Mar 02 11:36:37 106 PA
From Chronicles
The current game time is: Wed Mar 02 11:36:37 106 PA.
These days there are slightly fewer patrons in the library than usual - it's warmer, though the weather's still being finicky - and people try to be outside when possible. Alistair on the other hand, has decided to return once more, and is sitting at one of the tables here, looking through a large tome - a list of demons, monsters, and other things.
These days there are slightly fewer patrons in the library than usual - it's warmer, though the weather's still being finicky - and people try to be outside when possible. Alistair on the other hand, has decided to return once more, and is sitting at one of the tables here, looking through a large tome - a list of demons, monsters, and other things.
Entering the library seems to be a sublime experience for Zachary. His head lifts as he steps in and he scans the wealth of knowledge with a soft sense of awe. The open gaze of a nearby librarian is ignored as he steps in, scanning the nearest shelves from afar with a lengthy, searching gaze. Though he seems, in the first moments of his time here, unsure as to the precise direction to go at first. Ultimately, he solves this by moving towards the computerized card catalogue. His expression and mood calming as he gazes down at it and starts to work his fingers over the keyboard rapidly.
There is nothing quite like spending the fair weather with a good book. Joining the other information-philes, Leonard enters the library and promptly moves towards a shelf. His hood is doffed en route, revealing a stark touch of redness across the top of his nose and upper edge of cheeks. Perhaps he's alrady enjoyed enough of the pleasant weather for the time being.
"Harbinger, harbinger..." Alistair mutters, flipping through the pages - it seems some people have left notes in, though they were nice enough to put them on separate pieces of paper at least instead of writing on the margins and suchnot.
Zachary studies the listings he gets carefully, considering it for a few moments before he straightens from it and scans the nearest shelves. Oblivious to all things, he wanders into the stacks, aimless at first, but slowly gaining purpose as he finds the right notations on the shelves, guiding him towards his goal. It'll be less than a minute before he seems to find it, reaching up to delicately draw down a good sized book, the weighty tome opened up for a quick scan.
"Here for a little reseach, as well?" Leonard inquires with a half-smile as he nears Alistair and overhears some of the mutters in the quiet room. He was bound for the very same section, but has detoured slightly to the table. "Any success in finding any information of note?"
Alistair starts a little and looks up, his gaze turning to Leonard. "Oh, hello" he smiles, and shrugs his shoulders. "Nothing terribly useful so far. Oh, but - our apothecary the other day, I'm pretty sure, was a Festulent. I wonder if the place was indeed his before he was turned into ... whatever."
Zachary will emerge slowly from within the shelves, wandering along with the book open in his hands. Unerringly he weaves along past obstacles, a bit used to walking whole reading.. or merely lucky. as he comes near to where Alistair sits and Leo stands, one hand dips to move out and grope a few times. taking a moment to feel out one of the other chairs at where Alistair sits before gripping and pulling it out. Oblivious for a moment to the other two, he sits and settles the book down. The whole of one page, which he now stares at, completely covered with a technical diagram with multiple notations across it, jumbled together in a mix that only a tech could hope to decipher.
Leonard lifts a brow. "Interesting. I had always paid more mind to studies of living creatures, and my quick bit of cramming before we left wasn't especially helpful. It is a very broad and varied area." He leans in to look down at the pages Alistair has open, then glances to the other that sits at the table. "Hello."
"It most certainly is" Alistair agrees, nodding his head. "I don't know if we can say those aren't living. I mean, you have things that are effectively automatons, and then things that just do repetitive things as if compelled and so on - but looks like some can have a reasonable conversation" he points out, also now looking across the table. He smiles and waves a hand at the other person.
Zachary takes a moment to look up from his book, his eyes blinking, as he looks at Leo blankly for a moment. Then the movement of Alistair's wave draws his attention. He sits back slowly from his lean whilst reading. "Good day," he says, diction precise. "I did not notice others had gathered here." The tone of the words not exactly an apology, rather than information given in a plain manner.
Leonard chuckles at Zachary's response. "It's common here. Easy to get engrossed in all that is here, and whatever is in fron of your nose." He sounds as if he has done the same a few times, himself. He then looks back to Alistair with a nod. "I was rather surprised at that, myself. Dead, undead, something somewhere between, or another that merely resembles such things... it would be much simpler if all things bore some sort of identification, wouldn't it?"
"Hheeehehe" Alistair chuckles, but he doesn't say much in reply to Zachary; looking back to Leonard for a few moments he nods. "Then you could card them" he jokes. "I think it's like CS ... the CS skelebots. Some of the so called undead are automatons like that. Others are closer to animals, maybe - and others year, far closer to us, despite their condition."
Zachary frowns faintly in response to Alistair's show of amusement, his expression tensing slightly before his head dips, eyes moved firmly back to his book. Even so, one cannot help but listen in on what is being said, now that his distraction has been broken. His brow furrows slightly. He makes as if to read his book, though his scanning is slower.
"I'd think most would be able to note the difference in metal and flesh," Leonard sighs at mention of the CS, "but far too many may not. I expect they were made to exploit just that." He looks back to Alistair's open book and finally takes an adjacent seat at the table. If he's going to read around his shoulder, he might as well sit down and be comfortable.
"To use fear" says Alistair, "That is why the CS makes them this way. It is ironic, isn't it? Painting themselves as their own remains to scare others" his brows hike up a touch. "All in the name of human supremacy" he shrugs again, and hms softly. "All of what's going on with Tolkeen now ... and - this threat ... and others."
The subtle frown and crease of Zachary's brow linger, his reading slowed to naught as he tries to puzzle through what the two are speaking about. Ultimately, he must lift his head and look towards them. "Pardon me, but what are you two speaking of?" Again, he speaks with a precise diction, his voice kept to a respectful quietness for the locale.
Leonard echoes some of Zachary's curiosity as well, lifting a brow at Alistair. "I know they are bigots, liars and thieves... but what are they doing, now? Even Prosek isn't mad enough to be involved in this." He smirks. "The CS shoots first, disects later. I don't think they'd traffic with anything of this sort."
"This sort? No - I think something got mixed up here. I'm just saying the behavior isn't all that different" Alistair explains, shrugging his shoulders. "But I digress, it isn't important right now" he smiles, and looks back to Zachary, "Undead things, basically - we ran into a Festulent who helped us" he comments, and hms. "That is a little suspicious too" he murmurs.
Allistair's words don't seem to make much of a connection with Zack. His brow remains furrowed and plain non-comprehension shows. "I see," he says, regardless. "That is fortunate then." His soft state of confusion lingering, he lowers his attention to the book again, flipping a few pages until he gets to a certain page that is clogged with a mix of technical and arcane notations, the two mixed in together liberally. Some of his confusion fades as he starts to study the text intently.
Leonard rolls his shoulders. "Well, it did little more than just allow us do what we needed to do. Perhaps it simply didn't care. I'm thankful regardless of the motive. Now it is just a matter of learning whether we indeed have what is required, and how to best use it."
"They don't normally do that - undead that is" Alistair tries to explain, and turns back to Leonard. "Those are ambivalent unless hugnry, the others tend to be openly hostile ... odd, no?" he nods. "Yes - I do wonder what it is, actually. Hm"
Zachary glances up slightly and says, "I suppose that is true enough. I've never met such.. things before," he replies, the term 'things' given a hint of distaste. His eyes flick towards Leo, then back to Alistair. But the odd talk remains something that he listens to for now without too much deep comment.
"Odd, yes," Leonard nods to Alistair, "but I still won't complain. How is Cali? Nothing more than exhaustion, I hope." His head swivels towards Zachary. "They are not ones anyone would wish to meet, but... you may very well have the opportunity. Unfortunately, undead and the like have far too frequent visitors here."
Alistair smiles at the mention of Cali, "She is tired, but she'll be fine. She's already headed back to work" he mentions, a bit of dissapointment in that showing in his expression. He looks back to Zachary then, "Soon, too" he nods, and glances to Leonard again, "Oh - I should go. I need to do a few things. Do you want me to leave this with you?" he asks, indicating the book.
The mention of 'Cali' draws Zach's attention again, his head lifting. The talk of the undead things is ignored as he considers Alistair a moment before asking, "Do you refer to Caliopa?" Full name, precisely pronounced as with all else. "If so, I would speak with her. I attempted her place of business earlier today, but it was closed."
Alistair looks to Zachary, and nods. "Yes" he smiles. "We were out on a trip" he explains, "And she had a rough time, which is perhaps why she isn't very available right now, but you have but to try again. She'll be back to her regular schedule at the garage soon I think" he explains.
"I see." Zachary pauses, thoughtful on this for a few moments before he nods his head once and replies, "I will seek her again later, then." He seems content with that, returning his attention to the book. his eyes alight on a passage that seems to interest him as he pulls open his carryall and draws out a small handheld computer. One that he starts to quickly enter notations into, his eyes flitting from it to the page as he replicates the noted details.
"Would you like me to give her a message from you?" Alistair offers, tilting his head a touch. "If you'd like I can at least let her know where to contact you if I see her first" he explains.
Zachary pauses in his notations, eyes lifting to consider Alistair for a few moments. Ultimately, however, he shakes his head, glancing down again. "No. I will find her and offer my services through my own means," he decides. "To do otherwise is improper." His decision on the matter firm as he resumes his note taking.
Leonard takes the offered book and nods as Alistair confirms Cali's condition. He is lost a few moments with his own perusal of pages. Given that the other man's interest appears technical, and he's seeking Caliopa, it's likely out of Leonard's league, anyhow. "Okay then" Alistair smiles, "Have a good day" he nods, and looks to Leonard. "And to you as well - I'm sure we'll meet again soon anyway" that said more or less to both persons; he then waves a hand and makes his way out.
