Melisande is sitting in the Chantry's small outer library, poring over some ancient looking texts, French. She's wearing some expensive looking business suit/skirt, normal jewelry, rose-colored glasses, hair tied back loosely. She has a few other books, modern, on experimental psychology, off to the side. The speed with which she races through the large book in front of her marks her as an incredibly fast reader. She is absorbed in her reading, and though she notes the man entering, she pays him no attention.

With a piece of paper - a list of books - in hand, Arthur walks into the library. He carefully scans the shelves, finds the first book on his list, takes it off the shelf, then starts looking for the second one. "Hmmm... it isn't here," he says to himself, and taking heed of a gap, he looks at the books that aren't shelved. He walks to the table near Melisande and notices one of the books on his list is on her table.

"Pardon me?" Arthur clears his throat.

Melisande finishes reading the page before slowly looking over at Arthur, her eerie crystalline eyes sparkling with a hint of annoyance. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry for interrupting your study. This book," he says, touching one of the experimental psychology books, "is on my reading list for this evening. Would it be all right if I borrowed it from you for a short time?"

~Reading list... must be new,~ Melisande muses. "I am not quite finished with it, but," she says, motioning to a chair, "you are free to read it while you are here."

"Thank you." Arthur sits down in the chair she indicates, pulls the book to him, and sets the list down on top of the book he was carrying. He turns to the pages indicated on the list and starts to read.

Melisande looks over at Arthur's list of books, trying to pick out the titles. Arthur glances at Melisande. Her beauty and studiousness remind him of someone from his past. He notices her looking at the titles, and pushes the list toward her so she can read it.

"Psychologist?" Melisande asks, noticing that Arthur's list contains titles from many of the areas that she studies.

Arthur looks at her. "I've done research in that field... didn't quite finish my degree in it, though. Brain mapping studies... cognitive theory..."

Melisande nods briefly, interest slightly piqued. Perhaps this is a person she can speak to on an even level. Perhaps even someone useful, she muses. "New to Dallas?"

"Yes. I just got into town a few days ago."

Melisande looks up from the book list towards Arthur, studying him for the first time, her piercing gaze taking him in fully. He feels his mouth go dry, nervous under her scrutiny, though his expression doesn't reveal it. "My name is Arthur Wake. Might I ask yours?"

"Melisande Roussard.. Doctor."

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Doctor."

"Melisande," she told him, not wishing to be called by her title. She asked, "Here to learn? Or were you stationed?"

"I believe the answer is yes to both of those. I was stationed here, and I am here to learn as well."

"Where have you done your previous studies?"

"At Carnegie Mellon University, and at the Philadelphia Chantry."

Melisande looks at his skin, examining it, trying to judge if there's a flush of life, which there does appear to be. "Mortal?"

"I .... am not one of the Kindred, ... no." Arthur glances down at the book then back to Melisande.

"Interesting," she murmurs to herself. To him, she says, "Tell me more of your studies? If time permits."

"Do you wish to know of the research projects I've done in the past, or of my planned studies here?" Arthur asks her. She indicates that she'd like to hear of both. Arthur gives her an overview of three of his projects, starting with the scent receptor research, then the research he did with Marie, then another Philadelphia chantry project. Then he quickly reviews the research projects he's considering. "I usually work on two projects in parallel, one public, one not. I attempt to create synergies between the two."

"You concentrate primarily on psychology?"

"The physiological aspects of psychology, the mind/body interface, you could say, is my chief interest." He pauses. "And... what are you working on? If I might be permitted to inquire?"

"Currently pathology and toxicology work," Melisande says. Arthur asks her if they have most of the books she needs in the Chantry libraries. "Most of? This library does a thorough job of covering the range, but there are far to many texts that go into specifics for them to have them all, my personally library is better tailored to my specific interests."

Arthur nods with satisfaction. "Yes, that's as I thought. Between here and the university library it will make a good backup resource, but I will probably need to order quite a few additional volumes."

"I have a somewhat thorough collection of texts dealing with experimental, abnormal, and paranormal psychology, it might be a possibility to arrange access to them for you," Melisande offers. Perhaps this will allow her sufficient access to see how she can use him, and even if he turns out not to be particularly useful, he will at least be able to supply intelligent conversation.

Arthur hesitates a moment, the offer is very tempting however. He smiles at Melisande. "Thank you, I'd greatly appreciate that privilege." She asks and finds out who Arthur reports to, and says she will speak with him on this matter. Arthur looks up at the clock for a moment then back to Melisande. "I am enjoying our talk very much, and find myself regretting, that I am on a strict schedule for this week... and I am drawing behind..."

Melisande nods briefly. "When does your rotation end?" He tells her. "Until such time, then," she says.

"Perhaps we can meet outside the Chantry some time next week?" Arthur asks. "I'm sure the Primogen would supply you with my contact information if you wished to arrange such."

Melisande ponders for a moment before reaching into a inner pocket jacket pulling out a card containing a single phone number on it and handing it to Arthur, who takes it, touching her hand as he does so. She stares straight into Arthur's eyes as he touches her, her gaze very piercing.

Arthur does not hesitate to meet her eyes, though his adams apple bobs as he swallows. "Thank you, Melisande." Arthur places the card into the book he brought to the table. Her gaze is very, very disturbing, and Arthur feels his stomach flip over. He senses that she is not pleased at his having touched her. He will be careful not to do it again. "I will telephone, then, when I am released."

Melisande nods briefly again before going back to her books without saying another word. Arthur sits next to her and reads quickly the section of her book that he needs to read, then finds the rest of his books in silence, retreating to a corner table with them to study further.