Mar 24 10:51:14 105 PA
From Chronicles
Kingsdale - Kingsdale City Museum (Library)
The Kingsdale Library is a simply massive affair. It is one of the largest facilities of its kind in North America and continually draws the ire of the Coalition States for that very reason. It is the size of an entire city block and contains row after row and row after row after row of books, data disks and all sorts of information. Literally anything can be found here, from simple recepies on how to make food on up to the plans to Glitter Boy Power Armor. Magical knowledge abounds here too and it is not an exxageration to say that with time, one can find out just about anything. The actual structure of the 'room' is a giant square, with bookshelves reaching from floor to about ten feet. Librarians and other staff scuttle about to help people find things. Of note is the fact that nothing is permitted to leave the library and both electronic and magical wards make sure that this doesn't happen. Within this huge place are all shapes, sizes and colors. From operators pouring over technical manuals to mages studying spells to children researching for a school project. Rumors abound also of a secret sub level where the truly rare books and items are kept. These rumors are true, but unless someone has been invited to the sub-level by a few specific people.... magical wards prevent the entrance from being found.
>>>Bubba
Even at a decent distance, it would be difficult to mistake this being for a normal human. Standing at a towering six feet and eleven inches, with an admittedly hairy, slate-grey body of over-exaggerated musculature that seems a caricature of humanity, this being is definitely not of that genus. The head however, which seems devoid of neck -- nestling instead in a mass of predominant musculature -- removes all question. Jet-black hair, strangely clean and swept back into a neat pony-tail that shows off a widow's peak going back to the center of his skull. Then there is the flat, neanderthalic forehead, the skin strangely blemish-free, and sporting only a single, inch-thin scar that runs back to the left temple. Next are the heavily-inset eyes below it, large, saucer-shaped eyes colored a bestial, black-flecked yellow. To the side of the head, two elephantine ears jut out, tapered to a point at the top, and weighted at the base with three heavy, gold hoops on each. Below lies a massive, almost cartoonish nose, inset as well, and flat, as if crushed. The mouth is pronounced much like the forehead, in that the lower portion juts out in an underbite that allows two six-inch tusks, blindingly white and well-kept, to jut out above the lip. Framing the mouth is a thick, yet well-trimmed, goatee. At the moment, the Ogre's wearing very simple fair. A matched black cloth (rough and hand-sewn, by the looks of it) shirt and pant combo if the focus of the raiment, the shirt open at the chest down to just below the line of the pectoral. A rope belt holds the pants up. Over this he wears an oversized, beige cotton long-coat, opened at the moment, that falls just below his knees. Atop his head is a ridiculously undersized, black fedora, cocked to the left. To finish the ensemble, his oversized, hairy feet are currently unshod.
>>>Katsumi
There is a definitely a feral in the Asian woman. Perhaps it is her attentiveness to the outside environment makes her similar to a wild animal; or her ceaseless desire for move. She is athletic yet small, just around 5'8", perhaps a little boyish in shape, but recognizable female from her curves. The woman seems to have Japanese descendants with the straight black hair reaching of her shoulder, and the almond shaped eyes of odd, smoldering grey colors. There is attractiveness in the woman, but she isn't beautiful. Her face is rash, showing that she is sorely tried; even that she doesn't look older than her twenties. She wears casual clothes, a durable farmer pants, with a light leather jacket. There is a creamy cardigan bellow of the jacket - which would be very nice, if there weren't already some holes in cloth. She wears a worn military boots.
>>>Tu'ul
Standing around seven or eight foot.. this being is a very strange sight to behold. A good foot and a half of that impressive height.. is all cranium. The humanoid's skull casing is elongated and rises from his shoulders gracefully, with twin veinlike canals running up nearly the full length of the skull from the beings nose. Several open holes can be seen along the length of the canals.. and a perceptive observer might notice the faint tensing and relaxing of the canals as this odd being breathes.. They are likely nostrils.. The creature is lanky.. very little muscle definition to his slight frame. A pleasant light green/gray shade to his skin, sharpely contrasting the jet black orbs that are the creatures eyes. This being's mouth is slightly beaklike, much like an earth turtle.. and twin fleshy feelers hang from his chin, eahc about three inches long. He wears a very simple and plain black robe.. loose hanging on his shoulders.. and concealing his body from the lower ankles to the neckline.
>>>Dr. Kelley
Dr. Kelley is a massive humanoid, both very tall and very broad, approximately thirty-three years of age. Primarily a geologist by trade, he's often accompanies by a rock-pick at his side and a neural mace from the other. Being wise to the world, however, he wears his energy pistol in a shoulder holster. Some say that they've seen him with a flaming sword, but this is purely conjecture. He strides quietly and confidently, with grace and dignity, often accompanied by a large walking stick, though he clearly doesn' t actually need it. An aristocratic nose ends in an ever-present soft smile, which rises up to illuminate a pair of warm, dark brown eyes. He wears simple leathers and buckskin cloathing, covered over by a hooded, woodland-patter cloak. His normally-there wood-and-silver crucifix is now gone. His face manages to be humorous, solemn, and fatherly, all at the same time, while also presenting an imposing frame.
>>>Desmond
Desmond is a seven and three quarters foot tall fusion of powerfully muscled man and inverse snow leopard. Inverse as his hide is black with a scattering of slate splotches. His head is the least human aspect of him, fully feline but with a greater range of expression, centered around focused eyes of dark sapphire. Hair to match his spotted hide descends to his upper back, left free and wild, though the grey in it tends to manifest as slate streaks rather than spots.
A light black shirt is pulled taut over his broad chest, with a single chest pocket that has the word "Moe's" emblazoned on it in white lettering. Overtop he wears a brand new denim jacket, the shiny silver buttons contrasting with its dark, navy coloring. A shoulder holster is veiled within, but the telltale bulge the weapon it holds makes itself known from time to time. Matching denim pants cling to his powerful legs. A sturdy pair black boots round out his outfit, a knife hilt protruding from the top of the left. A dark grey utility belt wraps his waist, a neuro-mace situated at his left hip, a canteen at his right, the various pouches of the belt filled.
The wind outside creates a constant moan that carries lightly throughout the library. The light snow that covers the streets outside seems to have at least avoided this portion of the museum. Inside, sitting behind the counter, is one of the library's most peculiar curators. Bubba the Ogre, complete with an old-fashioned name-tag clipped to a breast pocket that declaims him "Dr. Bubba", albeit written in what might be crayon, currently sits in a chair, his massive, bare feet set up on the counter, a large tome set on his lap, open and perhaps even being read. His cap and coat are, for the moment, hooked onto the wall behind him.
An Asian woman walks into the near of the table, keeping an eye on one of the librarian, searching something in the selves. The librarian, a middle aged man, aims his way back to the woman. "I didn't find anything about Mad Haven or Nihoji... or that other thing you asked me to search." the librarian tells her neutrally. "I am sorry." it doesn't sounded to persuasive that he really feels sorry. Katsumi stares at the man. "There should be something!" she tries to explain desperatly, perhaps a bit angrily. "And I said Nihon-jin." "Sorry, appearantly, we haven't got any book about what you are looking for." he smiles politely and shakes his head.
A clearing of the throat issues from the ogre's throat at this. As the two are close enough that he doesn't have to speak loudly, but he does choose this moment to interject. He leans forward, his bare feet sliding off the desk to slap onto the floor, "Kaevan, you might try looking under the lore of the Indian Pantheon... Madhaven, was it? A name of Krishna? Or were you thinking of a city?" The latter portion is pointed at Katsumi. His voice is low, the sound of gravel scraping against itself. He then thinks on the other portion, "Nihon-jin? That sounds Japanese. Sadly, mine's rusty. Translation? Perhaps I can be of aid."
Katsumi turns around, settling her intense grey eyes on the ogre. Those eyes... those intense grey ones are to familiar to someone who had some issues with the Coalition. The woman raises her eyebrow, showing a clear amusement. "The city. Mad Haven, yes." she says in her deep voice. "And Japanese, that is. That is my people name in American I think. We called ourselves Nihon-jin. But it was so long ago." she hesitates a long moment. "Wold you mind?" The woman seems to forget the librarian. "Would you mind if I join you?"
Bubba chuckles aloud at the admission, and waves to a chair facing the desk. "Please, take a seat. Nihon-jin, people of Japan, is it? I will remember it from this day forward. Thank you." Indeed, he reaches under the desktop, pulling out a well-used, leather tome. "The English transliteration of that I assume would have a j, not a g." The term is written down, "What specifically were you looking for, then?"
Katsumi blushes and walks closer to sit down. "I want to know where I am from exactly." she tells to the ogre in a very low voice. "Could you help me? Someone told me that Japan is somewhere very far away, across a huge sea, but not in the sea where is Mad Haven." the Asian woman explains, resting those grey eyes on the man. "But how could that be? My people always lived there. Could it be that they travelled to Japan in the distant past perhaps?" so many questions from a so uneducated mind.
A cloaked and robed figure enters the library and moves fairly quickly into the shadows of the place, not so much to avoid notice.. as to avoid been seen and identified.. The figure moves through the rozes of books, plucking one here.. and one here.. For those who can see his choices.. they are titled in a harsh, gutteral language that invokes feelings of rage and hatred when spoken aloud. (demon)
Bubba nods, "Well... that will be difficult. With the severe changes of the world, it would be difficult to offer an accurate map of this world. Much is conjecture and magical approximation. I could likely dreg up a Pre-P.A. conception of the way the world looked back then. However Mad Haven's relation to that... unless you could point out it's location on the map I doubt I'll be able to help much." He motions over to the ignored librarian, muttering softly to him. The man nods, and scuttles offer. For the moment, Tu'ul is unnoticed... not so much due to the hiding inasmuch as weird people simply are becoming more and more common in the city. The ogre sweeps back a bit of hair that had escapes his ponytail, fingers grazing familiarly over two striped scars along his temple.
"I see." Katsumi answers and lies closer. "Do you have a map? I could show the loation. I seen several maps of the Coalition already. It is near to the Atlantic sea." she explains quietly, with a little blush in her face. "It is mostly ruins as I remember with huge bones of mightly buildings, almost reaching the sky. Almost as high as the Chi-Twons piramid." now the Chi-Town and Coalition's maps. The intense eyes. Disturbing.
Tu'ul moves through the rows, collecting several books, thick tomes bound in what looks like cured flesh of some kind.. He moves to a table standing alone and seats himself. The cloak that covers his oversized head is pulled back, revealing his head and face. Glittering black eyes turn on Bubba and Katsumi, gazing at them each in turn. His brows furrow, as yet unable to classify you both.
Bubba instinctively curls his lip at the mention of the Coalition, again fingering the scar, this time more protectively. "You're not a skull-head, are you? I know we're all progressive in this city... but my willingness to aid you will have some bearing on it." A look over Katsumi's shoulder is offered in response to the movement, allowing him a short glimpse at the odd reader.
Katsumi freezes, staring at the new arrival. That smell. She niffs slightly, narrowing her almod-shaped eyes on the creature. Bubba's question has been forgotten for a moment. But soon the spell has broken, at least she manages an answer to the ogre. "I was." straight and short. Her eyes still keep a track of the creature's every movement.
Tu'ul shifts that black gaze between Katsumi and Bubba again, his eyes widening as he recognizes Katsumi.. or at least.. what she is. The smell coming from him.. the one Katsumi smells.. is cut off suddenly, leaving only the residual scent.. He looks away suddenly, burying his beak in his books.
Bubba stares at Kat for a moment, watching her reaction at the other, and actually chuckling at it, "If you're 'former' skull, that's fine... as long as you don't follow along with their typical reaction to me." The NPC comes back, an older tome coming out. It's a basic map of the world... more outline of continents, rather than a detailed map. This is grabbed, and placed in front of Kat, "Show me where Mad Haven is... that will help me more."
Katsumi galnces up the creature once more before her sight wonders to the map. "Could you open it into the America?" she asks quietly, trying to keep the conversation between them. "Ah, well where could it be. It is a coastal ruin..." the Asian woman searches among the pages with a help of the ogre, if he does of course. "Well here it is. Somewhere." she points into the island of Manhattan. "Maybe that city." her finger is on the red spot, marking New York. She seems to be excited, forgeting the creature and the question for a brief moment.
Dr. Kelley comes into the library huffing and puffing slightly, a bead of sweat running down his forehead, his chest damp, a towel around his neck. To no one in particular, he comments, "I had an idea while I was on the treadmill!" Totally out of character there's a bit of pushing as he works his way into the bookshelves, offering a few token "hellos" and "hi"s.
Bubba nods at Katsumi, "Ah yes... Before the change... that would have been The New Yorkton. Man's Hattin, Queensville, and others were around there. It would not be shocking that a portion of mankind lived there." He grins again, noting in his own book, as he continues to speak in low tones to the woman, "Now your question as to how some could say you are Nihon-jin... yet you are from Mad Haven, it is the commonality of your race to identify one both by their place of birth, and the origin of their particular sect of the species. You could easily say I am of the Plains of the Twin Leaves. I am still an Ogre and I am still from my home as well. Do I make sense?" Dr. Kelly's arrival is definitely something that draws attention. Mostly an audible snort... not of derision -- but of humor.
Desmond comes into the Library slowly. He glances about with an obvious air of newness and uncertainty about him. Books. He's seen them.. though never so many as all this. But the overwhelming scope of what he hopes to accomplish doesn't overwhelm the determination to do. Thus the big cat steps further into the room, moving forward slowly. Of course, he knows not where to start, his head swinging one way, then the other smoothly. Scanning ineffectually. But he doesn't stop from moving along the first set of shelves. For now, he has his eyes largely on the books, not yet taking in the actual people about.
Katsumi blinks a few times and nods. She is lying into the table, exploring the map. "So do you mean that the Nihon-jin are a different people than the humans? That would make a sense." she rubs her nose thoughtfuly. "I mean my people is different and perhaps they was before the apocalypse. I mean the Japanese. But someone told me that they lived somewhere else. Oh, it is so confusing."
Kelley perks up at Katsumi's again mentioning the Japanese thing. Hasn't he explained this to her before? He fishes around in the large map section for a map of North America with both coasts shown (which is not an easy thing to find). However, he eventually finds it and rolls it out on the table. With an imperceptible pencil mark, he draws a line out into the Great Ocean and pencils in a small group of islands. Pointing a finger, he says, "There. I've been there. That's where the Japanese are from." With that, the good doctor returns to searching for whatever it was he came in for.
Bubba blinks, a perceptible bit of accent coming over his gravel-grating voice as he near-yells at the Doctor, "Oi!" A piece of colored wax, red as the name on his name-tag, goes flying at Doctor K's head, "No writin' in the merch, you neanderthalic pinhead!" He then nods back at Katsumi. "Your ancestors. They are a 'sect' of humans. Nihon-jin refers to the place of origin... as I said, like I am one of the people from the Plains of the Twin Leaves, or..." He offers the translation in Ogre, for those who can understand it.
Tu'ul looks up as Bubba speaks in Gobbley, naming his place of birth. And to those that speaks it.. he speaks back, also in Gobbley. "Nagrun.. grunsha Hurorhangt.. Du grinst." He grumbles aloud, his voicebox hitting every inflection and accent perfectly. Then he goes back to his reading.. Desmond tenses slightly when he hears Kelley's voice nearby, the sound cutting through the quiet environs of the library and its low mix of conversations. Well, to his acute ears, anyway. His head turns, eyes narrowing slightly as he considers the man. Quietly tracking the man for a moment. His expression tight for a few moments before it relaxes slightly, closer to his neutral norm. After a few moments of consideration the big male turns and follows after Kelley. Moving smoothly he rounds the bookcase and tails the man for the few moments it takes to catch up. And once he's caught up, he asks, " Could I request your assistance?" For those who haven't heard it before, his voice umbles in a deep basso profundo with a light roll to his r's.
Deep blush rides Katsumi's face as the doctor steps into the scenery unexpectly and shows the map. Of course he told her about. Once. In a table without a map. How could she sure about anything? Talking about distand lands, isles, and continents that she has never ever heard of. And now she is lectured, showing everyone that how stupid is she. Katsumi is just about to leave to hide her shame, but then Bubba explaining her patiently. She manages to stay, nodding to him instead of straightening. "But my people is different. Most of us have some abilities beyond the human normals." she whispers, trying to not to be too loud. "Could it mean that the Japanese has also?"
As he roots through the books, Kelley pulls one out to reveal Desmond's face looking at him from the other side. "Oh! Mr. Desmond, I have something for you," he says through the opening. He reaches into a small satchel at his side and produces a wicked looking curved blade. He slides it across the bookshelf to the big cat - who does seem curiously out of place here. "Compliments of the late Kaomas." He frowns, sad and introspective for a moment. Then he calls out, "Sorry if I was short, Katsumi, I'm just a little preoccupied right now." Just barely quiet enough for a library.
Bubba shakes his head at Katsumi, chuckling once more, "The one fascinating thing about your race, Katsumi, is it's continual ability to break beyond its own basic template. The abilities humans can possess... the sheer abundance and diversity... is sometimes astounding. I would say... do not trouble your mind over it. Rejoice in your singularity... much as I do mine." A look is finally granted again as the 'being', for lack of a better word, begins speaking in Gobbley. His own response in the same language is far more... stilted... than the other's, as if it weren't native for him. " [Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<be [...] i've>') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.]
<lj-cut> Rifts: Chronicles of Kingsdale - Monday, March 17, 2008, 3:19 PM
Kingsdale - Kingsdale City Museum (Library)
The Kingsdale Library is a simply massive affair. It is one of the largest facilities of its kind in North America and continually draws the ire of the Coalition States for that very reason. It is the size of an entire city block and contains row after row and row after row after row of books, data disks and all sorts of information. Literally anything can be found here, from simple recepies on how to make food on up to the plans to Glitter Boy Power Armor. Magical knowledge abounds here too and it is not an exxageration to say that with time, one can find out just about anything. The actual structure of the 'room' is a giant square, with bookshelves reaching from floor to about ten feet. Librarians and other staff scuttle about to help people find things. Of note is the fact that nothing is permitted to leave the library and both electronic and magical wards make sure that this doesn't happen. Within this huge place are all shapes, sizes and colors. From operators pouring over technical manuals to mages studying spells to children researching for a school project. Rumors abound also of a secret sub level where the truly rare books and items are kept. These rumors are true, but unless someone has been invited to the sub-level by a few specific people.... magical wards prevent the entrance from being found.
>>>Bubba
Even at a decent distance, it would be difficult to mistake this being for a normal human. Standing at a towering six feet and eleven inches, with an admittedly hairy, slate-grey body of over-exaggerated musculature that seems a caricature of humanity, this being is definitely not of that genus. The head however, which seems devoid of neck -- nestling instead in a mass of predominant musculature -- removes all question. Jet-black hair, strangely clean and swept back into a neat pony-tail that shows off a widow's peak going back to the center of his skull. Then there is the flat, neanderthalic forehead, the skin strangely blemish-free, and sporting only a single, inch-thin scar that runs back to the left temple. Next are the heavily-inset eyes below it, large, saucer-shaped eyes colored a bestial, black-flecked yellow. To the side of the head, two elephantine ears jut out, tapered to a point at the top, and weighted at the base with three heavy, gold hoops on each. Below lies a massive, almost cartoonish nose, inset as well, and flat, as if crushed. The mouth is pronounced much like the forehead, in that the lower portion juts out in an underbite that allows two six-inch tusks, blindingly white and well-kept, to jut out above the lip. Framing the mouth is a thick, yet well-trimmed, goatee. At the moment, the Ogre's wearing very simple fair. A matched black cloth (rough and hand-sewn, by the looks of it) shirt and pant combo if the focus of the raiment, the shirt open at the chest down to just below the line of the pectoral. A rope belt holds the pants up. Over this he wears an oversized, beige cotton long-coat, opened at the moment, that falls just below his knees. Atop his head is a ridiculously undersized, black fedora, cocked to the left. To finish the ensemble, his oversized, hairy feet are currently unshod.
>>>Katsumi
There is a definitely a feral in the Asian woman. Perhaps it is her attentiveness to the outside environment makes her similar to a wild animal; or her ceaseless desire for move. She is athletic yet small, just around 5'8", perhaps a little boyish in shape, but recognizable female from her curves. The woman seems to have Japanese descendants with the straight black hair reaching of her shoulder, and the almond shaped eyes of odd, smoldering grey colors. There is attractiveness in the woman, but she isn't beautiful. Her face is rash, showing that she is sorely tried; even that she doesn't look older than her twenties. She wears casual clothes, a durable farmer pants, with a light leather jacket. There is a creamy cardigan bellow of the jacket - which would be very nice, if there weren't already some holes in cloth. She wears a worn military boots.
>>>Tu'ul
Standing around seven or eight foot.. this being is a very strange sight to behold. A good foot and a half of that impressive height.. is all cranium. The humanoid's skull casing is elongated and rises from his shoulders gracefully, with twin veinlike canals running up nearly the full length of the skull from the beings nose. Several open holes can be seen along the length of the canals.. and a perceptive observer might notice the faint tensing and relaxing of the canals as this odd being breathes.. They are likely nostrils.. The creature is lanky.. very little muscle definition to his slight frame. A pleasant light green/gray shade to his skin, sharpely contrasting the jet black orbs that are the creatures eyes. This being's mouth is slightly beaklike, much like an earth turtle.. and twin fleshy feelers hang from his chin, eahc about three inches long. He wears a very simple and plain black robe.. loose hanging on his shoulders.. and concealing his body from the lower ankles to the neckline.
>>>Dr. Kelley
Dr. Kelley is a massive humanoid, both very tall and very broad, approximately thirty-three years of age. Primarily a geologist by trade, he's often accompanies by a rock-pick at his side and a neural mace from the other. Being wise to the world, however, he wears his energy pistol in a shoulder holster. Some say that they've seen him with a flaming sword, but this is purely conjecture. He strides quietly and confidently, with grace and dignity, often accompanied by a large walking stick, though he clearly doesn' t actually need it. An aristocratic nose ends in an ever-present soft smile, which rises up to illuminate a pair of warm, dark brown eyes. He wears simple leathers and buckskin cloathing, covered over by a hooded, woodland-patter cloak. His normally-there wood-and-silver crucifix is now gone. His face manages to be humorous, solemn, and fatherly, all at the same time, while also presenting an imposing frame.
>>>Desmond
Desmond is a seven and three quarters foot tall fusion of powerfully muscled man and inverse snow leopard. Inverse as his hide is black with a scattering of slate splotches. His head is the least human aspect of him, fully feline but with a greater range of expression, centered around focused eyes of dark sapphire. Hair to match his spotted hide descends to his upper back, left free and wild, though the grey in it tends to manifest as slate streaks rather than spots.
A light black shirt is pulled taut over his broad chest, with a single chest pocket that has the word "Moe's" emblazoned on it in white lettering. Overtop he wears a brand new denim jacket, the shiny silver buttons contrasting with its dark, navy coloring. A shoulder holster is veiled within, but the telltale bulge the weapon it holds makes itself known from time to time. Matching denim pants cling to his powerful legs. A sturdy pair black boots round out his outfit, a knife hilt protruding from the top of the left. A dark grey utility belt wraps his waist, a neuro-mace situated at his left hip, a canteen at his right, the various pouches of the belt filled.
The wind outside creates a constant moan that carries lightly throughout the library. The light snow that covers the streets outside seems to have at least avoided this portion of the museum. Inside, sitting behind the counter, is one of the library's most peculiar curators. Bubba the Ogre, complete with an old-fashioned name-tag clipped to a breast pocket that declaims him "Dr. Bubba", albeit written in what might be crayon, currently sits in a chair, his massive, bare feet set up on the counter, a large tome set on his lap, open and perhaps even being read. His cap and coat are, for the moment, hooked onto the wall behind him.
An Asian woman walks into the near of the table, keeping an eye on one of the librarian, searching something in the selves. The librarian, a middle aged man, aims his way back to the woman. "I didn't find anything about Mad Haven or Nihoji... or that other thing you asked me to search." the librarian tells her neutrally. "I am sorry." it doesn't sounded to persuasive that he really feels sorry. Katsumi stares at the man. "There should be something!" she tries to explain desperatly, perhaps a bit angrily. "And I said Nihon-jin." "Sorry, appearantly, we haven't got any book about what you are looking for." he smiles politely and shakes his head.
A clearing of the throat issues from the ogre's throat at this. As the two are close enough that he doesn't have to speak loudly, but he does choose this moment to interject. He leans forward, his bare feet sliding off the desk to slap onto the floor, "Kaevan, you might try looking under the lore of the Indian Pantheon... Madhaven, was it? A name of Krishna? Or were you thinking of a city?" The latter portion is pointed at Katsumi. His voice is low, the sound of gravel scraping against itself. He then thinks on the other portion, "Nihon-jin? That sounds Japanese. Sadly, mine's rusty. Translation? Perhaps I can be of aid."
Katsumi turns around, settling her intense grey eyes on the ogre. Those eyes... those intense grey ones are to familiar to someone who had some issues with the Coalition. The woman raises her eyebrow, showing a clear amusement. "The city. Mad Haven, yes." she says in her deep voice. "And Japanese, that is. That is my people name in American I think. We called ourselves Nihon-jin. But it was so long ago." she hesitates a long moment. "Wold you mind?" The woman seems to forget the librarian. "Would you mind if I join you?"
Bubba chuckles aloud at the admission, and waves to a chair facing the desk. "Please, take a seat. Nihon-jin, people of Japan, is it? I will remember it from this day forward. Thank you." Indeed, he reaches under the desktop, pulling out a well-used, leather tome. "The English transliteration of that I assume would have a j, not a g." The term is written down, "What specifically were you looking for, then?"
Katsumi blushes and walks closer to sit down. "I want to know where I am from exactly." she tells to the ogre in a very low voice. "Could you help me? Someone told me that Japan is somewhere very far away, across a huge sea, but not in the sea where is Mad Haven." the Asian woman explains, resting those grey eyes on the man. "But how could that be? My people always lived there. Could it be that they travelled to Japan in the distant past perhaps?" so many questions from a so uneducated mind.
A cloaked and robed figure enters the library and moves fairly quickly into the shadows of the place, not so much to avoid notice.. as to avoid been seen and identified.. The figure moves through the rozes of books, plucking one here.. and one here.. For those who can see his choices.. they are titled in a harsh, gutteral language that invokes feelings of rage and hatred when spoken aloud. (demon)
Bubba nods, "Well... that will be difficult. With the severe changes of the world, it would be difficult to offer an accurate map of this world. Much is conjecture and magical approximation. I could likely dreg up a Pre-P.A. conception of the way the world looked back then. However Mad Haven's relation to that... unless you could point out it's location on the map I doubt I'll be able to help much." He motions over to the ignored librarian, muttering softly to him. The man nods, and scuttles offer. For the moment, Tu'ul is unnoticed... not so much due to the hiding inasmuch as weird people simply are becoming more and more common in the city. The ogre sweeps back a bit of hair that had escapes his ponytail, fingers grazing familiarly over two striped scars along his temple.
"I see." Katsumi answers and lies closer. "Do you have a map? I could show the loation. I seen several maps of the Coalition already. It is near to the Atlantic sea." she explains quietly, with a little blush in her face. "It is mostly ruins as I remember with huge bones of mightly buildings, almost reaching the sky. Almost as high as the Chi-Twons piramid." now the Chi-Town and Coalition's maps. The intense eyes. Disturbing.
Tu'ul moves through the rows, collecting several books, thick tomes bound in what looks like cured flesh of some kind.. He moves to a table standing alone and seats himself. The cloak that covers his oversized head is pulled back, revealing his head and face. Glittering black eyes turn on Bubba and Katsumi, gazing at them each in turn. His brows furrow, as yet unable to classify you both.
Bubba instinctively curls his lip at the mention of the Coalition, again fingering the scar, this time more protectively. "You're not a skull-head, are you? I know we're all progressive in this city... but my willingness to aid you will have some bearing on it." A look over Katsumi's shoulder is offered in response to the movement, allowing him a short glimpse at the odd reader.
Katsumi freezes, staring at the new arrival. That smell. She niffs slightly, narrowing her almod-shaped eyes on the creature. Bubba's question has been forgotten for a moment. But soon the spell has broken, at least she manages an answer to the ogre. "I was." straight and short. Her eyes still keep a track of the creature's every movement.
Tu'ul shifts that black gaze between Katsumi and Bubba again, his eyes widening as he recognizes Katsumi.. or at least.. what she is. The smell coming from him.. the one Katsumi smells.. is cut off suddenly, leaving only the residual scent.. He looks away suddenly, burying his beak in his books.
Bubba stares at Kat for a moment, watching her reaction at the other, and actually chuckling at it, "If you're 'former' skull, that's fine... as long as you don't follow along with their typical reaction to me." The NPC comes back, an older tome coming out. It's a basic map of the world... more outline of continents, rather than a detailed map. This is grabbed, and placed in front of Kat, "Show me where Mad Haven is... that will help me more."
Katsumi galnces up the creature once more before her sight wonders to the map. "Could you open it into the America?" she asks quietly, trying to keep the conversation between them. "Ah, well where could it be. It is a coastal ruin..." the Asian woman searches among the pages with a help of the ogre, if he does of course. "Well here it is. Somewhere." she points into the island of Manhattan. "Maybe that city." her finger is on the red spot, marking New York. She seems to be excited, forgeting the creature and the question for a brief moment.
Dr. Kelley comes into the library huffing and puffing slightly, a bead of sweat running down his forehead, his chest damp, a towel around his neck. To no one in particular, he comments, "I had an idea while I was on the treadmill!" Totally out of character there's a bit of pushing as he works his way into the bookshelves, offering a few token "hellos" and "hi"s.
Bubba nods at Katsumi, "Ah yes... Before the change... that would have been The New Yorkton. Man's Hattin, Queensville, and others were around there. It would not be shocking that a portion of mankind lived there." He grins again, noting in his own book, as he continues to speak in low tones to the woman, "Now your question as to how some could say you are Nihon-jin... yet you are from Mad Haven, it is the commonality of your race to identify one both by their place of birth, and the origin of their particular sect of the species. You could easily say I am of the Plains of the Twin Leaves. I am still an Ogre and I am still from my home as well. Do I make sense?" Dr. Kelly's arrival is definitely something that draws attention. Mostly an audible snort... not of derision -- but of humor.
Desmond comes into the Library slowly. He glances about with an obvious air of newness and uncertainty about him. Books. He's seen them.. though never so many as all this. But the overwhelming scope of what he hopes to accomplish doesn't overwhelm the determination to do. Thus the big cat steps further into the room, moving forward slowly. Of course, he knows not where to start, his head swinging one way, then the other smoothly. Scanning ineffectually. But he doesn't stop from moving along the first set of shelves. For now, he has his eyes largely on the books, not yet taking in the actual people about.
Katsumi blinks a few times and nods. She is lying into the table, exploring the map. "So do you mean that the Nihon-jin are a different people than the humans? That would make a sense." she rubs her nose thoughtfuly. "I mean my people is different and perhaps they was before the apocalypse. I mean the Japanese. But someone told me that they lived somewhere else. Oh, it is so confusing."
Kelley perks up at Katsumi's again mentioning the Japanese thing. Hasn't he explained this to her before? He fishes around in the large map section for a map of North America with both coasts shown (which is not an easy thing to find). However, he eventually finds it and rolls it out on the table. With an imperceptible pencil mark, he draws a line out into the Great Ocean and pencils in a small group of islands. Pointing a finger, he says, "There. I've been there. That's where the Japanese are from." With that, the good doctor returns to searching for whatever it was he came in for.
Bubba blinks, a perceptible bit of accent coming over his gravel-grating voice as he near-yells at the Doctor, "Oi!" A piece of colored wax, red as the name on his name-tag, goes flying at Doctor K's head, "No writin' in the merch, you neanderthalic pinhead!" He then nods back at Katsumi. "Your ancestors. They are a 'sect' of humans. Nihon-jin refers to the place of origin... as I said, like I am one of the people from the Plains of the Twin Leaves, or..." He offers the translation in Ogre, for those who can understand it.
Tu'ul looks up as Bubba speaks in Gobbley, naming his place of birth. And to those that speaks it.. he speaks back, also in Gobbley. "Nagrun.. grunsha Hurorhangt.. Du grinst." He grumbles aloud, his voicebox hitting every inflection and accent perfectly. Then he goes back to his reading.. Desmond tenses slightly when he hears Kelley's voice nearby, the sound cutting through the quiet environs of the library and its low mix of conversations. Well, to his acute ears, anyway. His head turns, eyes narrowing slightly as he considers the man. Quietly tracking the man for a moment. His expression tight for a few moments before it relaxes slightly, closer to his neutral norm. After a few moments of consideration the big male turns and follows after Kelley. Moving smoothly he rounds the bookcase and tails the man for the few moments it takes to catch up. And once he's caught up, he asks, " Could I request your assistance?" For those who haven't heard it before, his voice umbles in a deep basso profundo with a light roll to his r's.
Deep blush rides Katsumi's face as the doctor steps into the scenery unexpectly and shows the map. Of course he told her about. Once. In a table without a map. How could she sure about anything? Talking about distand lands, isles, and continents that she has never ever heard of. And now she is lectured, showing everyone that how stupid is she. Katsumi is just about to leave to hide her shame, but then Bubba explaining her patiently. She manages to stay, nodding to him instead of straightening. "But my people is different. Most of us have some abilities beyond the human normals." she whispers, trying to not to be too loud. "Could it mean that the Japanese has also?"
As he roots through the books, Kelley pulls one out to reveal Desmond's face looking at him from the other side. "Oh! Mr. Desmond, I have something for you," he says through the opening. He reaches into a small satchel at his side and produces a wicked looking curved blade. He slides it across the bookshelf to the big cat - who does seem curiously out of place here. "Compliments of the late Kaomas." He frowns, sad and introspective for a moment. Then he calls out, "Sorry if I was short, Katsumi, I'm just a little preoccupied right now." Just barely quiet enough for a library.
Bubba shakes his head at Katsumi, chuckling once more, "The one fascinating thing about your race, Katsumi, is it's continual ability to break beyond its own basic template. The abilities humans can possess... the sheer abundance and diversity... is sometimes astounding. I would say... do not trouble your mind over it. Rejoice in your singularity... much as I do mine." A look is finally granted again as the 'being', for lack of a better word, begins speaking in Gobbley. His own response in the same language is far more... stilted... than the other's, as if it weren't native for him. "<Be glad for that, friend. Although I still prefer my meat raw, I've been gifted with civility.>" Finally, his attention goes back to the Doctor, frowning at what is revealed.
Tu'ul closes the books, he's studying, and raises his overlarge head slowly. Those unblinking black orbs survey those in the room and he rises gently, and moves to Bubba's side, steadfeastly ignoring Katsumi. "<Your civility is a far greater gift than you know. Freind. despite your tastes, you are by far and beyond removed from your kin.>" He says in perfect Gobbely, before looking to the map before him, pointing at open ocean.. then tracing a slender finger out to another explanse of tiny islands. "Here is what you seek.." He says in american, his voice a very light tenor.
Desmond blinks, a bit surprised as Kelley passes the strange knife toward him through the opening. He glances at it, then lifts a hand to slip it to his side. The blade eyed for a moment before his attention shifts back to Kelley. "I see. Thank you," he rumbles then, slowly slipping the blade back, through a section of his belt at the back for temporary safekeeping. Then his eyes lift again to Kelley, his firm expression showing no emotion outside of that moment of surprise as he asks again, "Might you render me aid?"
Katsumi glances back at Kelley, offering a faint smile. "No problem good Doctor." she says as neutrally as she can, trying to hold back her uneasiness and shame to reflect in her deep voice. "Thank you." Katsumi answers to Bubba, giving all of her attention to the scholar. And now the creature has talked, to her? Is everyone lecturing her? She need guidenance, buts he is not that stupid... One of her eyes flutter and her face flushes deeply again. "You are very kind Ogre." she fights with the shake in her voice. "But I need to go." she straightens up and leaves the scenery of her shame as soon as she can, not glancing to anyone, just keeping her head down.
I'm a scientist, dammit, not a teacher, thinks Dr. Kelley to himself, frowning as Tu'ul points out Katsumi's islands right where he had drawn them. But he relaxes, probably just hyped up on adrenaline from the previous run. He takes in a few deep breaths, letting them out slowly, and is suddenly the calm, quiet Dr. Kelley that everyone who knows him would be used to. "Yes, Mr. Desmond. What can I do for you? I know that Kaomas' death was rather sudden, and.. extreme." He bows his head a little.
Bubba frowns as Katsumi suddenly leaves, shaking his head, "Too many teachers, too few to teach." His attention then turns to the newcomer, remaining in the more comfortable American that he prefers to speak in, as the being shows a propensity for it, "My removal from my kind is very much a thing I am aware of." He pauses, gathering the texts that have been taken out for Katsumi, and placing them behind himself on a shelf for later restocking. The interplay between K and Desmond is noted, but not interrupted.
Tu'ul nods at Bubba words. "I have seen many like your kin.. and far.. far worse. It gladdens me to see at least one of your race is not the savage animal that the rest seem to be. " He says touching Bubba's hairy arm lightly with his slender four fingered hand. The touch rests there for a breif moment, then is lifted, and the being's attentions turn to Kelley and Desmond.
"The death of Kaomas is not what I wish to speak to you of," Desmond states simply. "My concern is more.. scholarly, I suppose." Though he pauses a moment before delving into it, considering just how to ask. Though even as he considers, he continues to stare at Kelley with that mask solid neutral expression. "I am in need of a book.. a book that shows images of female singers. It is needed for the purposes of reference." That the limit of the explanations he'll give.
"Oh, gosh, Mr. Desmond, I'm not sure that I can help you. I'm not so good in a library. Give me a laboratory and I'll rock your world - " he says in an uncharacteristic common phrase " - but a library.. I'm a scientist, not a scholar. I'm lucky if I can find my own material. For instance," he points out, "you may notice that I'm looking in the history section for something that should clearly be in the Megaverse section." He shrugs apologetically, gestures to the other two creatures, and says, "These gentlemen seem to have a better grasp of the mysteries of the library than do I. Perhaps they can help you?" His voice ends on an up note.
Bubba actually growls at the unrequested touch, his sharpened teeth now showing in full toward Tu'ul until the being removes its hand. "Understand, sir, that I am still of my kin... and for as much as some of their actions go against my learned nature," he even adds the additional syllable for the word at the end, "they are still my people, and my heart, and my being. That which is savage to one may be natural to another. You don't seem human. Don't subscribe to their own logical frailties." A look goes back to the Doctor, "Indeed, although I'm not certain where something of that sort would be found. Popular modern culture... not really where I do the majority of my work. However... if you give me a moment to inquire of a colleague, I'll see if I can get something for you."
Tu'ul looks at Bubba, noting the growl and making a mental note to refrain form contact. "I simply have stated that which is apparent to me.. By taking some learning.. you have already bettered yourself beyond your kin.. however great or marginally. But take my word when I say that even your reknowned kin pale in comparison to some I have seen." He says simply, his voice cold and even.. alien. He turns his black eyes on Desmond and procedes to ask.. "What do you require?" In at least twelve different languages.. the majority of them human languages.
There is no sense of displeasure from Desmond, though it might be hard to tell from the firmness of his expression. An ear flicks toward the sound of Bubba's voice as he replies with a potential ability to aid. The big male eyeing Kelley for a moment more before he simply turns away and will approach the ogre instead. Once he's moved near enough for more subdued tones, he states, "I can wait if you would do this, if you could find such a book for me." A pause as he glances toward Tu'ul, taking in the unusual being for a moment, without a flicker in his set expression. "More than one, if you would be able to find two or more on the same topic," he adds to Bubba.
Kelley, temporary problem temporarily solved, moves toward the strange-headed gentlecreature. He extends a hand in a gesture of friendship and introduces himself as Dr. Kelley, a scientist from around Kingsdale. "Sir, I have noted your speech abilities. Not just your knowledge of them, but your perfect inflection of them. And, well, your apparent knowledge of them. I have dire need of a translator at the moment for a being that no one on this planet - that we are aware of - can comprehend. Might you somehow be able to help? I don't know how it works, but, perhaps?" There is a fire of discovery in his eyes.
Bubba offers a slight nod then to Tu'ul, although even the more subdued physical nuances would indicate at least some level of offense is still there. He then nods to Desmond, "I will see what can be found for you. However... considering their nature, please remember that you cannot remove them from the premises." After this, he offers a slight bow to those nearby, "Excuse me." A moment later, he is gone, lost within the stacks.
The scene is relatively simple. In a small area of the library, three beings are lingering about. Tu'ul, Kelley and Desmond. The first two currently speaking, the third standing nearby as Bubba goes off to see about getting him some books. Desmond gives the ogre a nod when he speaks, then is left with time to kill. He glances toward the other two for a moment before he turns and moves toward a nearby shelf to eyeball the books there. Just the spines, his hands lightly clasped behind his back.
Tu'ul turns his black eyes on the much shorter Kelley, his alien face unreadable. After a long moment, he replies in that perfectly even voice. "You require my assistance with a translation? Is that all?" He asks, wary of the man being he just left a life of servitude as a translator.
"Well, if you happen to recognize the alien species, that would be a bonus, but I suppose I have to say that right at this moment, I would ask for your services as a translator - if you know his language, that is. It's completely obscure to us. But.." he looks into the alien's big eyes with a slightly downturned mouth, "perhaps not unknown to you?" bubb Desmond lingers just a few minutes, pretending to consider the books before an attendant comes over to him, carrying three books. The big feline turns toward the smaller man and accepts them. The attendant is gone before Des really gets into scanning the books. He seems pleased with the images that are inside the top one, considering them carefully for a few moments before he looks up and wanders off, looking for a quiet spot to study them.
Tu'ul regards Kelley with something akin to interest.. or perhaps amusement. So hard to tell with aliens. "I have knowledge of most all species.. of this world and any other.. and languages.. Well.. All languages are known to my people. I shall assist you." He says giving the good doctor a slight nod, which considering the size of his head, is more of a bow. "If you would like me to come imeddiatly, please.. lead the way." He offers, watching Kelley still.
"Actually, the subject is still in critical condition at the moment, sir, but I just wanted to try and garner your services before you left. Perhaps tomorrow the alien will be out of code blue condition, and will be available to talk with. Would this be acceptable to you? I can take your contact information, if it is," Kelley lets out in one big whoosh of speech.
Tu'ul tilts his great head to the side gently, thinking. "If you like. I can visit the creature, and if it will allow me.. I can make contact with it's mind, and it can talk even while unconsious. But, tommorrow is acceptable as well." He says evenly.
"I will contact you, sir," Kelley executes a short bow and turned incline of his head. "Might I have your name before we part ways?"
Tu'ul inclines his head slightly at Kelly. "I am known as Tu'ul.. " He says simply.
"Kelley. Dr. Kelley if you want to be formal." A pause, "I'll contact you tomorrow, Tu'ul, and we can see what this alien has to say. Good evening to you." Kelley makes his way for the door, whatever he had come here for now completely forgotten.
