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!]
aetherweaver: (serious)

[personal profile] aetherweaver 2026-03-29 11:41 pm (UTC)(link)
He goes quiet for a few moments. "A war, huh?" He... knows how that goes. "War or no, battle sticks with you. Comparing 'better' or 'worse' isn't helpful in my opinion. Even if you've killed a thousand people or beasts, it's if you stop being affected that you have problems."

His eyes blink slowly, ears twitching. "My experiences with blood-drinking creatures has on the whole not been positive, but that's not really what's bothering me. I don't fully know what is bothering me... maybe it's the loss of agency."
keytarheroine: (:anger)

[personal profile] keytarheroine 2026-03-30 12:19 am (UTC)(link)
“Being helpless sucks. Being helpless to do other than play myself in my autobiography was not great.”

She sighs.

“I have to think we did some good. Your role did well by Sigrid and by… well, Montica itself. How much we can account that to your influence…”

Claire frowns. How much can she?
aetherweaver: (eh?)

[personal profile] aetherweaver 2026-03-30 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
"I have to hope... that they'll be okay. Whatever world they're in, I hope it goes better than how it was."

As to how much they can account to his influence... "I don't know about that. I mean... it wouldn't be the first time I've saved people, but since it wasn't me I don't know."
keytarheroine: (Default)

[personal profile] keytarheroine 2026-03-30 01:30 am (UTC)(link)
“Just,” she says, “why bother putting us into the roles unless we influence them?”

Claire closes her eyes.

“We. Don’t really know each other, do we. So.”

She offers her hand.

“A pleasure to meet you truly, Nara’a.”
aetherweaver: (serious)

[personal profile] aetherweaver 2026-03-30 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
"I suppose." He takes her hand and shakes it briefly. "Good to meet you too, Claire." He lets the hand drop and sighs, going back to chopping vegetables.

"It's not as if I'm asking to play the villain, but it would be nice to not have to deal with a crisis sometimes."
keytarheroine: (:confidence)

[personal profile] keytarheroine 2026-03-30 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
“For freaking real,” she says, laughing. “Are you a music fan, at all? I’m a musician, among other things.”

She pats her trusty keytar.
aetherweaver: (Default)

[personal profile] aetherweaver 2026-03-30 01:43 am (UTC)(link)
"I do like music. I didn't grow up with much, since we weren't in a position to have an orchestrion, but we had campfire songs we'd sing occasionally. Or... others would sing. I'm not much of a musician myself."

He's tried, but it's just not his skillset.
keytarheroine: (Default)

[personal profile] keytarheroine 2026-03-30 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
Some can’t sing. Claire can’t draw. Nothing wrong with it. She nods her head.

“Any styles, requests? My band tends towards poppy or punk rock - love ballads or battle anthems,” she clarifies.
aetherweaver: (tilted up)

[personal profile] aetherweaver 2026-03-30 01:52 am (UTC)(link)
He shrugs and smiles. "I've heard quite a lot - and been exposed to even more in the recent months before I came here." The Arcadion especially was good at exposing him to different styles... "Whatever you find most comfortable to sing. Though I don't know that I can relate all that well to love ballads myself."

Not in the situation he's been put in, at least.
keytarheroine: (:go live)

[personal profile] keytarheroine 2026-03-30 10:28 am (UTC)(link)
“In that case.”

She sets up, plugs in, takes a deep breath, and sings.

“I hear it,
echoin' of every place that we call our home.

And I don't talk,
of any time I ever believed in the unknown…

I need it,
so I hold onto every mistake that I made alone,

And I don't lie,
when I say that we will never return to closing doors.

Sleep tight in a new light,
through another warning call!
Look down on the cold ground,
I will try to break the fall!”