beware the library ghost!

[airdnd]

Username/Display Name: un: elderflower / dn: SH.
Server Channel: #general
Time: one fine morning sometime after Book Club

To my fellow guests:

First, I would like to thank everyone who attended Miss Amelia's book club meeting last week. Please remember to thank her for organizing it!

Secondly:

I'm sure we are all aware of supernatural or occult happenings taking place at the hotel from time to time.

That being the case, I would highly discourage anyone from remaining on the library floor after-hours. For one, it seems to decisively close at midnight, leaving you with no way to return to your suite, but also, it appears that a ghost may be haunting the premises thereafter.

[ or, you know, get trapped on purpose to have your own ghostly encounter (?) she's not your boss. ]

All to say: it may be unwise to spend the night at the library, no matter your skillset or ability or no matter how comfortable and cozy the seating there may be. The library houses many great works from across the universe, and I cannot stress enough the importance of ensuring no harm comes to such a collection. It would be best if we simply refrain from angering the after-hours ghost there.

So... please plan your visits accordingly.

Sincerely,
Sumina Heartleaf

Comments

[airdnd]

It seems the doors locked automatically at midnight, regardless of whether there were guests still within...

And there were quite a few of us lingering there, too.

[ 👁️ ]

[astarion]

What a fright that must have been.

But truly? [Hm? Hmm. 👀] Yourself and Amelia, i assume. But who else?

[airdnd]

Gale, and a few more of us who were cleaning up, like Miss Giselle...

[ the maid? staying behind the clean up? groundbreaking... ]

I think there were a few others there, too, who weren't participating but just happened to be in the library at the same time.

[astarion]

[Mental "hmm"ing continues.]

And what did you all do after you were locked in? other than being accosted by ghosts? I can't imagine it was comfortable finding a place to sleep.

[airdnd]

Clean up, of course! At least, for my part.

I can't speak for everyone...

[ 😇 ]

1/2

[astarion]

Ah, yes. Ever diligent on your part. I hope you managed to rest afterward, at least post-haunting.

Regardless, thank you for the update. I'll be sure to be very careful, indeed, while spending late nighttime hours lost in the library.

PRIVATE DM!!

[astarion]

[And then, in their DM-]

If you know something, then spill.

NO PEEKING!!

[airdnd]

[ Ehehe. She had a feeling this would pique his interest. ]

A good innkeeper doesn't just give information away for free, Astarion.

[astarion]

[She was right.]

what?

So you're going to dangle salacious [it's probably not salacious] gossip in front of me like a carrot on a stick??

[airdnd]

Yes. I think you're going to be very interested in what I have to say, after all.

[astarion]

ugh. Fine. i can't believe this, but fine.

What's your price?

[airdnd]

Information for information. Or: a favor to be availed of at a latter time, as I don't have anything that may require your particular skillset for the time being.

[ And also since Winter kind of sort of has first dibs on thieving-type tasks... ]

[astarion]

Given I don’t face any sort of similar information to exchange right this moment, we might just have to settle for a flavor, then.

[airdnd]

A favor it is, then. I'm sure I will be in need of your employ soon enough, so don't go thinking that I'll forget. Given the relative value of this information, I will endeavor to avail of a favor of similar magnitude. As in, I will not be asking you to put yourself in harm's way for the sake of this favor, and such.

[ Just... illuminating the terms of their agreement, just a bit. Force of habit. And also building the suspense a little bit, she can't help it! It's been a little bit since she got to tap into this side of her. ]

If you agree to all of the above, then it's settled.

[astarion]

So very formal of you. Do you need to me to sign somewhere, as well?

[He teases. To be fair, it's good to be clear, and Astarion really is a charlatan who'd find a loophole just to be funny, but in this case? It's reasonable enough.]

Yes, yes. I agree to your terms. Ask me for a favor of "similar magnitude" and I'll do much best to fulfill it.

[airdnd]

Perfect! Then we are set.

Once I had determined that the ghost had left me well enough alone, I happened to find Ms. Amelia and Gale asleep on one of the couches together.

[astarion]

they were whaat

[Oh. GALE? SIR??? Oh, perhaps he did catch a Vibe and now it's all but confirmed from Sumina. But, wait-]

now hold on, do you mean "asleep on the couches together" in a "they happened to fall asleep next to each other" or a "curled up fondly in each other's arms" sort of way?

[airdnd]

Well, this part is only my conjecture and opinion and not a statement of fact, but:

To me it seemed to be the second of your scenarios.

[astarion]

Gale, you dog [(fond but baffled)]

oh, I THOUGHT something was strange. A bit of something floating about in the air between them. I see I wasn't wrong, no, not at all.

[airdnd]

[ huh.. ]

Really? You can tell that sort of thing from looking?

[ she thought things were tense between them and that maybe they weren't getting along!? It was surprising to have then found them next to each other like that later on, but... ]

[astarion]

Of course you can! Certainly, there was tension. But it's a certain kind of tension that can hint at something else brewing beneath it.

Like a lover's quarrel. But more subtle. But him and Amelia... Yes, I can see it. Both bookish, both very entrenched in magic. I'm surprised she can put up with him, though, to any degree.

[airdnd]

I think I understand. Like what Elizabeth and Darcy had, right?

[ it's all beginning to make sense. ]

How do you mean by that though, Astarion? I've found Gale to be pleasant company...

[astarion]

[This is him just dragging Gale fondly.]

Precisely.

The man goes on and on and on and on. Surely you've noticed that.

[airdnd]

Haha, does he bore you when he goes on, Astarion? I thought it was endearing. It must be nice to be so passionate about something.

[astarion]

Oh, it's fine, but imagine having to travel with that for an extended period of time.

Ah, well. She's probably as passionate about magic as he is. I'd like to see how this plays out, and soon...