Careful of the stacks - LIBRARY LOG

[libraryassistants]

Who: EVERYONE!
What: A bunch of Editors walk into a library...
When: October 31st - November 13
Where: The Unfinished Library
Content warnings: Please add them as needed in the comment titles!

Welcome to the Library, Editors.

As the new residents drop into the Library, they are bound to have questions. Unfortunately it seems no one (except perhaps someone on the phone) appears to have any answers. But there is a nice little cart with a carafe of too weak coffee, a pot of too strong tea, assorted creams and sugar packets, and what appear to be leftover boxed shortbread cookies. There’s a sign inviting people to help themselves but reminding them not to take any food or drinks into the stacks, or touch any of the books with their grubby cookie hands. But aside from this little display and the nametags they’re all given, which do reappear whenever removed for the first week (where do they keep coming from?), the Editors are more or less left alone.

The Library is eternal, or at least it seems that way, unbothered by its new inhabitants. It certainly does not seem like this is anything unusual within its operation. Are there other sections of the Library with Editors, tucked into a different part of the stacks? Have there been Editors here before, and the ones here are simply a replacement? It’s impossible to say, just that the Library seems quite prepared for them. The refrigerators are stocked with appropriate (if generic) foodstuffs, any tantrums in front of the circulation desk are completely ignored, and attempts to set the Library on fire fizzle out before anything can even catch.

However, after a few days, some of the scenery in the Library seems to be changing. Little singing bowls and white noise makers pop up on various shelves and counters, yoga mats appear tucked under the bunk beds (plenty for everyone, somehow), and some of the rooms have started playing relaxing, meditative music over unseen speakers. More confusingly, there are also small UFOs hanging by string from the lower ceilings of the contained rooms, which on closer reflection are revealed to simply be two paper plates glued together and painted silver. In the beginning they’re quite sparse, but by the end of the second week they are everywhere and impossible to ignore.

At the start of the second week, there is a possible hint as to why, for at least part of it. On the table by the circulation desk there is a sign: “This Week’s Recommended Reading: Invasion of the Body Snatchers!” Next to it, there is a sign up sheet: a waitlist to check-out the ‘reading.’ (There is no explanation or apology for it actually being a movie.)

[ooc note: The Library prompts from the TDM can be considered canon to the game. Remember any of the locations listed in the setting are fair game. Have fun!]

Comments

Aliens...?

[dovedive]

[ Nice had been noticing these goofy little flying saucers hanging around. He's not sure when he noticed them popping up, but he tried to ignore them at first. It was just some silly prank someone must have been doing around the library to liven up the place. But the more he ignored them it seemed like a few more would just pop up.

He went to go get a better look at one of the "ships" hanging from the ceiling, to investigate the handiwork of these things, The only problem was that he wasn't actually paying attention to anyone else in the room and suddenly he gets hit in the back of the head with one of these "space ships. ]

What the—!?

[ He quickly turned around to spy this man with cat ears playing around with the saucers. ]

[aetherweaver]

Ah - I'm sorry.

[He holds onto the string and tilts his head at the other man.]

I got a little distracted...

[His ears pull backwards and his tail droops...]

Are you hurt?

[dovedive]

[ Nice's annoyed expression quickly melted into one of confusion and fascination as he watches the man's ears pull back. So it wasn't some sort of headband or anything. This guy really was some kind of cat person? ]

Ah—?

[ Oh, right the paper saucers! He tries to wave it off with a smile]

I'm fine I'm fine really. If a little toy was enough to take me down I'd be a little concerned with myself too ahah.

[aetherweaver]

Ah, good. I'm shite at healing spells.

[He pokes at his drawing again and smiles, trying to keep the 'UFO' from flying off in another direction. He really wants to bat at it though...]

I don't think we've met? I'm Nara'a.

[dovedive]

[ 'healing spells' if he's aware of those, maybe he comes from somewhere similar. he must have some kind of powers too... ]

Ah? Oh—!

I'm Nice~! [ Out of habit, he gives the other man a flashy grin an finger guns, but instantly feeling embarrassed about it. he knows he's not a hero here, but after a while those introductions are drilled into you! ]

[aetherweaver]

[The finger guns are understood thanks to some recent events, but it's still strange. He blinks and continues.]

It's... nice to meet you, Nice. ... Sorry, you've probably heard that a million times before.

[Everyone has name-related issues, he supposes. Like people forgetting the 'a at the end of his name... but that's not this person's issue.]

I know it's hard to measure days here, but have you been here a while?

[dovedive]

With a name like Nice, it's a little hard to avoid something like that, right? Ahaha don't worry about it.

[ And immediately he feels incredibly embarrassed and let his hands fall back to his sides. He tries to ignore the heat rising to his face, "distracting" himself with these saucers. It was a hard habit to break, back home he was a hero and his whole thing was being helpful and flashy and perfect. But already this place is so much different than what he was used to and habits are hard to break. ]

Ah.... if I had to wager, I don't think I've been here all that long. Maybe a few days before these little ships started appearing?

[aetherweaver]

[He can see the changing color in the man's face, but it would be rude to bring it up.]

I think that's about when I showed up as well. That seems to be the earliest anyone I've spoken to remembers in regards to this place. So we were all brought here at the same time... and we still don't know why.

[dovedive]

You too, huh?

[ If this time matched a few people it could possibly be a coincidence or some kind of fluke, but if most of the people here are claiming the same then something must be at play. ]

Perhaps the world seeks to be finished but it needed help...

[aetherweaver]

True, but this place is massive and seemingly ever-changing. I'm not certain how we'd finish all of these books...

[Hm.]

Unless there's something else that needs to be finished?

[dovedive]

Something else....

[ He trails off a little when his eyes glance back to the little saucer, Nara'a was playing with. ]

I guess if we keep interacting with the world we're bound to find more information somehow.

[aetherweaver]

I suppose so. I'm not the best at waiting, but I will be patient if I must.

[His tail flicks from side to side like an impatient cat, betraying his thoughts.]

I've been an adventurer for many years, so I'm always on the move.

[dovedive]

[ Nice notices the way his tail and ears seem to flicker. They really were real and working, weren't they? Like the world believed he was catlike so he became catlike... He reached up curiously and gave the saucer near him a little tap as it sways. ]

Adventurer? That sounds rather exciting.

[aetherweaver]

It can be. It depends what you get into. Some travel the land, finding new and exciting places... and some stay near their homes with safer jobs such as running messages. The most often variety are somewhere in the middle, escorting merchants or assisting with odd jobs... that's about where I started.

Where I've ended up... is wrapped up in helping to save places near and far from war and existential threats. Some people call me heroic... I just see it as doing the right thing.

[dovedive]

[ Nice falls silent for a moment. After hearing those words, something stirs inside of him. "I just see it as doing the right thing." Like he was the perfect image of a real true born hero. He didn't want fame or glory... he just wanted to help people.]

Sorry if this seems like an odd question. What do you think of a smile?

[aetherweaver]

A... smile? I mean, they're nice... can I have a little more context?

[He tilts his head in confusion as he tries to understand where that question came from.]

[dovedive]

Ah— Sorry!

[ Nice tries to laugh it off, glancing off to the side. ]

The way you talk about yourself... it made me think of someone from back home. "You must never forget your own beliefs, even if that belief is just a simple smile. It's the biggest source of power for you to keep going."

[aetherweaver]

... Oh. No, I - it was someone else who told me "a smile better suits a hero" as he was dying.

[How could he smile then? But people need him to seem put together, so he did. He's had to for a long time.]

[dovedive]

Sorry, I wasn't... trying to bring up any unfortunate memories. The way you sounded though— I think your companion... and the one who came to my mind would be proud...

[aetherweaver]

No, no, it's all right. It's been many years. I do try to smile for people... it's not like you know what kind of a day another person is having.

[dovedive]

Then... allow me smile for you.


[ If he's smiling for everyone else, he feels he doesn't get many doing the same for him in return.

And since they were playing around with these little saucers, Nice places his own little drawing of a creature on the saucer nearest him. ]

[aetherweaver]

[He chuckles and smiles at the other as well.]

Who's that? A friend of yours?

[dovedive]

Not exactly a friend, more like... the "son" of a colleague.

[ You know how people call their pets their children. ]

[aetherweaver]

Heh. I understand.

[He points to the picture he made.]

That's someone I know. He came from another star, and his ship looked quite a bit like these...

[dovedive]

That little guy is real? I just thought you were doodling something.