Character University

[Library]

"Book burnings aren't fun," Athalia protested, "and as long as I'm here, there certainly won't be one happening."

Library

"Why do I smell burning paper?" A voice from the doorway asked. Standing at the door stood a fox like figure. Dressed in a white tunic and black pants, she was standing next to a young man with dark black hair, who seemed to wear a bemused expression at all times.

"And what's all this about burning books? Seems a little counterproductive to a library." Kit said, her eyes darting across the assembled group.

[Library]

In spite of herself, Ena felt overjoyed at Athalia's protests. Somewhere at the back of Ena's mind, she knew that she shouldn't be so happy, but the sword she carried always made her feel reckless. It was as if the magic of the sword was pushing her to the extreme, towards the edge... And that felt good.

Ignoring Kit, Ena said, "Oh, I can't? Not while you're here?" Ena ran over to one of the isolated bookshelves. Over the top of it was the label, 'Young-Adult Romance'. "Watch!" Ena took her sword and quickly slashed at the books, her black cape flying through the air at her thrashing motions. At the sword's impacts, sparks crept up the shelf, eventually bursting into flame. Strangely enough, the fire was blue, and created no smoke. "See how easy it is?" Ena said, chuckling under her breath as the books burned to the ground. "All of those trashy, sappy romance novels are gone. You didn't stop it. You couldn't."

edited 18th Jun '12 2:31:21 PM by Collen

[Library]

Athalia paused for a moment, completely silent, before finally calmly stating in a serious tone, "Stop that. Please."

Peter turned to the others in the library and explained, "Athalia takes this very seriously... personal reasons."

[Library]

Tyler would have tackled Ena to the ground by now, if not for that sword. Maybe risk it anyway? Eh. Probably not a good idea.

[Library]

Ena grinned. "Care to explain any of those reasons? I'm not even from your universe. I can't do anything with your secrets, even if you tell me them. So, just spill your guts. It would be... interesting to know."

[Library]

"If you're not from this universe why do you care about those books." Tyler asked, the monotone slowly creeping back in as the mood calmed. Slightly.

-Library-

"I'll go get a broom, and sweep this up." Tina said as she went to the Library closet, and took out a broom and a dustbin.

edited 18th Jun '12 2:42:41 PM by DiurnalBrocolli

[Library]

"I was at a book burning years ago..." Athalia explained, "People were burning a novel featuring a not so subtle allegory towards The King, and he wasn't shown in a favourable light. Several people, including members of my own family tried to stop the event from taking place, but a riot ended up breaking out. One thing led to another... and my mother was killed."

[Library]

"Rachel, huh?" Nathan smiled, "Nice to meet you. I hope we learn more about each other soon."

It was then that he smelt burning books. He walked to the direction of the smell, and quirked an eyebrow. Out of the things he expected on his first day, he did not expect anyone to burn an entire section of books.

Were they really that bad? He wondered.

Library

Okay, first things were going boom, now there was more stuff catching on fire. Rachel really hoped that she hadn't been dropped into an episode of Mythbusters. Or, given that this was a library, Fahrenheit 451. She had the feeling that this wasn't the best place to be an infected right now.

She followed her ears towards the source of the noise, eventually reaching the place where the books were being burnt. This group certainly looked like an odd crew, especially the woman carrying a nasty-looking sword. Hopefully, if she kept her claws behind her back, her otherwise close resemblance to a normal human could prevent everyone from wanting to "burn the zombie."

"Excuse me, but I'd like to know what's going on," she said. "If this is supposed to be the library, it's almost the opposite of quiet in here."

[Library]

Tyler nodded at the girl who spoke up. "Some loony is burning a book because they don't like the contents of it. She has a sword. As you can see."

edited 18th Jun '12 2:48:26 PM by MrAHR

[Library]

Ena was not very impressed. "That's not a very... good reason. The book burning didn't make your mom die, your family protesting did. And, Tyler? The fact that we're in a different dimension has nothing to do with whether or not I burn the books. Some of these books exist in my universe, and they're terrible. I don't have to worry about what I do here. There are quite literally no repercussions."

[Library]

"...So, wait, what did the book do to you that was so horrible." Tyler was now very confused. It must be something pretty bad, if she was dismissing the death of someone's mother.

edited 18th Jun '12 2:52:23 PM by MrAHR

[Library]

Ena simply replied, "It was a terrible book. That's a crime in and out of itself. Also, it was pretty fun to set an entire shelf of books on fire. Wish I could do it again."

edited 18th Jun '12 2:53:45 PM by Collen

Tina finished sweeping up what remained of the books. After dumping the ash into a waste basket, she went over to Athalia. "I really didn't know; I'm so sorry." Tina said.

[Library]

Was that an explosion in the library?

Scout entered and pitter-pattered to another group of people. Hopefully they would be friendly to. They looked like a motley bunch. It was unlikely all of them knew each other, but it was unlikely one would be hostile for the risk of inducing the wrath of—

She spotted the shelf of books slashed through and burnt.

She froze.

Young-Adult Romance.

She skidded over to the section, knelt down, and shifted quietly through the ashes. Her fingers got smudged in the debris.

edited 18th Jun '12 2:56:14 PM by chihuahua0

[Library]

Tyler nodded, unsure. "But by your logic, it's not the book's fault. It's the author. Why punish the book. You're doing the same thing the lady here is. Only you dismissed her logic."

edited 18th Jun '12 2:56:29 PM by MrAHR

[Library]

"Oh, I'm sorry" Athalia said, "was my mothers death not tragic enough for you? Maybe I should have accompanied the tale with a beautiful orchestral score, surely then my protests wouldn't be overruled by your truly legitimate reason of not liking romantic fiction. Silly me." Athalia backed away from the crazy girl with the sword, deciding to not involve herself any further in her craziness. Turning to Tina, she said, "It's okay. I mean, how would you know? The only other person I've told that story to is Peter here."

edited 18th Jun '12 2:57:44 PM by Dvdmacyoshi

"We seem to be a magnet for crazy." Doltur said. Kit didn't respond, instead focusing on Athalia. "Personal tragedies and problems always seem smaller to other people. Sad, but very true. Don't take it personally." Kit advised.

Library

"Okay," Rachel responded. She took a look at the shelf where the books once where. She could vaguely make out the sign that read "Young Adult Romance," so thankfully the destroyed books weren't that important. At least, it didn't sound like the books about dimensional fluxes were stored there...that sounded more like the realm of the Science Fiction section.

She took the time to examine the rest of the entourage. Apart from a vaguely fox-like being, everyone else here appeared to be 100% human. She supposed that was a good thing. As long as she didn't share dining utensils or anything like that with anyone, the P-virus shouldn't be able to spread here. Of course, there was still the response everyone would have once they found out Rachel wasn't exactly human, but that was another kettle of fish altogether.

She decided that for now she was going to stay quiet until spoken to, and hopefully find a way out of here before things sparked up again. She really didn't want to be around when there was fire being flung around.

edited 18th Jun '12 3:09:39 PM by Yomegami

[Library]

It looked like everyone became smithereens. Oh well. It better not be the end of the world they're in.

She peeked behind the shelf. One last book was wedged behind the cracks.

She pulled at it with her fingers, wiggling it out inch by inch.

[Dormitory 1st Floor]

"It would be wise to check it. Even wiser, if we go equipped with umbrellas. But searching for one will be such a waste of time." Raze said, turning around and began walking back to the entrance door in a fast pace.

edited 18th Jun '12 3:11:40 PM by LimitRemoval

[Library]

Ena traced a line down her cheek, allowing her lip to wobble a bit. "Oh, boo-hoo, allow me to play the world's smallest violin." She sighed and turned around, and her voice dropped to barely a whisper. "You don't know what I've been through. You don't know the pain of betrayal, the pain that pierces you to your very core. You don't know the struggles I face inside..." Ena lifted her sword to the light of the window. "...the temptations of power..." For a split second, Ena's irises changed color from hazel to green, as if she had gotten one of her sword's scales in her eyes. But then, in a blink of an eye, they were normal again, as if nothing had changed.

edited 18th Jun '12 3:20:34 PM by Collen

[Library]

Tyler sighed slightly, as the question was ignored. It would seem that this Ena was a gigantic drama queen.

"Um, what does that have to do with burning a book. Having a horrible life doesn't necessarily mean you can go and destroy books without an excuse."

Tyler was beginning to think this Ena was either a whiny teenager, or mildly sociopathic.

edited 18th Jun '12 3:18:56 PM by MrAHR