libraryassistants: (Default)
Unfinished Library Mod & NPC Account ([personal profile] libraryassistants) wrote in [community profile] unfinishedlibrary2025-11-14 08:20 am

It's a beautiful day in the village - TAKE A LOAD OFF, LOG 1

Who: Readers and Actors
What: Beta Story Start - At the start of any particular Story, characters will be drawn to a section of the Stacks. Those inclined to resist will find themselves there anyway, through the shifts and changes inherent to the Library's structure. The Story manuscript will be laid out neatly on a side table, its pages lit by a faint aura that draws focus and beckons insistently to the Editors. Touching it will bring them into the Story.
Characters can either voluntarily touch the Story to enter it, or the Librarian will eventually sweep them in. Regardless of how long it takes them to enter, everyone will arrive at the same point in time.
When: November 14- November 27
Where: Woodhurst (UK) and the SS Radiance (in space!), 2019
Content warnings: Please tag warnings in comment headers!

In Woodhurst

It’s another Monday morning in Woodhurst, and as is often the case for the United Kingdom in the fall, it is raining. It is, all in all, a rather typical Monday morning. People shuffle off to work, dropping by the various cafes and shops for their morning caffeine. Polite (if meaningless) greetings are exchanged, vague comments about the weather are made. Heads down, trudging along, just keeping things going.

By midday, it’s clear that this Monday is a little bit… different. There are some people who seem especially cheerful and helpful. Perhaps you’ve just been served a free upsize of your morning coffee. Or a stranger held an umbrella up for you. People keep talking about the benefits of yoga? And it’s not just a bunch of people seeming to be having an especially good day and paying it forward (that would be strange enough). Some of your friends and loved ones aren’t acting like themselves, aside from being remarkably cheerful. They don’t seem to remember basic things, don’t know their normal rituals, and are generally just very off. You think one of them might have blinked sideways? Whatever it is that’s happened, it doesn’t seem right.

As for those ‘friends and loved ones’… The novices from the Interstellar Group are largely inexperienced with such a thing as covert operations. Fresh off the ship and with no frame of reference, their human disguises may have a few significant flaws.

However many fingers it is they have, they’re keen to help - perhaps a little too much so. Whatever it takes to make these human lives easier, whatever they can do to help them relax - the Group are on it! Hopefully they’ll catch on quietly.


On the IMW Group Supply Ship: Radiance

No plan survives contact with the enemy, is how the saying goes. But within the Interstellar Mindfulness & Wellness Group, the concept is usually applied to patients. Patients are, almost entirely across the board, unpredictable creatures - and while the science behind wellness is robust, there’s simply too much individual variation for a standardised approach. That being said, this particular plan seems to be going… rather more poorly than expected. It starts to break down once the word ‘kidnapping’ is brought up. It’s such an ugly word to use. The Group tries to avoid it. But in some of these cases, the humans need the Group’s own facilities! The idea was to convince the humans to follow them to a very not suspicious space capsule, or to get them to touch this particularly strange teleportation device, and they’d be on their way to recovery. However, most if not all the humans seem to be reacting… quite negatively to that. It’s almost like they don’t understand that this is for their benefit!

The ship is very nice, and perfectly designed to relax and comfort (--for the species the Group are familiar with, at least). Soothing music plays along the spaceship’s halls, which are lit in a soft violet glow. Potted plants are artfully displayed, though none of them are recognisable as any species found on Earth. For those with a sensitive nose, the flowers give off a bright, delicate scent; not unlike that of lavender and lemon myrtle. An entire stretch of glass is dedicated to the view outside, the Earth looking so serene from this distance; stars shining in the space around it.

For those Aliens aboard the mothership, maybe you’re delivering this hour’s yoga session. Maybe you’re leading a group chant or meditation. Are you perhaps talking humans into resting in the healing spa, or - for those so inclined - are you delving deeper, forming a connection, and really getting to know these humans? For the humans… well, at least the spa looks really nice, right?

[Space Spa Features:
Yoga - you’ve been herded into a room where a flexible alien encourages you to breathe deeply; holding it in your stomach and feeling your heart beat before letting it out in a big sigh. The routine is not very different to yoga on Earth, except… well, if you can’t find your proboscis, maybe that particular pose won’t work for you.
Sauna - the heat promotes circulation, but the temperature in here seems to be a little off.
Spa - you know what a spa is. Or, you thought you did. It looks like the aliens aren’t quite on the same page. Where there would normally be cucumbers, there’s a strange pink fruit. Where you’d expect water, there’s… a viscous fluid, gently rotating through a myriad of colours, that seems to soften and soothe your muscles as you soak in it.
And Others - the aliens have no shortage of remedies for what ails you! Since this is their first time experiencing humans, results may vary.]


Optional prompts (player-run):
An alien adrift, unsure what task to complete? Seek guidance from your leader.

In Woodhurst, unnerved and skeptical? Drop in at your local seedy bookshop to chat with some alien enthusiasts.

[Have a plan to drive the Story direction? Let us know, and we’ll add it to the list!

Info post can be found here.]
aetherweaver: (eh?)

[personal profile] aetherweaver 2025-11-16 04:27 am (UTC)(link)
"... No, I'm not. Just passing through, I think." He hopes. ... He's not sure if this is another person from the Library or not, and he's a little concerned about what would happen if he broke cover, but...

"Do you know of any particularly large libraries around here?" That's subtle. ... Right?
holiestlove: PB:  Lucky Blue Smith (dark hair - reflection)

[personal profile] holiestlove 2025-11-16 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
"Likewise." Spoken a little uncertain as well, though his accent was not far off from the citizens around them. Just a bit antiquated.

His eyes widen then. "I have indeed, sir. Is it the one with the endless shelves?" Asked just to be certain.
aetherweaver: (neutral)

[personal profile] aetherweaver 2025-11-16 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
"It is." He visibly relaxes, glad that he's found at least one person from the Library. He gestures for the other to follow him as he walks towards the park. People are probably not out this late... "It's been a very odd day, hasn't it?"
holiestlove: PB:  Lucky Blue Smith (dark hair - Shades 3)

[personal profile] holiestlove 2025-11-16 04:58 am (UTC)(link)
Jonathan let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding in. What a relief.

Moving to follow along, hands going behind his back as he usually walked, which was only a little awkward in the modern clothes. "Indeed, I thought our days in the library were odd. This is certainly more so. Have you been getting on alright?"
aetherweaver: (uh oh)

[personal profile] aetherweaver 2025-11-16 10:24 pm (UTC)(link)
"I have, but barely. I feel as if people know that I'm different, but I'm doing the best I can to lie low. I don't know if there's a reason we've been shunted to a different star, but..." And if there is, why weren't they told?

He moves his hand up to scratch his ear... but of course his ears are no longer on top of his head. Damned reflexes. He lets his hand drop. "I've been doing my best to at least help people if I can..."
holiestlove: PB:  Lucky Blue Smith (dark hair - reflection)

[personal profile] holiestlove 2025-11-17 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
"Likewise, one realized I am not of this time. I need to be more careful, it would seem."

Jonathan nodded as the other spoke. Noticing that almost scratch, but saying nothing. "I do wonder why we are here as well. I am thinking to observe? But that is my only reasonable thought." After a second, he added, a touch worried. "Has someone been in need of help?"
aetherweaver: (turn away)

[personal profile] aetherweaver 2025-11-17 04:22 am (UTC)(link)
"I've met... a few odd people. One of them I somewhat recognized from the library, but he didn't seem to recognize me. If we're to help finish stories... perhaps this is one of those unfinished stories? Which means we are writing... likely the ending." They are Editors, apparently.

"We need to find out who remembers the library, I think. And then we'll be better equipped to make a plan... or at least have more information."
holiestlove: PB:  Lucky Blue Smith (dark hair - resting head)

[personal profile] holiestlove 2025-11-21 01:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"That would make a certain amount of sense, yes. The question is, how do we finish writing it from within?" Jonathan mused as he walked with the other.

"The park may be a wise place; I have recognized some faces of people passing in the park."
aetherweaver: (neutral)

[personal profile] aetherweaver 2025-11-22 06:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"I suppose we act it out. Like a play, but real." That's the only idea he's got at the moment. Hm.

The park... "It would be a good meeting place in general anyway, since it is a public space. It's not as if we'll look suspicious if we're in the park."
holiestlove: (looking back)

[personal profile] holiestlove 2025-12-02 01:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"I confess I have not been to many plays, but I do understand the concept." He had seen small productions and such.

"Yes, I quite agree, it would bring less attention to us."
aetherweaver: (surprised)

[personal profile] aetherweaver 2025-12-07 03:10 am (UTC)(link)
"Me either, really. Not enough time." Too many people to help.

"There's got to be some sort of... script. Somewhere. ... Unless it's a play without one. I have seen a few of those..." They're not very good, in his opinion.