parodeity | MONDAY AFTERNOON...ISH...

I ain't leavin' alone. [Quiet reminder.

But he quietly shows Dave the map so he can get a sense of it. WHICH PRESUMABLY WILL SHOW THEM WHERE THE STAIRS ARE? So they will... sneak that way I guess]

[The rest of the books are similarly written for kids, and similarly about eldritch abominations and devout followers getting down to questionable shenanigans. While they're looking at the map, they'll notice they receptionist's desk is pretty close to the children's book section. That might be the reason why.

There are stairs on both side of the library. According to the map, they'll take them to a reading area — which they can catch a glimpse of by looking up. There's a big ol' hole in the middle of the ceiling dividing the second floor and first floor, and it seems like whatever punctured it? Was going upwards.]

[ hmmm. that's encouraging. actually, though, dave wants to make a pitstop in...math and science? if the thing that is stomping is not too near there, while keeping close to the ground.

he wants to find something on the hp formula, if the library, like, has it. though he could...tell...dirk this mostly he just checks that he's clear to start and then will start. sneaking thataway? he's not going to go through every book, even if they have to dig, he'll just try to find something Likely. ]

[Dirk follows sneakily behind. SNEAKSNEAK. He is mindful of loose books and anything hanging precariously. He lets Dave lead but if he sees a better route to stay away from open areas, he may tap Dave and point to it. But probably Dave picks the best routes?

ninjas

Anyway yeah that's why he wanted math/science: possible stuff on the HP formula.]

[They can use the bookshelves between the receptionist's desk and the east wing of the library as cover. As long as they stay the heck away from the west wing, they... might be safe. And should they look in that direction them, they'll see something like humongous pincers between the bookshelves. The beast's movements seem to have ceased for now.

Nonetheless, Dirk is wise to be mindful of loose books and precariously hanging items.

Soon enough, they reach the area where the science books supposedly are. Everything's been knocked clean out of the shelf, heavy tomes and slim books alike laying on the ground. At a simple glance, they'll find titles like An Experiment with Time, Quantum Gravity, and General Relativity for Dummies.]

[ okay those three sound promising. dave will flip them open and skim to try to figure out which of them might be the most useful, leaving dirk to maybe search the other books lying around more closely?

granted, dirk is better at science than him probably but dave fakes it enough to at least kind of have an idea of what he wants. sort of.

it is useless to steal shit that isn't useful?

(he has a ruler and an apple paperweight.) ]

[Actually having more science knowledge than Dave only helps as far as he's looking for anomalous things like the Children's Cthulhubook there, things that speak of discordant levels of scientific awareness. What he's most interested in are things authored by a Phillips, preferably an Abigail Phillips, but also Philips Foundations things, etc etc.

He obviously still has ears on alert for Shuffly McSnapsnap the Monsterbeast.]

[An Experiment with Time talks about the possibility of there being more than past, present and future. Quantum Gravity seems to be an introductory type book to, well, the effects of gravity according to quantum mechanics. Finally, General Relativity for Dummies offers a very dumbed down explanation of how space and time interact with each other.

If Dirk digs deep enough, he'll find a book co-authored by several individuals. There's an A. Philips listed on the cover page. It's titled Understanding Our Place in the Cosmos: The Many Worlds Interpretation.

Shuffly McSnapsnap the Monsterbeast is busy making extremely worrying noises from the west wing, like it's... slurping on something? Ew. Next to them, one of the bookshelves is leaning precariously against the other. Try not to let it fall while you're digging around, boys.]

[ ok you have fun with that monsterbeast. for the record dave will definitely watch the precarious thing and make sure they don't overset it.

uh. fine these books seem okay so dave will take all three and wait for dirk to give an all clear before starting to head...east. towards the stairs. because west seems like a bad idea but he is still determined to go upwards. ]

[Yeah Dirk is not eager to mess with the delicately balanced bookcases. Dirk grabs the A. Philips book, and then quickly grabs an extra random book because look he no longer has a flashlight to throw.

Dave is apparently determined to climb stairs so. Fine. Guess Dirk has to do this.]

[The staircases are made out of aluminum. Rusty and hollow, every step they take will make a faint sound regardless of how quiet they may be. There is nothing that will provide them cover on the way up, should they proceed.

Make haste.]

[ unfortunate, but dave doesn't turn back. he'll be quick and try to find cover once they're up on the second floor, thanks to, you know, the faint noises.

it's probably bad he prefers the horrorterrors creeping around to bro's spector, even though that's what's following him up the stairs in a weird sideways manner. ]

[Hey. Fucking rude.

Also why is there no option to PARKOUR UP THE STAIRS BY BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS, HUH?????? LET THE STRIDERS PARKOUR!!!

Anyway yeah I guess it's time for the Striders to slam their speed stats and then dive for cover. Dirk slips his matchbook out of his pocket rather than his scalpel. Because that's safe in a library.]

[The slurping abruptly stops as they make their way up the stairs. Once there, they'll hear the distinctive sound of something large and slimy dragging itself off the floor.

On the second floor, they'll find the big ol' hole on the floor, looking very much like something smashed through the ground from below. There are no more bookshelves here, but there are at least a hundred cubicles, rectangular tables and desk chairs strewn around. Some of them are relatively intact, but others have been damaged by both time and the monster lurking below. Debris fills the room.

Noticeably, some of the windows on the second floor aren't boarded up. Instead, they reach all the way up to the ceiling, providing ample illumination to the room. There is a large chandelier hanging from above, though it's old and decrepit.]

[ dave shoots a glare at dirk for the matchbook which is more a frown than anything, with shades on. unless he sees anything worth looking at in the cubicles, he'll try to find a way to the third floor.

though staying quiet and ducking into a dark place sounds like a good plan he will take if the Thing makes it to floor two. failing that, he'll consider tossing the paperweight way in the opposite direction of the two of them to topple something...somewhere else.

THEFT WITH A PURPOSE no he literally just took it because it was an apple shaped item but that's a plan he will enact if it becomes prudent. ]

[Don't throw it? That's why Dirk brought a second book! And the reason he brought matches is also the reason he's making a quick scan for any fire detectors before he slips into a hiding place. Which, in answer to the frown, he points at. He is not trying to set the library on fire, okay.

Probably.

Mostly he's got a book to smash down something for a distraction (maybe) and/or to set on fire to set off the alarms to confuse whatever it is.

Anyway, in their sneaky hiding spot Dirk looks to Dave on direction of where to go next]

[There's nothing of interest in the cubicles, unless Dave's interested in discarded pencils, blank sheets of paper and a pair of glasses.

If there is a third floor, as could be plausible from looking at the building from outside, there isn't a handy dandy staircase that leads to it. That said, the second floor's ceiling is ridiculously tall — so that's likely to be the cause of the building's size. Some sprinklers are visible on the ceiling, but it's impossible to determine if they're functional or not.

They can probably get away with smashing one of the windows up here and climbing out, if push comes to shove.]

[ he steals the pair of glasses. because fuck you. otherwise if there's nothing that looks interesting he...

chooses to peer at the chandelier. how big is it. ]

[Do not swing off the chandelier, Dave!! Anyway Dirk mostly just wants to get Dave out alive.

Also himself. He guesses?

Dave though mostly. So he is attending to slimy slurpface the snipper's sounds.]

[Modestly big, and way up high on the ceiling. The only way to reach it is if they suddenly regained their godtier abilities, which.... yeah. This realm isn't so merciful.

Mr. Slurpface sounds like he's on the move.]

[ which way does he sound like he's on the move? dave has decided he wants to go back downstairs now to see if the history section has anything because why the fuck not ig why will no one spare him from the coming week!!!

anyway he will be cautious and only head down the steps if he thinks it's safe. ]

[And Dirk will follow Dave into death, I guess.

He also doublechecks the maps to see where the periodicals are? More local newspapers might be nice if they can find any.

Dirk, being a good person, doesn't point out they could've avoided this trip upstairs and its alerting of the monster.]

[Eastbound. So, directly below them. Periodicals are supposedly kept near the receptionist's desk, but periodicals may have also gotten munched on by the monster downstairs. There weren't any in sight when they first walked in.]

[ cool guess we're creeping west and making sure to watch for the monster and like. The upwards jump or whatever. dave is at least willing to find a quiet dark area on the level to sit and wait for like however long it takes the thing to go back to...being creepy and not on alert.

like hiding in a closet until you're sure no one is there. ]

[Oh well, periodicals. Dirk tried.

And is I guess gonna sit quietly in the dark with Dave for however long. Sure why not.

Goddamned Raptor scene.]

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