[accidental video post]

[mariannethree]

[Marianne stands, hand on an iron-work banister, looking down from the third floor balcony of her Library. Her hair is pulled sternly back from her face, and she looks tired, worn, and worried about whatever she sees on the ground floor.

There are murmurs beneath her and the words "Good evening Madam Delubovoska..." spoken in a reverential tone.

When the Madam speaks, the Library goes mad. The railing beneath Marianne's hand comes alive. The iron-work unwinds, forming a mass of snakes that expand and strike where her hand was a moment before. She stumbles back, hand over her mouth, as around her the snakes grow and writhe, poison dripping from their fangs.

A warm glow surrounds her, and she pulls a small card from her shirt. The warmth it exudes seems to hide her from the snakes' notice, and she crouches behind her desk, holding the card close as the world around her turns into a writhing nest of vipers that fill every space but hers.

Again and again they strike, before finally receding unhappily, leaving the Library looking as if nothing happened. The glow around her fades as the Madam leaves the Library. Cautiously Marianne reaches up to her book and slowly writes her question.]

Book-people? Are you there? I think...I could use some company tonight.

Would you talk to me for a bit?

Marianne Zahma-
Under Assistant,
The Library
Chaos: 582 Order: 703

Comments

[promisedknight]

What happened?

[mariannethree]

I think someone got angry that I let a book out.

[promisedknight]

What kind of book would cause that kind of reaction? All of those snakes.

[mariannethree]

Well, I'm an Under-Librarian we aren't supposed to allow books to leave, and they make it rather difficult to do so.

But it was a rather terrible book. I don't mind as much as I should that it was burned.

[promisedknight]

How do snakes play into this, then?

video;

[selene]

[ ... H.. uh..? What is that even?! Even if it ended okay enough, all of it looked so dangerous that Usagi can't help but reply, even despite her own problems. ]

A-are you okay?! Those were snakes, right, and.. i.. it looked so dangerous..!

text

[mariannethree]

How could you know about that? It just happened to me, and the book was closed during it...

[Marianne does not fully understand the powers the community has over her...especially when it comes to revealing sensitive information.]

[selene]

A.. ah, I'm sorry.. I guess the community must have shown it without you knowing, but all of it was on video just now..

[ Now she feels a little more awkward. Was she actually invading the woman's privacy now? That feels bad.. ]

[mariannethree]

Oh. But...how could a book do that?

[text]

[embersandashes]

Why do you always sign your posts like that?

[text]

[mariannethree]

Because it is who I am. How else would anyone recognize me?

[text]

[embersandashes]

The same way we recognize everyone else. Your account.

[text]

[mariannethree]

My...oh, you mean the name that it gives at the top of my entries?

But that isn't my real name.

[voice]

[rosejam]

I do believe I'm rather in need of company as well tonight. I'll talk with you.

Re: [voice]

[mariannethree]

[Cautiously, as if she's unused to using the video and audio functions on her book]

Thank you. Its been a rather trying day.

Re: [voice]

[rosejam]

[Lilith would switch to text but currently that's not an option for her.]

Those kinds of days can be really tiring.

[text]

[mariannethree]

[in fact, Marianne finds the voice option very interesting, though she's not sure how to activate it herself]

Yes. Having an ordered, simple life is much easier.

[refinedvillian]

I suppose this is a common question by this point but what was happening?

[mariannethree]

I'm not totally sure. But the Madam clearly was as displeased about the loss of the book as the rest of the Library.

But maybe...she wanted me as well? Though why she would care about such an unimportant person I cannot fathom.

[refinedvillian]

It's quiet easy to get someone to under value themselves, especially if it makes them an easier target.

Either way, I have a bit of free time, if you'd still like company.

[mariannethree]

Oh. I hadn't...I hadn't ever thought of it like that.

I believe I would like your company. Thank you.

[tenminutes]

Bored or traumatized?

[ Those were usually the reasons people wanted company without any specifics, after all. ]

[mariannethree]

Ah...the latter, I believe. Though I don't seem particularly scared. At least, any more so than usual.

[tenminutes]

Well, being traumatized and being scared don't always go hand in hand. I guess the snake thing isn't normal?

[mariannethree]

Ah, no. You don't by any chance have experience with something similar?