Aravun Ivory Tower
After a few months of turning wandering the Library into a hobby, she crosses paths with Ezeki by chance.
“Ezeki?” Eve calls, respectfully.
Ezeki nearly jumps a foot in the air. Eve waits patiently while it recovers.
It inclines its head at her. It greets, softly, “Hello, Eve. How may I help you?”
Eve asks it a general questions about something-or-other.
“A tower full of books to explore, and you’re asking me?” Ezeki asks, baffled.
“You asked me if I needed help!” Eve, so done, continues, “Yes, I’m asking you, because there is no publicly accessible directory and no knowledge is worth destroying my body for!"
"Oh."
"Oh, whatever. You have three options: 1) answer my question, 2) tell me precisely where the book is, or 3) provide me with a wheelchair so that I might explore.” She spins around with her arms outstretched for sarcastic emphasis on her contempt for exploration, for this Aravun ivory tower. “Do all three, and I’ll never ask you for help again, promise.”
“… Please always feel free to ask me for help," Ezeki counters, sheepishly. "You'll find what you're looking for on the third floor, somewhere on the sixth shelf. Pamash has also done research in that area; feel free to tell them that I sent you."
Two weeks later, Seri calls Eve to the top of the Library. Eve grumbles, after a polite greeting: “How are you not freezing?!” Seri points at their trusty space heater. “I am.” Then, they point at the wheelchair, and explain, “This was at my desk when I got into work today with an apology note on it from Ezeki. It says it’s sorry if it offended you. Beware, the metal bits are, in fact, freezing.” Eve approaches it like it might bite her. Eve sits in it. Rolls it forward slightly. Eve can feel a powerful blessing for safety, in it. “It… it got this for me?” “Apparently.” Seri glances back at its door and at Eve. They slide a new ID to Eve, one bordered in Ezeki’s brown. “Ezeki and I are not safe company for an Astris. We’re too close to the Ida, but so long as you don’t mess with any of the old books without training first, feel free to explore the Library. The council knows, but should anyone question you, show this, and say that you have Ezeki and I’s blessings. And if I might make a suggestion?” “What?” “Charo was Maikir’s wanuye. Start your exploration with an assuredly friendly face.”
Two weeks later, Seri calls Eve to the top of the Library. Eve grumbles, after a polite greeting: “How are you not freezing?!” Seri points at their trusty space heater. “I am.” Then, they point at the wheelchair, and explain, “This was at my desk when I got into work today with an apology note on it from Ezeki. It says it’s sorry if it offended you. Beware, the metal bits are, in fact, freezing.” Eve approaches it like it might bite her. Eve sits in it. Rolls it forward slightly. Eve can feel a powerful blessing for safety, in it. “It… it got this for me?” “Apparently.” Seri glances back at its door and at Eve. They slide a new ID to Eve, one bordered in Ezeki’s brown. “Ezeki and I are not safe company for an Astris. We’re too close to the Ida, but so long as you don’t mess with any of the old books without training first, feel free to explore the Library. The council knows, but should anyone question you, show this, and say that you have Ezeki and I’s blessings. And if I might make a suggestion?” “What?” “Charo was Maikir’s wanuye. Start your exploration with an assuredly friendly face.”
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