UMass Easthaven "Books are a uniquely portable magic." - Stephen King

[Laura Johnson]

The Billingham Library at UMASS Easthaven was, fortunately, connected to the Aston Public Library so she didn't need to fiddle with an extra piece of plastic in her wallet. Being a campus location, it had a different vibe from Aston and Laura remembered it well. She had enjoyed her time - her very, long time - in the university system, but was glad she wasn't working on any more papers or cramming for an exam.

Life had its own lessons with which to challenge her.

“Are you going to be the eternal student?” her mother had asked a few times during her academic career. Laura had laughed and replied, “I think I'll run out of money first.”

True enough, but she also wanted more experience than four walls could provide. She had chosen ancient history because she loved the depth, variety and richness of the subject and all the people from the civilizations which no longer existed were fascinating. There was so much to choose from, so much to study and explore. Being able to afford getting to a site was another matter.

Laura had decided not to climb any ladders this time. She figured Max catching her when she'd fallen that last time at Aston had used up her luck for at least another month. So, sticking to whatever she could find on the lower shelves, she located a book regarding Pompeii - "Discovering the Gardens of Pompeii: Memoirs of a Garden Archaeologist" by Wilhelmina Feemster Jashemski.

Though archaeobotany was not her field of research, the author was a scholar who had explored various sites at the doomed city for over twenty years and discovered incredible details about the ancient gardens. Her husband had taken wonderful photographs, making the book a joy to read and discover.

Deciding it must be getting late, Laura collected a few other books she had selected from a table nearby and headed toward the exit. She had a cloth tote ready for carrying them home on the subway. Turning at the end of a row, she collided with someone and, despite the library being traditionally a place of silence, she yelped.

[Hanna Chao]

fit

Libraries; Hanna remembered a time when places like this were novelties of the rich and powerful. To read, to be educated, was a mark of status. To own a book, let alone a library, placed one beyond the reach of the illiterate masses. To be erudite in such a world was next to godly. That so many libraries were abandoned places nowadays, barely considered with their treasure troves of information, was a crying shame. Hanna knew wars fought for less.

She didn’t budge as the other woman turned the corner too quickly and ran into her. Hanna was a wall, solid and implacable, sharp-cornered, with an expression for smashing a face against. As the woman squawked in the library’s late-night silence, Hanna turned to face her. The hard expression snapped to an apologetic grin, but there was little mirth to be found in the slice of her lips or the angle of her brows. “Sorry, I was in your way.” She said as a greeting, unaccented and pitched low.

[Laura Johnson]

The woman looked quite formidable and despite the impact of the collision, she didn't seem to move at all. Laura's free hand reached out to one of the stacks, managing to keep herself upright. The woman apologized for being in her way, which, of course, she was not. Laura was going to make that clear.

“Oh, no, it is me who should be apologizing,” she said with a small smile, her heartbeat returning to a more reasonable rhythm. “I was rushing, because they'll be closing soon, you see, and I should have been paying more attention.”

[Hanna Chao]

Hanna nodded once. “Yes, you were in a rush.” She agreed, almost chuckling, and let the beginnings of a smile tug at the corners of her lips at this woman’s flustered excuse. She glanced at the books still cradled in her arms.

“Go on.” Hanna stepped towards the woman, eyes fixed on hers. “Apologize.”

[Laura Johnson]

“Oh, yes, well...” Laura didn't take a step back, though she was a bit surprised. She had been about to apologize before the woman interjected. Perhaps she was in a hurry.

Come on, Laura, it's not like you're twelve and in the principal's office...

She smiled. “Please accept my apology,” she said sincerely. “ And now, I think we should both get going before they lock us in.” Laura didn't think any of the employees would do such a thing, but she wanted to get home before the trains stopped running for the night.

[Hanna Chao]

Hanna nodded at Laura’s apology, accepting the woman’s fault easily enough. She glanced at the books the other held again, ignoring her suggestion to vacate the library. Hanna didn’t worry about being locked in; the library would close when she was done, and not a moment before. That wasn’t up for debate.

“Pompeii…” Hanna mused, reading one spine. That happened… literally ages ago.
She heard about the eruption, but knew nothing concrete. It wasn’t like she’d been there or anything. Hanna shook her head and scanned the other books. She gave an amused harrumph, almost a laugh. “Hmmm, someone’s into history.” She commented with little inflection; her accent indistinct.

[Laura Johnson]

The woman seemed uninterested in leaving the library and instead took inventory of the books Laura intended to check out.

Deciding she might also be a history enthusiast, Laura smiled warmly. She could take a moment without the library closing. Besides, who would lock someone in a public building for the night?

“Well, yes, I find history fascinating. Ancient history, in particular, the Cradle of Civilization and so on. It is what I studied at university.” She could easily go on, but knew she sometimes overshared. “Do you like history?”

[Third on the Match]

Bernie, The Phantom of the Library

DC 2

Friendly

Minor Possession, Empathy

Cinder 6d6

Strike 4d6

Luck 4

There's a figure hovering around, looking as dishevelled as all the other stressed students. With sleepy eyes and a messy, mind-of-its-own hairstyle, he looks perfectly at home in his less-than ideal sartorial choices. Worn jeans and a worn sweater, a spot of dribbled hot sauce staining the front, although his shoes are clean and well-maintained, even if they don’t look expensive. This worn-out student on his last day of shirking his laundry is standing next to a vending machine, propped up against it like it's an old friend.

The vending machine appears to be on the fritz, the panel blinking on and off, but a few brave students have tried it. If anyone took the time to study the scene, they'd see a slow trickle of students trying their luck, their panic ratcheting up the longer the machine refuses to comply, before their snack of choice finally drops and they can snatch it up and flee to whatever class or assignment is pressing in their minds. The sloppily dressed student hides a grin, like he thinks it's all a great laugh.

If anyone takes an even closer look, resorting to magical means, they'll see that the student is flickering in and out himself like static on a screen, in tandem with the vending machine’s own flickers. A glitch of a ghost among the stacks of books.

[Hanna Chao]

“The present interests me more than the past.” Hanna answered without spending time to consider, looking away and absorbing her surroundings. The buzz and clunk of the vending machine trying its best toyed with her attention. The procession of students—two had tried the machine in the time Hanna stood here—was nothing too out of the ordinary. The screen, fizzing out, told Hanna they would be better off trying elsewhere.

None of that struck her as weird. The boy lingering near the vending machine was another matter. He had done nothing overt to draw Hanna’s eye. In fact, he looked like something of a wallflower standing there; more a backdrop than part of the scene. His private smile as another student tried their luck and thumped the vending machine on the side until it relented, put him at odds. Maybe he simply enjoyed the show. Or maybe not.

“Spend too much time looking back, you miss what’s in front.” Hanna continued to watch the boy by the vending machine as she spoke. There was a twitch of her lip, something almost a grin.

[Laura Johnson]

Laura nodded, understanding the woman's perspective. She appreciated the past, but she didn't live in it.

“I agree. The present is more important, though I think understanding the past helps appreciate how we got to this point.”

The woman seemed to focus on a vending machine, which was obviously giving some students a difficult time. The last person applied percussive cohersion to the side of the unit and received their chosen item.

Laura contemplated grabbing a bottle of water before leaving, but wondered if she should find another machine. She didn't really notice the young man who stood nearby, other than being aware that someone was there.

“Hmm, I could go for some water,” she murmured. Hugging her books and bag to her chest with one hand, she reached into the front pocket of her jeans for her pre-paid vending card.

[Hanna Chao]

Having shaped history and even bent events to her own devices more than once, Hanna thought there was little to appreciate there. Of course, someone once said those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. And maybe that was why Hanna was here, now. What good was understanding how we got to this point if you just did what you wanted anyway? Hanna offered a slip of a nod when the woman said she wanted some water.

Hanna ambled along without a word, a ghost in her own right. She held back, the woman with her books fished a credit card from her front pocket, and Hanna waited with impish excitement to see what happened next with the boy.

[Laura Johnson]

The woman followed her to the vending machine at a relaxed pace. Laura selected one of the two brands of water randomly, as she didn't notice a difference between them. She swiped her card and waited.

The panel blinked but the bar that held her selection in place did not move. Laura decided not to pound the machine as the previous student had done. Instead, she pushed the button again.

Nothing happened.

The disheveled boy with the slightly dated fashion sense watched her as she frowned slightly, but didn't lose her cool. He glanced over at Hanna fir her reaction and grinned. Perhaps this woman would see the humour in this prank.

[Hanna Chao]

Hanna Telekinesis Cinder 6D6: 4 vs Bernie Minor Possession Cinder 6D6: 2 – Hanna wins

The boy watched Hanna as the vending machine’s control panel shimmered. Closer now, and focused, she noticed the haze about him, that slight flicker resonating on the same frequency as the panel. The other, Hanna didn’t know her name, pressed the button again. The boy and the lights of the vending machine flickered like before.

Uncertain just what he was, but sure he exerted some control over the machine’s internals, Hanna sought to remove that influence just to see if she could. Her eyes, locked with his, said she knew, and a challenge rippled across her lips in a lopsided grin.

Hanna held the machine in mind and twitched her hand at her side. Her fingers contorted and the vending machine stuttered. Something clunked deep inside. The boy exhaled sharply, and Hanna’s smile flared victorious.

A bottle of Evian clattered to the receiving tray.

Hanna Luck 4/4
Bernie Luck 3/4

[Laura Johnson]

Laura Strike 6D6: 2 vs Bernie, Minor Possession Cinder 6D6: 5 – Bernie wins

Laura's face broke into a big smile. “Ah, excellent!” She bent over awkwardly to retrieve the bottle of water with her free hand, her other items clutched tightly to her chest. It occurred to her that she had not introduced herself. Unable to achieve a handshake, she laughed softly and said, “I'm Laura. Did you want anything?”

She noticed the boy standing there and gave him a nod, but didn't see anything unusual other than he looked a bit pale perhaps. Too many late nights studying, she supposed. The other woman seemed to be staring at him with a sly smile and Laura had no idea why. “Everything okay?”

At that moment, her books and empty bag slid to the floor. She had not noticed the boy extend a hand toward her and was certainly unaware of any force being applied to cause this to happen. The boy grinned and rolled his eyes, but Laura was looking at the pile clumped at her feet.

“Drat,” she mumbled and crouched, setting her Evian down so she could sort out the mess with both hands.

Laura Luck 3/4
Bernie Luck 3/4

[Hanna Chao]

Bernie Empathy Cinder 6D6: 3 vs Hanna Cinder 6D6: 7 – Resisted

“Chloe.” Hanna said, not feeling like giving her real name. She spared Laura a glance and twitched a smile.

"Everything’s fine." The boy said and there was power in his words, honied soothing. Everything was fine. Hanna felt the sensation break against her like the prow of a ship cutting through a wave. It left her damp and salty in the wash. Hanna tilted her head, looking from Laura to the boy. Her smile now was all teeth.

“Yes. Everything’s fine.” Hanna echoed dryly. She didn't stoop to help the student with her books, but the ghost did. He crouched in front of Laura, tutting as he did.

"Here. Let me help you with that." He said, mischief dancing in his eyes.

Hanna Luck 4/4
Bernie Luck 2/4

[Laura Johnson]

Laura [Iron Will] 5D6: 3 vs Bernie, Empathy Cinder 6D6: 3 - Laura (barely) wins

The woman - Chloe - said she was fine, so that was good. Laura was not a student any longer, but libraries still called her name. She would certainly understand if Chloe thought of her as such.

It was all just a little... odd. Laura was still trying to figure out how she had managed to lose her grip on the books, because she had no recollection of relaxing her hold, when the boy knelt across from her and offered to help. He was definitely a student, though there was something odd about him, too.

“Here. Let me help you with that,” the boy said, and Laura fumbled with one of the books, briefly feeling a little overwhelmed at the thought of doing this by herself, especially since someone was offering to help. There was a sensation of being underwater. a slowing of movement, a prickle of dampness as sweat washed across the back of her neck.

Then she gave herself a shake and smiled. “No, thank you, I've got it...” she said, lifting the volumes from the carpet to place them in her cloth tote. It would be easier to take them to the check-out that way and she should have thought of it sooner.

The boy, who was also standing once more, sighed. “You're no fun,” he said petulantly.

Blinking, she said, “What...?” Not her wittiest response.

Laura Luck 3/4
Bernie Luck 1/4

[Hanna Chao]

Hanna Fear Aura Cinder 6D6: 5 vs Bernie Cinder 6D6: 4 – Hanna Wins

Hanna grew tired of this game. She wasn’t sure what game they were supposed to be playing, but it would be over soon.

“Enough.” She pitched the word just so and it had an immediate effect on the boy. She didn’t shout or scream, in fact, she barely raised her voice, but the word was sharp-edged and lacerating. It carried in those two syllables more weight than a condemning litany. Hanna watched that weight settle upon him, crushing his spirit and putting him low. The boy took a step back, his throat working.

Cowled and anxious, he turned his face from Hanna and wouldn’t look at her. Instead, he stared at Laura, struck through with paralytic fear. The petulant boy was no more. Gone was the trickster. Gone was the prankish fun with the vending machine. His chest moved rapidly, like a prey animal caught in a snare and on the verge of hyperventilating. If he wasn’t already dead, he may have expired right in front of Laura.

Hanna, hands on her hips, dismissed him with a shake of her head. “Leave now.” Weary exasperation, like that of someone at their wit's end and wading into castigatory depths, gutted the boy. His form flickered like a tv set to a dead channel. He took another step back, then vanished.

Hanna peaked her brows, eyes widening, as the boy disappeared. She made a sound of muted surprise past her quirked grin. Not what she expected. Something still had the power to surprise her after all this time, and that was nice to know.

Hanna Luck 4/4
Bernie Luck 0/4