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unfinishedlibrary2025-11-14 08:20 am
libraryassistants) wrote in 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.]
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.]
no subject
"Good to meet you too, Kai," A thought occuring to Charles, something interested lighting in his expression as rather than darting off to see about fixing a cuppa- for the both of them, he was a feral little teen sure, but he had some manners- he took his perch on the stool near where he'd dumped his stuff, arms crossing over the counter. "So you've known Mister Howard for ages then, yeah?"
no subject
He watches the kid settle on the stool, a little amused despite himself. "Yeah," he says, not sure at all where this is going to go, "Lost touch for a while, but... obviously ran into each other again." He's not a very good liar, so sticking as close to the truth as possible is probably for the best.
no subject
"Place has been here as long as anyone remembers now. Practically a public institution, even if no one knows a lot about Mister Howard," He comments easily, leaning forward against his arms, brows lifting as he shared the gossip. "Shadow thinks he might be an alien."
He can't help but laugh, as if the idea was insane. Randy Howard, beloved (if odd) fixture of Woodhurst, an alien?
"Completely mad, that. There's a lot simpler explanation."
no subject
"That's... definitely something," he says after a moment, not sure how to respond to such a statement, "Is that a thing he says a lot?" ...Ranndurand probably thinks it's funny.
But maybe he should move off this topic. Just to be safe. "There are," he agrees, messing with his hair a bit, "He's... pretty private, from what I remember."
no subject
"Don't blame him, small town like this everyone's nosy," Including him, but at least he's nice about it. "Honestly, if he's anything, I'm bettin' he's some sort of vampire."
no subject
He manages a little laugh, which hopefully covers the fact that he has no idea what a vampire is. "I always just figured he was old and weird," he says, and then winces, "Though I guess I'm not far off from the age he was when I knew him." Ouch.
no subject
"Well, he's been here ages and just seems the same," Charles points out sagely, before leaning forward, hands on the counter as his feet hike against the bracing bar of the stool to keep him a bit higher up while he regards Kai with wide, curious eyes. "Was the basement smaller back then too? Like not just because of soundproofin' it's way smaller, and I've been in a couple of the other shop basements when I was helpin' Mister Finkleman with deliveries during the summers, and their basements are as big as the upstairs like this one should be-"
no subject
He shrugs. He needs a different topic of conversation. "How often do you come by here? I hung out a lot by the back shelves even before I worked here."
no subject
"I suppose that's fair..." He allows with a soft, thoughtful air. "Figured he had like... a secret room blocked off for his coffin and all. But I'm not about to go pryin' because well, Mister Howard's aces. If he thinks I figured out his secret he might feel like he has to leave, and no one wants that, he's not hurtin' anyone or nothin'!"
Charles likes the weird shopkeeper, and will defend him endlessly even as he suspects some supernatural secret. And for now he lets the subject shift, thumping back to sit on the stool in a way that has it rocking perilously for a moment before arms plunk against the top of the counter to steady himself. "Oh loads! I'm here almost every day after school. And on breaks I'm here plenty too, especially when Shadow's workin' too."
no subject
You know. After a ship of aliens shows up and potentially blows his cover. He might want to know he's still wanted here. (Even if Kai definitely plans to offer him a ride home.)
"Yeah? I did that for a few years, too." Though his situation was... hopefully different than Charles's. "You're friends with, uh, Shadow, then?" Is that a normal human name? It doesn't feel like it.
no subject
Charles has considered this plenty, and is fairly certain that there's a thriving secret community around supernatural folk and their wants and needs.
The comment about telling Randy had him humming his consideration. He didn't want to let the man know he was on to him, but at the same time... Charles was fairly certain that he would like knowing that he was wanted around. So he nodded, with a grin.
"I'll figure out some way to bring it up without lettin' him know I've connected the dots." Charles, you haven't connected anything.
"Mister Howard's real brills, isn't he? Not many folk'd put up with a bunch of teens comin' and hangin' around their shop all the time, but he's real nice about it," It likely didn't hurt that they tended to abide by the few general rules he put into place about it, and weren't the sort to cause too much trouble on their own. "Shadow's one of my best mates, him and Mitch. We wind up hangin' out a lot, especially when it's late."
no subject
He does, however, huff out a little laugh. "I'm sure you can come up with something. Maybe when he's giving you tea, or something." That's the sort of things Randolph would do, and a good time to appreciate someone. Right? Right.
There's a wave of emotion that comes over him, and he pushes it aside to deal with later. "Yeah," he says, and oops, a little of it still made it into his voice, "he is really good about that, isn't he? I'm glad he still has a space for people."