It’s almost a little unnerving really. Sure, you’re no stranger to this kind of meeting, but usually you’re on the other end. Doling out scrutiny with your siblings. You shift uncomfortably and fold your arms, which seems to prompt him to speak.

“So… you said you were looking to subscribe? You….. don’t look like much of a reader,” he pauses and tilts his head away from you, sizing you up. “Nevermind a researcher. And we don’t lend for thesis work, if you’re one of them college kids.”

Wow, okay, so he’s hot and rude.

You should be offended, but… No, he’s right. Still, you puff at him indignantly. “The subscription won’t be for me.”

Like it’s obvious. Well. It sort of is, if he’s asking like that right? 

“It’s for my….” You trail off. You can’t call him your brother, though that’s what he is. Most trolls don’t have siblings like that, right? “Um, broodmate.”

There, that’s safe enough, right?

“Your broodmate,” his tone is flat, unimpressed. Geez, can this guy get any more difficult? Yes. obviously, of course. 

“You know, typically,” the emphasis grates on your nerves. It’s almost condescending, but you don’t interrupt, “this meeting is meant for the intended patron. So that, you know, I can determine if they’re trustworthy or not, if it’s safe to move forward with them.”

He drums his fingers against the back of the bench. Agitated? He must think you’re wasting his time. “It doesn’t really do me any good if you’re fielding their interview.”

“Yeah well. Special circumstances. Someone had to interview you before you could interview him. He’s paranoid like that.” That’s not wholly true. This was your idea, though you cleared it with Xavier first, in case it was a bad idea. “Seems like you can relate.”

The blueblood pauses for a long moment, considering you, before finally laughing. “No, alright, that’s fair. Maybe I’m a bookworm’s honeytrap.”

“The same way I could be a librarian’s?”

“Yeah, exactly.” He leans his head back, looking up through the branches of the tree behind you, still drumming his fingers. “So where are we gonna go from here, then? If we’re both fielding for snakes?”

You hadn’t really considered that. “Oh, um… I guess we try to figure out the best tells for which of us is maybe evil and go from there?”

He laughs. It’s pleasant and warm, disarming. Caenos would like this guy, you think. “Alright, yeah that’s a good start. Maybe I should start with why you’re looking to subscribe your broodmate to a private lending library?”

“Oh well that’s easy. He’s a shut-in who spends all his time with computers, and he likes learning about history but there’s like a limit to what you can find when you don’t leave your house and the internet is awash with propaganda and misinformation campaigns, even for the technologically savvy.” 

“Ah, true enough.” A satisfactory response, it seems.

You tilt your head. “If you’re so paranoid about lending, why do you lend out your less empire friendly books, and why do you let your patrons tell other people about them?”

He looks at you for a long moment, considering your question for a moment. “Because it’s important that people who’re looking for the truth are able to find it, I guess. Because it’s what the authors of the books and journals we share would have wanted.”

It’s a straightforward and honest answer. One you think your parents would like, so it’s good enough for you. Whether Keri will feel the same is debatable.

“Right, well. That’s fair. And um. True, also, I’m sure so. I’m glad you do that. And the other patrons?”

“Well, upkeep on a collection like this is a pretty costly endeavor, so. We don’t really have a choice but to take patrons. And we can’t exactly go advertising our collection on the internet, now can we? Word of mouth is all we have.” He sighs, like it pains him greatly to admit it, but shakes his head. “Besides, I think Jos would still have wanted to share some of this. It’s pretty cool at the end of the night, and people should be able to read some of it.”

“Yeah, that makes sense. So your boss is the bookworm then?” That makes more sense. This guy doesn’t look the type.

“Yeah, I’m just the delivery guy,” he laughs again, but you suspect that’s an understatement, given that he’s here checking you for suspicious activity. Not that it really matters.

“Well, someone’s gotta do it I guess. So, do I pass the sniff test?”

“You did better than most, though, obviously I’d still like to at least meet the man I’ll be sending Jos’s precious texts to.”

“Oh good luck with that. You can meet Xav, though, she’s uhhhh. his guard dog. Pretty much. She’d be collecting the whatevers for him anyhow.”

He tilts his head quizzically, but doesn’t object since he stays silent.

“If that’s um. Cool with you, we can set up another meeting with her? Afraid I’m not the only one you’ve gotta convince.” You look at him, a little sheepishly. You almost feel bad, he’s been cool and now you’ve gotta expose him to your scary older sister for final judgment.

A long pause, consideration. “Yeah, alright, I can handle that. Not tonight though, still got deliveries to make, yeah?”

“Yeah, no, that’s like, fair. I doubt Xav’s free right now anyway. We’ll be in touch then?”

“Sounds like a plan to me.” And then mister cool, calm, and collected leans down and pulls a motorcycle helmet out from under the bench and stands, tucking it under his arm. He has a bike. Freaking figures. How did he get involved in a library? “Be seein’ you round, then.”