Always Look On The Bright Side... 24 (Footwear / Tower)
Ace Dreamer
Verified Reality User
- Location
- Between The Unknown & The Known
Always Look On The Bright Side... 24 (Footwear / Tower)
"Take them off! I can't do that! It's... embarrassing!" "Go on, give it a try. It could be... educational."
---
Places to raven-wrangle that were unmonitored and unrecorded seemed in short supply. Ms. Militia was speaking to a number of PRT technicians. A certain amount of less than positive hand-gesturing seemed to be going on.
Madison and client had been asked to stay out of easy hearing range of this discussion.
A somewhat overweight woman walked in, nodded to the pair of them. The hairs rose on the back of Madison's neck, and Rain moved around, behind her.
"What is the problem?"
The technicians shuffled so presumably the most senior got to answer.
"Director. The regulations on what we can do during a Level Two Lockdown are quite clear."
Lockdown? That was the first Madison had heard about anything like that.
"Good point. Evans. You know the rules and... how to work with them. Suggestions?"
It occurred to Madison that Evans had seemed... quite good at avoiding where problems were.
The solid-looking man thought for a few moments.
"It would require your personal authorisation, as this is L2, but would the secure room suit?"
"Unconventional. I like it. Do it."
"But, Director!"
The lead technician looked around. Everyone seemed to have stepped away from them.
"Yes Ma'am."
---
It wasn't a very large room, and seemed more military than office, but Madison thought it would do.
The strange way sound seemed deadened was interesting.
There'd been a little more trouble with the stand-alone video display device. They all seemed to have camera and microphones. Director Piggot seemed... irked. An older technician pulled a somewhat battered-looking device from their toolbox, which while obsolete did lack camera and mic. The Director... suggested changes in procedures, and stored older devices be returned to availability.
"Let's start with you taking your boots off, sitting them beside you, and looking at your toes. I'll do the same, so you can compare. We never tried to check what you can do with your costume, and I don't think we want any surprises."
"OK... Wow! Don't toes look funny! Like little, stubby, fingers!"
"Some people with... finger problems, learn to use their toes nearly as well as them. Can do things like write. Yes. We need to check your writing. Another thing we missed."
"Where did my boots go?"
"They turned into shadow. Then looked to merge back into yours. Can you get your boots back?"
"I'll try... There! Easy!"
"Good. Take them off again, and this time, firmly think you want them to stay, sitting next to you... OK. That seems to have worked. Any strain?"
"No..."
"Any problems with the lighting in here? It isn't quite as bright as the other room. No? Good. Now. Compare our feet. Yours are slightly grey, mine, because it's winter, just a bit pink. Can you make yours match?"
"It's... difficult..."
"Could you try that meditation trick we found helped with some of your other powers?"
"Right. They look about the same, now, but I can feel a bit of strain."
"Try and hold it for... another two minutes. If you carefully look you can see your hands have changed, as well. And your face. Your hair... doesn't look coloured, and your forehead-gem is nearly invisible."
"I feel... a bit more vulnerable."
"I'm guessing you've made yourself a lot closer to straight human. Sorry it's uncomfortable. Being able to do this will greatly improve your chances with the Wards. Ensure the extra food."
"It... doesn't seem to be making me more hungry. And, I feel... more stable, clearer-headed, less bird grumbling in the back of my head..."
"That's... interesting."
Notes are taken.
"OK. That's long enough. Now, try and carefully let it fade, back to where there isn't a strain. Good. That looks OK. And, the boots are still next to you, too."
"That... feels good. Eat now?"
"First, try and recall your boots, back onto your feet. Good. Now. Go for it. But. Remember. Three hot chocolates. One of them is mine."
A pause.
"Don't grumble. We made an agreement. We're family. And, we share food. So. Mine!"
---
Scene Change!
---
Alexandria. This. Is. A Dead. Library. Was she nailed to her Tower? Had she Beautiful Architecture? Did the Librarian want to go to New England? Leap from Tome to Tome? Dress in Men's Clothing, and hang around in Towers? Was her Best Guy unhappy she was Butch? Did being 'Xander' mean she, Taylor, was abridged? Why was Lisa looking at her funny?
---
This door into the Library, from the end of the backup, backup, Coil emergency exit - it's proved a little tricky to get right. The Library seems to be semi-isolated, some sort of dimensional shift, and something to do with Time. Messing with Time is always something... needing caution, because... Yes, Papa's notes gave some ideas just how bad it could get.
She guessed she'd been mentally rambling, in between attempting to math the problem out. Her childhood dreams of becoming Alexandria. And, weird connections with a Library not completely in the real world. And, the Librarian they would meet. And mangled bits of Alexandria Harris, 'Xander', and their... unconventional view of the world. A bit like hers, but, not, as well. Learned ways to survive... unfortunate life situations. Her mother's love of Monty Python and their subversive humour...
She was beginning to suspect that some of the fragments of lives, swirling in the back of her head, were settling in for longer stays. Did she get Oz's musical talent? Pretty sure she'd dodged the lycanthropy. Also, some Xander experiences, had left... effects. Though, inadvertently, she might have slipped at least one of them onto Lisa. If she squinted at her just right, did she have foxy ears and more than one fox-tail?
Obviously that wouldn't be an issue!
Pull a folding chair from beneath, and one for Lisa. Sit, get out a blank notebook. Start math-ing Library access logic.
Tap the notebook with the pencil.
What did Dennis get? Pretty sure he got pure Willow. Hope that didn't upset, too much. Willow could get slightly intense. Maybe shy Willow would help balance brash Dennis? Didn't she recall a red-head called 'Dennis' from her pre-high-school times? Rumours he'd got... family problems? Willow certainly had those. The two sort of looked the same, the Dennises, comparing her two sets of memories...
"Problems?"
"Some of the math is proving tricky. Also, I think some of my multiple sets of memories are getting clearer. I'm still 'Taylor', you're still 'Lisa', but we've got... extra facets."
"So, we're gemstones, maybe bits of jewellery, now?"
"I think we always have been, but, it's not something you notice unless you really think it through."
"I'll let you get back to math-ing the Universe into submission."
Hmm. There's a sort of anchor to something deeper, lower. Maybe that 'Deepest Well'? We'll really need to investigate that, at some point. So, need to add another set of terms to reflect that...
Jessie had mapped completely to Emma, who'd survived that, Andrea to...
{Who did Andrea map to?}
[Madison Clements]
That... might be very messy. Andrea was a bit of a wild card.
She'd a horrible suspicion she knew what happened to Angel/Angelus, but, if she was right, something for later.
Lisa... There was that poetry bit. Didn't seem to have a clear persona, yet. Something to watch. Also, some fragment of Joanna? Andrea's friend. Felt mostly OK.
Warren didn't feel an immediate issue. Nor did anyone else. But there were always issues, waiting in the wings.
{Risk of outside interference?}
[Managed]
Oh. Yes. The logic was simpler than she thought. All those terms cancelled out. It was really quite elegant.
"I think we're ready to go, now."
Thumbs-up.
"Showtime!"
AN: Mid-Summers Day! Is your Henge in good order?
AN: Alexandria (Tower of) - I've seen suggestions that 'Tower' might be referencing the 'Lighthouse', not the 'Library'... Also, having been burned-down, does that sound a bit 'dead', rather than being a source of knowledge/hope? Some might consider The Thinker/Eden to be a bit dead, and Alexandria is using her human-interaction avatar shard...
AN: I'm afraid that Alexandria has become a (Python-esque) Dead Parrot (1971, film version) in this episode... Which then shifts to the Lumberjack Song...
"Take them off! I can't do that! It's... embarrassing!" "Go on, give it a try. It could be... educational."
---
Places to raven-wrangle that were unmonitored and unrecorded seemed in short supply. Ms. Militia was speaking to a number of PRT technicians. A certain amount of less than positive hand-gesturing seemed to be going on.
Madison and client had been asked to stay out of easy hearing range of this discussion.
A somewhat overweight woman walked in, nodded to the pair of them. The hairs rose on the back of Madison's neck, and Rain moved around, behind her.
"What is the problem?"
The technicians shuffled so presumably the most senior got to answer.
"Director. The regulations on what we can do during a Level Two Lockdown are quite clear."
Lockdown? That was the first Madison had heard about anything like that.
"Good point. Evans. You know the rules and... how to work with them. Suggestions?"
It occurred to Madison that Evans had seemed... quite good at avoiding where problems were.
The solid-looking man thought for a few moments.
"It would require your personal authorisation, as this is L2, but would the secure room suit?"
"Unconventional. I like it. Do it."
"But, Director!"
The lead technician looked around. Everyone seemed to have stepped away from them.
"Yes Ma'am."
---
It wasn't a very large room, and seemed more military than office, but Madison thought it would do.
The strange way sound seemed deadened was interesting.
There'd been a little more trouble with the stand-alone video display device. They all seemed to have camera and microphones. Director Piggot seemed... irked. An older technician pulled a somewhat battered-looking device from their toolbox, which while obsolete did lack camera and mic. The Director... suggested changes in procedures, and stored older devices be returned to availability.
"Let's start with you taking your boots off, sitting them beside you, and looking at your toes. I'll do the same, so you can compare. We never tried to check what you can do with your costume, and I don't think we want any surprises."
"OK... Wow! Don't toes look funny! Like little, stubby, fingers!"
"Some people with... finger problems, learn to use their toes nearly as well as them. Can do things like write. Yes. We need to check your writing. Another thing we missed."
"Where did my boots go?"
"They turned into shadow. Then looked to merge back into yours. Can you get your boots back?"
"I'll try... There! Easy!"
"Good. Take them off again, and this time, firmly think you want them to stay, sitting next to you... OK. That seems to have worked. Any strain?"
"No..."
"Any problems with the lighting in here? It isn't quite as bright as the other room. No? Good. Now. Compare our feet. Yours are slightly grey, mine, because it's winter, just a bit pink. Can you make yours match?"
"It's... difficult..."
"Could you try that meditation trick we found helped with some of your other powers?"
"Right. They look about the same, now, but I can feel a bit of strain."
"Try and hold it for... another two minutes. If you carefully look you can see your hands have changed, as well. And your face. Your hair... doesn't look coloured, and your forehead-gem is nearly invisible."
"I feel... a bit more vulnerable."
"I'm guessing you've made yourself a lot closer to straight human. Sorry it's uncomfortable. Being able to do this will greatly improve your chances with the Wards. Ensure the extra food."
"It... doesn't seem to be making me more hungry. And, I feel... more stable, clearer-headed, less bird grumbling in the back of my head..."
"That's... interesting."
Notes are taken.
"OK. That's long enough. Now, try and carefully let it fade, back to where there isn't a strain. Good. That looks OK. And, the boots are still next to you, too."
"That... feels good. Eat now?"
"First, try and recall your boots, back onto your feet. Good. Now. Go for it. But. Remember. Three hot chocolates. One of them is mine."
A pause.
"Don't grumble. We made an agreement. We're family. And, we share food. So. Mine!"
---
Scene Change!
---
Alexandria. This. Is. A Dead. Library. Was she nailed to her Tower? Had she Beautiful Architecture? Did the Librarian want to go to New England? Leap from Tome to Tome? Dress in Men's Clothing, and hang around in Towers? Was her Best Guy unhappy she was Butch? Did being 'Xander' mean she, Taylor, was abridged? Why was Lisa looking at her funny?
---
This door into the Library, from the end of the backup, backup, Coil emergency exit - it's proved a little tricky to get right. The Library seems to be semi-isolated, some sort of dimensional shift, and something to do with Time. Messing with Time is always something... needing caution, because... Yes, Papa's notes gave some ideas just how bad it could get.
She guessed she'd been mentally rambling, in between attempting to math the problem out. Her childhood dreams of becoming Alexandria. And, weird connections with a Library not completely in the real world. And, the Librarian they would meet. And mangled bits of Alexandria Harris, 'Xander', and their... unconventional view of the world. A bit like hers, but, not, as well. Learned ways to survive... unfortunate life situations. Her mother's love of Monty Python and their subversive humour...
She was beginning to suspect that some of the fragments of lives, swirling in the back of her head, were settling in for longer stays. Did she get Oz's musical talent? Pretty sure she'd dodged the lycanthropy. Also, some Xander experiences, had left... effects. Though, inadvertently, she might have slipped at least one of them onto Lisa. If she squinted at her just right, did she have foxy ears and more than one fox-tail?
Obviously that wouldn't be an issue!
Pull a folding chair from beneath, and one for Lisa. Sit, get out a blank notebook. Start math-ing Library access logic.
Tap the notebook with the pencil.
What did Dennis get? Pretty sure he got pure Willow. Hope that didn't upset, too much. Willow could get slightly intense. Maybe shy Willow would help balance brash Dennis? Didn't she recall a red-head called 'Dennis' from her pre-high-school times? Rumours he'd got... family problems? Willow certainly had those. The two sort of looked the same, the Dennises, comparing her two sets of memories...
"Problems?"
"Some of the math is proving tricky. Also, I think some of my multiple sets of memories are getting clearer. I'm still 'Taylor', you're still 'Lisa', but we've got... extra facets."
"So, we're gemstones, maybe bits of jewellery, now?"
"I think we always have been, but, it's not something you notice unless you really think it through."
"I'll let you get back to math-ing the Universe into submission."
Hmm. There's a sort of anchor to something deeper, lower. Maybe that 'Deepest Well'? We'll really need to investigate that, at some point. So, need to add another set of terms to reflect that...
Jessie had mapped completely to Emma, who'd survived that, Andrea to...
{Who did Andrea map to?}
[Madison Clements]
That... might be very messy. Andrea was a bit of a wild card.
She'd a horrible suspicion she knew what happened to Angel/Angelus, but, if she was right, something for later.
Lisa... There was that poetry bit. Didn't seem to have a clear persona, yet. Something to watch. Also, some fragment of Joanna? Andrea's friend. Felt mostly OK.
Warren didn't feel an immediate issue. Nor did anyone else. But there were always issues, waiting in the wings.
{Risk of outside interference?}
[Managed]
Oh. Yes. The logic was simpler than she thought. All those terms cancelled out. It was really quite elegant.
"I think we're ready to go, now."
Thumbs-up.
"Showtime!"
AN: Mid-Summers Day! Is your Henge in good order?
AN: Alexandria (Tower of) - I've seen suggestions that 'Tower' might be referencing the 'Lighthouse', not the 'Library'... Also, having been burned-down, does that sound a bit 'dead', rather than being a source of knowledge/hope? Some might consider The Thinker/Eden to be a bit dead, and Alexandria is using her human-interaction avatar shard...
AN: I'm afraid that Alexandria has become a (Python-esque) Dead Parrot (1971, film version) in this episode... Which then shifts to the Lumberjack Song...
One version of the starting text might have been:
"Take them off! I can't do that! It's... embarrassing!" "Look. I'll take mine off, first. See?" "That's a bit weird." "But, it's just a little bit embarrassing. Go on, give it a try. It could be... educational."
It... seemed best to simplify this. For... reasons.
"Take them off! I can't do that! It's... embarrassing!" "Look. I'll take mine off, first. See?" "That's a bit weird." "But, it's just a little bit embarrassing. Go on, give it a try. It could be... educational."
It... seemed best to simplify this. For... reasons.
Last edited:
