Transformation/Growth/Weight-gain commission for  RadioRaveRiot!

Nystre's new job at the Grand Library has a profound impact on both their size and personality...

---

Nystre Grows Into the Job
By: Indi

The first thing Nystre noticed about the Grand Library—and what they assumed everyone must first notice—was the sheer size of it. The lobby was absolutely massive, rising multiple floors so the purple jamcat had to tilt their head to see the glass panels of the ceiling to the sky further above. And each floor was oversized as well, at least twenty, maybe even thirty feet in height.

Everything in the library seemed to match the floors in scale. Shelves went from floor to ceiling, each one filled with massive books. Nystre could barely imagine lugging one around themself, especially the thicker ones that must’ve been heavy enough to squish them flat.

There were almost as many plants and flowers as there were books. They flowed from planters along the open balconies of each floor, hung from the ceiling, and rose from patches on the ground, often surrounded by flowing water. It made the library feel like a garden, and the numerous windows letting in the sunlight only added to the effect. Just like the books, the plants were giant—and beautiful.

Nystre couldn’t believe how lucky they’d been to secure the job there. They wondered if they were just dreaming it, and soon they’d wake up on the train, a stop away from a job that’d likely be comfortable but far less lavish. But they didn’t wake up—it was all very real.

As Nystre walked through the lobby with awe, they also noticed every other visitor and staff member was tall. Really tall. No one looked shorter than ten feet, and most must’ve been twice that. They all fit in with the towering shelves and high ceilings. It wasn’t surprising, then, that Nystre started to feel small, as if they’d entered a whole ‘nother world. But while they did feel somewhat out of place, they didn’t feel unwanted.

They received plenty of smiles, nods, and greetings from the much taller—and sometimes much wider—folk. It was as if they weren’t a stranger.

The lobby eventually opened up into an equally expansive circular room. It was a bit more bustling, but the chatter was low, an ambiance in the background that faded if Nystre didn’t dwell on it actively. Against one of the curved walls was a counter for checking in, covered with ivy and white flowers that spelled out “Welcome”. That’s where Nystre was supposed to head first, if they remembered correctly. And if they were wrong, at least whoever was there could point them in the right direction.

The closer Nystre got, the bigger the counter appeared, until it was looming above them. Further above was a deer. The deer was about twenty feet tall, mostly white with a good many gray spots. He smiled as he saw Nystre down below, and put down the book he’d been reading. “Why hello! How may I help you today?”

“Well I just got hired and it’s my first day on the job,” Nystre said. “Wasn’t told anything beyond showing up here, though.”

The deer’s face brightened. “You must be Nystre then!” He moved towards the swinging door that led behind the counter. Nystre swore they heard two sets of clopping hooves, and they were right. As the deer came around, he was revealed to be a taur. He was on the plumper side, sporting both an upper and lower belly that jiggled as he trotted. The heft only added to his imposing size—not that he was acting the least bit threatening. He knelt down so he was closer to the small-in-comparison jamcat, and held out a hoof. “My name’s Birch, I’m one of the head librarians. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Nystre grasped one of Birch’s fingers, the only way they could return the shake. “Oh yes! You were the one who interviewed me on the phone!” Nystre had expected the interview to take place in person, but instead it’d happened the moment they’d called to inquire about the job. It’d been the most casual interview Nystre had ever had, more of a cheerful chat. By the end of it they’d been hired on the spot. It was surprising, but Nystre didn’t want to question their good fortune.

“Indeed! Now first things first, let me give you a tour of the Grand Library,” Birch said. “Nothing makes me happier than showing it off to someone for the first time. Well, reading does I guess! And so does researching. And archiving. And of course having some sweet pastries as a morning snack. But giving a tour is still fun!” The large deer laughed, and his bellies shook. “Now just follow me and you’ll see all the wonders our fair library has to offer.”

Nystre took a step back as Birch rose, then hurried to the deer’s side as the tour began. Birch was mindful of his smaller companion’s shorter stride, so keeping up with him wasn’t difficult. While they still had some first-day jitters, Birch was already helping them feel comfortable.

“We’re currently in the atrium,” Birch began. “There’s the check-in counter, of course. We’ve also got a few private meeting rooms, and the entrance to our very own cafe. If you look over there you can also get a good view of the ocean.”

They meandered in the direction of the windows Birch was pointing to. He was right, they did offer a commanding view of the sea and the coast, along with a few of the city’s towering skyscrapers of glass and greenery. Birch gave Nystre a moment to take the view in, before heading towards a corridor that exited the atrium.

Though it was only a corridor, it was still wider and taller than most rooms Nystre was familiar with. Birch’s antlers didn’t even scrape the ceiling, despite his height. More natural sunlight awaited them as they entered a new room even larger than the atrium.

Dozens and dozens of desks stretched out, as far as the eye could see. They were large, of course, more than capable of handling the giant patrons reading at them. Elaborate fountains and sculptures joined the many plants, blending the indoors and outdoors. Speakers piped in bird songs, frog croaks, and the soft sounds of insects. It was all very subtle, very natural. Nystred doubted it distracted the readers at all.

“This is our main reading room,” Birch said. “The bulk of the library is centered around it so there’s less need to haul books across the building just to find a nice spot to read them at. Of course the more distant specialty sections have their own seats and desks for ease of use, but this is where most end up.”

“I’m sure it’s all very nice.” Nystre couldn’t think of much else to say. They’d never been a heavy reader, and couldn’t quite remember the last time they’d needed to visit a library. From what they’d seen already they at least thought the Grand Library would be relaxing to hang out at, though.

They continued through the center of the room, Nystre’s gaze darting all over as they tried to get a feel for their new job. In addition to the desks, they also saw large cushions for people to use. Again Nystre saw no one quite as small as them.

“Books and traditional research is our forte here at the Grand Library, but we pride ourselves in so much more than that,” Birch said. They left the reading room, going through another large corridor that led to another sprawling room. Aside from books, the shelves in the new room also held a plethora of varied objects that reminded Nystre of an antiques store. “Our magical archive! It’s not the biggest, but we’ve curated it well and ensured there are still plenty of unique items for arcane scholars to take a look at.”

Crystal balls, scrolls, wands, statuettes of all sorts. Of course they were huge, and reminded Nystre more of works of art due to their size. Some glowed or rattled as they passed by, and more than one was simply floating in place.

Nystre had rarely had the chance to see magic up close, and their awe was palpable. “Would...would handling any of this be part of my job?” they asked.

“Not at first, but eventually you’ll work everywhere, I guarantee it! The archive can be a handful at times, but for some it’s the funnest place in the library to work,” Birch said. A ruby statuette of a portly dragon floated across their path, tumbling in slow motion. Birch carefully snatched it out of the air. The statuette glowed, and shortly after Birch’s bellies began to swell. His middles wobbled as they grew. After about a minute the growth spurt ceased, and Birch laughed. “Looks like luck was on my side today. Last time one of these went off I nearly filled the whole room!” He laughed some more and secured the statuette on a shelf.

No more mischievous items menaced the pair as they continued their tour through the magical archive. Nystre did notice that everyone in the area was on the heavier side. Were all the magic items kept there like the dragon statuette?

Beyond the magic archive were the sections dedicated to niche subjects, along with more study rooms and scattered reading areas. Their final stop was the research area, a cluster of rooms around a common area that was spacious but not nearly as massive as anything else Nystre had witnessed on the tour.

“Research! Perfect for tinkering with technology if that’s your thing,” Birch said. “Many of these rooms serve as workshops for the mechanically inclined, and for the maintenance team that keeps the library running in tip top shape. There’s hundreds of technical treatises to scour and learn from, too.”

Nystre saw faint glow coming from the window to one workshop, while another appeared to be blocked by something blue and...feathery? “There’s a lot more happening here than I thought,” they said. “I’d assumed it was just a library.”

“Oh, but a library can be so many different things!” Birch said with glee. “At least that’s our approach here. And I just know you’ll feel the same way after you’ve had a chance to settle in.”

They backtracked, eventually returning to the atrium, where Nystre was invited behind the counter.

“So,” Birch said once they were there. “How did you like the tour?”

“It was very informative.” And a little overwhelming. “But I...I kind of couldn’t help but notice just how big everything is. The rooms, the shelves, the books, the people, the...the everything. And in comparison I’m, well, I’m not quite as big. Is that going to interfere with the job?”

“Oh Nystre, you’ll be fine. I know you’ll grow into the position, everyone does eventually!” Birch gave a reassuring smile and laugh. “Now if you just sign the last bit of paperwork you’ll officially be the newest member of our happy Grand Library community.”

The deer lay a large tablet on the floor before Nystre, a contract displayed on the screen. Using their whole paw as a stylus, Nystre scrawled their signature as best they could. When the deed was done a warm, fuzzy feeling came over them. Their nervousness faded, replaced by hope. They felt like they could tackle whatever the library threw at them.

Once signed, the tablet hovered back up on its own, neatly tucking away in a drawer with others like it. Satisfied, Birch grabbed something else from his desk, a faint ripping noise echoing from above. He lowered himself to Nystre and held out something stuck to the tip of a finger. It was a name-tag, with Nystre’s name written on it. “It’ll take some time to get an official badge made for you, but for now this’ll do.”

Nystre accepted the name-tag and stuck it on. They suspected the library would need to special order one for them, seeing as the rest were probably scaled to the larger employees. “Thank you! So, uh, where do I start?”

* * *

There wasn’t any training at the library, at least not in the traditional sense.

Nystre was led to a backroom filled with returned books waiting to be sorted. Most were already loaded onto carts, which of course loomed over the jamcat. Thankfully there was a miniature one. Oddly enough, Birch referred to it as the “trainee cart” specifically. Nystre assumed it was some sort of in-joke.

A tiny tablet was given to Nystre, which contained a helpful automated guide to the library. Birch assured Nystre the program would be able to answer the majority of their questions, and anything it couldn’t he certainly could. To get things started Birch placed a few books onto Nystre’s cart, and wished them luck before leaving to continue his work elsewhere.

Alone for the first time, Nystre took a deep breath and went to work.

The cart was a little bit heavy, but manageable once Nystre got it moving. The map provided by the trainer program made the library feel less like a maze, which eased much of their worries.

When Nystre did reach the location for the first book on the pile, though, they were faced with the daunting task of actually getting it up on the shelf. Holding the book was awkward. They had to constantly adjust their bulbous tail to maintain their balance as they angled the book into position, and pushing it in took effort. But Nystre persisted, and one-by-one the books were put away. Then they returned to the sorting room for another load.

Back and forth the jamcat went. At times Nystre had to lug books up ladders to reach the shelf, which wasn’t impossible but tuckered them out. Occasionally a passing coworker would quite literally offer them a paw, lifting them up to the highest shelves so Nystre could work. They much appreciated the help, and their coworkers seemed happy to give it.

Soon the first day was over with.

“Wonderful job, Nystre!” Birch said as he entered the sorting room. “Every book you put back is one more our eager patrons can investigate and learn from. Your role’s a vital one.”

The deer’s perspective was one Nystre hadn’t really considered, and it made them feel even happier about the job. “Thank you! I just wish I could put them away a bit faster.”

“Oh in time you will! You just need to adjust to the position further.” Birch smiled.

* * *

The next few days of work were mostly the same for Nystre. The Grand Library steadily grew more and more familiar to them, and they relied less on the trainer program to guide them around. When Nystre walked through certain sections, though, they sometimes were struck with the oddest sense of deja vu. A tucked away reading nook would look familiar, or maybe the elaborate design of a book cover. They knew they couldn’t have seen such things before, and yet…

Each time Nystre would simply shake their head and push the odd thoughts aside.

And just like Birch had promised, the workload became easier. After a couple days Nystre was able to add another book to the cart, then another, and another. They struggled a little less to reach shelves, the books felt a little lighter, the cart moved a little swifter. They were small changes, subtle changes. Just like the changes happening to Nystre themself.

For Nystre was growing. They didn’t suddenly wake up over a foot taller one morning, but after the first week of work they undoubtedly were. And they didn’t seem to notice. Sure, their bed at home seemed shorter than they remembered, and they’d bumped their head on a storage rack on the train twice now, but as far as they were concerned nothing about them had changed.

As the changes made their work go smoother and Nystre settled in, the jamcat found themself able to relax some while on the job. One day, they picked up the last book on the cart and actually took the time to read the title. It was a work of fiction, some kind of space adventure. Curious, they opened it up and began to read.

The book unexpectedly drew them in, and before Nystre knew it they’d read a whole chapter. Embarrassed at allowing themself to become so easily distracted, Nystre quickly shut the book--but kept it on the cart. Whenever they completed a load they’d sneak in a chapter of the book.

“Excellent choice; that’s a classic!”

The sound of Birch’s voice made Nystre jump, their whole body wobbling in the process. They’d risked reading a few pages while in the sorting room, and now they were sure they’d gotten themself into trouble. But no chastisement came from the deer.

“It’s one of the author’s earliest works, but it already shows off their potential,” Birch continued. “Have you read any of their other stories?”

“N-No,” Nystre said.

“Ah, just a fan of the genre, then?”

“It’s actually the first time I’ve read anything like this.” Nystre hadn’t put any thought into it, but their choice had been somewhat odd. “Guess I got lucky and it clicked with me, or something.”

Birch’s smile grew wider. “That’s one of the great things about libraries: you can learn so many new things about so many different subjects--including yourself!”

The deer taur left, and Nystre finished up the chapter before returning to work themself.

After reading the first book, Nystre swiftly moved onto another. It wasn’t fiction and had nothing to do with space, though. Instead it was a lengthy volume on period furniture from a century before. Again the jamcat couldn’t quite explain why they’d felt drawn to it. They’d never had an interest specifically in furniture, or even the time period really, but now they were enamored with learning more about the kobold-inspired designs of the past.

Reading in between sorting hadn’t been enough for Nystre, so they’d started staying after work for a few hours each day to get more in. They could’ve checked the book out and brought it home, but Nystre felt coziest while reading at the library. Besides, hauling the large book back and forth would’ve been tiring.

Nystre gently closed the book, their dinner having finally arrived. The seating at the library’s cafe was slightly oversized for the merely seven foot tall jamcat, but at least the table was large enough for their order. Multiple plates and bowls were placed down by the rotund goat waiter, who left with a nod and a smile afterward.

The order was a small feast, but Nystre didn’t see it as unusual. They gobbled everything up, their purple belly swelling as it filled with food and drink, growing round like their tail. By the end they were stuffed, as oblivious to their gluttony as they were their growth. Nystre gave their belly a content little pat and returned to their book. A steady stream of desserts ensured their middle grew even bigger.

When they eventually left for home later on, they did so with a wobbling belly that forced them to waddle rather than walk. It was a confusing experience, as Nystre wasn’t quite sure why they were bumping into so many things both on the train and at home. From their point of view nothing about that day was different from any other, and yet they were misjudging turns and spaces like never before.

Nystre shrugged it off as merely a result of their long day of work and reading. They plopped down on their bed, which creaked faintly beneath their weight, their paws hanging over the edge. When they drifted to sleep, their dreams were of being surrounded by hundreds of books, each of which fit perfectly in their giant paws.

* * *

After a little over a month, Nystre felt as if they’d always worked at the Grand Library. It was a comforting feeling, having a job they loved going to every morning. They looked forward to the delightful chats they’d have with Birch and their other coworkers, which always seemed to focus on what they’d recently read. Of course the best part was still reading on their breaks, and often after work as well.

And while the morning commute wasn’t the most exciting part of Nystre’s day, even it still had its little joys. The trains offered beautiful views of the city as they zipped along, and there were plenty of curious little shops surrounding every station. They tended to zone out on the way to and from, though, letting routine guide them.

As they vaguely pondered what new book they were going to pick up at the library that day, Nystre found themself walking face-first into a banner. They stumbled in surprise, their belly and tail jiggling as they backed away from the unexpected banner. It was an advertisement for an upcoming festival. Nystre couldn’t believe it’d been left to hang so preposterously low, where even someone of their average stature could run right into it.

But as Nystre looked around, they noticed the others nearby were directing their confused looks at them, rather than the banner. Why were they all so...short? In fact, everything in the area was oddly small, from the benches to the doorways. It all looked like it was meant for someone half their size.

Baffled, Nystre was hit with a slight wave of dizziness before everything clicked. They’d wandered to the wrong platform.

The city hosted people of all shapes and sizes, and the differences were enough that many services were split to better handle the ranges in height. Somehow Nystre had managed to end up at the platform meant for those under ten feet. It was such a silly mistake, one Nystre had never made before, and they let out a sheepish chuckle and blushed.

They quickly backtracked and took the correct turn. Yet now the walk to the train felt strange. It was simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar, a conflicting feeling that initially left the tall jamcat a little disoriented. But the further they walked the more comfortable things felt, and they’d mostly forgotten about the incident by the time they’d entered the massive train car.

On that day, the views of the city were more gorgeous than Nystre remembered. They saw past more rooftops, to the sea and the boats skimming across the blue waters. They spotted the outline of the Grand Library in the distance earlier than expected, and watched as it gradually neared one stop at a time.

As the train stopped and the doors opened, Nystre carefully maneuvered past the folk even taller than them. Work had given them plenty of practice, so they didn’t have to worry about getting caught under paw on accident. Which was a silly thought to begin with, as Nystre couldn’t remember ever being too much shorter than them.

Regardless of what Nystre’s memories told them, they had indeed changed fairly dramatically since getting the new job. Aside from their height, their weight had been increasing as well thanks to the exceptional size of all their meals, snacks included. Before, the bulk of their weight had been centered in their tail, with a bit in their thick thighs and small chubby middle. Over time the pounds had piled up all over, altering the fundamental shape of the jamcat.

They were still clearly feline, but their weight was more evenly distributed. Their tail wasn’t nearly as round as it had been, still fairly thick but slowly slimming down. It was like their jam body was being molded little-by-little as the days passed, shaped by an unseen sculptor and unnoticed by all. Or, at least, by most.

“Nystre I must say, you’ve been acclimating to your new job nicely!” Birch was at the check-in counter, just as he was every morning. “In fact, I think you should be a perfect fit for our resource desk now!”

Birch pointed towards a counter not too far from his own. It was about half as tall, which turned out to be just the right size for Nystre. Their first, instinctual thought was to give thanks for finally having a task that matched their size. It was instantly followed by amusement, since sorting books had never been a problem for someone as large as them. “Do you really think so?”

“I know so! All you’ll have to do is answer any questions our patrons have,” Birch said. “Usually that just means telling them where a particular section is, or looking up a book or item, or maybe figuring out if something can get transferred here from another branch. I admit a lot of those things end up handled by the digital information boards, but I rather prefer allowing the option for a personal touch, too.”

Birch’s enthusiasm was contagious, and Nystre stopped entertaining any doubts over the new position. “That sounds really nice!” They made their way around the desk and settled in.

“And I haven’t even mentioned the best part. Sitting at a desk for most of the day gives you plenty of time to read in between questions,” Birch said with a smile. “The cafe also delivers snacks regularly.”

Nystre hadn’t realized it was possible to enjoy their job further, yet working at the resource desk was incredible. As Birch had mentioned, there weren’t too many questions coming Nystre’s way. All were simple enough, and they rarely had to think twice before directing patrons. Every book they were asked about felt vaguely familiar, and more than once they found themself able to offer up a comment or two about them. At first it was surprising, as they couldn’t quite remember when they’d managed to read or at least skim those books. But with every shift their certainty grew stronger, until it was fact to them.

Of course they’d read the newest edition of the textbook on underwater habitats! Who hadn’t sped through the entire “Whimsical Fox Shrine” series! They’d not only enjoyed the classic anthology of spring poetry once, but three times!

Every question planted the memory of another book in their mind.

Nystre’s body was expanding as much as their mind in the new position, too. Compared to sorting books, the resource desk was very sedentary, and the opportunities to eat were plenty. Thanks to their jam body they’d always had a bit of a jiggle, but now it was beginning to come from the soft layers of pudge. Their rounder belly proved to be a convenient resting spot for books, and eventually plates of pastries. They’d always considered that to be an advantage of their heft, heft that hadn’t actually existed until recently.

But like all the changes happening to Nystre, it felt both right and normal.

More and more their body was being shaped, patient adjustments made here and there, seemingly at random. One day their ears would be shorter. Another their tail would be narrower. The colors of their body were fading. Purple was shifting to a light peach, blue to white. Their pink swirls had closed up and darkened, becoming light brown spots.

Coworkers and frequent patrons saw nothing different in the transforming feline.

***

As another shift came to an end, Nystre stood up and stretched. They’d felt oddly stiff the last few days, and assumed it was a result of so much sitting. The deep jiggling was gone, replaced by the gentler wobble of doughy fat. Getting out a bit more would likely help.

Nystre left the library and took the train a couple stops away, planning to grab a bite to eat at one of their favorite restaurants before returning for some late-night reading. The trip was smooth—of course—and the walk short.

As Nystre arrived they had to duck just to enter the place. Even inside Nystre’s ears nearly brushed against the ceiling. The waiting room seats were too small for someone of Nystre’s stature, so they remained standing. They tried their best to stay close to the wall, but that still involved sucking in their gut and apologizing as other, smaller visitors and staff attempted to squeeze past.

For years Nystre had been going to the restaurant, and they’d always been able to claim it was their favorite, without a doubt. But as they looked around the place on that day, they frowned. Had it always been so cramped and noisey? Just a couple days before they’d struggled to squeeze into the largest booth there. And they swore the portions had shrunk recently, their taste just not quite the same. It wasn’t necessarily bad, it was just...just different, somehow. Maybe the recipes had changed, or new chefs had been hired, or cheaper spices bought.

With a sigh Nystre left before they could be seated. Life had been very good to them recently, but becoming jaded with their favorite place to eat out was sad. They had mournfully decided to head back to the library when a building across the street caught their eye.

It looked to be a cafe, with a colorful wooden sign above the door and some seating outside. Even at a distance the chairs and tables looked to be just the right size for them. They’d never noticed the place before let alone been inside, but Nystre found themself drawn to it, their gut instinct telling them it’d be good to check it out.

The cafe was fairly quiet, some soft music playing over speakers with only the occasional clinking of utensils echoing over it. It was brighter, too, and more open. And best of all, they didn’t feel like they were squeezed inside. A friendly server about a foot taller than them brought them over to a cozy personal booth, which Nystre slid into with ease.

The menu was simple, but everything on it managed to appeal to them in some way. As they read the descriptions of each they found themself able to clearly envision the dish. They could remember the taste, vaguely at first, but eventually strong, as if they’d had it a dozen times before. Choosing took time, but only because it all looked so good to Nystre.

“How have I never been here before?” Nystre whispered aloud. The cafe was everything they could want in a restaurant. Perfect atmosphere, perfect menu, perfect proportions. And the portions were perfect as well, plates overflowing with food that’d surely fill them up well. When they waddled out a while later, belly round and bulging, they’d completely forgotten about their old favorite haunt across the street. And after a couple more visits, they were convinced they’d been a regular at the cafe for years--and so was the staff.

* * *

“Nystre! Nystre, could you join me for a moment!”

Nystre’s stubby round ears twitched as they heard Birch calling for them. “I’ll be right there!” They slowly stood, their blue-white belly bouncing as they did. They took a moment to mess with their very short coat of fur, making sure no tufts were sticking out. Lately the feline’s fur hadn’t felt quite right, as if it should’ve been longer, or maybe thicker. Perhaps it was just reacting strangely to the changing of seasons, or something in their diet. They’d have to make sure they ordered a bit more next meal.

When Nystre finally strolled into the sorting room, they laughed. Birch was beached on his lower gut, which had ballooned considerably. The much heftier deer taur blushed some and shook his head. “Yeah, I deserve that. I got carried away with one of the scrolls and accidentally cast a rather strong fattening spell on myself! I certainly don’t mind the heft, but I can’t really finish sorting things in this shape. I know it’s abrupt, but would you be able to handle the magical returns for me?”

A broad smile grew upon Nystre’s round face. Coincidentally they’d been reading about magic recently—one of the many subjects Nystre had always had a keen interest in. While they’d done some light browsing of the magic archive before, they’d never had the chance to get a real thorough look at it. “It’d be my pleasure! Magic was a big reason I applied to work here, remember? There’s so many different approaches and theories to it, and few places are better for getting hands-on experience than a library like ours!”

Birch snickered quietly in response to the revelation, something Nystre had never hinted at before that moment. “Just another reason I knew you’d be the perfect match for us in time. The carts are already loaded, at least. Though try not to repeat my mistake!” He laughed, and Nystre joined in.

The first cart was mostly a pile of scrolls, along with some varied trinkets. Nystre hummed to themself as they pushed the cart towards the magic archive. The fifteen foot tall feline easily weaved through the passing groups of visitors and coworkers, most of whom were shorter than them, if only by a couple feet or so.

Despite their girth, Nystre was adept at keeping just enough space in between them and everyone else. And at avoiding tripping over people. It was only natural, of course, for someone as big and tall as Nystre. They knew exactly how much their gut would sway when they turned, how far their noodle-like tail would reach if it swung about, how much ground their long strides would take them. Sure there were odd times when they’d accidentally underestimate their reach—especially recently—but no one was perfect.

Arriving at the magic archive, Nystre experienced a sense of overwhelming newness they hadn’t felt since their first days on the job. But once they’d scanned the room, it was replaced by a wave of awe, then one of fondness.

The archive had always been one of their favorite places in the library; they knew it like the back of their furry spotted paw. Nystre scooped up a few of the scrolls and sorted them first. All it took was a quick glance to know where they went, as they’d examined most of them before. They resisted the temptation to peek at the one that’d fattened Birch. Having an enormous belly to rest on while they read tomes would’ve been fun, but for now they had work to complete.

Scrolls were tucked away into their racks, tomes slid onto shelves, and magical items secured in cases. One of the items bathed Nystre in a warm, comforting glow that caused the few spots they had to multiply until their body was covered in them. It felt refreshing. When Nystre saw their spots they looked at them quizzically. “Hmm, the lights in here might need to be turned up. My spots are looking a little dim today. Oh well, I’m sure they’ll be back to normal soon enough.”

Two more trips were needed to put away the last of the magical items in the sorting room. Each time Nystre returned Birch was slightly thinner, the deer taur working to slim himself back down as he did some light reading. He was close to being mobile as Nystre’s shift came to an end.

“Have fun, Birch,” Nystre said. “I’m heading home for the day.”

The feline headed to the train station. Only a few stops later they got off, though. There was a lovely park by the river where the flowers were in full bloom and one could forget they were even in a city. Birch had introduced it to them some time in the past, though the specifics escaped Nystre for some reason. They sat on a bench and pulled out a book on astronomy.

For hours they read, soaking up the sun and listening to the flowing water, all while learning about a few small moons. Only when the light started to fade and the sky turned pink and orange did they pack their things to leave.

The ride was brief, and Nystre passed through the front doors to the Grand Library right at nightfall.

“Back already?” Birch asked. The deer taur waddled by, his belly brushing against the floor.

Nystre opened their mouth to speak, but didn’t know what to say. Why had they come back to the library? They remembered leaving the library, then stopping at the park to read, and then finally heading home. Yet they’d ended right back where they’d started, somehow. “Huh, I swore I went home. At least that’s what I felt like I was doing.”

Birch raised a brow, before his eyes lit up in understanding. “Well, that’s because you are home, silly! You just moved into our employee dorm a couple days ago, room twenty.”

The idea of living at the library was delightful enough that it took mere seconds for it to be truth to Nystre. Their old place had been so small—they weren’t sure why they’d put up with it in the first place. But now they could be surrounded by books even when not working.

“Yes, of course, of course! Thank you so much again for that, Birch. And for hiring me on to my dream job. These have been the best years of my life, honestly,” Nystre said.

“Well you’ve been a blessing for us, as well. An employee who was passionate about knowledge from the get-go, always eager to learn more. You’ve grown into the position nicely, just like I promised,” Birch said. “Now I’ve gotta squeeze back into my own room, so enjoy the rest of your night.”

Nystre was left beaming at the compliment. Their room was easy to find, and although it was fairly bare—to the extent of looking unlived in—Nystre immediately felt at home there. They put away their bag, made the spacious bed, and slept soundly for the first time in a long while.

* * *

Living at the library allowed Nystre to spend practically every free moment reading. And when they weren’t reading, they were organizing, or teaching, or helping others in some way or another. Occasionally Birch would invite them on trips to places capable of handling their considerable size.

There was the art gallery, which Nystre hadn’t even heard of before but left recalling all the past exhibits they’d visited with Birch. The museum of natural history, which Nystre eventually remembered introducing Birch to instead of the other way around. And of course the old bookstore hidden away by the boardwalk, where Nystre had worked a few summers apparently.

With each passing day Nystre became more and more aware of how deeply their life had involved books and reading and knowledge in general. New volumes and tomes appeared on the shelves of their room every morning, and as far as they were concerned they’d been there forever.

There came a morning when Nystre’s room was very nearly perfect. No space left on the shelves, a pantry filled with their favorite snacks, and a drawer filled with all the things necessary to keep their fluffy coat looking impeccable. The feline stretched in bed as they woke, a tingle running up their spine as the last hint of their formerly jam body vanished. When they slid out from beneath the covers, they were entirely snow leopard.

They could see their reflection in a mirror, and grinned at how big their poofy fur made them look. But of course their ample belly and butt certainly helped as well. They’d always been one of the portliest employees at the library, and being close to twenty feet tall only made them look bigger. Nystre was also one of the friendliest, though, so their mass rarely intimidated the patrons.

After the moment of admiration, Nystre packed some essentials into their bag and started work. New books had arrived, and as one of the most senior employees it was up to them to get everything properly cataloged and sent to sorting. It was a task they loved, as it gave them a chance to choose which arrival to read first.

Thanks to living at work, the journey was brief and uneventful. Only twice did they have to catch their gut with a paw so it didn’t bump into a shorter passerby, and their poofy tail didn’t gently wallop anyone, either. The arrivals were already neatly stacked on a table when Nystre entered the room. They skimmed the titles in anticipation, then sat down.

From within Nystre’s bag a notebook was pulled out, half-filled with entries that dated back a couple years at least. It was a bit old fashioned and slow compared to a tablet, but they rather enjoyed the feel of it. And on the front they’d scrawled their name in the cleanest script they could: Martin.

Martin looked at his faded name and smiled, remembering how excited he’d been to put together the notebook and first start cataloging. He’d been a little slimmer then, and maybe an inch shorter—maybe. But his passion hadn’t waned at all. The library’s collection had grown so much in the time he’d worked there, thanks in part to his own efforts. He couldn’t have asked for a better dream job, and thanked his luck every morning.

The snow leopard opened his notebook and wrote the date for the latest entries, but was hit with a sudden, intense feeling that he was forgetting something, something important. Martin’s eyes widened as he realized what had happened—and then laughed. “I’m not going to get much done without my glasses!” He lowered a paw into his bag and took out a pair with round lenses. The glasses still looked new despite their age, and everything became a bit clearer once he put them on. He still felt like something was missing, but at the moment he couldn’t quite remember what, so he decided to start working until he did.

The feeling persisted throughout the entire time Martin was cataloging, but he still managed to finish up by the time his first break arrived. With glee he snatched up a book on gardening and headed towards the reading room.

It was the weekend, and the library was more packed than usual. Martin was delighted to see so many people there, but that also meant finding a spot to read was more difficult. Not every seat was designed with his heft in mind. Soon it became clear every proper chair was taken. Again the sensation he was forgetting something hit, and he became convinced he’d never run into this problem before.

There was a tingling, and Martin twitched as without warning his body extended. Thick hind legs and a blubbery lower belly sprung from nothing, causing him to stagger about as he went from bipedal to taur. He almost slid to the floor thanks to the dramatic increase in weight, his second belly bouncing from side-to-side. A few people nearby gasped as they witnessed the abrupt transformation, only to return to their books seconds later, confused as to why they’d ever looked away.

Martin carefully straightened out his legs, regaining his balance. Then he chuckled. “Huh, not like me to misstep like that. I almost belly flopped! Though this does look like a nice place to settle down.

The massive snow leopard taur lowered himself to the floor. His soft middle and rump were the perfect seat, one he was glad to always have on him. He curled his tail up close and prepared to read his latest find. Martin stopped when he saw Birch waddling his way.

“Thought you might be here,” the deer taur said. “Especially once I didn’t find you pouring over a tome in the sorting room or wedged between two aisles of the magical archive!”

Martin blushed. As spacious as the library was, his heft could prove a challenge during misadventures. At least all the extra padding ensured he rarely damaged anything with a stray belly bump. “I’ve been very careful lately, thank you very much!”

“Of course, of course. But more importantly, your new name badge finally came in.” Birch handed the badge to his fellow giant taur.

It was digital, displaying Martin’s name in bright glowing text. It “attached” to Martin’s chest with ease, hovering in place. When he looked down on it, he was overcome with the feeling of finally being whole, which he couldn’t quite explain. “I’ll do my best not to lose this one.”

“Don’t worry about it, things happen. Besides, I’d say all your years of service more than make up for the occasional misplaced badge. Now I’ve got a new hire to give a tour to! They’re a bit small, but I feel they’ve got the potential to grow into the position, just like you did once upon a time.”

“Yeah, with how well-fed the cafe keeps us it’s not hard to grow here!” Martin gave his upper belly a pat with both paws and his lower one a slap with his tail, causing them to jiggle. “Enjoy the tour—I’ve got some gardening to read up on.” He opened the book and got lost in it immediately, missing the wide grin of satisfaction on Birch’s face. For Martin it was just a normal day, no different from any he’d experienced during his many, happy years at the Grand Library.