[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: Illyana Rasputin - OTA

[st_upidgravity]

Steph blinked and pursed her lips thoughtfully. "...you mean that literally, don't you?" After she'd said it, she realized she probably should have sounded more skeptical. Or horrified. But when your best friend was raised silent so that her only language would be violence, horror at childhoods was a little harder to come by.

Re: Illyana Rasputin - OTA

[st_opsummoningme]

"Yes," Illyana agreed, her tone losing some of its sardonic edge at the affirmation. Not many would have taken the remark for its face value. She set aside the movies onto a short stack of items to be shelved. "I do."

Re: Illyana Rasputin - OTA

[st_upidgravity]

"Uh. Wow." Steph looked her over again. She looked human. But so did Superman until he started flying. "Are you...no, you said raised by. That sounds like it would be...hard to get over."

Re: Illyana Rasputin - OTA

[st_opsummoningme]

"You don't 'get over' your upbringing," Illyana said simply. "You internalize it. To what degree and in what way will vary. But your experiences don't generally evaporate from your being."