TEST DRIVE MEME #1

[libraryassistants]

Welcome To The Library

You 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 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.

Welcome to the Unfinished Library

Coffee Corner

Sometime after your arrival, you enter the lobby to find yourself greeted by what appears to be a little tea cart containing a carafe of very weak coffee, a pot of very strong tea, mismatched creamers and sugar packets, and assorted cheap boxed shortbread cookies alongside small paper plates and cups. (For some reason, there also seems to be a pile of coupons for a free yacht ride.) There is a sign next to them, stating:

Welcome Editors!
Please enjoy these complimentary refreshments.
Do NOT take food or drink into the stacks and please wash your hands BEFORE touching anything.

Looking around, you see that you and everyone else present have also been supplied with sticker name tags with “Hello, my name is _____.” Take it off, and it will magically be replaced by a new one. It seems it’s time to mingle, or perhaps try to get anywhere but here.

There is also a phone set up on the desk, with a small sign labeling it as the “Assistants’ Line.” Give it a try, and you might get someone to talk to.


Between the Stacks

While exploring the labyrinthine sprawl of the Stacks, you find a door tucked between the towering bookshelves. Opening it, you see the impossible: a community garden, fresh produce glistening with morning dew and ripe for the picking. The open sky stretches welcomingly overhead, the warmth of an unseen sun warming the soft grass underfoot.

A large fence spans the generous perimeter of the garden. No matter how high you go, the fence follows with you. Those trying to get a peek on the other side should make a plan.

When the room is no longer in use and the door is closed, the garden will disappear; rotating out of cycle. The next time the door opens, maybe it’s a computer lab - decked out with technology from… some planet and century. Or maybe it’s a meeting room, complete with someone else’s handouts scattered across the table. Closing and reopening the door will reveal a different room each time. What's your pick?


Maker’s Meetup

There’s a cheerful, if not generic, poster on the bulletin board by the help desk, declaring:



The Maker Space in question is, for the moment, easy to find, a few nice and similarly formatted signs with arrows helping leading the way through the stacks. As promised, there are a number of machines and tools related to crafting and making things, including a table that, for some reason, just has construction paper and safety scissors.

It seems the materials for the room have been recently stocked, too; there’s a little pile of fabric (mostly scraps, but a lot of larger pieces that can be made into something without needing to piecemeal it together), some sheet metal of various sheens, and bits of wood that could be shaped into something maybe as large as a small bowl. There are also some more generic arts-and-crafts materials (on a separate table from the scissors); puff balls, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners and other sorts of things.

There doesn’t appear to be anyone actually around to teach the use of the machines, but it can’t be that hard… right?


Transition In - Prepare for Dheekis

In the Lobby, things begin to… change.

The tiled floors have started to fuzz along the grout, the colour and texture slowly bleeding out into cool grey metal. The change continues to flow up the walls, coloured strips of lighting dividing sturdy steel segments. What few doors there are shimmer, an overlay of automated mechanisms clinging closely to them. Hydraulic pistons pump as if pushing the doors open when you approach, but alas - these doors remain sadly hand-operated.

Within a few moments, gravity in the Lobby seems to decrease. Steps are lighter; a jump turns neatly into a bounce, leaving you hanging weightless in the air for a few long moments. The furniture remaining in the lobby begins to float, as do any items that have been left loose. If it’s not nailed down, consider it airborne.

The effect spans only the space (ha) of the Lobby. Exiting to another room will bring an unceremonious return to the Library’s usual gravity, and please note: the success of your landing is not guaranteed. Please proceed cautiously.

After some time - maybe it's days, who's to say? - you begin to feel it. A pull that tugs you to the Stacks, drawing you step by step closer to the next Story to unfold.


The Difficulty with Dheekis

On the SS Covenant, things usually run pretty smoothly. Usually. Unfortunately, there was an… incident at the last stopover at the Eternis Station. One of the crew members became utterly besotted with one of the little creatures the Eturian ambassador carried them with, called dheekis, and the ambassador was more than happy to gift them one. Unfortunately, the reason they were so willing to do that is that the fluffy little creatures, somewhere between a bunny and a rodent, are very prolific breeders, and additionally can procreate asexually when there’s only one of them around. Which means that after a week in space, it was no longer possible to keep them hidden.

Since then, it has been a game of trying to capture and contain the little pests, shoving them into boxes so they’re packed tight- dheekis only stop reproducing when there is literally no more space for them. And they are trying very hard to fill up the void space on the ship; they’re under beds, in rafters, engineering nooks, forgotten corners, you name it. How long will it take to get rid of them all? Can you get rid of them all? Because if you have one dheeki, it won’t stay one for long.

[This is a free-form ‘Story’ prompt and cannot be considered canon to the game; since there’s no information post, feel free to make up whatever details you like!]

Comments

mina harker | bram stoker's dracula

[starandhope]

Welcome;

[ The young woman looks remarkably calm as she wanders the stacks, dressed as a proper Victorian lady. She might be taking a casual stroll, except for the concern in her eyes and the way she peers around bookshelves as if searching for something - or someone.

Perhaps she approaches you? ]

Excuse me, have you seen my husband? His name is Jonathan Harker, he's tall, with brown eyes and brown hair - streaked with gray, though he's still a young man. He's been quite ill, you see, and I need to find him.

[ Her accent is British, and tinged with fear. ]

Coffee Tea corner;

[ Her name tag reads "Hello, my name is Mrs. Mina Harker". She hasn't touched it. Why should she? That is her name.

The tea service, however - ]

Disgraceful. One would think such a large library would have a proper tea service.

[ She promptly seats herself, and before long she's collected sugar into one paper cup, cream into another, and is offering coffee or tea to whoever approaches, playing the gracious hostess. ]

In the absence of a proper hostess, I suppose I shall have to do.

Between the stacks - quiet room;

[ Mina can be found at one of the desks in the quiet room, writing. She's not writing in any kind of network device, merely a mundane paper journal that she seems to have brought with her from home. However, unless a character can decipher shorthand, it's unlikely anyone will be able to understand what she's writing, even if they peer over her shoulder.

She pauses, putting down her pen to run her fingers gently over a soft, white kid glove. It's clearly a man's glove, and it clearly means something to her, judging by the almost-reverent way she strokes it. Her eyes fall shut for a moment, as if in pain, and she sighs, lost in a memory, perhaps. ]

Maker space;

[ Mina can be found near the table with all the fabric and sewing implements, inspecting what's on offer. ]

I'm no great shakes at it, but I've only one pair of stockings with me. I'm sure I'll have to mend them soon.

By the by, what is a "Three Dee Printer"?

[ She looks mildly puzzled at her companion. ]

The difficulty with Dheekis;

[ It's very possible that she's following someone around who is trying to dispose of the fur balls. She seems rather distressed. ]

Surely they don't all have to die? It seems so cruel, to dispose of such innocent creatures.

Wildcard;

[ Hit me up with just about anything! Brackets or prose, I'm happy to match. ]

—tea corner

[erintys]

[ It's impossible not to be drawn to the young woman playing such a gracious hostess. The sight is a welcome one for Daenerys, who approaches with a grateful smile. ] You certainly have your work cut out for you, Mrs. Harker, [ she offers in greeting. Her own name card is far less helpfully printed to read DANY & DROGON. Taking a cup once it's produced, Daenerys only holds it a moment, allowing the warmth to seep into her hands. She never drank much tea before, but she was beginning to see the merit in it — if for no other reason than the comfort it could bring when carried. ]

May I? [ She gestures at the open seat, not wanting to impose should Mina wish for some peace and quiet. Daenerys could hardly fault her. This place is a little trying. ]

[starandhope]

Please do!

[ Mina is a little wary, but hopeful at the sight of another young woman. Perhaps whatever this trial may involve, it won't be as bad as all that. ]

And please, call me Mina. I'm still getting used to Mrs. Harker.

[ She happily offers her cream and sugar. ]

What is your name? [ She indicates the name tag vaguely with her hand. ] Mine may be accurate, but it seems not everyone approves of how this place has named them.

[erintys]

[ Ah. That explains the title. Daenerys' smile warms immediately, and she takes the offered seat with gratitude. ] I believe congratulations are in order? [ Despite putting the idea of romance and marriage behind her, Daenerys is always charmed by others who find their happiness. A romantic at heart, always. ]

Daenerys Targaryen, [ she adds, ] And my son is Drogon. [ There's a great deal of pride in her voice when she says his name. Even with the other two still at home, she's relieved one came with her. ]

[starandhope]

Thank you.

[ She accepts the congratulations with a modest smile, though tinged with sadness. At least it’s easy to see why she wouldn’t be as completely happy as a newlywed perhaps ought to be. Separated from her husband, grieving for her best friend and her prince - shameful thought, best set aside. ]

Your son is here? That must be such a relief and a comfort to you. He must be quite young? [ Daenerys, after all, is clearly young herself. Mina thinks perhaps they are of an age. This Drogon must be an infant. ]

[erintys]

They may yet arrive, [ is all she offers at first, knowing too well the pain of losing a beloved partner. But Daenerys has no intention of pushing the subject if she prefers leaving it alone. She can only provide a place of companionship, and hope that it proves useful to Mina one day. ]

He is, though I worry about his brothers. All three were born together. [ Daenerys frowns a little at this, but manages to put aside some of her concern the more she speaks of them. ] They're six now — and I can hardly believe that myself.

[starandhope]

Three! All the same age!

[ Mina’s eyes go wide at the thought. ]

They must keep you and your husband incredibly busy.

maker space

[extrasaltypotato]

"It's a device for quickly making small parts, or scale models," pipes up a baritone (and monotone) voice.

It belongs to - at first glance Mina could be forgiven for thinking him an adolescent, given his height and the size of his eyes, but his other facial features have a certain adult sharpness. Not to mention he has pointed ears, and the dragonfly wings peeking out of a crimson mantle don't move like costume pieces.

He pushes a conical, brimmed hat out of his eyes and enthusiastically demonstrates the use of the 3D printer.

"It takes a block of this plastic material, melts it, and creates the object you program into it by putting down layers of it from bottom to top."

The device whirrs, something like a pen leaving thick trails of the grey stuff exactly the way this elfin creature described it, until it leaves a scale model of what looks like a cat on it's hind legs, dressed like Robin Hood, with a bow to match. He retrieves the toy soldier with an ear to ear grin.

"I used one extensively at my old manufacturing job. Very useful."

[starandhope]

Mina watches, fascinated. Her eyes go a little wide at the way the machine produces such a flawless item.

"Plastic," she repeats, humming a little as she inspects the little toy. "This certainly seems far beyond anything a factory back home might produce. Unless it is simply magic."

She offers him a small smile in return.

[extrasaltypotato]

At the mention of magic, Hikaru - as his nametag names him - puts his hand under his chin, his thumb stroking a thin mustache. He considers the woman - Mina Harker - and her mode of dress carefully, if briefly.

"No, not magic, Miss - is it miss? - Harker. Believe me, I would know the difference. But far beyond coal-fired steam engines and mechanical looms, yes. I've noticed the books here are... indiscriminate about their era of origin. I've gotten everything from Hungarian cookbooks to alchemy manuals, from papyrus scrolls to spaceship recognition guides."

[starandhope]

"Mrs," Mina corrects him gently, a faint smile playing about her lips.

"I've always felt I lived in a very advanced time, but this place seems to put the lie to it. Though, I suspect whatever brought us all here is real magic. Not that I've any experience of such things."

More than she knows, perhaps.

[extrasaltypotato]

"I suspect so, yes. I've some small experience navigating liminal spaces like this... but I wonder if we were taken here, or sort of washed up on shore and the Librarians are taking advantage of that."

He pauses, and he smiles, too.

"I suspect I should be congratulating a lucky woman and a luckier man."

[starandhope]

Mina glances down, a modest look, though whether she does so to hide a smile or a grimace of guilt is difficult to say.

“Jonathan is the best of men,” she says after a moment, considering.

“This place - it doesn’t feel evil to me,” she adds quietly. “Though, I can’t say I would know it if it did.”

Welcome!

[dreamquestion]

[Well he doesn't recognise the young woman, but the name is certainly familiar, and a smile breaks on Randolph's face before he can help himself.]

Ah, my deepest apologies, Mrs Harker. [His own accent is New England, very nearly Bostonian but a little more tempered, and his voice is kind in the face of her plight.] But I haven't met anyone by that name, or even of a sickly bearing just yet myself. Though I shall gladly keep you company, with all properness- [And a wink, almost paternal.] -until his safe reappearance.

[starandhope]

Thank you for the kind offer, sir.

[ It brings a feeling of - well, it's as close to relief as she's felt since waking up here. His manner of address feels more familiar, and his almost paternal air almost puts her in mind of Doctor Van Helsing. ]

My apologies for being so abrupt - I'm very glad to meet you, Mister -?

[dreamquestion]

Randolph Carter. [He lifts a hand to tap the brim of his trilby in a light bow.] And while I know it may be of limited assurance, I have experience with these sorts of... unreal, otherworldly locations. It's something of an expertise of mine, in fact, this and all manner of beings that typically reside within them.

[starandhope]

It's far more assurance than I was expecting.

[ She glances around her again, at the seemingly-endless stacks. ]

Is that what this is, then? Some - other-world?

[ Perhaps it's strange, that she is so ready to accept that explanation. Or perhaps not so much, given her own recent experiences. ]

[dreamquestion]

Not one that I'm personally familiar with, but that can be said for a great many places despite my adventures. [He shakes his head lightly.] No, I'm afraid this one is unfamiliar to me, but that by no measure means it is hostile. Something like bloodlust or a history of death tends to hang in the air like a smog, but this place, beyond both our natural worlds, I feel nothing but, at worst, contentment and busyness.

[starandhope]

[ Mina takes this into consideration, her mouth curving slightly in a frown as she takes it all in - not just the physical surroundings, but the way this place makes her feel.

She's had a shadow hanging over her heart, for weeks now. It's not gone, but it isn't significantly increased just by being in this place, however strange it might be. ]

No, I think you're right, Mr. Carter. I feel no danger for myself. I only fear for those I've seemingly left behind.

Difficulty with Dheekis

[monstrous_bride]

[She stuffs another dheeki into her bag with a sigh.]

Life is cruel. And it's us or them - I'm certainly not dying in goddamned outer space because of some horny little powder puffs.

[starandhope]

[ Mina is shocked - both by the startling appearance of this person, as well as her harsh words.

But, as any good British woman would, she stifles her uncertainty, gathering a few more of the little fluff balls in her arms with a reluctant sort of expression. ]

Life may be cruel, but that doesn't mean we must add to it unnecessarily.

[monstrous_bride]

[She remembers the 1800s. Unfortunately. She's come around to modern times the long way, before being brought here. A small, tiny voice inside - probably put in there by her deceased friend Nina - says she should take it easy on the other.]

[But the Bride is also stubborn and jaded. Honesty will only be doing the other woman a favour, right?]

I'm not going to chuck them out the airlock for fun. But we're in a finite amount of space here, and besides me wondering how much air we'll have left with all of them huffing about - if they get into critical systems they'll hump us into a catastrophe.

And I don't fancy dying in space.

[starandhope]

[ For all her soft heart, Mina is not without a spine, and nerves of steel. She probably wouldn't be here if she didn't possess those qualities.

She shoves a few more down the chute to the airlock, her expression still sad, though resolute. ]

I can't say I ever fancied living here, either. Even for a short time. Is it always so cold?

[monstrous_bride]

[She's already reminding her of her deceased friend Nina. Decency in an indecent world.]

I would imagine- outside you'd freeze to death instantly, I've heard. Which is preferable to the other things about the vacuum waiting to kill you at the same time.

[starandhope]

[ The look on Mina’s face really says it all. ]

Why in Heaven’s name would anyone choose to come here?