Dear Book People,

I think...I think I might actually be able to escape the Library!

Its taken five weeks of my time, but after that terrible Madam left the Watchers did as I asked and put up a sign for me. With any luck, within a few day someone will send me out the doors and into freedom!

Of course I'll take this book with me, as well as mine and Mr. Grassi's.

But I'm not sure what else I'll need. I have no idea what the city might be like.

- Marianne Zahman
Under Assistant
The Library
Chaos: 734 Order: 895

So recently Kaaree subjected me to some crystallized plays...ah, I suppose they are called "movies"? Yes. Earthling movies.

And after a long argument on whether the term "unobtanium" was terrifying and poetic or foolish and idiotic, I realized that none of your worlds have the concept of "una". Roughly translated it means "the thing for which I will destroy you".
( Skipable Linguistics Rant )

In the end, I wonder if the other worlds that connect here have yet to encounter many cases of this archetypal destructive need. Or perhaps our inevitable lust for power and glory simply plays out over smaller stages.

My people have long accepted this, encapsulating the fall behind the words "The Inquest Always Finds A Way", but I hope that the battle against apathy and destruction is still being fought on your worlds.

[Karakael is curled up at a window-seat, back against the wall and looking out at his desert home. He wears an outfit from the Inquest he abandoned long ago - a dark pink cloak molding with the flesh of his bare chest that pools at his waist and joins the black leggings and kilt. He wears a silver mask with vivid blue tears dripping from the eyes.]

Strange to think how much can change in a mere Earth year. Strange too how much one can gain and lose in that same amount of time.

Kefka is gone, likely for good. I wonder which is worse, knowing that he still lives but with no memory of this place...or realizing that his memory might fade from my mind as well, erasing the time we spent together.

In my world being ripped apart by time and fate is not unusual. Often lovers would watch as their loved ones were frozen in time, knowing that what once was passion would fade into history in a hundred years time. Death for one, forgetting for the other...

This is the first time I've been on the side of the forgotten rather than the forgetter. Strange, how it stings, making one wonder what the point of love is at all, if it is nothing but fleeting.

Really, is it worth it?

Good evening. [Edgar looks quiet happy at his desk.] It seems that the time has come for the lover's holiday. Sadly, it seems that not everyone has found the person to spend it with. Since I enjoy seeing those in love, I offer my services.

[He stands and walks to the front of his desk.] So, I'd like to propose an offer. If you would leave me your name and a bit about yourself, I'll arrange a date for you and one other special person. They'll take place in my world but, as an Earl, I am allowed certain advantages that would be helpful. Since there seems to be other festivities planned, they will take place on what would seem the 11th, for the community.

[ooc note: matchmaking Edgar! Think of this as a classified that he will use to match two characters up and pay for the date. You can also sign each other up and I'll have an OOC post for those who wish to be signed up but wouldn't ICly do it.

Also, sorry for the short notice. I don't want to take any time away from Kendrix's party so I wanted to have a few days in between :).]

A video from a new source comes to life: the view is framed by ledgers within a tastefully appointed study; the subject, a seated young androgynous person turned in mid-conversation toward a mild man.

" - the payments are accounted for? I'd like to know now while I'm doing the finances."

The man gave a bow, obviously a subordinate. "Yes. The first shipment has been set out for testing, last I heard. We have received Her Majesty's first payment in full."

"Excellent. You may go." With a casual wave of their hand, they turned back to their open ledger as the man left.

For a minute or two more, they attended to the ledger, checking columns and occasionally making a mark on the pages. Soon, however, they noticed they were being watched, nudging aside books to grasp the camera. The view shifts, clearly being set on the desk before them, as they fiddle with the device, blue eyes flicking as they read. Soon enough they notice the camera and, with a gasp, turn the video off.

When the video returns, the person is front and center, not a stray hair out of place, their makeup refreshed. With a sweet smile and hands demurely folded, they make their introduction.

"Greetings, community. I hope to become well acquainted, and you may call me Kuja." A deep nod, like a noble addressing their peers, "A most intriguing discovery, for while on the outside this appears to be a common pocket notebook, within is a technology of the like not to be seen on this planet! I hope you may be my gracious hosts as I make my discoveries through this most magnificent book, and that this be a fortuitous start of a long career!"

With that flowery speech, the video ends.

( cut OOC for image and blood )


((Replies will icly come in two waves: first there will be a few right after the post, then the rest will happen the next day))

[Takiko's face is oddly close, the camera (or magic book) could only be a foot away at most. So it's easy to see she's not looking her best. There's dirt and a few tiny cuts on her face, and her hair is lopsided- one side has a bun with a strand trailing from it while the other side is a simple tail. She looks exhausted.

After a second, she gives a small smile, but it doesn't reach her eyes.]

Hello. [She tries to smile more brightly.] I'm afraid I'm a little tied up today.

[The smile fades, leaving her looking depressed.] I've been finding out just how much people have done for me recently. So I wanted to say... [She looks down for a moment, blinking rapidly, but when she raises her face again here eyes are clear and sincere.] Thank you. Thank you for supporting me all this time.

 [ This is odd, certainly odd. Reading in the water of a scrying bowl is one thing - seeing an entire computer interface on it is certainly another. It kind of kills the occult mood and Ryuutaro would complain if not for the fact that, well, there as a computer interface on his scrying bowl and even if it was an unusual sign, it was mostly certainly a sign. A sign to sign up. Ryuutaro takes several hours until he does so, though.

When the video finally starts, it's clear to see that Ryuutaro is leaning over to look down at what records the video. He taps a closed fan against his painted lips, looking thoughtful. ]

Good afternoon. Or at least, I do assume it is afternoon for whoever is receiving this - if somebody is receiving this. It must certainly be fate to receive such a strange access on nothing less than a scrying bowl. Still, even if it is, I can not help wondering what is about.

Maybe someone will be so kind and enlighten me? It would be much appreciated. 

[ He smiles and opens the fan. His smile's a little too bright, just on the border to a strange kind of passive aggression just not enough to pinpoint it fully. ]

...Nami, that book doesn't have anything in it! [It's a young man's voice, pitched a little high and definitely energetic. He sounds genuinely concerned, as if Nami might not have noticed that she's reading an empty book.

A brief, exasperated noise comes from Nami.] There is, you just can't see it. [There's a moment of silence. Evidently she's expected to explain.] It's a special kind of book that only people who are part of a certain group can read.

But you're part of my crew! [The young man sounds very determined about that.]

I told you, I'm not joining you're crew! ...And anyway, it's not that kind of group.

[This pause is longer.] Oh, so it's a mystery book.


((OOC: regular text is Nami, red is Luffy.))

[Miharu is sitting at a table with a dented hammer in front of him.]

I need some heavy-hitters here. I really haven't had much luck. Whatever this new virus is, it brought back something I need destroyed, and I don't have the power to do that.

[What could possibly need to be destroyed while being tough enough to dent a hammer? The Core Medals of Kamen Rider Poseidon, of course.]

[At first, there's simply a newspaper, folded in half and held by a hand with heavy rings on it. You have a chance to read some of the headlines: "Drought-Stricken Alabastans Find Relief in Rain Base," "Captain Nezumi to Investigate Fishman Pirate Arlong," "Water 7's Galley-La Company Increases Production." Then the paper folds as it's put down, revealing a muscular middle-aged man with a cigar in his mouth. After a moment, he gives the camera an annoyed look.]

Hnn, so it does come back. How irritating.

I haven't started reading it yet, but a new book came out that's supposed to be very fascinating and I've been thinking of picking it up. I've been meaning to find something new to read in my free time.

Have any of you from the future read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by a man named Lewis Carroll?

Fairy Dr. Lydia Carlton

P.S. If it becomes famous, I don't mind getting a few people some first edition copies if you can reimburse me.

A quick question.

Several members here have mistakenly thought my first name was "Ton" - an honorific associated with my status as Inquestor.

Which makes me wonder; what kind of honorifics do you have in your worlds? And if you do not have many, how does your society function without knowing peoples place and duties?

Thank you for your answers!

[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

[Behold: a bed in a stone-hewn bedroom. A bed full of sheets and rather more quilts than are probably necessary. There is movement under the quilts like the beginnings of an earthquake. Something rolls out from under the quilts and onto the floor, something small and blonde and wearing fluffy red pajamas.]

I'm awake, Sarge...ugh. I'm up, I'm up. [Kefka sits up and rubs his face. He looks tired, and his hair is long and tangled.] How am I expected to get up when there's nothing to get up for? At least being in the military meant I had a proper schedule.

[Then he notices the floating camera.] Hey! Community book! [He jumps up and tackles it, sending the screen blurring red and grey and blonde. When it recovers, Kefka's set the book up so it can face him on a white vanity; the table is covered with cosmetics.]

[Kefka picks up a brush and waves it at the camera.] You have to stay here so I can talk to you, you naughty page-flapping phase-clapper! [He pauses, then adds matter of factly:] My connection to the community is alive, so I have to make sure it's paying attention to what I say or it'll fly off and ditch me for a few months like a very very bad flying book monster. It looks like a lot of you are new, so let's get some introductions going!

I am Sir Kefka Palazzo, formerly of the Gestahlian Empire, currently god of the world of Woolsey. [He bows.] I'm bored out of my mind because it turns out 90% of being a god is doing upkeep to make sure the world is running properly, make sure the monsters are fed, blah blah blah I need something to do. If you need a fighting companion, new armor or weapons, healing supplies, miracle cures, et cetera, I can provide it for a reasonable price! Or we can talk! Talking is very reasonable and I want to know all of you new people. [Beat.] Talk to me now. Do it.

[That can't be Usagi looking vaguely bored as she does homework. On the beach. As far from the water as possible.

That has to be Miharu in Usagi's body.]

Still better than the last virus or whatever it was, at least.

[Her voice is tired-sounding and she stifles a yawn as the recording starts.]

Excuse me, community. The hour is quite late here but... I am having difficulty sleeping. The move back to the capital's taken it's toll and, well. I would like to have some conversation over the community.

[There's another yawn.] How about riddles? I'll start! What's as light as a feather but even the strongest man in the world can only hold for a minute? No cheating.

((From now on, Lilith will only be able to respond in voice.))

[Takiko appears to be fiddling with the camera, unaware that it's already on. Behind her are the sounds of arguing male voices. Exactly what they're saying isn't clear, but the occasional word or phrase like "jealous" or "pretty boy" makes it through. A woman's voice cuts in, but whether she's trying to end the argument or establishing a third side is impossible to tell.

The camera settles at last, and Takiko smiles wanly at it.] I don't suppose there's any chance I could visit someone for a bit? We haven't been played in a while, and things are a little...tense here.

[Somewhere off screen, there's a loud "Ow!"]

[Edgar looks thoughtful as his face shows up on screen. He's sitting at a desk, the camera angle showing it's probably an intentional video.] Power can be a funny thing. Depending on the place it can be physical, it can be knowledge, sometimes it can even be magical.

[Then he smiles. His voice is light, as if it's not a heavy topic.] I wonder, with so many worlds, what kind of power is out there. Some of you even have it, as I've been lucky enough to see. Out of curiosity, tell me about some of them.

[ The video opens on the streets of Tokyo, a familiar girl standing in the middle of it - Usagi, in her Sailor Moon outfit that some people might have seen during the time in the zombie mall. Except she's looking quite distressed at the countless of bodies lying around on the street, lying there motionlessly like they are nearly dead. ]

What should I do..?! [ Her voice is tiny but clearly desperate. ] How am I going to rescue them all?! I'm supposed to be the leader, but.. I'm not like the others, I don't have any special powers like them at all.. a coward like me can't do anything at a time like this! [ She glenches the goggles of her outfit that she has in her hands instead of on her face this time, her eyes shut and tears ready to fall from them as she sniffs. ] Without Luna I can't do anything-- help me, Luna, what should I do?!

[ But just as she says that there's a flash of black, and a guy in a tuxedo and a cape grabs her, holding her tight and close to him. He speaks up this time. ] Hang in there, Sailor Moon..! You can do this!

[ Usagi mostly looks surprised, but then her wand - the Moon Stick - seems to appear out of nowhere and she tightly grasps it, her face suddenly filled with determination. ]

Maybe.. I can do this.. [ She steadies herself with help of Tuxedo Mask, and when she speaks a bright light emerges from the stick, engulving everything. ] Please.. bring everyone back to life! Help them!

[ The light grows even more, clearly beyond the normal kind of power a magical girl should have, and once it disappears the people around Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask all seem to wake up, even if it's Usagi herself who drops motionlessly in the guy's arms this time, the feed slowly going black as only Tuxedo Mask's voice is still heard, franctically calling out to her. ] Sailor Moon?!

( ooc: usagi will actually be replying to comments, just belated by a few hours icly! )