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

Illyana shunted another book onto a shelf will a dull bang. (The protections on the books being well in place, it wasn't as if she was concerned about damaging them.) "Do you mean that the library is the best thing?"

"Yes," Corbie said earnestly, even as she instinctively winced at the thud of the book being shoved back. "Thank you for doing this."

"I would rather empower the residents to better themselves than be cursed with watching their constant inadequacy." Illyana shifted the weight of the books remaining in her arms slightly as she rounded to face Corbie in full. "What is it that you want, mageling?"

It followed that the girl must want something. Illyana's personal relationships were a rare few in this place, and it wasn't as if she was naturally pleasant company.

Corbie straightened. Shrinking was childish, and the opposite of what she should do with this woman. "I wanted to ask you to teach me."

Edited 2018-01-26 18:42 (UTC)

Illyana was tempted to prompt her with and are you going to ask? But even her dogmatic approach to semantics could be set aside when it would only make a potentially valuable conversation more cumbersome.

"What do you seek to learn?"

"I'm not sure what magic you know to be specific," Corbie admitted. "But I want to keep learning, even though I'm here."

"Really." Illyana moved past the girl, to pick up several books abandoned on one table. "And if I expect you to prove yourself? What if I'm a draconic overlord of a tutor, making unreasonable demands and pushing you past what you're comfortable with?"

Hypothetically speaking.

Corbie didn't turn to follow Illyana's movements. She already had the power in this conversation, Corbie could at least have enough dignity not to give her more. "Aren't proving myself and pushing me past what I'm comfortable with part of the points of education?"

"Not everyone would agree," Illyana insisted, thinking of the soft, lazy students that populated the typical contemporary college.

She turned back to Corbie, pushing the short stack of books at her.

"No," she agreed. Corbie took the stack of books reflexively, blinking down at it. She didn't know what she was expected to do.

"I dunno what to expect from you. It's a chance I'm taking, and maybe I can't deal. I can try, though."

Hands freed, Illyana set one at her hip. "You can expect that I will work you like a dog to fit my whims and offer little in the way of praise. You can expect that I won't tolerate whining or complaints. You can also expect that I will have a vast range of arcane knowledge and ability, that I will be able to help you improve your results, and that I will provide structure to your development."

Corbie nodded. She'd never thought she was much of a whiner, and while she liked praise when she'd done well, she'd found she could survive without it. "Sounds fair," she said carefully.

"We'll see." Illyana turned back for the circulation desk. "Bring those. You're going to start with learning how the library circulation and cataloging systems work. You'll need to be able to operate the desk alone effectively."

This was a lesson that Felix had started, but had never had a chance to finish. He had once dumped her in a part of the Institution's library that wasn't at all organized and left her to do research.

And she'd actually found things.

Though of course, Corbie had some sense, and all she said was, "Yes, miss," before following Illyana to the desk.

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

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