Quest 231

[primrosella]

[Accidental Video Post]

[The device opens on a shot of the interior of the Library, with Rosella sitting at a table reading a book in the foreground and a glimpse of tall shelves loaded with books in the background. Her blonde hair is pinned back off her face, as it usually is when she is at work, and there is a stack of books on either side of her on the table itself. On her left--the camera's right--the stack is quite tall, perhaps seven or eight neatly stacked books; on her right, the pile is only one or two books tall.

The one currently in her hands is old and bound in brown leather; the cover is so worn that the title is nearly illegible. But she appears to be thoroughly engrossed in her reading, and as yet hasn't even noticed that her camera has switched on.

She reaches to turn the page, and her finger slides along the edge--]

Ouch!

[--and instantly the scene seems to go into slow motion: the edge of the page slowly, agonizingly slides through the pad of her finger; her blue eyes widen faintly at the abrupt sting; her hand moves instinctively toward her mouth as a small droplet of blood squeezes out from the sudden wound--and the soundtrack kicks in.]

♪ MMMM, WHATCHA SAAAAAAAY?
MMM, THAT YOU ONLY MEANT WELL?
WELL, OF COURSE YOU-- ♫
[As she sucks on her cut finger, a look of exasperation crosses Rosella's face, and her eyes narrow slightly as she slides it from her lips and hisses in a severe whisper: ]

Oh, honestly. We're in the Library!

[And, as if properly abashed, the volume of the background music suddenly dials down to a more appropriate tone.]

♪ --DID,
MMMM, WHATCHA SAAAAAAAY?
MMM, THAT IT'S ALL FOR THE BEST? ♫
[Rolling her eyes, Rosella sticks her finger back into her mouth and returns to her book, and the soundtrack continues until the video slowly fades out to black.]


[OOC: Papercuts: they're serious business. And dramatic enough for today's curse, apparently! So naturally I couldn't resist. Action for anyone in the Library, Network for everyone else. Just remember to keep your voice down! :D]

Comments

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

You could bandage it, you know.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

I think I'd better, actually. I can already feel it starting to sting, drat it all.

Oh, well. I could use a break from my books anyway, I suppose.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

And do be practical about it: don't bleed on the books.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Especially not these ones! They're so old, I'd hate to ruin them.

You're not cursed today, then? It seems I'm doing rather poorly at following your list of how to avoid embarrassment during a curse, myself. Are you having better luck at it?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

So I would certainly recommend a bandage. Or at least a handkerchief to hold over it until it stops bleeding.

Not that I've seen as yet, no. I've not had anything following by rather dramatic and annoying music so far today. I'm almost surprised.

You do know that I wrote those guidelines almost as a joke, of course--don't you?

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

I'll try a handkerchief until I can go find one, then. I wonder if we might have some at the front desk? I'll have to look.

Well, if you've managed to avoid the music, I think you've managed to avoid being cursed, as well. It's really quite annoying, because it's such a short song that whenever it comes to an end, it just starts over again.

Considering that you wrote them the day after the curse that had everyone else doing it? I'd rather guessed that much, yes.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

You've got to have some somewhere there, I'm quite sure.

It seems like the sort you might find yourself humming the day after, as well, unfortunately. What I've seen of it all on the Network does seem quite annoying.

Very well, then.

/mystical time-bendy RP powers, activate!

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Oh! Or it seems I could just wait a bit in distress, and someone will come along to rescue me. Neil's friend Mouse just brought me one, as it turns out.

And really, the silliest part of it all is that it plays for the strangest reasons! Combing hair and washing dishes and making coffee and things. It's just ridiculous, really.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I think I'm rather jealous now that he got to help you and I didn't.

Then when I succeeded in knocking my hat off, it very likely would have played then. It does add a bit of a dramatic flair to these things, though.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Well, there's always the chance that I might get myself into certain peril and need to be rescued on my walk home from the Library. Perhaps you ought to see me back to the Warehouse, just in case.

You knocked your hat off?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I should. I should hate to have something happen to you. Yes, perhaps I should--just in case.

Yes, I did. It happens from time to time. Are you really so surprised?

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Good! I'll only be here another hour or so, I think, since I have just a few things to finish up. I'll be certain to look for you.

Well, I've heard you mention people trying to knock it off your head before, but I never imagined that you were one of them yourself, that's all.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Then I should come to fetch you fairly soon. Certainly there are worse places to wait than in a library.

It does happen to me from time to time, especially if I put on my hat before my coat or my scarf. And I'm starting to need both at this time of year.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Just do be careful of paper cuts, if you decide to browse a little while you wait! They seem to be quite dramatic today.

Oh, I see. That would make sense, yes. And that's very true, it is getting quite chilly out again. I had to wear my winter cloak to work today, myself.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Well, they seem rather dramatic for you, perhaps. But I will mind them, since they are quite uncomfortable, as I said. At least mine won't be so musical, if I do get any.

Not that I mind that it's getting colder. I, for one, rather like the autumn weather.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Perhaps my music will start playing for you, too, if you start doing dramatic things around me. We'll have to try very hard to be casual and average on the way home.

Do you think it'll snow soon? I imagine we'll likely have a heat wave sometime this winter, the way we always do, but I think we're likely to have the snow before that, at least.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I think your music will start playing for me if you do something dramatic and I happen to be there.

I'm not sure--it usually snows come December. And, yes, I suspect we will have a heat wave sometime in the winter, but we'll probably have snow first.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Well, I've been stuck listening to it all day, so it's really only fair that I inflict some of it on you, too, don't you think? So I suppose I'll just have to think up something suitably dramatic to do around you while I finish up here.

It'll be a bit before we can start going skating on the ice again, then. But it's something to look forward to, anyway!

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I suppose, though I don't see why I should have to suffer when you're the one who's cursed. Really, if you could keep from doing anything dramatic, you could avoid this problem entirely.

It will be quite a little while before then, yes.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

If that's the case, then why don't I just keep from doing anything at all today, and that'll solve the problem for itself?

I'll have to make do with my Rollerblades, then, if I want to go skating before then. But that's quite all right, I like that just as well.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I rather wonder if you'd be able to do that, Rosella. I don't think I could ever imagine you not doing anything at all.

Yes, I suppose you will have to, and I hope you'll be careful on them too, of course.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

I suppose I'm about as good at not doing anything as I am at staying out of trouble, really. Though the two rather do go hand-in-hand most of the time, anyway.

Oh, I always am. I have special gloves to wear, even, to keep my wrists safe while I do it.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

In your situation, Rosella, I'm afraid they rather do go hand-in-hand with one another. I suppose it's just your way of going about things.

Then you sound quite prepared for it--I'm glad to hear it.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Well, at least I'm getting better about taking care of myself before it all gets out of hand. Or trying to, anyway. Did I tell you I've been having lessons to learn to use a sword?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Have you, indeed? No, I don't think you told me. Is it going well?