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Part 5 - Balanced

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It was a notion which made it difficult to enjoy my custard (sharp mint and chocolate today). Lina dug into hers first and announced, "so strong" as she wiped her mouth. 

Maybe. Okay. Maybe she wouldn't be stuck. Despite her theory on reality-altering bets, there was naturally no way to prove or disprove them. Assume all bets are still finite. Ergo, she must cease to be...Lina, in a certain number of days. Greg hadn't really given me any details on his bet beyond John had to hold his liquor or else something and he couldn't give in to the sexual temptation of a redhead or else something. Shit.

Well, the "somethings" were clearly become a smelly bum and become his cousin. Which made no sense to me. Lina was not at all a redhead. And bets were not unduly cruel. They did piss off an unsatisfied redhead right here though. 

So...I guessed that he was changed to have neither the temptation nor the desire to be tempted. If that followed then...okay. John had neither the ability nor the need to hold his fluids. God, he was in for a rude realization when he reverted. I almost felt sorry for him like that.

So, assuming they weren't stuck, then how would the magical shenanigans makers respond? I assumed some sessions of hard fucking wouldn't be unexpected for those invisible judges. Or maybe they were bearded, old prudes.

What was the out then? It would be unimaginably cruel if fate led to someone hurt or killed. If a baby existed then it would continue to exist. 

So, simple out, any women made by bets were sterile for the duration. That gelled with what I'd seen. John talked about a friend from college (Celine or something) who made and won continuous, small bets to shed her sausage. All that time, all sorts of things going on, and no babies.

It was once thought you could extend bets conditionally. Some senate primary candidate in a nearby state made a promise that if he told a lie he would become a young (but still legally-eligible to run) woman. He broke his promise intentionally with the lose condition making him allegedly incapable of telling any lies until the completion of the campaign. 

People at the time were blown away and it got some press. And it had an odd following online. But he got busted, just not the way he intended. It was found out he reverted early and actually had a highly-trained female double stand-in for him and pitch his policy as fact. 

I also reflected on what Lina had said about some guy's video of flying. Regardless of what you intended, it seemed like those cock-depriving bearded, hypothetical fucks arranged how lost and won games played out with...special contingency plans in place. I spun my lettuce nervously.

Lina noticed it, along with my long-hanging silence, and asked, "What's on your mind?"

So many things. All of them. After sipping my drink, I asked her, "You gonna be alright through the rest of the day? Not too stressful?"

She nodded. "A little at first, maybe. But you gave me a great tutorial. I'm surprised how much I like being out there. At the library, I sometimes get called over to process late fees or assist at the info desk. But the big moments of my day are usually a browser froze on someone's system or the Wi-Fi isn't being picked up on their laptop. Not, 'My god, is my liver okay? Please tell me'...Not knowing what's going on and what's going to happen to you is terrifying. It feels good to tell someone that we'll do our best to help." 

I nodded with her. And we saw the gamut. From young to old. From already checked-out to claws in life against whatever forces were trying to drag them away. I warned her she would see all this and more. But I reiterated, "I know Greg still has your resume. Think about it."

Now it was her turn to fiddle with her salad. "I dunno. As I said, I worry about nepotism. I will never forsake any job, but I worked hard to get the one at the library. And it kinda pisses off my mom, so it's a good one."

I held out a hand. "Why not both? Part-time it after your twin troubles settle down. Be our opening and closing receptionist. Sure, twelve hours sounds intimidating but think of all the barely-above-minimum-wage hours we'll be able to pay you!"

Lina giggled lightly and bent over her salad. "I like what I've done today. And I really like spending more time with people I care deeply about. I'll figure it out at the end of the week."

We left it at that, finished up, and took the long way back since we had time. During the drive, Lina scooted up in her seat and asked, "So what was going on between you and Deb earlier and what did you mean by 'Space Invaders'?"

I'd nearly forgotten. Waiting at a light, I tapped the steering wheel a few times before I found the right words. "Deb is a bitch. To me...she's like a creepier Phil Spector in drag with a paranoia fetish. She thinks aliens implant people with chips in their sleep and caused our last x-ray tech to quit in frustration. So literal space invaders, not the game, inside her head."

Lina frowned and brushed her hair over her ear. "I'm...not exactly sure who Phil Spector is. Phil Spencer I know as the Xbox guy from Microsoft press conferences but not that name."

"It's okay, the name only popped into my head because they have the same crazy afro thing. Here..." I pulled into a gas station. I needed to fill up anyway. While there, I searched on my phone and showed a picture to Lina.

Her response was immediate. "Oh wow. I see your point. Hmm...so, should I steer clear of Deb? Am I okay?"

Squeezing the pump's shaft, I assured her, "I got it handled. You just keep doing what you've been doing, okay?" 

Lina nodded and rested against the side of the car as I filled the tank.

"So, 'care deeply about', huh? Does that include a certain bookkeeper slash bet-losing bum?"

Brushing her long sleeves together, Lina took a deep breath and responded, "In spite of everything...maybe? But not just him. You and Greg too. You have been an amazing friend and abundant reassurance during this confusing and crazy time. Greg saved my hardest years from dark and crippling thoughts. And the people who come through the doors inspire and motivate me in so many ways..."

The gas shut off and I set the drippy nozzle back in place. A moment later, Lina gave a little stammer before she found the words, "But I don't mean to say that librarians are bad or less worthy or less meaningful in their jobs. I just...really like the OWL."

With half a shrug, I told her, "No librarians here to get offended. You ever dress up as a sexy librarian?" 

Blinking a little, Lina admitted, "I'm not even sure what that would look like."

I shrugged, put my hands on my hips, and cocked a leg forward. "I like to think I get close. But I also have some book...marks...on my phone for it." Oh god, that was a groaner. Lina still giggled and complimented my look.

Still smiling, she remarked, "I dunno if it's the look for me but I might have to try it. So long as I am a librarian with some real gamer cred and nice, long sleeves or gloves."

Back in the car, I made a note to check one thing before we drove off: The website for The Salty Lemon. But I waited until we were back in the parking lot to finish my search. 

Lina noticed me on my phone and raised her dainty eyebrows. Slowly, I smiled to myself. Naturally, she asked me what was up. I pressed the phone to my chest. I could've told her right there and then, but I would have to make a call to confirm.

Instead, I told her, "I have a surprise for you at the end of the workday. You're gonna love it. But...work first."

Her eyes wide, she searched my expression for clues. You could see her mind delving, pondering. As I got everything set up for afternoon services, I made sure I popped into the file closet and shut the heavy door so I could call in private. 

In short, I learned exactly what I needed and made the proper arrangements. 

And I kept my mouth shut. Lina snuck around and quietly hunted for hints. It was clear she suspected it had something to do with games, but she made no bold predictions.

Eventually, we returned to the routine of earlier. Not as many walk-ins but still quite a few kids. Lina sat beside each as she talked to their parents and took down their information. There were a handful of trouble cases. And a hearty side of Deb sulking but not saying anything out of turn. 

I could've reminded her that there were cameras all over the office and they fed into an off-site terminal. And that terminal could very well have a mostly-human government agent...watching it right at this very minute. But that was the nuclear option. I could only really hit her with that once. Besides, thinking about it even left me vaguely-concerned that someone might put together that Lina was here and in California at the same time. Vaguely, but still.

I was more concerned and frustrated at those smug, unseen salami-hiding fuckers watching this all play out. Clearly, they had a plan, an agenda, for Lina and the bum. So, why did I have to bear a burden as a tangential party to the bet? Other Lina got a trip to California. I had one great fucking night which cut off right there.

If I were playing it then Greg would be unable to leave my sight, his cock constantly-throbbing at the mere mention of my crimson locks. Now that would be more in line with the bet. The thought made me want to crawl up the fucking furniture for some phantom remnant of Greg left behind but left me with a goddamn headache.

No one was left with a metaphorical, smoldering neck stump after trying to argue their way out of late bills, but they got damn close to the dragon by the end of the day.

Our last served and the part-timers already flying down the road in their cars, I massaged near my eye socket and amended a drifting decimal place on a print-out before sending it off. The unused cheat-sheets, written and copied for John and Greg, went into an easy-to-find folder for a different week.

Lina finished sterilizing the bathroom area after a preteen girl took several craps that missed the toilet (and the floor) by about five feet. I didn't ask for an update on whether she still wanted two kids after that, but she eased down in the chair next to me with her natural, dark eyeliner clinging to her cosmetic one. Clearing her throat, she asked, "So, what was my final score for the day?"

I flexed my toes out of my shoes, rubbed the area under my ponytail, and pronounced, "Four-hundred-and-sixteen."

She perked up and asked, "We had that many people come in?!" 

"Nah, I pulled that number out of my ass. But you did well. Good tally. Enter your initials and see if you can beat that number tomorrow." I did the last bit like some game announcer I half-recalled from an arcade ages ago. Sounded more like a pompous Alex Trebek but Lina giggled.

She admitted, with a deep breath through her nose and a stretch, "I can never decide whether to put elf...I mean L-R-O or A-R-O. The second is kinda... word, a word. It makes a word. But I'm Lina." Her eyes dipped.

I smiled and sent through the last of the paperwork as I added, "You sure are. So, wanna hear my surprise?" Waiting for an answer in the quiet of the office, I heard a faint sound beside me like someone slowly dragging a wooden table across tiles.

Lina was snoring.

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Lina At Rest [https://i.imgur.com/FjCvjrj.jpg]

Her dainty, pink lip drooped open and her arms spilled over the chair. One leg kicked out and her flaxen hair nested across the left side of her face. I smiled to myself and let her rest.

I made excuses not to rouse her, such as sorting through some old archives, wiping down a dusty patch, and tightening the knobs on Greg's chair, till the rust-tinted evening sun prodded through the windows and across her scrunched face.

She limply-shielded her eyes and blinked. Searching, she muttered, "Babs? Oh gosh...I'm sorrrryy. I dunno what happened."

Rubbing the same eye-socket spot, I gave a quick laugh and assured her, "You ran the reception area of the office for a full day. At least you ended up in a chair. My first full day without Archie around, Greg found me sprawled out over some boxes. He was about to call for an ambulance." Waking to his intense look of concern was definitely the moment I started to love him.

Lina gave a still-groggy "awww" to that and reached around for her bag. She unzipped it and slipped out a single, tall energy drink can. Popping the lid, she wrapped her mouth around the end and drained it with a long swig. That had to be strong, but she didn't flinch.

With a long sniff, her eyes started to open and she reached the next level of lucidity, the stage where she remembered, "You said there was a surprise?"