The Librarian and the Mayor - what really happened
"Oh, hello, Mr Mayor….what an honour…"
Isabella felt herself begin to blush. She subconsciously, and self-consciously, patted down her dress and touched her hair.
He came! She knew he would….her plan had paid off….
"What can I do for you?" She fought further blushes as she imagined just what she might be able to do for him. What she wanted to do for him….
He explained that he wanted to do some research on Gotham's oldest families. She sensed that this was a rouse. He was getting round to asking what she was doing with his chief-of-staff. "Well, nothing - yet!" she thought to herself, eyeing him closely and smiling to herself. "Not half of the things that I'd just love to do to you!"
Why bother with the monkey when you could have the organ grinder? She'd had no idea how blue his eyes really were..and all that fierce raven hair was a dream..that campaign poster just hadn't done him justice at all….
"I came here on recommendation - from my chief-of-staff...I believe you know him?" He looked at her with a big, suggestive smile and a tilt of the head. His eyes dazzled at her and the dimples in his cheeks grew. She felt her knees buckle.
"Oh, yes - Ed," she replied, looking as coy as she could manage. She had to play the part of a sweet, innocent girl, and she seemed to be doing OK so far.
She had guessed that Oswald would be bound to come and check her out - she knew he was probably quite protective of Edward, and wanted to make sure his new girlfriend wasn't a floozy - and she was very glad that he had taken the bait so easily.
So now she had the chance to check HIM out - and, as she had expected, she really liked what she saw….
"Anyway", she said, cutting him off just as he was about to speak again, "Mr Mayor - the books you want to look at are in our archive room - it's just over there, let me take you to it."
This was a lie - there was no archive room, but there was a rather over-sized broom cupboard. This would be the perfect setting for what she wanted to say ….and do….
"Oh - very well," he said, looking a bit puzzled, and followed her. On the way he began telling her about 'Poor Ed," and how down he had been 'since leaving Arkham." She knew all about this too of course. She had done her homework! She played along.
"Goodness me - don't people go there typically for...murder?"
"Well, I make it a policy not to gossip about staff, but...yes…." He smiled confidentially. She inwardly smiled too.
They reached the door and she turned to him, mimicking shock.
"So..so Ed is a murderer? Oh my goodness - and I was alone with him!" Her eyes opened wide and she looked at Oswald with a horrified expression.
"And..and you, Mr Mayor...do you feel..safe with him?"
She opened the door to the closet as she spoke. She beckoned him inside.
"Well..now you come to mention it..." he began awkwardly, then as he walked through the door, he stopped talking and his smile faded and changed to a look of bewilderment.
"Do you feel safe with ME, Mr Mayor?" she smirked, and pushed him inside, closing the door behind them swiftly.
"What the…?" Oswald faltered, and she advanced on him, and took hold of him by the tie. He started and his eyes almost popped out of his head.
"You don't think I'm really interested in ED, do you?" she hissed.
"Miss..Miss..erm, Isobel….I mean, Isabella...what is the meaning of this?" he faltered again, his initial confusion turning to severe indignation.
She pulled him closer. "Oh, Mr Mayor - what big eyes you have!"
"Let go of me, you crazy woman!" he protested angrily, pushing her away. But she kept a strong hold on his tie, almost throttling him in the process.
He choked and then spat furiously. "Unhand me I say, or...or there will be CONSEQUENCES!" he glared at her threateningly, and struggled a bit more. She released her grip.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, did I hurt you? Oh dear, I didn't mean to...I just...had to be alone with you, Oswald….and...close to you..."
"Stop right there - and don't call me Oswald!" he snapped petulantly.
He dusted himself down. He stood there and faced her off. She had backed off and he didn't feel threatened any more, but…..he had to know why….
"What was that little display all about?" he said sternly.
"Well, Mr Mayor - I hoped that would be obvious…."
"But - what about Ed?" he had started off jealous, and determined to end Ed and Isabella's relationship - but now he felt indignant and sorry on Ed's behalf instead.
"He was a means to an end. To meeting you. I just had to….meet you, Mr Mayor. I've had a huge crush on you ever since I saw you...on that campaign poster..."
Oswald stood there and shook his head slowly. He felt like he had stepped into a parallel universe….
"Right," he said stiffly. "So you thought you'd get to me by pretending to be in love with Ed? Is this some kind of weird joke?"
"No, no, Os -Mr Mayor, it's not! I'm deadly serious! I think you're - well, very handsome! And I saw you make your campaign speeches on the tv - you were - so inspiring!" Her eyes teared up with emotion as she remembered what a great orator he was.
"You made a mere librarian feel like she could be anything - anyone she desired! And WHAT I desire most...is you, Mr Mayor!"
"Oh my God - this just can't be happening!" Oswald face-palmed himself.
"But it is, Ozzy, it is..." She advanced on him again, coming in close. "Why don't you kiss me, Mr Mayor? As a loyal constituent….surely you want to keep your voters happy?"
"Get away!" he snapped, batting her hands away and backing into the door. "Honestly - how could you?!"
"Easily, Mr Mayor - I find you irresistible! Don't you find me..attractive?" She batted her eyelashes.
"Stop that! Don't you hear yourself, Miss - erm…."
"Newlove. My name is Newlove. Rather apt, don't you think? Why don't you answer my question - Oswald? Are you shy?"
"Shy?! Don't be ridiculous! I just don't..I don't…...for God's sake, woman! How could you do this to Ed?!" His eyes flashed at her with rage.
"Why do you care?" Then, her expression changed. Something had dawned on her….there was something about his eyes...
"Oh...my God…..you love Ed!" She was full of amazement….and disappointment….
"I...erm…" he faltered, eyelashes fluttering, mouth agape with panic.
"You are in love with Ed!" she repeated, her face grimacing. "Damn! This is just my luck!" She folded her arms and pursed up her lips.
He stood there breathing hard. He started to feel for the door knob whilst not taking his eyes away from her. He had to get away but didn't want to turn his back on her….she was clearly unhinged….
"Why me?" she continued, muttering as if to herself. "I should have known it. All the gorgeous ones are married, crazy, or gay! Typical!"
He managed to grasp hold of the door knob and twisted it desperately. "Well, c'est la vie!" he shrugged, trying to humour her. Then he pulled open the door and prepared to slip out.
"And where do you think you're going? I haven't finished with you yet!"
"I'm leaving - and you're not going to stop me!"
"If you try and escape now I'll scream!"
"Well go on then - do your worst!" he said defiantly.
"Hmmm, I can just see the headlines now….Gotham's Mayor caught in closet with librarian…'I didn't touch her!' he says. But do we believe him?"
"What? You wouldn't dare!"
"Oh - wouldn't I?" She takes a deep breath and prepares to scream.
"Stop, stop!" he cries desperately. Then he sighs, smiles stiffly and looks at her archly. "What do you want from me, then?"
