[network] @librarian; Evening 309; video/text [open]

[cahooted]

[Flynn would actually prefer to keep this text only but his disdain for touchscreen applications and his love for talking out loud get in the way, as per usual.]

So I hope everybody is doing okay, in a more or less okayish manner or some variety thereof. We had a bit of a difficult time lately with the memory twists and confusion and, you know, usual side dish of general horribleness going around. I'm just gonna assume that the demand for distraction is high and I am happy to announce that there have been some new additions to the library, especially our somewhat scarce fiction section.

Hello to all our newcomers, too. You have already received the important guides and information at this point, I'm sure. For those of you I haven't had a chance to speak with yet, my name is Flynn Carsen and I'd like to add some of the more leisure-oriented material to your reading list – but please, put a particular emphasis on your immediate survival, thank you.

As you will soon realize the evenings after lockdown can get long and tedious and there is not much going around in terms of entertainment, so: There is a joint effort to compile an e-library of reading material people have found during their travels or have brought with them into the city.

[He switches to text at this point, if only for convenience's sake.]

You can access the current collection here.

Among our newest additions are:

• A story about a seagull. Very post-modern, very disjointed symbolism. For fans of Ulysses, House of Leaves and Dadaism, not necessarily in that order.
• A novel about two rivals, seeking the fountain of youth to claim immortality and infamy. Predictable but fun.
• A story about a haunted house coming alive. Might hit a little close to home in this deathtrap of a city but the writing's of decent quality. Don't read when you're traveling alone.
• A bunch of manuscripts from an unknown Norfinbury author. Particularly happy about this one. There's even some screenplays in the mix. Some are already up, more will be added over the next couple of days.
• A billiard magazine. Lots of pictures. A little depressing, the rooms are very nice. Good for a cry if you miss spacious lounges, velvet couches, scotch tumblers or being rich.

I'm also happy to announce an original tale by our very own Hans Christian Andersen about a [cannibalistic animal murder mystery] badger.

As per usual, stay safe and warm and and try not to die.

Comments

@bluestar // video

[dousedflame]

What's this Twoleg obsession with putting symbols on things and 'reading' them? The nights are for sleeping - it would be a waste to do anything else if you're going to be traveling.

[A pause.]

I'm not saying I disapprove, I'm just very confused.

video

[cahooted]

It's one of our ways to share stories and knowledge. Putting it in writing makes it possible for us to preserve it and read things that sometimes have been written hundreds of years ago.

Don't you guys do that, share tales of bravery or, uh... feats that renowned warriors have accomplished?

[dousedflame]

[She takes a moment to think that over.]

We have legends, and old stories to tell our kits. Sometimes our elders will talk about their own accomplishments when they were warriors - but we don't really keep those stories. We only retell stories that explain old things - like how cats came to the forest, or why the sun rises. Nothing we couldn't remember on our own.

[The concept of straying from verbal storytelling is just so alien to her... Twolegs are wild.]

[cahooted]

I see. That's really interesting... Actually, it used to be like this for humans, too. And there are some cultures even today that pass down stories orally.

[Flynn gives her a thoughtful look.]

So you can't use the library? That's too bad... Maybe I can show you how to read them sometime.

[dousedflame]

I'll see if I think it's worthwhile.

[For a cat, especially a clan cat, it's a pretty even approach. Her duty has always been to uphold the old laws and traditions, so she's skeptical of new ideas - but everything is new, she has to accept some of it.]

If your... e-library, needs more stories in it, I could tell you a few old legends. I doubt any Twolegs have heard them, and it would be nice to bring a bit of home here.

[cahooted]

Well, you do that and then you let me know.

[He's rather cheerful about it, indicating that he won't take it too personally if she doesn't.]

Hey, yeah, that would be nice. You could record them and we make the audio files available.