Tiger-Sitting and Crimson Pens
Log Info
- Title: Tiger-Sitting and Crimson Pens
- Emitter: Mikilos
- Place: Mithralla Merchandise Library
- Summary: Some visitors to the library find a rather unconventional guest already there... and some of the new arrivals receive an education as to quite what sort of books some people like to create and read.
-=--=--=--=--=--=-<* A15: Mithralla Merchandise: Library *>--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Built back into the mountain, this room is cool and dry. Arcane globes provide soft illumination, and fire sources are strongly discouraged. The center of the room holds a pair of long tables, and a cabinet holding a crude card catalog. Many bookshelves are carved directly out of the walls, while stout wooden structures hold even more. Academic texts are of course in large number, but the shelves also hold a range of novels, poems, play scripts, and other works of entertainment. However the majority of the works held here are journals, diaries, letters, maps, and travel logs, organizied by location. Alexandros is the majority, but a vast number of exotic locations are represented. With minimal seraching, one can find a firsthand account of life most anywhere in the world.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
A kitty sits in the corner of the library, calmly cleanings it's paws and purring with a loud rumble. It's orange kitty. A striped orange kitty. A BIG striped orange kitty. A tiger. It's a tiger.
Mikilos is pinned beneath, calmly reading a book, petting the massive feline with his free hand. He's not been given much choice in the matter.
Dirk comes lumbering into the library, carrying a couple books under his arm. He sets them on the desk. "Aye, I'd like tae return these, please," he says. The librarian at the desk starts checking in his selections. She blinks at the cover of one--unmistakeably a Crimson Pen novel, sporting a bare-chested and mansome dwarven hero, his inky-black beard and silky mane flowing in the wind, while a willowy elf-maid with long golden hair clasps him in a passionate embrace. The librarian peers at the book, then at Dirk, whose cheeks turn pink under his snowy white beard. "What? Peak o' Passion was a -great- read!" he grumbles.
The door opens again - sufficient to allow someone to peek curiously around it. A smile already visible on her lips, Ygraine looks very much as if she is eager to discover what might lie within. Her first glance is *up* and around, taking in the softly-glowing globes, before she starts to register those others already present. Hastening inside, she quietly closes the portal behind her... and only *after* doing so glances in the direction of the odd noises coming from the corner. That prompts a marked double-take, as she tries to confirm that what she thinks she is seeing is in fact really *there*.
Carver slipped into the library, not for any actual desire to read. It's cold outside. She dusts off her furs, before pulling the hood back with a grandoise sweep and toss of her hair. "Oi, why'd it go from good weather to--" SHH! One passing patron casts a spell of silence on her, a forceful gesture that is mocked in turn but obeyed by the young woman. "Pfft." She steps farther in, pausing by Ygraine to also peer dumbfounded at Mikilos.
Mikilos perks at voices, stretching a bit to look over the tiger towards Dirk. "Based on a true story, you know. VERY loosely based, but the elven love interest is a cousin of mine. Well, third cousin once removed." Spying Ygraine and Carver, he waves hello. "Greetings, good to see you both. How may I be of service?" He frowns ruefully. "Which is currently a limited list."
Dirk glances over as Mikilos addresses him. "Oh! Master Mikilos!" He tips his tricorne in greeting. "Er... ye seem tae have yer hands full there, sir. Not tae mention yer lap, an' yer chest, an'... well, just about -all- of ye." He rumbles a laugh as he looks the tiger over. "Not as I blame ye. What a handsome lad!" He squats down, reaching out to scritch the large kitty's ears. "Oh yes you -are-. You are a -handsome- lad!" he coos. Rangers, am I right?
"That... does look impressive," Ygraine agrees, eyes wide as she takes in Mikilos's unconventional lap-warmer - and the unfamiliar dwarf's rather surprising reaction to seeing a tiger. Indeed, she glances around again as if to check that the other people present are seeing what she is seeing. Managing to retun her gaze to the owner, she finds a smile... but not yet the courage to move closer. "For my own part, I am chiefly indulging curiosity. When last we met, you mentioned the library... and I wanted to see it."
"You can escape when'er you want," Carver grumbles after Ygraine's more traditional greeting. "You're like a powerful wizard." Must be jealousy cause she doesn't have a giant warm tiger blanket and the frost of snow has turned her dark hair light in places. She's a ranger too! She doesn't approach for the purpose of petting the giant tiger though. Philosphical differences between rangerdoms.
"Why issit even 'ere? It's a bleedin' big cat an' tis a book buildin'." The same patron glares at her again, as they hustle by with the armload of books toward a nearby table.
Mikilos chuckles as the tiger is spoiled further by pettings. "Familiar sitting while his wizard is taking lab. I really should have asked what sort of familiar before I agreed, but Khan has been mostly behaving himself." He nods to Ygraine. "You're welcome to look around. Most of the collection isn't to be removed, but are exceptions. And if are looking for something specific, feel free to ask for assistance." He shrugs to Carver. "All things are a trade off. I could force Khan away, but then he might get scared. Been a while since he was away from his wizard."
Dirk looks over his shoulder as Ygraine and Carver make their way in. Carver he's seen around, and he offers a nod. "Hello, lass. All right?" Ygraine he does not know. He straightens up, tipping his tricorne. "Hello, lassie! Dirk Stormgrip, at yer service! Nice tae meet ye! If it's books yer after, ye've come tae the right place! Master Mikilos is one o' the most powerful wizards in Alex!"
"...and apparently an expert familiar-sitter," the Eldanar woman notes dryly. "Not that I was aware that such a role existed! But, ahh, forgive me." She offers a bow and a smile to Dirk, trying to include Carver with a look in her direction. "Ygraine. Or Ygraine fferch Gwydion of House Penlew, to be formal. A pleasure to meet you, though I am merely a minor Muse of Ceinara, without much claim to power at all!"
Carver seems to find Mikilos's explanation satisfactory enough that she just throws her hands up, like she don't care. Or at least gets that the cat being sad and scared isn't actually the best case scenario. "This'n why ya don't keep 'em as /pets/." Ah, grump, grump. She gives up in the face of the cuddly tiger's lingering presence and returns Dirk's nod before likewise introducing herself. "I'm Carver an' I'm fine, jus' cold. That an' I don't even know what a Moos of Ceinara is."
Mikilos smiles. "Khan is not a pet. Closer to a coworker, as I understand. Never had a familiar myself, so can only speak so much about the bond. But yes, is usually easy enough to keep an eye on familiars while there's a lab or something. They're typically well behaved, just too curious for their own good when left alone."
Dirk's eyes get wide as Ygraine introduces herself, and he sweeps a low bow. "Oh! Apologies, milady, I dinnae realize I was in the presence o' nobility!" He looks over at Mikilos and nods his head. "Aye. Like my owl, Lulu. She's nae a pet. She's one o' me best friends. Familiars are a wee bit like that. Only more magical, I'll warrant."
Laughing as she blushes a little, Ygraine inclines her head to both Carver and Dirk. "I'm a priestess of the goddess off inspiration. The Artist, Ceinara. And... I don't think that Alexandria recognises me as noble. I'm Eldanar, and most of us are from one once-upon-a-time land-holding line or another. In Alexandria, I merely try to help out where I can."
"That makes sense but still don't see why an artist god keeps cows, or why you call yourself a cow. That's jus' not true." Carver says with side-eyes. "An' even if you don't think Alexander considers you noble, it's as obvious as the dwarf's whiskers that you're pleased as punch abou' your title and family. Gave us the whole thing." She then squints at Dirk, "An' why are you all manners now anyhow? If'n I told you I was all fancied up with a breathtakin' name, I'd get a bow too? I jus' got a nod an' a lass. That felt hones' at least." Her smile is sort of like when a cat stares you in the eye as it geeeeeeently paws a bottle to the edge of a table. "You got a crush, Old Timer? She's ALMOST as pretty as the Wizard." No one is as pretty as Mikilos though.
Mikilos snorts. "Archmage Mikilostravia Abrioudelanarchie Mithralla, Lord of Estranillia, Sendor Irregular, Builder Arcane. And a few more titles I could tack on if I take time to remember them. Most people don't really care, but can be handy for those who do." Blinking, he looks to Carver. "'Pretty'?"
Dirk boggles a bit at Carver. Then his shaggy white brows furrow together like angry caterpillars. "Hrmph! Cheeky, aren't ye? I'm -always- polite! An' no, I dinnae have a -crush-, I just met the lass! 'sides, me an' Patch are goin' steady. Might could be there's some dwarves who chase every skirt they find, but I'm nae one of 'em." He looks back at Mikilos as the mage gives his full name and titles. Eyes get wider and wider. Blink blink. "Beards o' me fathers. Ye can say that all in one breath? That's impressive, innit?"
Ygraine arches a brow, eyeing Carver for a few moments as she tries to work out quite what's up. "Muse, not *moos*," she corrects quietly - in her refined accent, the two vowel-sounds distinctly different. "It's the title accorded to an empowered priestess of Ceinara. And having received a full name, I gave a full name in return."
Looking to Dirk and Mikilos, she finds another smile. "Thank you. And congratulations on 'going steady', Master Stormgrip. I hope that you and Patch have much joy together."
"Yeah, I know what you said." Carver says to Ygraine. She tenses, just slightly, beneath her furs at Mikilos's question. Her jaw works silently for a moment before an uncomfortable twitch of her shoulders is given. "'s what it is." At Dirk's proclamation, though, both eyebrows creep up toward her snowy hairline. "Really? Good for you." It even sounds sincere and not catty. "Patchy's got a lot of character. Guess Old Timer still got moves."
Mikilos blinks to Dirk, and shrugs. "Guess I'm behind on gossip. Best wishes to you both. And same way say any long phrase, practice and a deep breath." He glances back to Carver with a smile, but lets the topic slide.
Dirk harrumphs. "Well o' -course- I still got moves," he grumbles under his breath. "I'm nae ready fer the retirement home -just- yet." He looks back up and around at the various tallfolk. "So... here we all are, then. Gathered up in the library. Suppose we should start us a book club? Or maybe we could just play a round o' dice? Charades, maybe?"
"Given his current position, our host might be at something of a disadvantage when it comes to performing any chararades," Ygraine notes to Dirk. Forcing herself to mvoe at least a little closer into the room, she somewhat narrows the gap to the tiger... but is content to admire it without coming within reach (or biting range). Carver, she perhaps feels somewhat similarly wary of. "This is my own first visit to the library, so I had little plan beyond 'learn what might be in here'. I have a few research topics in mind, but nothing I could claim was *urgent*..."
"One coul' say a large disadvantage." Carver agrees. She does reach into her pocket, as if to see if she did actually bring her dice. "Can't say I ever been in a book club, but I coul' take some 'ggestions. What shoul' I read?" She waves with her hand to encompass the room which comes perilously close to Ygraine's nose. Wave wave wave recklessly. "This'n place got no ends of tomes."
Mikilos considers a moment, and gives the tiger's shoulder a shove. "Okay Khan, enough's enough. Up. Don't give me that look, you've got four people giving you attention. Up!"
The tiger huffs but rises, taking a long moment to stretch and yawn before padding a few steps to rub his head against Dirk.
Mikilos rises stiffly, stretching, and shrugs. "Can head to the shop or ballroom if you really want, but are plenty of options for books. Most are non-fiction, but have poetry, some art pieces, or the Crimson Pen collection. Most of them, anyway, have been enough unofficial publications is hard to be sure."
Dirk squats down as Khan chooses him. He puts both hands on the tiger's face and starts scrubbing enthusiastically. "Aww... that's all right, laddie, I'll give ye all the affection ye could ever want. Such a -handsome- boy ye are!" Who knew the old snowbeard was a cat person?
Circling around Khan a little - and perhaps coincidentally a little farther from nose-whacking range for Carver - Ygraine chuckles softly, smiling as she watches Dirk's enthusiastic response to the huge cat. "The pair of you make for a lovely image," she assures the old dwarf, before smiling gratefully to Mikilos. "I seem to recall hearing of the Crimson Pen collection, though I have not directly encountered it. And I would be happy to explore what else might be found here. I dabble in a few fields, but am frankly a rank amateur... but that does make somewhere like this a very promising field indeed."
Carver watches Dirk's enthuiastic tiger whispering with a shake of her head. "What's a 'Crimson Pen' collection?" She turns away to eyeball Mikilos as he stretches. "Who did ya say that the tiger was, uh, a familiar with again anyhow? I met them yet?"
Mikilos chuckles. "Crimson Pen is a group of writers who make romance novels. Bodice ripper, type romance novels, usually, and frequently based off members of the Adventuring community. Usually with EXTENSIVE artistic lisence. more that a few feature the elven sorcerer, Bikilos. As for Khan's wizard, is a student from the Jade Islands, Hu? Not sure you've met them."
Mikilos chuckles. "Crimson Pen is a group of writers who make romance novels. Bodice ripper, type romance novels, usually, and frequently based off members of the Adventuring community. Usually with EXTENSIVE artistic lisence. more that a few feature the elven sorcerer, Bikilos. As for Khan's wizard, is a student from the Jade Islands, Hu? Not sure you've met them." <repose>
Dirk looks over his shoulder at Carver. "They're romance novels," he says. "Some of 'em are better'n others. I'm fond o' the ones wi' Brannik Greatheart, the dashing dwarven hero." He checks his pocketwatch and rises to his feet. "But anyroad. I should be movin' along. Got some things tae get sorted afore I head back home. Walk safe, friends."
Ygraine blinks in surprise, then laughs - raising a hand in farewell as Dirk departs. "I do not know whether I should avoid the Crimson Pen collection as if my life depended on it, or seek it out immediately. Either way, I think that I should set about exploring the books. Perhaps I shall have the courage to properly meet an imposing feral predator on my next visit!"
Cracking a grin, she offers a bow to the two remaining people (and the tiger), then does indeed move to start losing herself in the array of volumes on offer.
"People read't?" Carver asks with another shake of her head. "Why?" She does lift a hand, palm up, at the departing duo. "Don't get too cold there, Little Sister." She lets her hand fall once the woman is turning to leave before giving Mikilos another shrug. "Say, seen your lil' Queen recently?"
Mikilos shrugs. "People like their lewd pleasures, and like to pretend they don't. Tawdy novels hit a middle ground." He blinks. "The Wee Queen? Not very recently, no. Seldom more than once a season. Why do you ask?"