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In this community, I spam words.

Who: Ziio, Open
When: 06/13 - Evening
Where: The Academy Library - Or in that area of.
What: By way of a fated book, Ziio arrives in Smash Academy. ~~The lesson that we should all stop reading.~~
Warning: N/A

What is this.

The pointed question and the most direct one. Also the one that didn't provide an immediate answer. Naturally, the obvious answer was a sanctuary of books - a library. Not that it explained the situation any better. To go from a village in one moment to a library in another. Some would have held a vision responsible, but the imagery too vivid.

And the moment Ziio ran a forefinger over the spine of a book, it was too obviously real. So this was reality. Some sort of reality. An unexplained kind.

The lack of clarification was irritating at best. But if opening a book had been what brought her there, then it seemed logical that opening another - the right one - would take her back to Kanatahséton. Which eventually led to an ever growing pile of books that Ziio had opened and found disappointment in.

In other words, someone was going to have a lot to clean up later.

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"Sodding hell. Librarian is going to adore you."

Here was Jon. He had two books in his arms. From volcanic crater to kelp forest; a visitors guide to Hoenn. and Vaporeon, a vision in blue. As opposed to the many, many piled up books on the floor.

"You're an avid reader, then? Or are you attempting to build some sort of indoor mountain?"

Either way, he had pity on the tiny white haired child who served as Librarian.

A single look over Jon and Ziio was a little stuck on his unkempt hair. Outlandish. But when she compared garb, it was about as obvious as Shadow's address that this was no time of colonists and British separation. With book in hand, she simply stared at him, thought about saying nothing at all, and finally she set her book down.

"No," was her firm response, but as to whether it was meant for only one of his questions remained to be seen.

Her other hand lifted and she motioned curtly, subtly. "Where is this?" Because she had a feeling that Jon was not a spirit animal.

Well, Jon WAS British. Just many decades removed from her experience with them. And an animal, though, not a spirit yet.

"This is the Library, in a school called Smash Academy, in a City called Final Destination." Jon replied, taking a seat on the ground across from her and crossing his legs. She reminded him of that one lad... what was his name? Conner? That he'd given some small amount of teasing for catching rabbits in the wood out back.

"If you're unsure on details like that, am I to guess you're a new arrival, then?"

None of it was information she particularly wanted to hear. Most of it just conjured up additional questions, and unsure of where to begin, Ziio found it wiser to sit on the thoughts for a little before bringing them up. She could find her own way, anyway. Especially if the library was at all helpful with a non-disappointing book without a similar 'portal.'

"So it would seem." Calmer than how perhaps most might have taken that predicament. She turned from him, her attention back onto books as she reached for another while she continued, "You're used to this." An observation on his part, as he seemed slightly practised with greeting 'new arrivals,' whatever that meant.

Jon was hardly the welcome wagon, though, he'd been in this city long enough to see many show up.

"I've lived here some time. There's plenty of folk as come and go. You've the air of someone who wasn't intending on being here, however."

Because unlike him, a lot of people seemed to just 'arrive' here, as opposed to chasing the place down on purpose.

".....anything in particular you're looking to read about? Because I know my way around the card catalogue and can probably help you find whatever it is you wish to read without more of.... this." he said, gesturing to the messy pile of books.

When he motioned to her ever growing pile of books, she simply eyed them for a few moments. And finding that they weren't going to be of use to her anyway, it couldn't hurt to put them back. Which she proceeded on doing, while she used it as a way to think about his offer.

He probably didn't mean any harm by it. But she was self-sufficient and had no particular need for his assistance. At least not in the manner to have him looking through books with her. Explaining her situation couldn't have been the worst thing to say.

"I 'arrived' by book," Ziio explained succinctly. "It'd be fitting to 'return' by book."

She lifted the one she'd opened when she arrived, older than any other book she'd been pulling off the shelves. And then she put it aside, but not without eying it with some consideration. "If you're aware of any additional books like that, it would be useful."

"There was a portal in your book, eh? Heard of stranger things."

He'd heard of giant golden rings that were portals, and pipes underground that could take you many places.

"Never heard of a book that could do it, however, and certainly not in the Library. I think word of something like that would do the rounds." he commented. "If you're going to find a way home, I sincerely doubt the Library will have much of anything to do with it. You may want to try the transit center in town, or talk to the more normal of the two headmasters to see if he's got knowledge on how to get back."

So her search had been fruitless, and she could hardly see a reason that he'd be giving her false information. Finishing replacing most of the books, Ziio gave a short little nod of acknowledgement as she considered what the next plan of action was to be.

He'd mentioned a transit centre, which she could take an educated guess at what it might be. And headmasters, which sounded akin to Oiá:ner, from an objective perspective.

"I will do as you suggest," she agreed to him as she turned fully to view him.

"There might be other ways to go about it." Jon said, folding his arms. "There are a lot of folk here from a lot of different places, and it seems some of us can travel back and forth at will, and others have to work a little harder for it."

He could go back to England anytime he so chose, after all. However, there was nothing there for him to go back to so he had no need of it.

"There's a lad here, looks somewhat as though he might be from your time. I'd suggest looking for him to see if he's found a way yet. His name is Connor. Met him the one time in the wood out back. Think he's on staff at the school, now."

"I see," Ziio replied. Not a woman of many words, she had considered leaving it there as she found a way to proceed. It was true that he was helpful, but expressing that was something else entirely, so he wound up getting a small nod, despite the idea that none of her features had softened.

And likely wouldn't for some time.

The name, however, spurred her to investigation. "You are not the first to mention that name. Another thought us related, but that name isn't familiar to me. Yet you say he could be of my time."

What would you know of my time?

"I could be mistaken. But you could spend your time in worse ways, I'd imagine." Jon replied. "I suppose there IS a resemblance, though."

She did look somewhat like Connor, but Jon hadn't spent enough time with the man to really state this with absolute certainty. He very well could be wrong.

"From my conversation with him... he came from America in the time when my lot were just starting to invade and set up shop. To explain a little further, I'm from a year much removed from that, and this, currently, is a year even further removed from my own time. The 21st century, to be precise though whether that will mean much to you I've no clue."

His lot. And Jon's accent wasn't completely foreign. She seemed to understand well enough what he was saying, too. At least at the beginning. The moment he started in with talk of centuries, however, he lost her. She didn't look lost, but she certainly couldn't say she knew what he was talking about.

The general gist of things, however, was that whenever she left the library, she'd likely see a plethora of things that weren't familiar, so she treated Jon's words as if they were a kinder forewarning.

"It will be different, is what you are saying," she clarified for him, thinking it to have been much easier if he was concise without the unnecessary information. But it was a subtle way of confirming for him just what kind of time period she was from.

And the mysterious Connor as well.

"Very." Jon confirmed with a nod. "It was the same for me when I arrived."

Because even though 1959 was hardly colonial times? There were still a lot of advances he'd skipped. Though, she'd missed out on many more. The automobile, the phone, aircraft, electricity, television, movies, mass produced teenage pop music and the fast food franchise revolution. Oh god, and the Internet.

...in some ways, he envied her.

In most ways, really.

"You seem a stout hearted lass - considering you were dragged through a book into a foreign place and you're not running about like a chicken, sans head. However, there's a lot you'll need to take in before finding your answers to getting home, especially if no-one on campus can help you."

A 'stout hearted lass.' She doubted that'd be the last time she'd hear such a thing. It wasn't a poor way to describe her either.

"Very little would be done if I lost my senses," she clarified for him. How did she really feel about the situation? Concerned for her son, undoubtedly, who'd find her missing when he returned with the others.

A search would be conducted and no results would be found. That was worrisome. But to lose one's head over it... Nothing could be accomplished that way. She had faced many difficult times before and undoubtedly she was aware that her son would as well. Through hardship came strength.

"I hear you," Ziio further confirmed for Jon. "I'll do what I need to. Your information has been helpful."

"Glad to be of some assistance." Jon replied. And he was - he wasn't likely to go out of his way to help most folk but he felt a special sort of... well, kinship was far too strong a word, but he had some empathy for those who came here from the past. There were many challenges unique to being born in decades (Or in her case, possibly centuries) gone by. If he could help at least soften the blow, that was something.

"Once you're done reading, have someone show you to a place called the Admin block, and ask to see Headmaster Hand. Should anyone direct you to Crazy hand, you'll want to wait until Headmaster Hand is available. Do not bother with Crazy Hand as he is a mostly useless git and he will tell you nothing of value."

He paused.

"...also, in this place you will see many people who are not Human. That's a normality here."

Because as stout hearted as she was, she may just find a girl with wings and a flaming tail, a purple cat wearing clothing, or an armor wearing android enough to push her sensibilities too far.

Too much information all at once. She'd kept a hold onto all he'd said, but wondered idly how well she'd recall it all when the situation came to hand to need it. But it seemed unlikely that they wouldn't meet again. Perhaps. He certainly didn't give off the air that they would cross paths once and that was it. Especially with how familiar he was with how things worked.

She nodded when she heard him. The Admin block. Right. Much easier to think it in the present than to apply it to the situation.

One step at a time. A sharp and necessary reminder.

"I noticed that," she observed. "The first I met wasn't." Was it a shock? She didn't feel especially 'shocked,' but that didn't seem to be in her nature. She hadn't expected it, however, which was close enough. She didn't understand how such a thing was possible in the first place. Yet it was anyway.

"It will take some time." For her to get used to. And she imagined she wouldn't.

It was only four pieces of pertinent imformation - find the admin block, headmaster hand good, crazy hand bad, talking animals are plentiful. Simple!

"Ah. So you've met one of the many and varied different species that roams about? Even those who appear Human may not be at heart."

Though, he wasn't about to 'Out' himself at this juncture.

"At any rate, I'll be going." he said, extending a hand toward her. "Jon, by the way. Jonathan Talbain."

"Even those who appear Human may not be at heart."

Oh... The ways she could have interpreted that, for words of that nature were guilty of of multiple connotations. And somehow Ziio got the impression that they were all valid in a place of this nature. She began to incline her head as she considered a vocal response, but then she paused when he offered her his hand.

She wasn't so foreign to the greetings of the colonists or of the - Templars, she supposed - but it just wasn't a part of her culture. Ziio stared at his hand for a few moments and lifted hers. Not for him to take, but something in acknowledgement of his gesture. Then she nodded.

"Kaniehtí:io," she reciprocated in kind. "Ziio is fine." A pause and the words weren't exactly the kind she liked saying because they were expressive and there was a time and place for that. "Nia:wen."

In other words, 'thank you.'

"....Ziio it is."

Because despite being half demon? His tongue was that of an Englishman and frankly, Kaniehtí:io was a little much for it to take.

He retracted his hand and instead, mimicked the gesture she made, assuming it was the greeting of her people, or at least a friendly gesture. "Alright, then. I may yet see you around. If you should find yourself stranded here and unable to return, you may find enrolling as student or staff a good way to get by. Provides room, board, food."

He pushed himself to his feet and grabbed up the two books he'd been intending to check out.

"I may yet see you around."

The implication they'd cross paths again wasn't entirely an unpleasant one. He'd seemed interesting, though Ziio's priorities didn't involve that kind of observation. And he had been useful. Helpful. In helping her get one step closer to where she'd wanted to be. Better to value someone for his use than to cast him aside.

"I won't have difficulty finding those things for myself." An outstanding independent streak. Did she look so incapable? Ziio was almost insulted. Almost. Again, she knew he was trying to help, so she didn't sound nearly as annoyed as she could have.

Her eyes dropped onto his books with some thought, considering checking them before he left, but that seemed unnecessary. "Until we meet again." Because she had a feeling she'd be seeing him once more at least.

It wasn't a matter of incapability. It was a matter of the world having moved on. He could claim those things for himself too, and he often did. But the world was what it was and having a place within it made things easier - people were easier to deal with if you could show them you'd been assigned a label, like Student or Professor.

"I'm sure you won't." he said, turning around and starting to walk toward the Librarian's counter.

"Until then."

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In this community, I spam words.

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