st_opsummoningme: (demon days)
st_opsummoningme ([personal profile] st_opsummoningme) wrote in [community profile] strangetrip2018-01-25 11:36 am

[GP / EP] Welcome to the Madonna Inn Expanded Public Library

Freedom from her bonds had given Illyana more than freedom of movement. It had returned to her the use of her magik and her ability to teleport. These abilities had, in turn, allowed her to finish making ready the library for public use. It was less about collecting books and media from around the premises (and some from Limbo, or donated collections harvested from the Otherworlds) and arranging shelving and seating, most of which had been relatively easily done. It was more a matter of laying the appropriate wards, and negotiating the finer points of the old-fashioned catalog and check-out system, which included odd donated items such as sporting equipment and electronic devices available for rental. Xavin's espresso machine counter necessitated a mini-bar refrigerator, glass-domed cake stands for assorted pastries brought in from the kitchen, and various cafe sundries.

Repurposed from what had been the 'Garden Room,' the library space with its high wooden ceilings, chandeliers, and landscape murals over busy floral carpet still looked somewhat like a touristy banquet hall, yet the area was now also highly saturated with layered magic. The hodgepodge collection of random books and so on were fiercely protected by these magics. When needed and as possible, worn volumes had been restored. The books could not be damaged nor marred from here on out, at least not by coffee spills nor page-tearing or inconsiderate attempts at margin notation. Nor would they leave the boundaries of the library area without proper dispensation, simply stopping mid-air and dropping should the attempt be made at the threshold. Ask at the Desk for Assistance With These Items, prompted the signs on several glass display cases featuring certain perhaps unsettling curiosities within - books in arcane languages, skulls from indeterminate creatures, and artifacts such as a green glowing cube suspended on a chain. At said desk, a gleaming service bell sat waiting, should the staff be needed and not clearly present.

Illyana finished affixing the large engraved plaque to the wall beside the double-doors, and then returned to attend the newly opened library with little fanfare:

Madonna Inn Expanded Public Library

Established ~01.25.2018 Earthly Gregorian Calendar

Open All Hours

Volunteer Staff on Duty as Schedules Allow

Classes & Tutoring for Most Subjects Available Upon Request

Donations Encouraged

Disruptive Patrons Will Be Zealously Evicted
st_arkcrowblack: (As I surrender unto sleep)

Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_arkcrowblack 2018-01-28 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Snow had made herself even more scarce than usual in the past month. She spent time with Regina, because she didn't want to worry her mama, and with Kash, because she had to check on Socks, and Vex, because Trinket and nursing her new little fox friend, but she avoided coming to meals at times many people would be around.

But a library? That was hard to resist.

She kept to herself, touching each spine of each book as she explored. Someone who had been paying attention would notice she was thinner, losing weight she didn't really have to lose in the first place.

Right now, though, she was almost at peace. The wound was healing, whether she wanted it to or not.
st_arknaked: (Default)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_arknaked 2018-01-31 05:03 am (UTC)(link)
Sitting at a table in the corner was a man who didn't entirely look like someone who would be comfortable in a library. But here he was, thumbing through what he thought might be a book on magic.

He wouldn't mention it to Regina but he wanted to know more about whatever she'd done to restore his heart, even half of it. He knew the Norn, and it couldn't possibly be this easy - not without consequences.

The growl as he read was low, but audible enough to alert someone nearby.
st_arkcrowblack: (Default)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_arkcrowblack 2018-01-31 05:42 am (UTC)(link)

Growling was a language Snow spoke fluently, especially lately, and the sound got her head up before she could consider things like who and why. 'What's up with you?" She didn't have to lower her voice that much. So many years trying to be barely seen and never heard, she kept herself quiet almost instinctively.

st_arknaked: (Default)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_arknaked 2018-01-31 04:07 pm (UTC)(link)
He looked up at the question, prepared to force a smile and then he saw Snow and didn't. She'd probably appreciate it more that he didn't he thought as he flipped the book closed.

"I'm not having any luck looking for answers." Which meant he might have to have an uncomfortable conversation with Regina if he wanted to know more.
st_arkcrowblack: (They called her Gun That Sings)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_arkcrowblack 2018-01-31 05:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Snow in general preferred it when people didn't didn't wrap things up in bullshit, regardless of how harmless the bullshit was. Smiling wasn't as harmless as people thought. "Answers?"
st_arknaked: (Default)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_arknaked 2018-01-31 07:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Despite having age and experience, Dyson wasn't always very good at the bullshit part anyway.

He sighed, devoutly hoping he wasn't about to get himself in trouble with Regina.

"Did your mom tell you about what she did for me?" He would be way less likely to encounter the angry end of a fire ball if she had. And in case his meaning wasn't clear he tapped his chest as he spoke, indicating his heart.
st_arkcrowblack: (Default)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_arkcrowblack 2018-01-31 09:09 pm (UTC)(link)

He was growling over something that Mama had done for him, but they were still together so it wasn't a bad thing. Or at least an obviously bad thing. But Mama hadn't told her anything... Snow's eyes narrowed. "What did she do?"

st_arknaked: (Default)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_arknaked 2018-01-31 09:24 pm (UTC)(link)
He swore under his breath, then gestured at the chair across form him.

"It's not a short story, you might want to sit." He left it up to her because he knew telling her to sit wouldn't work.
st_arkcrowblack: (Default)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_arkcrowblack 2018-01-31 09:35 pm (UTC)(link)

Snow's eyes narrowed even further to suspicious black slits. She approached, sat down, crossed one leg over the other. "What the hell happened?"

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st_ingofthehundred: greyston (socks)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_ingofthehundred 2018-02-04 06:33 am (UTC)(link)
A kitten on his shoulder and a dog his heels, a vaguely disgruntled Kashaw stopped at the door to the library long enough to make it seem like he cared if he could bring the cat in or not. The cat was his. The dog was Regina's. Either it was on the trail of the same girl he was, or it had smelled the kitten on his shoulder that was currently hissing and spitting back at it.

No wards stopped either him or the animals at the door, so he continued inward in search of the girl.
st_arkcrowblack: (As I surrender unto sleep)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_arkcrowblack 2018-02-04 07:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Aesop found Snow first, trotting straight over to her for attention. And even with her nose in a book, Snow reached down with her free hand to rub his ears. "H'lo puppy," she murmured.

She didn't question why he was here, only turned a page and then resumed petting.
st_ingofthehundred: greyston (socks)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_ingofthehundred 2018-02-05 02:25 am (UTC)(link)
Aesop plopped down at his little mama's side and put his head on her feet. Kash watched a minute, amused, and then came over and sat down. Socks promptly hopped down off his shoulder onto the table. Once there, he nosed at the paper thing in front of Snow.

"Gathering a crowd," Kash observed.
st_arkcrowblack: (None of your business)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_arkcrowblack 2018-02-05 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm popular," she said softly, which was ridiculous because she had practically been raised by wolves and acted it, could barely hold a conversation, and just generally didn't like people.

She reached out to run her hand down Socks's little back.
st_ingofthehundred: greyston (concerned)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_ingofthehundred 2018-02-05 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
"With the people worth hanging onto," Kash agreed, probably a little perversely. Okay, a lot perversely. But it wasn't like Snow hadn't met him already.

"Socks was missing you."
st_arkcrowblack: (Uncertain)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_arkcrowblack 2018-02-05 03:42 am (UTC)(link)
"I missed him, too," she said, scooping her hand under the cat and bringing him into her lap. She set the book down completely, not bothering to pretend to read anymore.
st_ingofthehundred: (flower crown)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_ingofthehundred 2018-02-05 04:23 am (UTC)(link)
Kash knew why she'd been scarce. She knew he knew. There was no need to talk about it. He'd come looking for her and that said everything that she needed to know about the fact that he'd missed her too.

"What's the book?"
st_arkcrowblack: (Default)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_arkcrowblack 2018-02-05 04:44 am (UTC)(link)

Snow pushed it across the table toward him, a collection of Grimm's fairy tales. She supposed no book collection was ever complete without it. "Just stories," she said, scratching the kitten behind the ears.

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st_oriedqueen: (beautiful scrutiny)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_oriedqueen 2018-02-12 01:32 am (UTC)(link)
Regina had been following the locator spell she used to find Aesop when he wandered off. It led her to the new library. Strange place for her sweet and generally well-behaved pup.

As soon as she had entered, it made sense. Her daughter was here, reading. With the cleric's cat. Aesop was convinced the kitten would be his friend if he played his cards right and he'd been watching Snow since Sansa left.

Regina considered leaving her daughter to her reading, but she missed her company. If she was out again, Regina would take advantage of it. She approached quietly and simply sat and waited for her to look up. If she didn't, at least they were both here.
st_arkcrowblack: (Want to trust)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_arkcrowblack 2018-02-12 01:56 am (UTC)(link)
Snow didn't need to look up to know she had company. The shift in Aesop was enough to tell her that someone was near, and who that someone was. "Hi, Mama."
st_oriedqueen: (soft)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_oriedqueen 2018-02-12 04:57 am (UTC)(link)
"Hello, love." Regina pitched her voice low so not to invoke Illyana's ire. She didn't fear the other sorceress, but she had carved this out as her domain and there were proprieties to be observed when visiting another kingdom.

She bent down to stroke her puppy's fur and he shifted his body to sit halfway between them so he could watch them both.

"It's an unusual library that allows pets inside."
st_arkcrowblack: (Default)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_arkcrowblack 2018-02-12 05:13 am (UTC)(link)

"Didn't ask," Snow said with a shrug. "And they're better behaved than that." And it was totally Kash's fault, but there didn't seem to be much reason to point that out.

st_oriedqueen: (cute smile)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_oriedqueen 2018-02-13 02:40 am (UTC)(link)
"Aesop's crush on that kitten is ludicrous," Regina countered. The puppy would follow it anywhere. She looked down at Aesop, arched an eyebrow, and the puppy wagged his tail so enthusiastically, she just laughed.
st_arkcrowblack: (Default)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_arkcrowblack 2018-02-13 05:05 pm (UTC)(link)

Snow sat up a little straighter and smiled. A very faint smile, but one that was still almost smugly pleased. "I have good taste."

st_oriedqueen: (beautiful scrutiny)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_oriedqueen 2018-02-14 03:00 am (UTC)(link)
"In kittens, anyhow." Some days it still mystified her that Snow had chosen her.

She offered her daughter a small smile to say she wasn't brooding, not today. "If I'd known books were all I needed to draw you out again, I'd have summoned you a library weeks ago."
st_arkcrowblack: (None of your business)

Re: Snow White - OTA

[personal profile] st_arkcrowblack 2018-02-14 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
The amusement, quiet as it was, faded, and Snow sat back. "Needed time."

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