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unfinishedooc2025-12-20 09:27 am
libraryassistants) wrote in unfinishedooc2025-12-20 09:27 am
Entry tags:
TEST DRIVE MEME #2
Welcome to the Library
Those who are new awake in the stacks.
You’re not sure when you fell asleep, and the memories of the last things you were doing are hazy at best. But now you’re here, and all you can see is books in every direction, the bookshelves teetering high enough above you to reach to the sky.
A helpful sign points you in the direction of the main circulation desk, and even if you try to ignore it and go in any other direction, the desk is where you will find yourself. A figure sits behind the desk, not even looking up as they sort through books and other media; they look, to your character, to be the exact picture of what they expect a Librarian to be.
Trying to ask the Librarian a question will get them shushed, but they’ll point down a hallway to the side, leading to a kitchenette and what appears to be a dorm room, where they’ll find they’re not alone in this strange place. But once they’ve looked away, when they look back, the Librarian is gone.
The Lobby
Those who are already familiar with the Library will see the Lobby change for the second time. It’s not paper plate UFOs and metal walls this time. Instead there are cheerful garlands strung about, and a stack of books shaped into a Christmas tree taking pride of place. The Help Desk is closed, the ‘Back in 5’ sign once again a bald-faced lie, but there is a menorah sat behind in the window, conveniently just out of reach of anyone who tries to get it. The candles are lit in a… somewhat sporadic fashion, the correct order but with no rhyme or reason to what ‘night’ is being represented. Either time is strange here, whoever’s in charge of it doesn’t know what day it is either, or they simply don’t care. Or some mix of the three.
Those two particular winter holidays are not the only ones represented either; characters will find a smattering of decorations or festive accessories from a great number of holidays, from their own worlds and beyond. There is what looks like a cabinet with instructions to pick your fortune from one of the many drawers. For some reason, there are a number of what looks like a child’s toy ponies placed on and around the cabinet. There are also some posters declaring in bold, decidedly upsetting typeset: “THE GOD-EMPEROR WISHES YOU A FESTIVE SANGUINALIA!” complete with a picture of a certain Library resident in all his feathered, shining glory. (The poster is not remotely shiny, but there are helpful accent lines to show that he should be shining.) And, for some reason, there is also a giant straw goat in the garden now, surrounded by festive strings of lights. Please do not set it on fire.
The Kitchens
It seems the decorations are not the only thing in the holiday spirit. The kitchens, usually bereft of anything but the most basic foodstuffs, are now full to the brim with a variety of holiday foods. There is always a tureen with hot mulled wine and a try of sweet pastries near by it, there’s ham and latkes in the fridge to be heated up, jelly doughnuts, moon cakes, pies, and an assortment of other delicious things. If your character would expect to find a certain thing within the stash, they do, regardless of how niche it may be. Christmas chili? Of course there’s christmas chili!
Oh, and that mulled wine isn’t the only alcohol around either- champagne, sake, hard cider… again, anything anyone might expect to find. Just try not to overdo it too much, alright? Everyone still has to sleep in the same room, and the Assistants aren’t going to show up to hold your hair back.
Crafts and More
What good are holidays without crafts? The Maker’s Space has been specially supplied with anything you might need to make your festive crafts- this includes everything you’d need for a gingerbread construction! (You’d think this would be in the kitchen, but don’t kid yourself- those things are not for eating.) There’s strips of colorful paper rings and instructions on how to make your own, little things of clay and paint and directions on how to craft your own dreidel, ’stained glass’ paper lanterns, and more. Oh, and glitter. Obviously there is a lot of glitter available.
There are also snow globe kits, mostly generic winter themes- trees, presents, and the like. Strangely enough, however, when they’re complete and shaken, they’ll show a memory from the person who shook it- a memory of a holiday, or snow, or generally something that invokes the feeling of the season- light, and hope, and togetherness. It’s fragmented, almost stop-motion in between the falling bits of ‘snow,’ but once it has settled the normal, basic scene inside returns.
Those who are new awake in the stacks.
You’re not sure when you fell asleep, and the memories of the last things you were doing are hazy at best. But now you’re here, and all you can see is books in every direction, the bookshelves teetering high enough above you to reach to the sky.
A helpful sign points you in the direction of the main circulation desk, and even if you try to ignore it and go in any other direction, the desk is where you will find yourself. A figure sits behind the desk, not even looking up as they sort through books and other media; they look, to your character, to be the exact picture of what they expect a Librarian to be.
Trying to ask the Librarian a question will get them shushed, but they’ll point down a hallway to the side, leading to a kitchenette and what appears to be a dorm room, where they’ll find they’re not alone in this strange place. But once they’ve looked away, when they look back, the Librarian is gone.
The Lobby
Those who are already familiar with the Library will see the Lobby change for the second time. It’s not paper plate UFOs and metal walls this time. Instead there are cheerful garlands strung about, and a stack of books shaped into a Christmas tree taking pride of place. The Help Desk is closed, the ‘Back in 5’ sign once again a bald-faced lie, but there is a menorah sat behind in the window, conveniently just out of reach of anyone who tries to get it. The candles are lit in a… somewhat sporadic fashion, the correct order but with no rhyme or reason to what ‘night’ is being represented. Either time is strange here, whoever’s in charge of it doesn’t know what day it is either, or they simply don’t care. Or some mix of the three.
Those two particular winter holidays are not the only ones represented either; characters will find a smattering of decorations or festive accessories from a great number of holidays, from their own worlds and beyond. There is what looks like a cabinet with instructions to pick your fortune from one of the many drawers. For some reason, there are a number of what looks like a child’s toy ponies placed on and around the cabinet. There are also some posters declaring in bold, decidedly upsetting typeset: “THE GOD-EMPEROR WISHES YOU A FESTIVE SANGUINALIA!” complete with a picture of a certain Library resident in all his feathered, shining glory. (The poster is not remotely shiny, but there are helpful accent lines to show that he should be shining.) And, for some reason, there is also a giant straw goat in the garden now, surrounded by festive strings of lights. Please do not set it on fire.
The Kitchens
It seems the decorations are not the only thing in the holiday spirit. The kitchens, usually bereft of anything but the most basic foodstuffs, are now full to the brim with a variety of holiday foods. There is always a tureen with hot mulled wine and a try of sweet pastries near by it, there’s ham and latkes in the fridge to be heated up, jelly doughnuts, moon cakes, pies, and an assortment of other delicious things. If your character would expect to find a certain thing within the stash, they do, regardless of how niche it may be. Christmas chili? Of course there’s christmas chili!
Oh, and that mulled wine isn’t the only alcohol around either- champagne, sake, hard cider… again, anything anyone might expect to find. Just try not to overdo it too much, alright? Everyone still has to sleep in the same room, and the Assistants aren’t going to show up to hold your hair back.
Crafts and More
What good are holidays without crafts? The Maker’s Space has been specially supplied with anything you might need to make your festive crafts- this includes everything you’d need for a gingerbread construction! (You’d think this would be in the kitchen, but don’t kid yourself- those things are not for eating.) There’s strips of colorful paper rings and instructions on how to make your own, little things of clay and paint and directions on how to craft your own dreidel, ’stained glass’ paper lanterns, and more. Oh, and glitter. Obviously there is a lot of glitter available.
There are also snow globe kits, mostly generic winter themes- trees, presents, and the like. Strangely enough, however, when they’re complete and shaken, they’ll show a memory from the person who shook it- a memory of a holiday, or snow, or generally something that invokes the feeling of the season- light, and hope, and togetherness. It’s fragmented, almost stop-motion in between the falling bits of ‘snow,’ but once it has settled the normal, basic scene inside returns.
II
The person saying this appears to be a gnomish, or perhaps halfling, wizard with dragofly wings.
He also seems to be unafraid and non-hostile, for all that's worth.
"I admit I'm curious. I haven't seen your like before. O Namer, welcome to the Stacks."
light cw unintentional/accidental misgendering
All eight eyes blinked briefly as he took in the stranger- some sort of gnome? But... gnomes didn't have wings, he was fairly certain. But then he'd never seen a gnome in person, so maybe the surface-dwelling sort did?
And he wasn't supposed to remove his mask. Lhaca would surely have his chitin for plates if he did, but it wasn't like a gnome would know Threadspeech, even the Deep Gnomes. So, after a furtive glance around to make sure there was no one to tell, Demure gingerly slipped the mask off.
"I ah- thank you... ma'am?" Demure's quiet tone was entirely uncertain there, cautiously respectful, as he fidgeted nervously with the mask still in his grasp. "It's... a weft lantern. For the Quiet Descent."
no subject
For a moment. The tentative way in which it was said suggested it was a default - a best guess. He sighs, but thinks the light touch, the humorous touch, would help more than anger.
“Well, better than being mistaken for a youth, I suppose, but no. I’m quite male, I assure you. A sir or maester Hikaru Aozora, not a madam, and thank you.”
He tilts his head and mutters “Your people and Tchallak’s default to woman when in doubt, then?” under his breath.
“But no matter. I would like to know what you might tell me about weft-lanterns and your Quiet Descent festivities, but first I’d ask for your name.”
no subject
"Oh! Apologies, Maester Aozora, it just... yes. It's safer that way, you see," And he sounded genuine enough in that, especially with the way some other bit of nervousness melted a way at the confirmation, as he slid one foot a bit forward, with a bit of a half-bow given he was already fairly close to the floor as it was in the moment. "Klori Demure Pax; Clan Hla'afin greets you."
A beat, before he realized that it was doubtful that Hikaru knew their naming conventions, the embarrassed flush creeping along his cheeks under the red markings. "Demure, I mean. My name, that is."
Unending Web take him, why was he so awkward? He'll gladly seize on the Quiet Descent as a subject to get his mind off of it before he got even worse.
"It's our winter solstice. Things become... still with the cold. Quieter. It's never completely safe, not in the Underdark, but it's when everything is safest, at least if you're patient and still too."
no subject
Better to admit he can’t tell than to assume. He suspects a male raised in a matriarchal culture, but it is, as the detective said, folly to make conclusions without evidence.
“…then Quiet Night is a rare kindness in a cruel place,” Hikaru says.
no subject
Hikaru's assessment though, it wasn't wrong. The drider nodded his agreement, gently picking up the lantern in careful hands so that the other could get a better look- a little bubble of carefully woven silk, an intricate pattern to the makeup visible thanks to the low light inside.
"It's a time to rest. Reflect. Most homes will put up webbing in the eaves to muffle the echoes and sounds, and any light that cannot be brought down to the floor is extinguished, replaced with lanterns like these, with an embermoth inside."
no subject
He considers the information, the ritual of the lights. That constant.
“I think I see it. Rare rest and reflection by the dim luminescence. Thank you. I feel as though I should return the favor with a winter custom of my own…”
no subject
The talk of holidays was a welcome distraction.
"If you'd like to, I'd be pleased to hear it."
no subject
He points out the hannukiya. “That candelabra, the Hannukah menorah, is a commemoration of a great miracle my best friend’s faith believed in. It is said by the Jewish people that when their temple was desecrated and they had to relight its eternal flame, they only had enough oil to last for one day and night. But instead, by the grace of their one God, it blazed for the full eight nights they needed to replenish their supplies and refill the light with oil.”
no subject
He let his attention be drawn to the menorah for the moment, listening still to the explanation. Religion was a thing he was somewhat familiar with, not so far back in drider history as to be forgotten, but certainly not an active thing anymore. So the tale was was charming, even as it was surprising for that element to it.
"Your friends still keep their God?" Demure hummed consideringly at that, brows furrowing. "I suppose it makes sense if they're not... well. unpleasant."
no subject
Hikaru sighs.
"I am sorry your own God was not as kind. And I know plenty of that, as well."
no subject
"The Great Weaver was... yes, I suppose 'not kind' is one way to put it," The drider allowed, with a wry huff and a tilt of his head. "It's alright though- the Mothers ate her, so we don't have to deal with her anymore."
no subject
He leans back into a chair and raises a drink.
"Warmest Yulehearth and a Silent Descent to thee, Demure. I'd offer you a drink but that has romantic connotations on Mundus during the holidays. You can find the punchbowl and glasses there, take freely."
no subject
The drider gently sets the little light back in it's spot before shifting back up again, glancing towards the indicated drink. His steps were quiet, even wearing the metal toecaps, as he gingerly took a glass, returning to settle near where Hikaru was. Taking a tentative sip, unable to help the startled sort of look that accompanied a twitch of his head back.
"Oh! Oh that's- very sweet-"
no subject
"Sugar is not something we lack here. Nor tea or coffee, though the quality leaves something to be desired."