[pfsb] silence in the library

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew doesn't check out the Milliways library that often, but there are a few books that a patron left downstairs, and he's volunteered to return them.

The library door's pretty thick; it's designed to be. For better soundproofing.

There's no reason he should hear anything happening inside before he opens the door.

Comments

[stilljustandrew]

"... okay. Good."

His glance at Matt is still a touch worried, but he doesn't press it.

"So I guess it was probably too much to hope that this closet has a secret passage out the back or anything."

[semicharmed]

He considers, sweeping his flashlight around at the small room. Most of the shelves look pretty dusty; they all seem to hold items Matt has no idea what to do with, like spray bottles and paper towels and rubber gloves.

"Well, I haven't looked around for secret passageways yet ..."

It beats heading back out there with the tiny maybe-aliens-- or at least, the tiny maybe-aliens are a known quantity, and they know they suck.

[stilljustandrew]

He reaches up to one of the spray bottles, sniffs at it, winces at the sharp scent of cleaning solution. It would be nice if the monsters were allergic to this stuff, but it doesn't seem likely.

On the other hand, if they do find a recipe for tinkerhell repellent, the bottle itself could come in useful.

"Try knocking on the walls, you think? Or ...?"

[semicharmed]

"Knocking seems like a solid start."

Matt looks down, wondering if there's any chance he put a snack in his bag and then forgot. (Nope.)

He looks back up. And ... blinks.


"Did that wall ... always open onto a staircase?"

An oddly winding, well-lit staircase lined with bookshelves on one side.

[stilljustandrew]

"... well it does now," says Andrew, not without a definite sense of misgiving.

[semicharmed]

Matt glances his way, phone raised.

This seems like it might be a trap, he is only slightly too genre-savvy to say.

[stilljustandrew]

In a much lower voice: "Do you get the feeling we're being, I dunno ... herded?"

[semicharmed]

Matt pauses.

Sidles slightly nearer.

Quiet: "By what? The library?"

[stilljustandrew]

Fervently: "Frith, I hope so. If it's the library, there's a good chance it's trying to help us."

[semicharmed]

"I could run a scan," Matt says hesitantly. "It could tell us whether there's hostile energy here ... though Milliways in general is kind of oversaturated with energy even at the best of times."

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew gives him a swift glance. "How would that leave you energy-wise, though?"

[semicharmed]

"Barely affected," Matt assures him, this time without prevarication.

"It doesn't take a lot of energy, it's more a perspective."

[stilljustandrew]

"Okay," he says, "that's probably a good idea then ... do you need me to do anything? Or not do anything?"

[semicharmed]

Pause.

"Do you happen to have any food on you?"

[stilljustandrew]

Beat, and a blink, and he starts digging into a pocket. "I might, hang on ... how do you feel about peanut butter granola bars?"

[semicharmed]

"Extremely positively," Matt says, peering with gratitude.

[stilljustandrew]

He comes up with aforementioned granola bar, and holds it out to Matt with a wholly unnecessary flourish.

[semicharmed]

The flourish makes him smile. Matt takes the bar and stows his phone for easier unwrapping.

"My hero," he pronounces, mouth full. "I'll get this spell going in a sec."

[stilljustandrew]

He's a little ridiculously pleased at my hero, for some reason.

"That's gonna be my new superhero identity. Captain Granola."

[semicharmed]

"It's got potential," Matt informs him crumbily. A few moments later (he doesn't know how long to trust that door against that swarm), he looks towards the staircase, shuts his eyes, and breathes.

(hail, thou lotus)


Matt opens his eyes and peers intently.

"I ... think it's okay," he says to Andrew. "It seems-- take it with a grain of salt, but neutral-to-benign."

[stilljustandrew]

"Works for me," he says. "Definitely an improvement over things right here. Let's see what's down there?"

[semicharmed]

Matt boldly sallies forth in the direction of the staircase, which is sturdy and softly carpeted and (still) lined on one side by bookshelves.

The other side shows a long drop, at the bottom of which are more bookshelves. They're arranged in a strange, unintuitive way, almost like a--

"Oh, no," Matt groans as they descend.

[stilljustandrew]

"It's a maze," Andrew says flatly. "Like a literal actual labyrinth, in the library, whose idea was that?"

[semicharmed]

Matt throws up a hand, more an irritated wave than anything else.

"You know ... I love the library so much, but I have the worst luck in this place."

[stilljustandrew]

"... worst luck like this isn't the first time?"

He's peering out over the maze, trying to see if he can solve it from their limited overhead view, but the angle's too shallow; he can't trace more than a few turns away from the bottom of the steps.