#Maxim also lives in the library so the snack room benefits him

[kathbunny]

A lil cute winter town au ficlet based on the tags I put on the reblogged post! Modern no magic au basically. Daily life in Maxim's library!

Maxim opened the curtains on the first floor of his library, letting in the natural light to warm the study area up a bit before he had to just turn up the thermostat instead. He was nearly blinded by the combination of heavy snow and a clear sky. The snow had piled up to a point of pushing against the bottom of the window for a few inches. It looked like the sidewalks would need shovelling, and he'd probably end up regretting doing the work when it turned out nobody showed up anyway. Would VR-LA even be able to get out of his apartment? This seemed a lot heavier than normal.

Right as Maxim had that thought, he heard the front door being pushed open and somebody attempting to shake snow out of their boots. Maxim could go back to preparing for the day in a moment. "VR-LA?" Maxim called, heading over to the front door to see the sight he expected and also get hit with the chill he expected.

VR-LA was half leaned outside, holding onto the wall to keep from falling, shaking snow out of boots and dusting it out of his hair to avoid tracking it into the library. He was visibly shivering, his left foot held awkwardly up so as to not put his wet socks on the floor. That certainly couldn't be comfortable. Maxim could probably get him some spare socks and slippers from upstairs, and toss the socks in the dryer before VR-LA would have to leave.

"Good morning." Maxim greeted, visibly startling VR-LA. The man nearly flung himself out of the door as he jumped. "...when you're done with that, how about you sit down? I'll grab you something so you aren't sitting in damp socks all day. Just leave your boots by the door."

"Oh, uh, good morning! I will!" VR-LA replied. Maxim promptly turned around to go upstairs, not furthering the conversation more than he needed to.

-

Maxim sat at the front desk, sipping the tea VR-LA had made him as he watched the man rush about the library in the borrowed slippers, putting away the new books that MR-SN had sent them. The front door opened again, a pair of familiar voices coming from the entry, two girls chatting amongst themselves.

Kyana waved at Maxim, smile a little too large for their level of familiarity. Ione was standing next to Kyana, holding a pair of shovels, looking nervous as Kyana spoke. "Hey, you want somebody to shovel your sidewalks for you?" She offered.

Well, it probably wouldn't be the worst to get out of doing it himself. Or making VR-LA do it. "How much?" Maxim asked, sighing as he reached for his wallet.

"20 bucks because of how wavy the path is! But we'll do it for 10 if you make us hot chocolate." Kyana said.

"Instant with water fine?" Maxim said, already pulling out the ten, even if he felt the request was rather childish coming from a pair of college aged girls.

"Milk with instant." Ione said, putting a hand over Kyana's mouth to keep her from instantly accepting. "We could just get the water with instant for free from here anyway!"

Maxim sighed again, standing to hand the 10 to Kyana. "Fine. But I'm starting it now, so you'll have to hurry if you don't want it cold."

Ione was who took the money, tucking it into her bag. Kyana spoke though. "Got it! We'll be back soon then!" And with that, the pair were back out the door.

Maxim glanced outside, noting that several of the neighboring buildings had also been shoveled, it seems the girls were out to make as much as they could today. He turned, calling out to VR-LA. "I'm going upstairs to start milk for hot chocolate! Do you want some?" He had some hot chocolate bombs he could use for him and VR-LA's still probably.

"Sure!" VR-LA called back, smiling at him. "Thank you!"

It's snowing so I'm so tempted to do a library monster Maxim experiencing snow oneshot