driftfleet | eighth labyrinth

Who: Felix Harrowgate
Broadcast: Fleet-wide
Action: The Iskaulit library
When: Today

[There's some disorienting tilting to the view from his communicator before Felix backs up into frame, affording the prospective audience both a decent view of the dark blue doublet he's obtained a few worlds ago as well as the room around him. The space is wide open and filled with a mismatched array of furniture and bookshelves that seem only partially occupied, which is really the thing of utmost import right now.

He smiles and offers the camera a sweeping wave]

Greetings, Fleet members. My name is Felix and I have a brief request for all of you. If you are not aware, this [Another wave] is the Iskaulit library. If you are new and not aware of the Iskaulit, it is a communal ship in the fleet which you can reach via shuttle. This library was previously curated by a former fleet member aboard one of the smaller ships, largely through their own finances and donations of others. Since then the collection hasn't much changed.

Now..[with that out of the way, it's time to get to business, and he folds his hands in front of him]...this is where I ask all of you for help. I realize we are all rather poor right now, but I also know many of you are finding ways to make up for it. I ask that you take a few of those chips and buy a book or two while we are still near the Starlight, as it may be the last chance we may have for a month or two. Not every place we visit will be nearly so full of ways to occupy your time, not to mention the stretches of time in between.

If you find it in your heart and better interest to contribute, you can bring any books you procure to me at the SS Starstruck, or bring them directly here. Nearly anything is appreciated. [He has some standards, but only some]

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[South's not that big into reading as a low-stress past-time, but she is interested in contributing. A few porn magazines, Kama Sutra, books on weapons maintenance, and how to deal with grief.]

[She could just go to the Iskaulit directly, but where would be the fun in that? So here she is on the SS Starstruck, wandering around vaguely lost and carrying a book-laden bag.]

Edited 2016-03-09 20:39 (UTC)

[After his broadcast, Felix returns to his ship with the intention of retiring for the evening and not hoping for all that much. Why bother reading when going to a bar and drinking was just as valid a way to spend one's time? He understood the allure himself, but it wasn't something he could do every hour of every day.

He's heading down an adjoining hallway when he almost literally runs into her, though the Starstruck is relatively more bright and open than some of the other ships, so he sidles easily to the side.]

South, darling, what a surprise. [Hopefully she realizes by the now he doesn't really mean anything by the affectionate.] What brings you aboard?

Your broadcast, dumbass. [Hopefully by now he recognizes her insults as her own kind of friendly affection.] Got you some reading material. [She hefts the bag for him to see, before looking around the ship.] Nice digs you got here.

[He grins in response to her greeting] I suppose it isn't too bad, though it's all veneer; like most of the fleet, really.

[He raises his eyebrows in mild surprise and reaches out to feel the bag as if he's half sure it must be a trick or he could divine the contents by touch alone. It's clear that it's more than a book or two.]

Thank you. I hope you'll forgive me for being so surprised...

[She gives him a confused look and tosses the bag over to him.] Why are you surprised people are doing what you asked them to? Or are you surprised that I know how to read?

I have the odd book or three. Once I finish with them, I would happily donate them.

[ nothing spectacular. they'd been purchased to help pass the time. ]

I have a little extra cash. Is there some specific genre the library could really use?

_{[ He would concentrate on that, but if there's nothing specific he would simply get a small variety of whatever he could afford - fiction, non-fiction, maybe some children's books too just in case. ]}

I've got a few I could send over. They're not great, mind you, but someone might enjoy them.

[He'd been meaning to donate some, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so!]

More non-fiction, perhaps? Though that's speaking more to personal preference.

[He offers the man a somewhat self-deprecating smile]

Nothing, as they say, is better than nothing.

[He gets a bit closer to the camera to say in a lower voice--]

I think a quarter of the collection is erotic fiction at this point, so anything to thin that number would help.

[That's really all this is about. Higher learning is nice thing to aspire to, but an academic library isn't really something he feels is in reach. It's also in part because someone started it and it felt like a shame to let that initial effort go to waste.]

That's very kind of you Ms. Carter. Just let me know when you're through. Or toss them into my room. I'm not terribly particular. [That's a lie. Don't throw books.]

What are you reading these days?

[He lets out a huff of breath and the sudden impact and tries not to drop the bag]

A little of the former. And it's not that I suspect you of being illiterate. It's that you seem to be the type for more..hm...active hobbies.

Ah. Glad to hear the Fleet's still as classy as ever.

[He holds up one of his books - it's an old pulp mystery-type. Nothing spectacular, but also nothing inappropriate.]

Now that these mysteries look appropriate, I'll bring them by the Starstruck.

I don't really have money - but I promise to contribute when I do. Is there an index of books anywhere?

[ the odds that the exact specifics of his earth's sun be listed there are pretty minimal, but they're better than his odds of just suddenly remembering something he's never really learned, right! ]

I'd picked up a few slim volumes. Not one of the authors is familiar to me, but the genre seems to hover somewhere around an intergalactic variety of Victorian gothic. A cheap thrill and a few fake ghosts.

[His lips twist into a half frown, like someone tasting something bitter]

Why fake ghosts?

[He smirks in slight amusement at the former]

I'm not trying to police anyone's morals, I'm just hoping for variety.

Ah...[Felix glaces over his shoulder, somewhat sheepish]

Not as of yet. I have gotten as far as organizing them vaguely by subject, but I haven't undertaken a more precise survey.

Metaphor, I imagine. Man makes his own monsters.

A sound theory, though I don't know why the ghosts need be fake to illustrate the point.

[As far as ghosts go, it's far more literal, in his experience]

Not at all. I live non-fiction as well. I have some extra in the budget, I'm sure I can pick up a volume or two to add to the collection.

_{[ He beams, clearly pleased at the prospect of adding to the Fleet's
collective knowledge. ]}

Were you the one that started the library? Or did the Iskaulit already come equipped?

[ winn nods, no judgment here, pal, it'd be tedious boring work. it'd be useful to have! but tedious and boring to create and maintain ]

So if I wanna take a look - I just come over? Do I need a...library card or something?

No, but we also have kids on board. I'd like to make sure they have more reading material than... you know.

[He's willing to teach them about the birds and the bees, should they ask, but erotic fiction is the last place to learn.]

I'll see if I can get a picture book too before we leave.

[His expression twists unhappily at the mention. Not because he hates children, but because he hates being reminded that children are being forced to be a part of all this. It's better than the castle, at least, but only a little]

Yes...I imagine that would be a good idea. Are children's books very expensive?

[Books in general were a mint where he came from. Forget about anything with illustrations.]

[Tedium doesn't bother him that much. It's more that he keeps finding better things to do.]

A what? [A note of actual, honest confusion in his voice there]

It isn't an exclusive club. Just borrow a shuttle, or have one of your crewmates escort you over. Everything over here is free to access. Well...for the most part. The bartenders might have a word or two with you about money, but otherwise you're free to do as you please.

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