December Library Catch-All [ OPEN ]

[aimsforknees]

WHO: John, Harold, and anyone who might find themselves at the Library
WHEN: December
WHERE: The Library!
WHAT: The Library is here and open to all! Come borrow books, find a comfy chair to relax in, or snoop around.
NOTES\WARNINGS: Will be added as they come up

The Library is a five-story neoclassical building of terra cotta, brick, and stone. And the inside is, in fact, a library! And rather clean and organized too. There's no dust, no muddy footprints (apart from your own), and all the shelves are organized by Dewey Decimal, subject, and author. All literature is something you might find in a 2010 New York City library: various forms of fiction, children's and teens' sections, history, science, cooking, gardening, the list goes on. There's even small sections of audiobooks on compact disks and of DVDs ranging from old classics to history shows. The first floor has a reading/study room, a comfortable space with deep armchairs and tables with chairs; the fifth floor has some smaller tables clustered under a skylight. Part of the second floor is abruptly closed off by a door with a biometric scanner that denies entry to anyone who isn't John Reese or Harold Finch; the walls surrounding this section are soundproofed, so even a keen listener won't hear anything from inside. Otherwise, it's a perfectly normal library!

Comments

[ingestion]

( the way he was speaking to her and how dismissive he seemed about the whole thing was finally getting to heather. anger was building up, much like the one he had seen before and it didn't take her long to walk closer to him.

once she was within reach, she slammed her hand against a row of books in front of him. if he kept pushing her, the next thing she would slam was that book in his hand. )

You're hiding things from me again, you can't just tell me he's an annoying tourist and leave it at that. What do you know about his predicament?

[banworthy]

[ He frowns when she slams her hand on the books in front of him. His head cants to the side as he steps back. ]

Well, I don't know everything, but I know what I know. [ Vincent offers a smile after his cryptic reply. ] That town means a lot to me. I try to keep tabs on everything that goes on in there. Of course, that's to varying success, but what can you do?

[ His mouth splits open in a wide smile as he holds his hands out toward her. Dropping his hands to his sides, he shakes his head. ]

I'll say it simply, then. [ He points above his head. ] The town calls to people on its own. With our rituals, we can direct who is called, but as I said, we're not the ones who call him. [ Or the other tourists. ]

He's a non-believer and wanders on the sacred ground.

[ingestion]

( heather wasn't completely ignorant to the way the other world worked and how it seemed to speak directly to her- showing her visions of her past self, her fears, and how when it seemed like she was on the brink of death, that angel [more like a demon] seemed to drag her away to bring her back to life.

with vincent's words about how the town called others into it, she began to realize that james had most likely seen his own version of hell. after all, why would he see the monsters she saw? the ones that seemed to remind her of the violence dahlia inflicted on alessa, the ones that seemed to remind her of her place in their world; a body that only served to birth their god and nothing more?

these memories and his words seemed to bring a pause to the rising anger in her and instead left her looking distressed as she remembered. for some reason....lisa garland's smile seemed to come to mind as the memories flooded back in. )

You're...you're....you're crazy Vincent, even in life after death you haven't changed one bit. What did James do to be unworthy of me caring about him at all? He's suffered through that town too, just like I have. If anything that should make me want to care about him.

( especially since he wasn't a member of the order. )

[banworthy]

I'm not crazy.

[ Vincent thinks about overenunciating each word but decides instead to go for a more casual response. Even though, he feels anger rise in him. He doesn't want to be treated like he's insane, and he doesn't feel like he is, either. ]

This is why I didn't want to tell you anything. [ He drops his head down and rests his hands on his hips instead. It's to help cool his temper. ] Anyway, you'll figure it out on your own, I guess. I'm just trying to save you the time of finding out you wasted your kindness on someone unworthy.

[ Standing straighter, he looks carefully at her. ] I would have thought you of all people would have understood how upsetting and irritating it is for someone who doesn't believe to stomp around on a blessed area.

cw: child abuse mentions

[ingestion]

( how frustrating this was for both of them-

there was a part of her that was annoyed with how vague he was being, as if he were holding this information over her head for his own amusement. another part of her wondered if he was just trying to protect her without speaking too poorly of james.

that was wishful thinking, because really, when was vincent that considerate? )

Why would I understand? I never once cared about that religion-

( she stepped closer as he looked at her, her eyes gazing up to his. )

That woman, Dahlia would try and beat it into me, but it never stuck. I could care less about blessed areas or sacred grounds. What I care more about is that town having that ability to draw in people. You knew this all along?

[banworthy]

My apologies. That was wrong of me to say.

[ His eyes narrow slightly behind his glasses. He thought it before but it is confirmed that she doesn't view Dahlia as her mother. A fact he files away and will make sure not to bring up. Family matters to Heather as he's come to understand - while not a novel concept, it means certain comments are off-limits.

Vincent rubs the back of his neck, feeling the sweat that starts to build at the base of his hair. ]

But yes, of course, I knew something like that... God is kind, but she's not merciful. Those with an overwhelming amount of guilt or trauma ... when they step onto the blessed ground, She wishes to rid them of that pain. [ He holds his hand out to Heather. ] She wishes to gift them the keys to penance and redemption. However, there is no mercy in this action... only kindness.

You will repent for what has trapped you or you will stay in Her kind embrace until you do.

[ His shoulders bounce in a sad, little shrug. ] There are no other options.

[ingestion]

( at the very least he was perceptive, and him actually apologizing to her? it left her confused all over again. this was a man who seemed to flit from one mood to the next without much doubt-

for someone like heather who stayed grounded in what she felt for a long time, it was strange nonetheless. on the upside, for vincent's sake, she seemed to calm down just a bit. )

This is ridiculous, how can a God who hadn't even been born yet be able to do that unless...

( and here was where she really began to remember the intense pain and suffering she had gone through. how her festering anger back then allowed her to split her soul in two and perhaps... )

You don't think, the town was already primed to be able to do that do you? Of course it was, there must have been a reason The Order picked it as their base.

[banworthy]

We chose this place because it's sacred ground.

[ And this is unfortunately where Vincent's usefulness in helping her piece anything together falls apart. He has his own beliefs and faith on the notion of why Silent Hill is as it is, but it goes back to what they - yes, they - have been taught. ]

And it's not a God but God. She is not yet born but God exists. The place is sacred to Her and while others say it's Old Gods... it is all just Her. Perhaps, pieces of Her much like how Christianity likes to talk about their Holy Trinity, but every part is Her.

[ingestion]

( whatever truth she was getting to was immediately shrouded by a cloud of mystery. his words almost felt like a mental block of sorts and while she did want to pry him further for that information, she decided ultimately to let it go.

it did not benefit her to know why the town was able to truly have such a power, but what did affirm her thought in the order truly being a cult was his little comment about god. heather didn't consider herself a believer of any kind, but she knew that their god surely wasn't the only one around. how could such a disgusting and tortured creature like the one claudia birthed, be able to create such things as humans, animals-

weren't these things created in the vision of god, created in their image? she surely wasn't as beautiful as the things that roamed earth. )

Your obsession with Her has blinded you to so much in the end. I don't even know why I'm discussing this with you, I could care less.

( a thought- because despite how wise she could come across, she was still a teen. )

If you care so much, pick up your mess. I don't think she would approve of such a sloppy devote.

[banworthy]

[ His lips press into a thin line that is almost comical at her comment about him being blinded. He opens his mouth with a wet sound before rolling his eyes instead of responding. Vincent equally agrees that it would be pointless to attempt to talk to her further about it; Silent Hill is sacred and God exhibits Her power there.

Their rituals and prayer are reaching Her - and there is something truly peaceful about the oppressive silence and isolation. But he understands his audience isn't willing to hear that (yet). ]

I care quite a bit, but that has little to do with the mess I've made. However, I'll still pick it up since it matters to you. How's that? [ He holds his hands out to take the books that she's picked up for him, offering to put them away. ]

[ingestion]

( despite the roll of his eyes and attitude that spilled in the form of such movements, at the very least he relented to picking up his mess. that was good enough for heather, and whatever further questions she had in regards to james and why vincent was so insistent on her leaving him be, would be set to the side.

she picked up whatever book was left on the ground and began to hand it to him one by one. not feeling in the mood to argue further, she decided to change the topic just a bit [but not too much]. )

Thanks, glad to know you can be reason with. On that note, I take it then you've met Maria? I get this strange vibe....she's from Silent Hill too.

[banworthy]

I've always been easy to reason with.

[ His argumentative reply comes fast but he takes the books from her leisurely. However, his head tilts immediately when she says that Maria is from Silent Hill. He stares at her with wide eyes as he drops the books he is holding.

Shaking his head, he doesn't say anything at first as he looks around in confusion. ]

From Silent Hill? She said that... she's from Silent Hill?

[ingestion]

Right...

( she managed to say before her eyes widened at his reaction. all heather could do was step back and shrug.

unbeknownst to both of them, she would come to confirm her suspicions shortly after this encounter. for now though, it was just a hunch. )

No, she didn't say that but her reaction to me mentioning it was....telling to say the least.

[banworthy]

Don't scare me like that, Heather.

[ When he hears the rest of what she has to say, that's all he can toss out.

Kneeling, he starts to pick up the books that he let drop. Turning each over in his hand, he checks to make sure that they aren't too badly beaten up. ]

She may have just passed by it... there's no way she's from our home. [ There? Does that make her feel better if he puts it like that? ]

[ingestion]

( she's a bit surprised to see him actually pick up the mess he made without being prompted by her, but there's another concerning thing. )

Vincent, hear what you're saying. If she knows of Silent Hill, that means she's from our world.

That also means God didn't destroy it.

( not that heather had thought about the possibility of maria being from the future or past. that was another issue all together. )

I mean...if Echo is bringing in this many people from our world, it must mean something right?

[banworthy]

[ Oh. Heather wasn't aware that Maria was from their world. His eyes drift to the side before he nods absentmindedly. ]

No, I do hear you. [ She didn't tell her. Why.

He leaves that thought to the side as he fixes his gaze on her face. ] We can't be certain of that... we don't even know what time she came from, after all. [ Since James is here, there is no telling. ]

It may mean that Echo wants to save the few of us that God has blessed to live. [ A beat, since he knows that would irritate her. ] I'm kidding, of course.

gonna start wrapping this one up!

[ingestion]

( although his joke isn't quite appreciated, and she can only imagine he truly believed what he was saying, he actually got her curiosity piqued.

so whatever books remained in her hands, she nearly shoved it into his as she began to pace around him, hand on chin. it was clear she was quite deep in thought. )

You know....this only raises more suspicions.

( is all she can say before she finally stopped behind him and remained silent. finally she held out her palm, turning the hand on her chin into a fist before slamming it down onto it. )

I'm going to try and get more information out of her. She's a really nice person, I don't think she's trying to hide anything for the sake of being mean.

[banworthy]

Towards me?

[ He stares down at her palm, blinks at the gesture. ]

All right. If you say so. [ His eyes drift from her hands to her face. ] You'll be fine either but if she turns out to not be as nice as you say... well, you can tell me about it. [ He turns the books over that he's grabbed, looking at the spines of them. ]

I can, at the very least, put the fear of something into her, even if I'm not much of a physical person.

[ingestion]

Of you, of this place, of everything-

( yet to his words she couldn't help but stare back at him with a rather dumbfounded look to her face. now seeing him turn away from her, she felt she could finally breath-

a soft sigh escaping her lips. he was actually offering to protect her? was he being serious? yet she wouldn't, or rather couldn't bring herself to ask. it was strange and it made her wonder if he had any ulterior motives.

so for now she began to walk forward, stopping only to say a few last words to him. )

Uh yeah right....I'll make sure to tell you first. Well I'll be heading off now, try not to make a mess again, okay?

[banworthy]

I thought you figured out all there was about me.

[ His shoulders lift in a weak shrug in return. ]

I'll do my best. [ It's what he says in a farewell. He'll wait until she's gone, look over the books that he has stacked, and find a shelf to place them on. At the very least, they aren't on the ground anymore.

He wonders if this place is someone's or if it is something Echo had all along. Vincent has noticed the difference in architecture in some of the buildings and while he would love to write that off as alien; Hannibal brought his own home.

He can't bring anything of Silent Hill to this place -- and he supposes Heather was right; he was throwing a tantrum over something he would never bring.

Ah, well, he's made up for it by offering her in some small terms protection if something should go wrong. A fair trade, he decides. ]