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'No one enjoys doing the evening shift so you've arrived just in time,' Daphne's interviewer said absentmindedly before bristling at her suspicious expression. Mister Berry had been on edge throughout the entire tour of Darswick Library. Before today she'd never even heard of a public library that was open twenty-four hours a day. Sure, a university library, made sense, but a local public library this way out from the city?

'Why not?' she said. Her voice came out coarser than she meant, she was teetering on annoyance and it wasn't entirely unrelated to Mister Berry's nervous energy. This interview had read as a bad omen in the email when the agreed time for introductions and inductions was all booked at once at seven o'clock tonight. Daphne didn't even live in the area. It took her forty minutes to get here by bus, and that would have been fine had her headphones resisted playing up so she couldn't listen to her audiobook. Though she had a physical backup in her pack, there was no way she would risk the motion sickness. Not for an interview.

When she got here, the modern hub somewhat took her breath away. Academic libraries were beautiful gothic art to admire but the colourful modern structure of this library took Daphne's breath away. It was the perfect cultural hub. What a library should be. Unpretentious, built for those with sensory needs but unafraid to explore vibrant pinks, greens, and purples into its design and furniture. There was a little seed library in the children's section and an entire room (small but significant) dedicated to LGBTQIA+ fiction. The bathrooms---my god those bathrooms---pearly white rooms, not cubicles, all gender neutral, and built to meet the accessible needs of all types of clientele. Well as far as Daphne could tell at least. It was a beautiful place meant to welcome you. The personification of this building was a woman bundling you up to nurture you and whisper fairytales as you rest.

But, back to the estranged head librarian, Mister Berry.

He was a mature man with salt and pepper hair neatly cut back. Crow's feet deepened around his eyes every time he spied a particular door he had yet to guide Daphne to. She hoped that in the early hours, he was a jolly character, he certainly had the best jumpers for it. Tonight styling an emerald green jumper with a platypus dancing under golden wattle, with gold-rimmed hexagonal glasses. He was shorter than her, though to be fair, most men were.

'Everyone has families...' he cleared his throat thick with phlegm. 'We are so glad to have you here early. I'll show you the staffroom where we'll sort out the contract and get you settled in for the night. I'm afraid I can't accompany you this evening but don't worry, Friday nights are for the uni students and they keep to themselves.'

Daphne couldn't contain her shock. 'You want me to start now?'

'Your application stated you could start immediately.'

Well, I didn't expect it to be this immediate. 'I didn't bring any dinner with me.'

Mister Berry stared at his watch, mouth pursed disappointedly. 'Oh well I'll give you forty minutes to get some, there's a supermarket down the street but there are also an abundant amount of restaurants still open. I recommend Donna's Pizzeria.'

'But--' Mister Berry was already down the opposite end of the library at the door he'd failed to introduce her to. At the top of it, the sign read "Local Historical Records".

'Please be here before nine o'clock,' he called out and closed the door.

Boy, did this take her back to her security guard days.

Back then she'd walk into her first job interview and they judged her right off the bat whether she was human enough to do the work. Female guards were desperately needed in all venues whether corporate or concerts so she was, in her own mind, a jewel to be treasured in the industry.

Four years ago at her first ever job interview, she'd come out of the lift and the interviewer, a lovely woman herself, greeted her with a contract in hand and asked casual questions about her day. Daphne didn't recall her answers but they were enough to get her started in the work and the next big national sports games.

She should have taken the hint then that the brighter the grin from the interviewer, the more appalling the work conditions. And though she is feminine-presenting, patrons would come up to her with the "bouncer mentality". Meeting head to head with the assumption that she was there to ruin their night. On some bad nights, this time of entitlement was like watching someone come at you with a machine gun but you were only allowed the weapon of your words and a flimsy cardboard shield.

Alright, maybe that's a tad dramatic.

The work wasn't all bad, especially the music festivals. They were her favourite events.

Furthermore, no one had your back much like an entire security team who cannot stand snobs of any variety. Those guards who were well-versed in the art of shielding their emotions from being tainted by a venomous patron were the best to rant to and help you feel human again. However, the first time she was accused of being on a power trip she should have realised then the job wouldn't get much easier on her mental health years on. She took things to heart even when she thought she was being strong...

But alas, she no longer has to worry about loss prevention, patron evictions, answering to an extremely meticulous control room, commanding the rowdy crowds, and dealing with infuriating clients who don't give a crap about their guards on the frontlines.

Yes, doing another night shift wasn't her ideal start to the industry but she believed that being at a library would finally give her some peace and a sense of balance in her life.

She was only twenty-four and security work had aged her a good ten years in wisdom. So that when push comes to shove, if someone decided to be a menace there was no reasoning with them.

Daphne looked over the open space of the library and looked forward to the simple problems of a reference librarian. Even with the crappy after taste of Donna's pizza in the back of her throat.