PHASE I [ 10 00 ] No matter how you feel about reading activities, you’re going to the library today. Whether you accepted that flier and its promise of 1000 credits if you came to experience the joys of reading, or you didn’t and one of the truancy bots grabbed you and dragged you there, kicking and screaming, the fact of the matter is that you’re going to the library. Today.
Now that you're here though, remember to please be quiet while in the library. The librarian will not appreciate it if you’re loud.
In fact, said librarian will gladly hunt you down if you’re loud. She hasn't had lunch yet and you look ever so tasty, after all. If you don't want to be eaten though, apologies and a hefty donation to the library will get her to back down. See how simple that was? And all you had to do was shut your piehole.
Also hey look, all of your friends are here too! You should go read with them. Quietly.
Welcome to the library.
PHASE II [ 1015 ] And once you’re in the library, well… you may feel drawn to a book. It can be any book. It may not even be the typical sort of book that you’d read. But you’re drawn to it, you pick it up, you read a few pages, and then something happens.
The effects may take hold slowly and worsen over time, or they may immediately grab you by the throat, but either way, you’re no longer acting quite like yourself.
And now that you’ve read a book, you’re allowed to leave the library without a fuss, book now safely in your arms along with your new CERES-issued library card app on your CereVice. The app is handy for things like seeing if a certain book is at the library or checked out, requesting for a specific title to be available, renewing books from the comfort of your home and checking on events happening weekly. (Tuesday Afternoon is the "Romance Lovers Book Club" and it seems to be personally recommended by Mosley himself! Wow!) Look at how handy that is! Of course, you can also try to escape through the windows without a book, but nobody will let you leave until you’ve at least checked out at least one.
Reading is good for you, kids.
PHASE III [ 100 ] Either way, you’ve escaped the library, right? You’re safe now, even if everyone around the city is acting totally strange. And, for a day or two, everything will just stay that way. Everything will probably be fine, right?
Wrong.
The third night after this disaster began, you’ll find yourself back in the library. You don’t know how you got there or why but you sure are here. One moment you were asleep in your bed, or reading like the night owl you are, and the next you’re in the middle of the library, wearing whatever you wear late at night. No judgment here, you rock those pikachu pajamas. You really do. ... Oh wait, you weren't wearing pikachu pajamas? Oops. You are now.
Anyway, the library is completely dark, and eerily quiet. But there are skitterings of creatures right outside of your field of vision, and no matter how you try, you can’t find a light switch. While nothing is jumping out at you immediately, this is also Cerealia. Who knows what’s lurking out there in the dark? Maybe you should take a swing and see what happens.
Of course, if you do get the zombie skeletons, you should feel bad about it; it seemed they were just trying to sort the books with a lot of enthusiasm. It's not their fault you were in their book-sorting way.
(Or... maybe it’s just your friends. It sure would be bad if you killed them. Please don’t kill them and get blood all over the books.)
PHASE IV [ 645 ] From the sun shining through the windows, it... seems to be morning. Yayyyy! You survived the night.
But you also made a mess. There are books everywhere, along with (re)dead zombie corpses, and they need to be sorted back into their proper places. You do know the system that Cerealia’s books are sorted by, right? Of course you do.
... What the heck is a Dewey Decimal System?
Well, either way you’d better get to work fast, because if the books aren’t sorted, you will be. If you inspect the corpses, you might notice that there's something off about them. That maybe they weren't there to attack you last night but to... clean up the library. And you stopped them, oh. So now it's your job to sort through this mess and if you don't, a certain giant metal claw will happily grab you and stuff you into a bookshelf regardless of whether or not your limbs fit.
(Also wow, rude, did the claw sort you onto the dinosaur erotica shelf?)
Either way, you can probably leave once the librarian gets here and forget this whole PR stunt ever happened. Thanks for reading with CERES!
BONUS [ xxxx ] So, remember those book clubs? It seems like they're not doing nearly as well as the library would hope (even with their sponsorship from Mosley!) so the library has decided to do something about that. Sometime during the next week, even if the effects of that book you checked out have worn off, you might be approached by some robots (holy shit are they huge too). They don't look friendly either. They'll have the official Cerealia Library logo on their chest and when they spot you they'll make a beeline right over, so you might want to run.
They're here to collect you and no matter how many times you try and outrun them, they'll just keep coming back. If you finally give in, don't mind the robot as it scoops you up (bridal style, naturally) and carries you straight to the library.
When you get there, everything's less threatening, of course. You'll be dropped right at the circle of chairs with everyone else (maybe you see a friend there too) and given a book to read. Is this... is this dinosaur erotica again? Of course it is. (Or maybe it's the robot western, the zombie noir? All these genres to choose from!)
And it seems like those robots aren't going to let you leave until you've given a detailed, thoughtful account of the main character's struggle either. They want to see tears.
[ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with sensitive or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ] |
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Phase IV
He's been good with cleaning up and dodging the Claw. He's not even paying attention to what section he's currently in until he hears a very familiar voice. Mikleo stops and looks around, eventually looking up to see--]
Sorey?!
[WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THERE?]
Hang on!
[Praise be that Sorey isn't out of Mikleo's reach. He grabs his friend's hand in one and with his other arm he shoves against the books as much as he can, trying to make more room so that the Shepherd can get out.]
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[ Boy is he glad to see you, man (even if he is highly unsure about how he acted earlier). He was worried he'd be stuck in here for a long time, sob.
But the kingliness is still in him so he can't help but blurt out as Mikleo pulls on him — ] What a good sheep! Helping your beloved king!
[ It's helping though and he's slowly sliding out!! Now if only his kingly attitude were easier to get out of. ]
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Plus, he really can't speak much as he pulls Sorey out of the shelf. The most Mikleo can do is grunt from the effort. At least he's not calling the water seraph 'his queen' like Flynn had been.
Once Sorey has gotten to the edge of the shelf, Mikleo stops pushing against the books. He takes his friend's other hand and continues pulling. ...It occurs to the water seraph in a vague way that if Sorey falls on him, he's not going to have the reaction time or strength necessary to keep from falling with him, especially since his body is leaning backwards and thus closer to the ground. Mikleo's more stressed side thinks that if this happens and Sorey tries to use him as a throne, all bets are off.]
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Instead of caring about Mikleo's well-being, all he can do is praise him. In a kind of rude way but. ]
Knowing your place is important and you've done well to aid me. Your good work will be remembered.
[ And he will stand up and get off him. Ah, Mikleo provided such a comfortable landing. ]
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After managing to mostly snap out of his dazed state, he decides to carefully check his ribs to make sure none of them are broken. None are, thank the Five Lords, and then he tries to sit up.
Ugh, the room spins a little and he does have a headache, but Mikleo's pretty sure he'll be okay. Gingerly, he touches the back of his head and winces. Okay, maybe a Resilient Aid is in order.]
Hooray.
[The water seraph is just going to sit right there, thank you very much, and summons his staff. He's trying to save the gels he brought for emergencies. So, Mikleo casts the Seraphic Arte from a sitting position on himself. Instantly, he feels much better. More alert and less dazed. Not to mention the fact that any bruises he would've gotten have now been healed.
He looks up at his friend and decides to ignore what Sorey just said. It's not the person he knows talking, and that makes it easier to deal with. Not much easier, but....]
How on earth did you get wedged in there, anyway?
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He breaks out of his weird kingliness for a moment at that question, though. Please wear off faster.
Taking the opportunity: ] S-Sorry, Mikleo. [ For falling on you. Sob. ]
I kept trying to clean up the mess, but it wasn't really working out. [ Ahah ... Take a guess as to why.
Back to his deep-voiced kingliness! ] It's not a king's job to clean up, but that claw felt otherwise! I'll have to find the person operating that thing and throw them in the dungeons!
[ HUFF PUFF. Two very different views going on here. ]
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Dear sweet Amenoch, give him patience.... One day, he'll tease Sorey about being a king, but today isn't that day.]
You know, the only saving grace for you right now is the fact that you're not hitting on me or being way too handsy.
[See: Yuri (+ Yu) and Flynn respectively. Mikleo walks over to give Sorey a quick check for any bodily injuries.]
You didn't get hurt at all, did you?
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Huff puffing at that though. ]
It's unbecoming of a king to be handsy. [ He's not as low as people like Flynn. ]
No, I didn't. Your concern is appreciated.
[ What a loyal sheep. ]
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Oh? So it's not so unbecoming of a king to flirt?
[Now that it's been said, Mikleo really hopes he doesn't want to eat those words.
The water seraph takes a step back after the confirmation.]
Well, that's a relief, at least. [He crosses his arms.] Too bad we can't leave until the...uh, librarian comes in to unlock the door.
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It is when the one being flirted with already belongs to another king!
[ He guuueeesses kings can flirt, but only if they're not stealing from other kings. Huff. ]
The librarian is too slow. I'll have to scold them when they arrive.
[ Okay, this sounds like an actual stupid plan. But not to Sorey. For he is a king. ]
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You know you don't need to be possessive or jealous about it, right?
[Maybe he'll ask Sorey about it once he's back to normal. Mikleo isn't going to get a whole lot out of him right now. Besides, what he says is true, and if Sorey truly feels that way, then it's better to give him something of a reassurance, right?]
Um, no. You're not scolding the librarian, especially since I'm pretty sure the librarian will just eat you.
[The seraph is putting his foot down on this one.]
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He would never in a million years think someone belongs to him, in any way. Even with his seraphim, he never makes them do things they don't want to, or even insinuates they belong to him. But ... there's nothing he can do about what his kingly self says. For now. ]
A king does not feel "jealousy". He owns what he owns, and that's that. [ HMPH.
There's a flash of an apologetic look in his eyes before his kingly side continues. ]
They wouldn't dare.
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...It sadly doesn't stop Mikleo from outright scowling at that.]
You're so lucky that I know you wouldn't say something like that to my face when you're in your right mind.
[Nobody owns this water seraph, thanks. "King Sorey" is asking for a punch to the face, but the fact that it's Sorey's face is what keeps him from doing it.]
They would and you know it. We're going to very quietly leave and not bother them. So, c'mon, let's go stake out the entrance so we can leave the minute it's unlocked.
[He grabs Sorey's wrist firmly and will drag him over to the exit if he has to.]
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[ Yes, King Sorey is offended by his tone. Scowling? At a king? Ridiculous!
He doesn't like the fact that he's grabbing him that way either, and he does refuse to move. ]
Quietly leave? After all this trouble? [ He's still annoyed by that claw and everything.
But before he can protest further, his normal self is breaking out again. All that anger Mikleo's been showing him, and him grabbing his wrist like that — it's enough to pull Sorey's mind back to normal. At least for now. Suddenly he seems a lot lighter in his demeanor — less like he's attempting to look big and menacing, and his voice is back to normal. ]
M-Mikleo! I didn't mean any of that!
[ Please don't be mad at him. ]
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The water seraph doesn't let go, though. The Sorey he knows might be back, but that might only be temporary and he doesn't want him to get hurt by that damn librarian when he backslides into that king nonsense. However, his tone does get gentler.]
Sorey, we'll talk about this when we're back at the apartment and you're back to normal, okay? We'll get through this. Together.
[He takes a deep breath.]
I haven't left you yet and I don't plan on leaving you now.
[Even if it hurts when that king side comes out, Mikleo isn't going to abandon Sorey because of it.]
It's not your fault, okay? Just...just try to get better.
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Nodding calmly. ] ... Alright. I'm really sorry, okay? That ... I'm probably hurting you like that. [ At least that's how it seems, with how Mikleo's been reacting and how he's acting right now. Ah ... ] Just try to take everything I say with a grain of salt.
[ Geez, he goes through all these dangerous events that could actually harm (or kill) him, and the event that's hurting him the most is this one. Because it's hurting his friend. ]
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I know.
[Mikleo knows he's sorry, that it's hurting himself, and to not let those words get to him. It's hard, though. Even with the ridiculous voice he puts on, it's still Sorey saying it. He glances back, an apology in his own eyes.]
I'm sorry for losing it like that.
[He really, truly is. Mikleo turns away, though.]
While I've still got your cooperation, let's try to walk as far as we can to the exit before I have to manhandle you.
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Don't worry about it, Mikleo. I don't blame you for getting worked up. [ Hah ... ] I'm kind of a jerk when I'm like that. [ Not just kind of. Definitely a jerk.
And he lets out a sort of awkward laugh at that last part. ]
I don't know how king me will react to being manhandled [ probably very badly ], but that sounds like a good idea.
[ He'll start walking when Mikleo does. He's really thankful he's gotten this much time to talk to him before it comes back. It must really be wearing off now. (Thank god.) ]
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[He sounds exasperated and starts walking toward the exit. Mikleo keeps an eye out for anything hostile that might come their way. Last night had...really kept him on edge, and he hasn't entirely been able to shake it off.]
I don't really care about his reaction as long as it means you're not getting eaten or killed in some other way.
[Further proof that Mikleo is back to his normal self, which is a good thing at this point.]
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Yeah. Definitely a jerk. At least it seems like it'll be gone soon.
[ With how long he's been able to go without becoming King Sorey just now. ]
Right. Uh ... if I get like that again soon, please don't let me scold the librarian.
[ He doesn't care what you have to do just don't let him do it. At least normal Sorey is very aware that's a bad idea. He does not want to die at the hands of that thing. ]
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[Mikleo flashes him a wry grin.]
Forgive me if I have to resort to knocking you out in order to make that happen, then.
[He'll of course heal Sorey after the danger has passed, but still. Getting KO'd by a staff to the head won't be a pleasant experience.]
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But ... ah ... ]
I'll forgive you. It gives me the shivers just thinking about fighting that thing ... so I guess being knocked out is the better option. [ A pause. ] Just ... make sure it's a last resort.
[ At least he trusts him enough with his life that he'd trust him if he had to be knocked out by him. It just won't be comfortable. ]
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Trust me. Besides, it's not like it'd be the first time I had to carry your unconscious body in broad daylight through a human city.
[Ah, he thinks he can see the front desk. So, the exit is really close. Yesssssss, soon the madness will be over and they can escape this weird as hell library!]
That might be the front desk just ahead of us. Ugh, I never thought I'd be happy to leave a library of all places.
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[ But boy does it fill him with relief seeing the front desk. ]
Me too. [ And ... as he is about to continue with that thought, his kingly self fades right back in. This was too good to be true, right. That thing won't go away so easily.
And suddenly he is stopping his walking and tugging his wrist. King Sorey does not like being held onto this way. ]
Unhand me!
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And then Mikleo hits on an idea that might help get his cooperation. He stops in his tracks and twists to face his friend as much as he can while still holding firmly to his wrist, all of which without warning. Time for him to twist the truth a little bit and hope for the best.]
Your majesty. [Ugh.] I apologize for all of the rudeness and not being straightforward with my intentions, but I need to get you to safety. I uncovered an elaborate plot that someone in this facility will try to take your life and everything you call yours. King Sorey, [Ugh.] if you value your subjects or your kingdom, then I implore you to trust me and do as I say until you're safe from harm.
[Did he nail it?]
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