometimes what it is to live and not remember. Do you know...I believed myself human for many years. Fae, after their first life, can be born among them. How strange. To belong to mortals and also not." He nodded. "I do. There is much good in the world, much beauty. We are custodians of it, and my vocation does not take that for granted. The bees left Lunar Cove for a time. They have returned. And you? You guard well the books? Knowledge?" Ignacio grinned. "Like kerfuffle. It means...a confusion, you understand. A large mess."

Ignacio sighed, a dreamy noise. "So some have told me, but I merely read the words of others. Or perhaps we are all poets. We have been for many, many generations, striving to make sense of what we are, of what we feel. This time of year, I think of 'Alysoun.' How we still yearn seven centuries later. Ich libbe in love longinge, for semlokest of alle thinge."

"Of course," Rivkah nodded, "though I'd take you at your word even without you being fae. You seem like an honest man to me." Which was one of the greatest compliments, coming from her. Not that she'd say that, but perhaps the implication was there. "We do! We have plenty of DVDs and maybe even a few VHS's, though I might have to dig deeper for those." Her brow raised. "You don't have a TV? Well, now that I think about it, I suppose I barely use mine. Most people watch on their computers or phones now. Gone are the days of gathering in front of the tube with friends or family and watching your show after dinner." She said this with a wistful edge, as if it were an experience she'd had. It wasn't. That wasn't worth mentioning.

Rivkah laughed. "Both, truly. Bees are such adorable and important little creatures. Misunderstood and feared for little reason."

Rivkah tutted. "I'm honest. There's a difference." She listened to him speak, nodding along. "Yes, I've heard that's a thing that can happen. How oddly jarring. I don't think I would've handled being born among humans well." She smiled and tapped the books. "Yes. Knowledge-- and the books-- are well protected and shared. Because we must always remember to share knowledge and not hoard it." The word made her laugh. "Well, really, aren't all words just made up?"

The sounds made Rivkah feel soft again. She leaned back against the shelves. It'd been so long since she'd had a nice conversation about poetry. "I do so believe us all to be poets. Inside, at least. Some of us are just able to translate that feeling to paper."

It wasn't enough to cleanse the room to make space for her energy. After Sun-Hee found out about the former supreme hiding stolen items in her business establishment the reigning supreme tore coven headquarters apart. When she was certain the space was safe and unassailable from being incriminated she made a point to schedule a much needed meeting with her chosen advisor. A woman whom Sun-Hee had admired for many years. A witch she had once called teacher and whose wisdom was still valued by the Supreme. The ancestors dismal of Rivkah as supreme for her defiance was not a red flag, rather the confirmation of a series of events that felt like destiny.

A kismet that did not come without great effort and intention. Her determination to be Supreme a journey of preparation, and she was ready to hit the ground running. "My immediate priorities." Sun-Hee handed over a tablet, the screen open to a document she'd typed up to guide their meeting. "I'd like to start with.." There was no shortage of problems for the coven and all witches in Lunar Cove. Both internal and external forces had conspired against them. Recovery would be no easy feat, but Sun-Hee was thoughtfully confident they would accomplish much for their community together. "The stolen grimoire." In her mind, it was decided. The coven's grimoire could not remain in the hands of a treacherous criminal, nor could that offender be allowed to go without punishment. Justice was a necessity for morale, as the grimoire was to cementing their power and stability.

Humming, Rivkah took the offered tablet, tapping the screen. While she much preferred a packet of papers, something tactile to put her hands on, she'd learned in the past half a decade that refusing to change would only leave her behind. So she didn't even complain as she scrolled the document on the tablet, and, really, that was a compliment in itself.

Her good mood was soured immediately by the subject matter. Not at Sun-Hee, never at her. But at the reminder of the old Supreme, the woman who had left their entire coven in shambles and run off with their grimoire. It was beyond criminal-- it was betrayal. To be so petty and low. Rivkah's disdain for Poppy grew with every day. "Has anyone been able to track her down yet?" she asked, then, setting the tablet down to look Sun-Hee in the eyes. To say she was proud of the young witch was a grievous understatement. Rivkah had known her as a child and watched her grow into the woman she was today, sitting at the head of the coven. "I know a few council members were on it but I haven't heard much after."

"Yes, you can," Rivkah nodded, taking the rest of her books and scanning them back in. She set them aside and reached for the new pile. "Now that's a house. I can't say I would condone such a tripping hazard, but we must all make do sometimes, yes?" She grinned easily. "It took me ages to get all my shelves installed and filled, but it was well worth the time. A room just for books is a good room instead." She handed the newly checked out pile back over to Leyla. "I would hope they aren't my books. Those ones are for sharing," she teased. "No need to fret, darling. You can overshare about books here anytime. It's the library, after all. I think you'd be in good company."

"I always think improvements can be made. I value your input." Rivkah was one of the few people he trusted to even have an opinion on New Leaf. He had spent so much time curating the store into a place people would love. He'd only trust the word of another bibliophile. Without hesitation, Daniel grabbed a pen and paper from the counter and began scribbling what Rivkah was saying in only chicken scratch he could make out. "Shakespeare is one who's always taught, so I'll make sure he's front, center, and stocked. Just like the rest of them. I think you should. Female authors deserved to have their works read and studied all the same." He paused. "Maybe a section just dedicated to them? It could garner interest that students might write their own letters as well to have these works included in their curriculum."

In truth, Daniel could always use someone like Rivkah in his life. He noticed a pattern of strong-willed women in his life. He was soft, something he would never apologize for. If anything, his mother had applauded his big heart when he was growing up. He had such a capacity to love. Although, in a way, he feared it now as it was all too entangled with loss. Still, he happily sat in the presence of Rivkah. Watching her move through space unapologetically. He hoped one day some of her confidence could rub off on him. "Any others besides Virginia Woolf I should add?"

"A good philosophy to have," Rivkah stated, nodding, "one we happen to share." For all the competitiveness Rivkah may have felt towards Daniel (reciprocated or not), it was an honor to be actually trusted with this task. Not that she felt as if she hadn't earned it or wasn't good enough for it, but that it was still nice to know someone else appreciated her knowledge. "He's an important historical figure as much as his writing. A truly timeless man, if ever there was one." She brightened at the suggestion and secretly bristled she hadn't thought of it. "I think that's a wonderful idea. Perhaps even a section in the coming months of queer authors. The kids deserve to know there's others like them who are successful and thriving." Unlike how she'd grown up and likely how Daniel had grown up, considering his age was over double her own.

"Well, if we're having Virginia, then we must have her lover Vita Sackville-West. Obviously." Rivkah grinned. "They could bridge the gap between the two sections, even."

"Maybe, but that doesn't change the fact they're still written by the same sordid white man. Come on, you of all people have gotta admit there are thousands of books out there written by brilliant minds with all different themes and perspectives. And yet, the school curricula always seem to stack their list with the same authors year after year. Seems a little lazy is all. And it's just a sayin'. You know, like pick whichever suits your fancy."

Rivkah just gave a small, breathy laugh. "Must be so." She eyed her curiously, before adding, "Careful. In this town, that might be damning of you."

She hummed, plucking out another book on the list and handing it over. "I agree with you, don't worry. Unfortunately, that's how the system works. There's people who fight it, sure, including myself. I write a letter to the district every year about it and about which books they should consider including. But, well--" she gestured to the list in her hands-- "change comes slowly. I have faith that one day our book lists will include all walks of life." Rivkah gave a tilt of her head. "Savannah it is, then. Lovely to meet you."

For a moment, Ignacio flipped the poetry book around in his hands before tucking it under his arm to take hers. "Ignacio Mendoza. Enchanté. Do you know Sara Teasdale? She is one of my very favorite. To speak of truth, so powerfully, so simply. That is as all things should be."

"Oh, really? Well, you should come by sometime, I can get you set up with one. They're completely free, so why not get one, hm?" Rivkah offered up a wide smile. There was little else she loved more than helping someone get a card for the library. They were lucky to have one in such a small town. "Oh, are you the one that owns the cute bee farm, then? I love that place." She listened to him describe it, the experience of regeneration having always been a strange thing to her. Not that it felt wrong or inconceivable, but the idea of having lived another life felt oddly karmic to her. "I perhaps think I might like you as yourself, too. I understand the sentiment. How strange it would be to have lived and not remember." She hummed to herself before moving on. "Yes, it does seem that way sometimes, doesn't it? But here's the secret," she leaned in, conspiratorial, "there will always be good people to counteract them. You just have to believe that."

She laughed a little. "Made up words, hmm? Like what?"

Rivkah shook his hand gratefully. "Oh, yes, I'm well acquainted with her. Hmm, wise words. I feel as if you, yourself, might be a poet."

Rivkah almost rolled her eyes but she settled for shaking her head, instead. "I was teasing, darling, you can relax." She started scanning the books back in. "On both accounts, I promise." She took a mental note, though, to perhaps be more obvious with the woman next time. Or to be straight forward. Her eyes went back to the boy sorting through books again, who was, of course, checking his phone instead. At that, she did roll her eyes, returning her attention to the other woman. "You come here quite often, don't you? I've seen you around before, though I don't often work the front counter."

He looked over at the teenagers. He didn't really have the money to pay her to read, and for the first time ever, he was at a complete loss as to what to motivate her with instead. She didn't seem to like anything anymore. "I'll give that a try. Thank you. What made you want to read?" he asked curiously. He had to assume that all librarians loved reading--right?

"In this town, six months is either five years or five days. I'm assuming for you it feels like the former, hmm?" Rivkah watched him start filling out the forms, leaning against the countertop and resting her chin in one hand. "So what brings you two to Lunar Cove? Figured some things out about ourselves, have we?" Most often when someone was new to Lunar Cove, it was because of that precisely-- or they were here looking for someone, but considering he was here filling out papers for library cards and not down at Town Hall sorting through records, she was assuming the former as well.

At the question, a million different answers went through her head. She pursed her lips for a moment before deciding on the one she felt was the most true. "Escape," she said. "Even growing up here, in what most would call a 'magical' place, there was always the need to be somewhere else for a little bit. And, of course, leaving wasn't really an option, not at that age." She nodded towards the two teenagers. "Reading helped. That and I was a rather voracious teenager. I wanted to consume all the knowledge I could, but that was definitely more of a me thing than a universal teenager thing."