libraryassistants: (Default)
Unfinished Library Mod & NPC Account ([personal profile] libraryassistants) wrote in [community profile] unfinishedlibrary2026-04-10 07:09 pm

They say the gods never give us more than we can handle - Library Log

Who: Editors, with a guest Assistant or two
What: The Library begins to change once more
When: The two weeks leading up to the next Story
Where: The Library, obvi
Content warnings: Please add content warnings to threads!

Once again, the Library begins to change. The wooden floor becomes more like cobblestone (complete with ‘the ability to trip you up easily if you’re not watching your step’), and there’s some little flags that look like the kind of things you’d get handed at a festival. As the week goes on, little carts and stalls pop up around the Library - most don’t have anything, but there are a few where some familiar ‘faces’ pop up to offer their wares. It’s mostly rocks. Some of them are shiny, at least?

The customary ‘Back In 5’ sign is now missing from the assistant's desk, and in its place sits one of said Assistants. Additionally, there is the now expected sign on the circulation desk: “This week’s Recommended Reading: Paladin’s Grace!” Unlike the previous readings, it seems this one is fairly straightforward in that there’s no mix-up of copies or alternate forms of media. However, on request, it does seem that there are some sequels available for reading as well.

Available are also an assortment of other books, such as What Kings Ate And Wizards Drank by Krista Ball, Livre de Chevalerie by Geoffroi de Charny, and Life In A Medieval Castle by Frances and Joseph Gies. There is a waiting list pinned by these; the intention is clearly to share and not squirrel them away. Off to one side is The Forme of Cury, which the Library is NOT automatically translating into something more legible; some may have to ask for help to riddle out its many, many recipes. Religious symbols of countless faiths sit on walls or propped on top of bookshelves and even in the kitchenette and sleeping area, from a set of ornate old-fashioned merchant's scales to the Eye of Horus and even ... a colander full of spaghetti … ?

There's a new door added to the rotating locations, a scrawled note taped to it reading "Stop breaking things!" This door leads directly to an endless forest, with a cheerful clearing, soft grass and pleasant birdsong. Some lucky souls will recognize it as the current iteration of the Safe Room, now freely accessible from inside the library; coming and going is now effortless! That is, unless someone's sent there via destruction of property or injuring someone else, at which point they must wait out the usual duration. The day and night cycle remains, but now and again the sky clouds over, and pleasant spring rains sweep across the forest. These same rain showers are a regular occurrence in the garden for the next two weeks, at a rate of one every two days or so, lasting a little while before fading back to the usual climate and "weather".

The kitchenette is offering a change in food items; there's now a variety of hard cheeses, breads and salted meats to pick from, as well as dried fruit, pickles, eggs, river-fish, porridges of assorted forms, and uncooked roasts. Unfortunately things to actually cook the roasts with, like ovens or even a fire, haven't been provided alongside them. Drinks have changed to a small selection of rustic wines and extremely watered down ales. (Water is of course freely available.) The Laundry has acquired a large wooden tub and a washboard.
curzed: (pic#18124555)

[personal profile] curzed 2026-04-11 08:00 pm (UTC)(link)
The book is set aside and a crisped fish is retrieved in its place. "It is ridiculous." He won't claim it's not. "And very unpleasant for those who are shoved into minds they should not have."

He hasn't yet, and if all went well he would continue to not have to experience it first hand. "It will make a little more sense once you've endured one for yourself. Try not to apply logic or rationality, there's little place for either here."
bakegarasu: (all up in my grill like 'nevermore')

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2026-04-11 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"Logic and rationality have left my life the past few weeks anyway. Even before here." He huffs out a little bit of a laugh. "So I guess I'll have to adjust as I can."

Stupid. Ridiculous. All of this stuff. "And I have to wonder why they brought in someone whose main purpose isn't exactly... good at finishing things without violence." Then again, he was apparently 'born to protect the city', so who even knows? He's had to learn a lot about things other than killing recently.
curzed: (pic#18124560)

[personal profile] curzed 2026-04-11 08:07 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hm. I asked the assistants something similar, a while ago." He breaks the fish apart piece by piece, crunching through bones as well as deliciously grilled fishiness. "For that too is my purpose. I am a monster. What use does a story that seeks resolution in peace have need for a killer?"

And a remorseless one, for the most part. There were exceptions. Well, one exception so far. What had happened to Kaiisteron still troubled him, but none of the rest.
bakegarasu: (i heard a tapping)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2026-04-11 08:11 pm (UTC)(link)
... Okay not even he eats bones, but he doesn't flinch as the other does do that. "And what did they say?"

'Monster'. A label that's been applied to him since childhood. "Since I don't feel fear or pain, people call me that too. Monster. Killer. Freak. A lot of things."

He doesn't know what purpose he serves here. "And this isn't the place I'm supposed to protect. So what point is there to this?"
curzed: (pic#18124557)

[personal profile] curzed 2026-04-11 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
The extra calcium is always nice, everyone should enjoy a good crunchy bone every now and then. At least he doesn't eat the stick, which he certainly could. There's a bit of a gesture with said stick and what's left of his fish to the other ones slowly grilling; if Otoha wants one, there's others. "My sons are not supposed to feel fear or pain. I know they do."

Did this young man? He's not going to put it to the test and risk losing more to 'indexing'. "The point is the amusement of the Librarian. I am told those such as we are here because we are interesting." He says the word as if it's personally offensive, and maybe it is. "We are here to liven things up, in other words. Do you kill frivolously?"
bakegarasu: (he's a cold hearted snake)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2026-04-11 10:18 pm (UTC)(link)
He reaches out and grabs one, a spark landing on his finger. He doesn't so much as blink as he pulls the fish towards him. "My nerves are messed up. Something about my genetics, or so I've been told." He's aware that he's a genetic freak of nature, but that's not his fault. He didn't ask to be born like this. Or at all.

... Amusement of the Librarian... right. "That makes a little more sense than just 'finishing stories'." And the question gets a look from Otoha - not quite a sharp look, but the edge of a dangerous smile. "No. I kill who I'm ordered to. Otherwise I kill when necessary. I don't kill civilians."

And most of the people here are civilians. Is this man?
curzed: (pic#18155868)

[personal profile] curzed 2026-04-13 03:57 pm (UTC)(link)
"A valuable quirk of the genes." Pain has its uses but often got in the way for those in the line of work as primarchs and astartes. Come to think of it, it's surprising the Emperor didn't engineer them that way. "The one universal constant I have learned is there are those with power, and there are those who are not aware they're there to amuse those in power."

A terribly fatalistic way of looking at things, especially for one of such hypothetically high rank as himself. He is no civilian! "Define 'civilian'. I don't know the conflict you come from, and obeying orders is sometimes as bad as the orders being handed out." His tone is ever so mild, expression thoughtful.
bakegarasu: (his eyes have all the seeming)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2026-04-14 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
"It is." He starts pulling the fish apart, chewing on some of the roasted bits, trying to think of how to respond. "And of course that's how it works. I come from the yakuza, growing up. ... Organized crime, if that's not a familiar term."

He tilts his head. "Civilians are people who aren't yakuza, or aren't involved in whatever mess that has to be cleaned up. Innocents. Not that anyone is ever truly innocent -" Not even kids, he's seen it. "- but those people aren't the sort of scum I've been pointed at in general."
curzed: (pic#18125565)

[personal profile] curzed 2026-04-14 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
"I know much of organized crime, but not by that name." Oh how he knows it. How he spent so much time eradicating it one enforcer at a time, one bloated baron at a time, until none dared step one toe out of line.

Such a line of thought - no true innocents - is going to lead to the destruction of his entire planet as soon as he leaves the Library. "Do you fight amongst yourselves, then? One gang versus another."
bakegarasu: (death carnivore)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2026-04-14 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm not affiliated with them anymore. I mean, they tried to kill me." And pretty much succeeded, though he deserved it from their point of view. "But yes, they do. Of course they do. Anyone who wants power will always find someone else who wants power."

He takes another bite. "I mean... I don't intend on letting them get out of hand now, if I can." And he should be able to.