[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: OTA (coffee area!)

[st_artliving]

"My name is not secret. I am Xavin." He poured some chocolate sauce into a cup, then poured the hot milk in and stirred it. "Why? Do you have a secret name?"

Re: OTA (coffee area!)

[st_ellarnavigation]

"No, I am Moana." She smiled. "But Peter Parker was telling me that it's normal for people to have secret identities. I wondered if you had one." She leaned on the counter and craned her neck to watch was he was doing. "Is it hard to learn to use that tool?"

Re: OTA (coffee area!)

[st_artliving]

"It is usual for humans to have multiple names. A first name, a last name, nicknames, secret names." Xavin shrugged. "I have only one. I need only one."

That said, he slid the cup of hot chocolate towards the girl Moana. "It is not difficult, but it takes some practice. This tube that heats milk will spray instead if I am not careful." He mimed a little explosion, to illustrate.

Re: OTA (coffee area!)

[st_ellarnavigation]

"I only have one too. I thought maybe I needed to get one of my own but Peter Parker and I couldn't think of one for me." The drink making tool was fascinating.

"Thank you." She picked up the cup and tasted it. It was, as he'd said, hot, but it was, "Delicious!"

Re: OTA (coffee area!)

[st_artliving]

"One is fine. All my human friends had two but I only used one each, and they never added more to me. You need not worry." This Peter Parker was odd, in that respect, if he used both names usually. "I am glad you like it. It is not my favorite, but it is good nevertheless."

Re: OTA (coffee area!)

[st_ellarnavigation]

"What's your favorite?" Moana asked promptly, even as she continued to sip her hot chocolate. The taste was so exotic. They didn't have anything like it on Motonui.

Re: OTA (coffee area!)

[st_artliving]

"Caramel macchiato," Xavin replied promptly. "It is coffee, vanilla, milk, and caramel. And one of the greatest inventions of humankind."

Re: OTA (coffee area!)

[st_ellarnavigation]

More flavors that Moana didn't know. Not that that was unusual. She learned new things every single day here at the inn. The trick was not getting overwhelmed. She did better on some days than others. When it felt like too much, she ran for the beach, where at least the ocean was still a friend.

"Maybe I can try that when I am done with my hot chocolate."

Re: OTA (coffee area!)

[st_artliving]

"Certainly. And if you do not like it, I will drink it." Xavin rarely needed an excuse to consume one of his favorite beverages, but he wasn't inclined to turn one down if it presented itself. "You are new here, I think?"

Re: OTA (coffee area!)

[st_ellarnavigation]

Moana nodded and tried to keep her smile in place. "It's been 25 days. This is only the second time I've been away from my people this long."

Re: OTA (coffee area!)

[st_artliving]

"Leaving home is difficult," Xavin agreed. "Especially so when you do not know where you end up." That was a guess, but an educated one. A human who didn't know hot chocolate was a human who could well be as out of place as he was. "There are so many new rules and new things."

Re: OTA (coffee area!)

[st_ellarnavigation]

Moana nodded, sipping her drink. "I guess that everyone here knows how that feels. No one is from here." She smiled, "Where are you from? Before here?"

Re: OTA (coffee area!)

[st_artliving]

"That is... complicated." Xavin leaned back a little, arranging his thoughts. "I was born on Tarnax VII - another planet, very far away - and then I came to earth and lived in southern California. After that and before here, I do not know exactly where I was."

Re: OTA (coffee area!)

[st_ellarnavigation]

Planets. Those were in what Peter Parker had called outer space. Moana brightened, "Are you a god like Thor?"

Re: OTA (coffee area!)

[st_artliving]

That startled a laugh out of Xavin. "No, no!" Super-Skrulls were close to gods, in the Empire, but Xavin was not and never would be completely trained. "The Asgardians would be most offended if I made any claim like that. I am a Skrull, as you are a human."

Re: OTA (coffee area!)

[st_ellarnavigation]

"A Skrull." Moana examined Xavin closely. "You look human. Normal even." Not as pale as the people Curnen had explained were from parts of the world that didn't get enough sun. Moana still felt bad for them. It must be terrible to be that cold all the time.

Re: OTA (coffee area!)

[st_artliving]

"Thank you. I have practiced a great deal and I am very fond of my human faces." To show off just a little, Xavin shifted into her female shape. She altered her clothing only to fit properly, and the purple apron stayed exactly as it was. "I am a shapeshifter, so sometimes I am this. Among other things."

Re: OTA (coffee area!)

[st_ellarnavigation]

"Oh!" Moana looked delighted. "I've only ever met one shapeshifter before. The fishhook granted to Maui by the gods let him change into other forms. He was a little out of practice when we first met."