[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: Snow White - OTA

[st_arkcrowblack]

Well. That said everything about why she hadn't been told before. Snow had a real and deep horror of any magic having to do with a heart. Except she couldn't quite touch that feeling right now. It was there. But it was like it was on the other side of a window. Perfectly clear, just out of reach.

"Magic's what's left over for the powerless once everyone else has eaten their fill." It had been one of the few lessons Mrs. H had left her that had not been challenged sooner or later.

Re: Snow White - OTA

[st_arknaked]

Not how he would have put it, but not wholly inaccurate. He had certainly been powerless and out of options when he'd gone to the Norn.

What Regina had done was different, but he couldn't verbalize that to Snow.

"My experience with magic has me worried, waiting for the other shoe to drop."

Re: Snow White - OTA

[st_arkcrowblack]

Snow nodded. "If you were meant to survive with half a heart, you'd be born that way."

Mama.

Re: Snow White - OTA

[st_arknaked]

"I survived without one at all," he pointed out. Though obviously it had been metaphorical rather than physical. "But I agree to a point."

And he worried, thus the research.

Re: Snow White - OTA

[st_arkcrowblack]

"Mama wouldn't do something that'd hurt you," Snow murmured. "But she might do something that hurts her if it means she can make up for something."

Re: Snow White - OTA

[st_arknaked]

"Hurting herself hurts me." And not just because he could feel such things now.

Re: Snow White - OTA

[st_arkcrowblack]

"Mama struggles with that idea," Snow answered. She knew. She'd seen it. Because ultimately, deep down, Regina was like her. When people loved her, it was a fluke.

Re: Snow White - OTA

[st_arknaked]

"I know, which is why I didn't ask her." Why he was doing research of his own. Because even if it did cause Regina pain, she would deny it and he knew that. But he needed to know.

Re: Snow White - OTA

[st_arkcrowblack]

"Wish I could help, but I don't know anything about magic," Snow murmured. "Except what my stepmother taught me. And I'd rather forget all of that."

Re: Snow White - OTA

[st_arknaked]

"Take care of you mom," he'd never ask her to try magic, he didn't know much but he knew enough to know he wouldn't ask for that. "And you'll be doing more than enough."

Re: Snow White - OTA

[st_arkcrowblack]

Snow nodded her understanding and agreement. "That I can do."

Re: Snow White - OTA

[st_arknaked]

"Then you're doing more than enough," he half smiled. "We can figure the rest out if something bad happens."

And he was obviously concerned, but based on his own past history.