so good night unto you all - LIBRARY RETURN

[libraryassistants]

Who: The Editors, one and all
What: The fight is over, the pieces remain... and the Editors head back 'home'
When: Dawn of the Final Day Sunrise after the attack
Where: Leaving Montica, back to the Library
Content warnings: Please make sure to put CW in headers!

By the time morning comes around again, the fires are beginning to die down, thanks to the many efforts of the citizenry to keep them under control. The rebel vampires too have been largely dealt with. These two seemingly insurmountable obstacles were only possible thanks to a combination of factors: the Umbra not being as blind to their human servants as their opposition would have thought, defectors from the Orlocks who were able to counter-act some of their magic, the following Amalia gathered and deployed from Laurelthirst, some suspicious (though welcome) help from suspiciously new arrivals, and of course, House Guildulf throwing their own into the fray to ally with the vampires for this confrontation.

A unity the likes of which Montica has never truly seen.

As the sun rises, there are few left who are able to fight at all; the rebels are beaten, and even the forces built up by both the vampires and werewolves are exhausted or diminished, leaving no one able to take advantage. Citizens of both sides flee indoors, and the remaining rebels are forced to vanish into the woods once more, weakened and unable to strike again any time soon. But there are still repairs to be done, physically and otherwise. Will this unity last beyond tonight? Will young love and youthful hope prevail? Those are the questions that settle over a weary Montica, as light pours into the city once more.

And then, the world begins to fade, static taking over the senses, as the Editors return to the Library.

Welcome back, Editors

It looks much the same as they left it, though the makings of a masquerade are no longer arranged as finely, a few scorch marks here and there, and for some reason there’s some amazing optical illusions on the floor panelling that makes them look like actual manhole covers. Alas, no sewers lay beneath. It may still take Actors a bit of time to shake off the old-new memories, and for some reason the fluorescent lighting seems harsher on the skin than it has any right too. Good thing that the stacks cast long shadows.

The customary tea cart is set up in the Lobby again, and it seems some improvements have been made. The coffee still isn’t strong, but’s far more drinkable than it has been, and there’s an added decaf option now! The tea has still been overstepped, and the stale cookies have been replaced by scones that are hard as rocks, but clearly someone’s getting the message that there are improvements needed. Clearly the tea cart was the place to start.

If someone for some reason doesn’t want stale scones, there’s also a child sized food truck in the lobby, with a sign out front boasting a variety of tamales, including: black beans and cheese, birria, chicken, fire scorpion, man suffering to death via battle wound, and beef. Upon approach, what look like fuzzy puppets pop up to… take your order? They don’t say much, or rather, they make a single noise over and over that seems to be them communicating, but the tamales are good. Just… don’t try to look in the truck. They’ll screech, vanish, and then no tamales for you.

Meanwhile, the bulletin board has a cheerful sign decorated with colorful blocks, declaring: “Join us in the Children’s Area for Lego Club!” Upon locating the room in question, Editors will discover boxes among boxes of legos of various shapes and sizes. There are some ‘how to’ guides for various builds (including a ‘research space ship’ and a ‘vampire’s castle’), but also plenty of encouragement for people to make their own creations! Unlike normal creations, these will actually stick around for a while after they’re finished, and there’s a nice little table where people can display and share what they’ve made.

The Assistants, it seems, are nowhere to be seen: the ‘back in 5’ sign is still in place at the help desk. Still, even without their ‘helpful’ guidance, some facets of the Library may come more easily to some in the aftermath of Montica’s troubles.

[Due to the resolution of the Story, any skills tagged Archivist in the skill tree cost one less skill point (minimum of 1) until the next Story. This can stack with a normal Archivist bonus!]

Comments

Re: Legos

[codeswitchcraft]

"Nara'a," Siobhan says, just as quietly, looking up at him. "I-- This is very awkward. You must understand, I do like you, but only as a friend and compatriot. I do not want for another lover than what I already have."

[aetherweaver]

He lifts his hands in a placating motion. "I do not think of you in that manner either." While she is cute, he has standards.

"I don't want you to think that I'm seeking something of that matter either. But most of all... I wanted to ask how you are doing."

[codeswitchcraft]

She smiles sadly at him.

"I will be better in time," she says. "It is only that Sigrid's life echoed my own in ways I do not like."

[aetherweaver]

"... I think I will be, too. The echoes, so to speak, were not altogether unpleasant, but my sire... he reminded me of my mother." He offers her a small smile. "I do not think of her often, as most men my age and kind do not. And yet being reminded of home is difficult."

[codeswitchcraft]

"My father betrothed me to a childhood friend of mine, one who I had no interest in as a man," Siobhan says, looking at her castle and not at Nara'a. "I was sure that Konrad would steal my inheritance, just as Sigrid Guildulf was sure Amalia would steal hers."

[aetherweaver]

"I see." He reaches out, hesitates. Lets his hand drop. "I'm sorry. I... have never had any inheritance in that manner. Not like those who were in Montica."

[codeswitchcraft]

"Sigrid was not all that different than I was once," Siobhan says. She makes a sound that isn't quite a laugh. "We even shared a name. Siobhan is a nom de guerre, you see."

[aetherweaver]

"I see." He tucks his hands into his lap. "I've known some who have done the same. A friend of mine changed his name when he left home so that people would not ask questions." ... He misses that sarcastic viera sometimes. Or... Shetona? He's not sure how the man would identify if asked.

Either way. "If Siobhan is what you wish to be called, I will call you that. ... As for myself, I have many titles. Just the one name though, even if my clan name is a bit unusual. My mother's father was not of the same... I suppose you would call it 'subspecies'."

[codeswitchcraft]

"My father and mother were not the same kith," Siobhan says. "It is rare, but it does happen. The child's kith always follow the mother's, however."

She looks down at her hands. "I do not know what to do with having had a father worthy of the name for such a short time. My own... he was a terrible man. It was why I ran away."

[aetherweaver]

"I see." Both the information and her story. He reaches out again, within range that if she wants to she can lean against his hand, but not insisting.

"You are a kind woman. If you say he was not worthy of the name, I believe you. ... I only wish that there were something I could do. I think... we may all need some time to digest what has happened."

[codeswitchcraft]

She takes his hand and squeezes it.

"He was not. I have reason to suspect him of murder. Even if I am wrong about that, and I do not think I am, we know that he has been the Mundane support for the Griefers we have been fighting."

[aetherweaver]

He's not sure what 'Griefers' are, other than presumably people who cause grief. Now is not the time to ask. "I am sorry, Siohban. It seems like you've dealt with much and more over your life, and that you do not deserve to have so much to carry."

[codeswitchcraft]

"Thank you, Nara'a," she murmurs. "It-- it is good to hear that, even if the sentiment cannot really change what is."

[aetherweaver]

"I know." He squeezes her hand. "But sometimes it is good to acknowledge that the situation is terrible, even if there is not much you can do about it. That it's not your fault, and you are doing all you can."

[codeswitchcraft]

"And I have friends," she reminds herself. "Friends to help me." She looks up at him. "Both here and at home."

[aetherweaver]

He smiles at her. "That you do. And I am glad to be one of them, as long as you'll have me." He lets go of her hand and lets his ears wiggle. "As I hope you are glad to be one of mine."

[codeswitchcraft]

She smiles and this time it reaches her eyes.

"I am, I promise you. I am very glad to be your friend, Nara'a."

[aetherweaver]

"Good." He looks over what she's been working on. "Is this some place from home?"

[codeswitchcraft]

She nods, smiling. "'Tis the Beauforte, the castle my dear Edmund was raised in. I spent two years fostered there, from when I was fourteen until I was called home to spend my mother's last days by her side. It is as much home to me as the one I grew up in. Some of my happiest hours were at the Beauforte with Edmund."

[aetherweaver]

"I see." He examines it - it's hard to see in its blocky form, but it does seem beautiful. "Why were you fostered there? If it's not too rude to ask, of course. You don't need to tell me anything you don't want to."

[codeswitchcraft]

Siobhan is silent while she decides how much she wants to tell. Then, "Our lands lay next to each other. My mother was friends with his parents. She sent me there to help foster an alliance between myself and Edmund. My father didn't approve, but he was only her consort, so she overruled him."

[aetherweaver]

He very carefully does not let his face twist. Politics. Something he leaves to others more practiced in statecraft. Still, it sounds difficult. "I see." He sort of does, at least. "My upbringing..."

He looks around, finds some sandy-colored base plates and sticks a few small bushes on it. "Was mostly spent in a place like this. I was not noble, I was far from politics... I had no idea how much of it I would see when I left home. I only wanted to learn how to control elemental aether." He looks between the two sets of blocks.

"I imagine... that if you were happy, and you care enough to try to recreate it, that you miss it quite a lot."

[codeswitchcraft]

"I do," she says. "And the people there. But I was on a mission for my goddess, so I could not tarry there too long before turning south, toward the village that Hikaru and I had just reached when we were brought here to the library."

[aetherweaver]

"... I'm sorry." What else is there to say? He can't do much about it, and even if he could he probably shouldn't. "... What are your gods like? Mine are..." He hesitates. "... It's complicated."

[codeswitchcraft]

"So are mine," Siobhan says. "There is what I thought my gods were... and what it seems they actually are. But my personal patron is named Thorne, the fey warden of the wild. She created the wild places and all the beasts that inhabit them. She is a superlative huntress and when one has her blessing, one will always be able to find food in the wilderness--though that says nothing as to if the food will let itself be eaten."