makingthisupasigo | And the Sword of Damocles

And the Sword of Damocles - for Peter Quill

Flynn Carsen is not an adventurous man. But when the Library recruits him he is wide-eyed and overwhelmed with awe and love for the place and the first day he just spends wandering, exploring.

Charlene tells him there's a task waiting for him already (though she is very dramatic and calls it a "mission" for some reason which is, of course, ridiculous) and she tells him there's someone else he needs to meet. She looks at him strangely at that, Flynn can't quite read that look, it's like she's trying not to roll her eyes – and tells him to wait here while she goes and gets him.

But Flynn gets distracted, forgets all about it, wanders off while he waits, just the first shelf right there, he can see the main entrance from here, or maybe the second one? What is that big tome back there, and oh, are these First Editions of Greek Philosophers – and he wanders on, collecting, reading, taking everything in and suddenly he is completely lost in the big hallway and the endless rows of shelves but he doesn't even mind.

This place is amazing. He can even feel tears of awe springing to his eyes by how absolutely beautiful it is. Eventually he stops, surrounded by the books he has collected, gently flipping pages and tracing the ancient writing with his fingers.

He smiles; he's never been happier.

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A new Librarian!

Well, this is great, what was this, number six? He thinks it's number six. Maybe seven. There were a lot. He still felt really bad about what happened to Bereet, but to be fair, how was he supposed to know that the basilisk was going to turn up in the last chamber of the tomb? And okay, yeah, it was probably his job to watch out for stuff like that but to be fair it's not like he could read that--whatever ancient language--warning it was, and that was like, Bereet's job? Anyway. He was gonna miss her, she was really nice.

Peter was late, he'd overslept (getting bitten by the basilisk fortunately and weirdly enough didn't kill him, but he had to sleep it off for a few days) and besides, the Library was probably really pleased to have a couple of basilisk fangs and skin so he deserved a few days off? Anyway, Charlene was probably going to kill him if he didn't show up on time--he was more afraid of her than any giant, deadly mythological creature so he put on the speed, trying to sneak his way quietly into the Library to avoid getting yelled at.

He was not successful.

Still, the Librarian was supposed to be here? Peter's waiting around after Charlene got him and yeah, he doesn't see any sign of anyone really, so either they were invisible--in this job, nothing surprised him anymore--or they'd wandered off. And if he knew anything about the kind of people that got picked to be Librarians is that they often wandered off, especially in a place with books. So he stuffs his hands in his red motorcycle jacket, which matched his maroon, padded motorcycle pants, and goes down the aisles, listening for--

--ahah! There!

But wait.

That's a dude?

A dude who looks like he couldn't fight his way out of well, anything. Peter frowns, looking down several more aisles before working his way back towards this one.

That had to be the Librarian?

But no, it couldn't be.

Peter clears his throat and leans against the shelves, crossing his arms.

"Excuse me, but you can't be here. Which means I'm gonna have to ask you to leave."

Edited 2018-05-13 11:05 (UTC)

Flynn is so engulfed in his reading that he doesn't realize Peter is there until he speaks up. When he does he winces and almost drops the book, fumbling with a startled expression on his face.

"Hello!"

Wait, leave? Is he in trouble? It sounds a bit like he's in trouble and he gives a small, nervous laugh, putting the book down. This guy looks different from the guards and Charlene in their distinguished suits, more rough around the edges and, to be honest, a little more intimidating in his leather jacket.

"Oh! Oh, I'm-- terribly sorry, really, I know, I know, she told me to wait at the entrance but then I saw the Emerald Tablet and the Grand Grimoire and I guess I just got turned around..." He laughs again, shaking his head, the excitement once again taking over and making him forget what he was going to say five seconds ago.

"This collection is extraordinary! I still can't believe it. I mean, the Senji Ryakketsu? The Jade Books? And the Rauðskinna, do you think I could borrow that, that definitely needs to be translated..."

Peter's flat expression lingers.

Yeah. They were always like this, weren't they? But this guy made like--oh man, what was their name? Number two. Number two's excitement look like they were the most dull person ever.

But there was no way he could work with this dude. He'd be dead in two seconds without Peter's help.

"...yeah, no. There's been a mix-up somewhere. Charlene might give you bus fare back home, I mean, most people don't make it this far in? Or maybe there was nobody else that showed up." He chews his lip thoughtfully and talks mostly to himself. "Maybe word's getting out people don't survive very long in this job? Huh."

Edited 2018-05-13 12:33 (UTC)

Flynn knows that flat expression very well, would recognize it anywhere in the world. He has come across it so many times in so many variations and immediately he can feel the awkwardness prickling on the back of his neck. Sometimes he wonders if people will ever look at him differently than... well, this.

There's something disheartening about being stared at like that even here, in the greatest collection of knowledge in the world and that tentative feeling of belonging, of having found a place, slowly crumples into dust. He clears his throat.

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't... follow. Who are you? ... Wait, what do you mean, people don't survive very long?"

That's a terrible thing to say. That's metaphorical, right? High turnover rate, people getting fired and... oh no, did he just get fired? Did he get fired on his first day?!

"Oh, sorry! That's pretty rude of me. I'm Peter Quill. Guardian." He gives a half-hearted salute. And then a shrug.

"Yeah, it's a thing. But don't worry about it, it's not like you're on the chopping block." A hearty laugh. "Because seriously? You'd be dead in like, three seconds. Dragon food. Fall in a pit. Stabbed by ninjas. Lava pool. Poison darts? Poison darts on fire. Poison darts, on fire, with bees?" He seems to not be joking about any of those at all, his voice and expression very earnest.

"My job as Guardian is to protect the Librarian. We go through a lot. Since I've been on the job, I think we're on number six, now?" Another shrug. "But again, not your problem, so if you could just move towards the exit...?"

Edited 2018-05-13 13:21 (UTC)

"Oh."

Librarian! That's who he is. So maybe just a misunderstanding after all, maybe Quill thinks he's a random wanderer who got lost in the hallways or... something like that.

"Then you're probably the one Miss Charlene told me to meet! I'm the Librarian." He smiles, extending a hand. "Flynn Carsen, it's nice to meet you."

As he holds the hand out, the rest of Peter's words catch up to him and he frowns in confusion. "I wasn't aware the job included so many different forms of darts..."

Peter stares at Flynn's hand, and then suddenly bursts into uproarious laughter. He's almost falling over, he's laughing so hard. Whoops, he knocked over two first editions with an elbow.

"The--the Librarian! Oh man, you guys got me good! This is because I didn't clean up after I sheared the yeti last week, isn't it? I didn't know Charlene was this good at pranks. You know, you'll be thanking me come winter and you got a great yeti sweater!" He yells out amongst the books, where clearly a camera or something was set up.

...right? Cause this couldn't be real.

Flynn blinks and draws his hand back, bristling. "Wow. I mean, I guess that's fair? But still. Another person here."

Honestly, he still doesn't understand why he was chosen and part of him still thinks it might have been an accident. A mistake. Or, even worse, they really were trying to pull a prank on their co-worker and used Flynn for a little fun at his expense. The thought stings, as does Peter's reaction but it's nothing compared to the sudden fear that maybe, he really has to leave this place. Will never get to work here and never get to see it again. Please, not that. Anything but that!

"Is... is there a problem?"

At the sound of the new voice Flynn turns and his face brightens when he sees Judson approaching between the shelves. He likes the man already and his soft-spoken serene mannerisms, the way he seems to radiate wisdom and warmth. He likes the way Judson looks at him.

"I'm very sorry, I'm afraid I got lost looking around..." Flynn rubs the back of his neck with an apologetic smile.

Judson returns the smile, then his eyes wander on to Quill. "Ah, Peter. It's good you're here. I see you've met Flynn, that, that's very good."

Peter needs to use the shelves to steady himself, still struggling amongst peaks of laughter. He waves a hand at Flynn, unable to speak, but then when he hears Judson the laughter and smile completely disappear.

Oh man.

"...no, no, no wait. This is for real? You mean you're really...he's really..." he looks back and forth from Judson to Flynn. "No. No, there's some kind of mistake, you can't be serious. He can't be the Librarian!" He sounds almost frantic. "Look. Can't you send him back? Get me a hot girl? Like Bereet."

Edited 2018-05-13 14:16 (UTC)

"Now Peter, give Flynn some time." The mild-mannered smile doesn't waver. "You'll like him."

Flynn really doesn't believe that but he hardly has time to interject before Judson continues. "A-and I'm afraid we don't have much time. You two must leave right away."

"Leave?" Flynn blinks, confused. "Leave where? ... Wait, leave with him?" Pointing at Peter. "He just tried to kick me out. And he said I'm gonna die!"

"How do you even know that, huh? And give him some time? I mean, look at him! He's going to last all of one day before he gets eaten by a--"

Leave right away? Peter's eyes widen and he continues stammering alongside Flynn, pointing at him.

"Because he probably is going to die, and then I have to carry him back here and it's gross--"

"I'm afraid it can't wait," Judson simply says as if he didn't even hear their complaints. "And Charlene has already booked your tickets. We have reason to believe that the Serpent Brotherhood is trying to obtain the Sword of Damocles."

"Sword of Damocles?" Flynn echoes. "What, from the story? But that's just an allusion, a, an anecdote."

Judson shakes his head. "Anecdotes, cautionary tales, they often have a true origin. The Sword is as real as the Ark of the Covenant and Pandora's Box."

Aw man, Judson, you're doing the thing again and he can't ever fight back against the thing and it's really not fair. Peter sulks, leaning against the shelves again.

But still--a new mission, and well, if he had to bring the dude along, he could at least try to bring him back alive before he figured out a way to get rid of him. Maybe he could scare him bad enough on this trip to make him quit!

He whispers loudly, as if he's sharing a secret between himself and Flynn. "Indiana Jones was totally a Librarian..."

Edited 2018-05-13 16:51 (UTC)

That distracts Flynn momentarily and he looks over at Peter. "What, really? But in the movie he didn't get the Grail, how did that end up here then?"

Judson waits patiently, nodding at the two. "I am sure Peter will tell you all about it on the road. Flynn, are you familiar with the Sword of Damocles?"

Flynn blinks. "Uh." He nods. "Yes. A story by Cicero. Tusculanae disputationes, Book Five. Damocles was courtier in the court of Dionysius II, a 4th-century BC tyrant of Syracuse, Sicily. According to the story, Damocles told his master how fortunate he was to be such a great man of wealth and power. Dionysius offered to switch places with Damocles for one day so that Damocles could taste that very fortune firsthand."

Lost in his train of thought he starts pacing, his hand drawing small circles in the air as he recites. "But when Damocles sat down in the king's throne, Dionysius arranged that a huge sword should hang above the throne, held by a single hair. Damocles finally begged the king that he be allowed to depart because he could no longer stand the danger all that power and authority brought."

"Well--" Fortunately, at least Judson manages to stop him from his 'story', and Flynn starts doing the whole 'Librarian' thing. Huh. Well, okay, maybe he was an...okay candidate for being a Librarian, but still. Why can't he get someone like Bereet?

Peter fights off the instinct to zone out, because he'd learned--much to the disappointment and inevitable painful injuries of his earlier Librarians--that information from these stories could mean the difference between life and death. But he's still salty over this whole thing, so--

"...blah blah blah, sword, history, danger, got it. Where's it at and do we get Economy Plus seats?"

Flynn is amazed how unperturbed Judson is by Peter's attitude. Is there anything that can break through that serene calm? "You're going to Sicily," he explains matter-of-fact.

"Sicily?" Flynn's eyes widen. "Oh wow."

"As for the seats, I think Charlene has already booked your tickets but maybe you can take it up with her?" A smile, and if Flynn didn't know better he'd swear there's a twinkle of mischief in it.

"Aw man, that's a long flight." His whole life was long, Economy Class flights. "Ha ha, very funny, Judson. Like that's ever gonna happen."

Please accept his sulking, Judson.

Peter sighs and motions a hand. "Let's go get our tickets from her. We probably don't have time to pack so you can borrow some of my stuff. Hey, if you survive this mission you should keep a bag ready to go cause this is pretty normal?"

Edited 2018-05-14 12:37 (UTC)

"If?" Flynn glances back and forth between Peter and Judson with an expression of deep unease. "Why do you people keep using the conditional, I don't... want to die? The job never said anything about dying!"

"Don't worry, Flynn." Judson pats his shoulder amiably. "You're going to be fine. Peter, he's, he is an excellent Guardian. He will protect you."

Another finger pointing at Peter. "He said he's had six already!"

Peter just grins. It's a very roguish grin.

"Yeah! Isn't that like a record? It's gotta be a record."

He shrugs a shoulder. "And that just means I have a lot of experience so you'll be fine. And besides, there's probably no Basilisks involved in this one so that's great news for you!"

"I'm not exactly sure that's how a record is supposed to work in this case--" Flynn starts but Judson's disarming smile and mild-mannered stutter interrupts him.

"A-as I said, lots of experience. Charlene will have your tickets and the manuscripts you'll need, Flynn."

"Listen to Judson, he's always right!" Peter gives Judson a grin and a half-salute, as he starts to walk off. "Come on, Number Seven!"

Because he's totally calling him Number Seven until he lasts long enough for him to actually use his name and not just be a number.

"That's not my..."

Flynn looks after him, back at Judson just to find the old man magically gone, then back at Quill's departing figure. With a long-suffering sigh he follows suit.

"Yo, Charlene!?" Peter bellows as he walks at top speed through the bookshelves, heading towards the exit. "We need our stuff and tickets!"

It doesn't occur to him that he should probably wait for the Librarian in the first place, and he's practically sprinting on his way out. Maybe this was why he's lost so many...?

Charlene greets him with a cool, entirely unamused expression. Really, there's no way she could convey more than 'oh, you' in a glance. It seems like the First Guardian is not a fan of his predecessor at all. "I have your stuff right here. Where is your protege?"

You know, that living breathing thing you are actually supposed to take care of?

"Hey," he's all bright smiles, you can't scare him, Charlene! Except when you can, which was most of the time. "Thanks, you're the actual best!"

There's a pause, as he looks around, genuinely surprised that Flynn's not right next to him.

"He was right here, I swear."

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