Test Drive Meme - closed

[central_librarymods]

The Central Library

Test Drive Meme

You are in The Central Library… anything can happen here. In fact, the possible can become actuality while you stay here. Things are always changing. Some for the better, some for the worst… it really all depends on one thing. You.

Take a look around, visit the worlds through the book portals, and slowly bring it back to life. The more you do, the better life will get. But be wary, not everything is a fun story and not everything is harmless. Sometimes you will have your life at stake and others you will simply have to enjoy your stay.

You can use RNG to pick a scenario below… or you can pick your own! Whatever delights your fancy and makes you feel at home within the walls of The Central Library.

1. Arrival – You wake up in the main hall. The reception desk is behind you and you know you heard someone whispering “Save us” in your ear… but where are you? The hall gleams and there are many doors amongst the shelves of books. It is rather huge and a walkway circles a second floor… where are you? Well… you might want to ask.

2. Market Place – The Central Library has turned the large conference room into an open gateway to a market place. It shifts and changes along with the Library, but food is always available to those living there as long as the portal is open. Step into a Parisian market of modern day, an open market of the Dark Ages, or even a trading post in the Old West. Go shopping, take a stroll… your imagination is your only limit.

3. Go Out to Dinner – There aren’t many places to go out to eat in The Central Library, in fact, it is best to keep food to the living quarters. But when you go through portals in events, you experience whole new worlds from every era and every place. Possibly you may sit in at the Mad Tea Party or even dine in the Great Hall at Hogwarts. You pick. You decide…


4. Non-Fiction Immersion – It’s raining. Inside. You’ll find that Non-fiction has a way of ruining your day to day life in the Library. Some book in the Non-fiction section has burst open letting out a monsoon of types that only gets worse as you get to that section. Find it, close it… or we all just might float away.

5. Fiction Invasion – Sometimes things slip through. Little things or big things. After all, monsters do hide in the dark corners and in some sections of the grand structure. But this time… the problem is small, small size that is. Pixies have invaded. They are troublesome things… they love to cause problems and make life a little miserable. You need to catch them before they steal you blind… and possibly cause you too much mischief. You may need a net… but please, try not to kill them.


6. Cleaning is Necessary – You are stuck here, you might want to make it home. Being in such disrepair, it needs a little love and care. I’m sure the janitor’s closets have some tools and no harm in trying to pick up books and shelve them. Just be careful… they are rather testy about where they go.

7. A posse ad esse – Anything is possible. This is your Wild Card. Have fun with it!

This Test Drive is Closed.  A new Test Drive will be posted soon.

Comments

[theraptorsquad]

"...It's not your fault. Some people just never learn, even when there's things that happened in the past that can be a good indicator of what's to come," Owen replied with a shrug, not about to dwell on it too much if he can help it. But he does feel for the librarian when the other admits to knowing all of the worlds. That seems..unpleasant and like a lot of weight to carry. "I hope so too, pal. I really do."

Turning to walk backwards a few steps, Owen huffed a bit of a laugh.

"Hey, that's better than getting hunted by a genetically modified dinosaur. And I have a net, that has to count for something," he mused, trying to keep the mood light now that they were off the slightly more depressing subjects. Another salute was tossed the librarian's way before Owen was heading for the aisle in question.

He tried to be as quiet as possible, not sure if it would do much good in the long run but he was going to try it anyway, slowly peering around the edge of one of the shelf's lining the aisle.

Grab the book and run. Seemed easy enough.

[the_head_librarian]

"No, it is a common folly of human nature." They tended to make the mistakes of the past over and over. It was both the sadness of that nature and the intrigue. Imperfect but still have so much capacity to love. However, he is ever so slightly amused by the use of 'buddy' and 'pal'. He says nothing, but simply nods.

Leaning forward, he started to follow, but felt slightly dizzy from the effort so far. He did not like being so useless.

"I will remind you of that comment later." He gave a serious expression with a nod. "Of course it does." Yes, he was teasing the other again, but he preferred this lighter side to the darkness surrounding them.

Taking a slow deep breath, he moved closer, hand grazing shelves for balance before he looked about the corner of the shelves. The pixies were certainly aware of Owen, but seemed to watch him a moment. None spared him a glance as long as he stayed still. All for the better in Owen's case.

That didn't stop them from buzzing about and taking soft swipes at the young man's hair curiously. Curiosity could turn dangerous with pixies... but he could not say that now.

[theraptorsquad]

"Okay I really don't like the way you said that. Makes me think you're going to do something like lead me into the dinosaur section just to be an ass," Owen muttered under his breath, side-eyeing the librarian before focusing on the pixies again.

He could worry about the other's plans later. For now, the young man ducked slightly to avoid the others picking at his hair as best as he could, taking one slow step and then another down the aisle. His gaze flitted from one pixie to the next, pausing every now and then when it seemed like he might have pissed them off, hesitating before he continued on.

Just a few steps more and he'd be close enough to the book to grab it, his gaze solely focused on it.

So much so that he didn't notice the pixies tugging at another book, drawing it from the shelf and carrying it towards Own to hold it over the man's head as they chittered excitedly. Owen frowned at the sound and the suddenly drop of water he felt that was quickly followed by another, then another. He froze in place, hand outstretched towards the book as he slowly glanced up--

And promptly was doused in salt water.

[the_head_librarian]

"Would you be totally adverse to having one of your girls back?" Where he did not understand the lure to wanting such a fierce carnivore as something to imprint on, he certainly knew there was a bond. "But no... I would not cause that to happen purposely."

Dinosaurs were too large to let into the Library if he could help it. Not that they wouldn't at some point, end up going through portals to a world that did have the creatures. He would simply worry about the here and now and not about the possible future. Such as keeping an eye on the man as he tried to not make any sudden move. Something that likely would work, but the pixies seemed taken with him.

However, his focus on Owen let him miss the pixie carrying a book. He opened his mouth to say something, but it was too late. A hand went to cover his lips as water poured out on the younger man. Pressing his lips together, he started to tell the Pixies it was enough, until the strange 'plop' sound followed the tumbling of a good size octopus fell from the book and wrapped it's long tentacles around Owen's head and shoulders clinging on for dear life.

Stepping forward, he frowned at the offending Pixie. "Enough." But even with the little creatures eyes on him, it gave the book a shake and at least five starfish fell out and stuck to the poor man. Angling his head, he held out a hand. The pixie gave a whistling sigh then dropped the book in his waiting hand. "You know Felis will not be pleased you took this from Non-Fiction."

[theraptorsquad]

You know. The water would have been enough. It would have really been enough.

But no.

The feel of the octopus clinging to his head and shoulders was the one of the strangest things Owen had ever had the displeasure of experiencing, the young man frozen, a look of disgust on his face. He managed to get a sputter or two out before starfish were added to the mix and at that point?

At that point he just gave up.

"I really hate this place all of a sudden," he groaned, trying to free himself from the octopus that really didn't seem to want to let go since it had no idea where it was. He was honestly extremely glad that he wasn't at home right now because he would never hear the end of it from his co-workers or even Claire. "Weird goddamn creature--" Despite how much he really wanted to get the thing off, Owen was being careful not to cause the octopus any harm which just seemed to make the situation even more difficult.

[the_head_librarian]

Soothing his fingers over the upest book, he glared at the pixie that crossed its arms over its chest and huffed. The child like features crossed in a pout before zipping away. All he could do was shake his head and move closer to the poor man doused and fighting the octopus clinging to him.

"I am sorry." His voice was soft with true remorse as he carefully reopened the book. "Come now..." He whispered to the creatures and quickly the starfish went back into the book. Arching a brow at the octopus, he spoke again. "You as well... I do not care if he is warm." Sighing softly, he waited as the Octopus eyed him with utter unwillingness.

"It will get quite dry if you stay here... and that would mean certain death." He persuaded it gently until he finally released the man and toppled off of him. Catching him with the book, he winced at the sight of suction cup marks on Owen's neck and a few on his face. "I am sure we can fix that soon..."

Not that he could make him less... drenched. And just getting the creatures back in the book left him winded. "Are you all right?"

[theraptorsquad]

Once he was free of the octopus and the starfish, Owen couldn't help but wipe at his face then run his hands through his hair.

Salt water was so unpleasant.

"Not the worst thing I've ever been through," he muttered, just glad that he wasn't covered in sea creatures anymore. Absently he rubbed at his neck, glancing up as if expecting there to be another pixie with a book because, well, that'd be just his luck. Finding nothing, though, Owen's gaze returned to the librarian, hand dropping from his neck as he frowned some.

"You okay?"

[the_head_librarian]

Vividly clear eyes watched the other's motions, taking in any injury beyond those he could see and the discomfort of deep sea water. He knew that couldn't be the most comfortable fate to go through. Pressing his lips together, he suddenly felt at a loss as he wanted to put the book down, but felt that unwise with the pixies still fluttering about and watching them carefully.

"Perhaps not, but certainly not a great experience either." He tried a soft smile, feeling a bit useless as he often did with the infection of the decay clawing at him as well.

Blinking a few times at the concern, he found he didn't really know how to answer it. Only Felis asked him such things when it got truly bad.

Instead, he stepped forward and reached out to the ugliest suction mark on Owen's neck. One that would take too long to heal naturally, and carefully slid his thumb over it. It rubbed away almost like washable ink, but it flickered and rose up on his own skin before it faded away. Doing those sorts of things made him even more tired. "I will be fine. Forgive me, I will have to treat the rest the old fashioned way once we get the book..."

As he pulled his hand away, his jaw tightened as he heard the chorus of giggles and suddenly a shower of glittering dust was poured on both of them. For him, it fell away... but for poor drenched Owen... the glittery substance stuck like glue.

[theraptorsquad]

"Could have been a lot worse than an octopus, even if the thing was a bit too clingy," he mused, trying to lighten the mood some but he really couldn't help but be a little bit annoyed. At the pixies, mind you. He had nothing against the librarian, considering how concerned he was for the other, and that concern only grew as the other healed the mark on his neck.

Why do you have to go doing stuff like that, huh?

"It's no big deal, really. They'll heal on their own. I'm not too worried about it," Owen tried to reassure the other. "I'm not bleeding and all my limbs are attached so I'd call that a good--"

Whatever he was going to say is cut off by the chorus of giggles and he makes the mistake of looking up just in time to get a face full of glittery dust herpes crap. At least he managed to shut his eyes in time..right?

Owen is still a moment before he lets out a huff, reaching up to wipe at his face.

"...I hate those little shits."

[the_head_librarian]

"He did like you a bit. It was why he did not wish to let go." Not that animals talked. Not really. But he understood how they felt and why they did what they did. It was part of being who he was. Such a thing taught him extreme empathy that he often hid from most.

"And it's 'no big deal' for me to treat them later. I do have all of the knowledge of the non-fiction section as well." Even through the darkening shadows under his eyes from the strain, he had to smile in amusement. Owen seemed strangely intent on worrying over him and that left him even more curious about what sort of person he was.

A curiosity that stilled into surprising silence when Owen was doused in glitter. He waited. A second, then two before the younger finally broke the silence.

"They are being far worse than necessary." He didn't have it in him to hate mythical creatures... but he could be frustrated. A rarity. Something he was not used to at all. Which was why he pressed the sea life book into Owen's hands. "Do not open it, or I am sure you will have your cephalopod friend back." With that, he knelt down to the glowing book on the floor and sighed.

"You have had your fun." And tired him enough. The glowing dimmed slightly and he slowly reached out to close it with a slight tremor in his fingers.