Xaviers!

Katarina could be found in the library, next to an ever-growing pile of books.

The "T" section, in classical Library of Congress Classification, referred to technology. "TX" specified home economics. The TX 700s were all about cooking. And the TX 700 shelf was nearly empty, as Katarina kept pulling books from there, checking through them, harumphing, and moving on to the next one.

((open))

A disembodied suit came around the corner pushing a trolley full of books.

He stopped at the piles of books on the floor.

"... Could I help you find something?"

Katarina turned to look.

And then she did a double-take.

And then she screamed.

The screaming caused Basil to topple over the book cart and disappear completely, but the weird person shaped stack of books suggested he was still present, albeit now *entirely invisible*.

He didn't ask a follow up question due to his own disorientation.

"Um...Mister ghost?" Katarina said, once Basil had disappeared completely. "Are you...are you still here?"

The books fell to the side as 'Mr.Ghost' righted himself.

"Yes." He replied, as the cart picked itself upright. "Still here." He began collecting things off the ground, the books seemingly floating themselves back onto the cart, as if by magic.

"Did you need any help?"

"Is that why you're still here? You're stuck here until you give someone help?"

"No." He replied as he cleaned up, doing a pretty good job of keeping his irritation under wraps.

"I'm only here till my shift ends. Then I go else where and do different things.

I help people because I'm paid to do it. I'm the librarian's assistant."

"That's very forward-thinking of the library," Katarina said, diplomatically.

There was a long pause as Basil made an invisible wtf face.

"We're you looking for something? Perhaps I could help.

"Um, that depends. I'm looking for some cooking tips.

Some modern cooking tips. With, you know. Electricity and everything."

"I'm sure we've cookbooks.

Is there a particular type of food you want to make?"

"Symkarian cuisine. Though depending on when you are from, you might know it by other names."

"Perhaps that's the issue.

If your country is relatively new, it's possible a cookbook does not exist for it yet.

Did you try looking under it's previous names?"

"Oh, it's not that new. It's 300 years old.

I just didn't know when you...y'know."

"I'm not dead." He finally revealed.

"I'm invisible. Then you spooked me when I spooked you and I got more so.

My 'ability' is shit."

There was then a long awkward pause.

"Please don't tell my employers I said shit during my shift."

"Oh! Oh my, oh my goodness. I am so sorry," Katarina apologized. "I didn't mean...that is to say...I'm oh so sorry."

"Forgive the profanity and we'll call it even. "

"Consider yourself pardoned, and my lips sealed."

"Good.

So were you looking for recipes specifically or more like cooking how to?"

"Both of those, actually. I may have gotten myself in over my head."

"How so?" He pried, then after a moment the silence clarified.

"If I know how bad it is maybe I can get a better understanding of what level of help you'll need."

"I insinuated to a...friend...that I could cook her a nice, traditional Symkarian meal.

I have never, in my life, used a kitchen."

"Hmmm...

Well recipes I can definitely get you. We might not have any books here, but when it doubt, hit the net.

Cookbooks that aren't 'quick and easy', by a celebrity chef, or for special diets rarely sell anymore and most recipes are instead listed in repositories on the web.

The other part is trickier. Cooking is an acquired skill. Like any skill or hobby, you actually have to do it to get better at it. Frequently people learn from family or friends."

"Yes, well, my family had other ideas for what I should be learning," Katarina frowned. "There's not some sort of shortcut?"

An object seemed to appear out of nowhere, which Katarina would recognize as a cell phone floating mid air.

"One moment please. I may have a solution."

After what seems like forever thanks to the silence and lack of anything interesting to look at, Basil finally speaks.

"Madame Colette Astrid Madeleine Rosenhof says she'll help you, though she stresses Symkarian isn't her expertise. I'd be surprised if she's ever cooked it to be honest.

But she's a good cook. Better than the ladies in the cafeteria anyways."

"...Who is Madame Colette Astrid Madeleine Rosenhof?" Katarina asked, getting the name right on the first go-round.

Memorizing names quickly was something she was trained in, but someone with a name like that might blow her cover.

"Another student here. She's studying the culinary arts here at the University in hopes of becoming a confectioner."

"Is she...discreet?"

"She can be, provided you are forthcoming with her that you want the situation to be discreet."

"Well, yes. Yes, I think I can manage that.

Thank you very much, mister...?"

"Benson. Basil Benson.

And you?"

"Katarina. A pleasure, Mr. Benson."

"It's good to meet you as well Katarina."

He paused awkwardly.

"Forgive me. I normally do the proper thing and offer a lady a hand 'kiss', but I feel like it's inappropriate when my suit can't telecast my movements."

"That would probably be for the best, yes," Katarina frowned. "Forgive me. Western customs are sometimes quite strange."

"It's an antiquated custom, so don't worry that everyone will want to do it.

Handshakes make me feel awkward. It feels as if the other person and I are arm wrestling and I am losing. So if I can skirt around it, I try to.

Also, some western girls find it flattering."

"I understand. I have much to learn over here."

"From what I hear, you've already mastered the hardest bit which is learning English. Everything else will come with time, I'm certain."