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

[st_opsummoningme]

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

Comments

Re: Kitty - OTA - arranging instruction

[st_eelyourself]

As he made his way from the library, Piotr saw Kitty taking sign-ups and his face stayed still but his steps faltered. This was partially because he was still reeling from his talk with Illyana (like the few before it, had been a roller coast of emotion that he knew would take him hours to get over). But also because the feeling comfort that usually came when he looked at his old friend was replaced by the fear, rage and panic that had swept through him earlier.

He knew he should ignore it like he'd done with Illyana, that going over to sign up to teach art lessons and pretending like everything was okay was what he was supposed to do...but he just couldn't.

Instead, he walked away.

Re: Kitty - OTA - arranging instruction

[st_alksthroughwalls]

Head bent over her notebooks, Kitty almost didn't notice Piotr. It was really only by chance that she saw him at all. She had just lifted her head to see if Xavin was busy and caught him out of the corner of her eye.

Even before she'd had a chance to smile a greeting, he'd frozen and was already turning to leave. Kitty worried her lower lip with her teeth at the strange reaction. Should she go after him? He had been talking to Illyana earlier and that tended to stress him out. Maybe he just didn't feel up to talking to his sister's best friend?

Kitty shrugged, uncomfortable with it, but he was a grown man. If he didn't want to talk to her right now, then she wasn't going to chase him down. If he was actually avoiding her, she'd know in a few days.

For now, she'd leave it alone.