[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: Sunny & Emma

[st_igmatized]

"I can have fires in my room," Sunny countered playfully. "They're just more arson than for pleasure."

Re: Sunny & Emma

[st_ackeddeck]

"There's nothing inherently wrong about the destructive and consuming aspects of fire. Sometimes it's very pleasing." Emma had a lot of feelings about fire, and she'd thought about it more than she'd ever expected, thanks to Pyro.

She gave a short, soft laugh. "When your boyfriend's pyrokinetic, you develop strong opinions about fire."

Re: Sunny & Emma

[st_igmatized]

It took Sunny a second to remember that she didn't mean Jag, but she smiled all the same. "I'd imagine so."

Re: Sunny & Emma

[st_ackeddeck]

"The two kind of good things about my room here – the fireplace and a ghost. It's not being at home, but at least it's got that little bit that's familiar." She missed the Soul Train. Not as much as she missed Sabine, obviously, although they'd been in her life as long, some of them. And like Pyro, she'd been missing them since before she was brought here.

Re: Sunny & Emma

[st_igmatized]

"Yeah," Sunny murmured. "I'm sure the ghosts are creepy to some, but it definitely beats having that huge room all to myself." And being practically a ghost herself when she wanted to be was delightful to her ethereal roommate.

Re: Sunny & Emma

[st_ackeddeck]

Emma nodded. It was how she felt too. "I left the big bedroom for Jag, if he ever decides to move in, but that means I've got two beds in my room. We hang out and talk sometimes. She doesn't really remember who she was when she was alive, so she's probably been around a really long time, but she's sweet and... It helps. I'm not used to living so on my own."

Re: Sunny & Emma

[st_igmatized]

Sunny nodded. "I was living alone in an up-jumped closet in London, and even then I was either out or on Skype so often that it didn't feel like living alone most of the time. It's weird, not calling home."

Re: Sunny & Emma

[st_ackeddeck]

Convent school, carnival, Sabine and the Soul Train, Roma settlement, and castle full of mutants. Now a hotel in the middle of nowhere with none of the people she called home. Although that was changing. She had Sunny here. And Lillith. Still, she knew how Sunny felt.

"I wouldn't be surprised if my suite here is bigger than your London flat. Plenty of room for a girls' night movie."