Work Text:
Red Guy put the last of the books away before dusting his hands off. Everyone was organized just how he liked it and, by this, I mean his personal favorite books were on the front shelf, and everything else on the bottom ones. All in a day’s work.
Out of curiosity, he checked out back, to see how the front counter was, where Duck was just as busy as he was…
“Look, I don’t care who was in the hospital.” Duck explained, for the third time now, “Three point two seconds overdue is still overdue!”
“Look, mate.” The talking bookmark sighed in frustration, “Can’t ya cut me a break this once?”
“That’s a 2 pound late fee for you.” Duck said, dismissively, “Third one this week too.”
“Ugh, you people are impossible!” The Bookmark groaned, before slamming the money on the desk and storming off, while Duck picked up the, ‘How to decompose before death’ book and put it back in the little slot by the front. Fact of the matter was, though, that book wasn’t even late. Duck just made an extra few P off the sucker. He’s done that with every single returned book the past few days, and was pocketing every bit.
“Same old, same old?” The tall one asked, seeing Duck moving to typing on the library computer.
“Just about…” Duck said, looking back at his important research of looking at skeletons,
"Get me a cut of the profits and I won't tell anyone." The comptuer, Colin offered.
"15% work?" Duck asked.
"Deal!"
This felt like the sort of thing Red Guy should report but...eh.
He decided instead to check up on Yellow Guy, who was busy reading allowed to a small group.
"'Where did you hide my appointment card, Hovris?" Grolton asked, "I'm not going to be...very happy with you if you make me late for my apointment'"
For an audience of...one dead rat, he was reading one of the novelizations of a Grolton and Hovris episode. He seemed happy with himself as well.
"Hm, might close early today."
That was his usual plan, regardless of how busy it was. It gave him more an excuse to do nothing, after all. He stepped back to where Duck was, looking out through the door.
"Slow day, hm?"
"As usual..." Duck noted, "Seventeen overdue books came in today!"
Hm, less than usual. Oh well, that was Red Guy's cue to put up the closed sign and lock the door.
"I'm going to grab lunch." Duck decided, stepping up, "I got another coupon for Groton's chicken. Want in?"
"I'm good."
"Suit yourself." Duck picked up the cellphone for the delivery service.
"I'm going back to my cyberbullying." Colin added, stepping off of his place on the counter and walked off into the back. Well, now Red Guy could get back to his original plan.
He stepped into the backroom, picked up his own book, and leaned back in his chair. The one thing he was glad was still there was his old chair.
"So...how are you liking it?"
Red Guy flinched, before looking up...oh yeah, the talking, sentient bookshelf that got them here.
"Yeah, it's pretty good, I suppose."
"Reading ain't that bad." He insisted, "I mean, you've been doing it since you've got here."
"I've...I've been reading this before you showed up." Red Guy corrected him.
"I bet you won't even think of heading back to the old TV, right?" Mr. Bookcase asked.
"I mean...I don't think I'd go that far..."
"Right?!"
"You know what? Sure." Red Guy knew better than to try and argue with these weirdos at this point.
"That's what I thought! Enjoy your time off!"
Red Guy chose not to respond, he was a bit too tired for this.
Duck meanwhile, had completely missed the message of the teacher who brought them here, as he was currently entranced by the television they had in their break room.
"You really enjoy this?" Colin asked, not exactly impressed.
"Of course I do! It's my thing!" Duck explained.
"I can get you better show if you want...a lot of them, for free!"
"Ha! I'm not falling for that one again!" Duck laughed at that, having gone through that song and dance before
Next time... Colin thought, Next time
Yellow Guy finished up the last book of the little series, putting it down on the pile.
"Well, I hoped you enjoyed." Yellow Duck noted, looking down at the rat.
The rat was still dead.
He wasn't very bright.