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!]
starandhope: (014)

Mina Harker |OTA

[personal profile] starandhope 2026-03-29 05:50 pm (UTC)(link)
This time, it is nothing but a profound relief for Mina to find herself safely back in the Library, and everyone else returned to normal (or what amounts to normal, for them). Being confronted with so many of the exact monster she'd come to fear in recent weeks had been - upsetting, to say the least. And seeing some of the people she's come to consider friends suddenly turn into said monsters was even worse.

Still, she knows she got off easily. And she has a job to do - self-appointed, but a job, nonetheless. Her additions to the tea cart are, she feels, necessary, and hopefully her presence is, as well.

"I've added chamomile to the options," she points out, if someone asks. She offers a small, polite but warm smile to anyone who seems in need of one. "Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help ease the transition back to reality," she adds.

It's only later, in her bunk, that she lets herself react, her body shuddering with pent-up fear and adrenaline.
angel_of_baal: (vaguely perplexed?)

[personal profile] angel_of_baal 2026-03-29 09:12 pm (UTC)(link)
You know who the absolute BEST person to console someone afraid of vampires is? Sanguinius, obligate blood drinker. Surely he is the best choice.

The problem with dormitories is there is precious little privacy, and someone with hearing as acute as any of the Primarchs is bound to hear it. And smell it--the tang of fear from neurochemicals.

He stops, a small distance away, acutely aware of his size, and not wanting to get too close and crowd her. "Mina?"
starandhope: (019)

[personal profile] starandhope 2026-03-30 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
She startles a little at the voice, having been lost in her own head for a bit there.

"Oh, hello," she says quietly, dabbing at her eyes and nose with her handkerchief. "I apologize. I didn't mean to disturb you."
angel_of_baal: (Default)

[personal profile] angel_of_baal 2026-03-30 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
"You did not disturb me, my lady." He slides down to one knee because looking up at him was not exactly comforting. "And I recognize the signs of distress from my own Legionaries."
starandhope: (018)

[personal profile] starandhope 2026-03-30 12:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Honestly, he's a little difficult to look at even when kneeling down - he's just so angelic! But Mina sniffs faintly and tries to give him a smile.

"I'll be all right. I'm just - very glad to be back here, and away from that - monstrous place."
angel_of_baal: (vaguely perplexed?)

[personal profile] angel_of_baal 2026-03-30 01:38 pm (UTC)(link)
He nods. "It was...once again, challenging." But she seemed more upset than that. "What about it disturbed you so much?"
codeswitchcraft: (neutral)

Re: Mina Harker |OTA

[personal profile] codeswitchcraft 2026-03-30 12:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"Thank you," Siobhan says, taking a cup of chamomile and just holding it for a long moment, breathing in the scent before she drinks it.

"I don't think I like Acting," she says.
starandhope: (031)

[personal profile] starandhope 2026-03-30 12:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's a horrible experience," Mina agrees quietly. "I'm so sorry you had to go through it. I'm sorry for everyone who went through it."
codeswitchcraft: (sad)

[personal profile] codeswitchcraft 2026-03-30 12:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Siobhan nods. "Hikaru said that it's always the way it borrows from your history that hurts. He's right, I think."