lawful_lizzie (lawful_lizzie) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-05-14 23:47:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !partner thread, barbara gordon (batgirl), elizabeth weir |
Who: Elizabeth and Barbara
What: Book club
When: Tuesday afternoon
Where: Barbara’s office at the Library
Rating: G
Status: Complete when posted
Barbara had arranged to meet Elizabeth in her small office which she kept at the library. It seemed more sensible than having the woman come to her business office or home, especially as it involved the library too.
She was looking forward to seeing the bookclub proposal and knew a number of the librarians were quite excited too. It had been a long time since the last proper bookclub and she hoped it would serve to be as popular as she believed it would be.
Elizabeth walked up to Barbara’s office with her ideas on a list in her briefcase. She had quite a wide range of titles and genres to run passed her acquaintance and hoped they could come up with some sort of schedule. She ran her hand through her curls and fixed her hair before rapping her knuckles on the door to the office.
“Come in” Barbara called out, smiling and rising from her seat behind the desk when she saw Elizabeth, “Great to see you again” she greeted, “Please come and take a seat”
Elizabeth reached a hand out to shake Barbara’s hand over the table, “Hi, good to see you again.” Elizabeth sat across from Barbara and placed her briefcase on the floor next to her chair leg. “Sorry it’s been a while, I was called away on a business trip at short notice,” she apologised.
Barbara shook Elizabeth’s hand with a smile before taking her seat again, “You too” she acknowledged, “Oh don’t worry about that, I know how that can be. Business trips are the bane of my life sometimes”
“Yeah, they really put a crimp in your plans,” Elizabeth joked. “How have you been doing then?”
“Pretty good” Barbara replied, “Glad there’s no more craziness at the moment. Makes a nice change even if I don’t feel like we can relax completely”
Elizabeth laughed at that, it did seem like the calm before the storm. “I know what you mean, so I say why not enjoy it while we can?” she smiled at Barbara.
Barbara inclined her head, "Its a good plan" though not one she could entirely commit to thanks to her dreams. "So have you decided on a plan of action for the book club?"
“Well,” Elizabeth quirked a smile at Barbara, reaching down for her briefcase. “I may have gotten a little carried away,” she admitted. She looked in the case and pulled out three sheets of paper, moving aside the copy of Dracula that Leonard had given her that she had been reading in her lunch breaks. Elizabeth handed over the sheets of paper that listed a selection of books separated by genre. “I couldn’t choose,” she shrugged.
Barbara laughed as she was handed the list, "Oh how I share that particular trait" she informed her, "I guess you found pick one then let the group pick the following ones" she suggested.
“Well I figured I would put one forward in the initial invite,” Elizabeth indicated the sheets of paper. “Then after that we could put it to a vote and see what people would like to talk about. I figured picking a fairly common place book for the first session may be easier for people to find and read? Then we can see where people’s tastes lie and go from there. What do you think?”
"I think that sounds wonderful" Barbara said, "I always find people respond to things better if they feel they have a chance of influencing something or actually feel they are being listened to."
“You should be a diplomat,” Elizabeth joked. “Ok, that’s fine then, but I uh...I could do with some help narrowing down possibilities for the first book if you don’t mind?”
Barbara chuckled, “Oh sometimes I feel like I am what with the touchy business people I deal with” Honestly some of them needed so much handling. “Oh I don’t mind at all, though I might be of little help. I already see a number I love” Looking at the list she tried to think which one would draw peoples interest the most.
Elizabeth smiled, knowing she had come to the right place. "Any help would be great," she shuffled a little closer to the desk. "I've got quite a few heavy reads on there, Les Miserables, War and Peace and the like, which people may not be able to get through in a month, so maybe save them for a later date?"
Barbara managed to hold back a snort, "Well I think you should maybe start with something a little easier to read" she replied.
"Oh I wasn't suggesting the Russian version," Elizabeth reassured her.
She couldn’t help but laugh at that, “Even the english version can be hard going” she teased a little, “Let’s work up to the more intense novels”
“Sorry,” Elizabeth told her, a little bashful. “I uh...this is my first time actually running one of these,” she shrugged.
“Oh it’s fine, you’re obviously a very well read woman” Barbara commented, “But not everybody will be and it needs to be accessible to those who are interested but aren’t as confident with long books”
“So no Lord of the Rings either, huh?” Elizabeth joked.
Barbara laughed, “Maybe The Hobbit?” she compromised with a grin.
Elizabeth laughed, “I don’t know, I’ve heard plenty of students giving me grief over making them read it.” She tilted her head to one side in consideration, “What about Pride and Prejudice? It’s a book practically everyone’s read, seen or at the very least know so if anyone is reading it for the first time it shouldn’t be too hard, what do you think?”
"Well personally I’d love you forever since its my very favorite book" Barbara told her jokingly, "But I do agree everybody should at least know the basic story"
“Great, so if I make up the posters with that on for middle of next month?” Elizabeth asked as an idea formed in her head. “Could we have a little English tea party too? As a ‘selling point’?” She used her fingers to do air commas.
“Oh thats a great idea, I can sort the refreshments if you like” Barbara offered, “We have contact with a great catering company and they’ll have proper teapots and everything”
“That sounds brilliant,” Elizabeth grinned, really starting to get excited about it all now. “So, how about a date? Middle of next month good for you?”
“Perfect” Barbara agreed, “I’m very much looking forward to it”
“Me too,” Elizabeth grinned happily, reaching over to shake Barbara’s hand. “So I’ll leave the exact date and time up to you so when your catering contacts can fit us in, let me know and I’ll start promoting it,” she suggested.
Barbara nodded, “Probably best. I’ll contact them this afternoon” she promised.
"That would be great," Elizabeth gave the clock a quick glance, realising the time. "I'm really sorry but I have a staff meeting in half an hour I have to get to," Elizabeth apologised as she stood.
She waved off the apology, “I should be getting back too” she replied, “I’ll contact you as soon as I know anything Elizabeth”
“Great,” Elizabeth smiled and picked up her briefcase as she headed for the exit. “Thanks for all your help with this. Don’t worry about getting up, I’ll see myself out,” she re-assured Barbara.
“It’s a pleasure Elizabeth, I’ll be in touch soon” she smiled as the other woman saw herself out.