libraryassistants: (Default)
Unfinished Library Mod & NPC Account ([personal profile] libraryassistants) wrote in [community profile] unfinishedlibrary2026-03-27 07:21 pm

so good night unto you all - LIBRARY RETURN

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!]
thickasacastlewall: (Default)

Re: 2

[personal profile] thickasacastlewall 2026-03-29 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)

Dunk frowns more, trying to remember what would have been so objectionable for people to know from that play. Not that she was a hero who fought monsters, but.

Oh. Right. That.

"I won't say it isn't strange to me," he says after an awkwardly long pause, "and it doesn't seem completely natural for people to change bodies like that... but you're happy like this, right? And it's no less strange than a magic box to cook food that explodes metal. And I can accept that, so."

He can accept her being how she is, however odd it might be.

keytarheroine: (:confidence)

Re: 2

[personal profile] keytarheroine 2026-03-29 04:58 pm (UTC)(link)
“Mm.”

Well, she did sort of invite this by bringing it up.

“I’d be happy to explain when I’m not as raw but, well, the Maidensong called me, even if it wasn’t with Pandora’s voice.” She smiles. “And Nova really did protect me, that first time I Went Live, with a well timed cymbal of defiance.”
thickasacastlewall: (Default)

Re: 2

[personal profile] thickasacastlewall 2026-03-29 05:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"I can wait for the explanation," Dunk assures her. "Everything else here is strange enough that I can just accept that this is another strange thing."
keytarheroine: (:anime)

Re: 2

[personal profile] keytarheroine 2026-03-29 05:38 pm (UTC)(link)
“I… may as well rewrite the play. Might keep the framing device of Pandora, even if the voice that spoke to me wasn’t her. But take out the ‘everyone is supernatural’ angle, that was a sop to Montica, or… hmn.”

Now she’s thinking about the merits of archiving the old story or revising to accurately reflect her own story.

“Might rename everyone,” she adds. “Hazel instead of Elanor. Iris instead of Ianthe. Things like that.”
Edited (PHONE. REALLY WITH THE TYPOS) 2026-03-29 17:40 (UTC)
thickasacastlewall: (Default)

Re: 2

[personal profile] thickasacastlewall 2026-03-29 05:54 pm (UTC)(link)
"I have not seen many plays," Dunk says, "but I thought it was a good play until things happened on stage with the Shadow and Lady Amalia. I think you should rewrite it again."
keytarheroine: (:the maidensong)

Re: 2

[personal profile] keytarheroine 2026-03-30 11:04 am (UTC)(link)
“I used to joke,” she says, softly, “about how much my life story resembled… call it a secret princess story.”

She thrusts her hand skyward, and it suddenly feels like there’s a limelight on her as a curious rod appears in it, with a wire mesh head and, just below that, an amythest-studded lavender ribbon tied around it in a bow.

Claire reflexively brings it to her lips…

And then dismisses it, in a shower of purple-white sparks.

“That whole sequence at the bar… wasn’t the Laurelthirst, but there is a real Laurelthirst in my Portland… that happened. Hazel sold videos, recordings of plays, not harp and harp accessories, but I really did meet Magica Riot and Nova that way. And that first time I Went Live…”

She closes her eyes and paraphrases the play.

“...I heard it, in a waltz, in major key. It was so sweet.”
Edited 2026-03-30 11:05 (UTC)
thickasacastlewall: (Default)

Re: 2

[personal profile] thickasacastlewall 2026-03-30 06:29 pm (UTC)(link)
"You would be surprised at how many people's lives have secret princes," Dunk says. "Or at least secret nobles?" He's thinking of himself and Egg and what Ser Hikaru said about his lady.

"What is a waltz?" he asks.