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unfinishedlibrary2026-01-23 06:56 pm
libraryassistants) wrote in unfinishedlibrary2026-01-23 06:56 pm
Entry tags:
- arcane: vikor,
- blade runner: kd6-3.7,
- claymore: cassandra the dusteater,
- dead boy detectives: charles rowland,
- devil summoner raidou kuzunoha: raidou k,
- legend of zelda botw: link,
- maidensong magica: claire ryland,
- persona 5: sumire yoshizawa,
- the murderbot diaries: murderbot,
- the wonders of mundus: hikaru aozora,
- the wonders of mundus: siobahn greenwood,
- tortall: hisako godsup,
- warhammer: roboute guilliman,
- ~moonlit rivals
perhaps you have learned it without a book - MOONLIT RIVALS LOG 1
Who: Readers and Actors galore!
What: The Story begins- and so do preparations for the Masquerade!
When: The three days prior to the Masquerade [ooc timeline: 1/23-2/5]
Where: The city of Montica
Content warnings: Please include any warnings in headers!
First Quarter Moon
Now that most of the Editors know what to expect, the draw into the Story is likely more obvious this time. There’s a subtle urge that encourages their feet to turn towards the Stacks; a slight shimmer in the air that thickens the closer they get to the book laying open on an innocuous library cart.
Those who resist the Story’s pull will be drawn in eventually. Whether the compulsion is successful, or whether the Librarian passes by to sweep them in - all Editors will enter, and all will experience the Story’s start together.
(Editors who have gained the skill Ex Media Res will be able to resist the Story’s pull and hang out in the Library. Drop us a note if they’re using this skill!)
In particular, at the hour our Readers arrive, there is a clean-up going on at the centre of town. People are grumbling as they sweep debris from the streets, and those who are familiar with supernaturally-powered fights will recognise this scene for exactly what it is: the aftermath of some powerful entities having had at it. Hang around too long and you may find yourself with a broom or hammer thrust into your hands, the expectation that you’ll help having been made clear.
Those who leave the clean-up will find themselves welcome in the city’s inn, where visitors hover by the windows, chattering excitedly about the fight that had just broken up. Some people think they’re lucky to have seen it - others think they’ll be luckier if they go the next few days without seeing another one.
The inn is warm, full of gossip, and by some marvel still has private rooms available to rent. Readers will find themselves with enough coin in their pocket to afford quite a bit, this time around - but don’t go spending it all at once. Those who are astute will hear the talk of a masquerade going around, and if you want to attend, you’re going to have to dress appropriately.
The city is almost evenly bisected by loyalties, a hard divide running clearly through the centre of the town. Only a small ring in the centre is considered to be neutral territory - though that’s becoming more and more disputed with each passing moon.
To the north, buildings seem to have a fondness for silver. It seems they’ll take any excuse to work the precious metal into everyday items, from cutlery to window fastenings; and some particularly zealous citizens proudly don silver jewellery and pins in their day-to-day wear. In this section of town you will find the dwellings of the old vampire clans, littered with antiquities and casual opulence.
To the south, the people are fond of spices. Garlic flowers pepper garden beds and the dried bulbs hang from doorframes, and there’s hardly a meal cooked without it. Some industrious workers are busy building small moats of flowing water through this half of the city – you’d better mind your step, lest you get in their way. Located amongst these homes are the dens of the werewolf packs, warmly furnished and brimming with life.
No matter where you are in town, whether you’re surrounded by silver or dodging moat diggers, whether it’s day or night or nebulous twilight, there’s one topic that’s on everyone’s lips: the Umbra Masquerade.
It’s a once in a human lifetime event, and the city is abuzz. Some of the elderly may have been once before, in their youth - but likely at an age where they were too young to remember. There are stories about these masquerades, of the favours that can be won and the deals that can be made. More than one wealthy family attributes their successes to parties of the past, and while the werewolves shouldn’t be there – who’s going to stop them?.
Behind the fuss of the market, astute observers will note the broken and boarded-up windows hidden by the bold stalls. Some buildings are outright abandoned, damaged beyond repair. It becomes even more obvious as night falls and the number of stalls thins, the night vendors setting up with wary looks in their eyes.
Right now the market is bustling with vendors sending goods up to the Umbra Clan's mansion. There is a constant stream of traders passing back and forth, hurrying to get their contributions in place before the ball. Regular goods are still for sale, but the busiest stalls are those selling - of all things - masks with varying levels of decoration. They’ve cleverly set up outside of stores selling clothing; beautiful dresses and tailored suits visible through the cracked and dusty windows. Editors will find they have enough local currency to afford something modest. If their tastes skew toward the more extravagant then, well – they better get to work.
The mansion's front doors open to a foyer that is connected to an upstairs level by two grand staircases. A gilded chandelier hangs down between them, casting rainbows across the wooden floors as the sunlight strikes its crystal ornaments.
Those wide, curved staircases lead to a mezzanine that overlooks the ballroom below. Doors to private rooms branch off from here; all of them locked.
During the daylight hours, the mansion sports large windows covered by thick curtains that are drawn firmly shut. Those who try to peer through them will find an additional layer of security in the form of tightly-fastened metal blinds that block any slivers of sunlight from eking through.
On all three days the mansion is crawling with people setting up for the masquerade. Over there, someone’s hanging strings of lights. Over here, a florist is carefully arranging flowers. The kitchen is busy, human cooks overseeing the production of hundreds of canapes – and on the third day, over in the ballroom, are a band of musicians getting prepared for the night.
Security is lax everywhere except the underground floors, where the clan sleeps. The doors that lead to the underground complex are barred from the inside, and human guards keep watch outside of them to redirect any wanderers.
[The info/plotting post can be found here!]
What: The Story begins- and so do preparations for the Masquerade!
When: The three days prior to the Masquerade [ooc timeline: 1/23-2/5]
Where: The city of Montica
Content warnings: Please include any warnings in headers!
First Quarter Moon
Now that most of the Editors know what to expect, the draw into the Story is likely more obvious this time. There’s a subtle urge that encourages their feet to turn towards the Stacks; a slight shimmer in the air that thickens the closer they get to the book laying open on an innocuous library cart.
Those who resist the Story’s pull will be drawn in eventually. Whether the compulsion is successful, or whether the Librarian passes by to sweep them in - all Editors will enter, and all will experience the Story’s start together.
(Editors who have gained the skill Ex Media Res will be able to resist the Story’s pull and hang out in the Library. Drop us a note if they’re using this skill!)
Our Beginning
The Story begins as night makes its transition to morning. Montica is a city that never sleeps, and some Editors may find themselves taken aback at how the absence of sunlight has done nothing to deter the nightlife.In particular, at the hour our Readers arrive, there is a clean-up going on at the centre of town. People are grumbling as they sweep debris from the streets, and those who are familiar with supernaturally-powered fights will recognise this scene for exactly what it is: the aftermath of some powerful entities having had at it. Hang around too long and you may find yourself with a broom or hammer thrust into your hands, the expectation that you’ll help having been made clear.
Those who leave the clean-up will find themselves welcome in the city’s inn, where visitors hover by the windows, chattering excitedly about the fight that had just broken up. Some people think they’re lucky to have seen it - others think they’ll be luckier if they go the next few days without seeing another one.
The inn is warm, full of gossip, and by some marvel still has private rooms available to rent. Readers will find themselves with enough coin in their pocket to afford quite a bit, this time around - but don’t go spending it all at once. Those who are astute will hear the talk of a masquerade going around, and if you want to attend, you’re going to have to dress appropriately.
Welcome to Montica
Montica itself is a city built from stone, with the buildings packed closely together along cobblestone streets. Flowering vines creep along trellises, their gentle fragrance perfuming the air. The sky is clear and smog-free, the water flows cleanly, and a sense of magic drifts comfortably in the breeze.The city is almost evenly bisected by loyalties, a hard divide running clearly through the centre of the town. Only a small ring in the centre is considered to be neutral territory - though that’s becoming more and more disputed with each passing moon.
To the north, buildings seem to have a fondness for silver. It seems they’ll take any excuse to work the precious metal into everyday items, from cutlery to window fastenings; and some particularly zealous citizens proudly don silver jewellery and pins in their day-to-day wear. In this section of town you will find the dwellings of the old vampire clans, littered with antiquities and casual opulence.
To the south, the people are fond of spices. Garlic flowers pepper garden beds and the dried bulbs hang from doorframes, and there’s hardly a meal cooked without it. Some industrious workers are busy building small moats of flowing water through this half of the city – you’d better mind your step, lest you get in their way. Located amongst these homes are the dens of the werewolf packs, warmly furnished and brimming with life.
No matter where you are in town, whether you’re surrounded by silver or dodging moat diggers, whether it’s day or night or nebulous twilight, there’s one topic that’s on everyone’s lips: the Umbra Masquerade.
It’s a once in a human lifetime event, and the city is abuzz. Some of the elderly may have been once before, in their youth - but likely at an age where they were too young to remember. There are stories about these masquerades, of the favours that can be won and the deals that can be made. More than one wealthy family attributes their successes to parties of the past, and while the werewolves shouldn’t be there – who’s going to stop them?.
The Market
At the centre of the city are Montica’s most dreary buildings. Markets are held here during the day, bright banners and exuberant stallholders calling out their wares. People of all kinds shop here, and it’s the best place to find quality goods. Some patrons give each-other hearty side-eyes, some sneer and mutter insults under their breath - but by and large, this a neutral zone, and the regular citizens treat it as such.Behind the fuss of the market, astute observers will note the broken and boarded-up windows hidden by the bold stalls. Some buildings are outright abandoned, damaged beyond repair. It becomes even more obvious as night falls and the number of stalls thins, the night vendors setting up with wary looks in their eyes.
Right now the market is bustling with vendors sending goods up to the Umbra Clan's mansion. There is a constant stream of traders passing back and forth, hurrying to get their contributions in place before the ball. Regular goods are still for sale, but the busiest stalls are those selling - of all things - masks with varying levels of decoration. They’ve cleverly set up outside of stores selling clothing; beautiful dresses and tailored suits visible through the cracked and dusty windows. Editors will find they have enough local currency to afford something modest. If their tastes skew toward the more extravagant then, well – they better get to work.
The Umbra Mansion
The sprawling building stands tall, overlooking the city of Montica. Vines budding with fragrant flowers grow up the sides of the building, curling around windowsills and balconies in a curated fashion. A large hedge maze sits at the rear of the mansion, behind the grand ballroom; and the gardeners are in top form today, brandishing tools at anyone who looks like they're about to enter it. It's one of many things being tidied up and decorated for the ball, so you'd better not get in their way.The mansion's front doors open to a foyer that is connected to an upstairs level by two grand staircases. A gilded chandelier hangs down between them, casting rainbows across the wooden floors as the sunlight strikes its crystal ornaments.
Those wide, curved staircases lead to a mezzanine that overlooks the ballroom below. Doors to private rooms branch off from here; all of them locked.
During the daylight hours, the mansion sports large windows covered by thick curtains that are drawn firmly shut. Those who try to peer through them will find an additional layer of security in the form of tightly-fastened metal blinds that block any slivers of sunlight from eking through.
On all three days the mansion is crawling with people setting up for the masquerade. Over there, someone’s hanging strings of lights. Over here, a florist is carefully arranging flowers. The kitchen is busy, human cooks overseeing the production of hundreds of canapes – and on the third day, over in the ballroom, are a band of musicians getting prepared for the night.
Security is lax everywhere except the underground floors, where the clan sleeps. The doors that lead to the underground complex are barred from the inside, and human guards keep watch outside of them to redirect any wanderers.
[The info/plotting post can be found here!]
no subject
And then she frowns again. "Between the sections of the city?"
no subject
no subject
"I wonder how large the central district was, in the beginning. Or how much respect the two other sections had for it." Because it doesn't seem like they have all that much now.
no subject
He pauses, cutting up pieces of his steak.
"The north streets are paved with silver, which burns werewolves to touch. The southern ones running water vampires cannot cross and garlic which is poisonous for us to inhale the fumes of. Things have deteriorated badly."
He sighs, heavily, wearily.
"...did you happen to read or see performed Romeo and Juliet?" he asks.
no subject
"I'd wondered about the silver and the spices and the water." She knew there had to be some reason they'd been so prominent. Although... "Why running water?" If the problem was vampires being unable to tolerate water in general, then surely standing water would work as well, so it must be something other than that.
And then she shakes her head. She doesn't know what Romeo and Juliet is.
no subject
“…there is going to be a masquerade ball, a fancy costume party, held by the Umbra vampire clan in the north part of town. The major werewolves are likely to attend in disguise.”
“And I think it very likely that the heirs of both houses will meet and fall in love, as did a young Romeo Montague and a young Juliet Capulet in a play about how their warring families drove them to suicide and only that tragedy stopped the fighting.”
He pauses.
“Obviously we don’t want this story to end the same way.”
no subject
She pauses, taking in what she's been told. "Do you think there will be violence at the costume party?"
no subject
He pauses, and thinks.
"...but the neutral zone will be relatively undefended with everyone who is anyone at the ball," he realizes out loud. "And I think werewolf businesses that allow well behaved vampires, and vice versa, might want a skilled arm at a sword to defend them."
no subject
And then, of course, she has to ask. "Magic?"
no subject
He nods. "There are a number of places that could need the help. The Laurelthirst is... well given what I know about it's defenders it's likely a werewolf owned queer bar among other things, but that makes it more likely to need the help, especially if Amalia and Claire along with their Blood Moon Theatre Troupe will attend the ball."
no subject
And then there's yet another new term. "Queer?"
no subject
And then there's that word.
"Hmn. I... How do I explain this? Right, let's start here. What does your society expect from men, and from women? Does it have a place for people who consider themselves neither?"
note: essentialist gender definition talk
Cassandra's first thought is that her society expects men and women to die horribly, but that's clearly not what he's asking. "The only men I remember being around are the Organization's men, and their role is to create warriors, experiment on them, keep the trainees in line, and extort money from human settlements. I'm not sure what it's like for humans in the settlements."
She doesn't really remember being a human anymore.
"Warriors are all women except for the first generation. We're expected to fight and die. I...don't know if there's anyone who considers themselves neither.
"Warriors are women by definition, except for the male generation."
no subject
"A very different definition than my own," he says. "But still. It only matters that you have one for this."
"Queer is a word - once very long ago an insult, but now wholly our own - for those who do not and cannot meet the popular definitions, one way or another. Male warriors, female Organization members. Normally this is more about who they're allowed to love and marry, but that's the gist of it."
And let her realize he said our, not their.
"By taking in the energy, we can convert it to other forms and release it, which always involves exhaling or speaking."
no subject
They'd probably be every bit as cruel as the men. Or worse, since they'd have more to prove.
She does notice the our, but she's not sure what to do with it. "So it usually means men who pair with men, and women who pair with women? And people who are neither men nor women, or... reversed, somehow? Or... something." She's not sure she's even understanding the concept.
"I'm used to manipulating internal energy. But I don't know if you could consider that magic."
no subject
But at the other part, he nods. "And queerness usually is about romantic and family pairings, yes. I suspect part of the Laurelthirst's draw is that such behavior goes unremarked on. Nor would not wanting to deal with it at all."
no subject
"I suppose some would consider it external, because we gain the ability after having yoma flesh implanted inside us. But then it becomes part of our bodies if the operation is a success, so I don't know."
She takes another moment to mull over Hikaru's words. "It's a safe haven. Or it's meant to be."
no subject
“A safe haven, for vampire or werewolf or mortal, for men loving men and women loving women and folk who do not love that way. Any of which would be a reason it needs defenders, though here the first three most of all.”
no subject
"So not all people who use magic use breath?" Cassandra's honestly having trouble picturing using breath for magic; she just pictures someone spitting acid, which is probably not right.
Cassandra nods, looking thoughtful. "Because people here don't like vampires and werewolves and mortals getting along, or people loving who they think they shouldn't." Honestly, the concept of same-sex love isn't unknown to Cassandra; the Organization didn't approve, because they didn't want warriors to develop any kind of strong bonds with each other, but that didn't mean warriors didn't.
no subject
Not just Siobhan but Laina, Mei and Charles as well. Hell, even Shadow.
"Oh all magic users from Mundus are Breathworkers on some level. But most can do it instinctively, or learn effective rituals, rather than learning how to design and cast spells, and it's that that makes a wizard."
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"Designing and casting spells makes a wizard." She's mostly just restating it so she's sure she understands.
no subject
He puts a hand on his forehead and sighs.
"Actually, I'm not confident I know how these Stories work, given a sample size of two: this one, and the ones with the yogurt-for-brains aliens. I need to remember that just because this is LARGELY like Romeo and Juliet, the differences are real and substantial."
no subject
"And those differences mean the story doesn't have to end the same way?" Though she's still not sure what kind of story the other world was even supposed to be.
no subject
no subject
"Umbra and Guidulf are the factions at war." Or on the verge of it, she supposes. "So then, our task is to unite the houses? Or whichever path leads to the least bloodshed." Which hopefully involves Lord Nero and Dame Sigrid surviving.