2019-09-18 - Back to the Sideways

Harper has had the book in her possession for some time now. She's kept it in her research station in the basement of the library. The space is sacrosanct. Melinda, the full time assistant librarian never infringes upon Harper's space there. This afternoon she's been down there doing some research for the Historical Society. It looks as though she's reaearching the World War I era. Fashion, cultural history, iconic events. When she's downstairs, the book is within easy reach. Despite how intriguing the idea is, the librarian has not tried to read it or even flip through it without Whisper.

Harper looks up from her desk along the back wall of the basement, opening her mouth to adjust for the air pressure change. When she sees the door, her brown eyes sparkle with anticipation. She stands up and reaches for the 'rescued' book with the strange text that shimmers about, curls it in her hand up against her chest and heads for the doorway. If it looks like the library again, she holds her tongue so as not to disturb any of Whisper's patrons and steps through the portal that's opened up. Her demeanor this time is far less cautious than upon the first visit to her self-named Sideways. Today the librarian wears a pair of tweed pants, a buttoned down shirt and a grey vest with a satin backing.

Harper skirts the readers, with scant glances to one and another's reading material before she spares a smile for Whisper. She only speaks when she's approached the wise-looking librarian, her voice quiet but not a whisper. "Whisper, I am pleased to see you again. I wondered if perhaps I'd mis-remembered our arrangement." She draws the book away from her chest and offers it over in an extended hand. "As you requested. Please let me apologize for my caution on our first encounter. I had never before that experienced an individual like you in the Sideways. A friend of mine calls it the Dream. Is there one name better than the other?" She stirs herself from that reverie and continues. "I would be quite pleased to continue my retrievals on your behalf should you still have need of my help." It seems she's leaving it to Whisper's honor to decide whether or not to keep up her side of the agreement. Or perhaps she doesn't expect tit for tat any longer.

"Oh no, you didn't. It was my fault Miss Price. Things got a touch out of hand. It took a while to get right again." Whisper offered, casting a glance around and then shook her head a bit. Accepting the book, she examined it closely. "The Dreamscape....hm. I believe they must refer to the outskirts of town." She settled back to Harper. "But, I believe either one really is fine. Whatever makes sense for you to call it. It is simply Home to me." There was a shrug of Whisper's slender shoulders. "I appreciate you bringing the book back and yes- assistance is still required. I am glad you have decided to help." There is a beat of pause. "Did you want to give the book a try? To understand what you are dealing with? There is..." She glances over to the wall where a new timer-esque clock is mounted, though the numbers don't look quite like regular numbers. "Fifteen minutes left before the current patrons reading time is up."

Harper folds her slim arms across her chest as she listens to the problem with things getting out of hand. "Would you care to tell me about it?" The librarian watches Whisper look over her book. The fact that something called The Dreamscape refers to the outskirts of what Whisper calls town is intriguing. Perhaps you'll give me a tour sometime in the future. I would like to learn more about your world." Whatever Harper calls it, it's Home. "Of course. I think a relationship between us would be a mutually pleasant and beneficial thing." Does she want to try a book. "Certainly. You'll pull me back before I am in danger of being lost as you described it? I must admit that I've been intrigued since we spoke. It was difficult to refrain from flipping through your tome."

Harper quirks a perplexed look at Whisper as she is told how bad the place is. "Are there any good parts? Places you frequent that are neutral?" She is contemplative about the information. "How can you be safe?" But then Whisper is lighting up at her willingness to try the thing that she was warned could be so dangerous to individuals from her own world involving the books. She takes the book, "Ought I sit down, then?" Because otherwise, she might simply lean against a table and flip the book open. Eventually, she takes a seat, crosses her legs and traces her fingertips over the front cover. "Will you tell me anything about what I should expect, or is it best experienced without any preconceived notions?"

Harper nods and flips open the cover of the book, trying to adjust her eyes to the shimmering text. "Let's give it a shot."

Excited? Madame Ebony looks over to her humble, almost-handsome companion. "You say excited as if it were a simple thing. There are far too many elements that need to come together for my feelings to be so simple as mere excitement." She closes her fingers around the railing and feels the atomic energy of the metal thrum over her skin. "What of you, Blay? Tell me you're feeling the tingle of anticipation tease at your breath just the smallest bit." She offers a rare smile. "The fruits of our labors are about to ripen as we watch. Do you think it will be everything you'd dreamed?"

Harper reads avidly, utterly losing track of time and space, falling into the story, turning the page with a deft fingertip, her raven hair falling forward over her shoulder and half in front of her eyes. Completely ignored. Addictive would be putting the sensation of breathing the prose far too lightly. Her breaths catch. The librarian gives in to the tug of the story.

It's almost enough to ruin other books for the librarian. Harper Price blinks a few times at the jarring fall from the story back into herself alone, and it takes a few moments for her to refocus on Whisper with wide brown eyes. This is where she asks for more. This is where she wants more. With a bite of her teeth to her cheek she swallows and forces a slow breath in through her nose, exhaling more slowly past her lips. "That.." she begins and has to take a few more breaths. "Your books are incredibly evocative. I've never felt quite like that before." Wistfulness mingles with concern in her brown eyes. "I should go find the rest of the books at once. If someone were to come upon them and start to read..." She transfers her reaction to the brief experience of one story to someone unheeding and unaware. Who needs drugs with books like that?

Found by others in the town? Harper looks aghast. "IF that's the case, I'm deeply concerned, Whisper." Harper tries to imagine the psychological carnage of the books unleashed on the populace of Gray Harbor. "I should return at once and try to ... stop something disastrous from happening." She rises to her feet abruptly. "How can I find them?" The ones that have already been gathered, she means. No two readings are the same. The sentient books. Harper is both intrigued and distraught. There is a reason drug dealers offer a first taste for free.

"IF these other people have them and don't know what they have, how do you think I'll be able to convince them to give them up to me?" Harper looks through the scroll and frowns. Elias she knows. Eleanor she doesn't. But she knows the coffee place. It's hard to decide whether she's more worried about the person she knows or the stranger she doesn't. "Of course I can do my best to gather the rest. I feel as though I should drop everything else and do this in its entirety at once for the sake of everyone involved." There's still a breathlessness in her chest from the residual experience. Couldn't she read another just for a short time? She tries to push the impulse away. Tries to focus on the emergency at hand. "Aside from wrestling them free of those who have found them, I can't think of other questions. You'll find me again?"

"You are an intelligent woman my dear, I know you'll find a way. However," Whisper frowned a touch. "I do not want you hurting yourself or others. Even unintentionally. If there is someone clearly obstinate about not giving it back...then move on to the next. I will figure out something for those ones." She smiled again and gave Harper's shoulder a squeeze. As if she knew what the woman was feeling. "I know, it is very enticing. And hardly comparable to a regular book reading. But the impulse will fade in a few hours." And she won't have any other books to give in to the impulse with anyhow! "I trust you Miss Price. And I think you will do just fine. When the time is right. I will find you."

Harper frowns, "The last thing I want to do is hurt anyone." Harper contemplates her dilemma, tries to consider how she'll convince friends and relative strangers to give the books over to her. I'll get started as soon as I get off work." She dips her chin. "I'll gather as many as I possibly can." When Whisper tells her the impulse will fade, Harper's shoulders relax discernibly. "I am glad to hear that, Whisper. If you have no other words of advice, I can only say that I hope we will have the opportunity to meet now and again in the future once this business is taken care of. I would very much like our acquaintance to continue." Having risen to her feet, she steps over to offer Whisper her hand. "Be well in the meantime."