strangetrip | [GP / EP] Welcome to the Madonna Inn Expanded Public Library

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"My heart?" It wouldn't be like Snow to worry about her having her heart broken. Did she know? No, she knew. The question was not even how, because Dyson would be how, but why? "Dyson told you. I would have told you, but I know how you feel about heart magic."

Snow nodded once, a jerky, awkward motion. Even if she hadn't meant to find out about this at all, it still felt like going behind Regina's back. "He's worried for you."

Regina would've imagined she'd be pissed off at Dyson for telling Snow something she'd been keeping from her, but in the moment, she found she was actually relieved that Snow knew. That Dyson was worried about her though...

"For me?" She wasn't in any danger.

Snow nodded again. "Well. That there's a cost somewhere, anyway."

"All magic comes with a price," Regina murmured and nodded. "The price is not being able to feel fully, but I paid it willingly so he could feel at all."

She curled her fingers under, preparing herself for a blow. "The Huntsman," she told her daughter, voice soft and full of grief. "His name was Graham. I took his heart and kept him from his true love. Dyson gave up his love to help Bo. I thought if I gave him back his heart... It was supposed to be penance. Giving up what I had with him, giving up half my heart for him to have love." For him to have Bo.

"Mama..." Snow's voice got very small. "Isn't that dangerous?"

"Most things worth doing carry an element of risk," Regina began, but seeing her daughter upset, she took her hand again to hold it warmly. "With you and Dyson and Molly to keep watch on me, I'll be fine. It's not going to hurt my physically."

Snow squeezed back. She honestly wasn't sure she was convinced, but she didn't know enough about magic to contradict anything Regina was saying. "If you're sure... then okay."

"I love him," Regina admittedly softly, something she hadn't said even to him, yet, though he probably knew. He'd known when it had started. "I don't love him more than you, so if you see anything that makes you afraid, tell me right away, and I'll do something about it."

Snow's eyes widened. Not that she hadn't guessed already, but she had never expected Regina to actually say such a thing. "Yes, Mama."

Regina squeezed Snow's hand again, this time just held it. "Promise me. A mother should put her children first. Don't let me hurt you just because you think it's making me happy."

She'd never do to Snow what her mother had done to her. Not if she knew, but she didn't trust herself. She did trust Snow.

After a lifetime of searching, Regina was the only mother Snow had ever known. The idea of openly confronting or defying her for any reason was downright terrifying.

But she'd made a promise.

"Yes, Mama."

"Thank you, sweetheart." Regina knew the signs of worry in her daughter well enough to choose not to ignore them. She rose and then went to crouch by her side and offer her an embrace. "I love you very much."

Snow wrapped her arms around her and squeezed. "Love you, too," she said, very low.

Regina smiled and kissed her daughter's hair. The day she'd met Snow in that park in Gotham had been the luckiest ever.

[GP / EP] Welcome to the Madonna Inn Expanded Public Library

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