Re: The End
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 11:40 pm
The great rotunda of the Bibliothiki was designed to impress new visitors with the scale and import of the greatest collection of knowledge in the world. And today, it was fully doing it's job as the new visitor stood awestruck, arms limp at his side, as he slowly drifted backwards in circles with his mouth agape. Very much the college professor type, his graying red hair and trim Van Dyke accented his slightly portly 50-some years. His ensemble included a natty hounds tooth jacket, with obligatory leather elbow patches, khaki pants, and penny loafers, also with obligatory pennies installed. Not ordinary ones, though – he used the 1943 Steelies (Denver), which was actually a hilarious juxtaposition if you were familiar with certain aspects of Political Science and Organic Chemistry. And, if you made the mistake of asking about them, he'd tell you. At length.
He adjusted his glasses, then shifted the leather strap of the light brown attache bag over his shoulder – the type with the flap over the top – itself well worn from research trips to a great many lesser libraries over the years. Light filled the great space evenly, accenting the beautiful carvings, stonework, statuary, and railings as he looked up at six levels of pillars and bookcase ends above him, and then the glorious dome above. And, somewhere during the third circle to the rear, he met another patron, who, as it turns out, was distracted for an entirely different reason. The current month's copy of Hoof and Mane fluttered to the ground.
“Oh dear! I completely didn't see you! I'm sorry! Are you OK?” A hand reached out to help him up from his seat on the floor.
Catching his breath, he adjusted his glasses again, and looked up toward the hand, and then the face commanding it. The young, freckled face was framed between firm pair of bare breasts, also freckled, separated by a pale blue strap connected to a flap-top satchel hanging at her hip. The face, with bright jade eyes, was surrounded by a halo of light auburn hair, almost blond, some of which floated over her shoulder towards his face as she stood over him.
“Heh, ahh...” He struggled for words for a moment, then composed himself. “I see we share a taste in accessories!” he finally said, and grasped her hand.
“Ha, yes, so I see!” she replied. “But you have the pockets advantage, eh?” She pulled him up and apologized again.
“No, no, my dear, entirely my fault.” he stammered and adjusted his jacket. “This is my first visit here and I was quite taken by the architecture! I do hope you are well. Please forgive my clumsiness.” He said with a bow, then continued down to pick up the magazine. On his way back up he noticed her four horse legs. Completely flustered, he concentrated on the magazine instead.
“Oh my! Hoof and Mane! 'Are your fetlocks beach ready?' 'Sumerian archery – 5 essential tips!' Heavens – those Sumerians were certainly some fine archers.” He was composing himself. “I wonder how they would compare to, say Comanche, or, or, ah, Japanese cavalry? Interesting to, ah, think about.” He offered her the magazine with a slight bow. She swept back her loose hair over her shoulder and smiled.
“Indeed!” she replied, taking the magazine with a slight curtsey. “Oh, I'd pay money to see a competition between the Sumerians and the Mongols. That would be a blast!”
As they exchanged courtesies, he noticed the red Hello Kitty booties on her feet. Hooves, that is. He stared at them and grinned. She looked down.
“Ha – that's probably why you didn't hear me. I was busy reading and didn't see you. They're quieter and much more comfortable on tile floors like these. I have a bad case of clop on stonework. And don't get me started on slate or flagstone – slippery when dry, and they chip easily.”
“I can only imagine! Makes complete sense though. I'm happy for you!” He looked up and found himself staring at her breasts. He swallowed and looked up to make eye contact again.
“Umm, forgive me, please,” he was stammering again. “This is my first trip here and I've only just arrived. Am I, ahh... overdressed, or am I missing something? I'm trying not to be, ahh, rude or anything. It's just, umm... it's a bit overwhelming.”
“Oh no! Not at all!” she smiled again. “Everybody dresses for comfort around here – it's pretty much a come as you are sort of place. Just be decent – tidy, really. There are folks here in everything from full armor and ball gowns, to their basic forms, such as myself. Keep to general courtesies and you'll be fine. Just remember that even though this place swarms with Alpha predators at times, there are Apex predators ready to keep them in check. Nobody starts a fight they aren't willing to die from.” She scrunched up her face a moment and stepped back, hands to mouth. “Ick. I just realized how horrible that must sound to you.”
“Oh heavens, yes! I mean no. I mean...” He caught his breath. “On the one hand, this place is the pinnacle of knowledge, and worthy of enormous respect. At the same time, I'm worldly enough to know that the universe operates by force. Forces in balance, forces in action, and forces deflected. There are times you must use force. You don't negotiate a stuck lug nut off of a flat tire, after all! Indeed, if all men – people – were angels, we wouldn't need laws.”
“Quite!” she laughed. He chucked as well.
“Oh dear, where are my manners! I've completely forgotten to introduce myself. I'm Joseph,” he said, bowing again.
“How do you do, Joseph! I'm Aquila,” she replied with a bow.
“Joe will do, and may I say, you are the very first centaur I've ever met!”
“And I'm Nudge, one of the Head Librarians,” said a tall, pleasant voice behind them. “Aquila, your reserve is in. You can get it at the desk.”
“Finally!” squealed Aquila with a bounce. “I've been dying to read Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants!”
He adjusted his glasses, then shifted the leather strap of the light brown attache bag over his shoulder – the type with the flap over the top – itself well worn from research trips to a great many lesser libraries over the years. Light filled the great space evenly, accenting the beautiful carvings, stonework, statuary, and railings as he looked up at six levels of pillars and bookcase ends above him, and then the glorious dome above. And, somewhere during the third circle to the rear, he met another patron, who, as it turns out, was distracted for an entirely different reason. The current month's copy of Hoof and Mane fluttered to the ground.
“Oh dear! I completely didn't see you! I'm sorry! Are you OK?” A hand reached out to help him up from his seat on the floor.
Catching his breath, he adjusted his glasses again, and looked up toward the hand, and then the face commanding it. The young, freckled face was framed between firm pair of bare breasts, also freckled, separated by a pale blue strap connected to a flap-top satchel hanging at her hip. The face, with bright jade eyes, was surrounded by a halo of light auburn hair, almost blond, some of which floated over her shoulder towards his face as she stood over him.
“Heh, ahh...” He struggled for words for a moment, then composed himself. “I see we share a taste in accessories!” he finally said, and grasped her hand.
“Ha, yes, so I see!” she replied. “But you have the pockets advantage, eh?” She pulled him up and apologized again.
“No, no, my dear, entirely my fault.” he stammered and adjusted his jacket. “This is my first visit here and I was quite taken by the architecture! I do hope you are well. Please forgive my clumsiness.” He said with a bow, then continued down to pick up the magazine. On his way back up he noticed her four horse legs. Completely flustered, he concentrated on the magazine instead.
“Oh my! Hoof and Mane! 'Are your fetlocks beach ready?' 'Sumerian archery – 5 essential tips!' Heavens – those Sumerians were certainly some fine archers.” He was composing himself. “I wonder how they would compare to, say Comanche, or, or, ah, Japanese cavalry? Interesting to, ah, think about.” He offered her the magazine with a slight bow. She swept back her loose hair over her shoulder and smiled.
“Indeed!” she replied, taking the magazine with a slight curtsey. “Oh, I'd pay money to see a competition between the Sumerians and the Mongols. That would be a blast!”
As they exchanged courtesies, he noticed the red Hello Kitty booties on her feet. Hooves, that is. He stared at them and grinned. She looked down.
“Ha – that's probably why you didn't hear me. I was busy reading and didn't see you. They're quieter and much more comfortable on tile floors like these. I have a bad case of clop on stonework. And don't get me started on slate or flagstone – slippery when dry, and they chip easily.”
“I can only imagine! Makes complete sense though. I'm happy for you!” He looked up and found himself staring at her breasts. He swallowed and looked up to make eye contact again.
“Umm, forgive me, please,” he was stammering again. “This is my first trip here and I've only just arrived. Am I, ahh... overdressed, or am I missing something? I'm trying not to be, ahh, rude or anything. It's just, umm... it's a bit overwhelming.”
“Oh no! Not at all!” she smiled again. “Everybody dresses for comfort around here – it's pretty much a come as you are sort of place. Just be decent – tidy, really. There are folks here in everything from full armor and ball gowns, to their basic forms, such as myself. Keep to general courtesies and you'll be fine. Just remember that even though this place swarms with Alpha predators at times, there are Apex predators ready to keep them in check. Nobody starts a fight they aren't willing to die from.” She scrunched up her face a moment and stepped back, hands to mouth. “Ick. I just realized how horrible that must sound to you.”
“Oh heavens, yes! I mean no. I mean...” He caught his breath. “On the one hand, this place is the pinnacle of knowledge, and worthy of enormous respect. At the same time, I'm worldly enough to know that the universe operates by force. Forces in balance, forces in action, and forces deflected. There are times you must use force. You don't negotiate a stuck lug nut off of a flat tire, after all! Indeed, if all men – people – were angels, we wouldn't need laws.”
“Quite!” she laughed. He chucked as well.
“Oh dear, where are my manners! I've completely forgotten to introduce myself. I'm Joseph,” he said, bowing again.
“How do you do, Joseph! I'm Aquila,” she replied with a bow.
“Joe will do, and may I say, you are the very first centaur I've ever met!”
“And I'm Nudge, one of the Head Librarians,” said a tall, pleasant voice behind them. “Aquila, your reserve is in. You can get it at the desk.”
“Finally!” squealed Aquila with a bounce. “I've been dying to read Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants!”
