unfinishedlibrary | Careful of the stacks

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Careful of the stacks - LIBRARY LOG

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!]

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[He succeeds in catching the movie before it goes toppling onto the ground. Rather than immediately go to where he could watch this though, he ends up staring at the other.

He was ready for them to be difficult, tell him off or ridicule him, but the other gave him the movie without too much of a fuss. They were behaving in a way he hadn't expected. It's...very strange not to be caught locking fists with them on only their second encounter.

After a bit of uncomfortable staring, he will eventually look at the indicated direction to one of rooms. His eyes wander for a moment, in thought.] ...Wouldn't it be a waste of time just waiting around? [He doesn't have to.]

[He assumes the staring contest is because the other is warring with the same inclination Shadow has, and trying to gauge which one of them is going to throw the first punch.

Something seems to tick over though, while Shadow's eyeing his other self critically. It looks like the moment to brawl has passed without incident. Which is good, because Shadow is sick of staring at a perfect sky while he waits for 'mediation' to run out.]

Wasting time is all this place is good for. [The Library is better than the Void, marginally, but only by virtue of not being an empty abyss.

Still. His other self seems to be getting at something. Shadow's not an idiot, and his ear twitches as he considers. With a scowl, and a heavy exhale, he eventually relents. Uncrossing his arms, letting them fall to his sides less defensively.]

What are you suggesting?

[...Well, he's not wrong about that. Wasting time until something happens at this point. He looks between him and the film in his hand.]

I mean you don't need to wait to watch this. [He did give him the video without picking a fight. He takes a few steps back, then starts to walk in the direction to one of the side rooms. It was an invitation for them to follow if they want.]

['A moment' of consideration can feel like a very long time, when you can move as fast as these guys do.

It's only a few seconds that tick by while Shadow weighs it up. He really does have nothing better to do. And if that film is in some way related to what's happening here, then it does behoove him to watch it sooner rather than later...
(He won't admit it, even to himself, but part of him also just wants to watch the damn movie just because he's already put his mind to doing so. And his other self most likely isn't going to be a talker during the film, so he could do worse for an audience.)

He lets his other self get far enough ahead that he can justify kicking off in an easy skate; airshoes giving just enough lift to slide over the floor. So that he can catch up with, and goal here is to slightly outpace, his other self.]

[Shadow is just idly looking over the cover the film they are supposed to be watching. Feels like he already seen this, but this one feels newest? The case is...flatter. Just as he was about to open it, his ears twitch at the sound of the subtle whooshing of airshoe jets.

Here comes the other, just moving ahead of him. Was he trying to be a show-off? Whatever. He reaches what appeared to be a meeting room when he opens the door. There is something of a projection screen along the back wall and a device with a camera near the center of the tables.

Shadow pauses at the door, a thought of realization bubbling up in his mind. It's here he takes a moment to open the case and finds a CD inside. This was...a DVD that someone told him?]

[Less showing off, more because he can.

It's surprisingly easy to find a room that has equipment. Almost like the Library is somehow anticipating the need.

What he doesn't get is why his other self pauses. It doesn't occur to him to think anything of the DVD, because why would it? Disks and USBs are the modern age. Shadow's been out of stasis long enough to be well used to them, and he's assumed the same of his other.

Instead, where his logic goes is questioning if the other is pausing because he isn't sure they should settle for the first room they find? (--Why does that thought sound suspiciously like Rouge in his mind. And why does Shadow kind of agree with it.)]

This will do. [Tempting as it is to have standards, he's not interested in opening and closing the door like a fool until they find something better.]

[Well, that's great to know. He'll take a few more steps inside the room then, walking up to the device. And nothing happens again, but the other Shadow won't have to wait too long to learn what the issue was.]

I never used this device before. [By the way his ears fall forward, he's not happy that he had to admit that to the other. But either he says something, or he waste time trying to figure out how the machine works.]

[Now it's his turn to pause, having been just about to pull out a chair. Watching his other self, considering whether he's trying to somehow make an idiot of him.

But, no. It looks like he was pretty unwilling to admit that.]

...There will be a slot. Take the disk out of the case and put it in there. The machine will do the rest.

[And he takes a seat, eyeing the remote control in the centre of the table. A simple tactile point and press. He's just gonna - reach out and grab that, while the other Shadow sorts out the DVD.]

[Well, that's simple enough instructions. He doesn't look back to the other as he takes the disc out from the box.

...This little disc can really hold whole movie on it? He checks the device, finding the slot to insert it. His ears twitch, surprised as the device automatically pulls the rest of the disc into itself.

He looks up as something gets projected onto the wall. Just a blue screen before going dark. But then creepy music starts to play, bits of footage of the film starts to dance across the screen and a menu appears. Damn, that was a lot for a few seconds. And the movie hadn't even started.]

[Shadow, that whole time, is intently watching his other self. He couldn't care less about the images that flicker onto the screen, the DVD's opening menu only catching his eye from the sake of the movement and music. If this version of himself is so unused to DVDs, it's clear that the likes of Rouge and Amy haven't gotten to him yet. Which means...]

It's fictitious. [Just in case, he better get ahead of that early.]

[The other's voice reminds him where and who he's with.] I know. [A bit of a defensive response, but he knows what's real and what's not!! Mostly. He knows movies are meant to be entertainment at least!

He sighs, picking himself an empty seat to settle in, still putting space between him and the other. Maybe one day he won't come off as the least experienced of the all the Shadows.]

I feel like I've already seen this movie, but it wasn't in color like this. [He's sure he's seen the title at one point.]

[Shadow's head tilts and his ear twitches, just slightly. An acknowledgement, not anything else. He does not care enough to find out the reasoning or history behind that, as long as they're not going to have any issues.

As he flicks through the menu - heading straight through to cue it playing - he's vaguely aware of the nagging they'd get if certain others could see the set-up they've got. Meeting room, board table, all lights on. Sitting stiffly in office chairs like they're about to chew someone out over a conference call.

He's going to cross his arms and lean back in his chair, not helping the overall appeal of the room. He is, clearly, not here for leisure; but as the opening sequence rolls, his attention is on the screen. For the most part, anyway. Occasionally, there's a slight flicker of his gaze that gives away that he's still keeping an eye on his other self. Even if they are temporarily aligned, trust is still a foreign entity.]

[If the movie wasn't playing, the silence would stretch on awkwardly between them. At first, he matched the other and occasionally glanced to be sure he knew where they were at all times. As the movie progresses, he gets caught up in it. He knew this wasn't all real, but the effects even have him questioning how they made it work. His head occaionally tilting as he tries to guess.

This was definitely not the same Body Snatcher film he watched with Maria, but the story still plays out the same. An alien race, silently infiltrating humanity by becoming copies of those they "snatched". Essentially replacing them with emotionless creatures.

...Why was this the suggested material to check out? There has been a noticeable theme, with all the UFO decorations and now this. Did this have any connection to why they're here? ...Well he does remember he was resting before he woke up here. Are the overseerers of this place implying they are like these aliens?

He shifts in his seat uncomfortably. The normal people on screen are fleeing after a failed infiltration. His ears fall back slightly. What is it with humans making films about how dangerous otherworldly creatures are? There's never anything about a friendly alien.]

[An alien race, moving from planet to planet, with the goal of taking over and/or consuming a world's populace. It's not exactly a new story, by Shadow's measure. There are even clones.

He's unimpressed with it, still half-watching his ~~own pod person~~ other self. Still, his only acknowledgement of the other's shifting is a flick of an ear in his direction.

Really though. Is this whole thing just a jab at him -- well, technically them?]

I've seen enough. [And yet, he hasn't stopped the movie. He's still somewhat invested in seeing how it ends, presumably with the ruthless destruction of the invading forces.]

[He blinks, the voice of the other reminding him of their presence. He glances toward them, puzzled. If they're finished, why not stop the movie? It continues to play, as more and more people are consumed and replaced. He vaguely recalls how the ending went with the other film, but this one seems...much more grim.

Sure enough, it doesn't end with people believing the protagonist's story and instill a sense of hope, like most human films tend to go for. It ends with a horrid twist that the protagonist had already been replaced, outing possibly the last human with it's horrible screech.]

That's...different. [He lowers his head. The implication of that was...far more darker.]

[The warehouse full of pods and pod people gets set on fire, and Shadow absently nods - gratified to see the decimation of the invading populace.

The gratification disappears pretty quickly, the unimpressed scowl returning. The movie should have just ended with the destruction of the warehouse. He scoffs at the other's comment - though, not really because of it.]

Not what you remembered? [He remarks dryly, uncrossing his arms to shut the DVD off. Truly it's as he said earlier: everything in this place is one big waste of time.]

Edited 2025-11-06 11:53 (UTC)

[He shakes his head.] It wasn't a good ending either, but it wasn't this despairing. [A pause.] But does any of that really matter? [Why were the overseerers of this place, telling people to watch this? He lifts his head as the other shuts the film off.

What were they suppose to gain something from watching a film? He leans back in his seat with a sigh.] What was the point of that? [It was a rhetorical question he isn't expecting the other to answer. Certainly not finding a way out after watching that. Just the subject matter hitting a little too personally instead.]

Either they're trying to prove something, or it's pure coincidence. [And Shadow doesn't believe in coincidences. But he does believe the Library's ability to make him waste almost 2 hours.

He huffs a breath out through his nose. Neither option is one he likes.]

In any case, they've already shown us that they know too much. [He finally shifts, only to pull out his catalogue card - his name typed as HEDGEHOG, SHADOW THE above the red REVISIONIST stamp.] The nametags were one thing, but I don't recall letting anyone close enough to slip me this.

[The nametags were one thing only because he saw and felt it appear. This catalogue card - which he pulled out of that mysterious hedgehog hammerspace that exists somewhere in his quills - just showed up, and he doesn't know when. Most perturbing of all is that he didn't feel it at all.]

[That they knew what gets under their skin? Makes him think it could be the former. Then again, this film wasn't specifically just for them to borrow and watch. He crosses his arms as he leans back in his seat, thinking. They aren't the only ones who are supposed to watch this. Let's think hypothetically, they aren't trying to waste their time and there's a purpose for this, and with all the UFO decorations.]

...Or they're hinting to something. [How they are all technically "aliens" from other worlds, or something that is to come?] This is a library full of unfinished works, right? [Is the subject matter related to what needs to be finished? He looks to the other to see what they were talking about. What was that they're holding?

The chair skids slightly as he gets up to walk over and get a better look. In the world he's from, hedgehogs apparently keep things in their quills, so this Shadow will pull a similar catalogue. Similar to the other Shadow, though his has [Archivist] and something [Redacted]. And "the hedgehog" to complete his name.]

And we're supposed to edit them in some way. [Like Shadow's going to participate in that. He still has his own reason for being here, so he thinks.]

[Shadow frowns, holding out his catalogue card to compare against the other's. Scanning over the two of them, there's the obvious - Revisionist versus Archivist, a stamp of a book versus a stamp of a dragon.]

Why would these be different? [That's not without a critical glance at his other. Perhaps Shadow should be making a few less assumptions about him.]

[What's with that look?] Cause we're different. [He says in a way that was obvious and almost mockingly. Their question says it all, the other probably thinking they're both one and the same. He puts the catalogue back amongst his quills.]

Doesn't really answer what any of it means. [They're just words and images on a piece of paper to him.]

[The deadpan look and subsequent eye-roll Shadow gives him as he puts his own card away speaks volumes.]

Obviously. [Two can play the snarking game.] The factions. Archivist and Revisionist - they wouldn't distinguish if there weren't a point to it.

[And they're a prime example. They're both Shadow. So what makes the difference then, why would one of them be stamped as an Archivist?]

Obviously. But do you know what that would entail? [Are they catagorized to work against each other or together? What exactly are they meant to do depending on their label?]

[oh, this is such a test of patience. why is his other self so irritating.]

One to protect what's already been written, and the other to undo it. [Shadow talks like he knows what he's on about, a rumble of annoyance lining his tone. Time will tell as to whether he's at all on the right track with any of this.] There's speculation that these books may be gateways into other worlds. If that's the case, and these factions play a part, we'll be at opposite ends.

[God knows they've already shown they're willing to be at each-other's throats over literally nothing. Shadow thinks it's pretty obvious what's going to happen when they actually have something to disagree on. Luckily he does not care one single bit about anything except finding the Prism Shard and getting it home.]

I have no intention of changing my plans to suit their games. [His arms are not already crossed, so he crosses them now. Stubborn to the end. They already have a general agreement in place, Library-wise, but just to make it clear that Shadow doesn't intend for that to be a temporary truce:] I don't care what you do with these. Continue to stay out of my way, and I'll keep out of yours.

Edited 2025-11-09 09:06 (UTC)

[The skeptical expression on this Shadow's face says it all.] ...I don't think it's that simple. Why undo something when these books are already incomplete? [So the other gave him a definition, doesn't mean this place would follow it exactly. But what does he know? He just doesn't want to deal with conflict if it can be avoided.

He stares at the other, telling him to stay out of his way once more. There's a starting pattern he's seeing with there's another Shadow in these places. All he does is roll his eyes and start to walk towards the door. He's right though, there's nothing else now that they've both seen the movie.] Right, sure. But I have a feeling we don't get to make that choice. [What an ominous thing to say.]

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ultimateedgehog - 2025-11-11 05:32 (UTC) - Expand

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