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

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[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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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."

"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."

"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.

"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.

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

"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."

The amusement, quiet as it was, faded, and Snow sat back. "Needed time."

"I know, sweetheart." It had not been a judgment. Merely an overture to talking about what had driven her out and how she was now. "I'm just glad to see you."

Snow nodded and murmured, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

"Don't apologize." Regina reached a hand across the table to her daughter. She had been worried. It was hard to know that she hadn't disappeared with Snow being scarce, but she wouldn't put that on Snow. "You did what you needed to do to survive. I'm all right."

Snow reached across the table and squeezed her mother's hand. "... Are you?"

Now that Snow was coming back? "Yes." She didn't hesitate. It wasn't a lie, not by any stretch. Possibly not the whole truth, but close.

"Dyson's been..." She smiled, expression going softer, almost sweet. "Really wonderful about keeping me company so I don't hover over you."

Snow opened her mouth to say something, thought twice about it, and ultimately clamped down on it again. What right did she have to question things if Regina was actually happy for a change?

Snow might have decided not to speak, but Regina hadn't missed that she'd meant to. "What is it, love? You know your opinion matters to me."

Snow hesitated in silence for a long moment. "Your... heart."

"My heart?" It wouldn't be like Snow to worry about her having her heart broken. Did she know? No, she knew. The question was not even how, because Dyson would be how, but why? "Dyson told you. I would have told you, but I know how you feel about heart magic."

Snow nodded once, a jerky, awkward motion. Even if she hadn't meant to find out about this at all, it still felt like going behind Regina's back. "He's worried for you."

Regina would've imagined she'd be pissed off at Dyson for telling Snow something she'd been keeping from her, but in the moment, she found she was actually relieved that Snow knew. That Dyson was worried about her though...

"For me?" She wasn't in any danger.

Snow nodded again. "Well. That there's a cost somewhere, anyway."

"All magic comes with a price," Regina murmured and nodded. "The price is not being able to feel fully, but I paid it willingly so he could feel at all."

She curled her fingers under, preparing herself for a blow. "The Huntsman," she told her daughter, voice soft and full of grief. "His name was Graham. I took his heart and kept him from his true love. Dyson gave up his love to help Bo. I thought if I gave him back his heart... It was supposed to be penance. Giving up what I had with him, giving up half my heart for him to have love." For him to have Bo.

"Mama..." Snow's voice got very small. "Isn't that dangerous?"

"Most things worth doing carry an element of risk," Regina began, but seeing her daughter upset, she took her hand again to hold it warmly. "With you and Dyson and Molly to keep watch on me, I'll be fine. It's not going to hurt my physically."

Snow squeezed back. She honestly wasn't sure she was convinced, but she didn't know enough about magic to contradict anything Regina was saying. "If you're sure... then okay."

"I love him," Regina admittedly softly, something she hadn't said even to him, yet, though he probably knew. He'd known when it had started. "I don't love him more than you, so if you see anything that makes you afraid, tell me right away, and I'll do something about it."

Snow's eyes widened. Not that she hadn't guessed already, but she had never expected Regina to actually say such a thing. "Yes, Mama."

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

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