[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
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
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