|
Post by Parum Callidus Diabolus on Feb 18, 2011 18:54:39 GMT -5
Parum had been looking at the library for a while. Not the usual sort of looking that involved making sure the students were being good and no food or drinks were being allowed, but the sort that had her biting her fingernail a bit, contemplating.
This library needed cleaning.
It looked clean, and things were put away, but she knew better. Who knows what trash or dust or dirt could be hiding! That settled it, she needed to make sure this library was perfect, and she had to get started RIGHT NOW. Well, maybe after she read a bit more. She at least put up a sign:
"Attention, all students! Any student who helps clean the library for at least two hours will be given a tutoring session over a subject of their choice, as well as a pass allowing food and drink into the library for one month."
The last bit of sign was heart wrenching to write, but sacrifices must be made from time to time. But those could wait until after she finished reading. And after lunch, too.
|
|
|
Post by Shihab on Feb 18, 2011 20:29:11 GMT -5
Shihab wandered into the library, looking furtively around. He wasn't used to the whole library being open and lit like this, but he had to admit, things were much easier to find in the daytime. He headed towards the mythology section he'd been perusing (as in, perusing every individual book, which had led to him being only half a shelf in at this point, and two notebooks full of carefully taken, cited, and cross-referenced notes), and stopped short. That sign was new...
Not noticing the nearby Parum, he read the sign closely and paused for a moment. "Let's see," he muttered. "On the one hand, food and drink would be handy. Tutoring... pffft. Anything I need to learn I can learn myself. But... it would be good if I could pick up some brownie points. Who knows, maybe I can start helping shelve books, pick up a volunteer job?"
He stood there for a long moment, lost in thought.
|
|
|
Post by Parum Callidus Diabolus on Feb 18, 2011 20:38:23 GMT -5
"I'd be more than happy to have someone help in the library!"
Parum floated over the counter and landed almost silently next to Shihab, smiling brightly~
"I need help cleaning inbetween the books and making sure there's no trash or stains or anything at all~"
She was dreadfully cheery.
|
|
|
Post by Shihab on Feb 18, 2011 21:11:30 GMT -5
Shihab bit back the first (and second) snarky responses that came to mind* and gave her a bright and sunny Good And Helpful Student smile.
"That would be excellent! I'd be glad to help out. My only issue is with payment - I don't really need tutoring, and don't particularly care about the food and drink thing, but I do enjoy spending time in the library. I'd love to be able to take some of the restricted books back to my room with me, or help with the organization system."
*First: "Really? I would never have guessed!" Second: "Wow! And here I was, about to start pouring trash all over the place!" Third: "Cleaning? Oh, I thought this said 'steaming.' Nevermind!"
|
|
|
Post by Parum Callidus Diabolus on Feb 18, 2011 21:13:38 GMT -5
"As long as you help me organize them in a proper fashion that is usable by all the student and faculty, I'd be more than happy to let you help me sort the books, and let you take maybe one book at time back to your room. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
|
|
|
Post by Shihab on Feb 18, 2011 21:58:56 GMT -5
"Hmmm..." He briefly considered mentioning legal after-hours access, but decided not to push his luck. In time, maybe he'd find more opportunities for such things. "That sounds great! Any time in particular you'd like me here?"
|
|
|
Post by Parum Callidus Diabolus on Feb 18, 2011 22:02:40 GMT -5
Parum was thrilled! What luck to have such a good and well-behaved student want to help!
"Anytime the library is open that you'd like to come by! Just don't come after it closes, it'll be locked, and you won't be able to get in."
|
|
|
Post by Autumpne Ravenshade on Feb 20, 2011 19:47:59 GMT -5
Autumpne wandered into the library listlessly, wearing a nearly perfect pout on her face- it was very nearly perfect, Autumpne had decided, she only needed the smallest bit more practice to make sure it was absolutely perfect, so that way there would be no way her father would be able to resist when she tells him she doesn't want to come back to this stupid school after Spring Break.
She looked about, and saw that the Librarian- who was very strange, and she did not like at all, and even though she had told Daddy that she was strange and weird and not normal at all he had told her to respect the differences of others, because they were people as well and that everyone was equal (though she was not sure she really believed that) and the strange boy who was the one who had been trying to get all sorts of mischief started.
The sign though, was interesting. She could do lots of reading of her favorite poems without having to go to the cafeteria if she was allowed to bring some carrot sticks in.
|
|
|
Post by Parum Callidus Diabolus on Feb 20, 2011 19:56:01 GMT -5
Parum quickly half-walked, half-floated over to the girl, giving the very opposite of a pout as she approached. So many students coming to help!
"Hello! Are you interested in helping clean the library, or are you looking for a book today? I'm more than glad to help either way~"
Parum's smiling was almost infectious. Painfully so, even. It was the smile that lit up a room, and hopefully the student's hearts~
|
|
|
Post by Autumpne Ravenshade on Feb 20, 2011 20:13:08 GMT -5
Autumpne resisted the innate urge to run straight out of the library and in the other direction from Parum. In the most polite and dulcet tones she could manage, Autumpne eventually managed to eke out, "I'm interested in volunteering," and attempted something approaching a less glum expression without actually smiling or losing her pout.
|
|
|
Post by Parum Callidus Diabolus on Feb 20, 2011 20:17:48 GMT -5
"Wonderful! It's great to see students interested in helping out. What are you interesting in helping with? We need someone to help clean, someone to help sort books for their new locations, and many other odd jobs, as well~"
Parum was thrilled to see so many students wanting to help! It warmed her heart to know that the next generation of bright, special children were just as thrilled about books and learning as she was.
|
|
|
Post by Autumpne Ravenshade on Feb 20, 2011 20:37:28 GMT -5
Autumpne delicately choked back what she wanted to say for a moment and settled for something that she knew her father would approve of, if he found out, or if she told him later. "Maybe help sort?"
|
|
|
Post by Shihab on Feb 20, 2011 20:39:39 GMT -5
Shihab suppressed his urge to grin evilly... very, very slightly. Instead, he grinned somewhat mischievously, and adopted his most cheerful, gleeful tones.
"I'm so glad we met, then! We can volunteer together! I love learning, and you love learning, and I'm just sure we'll make a great team!" You could practically hear the sparkles in his tone. If he'd known how, the light would've sparkled on his teeth - *ting!*.
|
|
|
Post by Autumpne Ravenshade on Feb 20, 2011 20:46:27 GMT -5
Autumpne narrowed her eyes at Shihab. "I'm sure we will," Autumpne managed, her teeth gritting just slightly. Why was this insane boy acting like this?
|
|
|
Post by Parum Callidus Diabolus on Feb 20, 2011 21:02:11 GMT -5
Parum was absolutely overjoyed! Two students, working together in harmony~
"Perfect! If you'd both like to help sort the books, one can work on taking down the books, and the other on moving them!"
She handed the two a list of where the books were, where they needed to go, the names of the books, the author, publisher, year published, personal rating, synopsis, length, difficulty of reading, how family friendly it was, how heavy they were, what the original copy had been printed or written on, how magical the books were, the amount of trees it took to make each book, and of course, how many times Parum had read the book herself. Honestly, the list wasn't an actual list. It was really another book, which was also on the list. And of course, there was only one copy for the two student
|
|
|
Post by Autumpne Ravenshade on Feb 20, 2011 21:21:01 GMT -5
Autumpne gasped a bit. "This is everything we're supposed to sort?" This wasn't anything like what she had thought she was volunteering for, however reluctantly!
|
|
|
Post by Joshua Quasar on Feb 20, 2011 21:45:01 GMT -5
Apparently these primitive creatures called humans at least had the sense to collate the sum total of their knowledge in books, and they then had the presence of mind to put these books in libraries. Of course for up to date information there was the Internet, but Joshua felt that he needed to approach his particular conundrum from a fresh angle - trace the steps of the ones who'd gone before, to so say. Reading up on how this particular planet had come to its own conclusions might give him the creative spark to -
"Clean the library?" he said out loud upon seeing the sign.
|
|
|
Post by Shihab on Feb 20, 2011 21:53:58 GMT -5
Shihab cackled, then caught himself and laughed delightedly instead, glancing down the list. Actually... this wasn't so bad. By using this to tweak his researching list (and vice versa), he'd be able to get through the library a lot more efficiently.
"Oh, I'm sure we'll have great fun! This... this is quite a comprehensive list, ma'am."
|
|
|
Post by Parum Callidus Diabolus on Feb 20, 2011 22:00:37 GMT -5
"Of course! It's important to get to know all the books if you're going to move them. Oh, but it's lunchtime! I'll be back shortly, you two should get started~"
Parum scurried towards the door, only to notice another student by her sign! Three in one day, what luck!
"Hello! Are you here to volunteer as well?"
|
|
|
Post by Joshua Quasar on Feb 20, 2011 22:36:21 GMT -5
"Volunteer?" Joshua asks. He quickly takes another look at the piece of paper. "Hmm..." He then takes a look the huge pile of books. "Yes, yes, of course I am here to volunteer. Where do I begin?"
|
|
|
Post by Parum Callidus Diabolus on Feb 20, 2011 23:00:49 GMT -5
"Well, if you talk to that lovely pair of student right there-" She pointed at Joshua and Autumpne. "-I've just given them the instructions on the books that need to be moved and sorted! I'll be back shortly after getting something to eat. Work hard, now!"
And with that, Parum went off on her way, absolutely ecstatic about her new help~
|
|
|
Post by Joshua Quasar on Feb 20, 2011 23:14:04 GMT -5
Joshua stared after the strange librarian and then, with a shrug, stepped further into the library proper.
"Hello. You're here to do... whatever she wants us to do, then?"
|
|
|
Post by Autumpne Ravenshade on Feb 20, 2011 23:28:05 GMT -5
"Sort books, apparently," Autumpne said. Her voice held a note of suspicion. Daddy had never said that volunteering would involve work.
Certainly not this much, at least. "She said that everything on this... list needs to be resorted." The list existing as a book made her doubt this sort of volunteer work was going to be possible.
|
|
|
Post by Joshua Quasar on Feb 21, 2011 0:07:35 GMT -5
"This is not a list, this is a boo-" he thumbed through the list and grew pale. "It is a list. Well, the note only said 'two hours'..."
|
|
Anna Carlisle
Port Virtue Local
[M:20000]
"At this rate, I might as well wear a bra on my face and go topless..."
Posts: 16
|
Post by Anna Carlisle on Feb 21, 2011 0:58:03 GMT -5
Anna Carlisle was somewhat confused.
To be honest, she swore that time seemed to... slow down for a while. What was merely the space of a few days felt to be almost seven months. She was not sure what to be more disturbed by: that time seemed to dilate so much, or that she knew an exact number.
She had decided to shrug it off, though, and paid a visit to the library instead of pondering existential questions.
"I wonder what's going on here...?"
|
|
|
Post by Shihab on Feb 21, 2011 20:58:04 GMT -5
Shihab grinned at the new boy. "Hullo! I'm not sure which of you will be more fun to torment - being preternaturally cheerful around Autumpne is fun for a while, but I think she'll get violent if I keep it up too long, and I'd rather not get banned from the library - I can't sneak in every night, now can I?"
He waved to the new girl and opened the book to the section on prehistory. "I wonder if there's anything on lore..." Shrugging his backpack over one shoulder, he dropped the book on the table and headed off towards the first shelf, muttering the first few titles under his breath. "Hey, strange skinny kid! You coming?"
|
|
Anna Carlisle
Port Virtue Local
[M:20000]
"At this rate, I might as well wear a bra on my face and go topless..."
Posts: 16
|
Post by Anna Carlisle on Feb 23, 2011 19:29:08 GMT -5
Anna looked at Shihab with an offended look.
"'Skinny kid'?"
She then saw Joshua.
"... oh, nevermind."
|
|
|
Post by Parum Callidus Diabolus on Feb 25, 2011 22:31:44 GMT -5
Parum returned to library, holding a bottle of water and her lunch, setting them down on the library counter before walking up to the blonde woman, smiling ever so brightly~
"Good afternoon! Is there anything I can help you with today, ma'am?"
|
|
|
Post by Joshua Quasar on Feb 25, 2011 23:36:08 GMT -5
Joshua looked at Shihab. "Uh, where are you going?" He checked out the categories on the shelves. "I'm not really keen on history. Well, maybe history of science...?" He absent-mindedly followed him into the section.
|
|
Anna Carlisle
Port Virtue Local
[M:20000]
"At this rate, I might as well wear a bra on my face and go topless..."
Posts: 16
|
Post by Anna Carlisle on Feb 25, 2011 23:40:25 GMT -5
Anna smiled herself and was about to answer before she realized something.
"... I don't know. To be honest, I was just taking a look in the school my husband worked at, I guess."
|
|