fandomhigh | Library is open (12/7/05)

"Zero's got it mostly covered," Parker said. "And the main things are: your gloves, and a map." She pulled out the one she'd shown Angela the week before, and pointed to various areas. "We're in the Green section, near the door here. Rare and only slightly dangerous books. The porn collection is over here, in the additional 890's. 'Other Literature.'"

"Well, that's one way of putting it," Rory laughed softly. "How deep in are we going, then?"

Parker coughed, then laughed. "Orange today, I think -- that's Magic and Magic History books. But first, this way to the naughty literature."

She led them down the farthest right hand row, checking the numbers as she went. "Oh, and Angela, tell her the thing about the lights."

Angela smiled. "If the lights are on, you're safe. They're always supposed to be on-- so if they go off, get to the nearest exit. Something is very wrong."

_{link (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fandomhigh/432202.html?thread=20089930#t20089930)}

Not that the map's entirely accurate all the time. Sometimes things change. So the map's more like...guidelines.

"I wish she was wrong, but she's not." Parker grinned, and stopped. "Want to show Rory your trick with the exit? I can just spin you around if we cover your eyes."

If I get dizzy an' fall over I'm blamin' you. *covers her eyes with one hand*

Parker spun Zero, and spun her, and Angela laughed and got out of the way. Then Parker let her go.

"Which way to the exit, Zero?"

*laughs and points*

That way. Am I right?

"As usual." Parker took Zero's hand off her eyes, and grinned. "Zero signed a contract with the Library, so it likes her and it tells her things. Like, where the exit is, no matter what."

She turned back to the stacks. "Okay, let's see... Sadako, Shu... Shonagon. Found it. The pillow book of Sei Shonagon, from 999 CE." Parker smirked. "And no, we don't let people check this one out. It's incredibly rare and delicate, aside from the pornagraphy issues."

"Oh, didn't they make a movie out of this? Or based on this concept?" Rory asked, reached a hand out to gently run her finger along the spine. "And it's in porn? Do you keep stuff like the Kama Sutra and Arabian Nights in here too?"

The older editions, sure. They're too fragile an' rare to be out in the main stacks. For the newer ones, Kama Sutra yes, Arabian Nights, no. The Kama Sutra has, y'know, illustrations.

Parker re-shelved the book, and checked her map. "Onward to the red-sticker dangerous books, and then to the ones that don't exist?"

"Have you gotten any requests for it?" asked Janet. "I had one of the weird ones come in looking for it, but I kicked him out. He didn't have a note from his teacher asking for porn and he was too embarrassed to get one."

"I had one guy who I *think* was leading up to it, but he heard me say something about records to another student, and when I turned around, he was gone." Parker smirked, then added to Rory and Angela, "The Dean, Dr. Jerusalem and Dr. Pierson can access library records any time they want. So it tends to discourage check-outs."

Nobody's tried it with me. Possibly they know I'd laugh in their face.

"I would hope all of us would," Rory snorted. "Of course, I want to see the class where the assignment is to check out pornography, but that's me."

Parker smirked, and opened her mouth to say something, and then--"Oh, damn." (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fandomhigh/432202.html?thread=20102218#t20102218)

"And we make them get a note from their teacher for every trip in," said Janet. "We ask the teacher to include what the student needs to research."

Suddenly, a grinding noise came from behind them.

A bookcase slid out, then to the side, and then over--

and the way back to the entrance was blocked.

Oh, swerval. Hey, Parker, give Rory the map. See how she does for a bit.

Resigned, Parker gave Rory the map. "We either have to go around, or get really creative." She winked at Angela, who put hand over her mouth. "Let's see if you can find us a way to the magic books and back, okay?"

Rory frowned at the map, and bit her lip. "Okay. If we go around this way," she pointed to an opening in the shelves to their right, "and then wind around here," she gesticulated to the left, and behind her, "it should work. That's assuming nothing gets in our way, of course." She hesitantly stepped forward. "And if I lead us into a deathtrap, let me know."

"No obvious death traps over there that I remember," Parker said. "But you first, Gunga Gilmore."

Re: SPECIAL COLLECTIONS - Broadcast okay

swerval_zero - 2005-12-07 20:54 (UTC) - Expand

As they came out of the first row of books, the shelves and decorations changed to dark gold wood, with brass fittings. Hanging lamps with gas jets were suspended from the ceiling. A purple-and-gold Persian rug stretched between them an the next row of shelves, and a small stone fountain stood in between. The latest movable bookcase was as spiraling brass-and-ebony affair, with tiny gargoyle heads on the banisters.