[Visual/Location] The Library is Open

[imperial-long.livejournal.com]

This visual broadcast starts with a shot of Mayland Long sitting at a rather big desk, much too big for one person-- more of an extended counter. There is a brassy plaque stating INFORMATION on the counter, and a service bell as well.

"Good afternoon, Taxon," Long says, ever polite (ever stuffy). "I am not certain how many citizens are aware of the existence of the city's library-- I know that before Dr. Reid's departure, he was quite the publicist for this mighty fortress of information. I feel I have not lived up to the role in his absence.

"Permit me to rectify my lapse. The library is indeed open, and we have a delightfully extensive selection, to say nothing of a floorplan that Daedalus himself might have found intimidating.

"I would give a speech about how it is one's civic duty to support one's local library, or one's educational duty to improve one's mind, but truthfully my motivations are selfish: I find it dull to answer the queries of animated dolls as to where they might find this or that volume, especially since they only ever ask for the same three books."

Long punctuates this with a catlike yawn; he looks about to drift off into an afternoon nap. But he gestures with the hand not holding his tablet at the library all around him.

"There are activities, after a fashion. An art installation seems to change weekly. Some of them are better than others, to be sure. I myself do not care for splatter paintings. There is storytime at two o'clock, although I am giving serious consideration to banishing the normal narrator. One can only hear the thirty-fourth page of Curious George so many times, whatever the appeal of the Man with the Yellow Hat. I should much rather tell the story of The Tiger King's Skin Cloak, or perhaps The Frog Who Became Emperor..."

Another yawn, and Long shakes himself. "But I digress. Suffice to say the Library is open, to serve your needs. I am here most days, and if I am not, the other staff can at least help you locate books. Good day, Taxon."

复旧: [ visual | location: serenity ]

[comprehender.livejournal.com]

She hadn't minded the city's change, not even having to go from one end to the other between the zoo and Serenity, or the extra miles between all her other haunts. The space between did a lot to alleviate and distract from the claustrophobia of two years in captivity weighing on her shoulders, two years of people leaving, two years of Not Much Changing.

But of course, days of Not Much Changing can't last forever.

The tablet clicks on (convenient as ever) just as River wakes up in her bunk, looking a little younger than she did yesterday. It catches the slow realization that she isn't where she thought she'd be, the look of suspicious horror as she looks down at herself and examines her surroundings, and the subtle shift from surprise to fearful anger.

"Simon?"

River isn't moving to get out of that bed, not yet. Not until she knows what's going on, and if Simon doesn't answer her she might never get out, and the more everything stays quiet the louder that keen edge of fear becomes very apparent in her voice.

"You know, discussing the history of post-migration piracy with you didn't mean I'd think you putting me on a ship like this in my sleep would be funny." Pause. Wait for a response and get nothing. Try again. "Because it really isn't."

Okay, one more time, a little louder. Cursing should usually be done with a little more oomph than this, especially when attempting to taunt someone out of hiding, but a vaguely angry sounding, "Qīng​wā cào de liú​máng," is all she can manage before the tablet clicks itself back off.



[ ooc: GLITCH TIMES! details and plottings can be had in the sott thread over yonder. and lo, let there be horrors.

translation | frog-humping jerk ]