paradisalost | 4. Buggre Alle this for a Larke

[Filter: Guts' world/Apostles] [The written note over the journals is neat and tidy, the hand-writing slightly old fashioned and done with an blue-ink fountain pen.]

Good day to you all,

I am conducting some research in the library, and would be most grateful if I could spare an hour or so of your time to answer some questions.

Thank you awfully in advance,

Aziraphale.

[Filter: Mr Question] Dear Mr. Question,

I sincerely hope this letter finds you fully recovered, and in good spirits. I hope I did not overstep my bounds with your friends. When you receive this letter I would appreciate speaking with you, if I may.

Yours,

Aziraphale. [/End of Filters]

[There are many things that are a permanant fixture within the library... the bookshelves, that strange statue of a gargoyle that looked like it was picking its nose... and now an angel. Or rather, what looked to be a pleasingly plump middle-aged man with spectacles and a large pile of books. He hadn't moved for a few days now and a thin layer of dust was beginning to coat his clothes and hair, but he didn't notice, far too preoccupied with searching the journals.

He honestly had never had a book quite as fascinating, it was like the first time he had read the 'Unreleased Diaries of Samuel Pepys' (which, incidentally, had been the same as the original ones, but for the addition of the six-month debacle of trying to introduce pet giraffes as the fashion in court).]

[ooc: Please feel free to come and bother the dusty man in the corner! Azi loves making friends.]

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[This girl is looking around the huge library, just searching for anything she would find interesting, and that guy looks a little...weird]

Er...hello?

[Aziraphale was barely aware someone had spoken to him, looking up for the source of the voice.]

...?

[Coraline's just going to...shyly wave]

Hi. Uh...are you okay?

Quite alright, little miss. Are you looking for a book?

Alright, then. Yeah...I'm looking for a book on something from my world.

What world is that?

Well, it's Ashland Oregon. In the United States. [Shrugs]

There are plenty of atlases and encyclopedias that cover the United States.

Yeah. But I'm trying to look up something called a Beldam.

[His brow furrows in mild concern.]

Not a particularly pleasant reading topic, is there any reason?

Wait, you know about it? [Finally, someone besides her and Wybie who'll understand] She tried to kill me, actually.

[Now that made his heart pang, and a passing mouse that happened to get caught in the ripple of distress decided to ignore his cheese and run home to make sure his little mouse babies were alright.]

I don't know of a she, only the term. A Beldam is traditionally an ugly crone with a perchant for children, the term is used most famously in Shakespeare's Macbeth to describe the witches.

[Yeah, she's been through a whole lot]

Hmm. That really describes her. [A pause] In my world, she's a witch with buttons for eyes who calls herself the "Other Mother."

That sounds distinctly unpleasant.

[He sets his own reading aside, giving the poor child a comforting smile; which, as he happened to have Divine Power on his side was quite comforting indeed.]

Would you like to talk about it?

Trust me, it was.

[She smiles back a little]

As long as you won't think I'm crazy or anything.

I promise I shan't.

If you say so...

Well, I just moved from Michigan to this boring pink house called the Pink Palace in Ashland, Oregon. I found a little door while I was exploring, and at night it led to a better version of my house, and my parents.

They had buttons for eyes, an everything was better there. But they wanted to sew buttons into my eyes, so the Other Mother could lock me in a room ad eat my soul. Then she kidnapped my parents, and had to go through a whole lot to get them back. I was just about to get rid of the key to that world when I came here. [Deeep breath]

[While this was all very interesting, it was a tale that made his heart go out to the poor child. When she had finished, he laid a hand gently on her head and ruffled her hair.]

I must say, I'm glad they didn't succeed, you have quite nice eyes as it is.

[She's honestly been through more than any eleven-year-old should ever have to.]

You and me both. [Coraline offers a small smile] Anybody's eyes would look nicer than buttons.

There was a series of books once called the Mennyms, all the characters in that had buttons for eyes. They were a family of life-sized rag dolls.

Really? That's cool and creepy.

Perhaps they might have a copy in here, we could read it together if you liked?

[Soft spot for the chilluns.]

Okay! It sounds like a good book. [Abandons her search for evil witches and starts looking for the book]
Say, I don't think I ever got your name.

My name is Aziraphale.

[He stands and helps her in the search.]

It's by Sylvia Waugh.

Aziraphale? It's nice to meet you, Aziraphale. I'm Coraline.

Hmm... [And after a couple minutes, she pulls the book from the shelf, examining it]

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