[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: Butters -- OTA

[st_rangepalette]

Why had she not wound her tail around her waist as she so often did? She frowned fiercely, scowling, and whipped her tail back to where it belonged. Of course it was then she realized she was scowling at the man and he had apologized and oh.

Lillith pressed her hands to her flushing cheeks. "I am fine, thank you. Yes. You are very kind. I am only so awkward," she rushed to say, but her native accent rested heavily on the words.

Re: Butters -- OTA

[st_rutsthepolka]

"I get that, I was all ears and elbows when I was a kid, and I guess I still am sometimes, sorry. Um. Backing up. Hi, I'm Waldo Butters, nice to meet you." Butters offered his hand.

Re: Butters -- OTA

[st_rangepalette]

Oh. Oh dear. She could not possibly shake his hand or he would know. She did her best to look uncomprehending at that hand extended to her.

"I am Lillith Anioska Daturai, called Lillith, or Lilli by friends. Why do you put your hand out so? Is custom in your world?" she asked while definitively folding her own at her middle.

Re: Butters -- OTA

[st_rutsthepolka]

"Yeah, it's, um, it's a greeting." Butters looked down at his hand and shrugged awkwardly as he dropped it back to his side. "So, are you looking for anything in particular when you're not being tripped over?"

Re: Butters -- OTA

[st_rangepalette]

"Oh, I am sorry. I mean no offense." Lillith's awkwardness was unfeigned. She felt badly, but she did not wish to frighten him or expose herself to everyone. "I do not know what is here, so I do not know what to look for. I wish to see what is here."

Re: Butters -- OTA

[st_rutsthepolka]

"It's okay, it's just different worlds, different customs. I'm the one who ran into you, I should be doing more of the apologizing." Butters brightened. "But that's what I'm here for too, to see what's here. I go to the library all the time at home, I've missed having one."

Re: Butters -- OTA

[st_rangepalette]

"There is no need of further apology." She smiled at him as warmly as she could manage, having forgotten herself enough to be trod on. Her tail throbbed a bit, too, and had been scraped in pulling it loose. "Instead, tell me what is good to read in your world."

Re: Butters -- OTA

[st_rutsthepolka]

Butters relaxed, back on less-awkward ground. "A lot of things, but I always seem to end up back in science fiction. Do you have that? It's a lot of, um, imagining what it might be like in the future, traveling to different planets and things."

Re: Butters -- OTA

[st_rangepalette]

"We have adventure stories that take place in different planes, if that it was what you mean?" Lillith could not recall any stories about going to different 'planets', but they traveled to different planes and even worlds. Perhaps they had no need of this science fiction for that?