Melina walks into the library. The lovely aroma of old books and the quiet whispers of librarians and the few patrons here this early greet her like an old friend, despite her visits having started only a few months ago. Antiques and whispers are home to a sluagh, after all.

She quietly approaches the information desk. She whispers “excuse me,” and, getting the attention of the a librarian continues “Where would I find books on local history or genealogy? Particularly with reference to an Alexander family, possibly around the time of the Civil War.” She thinks for a second. “Also, were there any surviving newspapers from around the time Sherman came through the area?”

 The librarian is an elderly woman whose skin appears to have been stretched taught all over her body then deflated some time ago. She looks to be in her seventies at least and has absolutely no sense of humor. At your question she looks over you for quite some time before sneering a bit.

"Those are all reference materials. There are quite a few books and newsprint on microfiche, but as far as reference materials those will need to be found by yourself. I can collect the indexes if you really want to," as she glances back toward a huge volume of indexes that easily encompass an entire shelf.

"Yes, that would be lovely. As to the books I'm sure I can find them in the catalog." She glances around, looking for an empty terminal. She points to one. "I will be there, when you find the indexes."

She walks over to the the terminal and begins her search. It's so easy to associate banality with people one simply doesn't like, so Melina is unsure if the stale feeling surrounding the librarian is her imagination or something more sinister. But either way, she's glad to be immersing herself in the history of the town, and away from the librarian.

(Roll for research: 2009-03-08 16:33:20 Melina Petrova rolls 5 dice to Int + Investigation (used willpower) 4,1,7,1,4 (failure))

 She certainly does feel cold, but it might simply be her personality or something more its really difficult to tell.

Your research here seems to be met with limited success until you hear something behind you.

"Ma'am, I left those index's you were requesting on those tables over there," as she motions with her hand toward a long empty table with three large volumes stacked on one end.

"All the references contained within them are followed by an alpha-numerical indexing code, make certain they are written so I can find you the source documentation," as she returns back toward the counter.

"Thank you" she whispers. Perhaps Melina was wrong about the librarian. She smiles with relief at a new possible source of material, since her searches for books are getting her nowhere.

She abandons the computer and walks over to the huge indexes. Settling down to work, she scans them for any information at all about the Alexander family, starting about 10 years before Sheila's death and looking to about 20 years after, plenty of time for the child to have grown up if the child survived and knew his birth family. She also checks for any general information from the year of her death, in case some off hand comment should prove useful.

(+1 difficulty for 2nd attempt in a scene: 2009-03-10 22:38:18 Melina Petrova rolls 5 dice to Int + Investigation (Diff 7) 3,7,6,6,9 (2 successes))

Kovacs wonders into the library.His hair is newly cut and he has a pair of ear buds trailing from his pocket around his back and into his ears. He walks up to the librarians counter adjusting his back pack and smiling at the librarian he removes the ear buds soft classical music is playing from them. He tries to appear to be your average high school kid.

" Excuse me I was wondering what I need to get a library card. I have a research paper for school and the library there is useless."

 You meet with much better success in the indexes, finding a handful of related articles, most from around the civil war era or shortly afterward. You begin jotting them down, knowing they reference some microfiche of various local newspapers from that era.

The Librarian stares at Kovacs for some time before unfurling her mouth and handing him a sheet to be filled out,"There are no ill equipped libraries young man, we have a transfer system in place that allows local school libraries to barrow our books. Certainly if you had asked concerning it, your local librarian would have suggested that..." with a shrewd and punctual manner suggesting she did not appreciate and shenanigans or hi jinks from school children in her building.

She had occasionally been glancing at Melina, but this new hoodlum seemed to immediately occupy her time and the other seemed forgotten.

I passed Kovacs and the Librarian without a word. This is not atypical of me as I rarely find need to speak, especially to strangers. I look very young with my hood up and cinched close around my face. It has been warm lately so this may seem odd, but I dont enjoy the suns harsh rays in my eyes and sunglasses are simply out of the question. If i wanted to look like an insect I would do so without paying someone for molded plastic.

I commandeer Melinas computer without a thought and immediately close out of anything she may have left open. I dont own a computer and the Television hasnt told me what I need to know. So I will search for it myself. There is noone else who can cover my ass so I must do it myself.

I usually hide my feedings well. Straight edge kids never get taken seriously when they say a little blond abducted them and stole their ID at a club. What I worry about is the off chance someone caught on to the venom. Connections could be made becuase I was forced to bite that man on the subway and am almost certain he died there.

2009-03-14 09:35:26 Nayk rolls 3 dice to Intel and Computers 5,1,8 (failure)

Frustration isnt the right word. I dont get frustrated anymore than I would get lonely or lovestruck. I must have done something wrong, either that or my tracks, as usual, have covered themselves.

Paranoia is not an emotion. Its a survival skill.  

--Last edited by Nayk on 2009-03-14 08:40:38 --

"ummmm.. I am sorry mam." Kovacs looks shaken and worried like this lady is going to rip his head off. " i did not mean to offend libraries in general and I am not sure what books I am looking for in perticular hence my desire to walk among the stacks and do some research here. I will of course find the books and have them ordered for me when I return to school." He would turn to find his way around the library his ruse to get a library card shattered.

Completing her list of index numbers, Melina waits for Kovacs to walk away before approaching the librarian. She will hopefully have time to say hello when she's done her research.

She quietly gets the librarians attention, and hands her the list of numbers "I would like to see these, please."

 The librarian looks over your requests, placing them in some arbitrary order it seems only she has before going toward the back and collecting the microfiche. She is gone for perhaps fifteen minutes before returning with them, all in brown paper that appears to be very old indeed.

"Here are your files," handing you the envelopes as if they were precious commodities. "The machines are over in that corner," indicating an unused section toward the rear of the library.

"Be very careful with them, the oils from your hands can damage the film"

Melina smiles, "Thank you."

She carefully carries the envelopes over to the machine. She sets up the machine and begins scanning for real information. She's careful with the materials, less from concern about them and more to avoid the ire of the librarian.

Kovacs wonders the stacks less interested in books and more in the smells of the place and the feel in the air of the library. 2009-03-18 13:20:36 Kovacs Kurosagi rolls 2 dice to Arete prime sight (Diff 3) 2,3 (1 success)(foci smells of the library) (smells are a large part of his foci as he has acute sense smell) As he breaths deeply of the air around him he lets the world become that vast painting he sees letting the colors fold open around him. He takes in the feel of the library and those around him as he wonders among the books letting his mind unfold into the world around him.

He would find a seat to sit at and drawing a picture of Toshi from the dojo.

Click...Click...Click...

I have lost interest in the computer already. My unblinking blue eyes follow the girl with the microfilm. I wouldnt call it interest, its more that shes the only moving thing to look at in this place. When she dissapears from view I decide I will follow. I wouldnt need my Minor Threat tee-shirt (or Buglight, as i call it) to find a clean dinner here.

2009-03-21 09:21:58 Nayk rolls 6 dice to Wits+Stealth 4,6,2,1,1, 6 (failure)

Sometimes my compulsions get the better of me. I left empty handed last time I was here and dont intend to do so again. I flip over the mouse and twist at its belly to pop off the plastic cap. With one tap I have removed the heavy, rubber coated ball and slipped it into my pocket- of course ive also done this in full view of the librarian, with my eyes trained in whatever direction Melina went with her microfilms.  

--Last edited by Nayk on 2009-03-21 08:31:40 --

After a while, the sheer unlikeliness of finding what she's looking for starts weighing on Melina. Not willing to let a dark cloud come over her, she stands up and stretches for a moment.

She notices that Kovacs is sitting a little ways across the room. She walks over and whispers "May I sit down?" Indicating a seat across from him.

"Please by all means." At this he stands and waits for her to sit.

"so what brings you to the library?"

"Research." She nods to the stack of microfiche. "But it's not going well, so I've decided to leave it for a while in hopes that it will be more cooperative when I get back." her wisper is quiet enough to keep any librarian happy, but still completely natural seeming.

"What about you? Are you in search of a specific subject, or simply killing time?"

"Mostly just killing time. Was trying to be smooth about getting a library card but the librarian is kind of cranky.

While he is whispering it is not nearly as quiet as Melina's

"Well, if there's anything you'd like to check out, let me know. Just be sure to return it on time. I can't afford any late fees, and I will come after you for them." That last bit could seem menacing, except for the genuine smile on her face.

"So what was it you do again? Deliveries of some kind?" she rests her head on one hand.

He would put down his pad with the unfinished drawing of Toshi.

"Yeah I am your basic package boy. I know my way around town pretty well and I tend to no how to avoid getting hassled by most people."