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: (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?"
starandhope: (014)

[personal profile] starandhope 2026-03-31 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"Vampires," she says simply, the word almost forcing its way out of her mouth. "So many of them. One vampire was monstrous enough, back home, terrorizing my beloved husband almost to death. To find myself surrounded by so many -"

She shudders again.
angel_of_baal: (Default)

[personal profile] angel_of_baal 2026-04-01 03:18 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh." Hahahah well. "The ones I met, some had restraints, rules. So that the flaw of the blood was not allowed to become monstrous. But some....," The orlocks, especially, "preyed upon innocents. Those are true monsters. Your fear is reasonable. But you are safe here, Mina."
starandhope: (006)

[personal profile] starandhope 2026-04-04 10:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"I know," Mina says with a faint smile. "Though I do appreciate the reassurance. As confining as this place is, I have at least never felt in any danger here."

She sighs, glancing towards the door of the sleeping quarters.

"Still, telling myself that the Story wasn't real, doesn't seem to help much. The emotions still exist."
angel_of_baal: (Default)

[personal profile] angel_of_baal 2026-04-04 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"And if that changes, please call out for me or my brothers." Oh wait, did she know he has plural brothers here now? Well, she does now!

His wings pull back against his body. "That, I understand. It felt real. It was real, in ways that I cannot express. Or care for. It wasn't me, but the things I felt were...as real as any I have felt in my own life."
starandhope: (013)

[personal profile] starandhope 2026-04-04 10:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Mina doesn't miss that, actually - her eyebrows go up a bit.

"You have more brothers here?"

At this point, there are enough people in the Library that it's difficult to keep track of them all.
angel_of_baal: (Default)

[personal profile] angel_of_baal 2026-04-04 11:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes." Ah, right. He hadn't seen Mina in some time. "One is a powerful psyker. The other, well, I think you would like him very much. He was my father in the story." Just to give her a taste of how weird it was.