strangetrip | [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

One long sword recalled another, and Kitty immediately found herself thinking of Illyana's Soulsword. There was no reason to think it had similar powers, but she couldn't help suspecting it might.

Instead of opening up a Limbo pocket of worms, Kitty nodded and said, "You'll probably be glad to have something from home after awhile. It gets to be hard not to have connections."

Adrian had never been without the familiar so he's not sure how being in the Inn will affect him. So far, he'd been handling it all right, but he suspected it was connected to not wanting to deal with the death of his father.

"I can imagine that would become more difficult, to not have some connection to the familiar of home. I have also seen some here who have companions from their home and others that do not. I would think that it would be difficult on those that don't have that to see the reunions of others as well."

For him, it wouldn't have consequences, he didn't have anyone that he had close ties to. He was used to being on his own, though now he was truly alone, both at the Inn and in Transylvania.

"Maybe a little," Kitty replied, interested that a newcomer would've thought of that. "So far, most of the time, we're all pretty happy for each other. We're a pretty close-knot community, since there are so few of us."

She shrugged a little. It sounded pretty idealistic and probably would especially for someone from a couple hundred years ago when things were a lot more volatile. "I think it helps us believe we'll see the people we love again. But it can hurt, too, I guess."

"Being happy for others doesn't mean you don't feel the pain." Adrian said. "It raises hope, but it also has farther to fall." He looked at Kitty with a wry expression, "forgive me. It is a residual of high hopes being placed on my ability to win a battle that I might come across as quite pessimistic." Or pragmatic.

The hopes of the Speakers had been placed on the right man. Or right trio for he couldn't have defeated his father alone.

"No apologies necessary." Kitty offered a friendly enough smile. "I've had plenty of experience with peoples' expectations. You don't seem pessimistic. Just realistic. I've been here long enough that it's a habit to make play down the hard part until people get settled."

"That is a very good strategy." Adrian said thoughtfully. "It would be difficult enough to adjust to new surroundings without learning the 'hard part' of it. It could be overwhelming to some." Then curiosity overcame his politeness, "how long have you been here?"

"More than a year, now," Kitty answered freely. "I was one of the first to arrive. Only four preceded me." She wondered if he, like so many of the newcomers, would suggest now that he would find the way out where she had failed.

Truth be told, Adrian wasn't in that much of a hurry to leave, but a cage was a cage. "You seem to have adjusted well. It gives me hope that I will come to understand life here. Or at least become better acquainted with it."

"Better acquainted is almost a given. Understanding?" Kitty shrugged and smiled almost apologetically. "Let me know if you make any progress with that. I'm still working on it."

[ooc: fade?]

[ooc: Fade!]

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

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