531 Monstrosity & Morality: Dividing Lines of the Self and Other, Section 4

[idolpro]

Comments

RULES

[libraryofbabel]

Turn in the assignment.

SIGN IN HERE

[libraryofbabel]

For a moment, everything is dark. It's so dark that you cannot see yourself; as far as you can tell, you're floating in nothingness.

But only for a moment.

Re: SIGN IN HERE

[constellationprize]

[ This is disconcerting but unsure if it's in a good way or bad way? ]

Re: SIGN IN HERE

[scattershot]

[Then what?

[How thrown is she supposed to be about this? Alisaie is reserving judgement until further data becomes available.]

Re: SIGN IN HERE

[gravitydefier]

[????]

Re: SIGN IN HERE

[overworker]

[ Sure this... is fine.

But for Serenity, this darkness is terrifying. ]

THE LIBRARY

[libraryofbabel]

You find yourself, very abruptly, in a library, standing on solid ground; the levels go high, and the corridors far; you are quite certain you could get lost in this place. It might go on forever.

A scratching sound of pen on paper catches your notice; there's a woman working at the front desk. Oh, doesn't she look familiar? Hope looks up from the desk, which curiously has the nameplate "Professor"; she pushes her glasses up her nose as you approach, anticipating questions.

From here, there are also labeled hallways to the Computer Center and Writing Lounge; there is also the main hallway that leads to the stacks.

CHANGES

[libraryofbabel]

TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[widenessofthesea]

THE STACKS

[libraryofbabel]

You find the following sections ahead of you:

Primary Sources

Essay

Retrospectives, Third-Party

Emotion

Where would you like to go?

CHANGES

[libraryofbabel]

Re: THE STACKS

[scattershot]

[Primary Sources seems the obvious place to start.]

Re: THE STACKS

[constellationprize]

[ all of these seem pretty vital but the essays catch her eye first, so she's heading over there. ]

PRIMARY SOURCES

[libraryofbabel]

You find yourself in the Primary Sources section—which seems to be divided into the below subsections.

Mid 19th Century

Late 19th Century

Early-to-Mid 20th Century

Mid 20th Century

Early 21st Century

On a sideboard table, there is a vase with an elaborate blue china pattern containing a bouquet of vervain.

CHANGES

[libraryofbabel]

PRIMARY SOURCES: MID-TO-LATE 19TH CENTURY

[libraryofbabel]

You enter the section for mid-to-late 19th century records. The following books stand out—

A sheaf of pages hand-bound with string

Influence of Gender Equality Norms on Childhood Aspirations, Mid 19th Cen

Power Struggles in Qing Dynasty China, Mid 19th Cen

A book with no visible title, with a black cover

You can read one, or return to the primary sources hub.

CHANGES

[libraryofbabel]

PRIMARY SOURCES: LATE 19TH CENTURY

[libraryofbabel]

You enter the section for late 19th century records. The following books stand out—

Relationship Dynamics Under Supernatural Compulsion, Late 19th Cen (Content Warning: Dubious consent, faded to black)

Explorations of Faith in a Flawed and Cruel World, Late 19th Cen (Content Warning: Suicidal ideation)

You can read one, or return to the primary sources hub.

CHANGES

[libraryofbabel]

PRIMARY SOURCES: EARLY-TO-MID 20TH CENTURY

[libraryofbabel]

You enter the section for early-to-mid 20th century records. The following books stand out—

Opportunity Cost Tradeoffs of Immortality, Early 20th Cen

Early 20th Cen. Direct Action and Vampiric Complicity in Colonization

Pros and Cons of the Vampiric Curse, Early 20th Cen

Ethnographic Studies of Vampiric Society, Mid 20th Cen

You can read one, or return to the primary sources hub.

CHANGES

[libraryofbabel]

PRIMARY SOURCES: MID 20TH CENTURY

[libraryofbabel]

You enter the section for mid 20th century records. The following books stand out—

Case Studies in Vampiric Hunting Methods, Mid 20th Cen

Correspondence on the Nature of the Vampiric Soul, Mid 20th Cen

Studies in Efficacy of Non-Lethal Resistance Against Vampires, Mid 20th Cen

Discussions on Scientific Ethics in Vampiric Experimentation, Mid 20th Cen

Dangers of Advanced Alteration of the Vampiric Condition, Mid 20th Cen

You can read one, or return to the primary sources hub.

CHANGES

[libraryofbabel]

PRIMARY SOURCES: EARLY 21ST CENTURY

[libraryofbabel]

You enter the section for early 21st century records. The following books stand out—

Transitions of Vampire Society in the Modern Era, Early 21st Cen

Internal Ethics Review of Human Experimentation, Early 21st Cen (Content Warning: Pregnancy horror described)

On the Nature of Predators, Early 21st Cen

Considerations on Guilt and Moral Responsibility for Actions of Others, Early 21st Cen

You can read one, or return to the primary sources hub.

CHANGES

[libraryofbabel]

COMPUTER CENTER

[libraryofbabel]

This room somehow manages to look like it fits in with the rest of the slightly antique library; the computers are a little dated, if you're familiar with modern items—the kind of clunky, grey boxes you got in the 90s, with a simple menu.

It's easy enough to figure out that you can look up references by searching for particular words, though. Would you like to enter a search term? A singular uncommon word will probably get you best results.

CHANGES

[libraryofbabel]

WRITING LOUNGE

[libraryofbabel]

You find yourself in a comfortable lounge that has a number of long tables for group work as well as some solo writing desks. There are also plush armchairs clustered around side tables. It seems like a great place to discuss your assignment, right?

CHANGES

[libraryofbabel]

EMOTION

[libraryofbabel]

You find your way to the section labeled "Emotion." Some of the books here look potentially relevant—

Agape

Love

Joy

Grief

Anger

Hatred

Guilt

Shame

Hope

In the middle of the room are a couple couches for reading, and a side table. The side table has a vase that contains a handful of stems of standing clematis.

CHANGES

[libraryofbabel]

ESSAY

[libraryofbabel]

You enter the section marked "Essay." There's an unoccupied writing desk here amid the shelves. A few tomes stand out as potentially useful:

Religious Perspectives

The Legend of Miaoshan

The Price of Progress

The Practice of Love

Distinctions of Life and Personhood

CHANGES

[libraryofbabel]

RETROSPECTIVES, THIRD-PARTY

[libraryofbabel]

You enter the section labeled "Retrospectives, Third-Party," which seems to contain outside perspectives from relevant people. The following volumes catch your eye—

Testimonials: Samantha Moon

Testimonials: Iris Virga

Testimonials: Sashay Silfda Eistria AAA Absolute Dagger Zero Slaughtervodka, Resounding Aria of Dawn

Testimonials: Serenity

Testimonials: Aradia

CHANGES

[libraryofbabel]

ANNOUNCEMENTS

[libraryofbabel]

????? MYSTERY NOISE ?????

[libraryofbabel]

There's a large thud like something large hitting the roof somewhere.