intro

[mariannethree]

Order: 1075
Chaos: 13

It is interesting that after searching the stacks for any book that would take ink, this little notebook appeared upon my desk unannounced. That by itself would count towards several chaos points, but its nameplate indicates my ownership as well.

Or at least, the former ownership of another "Marianne". Perhaps another library assistant forgot their notebook here? I hadn't thought any here shared my name...

But no matter. It is late, and this journal is far too chaotic to understand in one evening.

Goodnight, little book. I hope you sleep better than I.
Marianne,
Under Assistant
The Library

Comments

[plainflush]

[Wow, whatever this magic was sure liked to peak into people's diaries.]

Um, good night. I hope you slept well, but, uh, sorry, this isn't just a book. It's kind of magic too.

[mariannethree]

What? How...oh no, this must be another broken book.

The librarians must have wanted me to dispose of it, not use it!

My apologies, who ever you are. I did not intend to write in your story.

[plainflush]

N-no, it's okay. You're not writing over anything. I mean, it's not my story; I think it's everyone's? It's not broken, it's just, able to talk to other people, if that makes sense.

[mariannethree]

But if that's true...then this is a very special book indeed, and I should never have opened it. It would be wrong of me to use it when it is probably unique in this library.

[The inked response hints at the shock and worry that Akira's answer has enacted. The lines are hard to read and the ink has seeped into the paper, as if Marianne has forced the answer from her hand.

If this book is true, she wants it desperately, and has absolutely no right to it.]

[plainflush]

Actually, um, I think if you found it, you're supposed to use it.

[mariannethree]

But what if it was supposed to be researched rather than used?

[plainflush]

Researched? I'm not sure, but, if you want to find out more about what's going on you might want to keep using it for at least a little while longer. I mean, I don't know that much. I can tell you what I do know, though, if you're interested.

[mariannethree]

If you would tell me more, then perhaps I can figure out why it was put on my desk, and what the Librarians want me to do with it.

Again, I'm sorry for invading your time.

[plainflush]

It's okay, really, um, I don't mind.

Well, my name's Sakamoto Akira. This community place popped up on my computer a few days ago. There were, ah, people asking questions, so, I asked one, and then people answered it. I mean, they explained the magic and different worlds, too, but most of the people answered my question--

So, I guess, magic lets people in different universes talk to each other through whatever they can see it in. Yours is a book, right? Mine's a computer.

[mariannethree]

Different worlds...so you're a borderlander too? And people don't treat you differently because of it? Why would real people waste their time helping people from dreamworlds?

You write on a computer? That seems so much more difficult! Do you have to use punch cards?

[plainflush]

Punchcards? No, ah, I use a keyboard. And, I'm not sure what you mean by boarder worlds and dream worlds, I think yours is a lot different than mine, but I don't think it's a bother to help someone else if they're in trouble. Er, are you?

[mariannethree]

Oh. So you're from a real world, not a dream one? I'm sorry for assuming otherwise. Most people from real worlds who visit mine are more...cruel about it.

Am I in trouble? Of course not. Everything in my life is nice and...orderly. What more could I want?

[plainflush]

I guess so. I didn't know there was a difference, but, um. I'm sorry people you've met before weren't good about it.

I think that if there's something you want to do but there are things stopping you from doing it would be trouble. Er, troubling, at least. I'm not sure if I can help at all, but, I'd still like to hear about it.

[mariannethree]

Its understandable. If you were more real than everyone around you, what point would there be to be kind?

Even if there was something bothering me - not that there is - wouldn't it be dangerous to talk about it? The other Librarians might find out.

[remembermeandrun]

You've got a book with the community in it?

[This is new.]

[mariannethree]

"Community"? Is that what this place is called?

[regalbearing]

I am afraid the book you found is a little more than a simple journal. Welcome to the community, Marianne.

[mariannethree]

Ah...I don't think I am supposed to be using this, if it is as magical as you say. But thank you for the welcome anyway.

[regalbearing]

You may not think so, but the community itself has other ideas, or so I am told. If you happened to come across it in your journal, it most likely was not an accident.

[mariannethree]

But...why? I'm no one important.

[regalbearing]

So many people think who are granted access. I am afraid I cannot really explain the logic behind the community's selection process, since I do not know anything about it myself. But you can rest assured that you are not doing anything wrong.

My name is Saber, by the way; I apologise for not introducing myself from the outset.

[mariannethree]

Thank you for your words. I suppose I'll just have to trust that this book has found me out of kindness rather than ill.

Its nice to meet you, Saber. My name is Marianne.

[regalbearing]

Well, I do not know what purpose it has, exactly. But there are those here who have found their lives changed for the better because of it, so I do not think it is anything truly evil. More akin to a trickster or something of that sort, perhaps.

It is an honour to meet you, likewise. You said you were a librarian?

[mariannethree]

So I was right in my assumption that it was chaotic. Oh well. Order rules my life now, I suppose a little chaos couldn't hurt.

An assistant to librarians. I mostly re-shelve books and move things to storage.

[regalbearing]

Do you keep track of such things so closely?

Ah, I see. Do you enjoy the work?

[mariannethree]

Yes. I know its a little odd.

It is...work. It keeps me safe from the outside world. Isn't that enough?

[regalbearing]

Well... perhaps, but there are many odd things here. I confess I was wondering if it was a habit particular to your world, but that is not the case?

What is there in the outside that you need to be kept safe from? If it is not an imposition to ask, of course.

[mariannethree]

I don't know of any others in this place who count like I do, but its difficult to speak of something so private.

Its hard to explain. At night, if I leave the lights on, people come to my window and watch me, tapping on the glass and yelling. I know its foolish, but its hard not to be afraid of what they would do to me if they caught me outside.

[regalbearing]

I understand. I am sorry if I pried into something that I should not.

I... I see. [ strange... ] In my own world, I would be inclined to blame spirits, or perhaps some form of curse, but I know that these things differ between worlds.

[ and that in some worlds - including her own - it could very well be a vision caused by something within more than anything that could be blamed on outside forces. ]

[mariannethree]

Its not that. Its just that those in my work are very professional and rarely speak directly to me.

Many of the books in the Library are about magic. Perhaps that is why spirits and black magic would be drawn to them. But I wouldn't know how to find out for sure.

[regalbearing]

Is that so? The rules governing your workplace must be very strict.

Are there no mages or the like that you could consult?

[mariannethree]

I wouldn't know. Its always been like this.

Not...not that I know of. Perhaps one will visit the library soon, and I could ask them.