Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 7, 2006 22:38:55 GMT -5
Lines of white dust smeared the arms and sides of a heavy fur-trimmed cloak as a tall, red-headed man crept gingerly between two stained, disemboweled bookcases of considerable height and length whose crusty encyclopedia and molding leather innards lay on the floor in unsightly heaps. He waved a gloved hand quickly back and forth before his half-squinting irritated eyes, coughed dryly again and finally found, with a probing slippered foot, a patch of floor not occupied by inches of shredded parchments.
He groaned and removed a scent-pouch from his inside pocket which he held just below his nose to alleviate the awful odor of deceased dissertations and abandoned atlases.
He stepped onto a clear patch of relief from the disorganization, kicked over a spent red candle and peered up at the "Occult" section sign, which seemed to be the only thing in order that was related to the aforementioned subject matter. Colored light streamed in through elaborate stained-glass windows, and through one such beam a small insect flew. The man simultaneously sneezed violently.
A well-manicured hand clutching a glove at the wrist probed the surface of his long coat for vile smears of dust which were summarily and vigorously slapped into cleanliness. He ruffled his ruby-dark hair, hoping to get any stray bits of scroll out, and flicked his disorganized mop back into fashionable submission.
"Where is that damned book?" he muttered through clenched teeth. A vein throbbed visibly on his temple and he struck his forehead angrily with the heel of his palm, then again and once more for good luck. Someone nearby laughed, and he did a double-take toward an unoccupied section of shelving where he was sure he had heard a noise. He stood in the aisle clearing, motionless like an ice sculpture, looked for signs of whoever might be there, but saw no one.
" ... not be that ghost again," he cursed under his breath, and with a long, drawn-out exhalation resumed with renewed vigor his fruitless search among the stacks.
|
|
|
Post by Mikïa on May 8, 2006 21:54:26 GMT -5
Observing people was always interesting in some way no matter how boring a situation or place could be, including areas such as the church and the public library. Although staking out the library was always more enjoyable for Mikïa as it did not make her uneasy in any way. Having so many places to hide and pop out of nowhere from was just an added bonus and obviously added to the fun.
It was not long after she made her way through the front door that she went down a row and, without a sound, was lost from sight. Whether she was scaling the walls and ceilling or bounding from the top of one bookself to the next, she was always on the lookout for something to pick her curiosity.
Some groans and other muffled sounds attracted her attention and so, her path was diverted.
Having arrived at the location, she squatted down on the top of the bookself that towered above her decided enjoyment for the moment and contemplated the scenario before her; a large enough, red headed male that seemed to have a present anger management issue. But something did not sit right with this plot and that intrigued her even more.
"You could pass for a crazy if you keep talking to yourself like that." She said simply as she cocked her head to the the one side and blinked a couple of times as she looked down unto the character below her.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 10, 2006 13:40:07 GMT -5
Red hair flopped over onto the man's face as his hands picked through and pushed aside the various piles of books. By one such untidy pile he stooped, one arm curled by his waist to keep his cloak from touching the artifacts below, knees bent so he could read the various titles.
"One Hundred and One Ways to Skin a Cat", he read aloud to himself, and at this a devious look momentarily spread across his face in enjoyment. Aside the book was tossed, and he took up another entitled: "Hex Marks the Spot and Other Occult Signs".
The smile on his face changed to disappointment, then to frustration. Despite his obvious amusement, the man's patience seemed to become only more taxed. Behind him someone spoke. He waited a moment, deciding whether or not to react, unsure if he was yet again the target of some earlier prankster.
When he did eventually turn around, the surprise was not quite masked from his wide-eyed expression. He immediately rose, poking his head into a shaft of light from a window which seemed to tint the part of his hair it touched a bright lemon-yellow.
"Beg your pardon?" he said at once when taken aback after laying eye on the strange-featured blue-skinned woman perched above. Her attitude suggested one of intrigue.
"Well," with a grin he spoke, "Since you seem so interested in what I'm doing, perhaps you'd care to help?". He smiled and inclined his head in a polite bow.
"I'm looking for a book and ... it's a rather small one, I think."
|
|
|
Post by Mikïa on May 15, 2006 14:47:14 GMT -5
The male's reaction to her presence was found to be quite amusing. Then again, most reactions to her were.
As the male spoke, she rose a brow and waited till he finished before she made any other form of responce. "Would it not have been easier to leave the books on the shelf instead of putting them in a heap on the floor?" She inquired with a quiver in her voice, as though she were holding back from laughing at the thought. "And asking the librarian for help was out of the question?"
Mikïa made no motion to reflect whether she was going to be of aid to the male or not. She simply remained squatted atop the bookshelf where she resided at that moment and started to tap the wood with her claws while she awaited a reply.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 15, 2006 23:48:34 GMT -5
The man's dashing smile relaxed and the corners of his mouth turned downward in disappointment. He kneaded a glove in his fist, feeling the fur trim in his palm.
"My lady," the man said, pausing to visually address the tapping nails on wood, "This mess was here all along, and there is no librarian to be found, unless the books collapsed on top of him." He gestured with upward palms at the state of disarray.
He muttered and inhaled deeply from the small scent pouch which he brought again to his nostrils. With much relief he let out the air from his lungs.
"You seem to know this place well, perhaps if searching among this rubbish is beneath you, would you be so kind as to fetch a librarian for me? Time is money, as they say. I could make it worth your while," he added, and blew on the surface of an emerald ring upon his exposed hand.
|
|
|
Post by Mikïa on May 18, 2006 10:25:33 GMT -5
She watched as the male got agitated so easily to then bring a pouch up to his face. It seemed to calm him down slightly and she found that funny. Till now she had only seen women use herbs to calm oneself. So she was glad she came by and got to experience this rarety.
When the man showed her ring she just laughed. “It's been a while since someone offered me money to do something. Though it would probably seem apealing to someone else, wealth has never captured my interest, I have what I need.”
As she finished her sentence she made a small but quick movement that sent her slightly forward and off the top of the bookself. As she came down, her cloak fluttered slightly above her to then rest around her once more as she was squatted anew, though this time right beside the male.
“If the pile was already here on your arival, it's probably not a good sign for you.” She said as she looked at the pile and then turned her regard towards the man. “I say this since the female librarian, that is always about here somewhere, takes very good care of the books and would never allow for this mess. To me, that says that someone was here moments before you arived and may have taken what you're seeking. As it seems rather important to you, I hope for your sake that it's not the case.”
As she finished saying that, a loud thud resonated around them, and that for no aparent reason as nothing fell. Mikïa did not even flinch at the sound, she wouldn't either as she caused it with her mind, though one could not tell. She knew that it was all it would take to get the librarian's attention, so they should soon have a guest that may be able to help shed light on the situation.
Not a second had passed since her last words when she continued, “May I ask what this book is?”
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 18, 2006 15:10:49 GMT -5
Backwards stepped his moccasined foot to give the woman room as she descended, and his head turned expectantly to see a pile of books fall when he heard something collapse. He didn't immediately answer the woman, instead he seemed trapped in thought like a fly in some web.
"I can't exactly recall," he began, "but I think it has to do with a dream. In it, I'm searching these very halls. I'm walking past shapes and in the back of my mind there's someone talking in the background, but everywhere I go the voice follows. Ahh what was it the voice said?"
His features came together in a frown. His tension relaxed, as if to say "I give up", but with a shake of his head he dismissed the notion and became even more consumed with probing his memories.
Suddenly, and mechanically, he repeated:
"Marvel at my size, yet with one hand ye shall see me, My skin is sumptuous, expert are my recipes. Warm without, chill within, sought by many illusions Ever-shrouding clarity by spreading strange delusions."
The man wiped away a beat of sweat from his temple with a slightly shaky hand.
"That's all I have to go on at the moment," he said, as his eyes darted nervously to the various objects on the floor.
|
|
|
Post by eleisiakhartou on May 18, 2006 17:09:41 GMT -5
A loud crash sounded through the wall. eleisia ran lightly on bare feet, not bothering to mark her page. She so rarely had time to sit still and read for her own pleasure-- though it was all a pleasure. The tumbling sound of books had come from what was once the sanctified equivalent of a hall closet. Nothing was kept there.
Not entirely true, she suddenly remembered. Dientz had stashed a large cache of architectural plans and several crates of children's books in that closet when the masons had come. And the occult books!! She picked up speed.
Silently, she careened around the doorframe, following the memory of a sound. An odd presence brought her up short, an eternal amusement and a shaky nervous desperation. The mutter of voices confirmed there was intelligent life down the aisle, and she padded over.
"Hello." eleisia didn't wait for acknowledgement. This library was her responsibility, and the state of its health reflected directly upon her. "Can I help you, or would you like a rake for your little pile of cat litter?"
She broke off, her eye noting a valuable copy of Van Der Kuntz's Anatomy for Magickal Children. She dropped to her knees in the dusty pile, attempting to minimize the damage.
|
|
|
Post by Mikïa on May 18, 2006 18:21:05 GMT -5
The immortal listened intently as the man spoke. Dreams were something that facinated her. While some were just memories of the past being organised, others seemed like they told of events to come.
Once he recalled the faded memories of his dream, she rubbed her chin slightly as though in thought. "I've heard that riddle before. I can't say I recall the answer though. Will have to give it some thought."
She turned her head slightly as she heard some foot steps aproach their direction. "We should be able to ask the librarian to see if she knows."
Barely any time had passed when the librarian peered around the corner and adressed the two of them. "Cat litter?" Mikïa laughed. "That's an interesting way to describe something... Though, I can't imagine that you're refering to the pile of books. So what exactly are you talking about?"
She watched as the librarian knelt down to pick up some books. "And just to assure as to our intent. This pile on the floor was already here when we arived, and the noise you heard was not real. Though the thought crossed our minds that whoever made this mess may have taken off with a book that this young man here is looking for. Do you think you could be of assitance?"
|
|
|
Post by eleisiakhartou on May 18, 2006 21:49:29 GMT -5
Deft fingers stacked and sorted damaged vellum and papyri. Neat piles formed around eleisia's skirted knees with astonishing speed as she mentally reconstructed the documents. "This is horrific."
She looked up to address the two patrons. "I'm relieved you have more respect than to do this, but I'm afraid it does leave me with an ugly mystery." She sighed at the mess. "I am called eleisia. Do you two have names?"
Her eyes swept the slight male figure. "And if you know it, the name of your book?"
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 19, 2006 12:52:27 GMT -5
He shook his head. "No doubt this is the mess left by hoodlums," said he, and gestured to the piles of disarray, "looking for some voodoo or curse. Hardly the work of purposeful searching, I'd say, which remains your theory and not mine."
The sudden, convenient arrival of a multi-scarfed woman did not in the least appear to surprise the luminous-haired lass, and whether this dawned on the man or if he had made the connection remained to be seen. He looked upon the one who kept her hair hidden with some apprehension until she took to the welfare of the books' displacement, at which point a gracious smile lit his face.
"Ah, finally someone willing to help," he said toward eleisia, clasped his hands together with a clap. "I am called Rubedo. Perhaps you might take me to the place where you keep books with no titles?" He made no effort to keep the urgency from his voice.
|
|
|
Post by eleisiakhartou on May 19, 2006 23:14:36 GMT -5
eleisia looked at Rubedo, swallowing her desire to ask further questions. An identity had been requested, and one given, and the rules of propriety did not permit her to interrogate further.
"Books with no titles? That's leaving the parameters rather wide, wouldn't you say?"
Standing, she stepped gingerly over the massacre. "I'll have someone take care of this for the moment. Let's step into the next room, and we can talk about what you're looking for. My desk is just through here."
She gestured to the door, allowing them to precede her.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 23, 2006 23:36:57 GMT -5
Down three steps of faded red carpet he trod, swished his cloak and followed the librarian's direction as she herded him lightly and gracefully from the occult alcove.
Momentarily he found himself squeezing through a dimly lit narrow, short passageway with several zig-zag turns, a dip and a rise, whose walls consisted of smooth clean granite blocks lightly touched by a fine powder, presumably dust.
Another strip of cloth hung over the exit, which led out of the building through a walkway flanked by high hedges on either side and allowed for unfettered viewing access to the stars.
At the end of the walk, the librarian's voice behind bid him enter, and through two more doors they came upon the entrance to a much larger room of vast ceiling height whose far wall consisted of evenly-spaced paneled windows which allowed slightly less than a utilitarian amount of light to enter. A dark desk as wide as it was old cut diagonally across a generous rug whose tassels were meticulously combed into alignment. Neat piles of books lay on every surface every which way. High bookshelves dominated the un-windowed walls and as the man strode in he sneezed into the dusty air.
He stood to the side corner where a set of floor cushions bathed in stained-glass light, and gave eleisia ample room to enter her domain, standing patiently as any good patron might while trying to hide his urgency.
|
|
|
Post by eleisiakhartou on May 24, 2006 0:32:49 GMT -5
Perhaps it was unfair not to mention the distance they would travel, but the weather was fine and too many odd errands had started in this library and led to late night visits to hospitals and graveyards...
Shaking off depressing thoughts, the librarian moved through the library on strong legs and brought her charge toward the ancient rectory, her bare feet sinking into the damp earth. The brief touch of nature against her soles seemed to bring a fresh flush of life to her face, and her face fairly radiated as she entered the darkened recess of her sanctum sanctorum.
Crossing to the far end of the room, she pushed a concealed toggle which dropped the false front on a small, well-stocked wetbar. Two glasses filled with an oddly green-tinged spirit, she returned to stand opposite Rubedo, and waited till he took the proffered drink. "Be careful, this is not of Karador. It carries a bit of a bite."
She watched Rubedo to see what he would do with it, not drinking her own just yet. elesia's legs folded oddly beneath her, but her tawny skirt made a graceful bend of it, and she sank vertically to the floor as though descending a thread of spider silk. The glass she placed before her folded ankles, watching the coloured liquid alter with the light from the stained-glass windows.
"Now, then!" eleisia pulled a small bit of scrip from her pocket and held a pencil poised, awaiting Rubedo's description. "Please do tell me more about what it is you seek."
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 25, 2006 22:47:37 GMT -5
The chartreuse liquid swirled within the glass as Rubedo turned his wrist to watch filtered light play through the fluid. As eleisia sank to the floor, he brought it before his nose, toasting to her with a subtle raise of his arm, and cast it down his gullet at once.
"Thank you .. eleisia is it?" he said, flaring his nostrils slightly at the rather tart aroma. After placing his glass on the largest desk, he cleared his throat and a miniscule burp escaped his lips which he politely covered with his hand.
"Unfortunately I can describe it for you, but I can't give you a name. I hope you don't feel I'm being rude. I just don't know it. However, I do know it's a small book, palm-sized and might be bound with skin, perhaps animal. I am willing to help you search."
He anxiously paced a few times the width of the room as he recounted the details of the riddle he spoke earlier.
"I don't know why I have to find this. It's terribly annoying but I simply can't do anything until I get this resolved." He placed a palm against the surface of the table and as he leaned a sigh escaped his clenched teeth.
|
|