for all the world's a stage - LIBRARY LOG

[libraryassistants]

Who: The Editors
What: The Library changes once again...
When: January 9- January 22
Where: The Library
Content warnings: Please put them in the comment headers!

The Assistants have vanished into their backroom once again, leaving only the increasingly unbelievable “Back In 5” sign on the Help Desk, but at least they have attempted to impart some knowledge on the Editors before departing (or… attempted to do anything but, depending who you ask). The customary tea cart with drinks and increasingly stale biscuits is parked in its usual spot, though it seems that the quality of the tea at least has improved some. (Still waiting on coffee improvement.)

There’s a new crafting setup in the Maker Space, a table with an iron and machine for making vinyl designs, along with the instructions on how to use it, and a stack of t-shirts in various sizes. Usually there’s something in the correct size, but, well, mistakes happen. While this addition to clothing is a boon, there is the problem that the t-shirts can’t be taken out of the room until some sort of design is put on them. Get creative! Show off your style! Or maybe just steal one of the shirts that are there for display purposes. It’s fine, the Library can make more.

In the second week as the Library begins to change once more, the Lobby’s wooden floor shines with extra polish. The walls make an odd creaking sound as they shift, warping into brick covered with velvet drapings in a rich, dark red. Gold thread twinkles in the stitches, a sense of opulence woven through. The sound of ballroom music drifts by and, while in the Lobby, characters will be taken by the unusual impulse to dance.

Outside, in the Garden, the day/night cycle has paused firmly on a cloudless night. A full moon hangs in the air - literally. About the size of a basketball, it follows the first person who enters the Garden; hovering a couple of meters above their head. A white aura spreads from them, powered by the moon, and those who are caught in its light will find themselves unable to speak anything but the truth.

When the person to whom the moon is attached leaves the garden, the moon and its aura will leave them; and the moon will attach to the next person to enter instead.

On the circulation desk, there is a sign: “This Week’s Recommended Reading: Twilight!” The accompanying sign up sheet waits next to it for those wishing to check it out- though some will receive the movie instead of the book, with no particular rhyme or reason to it. Periodically someone might also receive something else entirely. Whoops? The Assistants at least will fix that quickly. Richard will be embarrassed, while Phillip will be trying not to cackle.

While not advertised, various iterations of different stories will be available throughout the Library. In particular, someone seems to have left the projector in one of the meeting rooms running, with a variety of different recorded plays. These range from professional productions, to parodies, to what appear to be high schoolers (of which one production features a sixteen year old version of Phillip running around being an absolutely nuisance.

Comments

[bashasasdemon]

Huh. Kai leans back in the chair, fingers tapping on his arm as he thinks. "We're probably looking at the theming of the comedies or tragedies, then," he says after a moment, "Assuming this is connected to our 'reading' at all." He's... not sure which of the two Twilight falls into, if he's honest. All he knows is that it better not be a history.

[starandhope]

"Many of the histories also deal with such things as murder and war," Mina points out, not that that helps. "Perhaps it has more to do with the language? Perhaps we'll all be speaking in iambic pentameter?"

[bashasasdemon]

"If so, then any of us who are ourselves are in trouble." He can follow that there is a rhythm, he just has no idea how to do it himself. "Time period, maybe? Assuming there is actually a connection."

[starandhope]

"Honestly, there are so many possibilities," Mina says with a faint sigh. "And even if we were to work out what the connection will be, I'm not sure it will help many of us."

[bashasasdemon]

"I know," Kai says with a groan, rubbing his temples, "But I have to try." Better than going in more or less completely blind, like last time. Though knowledge still wouldn't have helped, considering what happened...

[starandhope]

"Knowledge is generally better than ignorance," Mina agrees. "Which may be why so many of us have our memories wiped when we enter the Story."

To keep them ignorant. It's terribly frustrating.

[bashasasdemon]

"That's the thing, though," he says with a frown, "We get a different kind of knowledge, of how the world works and the place we have within it. We lose the grasp of why it's important, but it's not nothing." You'd think if they didn't want them knowing anything they'd drop them all in as is with nothing, and if they wanted to be effective they would have both kinds of knowledge. But no.

[starandhope]

“It’s all so nonsensical,” Mina agrees. “As if there isn’t even really a plan at all.”

[bashasasdemon]

Kai nods. "...do you think that's possible? That they don't know what they're doing?" He's not sure he likes that any better.

[starandhope]

"I don't know," Mina says with a sigh. "And would that be better or worse than having a plan for us?"

[bashasasdemon]

"I don't know," he admits, "but it would require a different approach. ...Though again, we're unlikely to know for sure."

[starandhope]

"It's incredibly frustrating, when all one wants is to go home," Mina mutters, ducking her head momentarily. She really ought to keep better control of her emotions.

[bashasasdemon]

Kai reaches a hand out, instinct to try and comfort, but he withdraws it- people don't like touching demons, and even if Mina doesn't know what he can do, it feels wrong to touch without permission. But his intent was likely still clear even with the awkward aborted gesture. "We'll figure something out," he says, which is vague because meaningless promises help no one, "We might not be able to get home, but we'll find a way to make this bearable for us." People are very good at that.

[starandhope]

Mina sighs, and nods.

"We will," she agrees. "I'm glad, at least, that we're in this together."