Title: "Confessions of a Bibliophile"
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist
Author: havocmangawip
Words: 272
Rating: G
Summary: Sciezka loves her job far too much for her own good.
Warnings: The downward spiral into chronic literary addiction.
Many thanks to seaweed-fma for beta help!
It was a surprise when I found out that besides brilliance in alchemical research that State Alchemists are also talented writers. In addition to treatises on elements and various methods for transmutation I found cook books, travelogues, detailed personal journals, discourses on philosophy, history, love letters and novels. Why these literary treasures weren't shared with the public was troublesome to me. How can a recipe be a state secret?
The wealth of knowledge was all too tempting. The First Branch of the Central Library is a book lovers' paradise, even for the non-alchemist.
At first I resisted and saved reading for my breaks. The collection proved irresistible. I admit I am powerless over my addiction to the written word. Soon I began hiding my habit by starting the duty of re-shelving books in the dustiest, oldest and unused portions of the reference section. I'd push the cart and read, trying to complete my responsibilities as quickly as I could while still devouring texts. When I ran out of poetry and prose I started on case files for the Investigations Department. I wasn't supposed to. I couldn't help myself. Truth is stranger than fiction most of the time. If I dug deep enough I was sure I'd find evidence of visitors from other planets.
It wasn't long before my performance evaluations suffered and the jig was up. I knew my dream job was too good to last.
After all, there's always a catch. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Librarians should love the written word. Being around all those books and banned from reading them? Well, that proved impossible.