(no subject)

[ladiesss]

Who: Krista & YOU
Broadcast: Video!
Action: For all library visitors!
When: NOW?

[the fleet's resident, soft-spoken teen goth shows up on screen... backed by several bookcases filled with books! and maybe a couch back there. she waves, awkwardly.]

Uh, hey guys. Good news, the Bishop's library actually made it through the whole space-fight thing pretty well. The electronic tracking system is still down, but that's why people invented pencils and stuff.

[she gives the camera a funny look.] --No, actually, I'm pretty sure it's... the other way around. ... So nevermind.

[she holds up a very... charred-looking book. it had a red cover, once.]

The bad news is that "The Romantic History of the Galactiplastic Sector 9" totally bit it. So, uh. If there was a waiting list, we're gonna have to put this one on hold for a while. Alternatively, if anyone would like to play a little funeral tune, now's the time.

[she just. drops it flat on the floor. it's dead to her.]

So, um, for everyone who doesn't know... Me and a bunch of other people around here have been putting together a little library in the spare room on the Bishop... The ship's still kind of a mess from the fight, but anyone's welcome to come in and read or check out books, or whatever. We take donations and basically whatever stuff people bring us.

And we've got beanbags. And little lights that go "wowowo..." [accompanied with a little finger-wiggle and a totally straight face.] So if you're into that. This might be your jam.

---

[alternatively, if anyone comes to visit the library--it's a personnel room that's been outfitted with lots of bookcases, a couch, a table covered in archival materials, and several beanbags that you can drag around and sit in...

the collection is still small, but there's a little something for everybody! fiction, nonfiction, history, magic, charts, maps, comic books, whatever. Krista's around, probably putting books back on a shelf.]

Comments

[openhands]

[Cassandra relaxes just a hair since it seems she's none the wiser. She hesitates before taking the book.]

I'm sure sh--he will appreciate it. [She is an amazing liar, what are you talking about?] Who should I say recommended it?

[ino]

[ It's so hard not to laugh ...

But she'll smile ]

Ino. Nice to meet you, uh -- ?

[openhands]

Cassandra, [she provides. She momentarily realizes she's holding onto the book Ino just gave her and sets it on the stack of books. Carefully. While still not caring.] Pentaghast.

[ino]

[ Definitely not caring at all. ]

Right. Cassandra, then? [ You look like one of those medieval-y people who have funny titles, so she won't assume the first name is okay just yet. ]

[openhands]

Or Seeker. Whichever you prefer.

[Titles don't really mean much in this place. Not unless two people come from the same place, at any rate. So, Cassandra is willing to legitimately leave it up to Ino to decide how she wishes to address her.]

[ino]

"Seeker"? What are you seeking?

[ She looks at the pile of books. ]

Romance novels?

[openhands]

What? [Cassandra looks taken aback. Her next words just spill out of her rapidly,] No, I told you, they're for a friend.

I belong to the Seekers of Truth.

[ino]

You could be seeking them for a friend.

[ She looks so amused. ]

What truth is that, exactly? If it's not too personal.

[openhands]

[Oh. Right. Why didn't she think of that? Deep breaths, Cassandra. Your secret is totally secure and safe. Nobody knows or suspects a thing.]

It's not. The Seekers investigate instances of abuse and corruption within the Templar Order as well as magical occurrences that the Templars are not equipped to handle such as hunting particularly dangerous apostates.

[ino]

Uh ...

[ She squints ]

I have no idea what a templar or an apostate is.

[openhands]

[Cassandra's earlier awkwardness dissipates as she explains. She speaks with seriousness as well as confidence.]

Those with magic are called mages and must live within a Circle. There they are instructed and taught to control their abilities under the guidance of senior mages and the protection of Templars.

Any mage who runs from the Circle or lives outside it is called an apostate. Many apostates practice an illegal and dangerous form of magic known as blood magic.

[ino]

Oh, okay. I think I've heard people mentioning blood magic and stuff before.

[ She's ... not entirely sure how she feels about mages not being allowed to run around freely, but. You know. She doesn't really know enough to judge, here ]

So you're kind of like, Ultra-Templar.

[openhands]

[Cassandra is of the mind that the Circles are not a bad idea, but the practice of them has not been what it ought to be with regards to the mages' freedoms.]

Not exactly. A Seeker's abilities differ from that of a Templar and we do not take lyrium as they do.

[ino]

Lyrium?

[ Sounds familiar, but ... ]

[openhands]

Lyrium is a substance used by Templars to enhance their abilities, but only after they've taken their vows. Mages also use it to enhance their spells.

It's highly addictive, however, and has some side effects.

[ino]

... Oh. [ Well that sounds shitty ]

So you guys don't need that stuff?

[openhands]

[Y e p.]

No. We undergo a different training and are able to manipulate the lyrium within a Templar or mage for interrogation purposes.

[ino]

Huh. Seems pretty handy.

[ Tiny blonde barely bats a lash at interrogation. Mostly because that's exactly her job also. ]

Guess you have an unexpected vacation lately then, huh?

[openhands]

I wouldn't call it that, but. I suppose I do have more free time.

[Certainly more than lately. She glances at the books very briefly and quickly out of the corner of her eye. Maybe she'll actually have time to read all of them...]

[ino]

Well, that's what the library's for, I guess.

[openhands]

Perhaps I will find something for myself later.

[SHE'S STICKING TO HER STORY, DAMMIT.]

[ino]

They've got a pretty wide variety going on now, even though the last planet barely had anything. I'm kinda impressed ...

[openhands]

They collect books from every planet then?

[Then she'll know when to check and see if they have anything new. Although it will take her a while to read through what they already have.]

[ino]

That's the idea, yeah. Once we're back up and flying properly again, I'm sure people will donate more.

[openhands]

What exactly happened to the fleet?

[She's got that intensely serious look on her face again.]