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(no subject)

Who: Zexion, Librarian, others
Where: The Library
When: Day 203, early afternoon
What: Books

[There had been . . . reservations, about visiting Sabra's library. Half-real memories, echoes of a reluctance from another time, another life. But the humidity creeping into the air, the scent of earth soaked with water (however wrong, however just a bit off that scent is from what it should be) result in echoes of another kind, and so it is that a lone Hydra has made his way there today, walking the stacks, pausing every so often to brush fingers over a leather-bound spine, or move certain delicate books from the lower racks to the higher.]

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I may have some few suggestions, if he is willing to see them implemented.

If they're good, he'll take 'em.

[Picks a volume from the shelf.]

Ones like this, where the binding is simply one of glue, and not doubly reinforced by thread, are more susceptible to the damp than the rest. It may compromise the overall order, but they are best stored higher, where dryer air circulates.

Sounds good. Can you help?

I can, yes, though others of Hydra may become concerned if I am absent overly long.

At the least, it is not unfamiliar work.

Mmm! Anything especially delicate he wants us to store in our dorm, so set them on that table, okay?

Very well.

. . . if it is not too much an imposition, may I ask who you are, in this place?

Like I said, Red. Red's the name picked for me when I woke up.

A name is not the summation of your identity. And given the particulars of my own situation, I am not as capable of disassociating it from other resonances as most here are.

Aahhhh. Well, I'm the member of Cepheus who have been here the longest. I woke on the second day we can remember. Uhm. I like learning things and having fun. I try not to let things get me down too much. Cepheus tend to be a pretty neutral and friendly team.

The creature you saw at Hydra, previous to that game — is that the first if its kind you have seen?

Yep, very first.

I see. Thank you.

Sorry about not being much help.

Given the reactions of those in my unit, I had not expected any great revelations, or even suspected that there were any to be had. But confirmation, at least, has its own benefits.

True enough. I'm sure you'll remember eventually.

I remember books.

[Picks another off the lower shelves, closing his eyes.]

One . . . bound in black and silver. In a room all white. And before that . . . there was a library . . .

A good kind of place.

A library of thick books and polished wood.

But there were no other libraries in Hydra.

Too humid.

And the swamp took everything meant to last.

[Looks down at the book, not quite seeing it, and adds it to the table.]

That was old Sabra, yeah. But best to think on now.

That is precisely what I am attempting to do, for all that 'now' seems to consistently provide more questions than answers.

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