Cleaning the Library was an absolute pain in the arse. Leaflets, phamplets, and sheets galore, which meant paper cuts galore as well. Why did they have so many copies of the same thing? They had four original copies of 'Common Sense' (and counting), seven of the Renolds- Hamilton Phamplet, and whole volumes of Lincoln's notes on vampires. Jenkins had always had to do the annual clearing alone (not that he minded, it was nice and quiet). But now he had a fresh batch of Librarians, naïve to the pain of cleaning an infinite Library. The cataloging and throwing away and stinging cuts from century old paper would grow full and tiring sooner then one thought. The Caretaker, however, had grown immune to the smells and headaches, however, in his long (long, long, long, looooong) time of working there.
Jenkins flipped through the papers and set aside (one of the many copies of) 'First Impressions'. "Colonel Baird," His fingers paused. "Did you read anything by Homer in school?"
"No." The woman dug through a filing cabinet. "Oh. My dad made me read the Iliad. Or was it the Oddessy? Hm." Eve shrugged. "Whichever one it was..." She suddenly wrinkled her nose. What a bad smell in the cabinet! Her voice trailed off and she lost track of the conversation.
"And?" Jenkins questioned, not moving.
"'And' what?" Eve remained somewhat distracted the peculiar stench.
"The Oddessy."
"Oh, I didn't like it."
Pause.
"Why not?"
Eve grimaced and halted her rummaging. She slowly pulled her hand out of the cabinet drawer. "Ugh... It was so boring. And it was written like a poem but it didn't rhyme... It threw me off- I'm sorry, but, why in the world are all of these folders moist? And sticky?"
Jenkins didn't respond, still tenderly examining the page under his suddenly soft fingers.
"So gross." Said Eve, distracted with the slime on her fingers. She wiped them off on a nearby hanging coat. "Jenkins?" Eve turned and started to speak louder to catch his attention, but hesitated at his bittersweet gaze to... Well, whatever was on the table.
His brow creased as he picked up the page and scanned it, swallowing. "Who was your favourite character?" His voice was soft.
"In what? In Homer? Uh..." She crossed her arms and exhaled a breath. "I think I didn't like anyone. I honestly don't remember."
Jenkins responded with quiet, "I liked Athene. She was... Courageous."
Eve licked her lips. Never had she seen Jenkins look so... Lonely?
"Jenkins."
"Hm?" He looked up. "Oh, Colonel." The caretaker folded up the sheet. "What is it?"
Bumbling for a response, she managed, "I... Jones wants to know if you want pizza." Of course he didn't. Why on earth would he want pizza. That was a terrible pretend excuse. She needed to find more fake excuses.
However, Jenkins seemed to not care or simply not notice. "No thank you, Colonel."
Eve gave a bit of an awkward nod. "I'm... I've gotta wash off Flynn's coat." She rushed to the stand and yanked the jacket off, then bustled out.
Jenkins turned to the table and pushed aside a pile of papers, then set down the drawing of a goddess he loved.
Athena. The Grey Eyed Goddess.