Enlumyne

[pendraeg]

Who: Uther, Tosh, library patrons.
What: The King gathers intelligence. But the librarian ain't no Geoffrey of Monmouth (she's much prettier).
When: Day.
Where: The library.
Rating: B for bookish.
Status: Semi-open and incomplete.

Comments

[geniustoshiko]

The Aternaville Library, while being rather nice in its own way, really wasn't all that large, at least when compared to libraries in larger cities like London or Tokyo or even Cardiff. Still, it was fairly well-stocked, and Tosh had done a great deal in the past few months to get the computer systems updated.

And with all the strange arrivals in Aternaville, it wasn't odd to see a person looking somewhat out-of-place walk through the door.

However, Tosh was definitely not expecting to see someone who looked as though he'd just stepped out of the Middle Ages! He looked a bit overwhelmed, and Tosh decided to go try and help him sort things out.

"Hello, sir," Tosh smiled, approaching him slowly. "Can I help you with anything?"

[pendraeg]

Uther turned his attention upon the young woman who had greeted him. He had not had much contact with the people of this world as yet, save those of the clinic, but he had observed many of them from a distance. He had, however, noted that the women had a tendency to appear in trousers--and not only because they were headstrong tomboys.

This one was particularly striking in her bright red shirt. And yet, what was more striking-- "Are you...the librarian?" he asked tentatively.

[geniustoshiko]

The man in front of her could definitely be described as 'striking', as well- the clothes, of course, but there was something else, as well. Perhaps just the way he carried himself- it was not something that Tosh had seen all that often.

At his question Tosh nodded, still smiling in her shy way.

"Yes," she replied. "Well, one of them, anyway. Is there something in particular you're looking for?" Helpful and polite suited Tosh, as did the quiet environment of the Library.

[pendraeg]

A learned woman, and such a young one at that. It was clear there was much to be learned about this world, which was what Uther was here to do. "As a matter of fact, there is."

He paused and thought about this. Uther had respected books, learning, and the preservation of knowledge since he was a lad, for the most part because of the guidance of his brother Constans, the monk. But he had devoted his life to the art of war and had left the books to those who understood them better, and only referred to what was contained within them when necessary. It was necessary now, and he could not fathom quite how to begin. "Well, everything."

"I--" He frowned. That was not going to be helpful. For the first time in a very long while, Uther Pendragon was uncertain. "I need to know everything that has changed in the world since the rule of the Normans on the Isle of Britain. Starting with history and military technology."

[geniustoshiko]

It was mainly due to years of being faced with bizarre situations that Toshiko did not flinch at the man's rather sweeping request. It also helped that, since arriving in Aternaville, she had heard (and met) people from many different times and places, thus making this request not actually all that strange.

"Well, we have quite a large historical section, so you are in luck," Tosh smiled, nodding towards a back corner of the building. "Right this way."

The man looked a little uncertain, and Tosh figured it would probably better to start with books rather than the computer- those could be daunting for some people who were from this century!

They reached an area with several reading tables, and Tosh nodded towards a chair.

"Why don't I go look for a few things, and you can have a seat here, Mr.-?" She trailed off, hoping the man would supply an introduction.

[pendraeg]

Following the girl further into the library, Uther continued to be astonished. It was even larger than it had appeared at first glance. He wondered just how many scribes had devoted their lives to these books and, more importantly, how those who owned the books had commanded the resources to acquire so many.

Though on the whole they were different-looking from the volumes in the library at Camelot. Smaller, more brightly-coloured. And there were no scrolls to be seen. Uther squinted at them from a distance, attempting to decode the writing along their spines.

"Sire," he corrected distractedly. No, they were too far. He trained his attention back to its proper target. "I am King Uther, sovereign of the land of Camelot."

[geniustoshiko]

Oh.

Well then.

Tosh did allow herself to gape for a moment- yes, there were a lot of seemingly impossible people in this town, but King Uther Pendragon??

"And I am Toshiko Sato, sir," Tosh replied, once she'd recovered her train of thought. "If you'll just give me a few moments, we can start pulling some information for you."

Still in a bit of a daze, Tosh searched the shelves, pulling out a few large volumes with a general overview of world history.

"Here we go," Tosh smiled, setting the books down in front of Uther. "This should give you a good place to start, at least. From what I've found, beginning with a bit of an overview or an outline is best, and from there you can delve deeper into areas of interest."

lols: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pyjRj3UMRM

[pendraeg]

"Very well, Toshikosato." Uther settled into the chair the librarian had indicated, sword dangling to the floor. "That seems a sound strategy. Thank you

((*giggles*))

[geniustoshiko]

Toshiko, for her part, decided to do some reshelving while she was back in this corner. Partly because it needed to be done, but also to keep an eye on the extraordinary man currently leafing through the world history books.

Though they'd never quite sorted it out, Tosh knew that the Doctor suspected something strange in the ravine that drew people here- both people like she and Owen, out of their own times, and also people like the King who was sitting in a Canadian public library. It was bizarre, to be sure, but certainly made life interesting.

Uther seemed to be nearly flying through his book, and Tosh stopped near the table to check in on him.

"I'm glad you are finding these to your liking," she smiled kindly. "And, I'm no historian, of course, but is there anything so far that you'd like additional information on? I could go start making you a list of resources, if you'd like."

[pendraeg]

With a frown, Uther looked up from the book. He gazed at the librarian for a long, pensive moment. At last, he spoke. "I am most troubled by these 'world wars'."

It was as though, with their technologies, everybody, everyone had gained the destructive powers of sorcery. And, as Uther had known, no one could control that power. Give a man any ability beyond those God meant him to have, and he would turn to evil.

[geniustoshiko]

Tosh had to sigh at that- even in all the centuries since Uther's time, the tendency of humans to wage war against each other had only expanded with technology.

"My grandfather worked as a codebreaker during World War II," Tosh began, taking a seat in the chair across from Uther. "But he and his family were still discriminated against and looked at suspiciously because they were Japanese. Unfortunately, people still seem to think they can solve all of their problems with violence."

Not that Tosh hadn't used violence when it was necessary- but it was never something she relished doing, and seeing the evidence of what had been done on a large scale was never a good thought.

[pendraeg]

"They seem so...total," Uther said softly. "And this, this bomb. If that is science, it is just as bad as sorcery."

He could not truly comprehend the devastation described in the book, the scale of these wars. It was far larger than anything he could have experienced in his tiny kingdom on its compact island. Larger than anything of...his time, though it still felt strange to think of it thus.

[geniustoshiko]

"Science has its good points and its bad points, just like everything else," Tosh sighed. "It has eradicated diseases that used to kill thousands of people. And we can communicate with people all over the world in an instant. But yes, science can be destructive and awful just as easily."

Letting out a long breath, Tosh tried to smile.

"But there is more to human history than wars. Have you seen any of the beautiful art that has been created?" She pulled over one of the books, flipping through to a section on the Renaissance.

"And this was several centuries ago. Imagine everything that has been produced since then!"

[pendraeg]

Uther let his gaze follow the librarian's direction to the paintings in the book, but his thoughts lingered upon the follies of inhuman power, the dangers of having the ability to detroy oneself and others with a thought, a simple gesture. He suppose those who were critical of his policies--Morgana especially--would argue that he excercised and abused much the same power. But he had fought for the right to rule with his own two hands, with blood and sweat and lessons hard-learned. And though it may have seemed otherwise, he did not treat the power of life and death over his subjects with
levity. He did not take lives he did not feel were necessary for the safety and stability of the kingdom and the monarchy. This science, though, and sorcery, made it to easy, distanced death from its cause, made of it an abstraction, a game.

However, while a part of Uthed dwelled on these thoughts, another took in the paintings he was meant to be observing.

"Oh," he breathed, surprised. "That is indeed something to behold."

It was beautiful, and

[pendraeg]

[erg, I apologize for the funkiness. I can't get online, so I'm tagging on my phone.]

((LOL, no worries!))

[geniustoshiko]

Tosh smiled softly, glad he appreciated the art.

"I know the books tend to focus on all of the horror and terrible things that have happened, but there has been a lot of beautiful and wonderful things, as well." Not that Tosh got to regularly appreciate things- she'd spent several years chasing aliens, after all.

But that just made the lovely things in the world all that more important.