⇨ THE ATHENAEUM

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 47 - Day 58 ish
Where: The Athenaeum
What: The carnival arrives at book world. First week, they'll be performing for magical manifestations of book characters. Second week, it's time to hunt (for books, in the library.) Around Day 58 some stuff will occur.
Warnings: Reading is mandatory.

FAERIE TALES↴ Though the carnival will be performing for its guests in the first week, they are welcome to search the Athenaeum while they are off duty during that time. The manifestations of story characters will be out in full force during performance week, with animals, people, objects, and even locations growing out from various tales. Most are distracting at worst, and will be curious to check out the carnival. Some, however, can be as dangerous as they were in their stories of origin. You know what to do. ► IT'S TIME TO ROLEPLAY: The best way to deal with book ghosts is to follow their narrative to its logical conclusion - turn the tables, work the story so it ends in your favour! Naturalistic and narratively satisfying plotting will have the manifestations following your lead. However, push too hard and introduce too many plot holes, inconsistencies, or illogical plot twists, and they will reject your reality utterly, becoming quite aggressive in the process. You can also use your natural abilities and powers to fight them in a traditional sense, but in the Ringmaster's experience, it's best to fight reality benders by bending reality right back at them. If you aren't careful, it's possible to be dragged fully into a story's reality, and then things get really messed up. ► IT'S ALSO TIME TO READ: The carnival came here for a purpose, and that purpose is to research. Specifically, the Ringmaster is looking for information on the Queen's Miracles - the set of ancient fae artifacts that the Blue Rose is one of. The carnival needs these artifacts to defend itself, but nobody knows where they've been for thousands of years. That's what the books are for. However, nothing is stopping you from pursuing knowledge for personal reasons. The halls are open to your perusal, and only your heart can guide you to the book you truly seek. Check the plot post to see what's allowed, and sign up to find plot info or other important game information below.

Comments

[wild_magic]

"But how can I know if they're interesting if I don't read them?" Obviously just looking at the covers and names isn't working here, or he would have already found something cool. Obviously.

[mylastchance]

Lauren laughs, "Just read a little bit and if it doesn't sound good pick something else up."

[wild_magic]

He frowns at that, but he doesn't argue. He knows Lauren is probably right, but even that much effort doesn't seem worth it to find something to read. After all, they're talking about reading.

[mylastchance]

As Susan continues to be silent, Lauren just sighs. He comes over, putting a hand on his brother's shoulder.

"What if I help you find something entertaining?"

[wild_magic]

"...I don't know if you can." But he'd definitely appreciate the help, so he scans over the shelf again as he thinks about it.

"They're all just... Too long."

[mylastchance]

Lauren smiles weakly, "Well maybe we can find some shorter ones."

[wild_magic]

It takes him a second to think that over, but then he nods.

"Okay... Let's look! I haven't seen any short ones, maybe we need to look in a different part..."

[mylastchance]

"Maybe." Lauren answers, pleased at least that Susan is willing to try, "Come on."

And he just keeps walking looking along the spines of the books until he finds some that aren't quite as large.

[wild_magic]

Susan isn't even really looking at the books as they walk, instead just looking around at everything else.

"D'you think they have any books about anything useful? I mean, useful to people that aren't the Ringmaster."

[mylastchance]

He thinks about that for a moment, but he isn't really sure what kind of book his brother would find useful.

"Maybe... Were you thinking of something specific?"

[wild_magic]

He shakes his head, looking to the shelves again.

"Not really. I was just curious, if you thought they'd all just be boring, or if there's some real useful ones here. Like, books about magic, or animals, or something."

[mylastchance]

Lauren's smile widens, "If you want books on magic why not just ask Strange?"

[wild_magic]

He laughs at that suggestion.

"I don't want a book about magic, it would still be too boring. But it would still be way better than books about... Whatever else is here."

[mylastchance]

He shakes his head, laughing as well.

"If you don't want it, why bother asking for it?"

[wild_magic]

"I was just wondering if there were any books for other people, or only for the Ringmaster! It's no fun if it's boring for everyone." Not that he wants it to be boring for himself, of course, but it's better than if literally everyone is bored.

[mylastchance]

"I'm pretty sure they have books on everything here."

It's certainly big enough too. Lauren's never seen anything like it.

[wild_magic]

He smiles at that as he scans over the shelf again, grabbing something completely at random.

"What do you want to find a book about, then?"

[mylastchance]

Lauren laughs, not even thinking about it.

"Something to keep us safe."

[wild_magic]

He puts his book back on the shelf after flipping through it, making a little face before answering Lauren.

"You and me, or the Carnival?" Because both are probably useful, but he's not sure what Lauren's thinking.

[mylastchance]

"You and me mostly," He starts, humming in thought as he considers it. "But protection for the Carnival is good too."

[wild_magic]

"Well... Maybe you'll find something, then, if you try hard enough. This library is pretty weird so it could definitely happen." Even if finding an actually interesting book is apparently impossible.

[mylastchance]

"It would be nice." He picks a book at random, noting the pictures on the cover of people in spandex. It looks a bit silly to him, but it's hard to tell with Susan.

"What about this?" he asks, showing it to his brother.

[wild_magic]

Susan looks over to the book in Lauren's hands, and takes it after a second. It looks more interesting than anything he's found so far... And there's pictures inside when he opens it up, lots of pictures. He grins up at him.

"Yeah, I'll try it!"

[mylastchance]

Lauren's happy at least to have found something Susan is willing to try. He lets Susan give it a look, before pulling a random book off for himself and thumbing through it.

[wild_magic]

And Susan does look through it, although he doesn't get more than a couple pages into the comic before he's starting to glance to the shelf again. It's not that it's not interesting, just... It's boring standing here and looking at the same thing.