lots of cookies and action in the library [10/??? artefacts collected]

[sadfreezingbrit_archive]

Philip's and Clarence's stocking contained a book.

The less said about the item's story and the physicist's reaction to it the better.

But something ought to be said, so let's point out that Philip is currently spending most of his time in the library, surrounded by books and notes, trying to decipher the exact contents of his present.



Three days of constant hypnotic baking result in a lot of cookies, all of which are surprisingly edible. Philip prefers not to gorge himself on his own work, so he pumps the closet for a few Christmas-themed boxes and shares the goods.

Jean and Yujinn: Well, they only met briefly, but hey, cookies pass for a nodding acquaintance gift, right?

Alex: Essentially the same as above. Alex was going to get a second box, as a sort of 'ending up in horrible situations together' bonus, but there was already one cookie basket at his door when Philip arrived, so he didn't want to push it.

Daniel and Tim: They get a cookie box in addition to their regular presents. Mint chip and sugar cookies for the latter, whether he likes it or not!

Regular presents!

Daniel: A neatly organised and annotated reading list of books relevant to the esteemed anachronist. Phil's personal top five picks are already delivered in book form and the vast library should easily be able to provide the rest.

Tim: A sixpack. Philip wanted to take Tim up on that offer in person, but his encounter with Pendergast still has him rattled, so after standing in front of Tim's door longer than is probably healthy he will opt for simply dropping off the goods and leaving a card instead.

With the exception of Tim presents will be delivered in person or dropped off with a card, depending on how easily available everyone is.

Comments

[timisnotme.livejournal.com]

*Sweet. Cookies and beer? Best present ever. He will cautiously eat one of the hypno-cookies. Finding they're not poisoned and are in fact DELICIOUS, he's gonna eat all of them and drink his beer while watching various festive movies.*

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ Who said anything about not poisoned?

...

...

...

Oh wait, wrong character.

Yeah, you go ahead and enjoy. ♥ ]

[timisnotme.livejournal.com]

*........................... Don't give Tim a heart attack here.*

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ Isn't that what the cookies are for? On the very long run? ]

[action]

[haruhifujioka.livejournal.com]

[Since she's almost always in the library she will notice him. She pauses in her book stacking and looks over his shoulder.]

Can I help you find something?

1/2

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ He's very... let's say immersed in his work, so it will take him a moment to notice that he's not alone. ]

{ I'm tellin' you, it's pointless. I can tell you what it says word for word and I'm pretty sure not a single one will do you any good.

...Not for what you're after anyway. We could have some real fun with this if you'd just stop obsessing about how to get rid of me. }

Just let me work.

{...Suit yourself, monkey.

Oh, and by the way? You've got company. }

2/2

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ Did we say a moment? We meant a very long moment. But hey, better late than never, right?

He turns nervously and faces her. ]

Uhm... hello.

Re: 2/2

[haruhifujioka.livejournal.com]

[She doesn't seem disturbed at all. After being here over three years there is very little that upsets her.]

Can I help you find something?

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ He isn't too aware that he might've heard her before, otherwise an apology would be in order. As it is he focuses on the question... more or less anyway. ]

Do you... work here?

[ He's been wondering about employees in Wonderland before. By now he didn't think they existed. ]

[haruhifujioka.livejournal.com]

No, but it's easier to do this then sit around.

[She was pretty sure that no one had actual jobs here. They just took up doing things if they wanted to.]

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

...I suppose.

[ No, that's a good point.

Give Philip a moment, he's looking at his book, then at Haruhi and back. It's kind of a personal matter, but then again, who said anything about going into detail? ]

Uhm, I'm... trying to decipher this book and I have just about no idea where to start.

[haruhifujioka.livejournal.com]

{She frowns, thinking about what books to use.]

Maybe historic coding?

[She tilted her head slightly, trying to see if it was similar to anything she'd seen before.]

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

Maybe.

[ After another moment of hesitation he leans aside, allowing Haruhi a better look at the volume. ]

I'm afraid it's... another language entirely.

[haruhifujioka.livejournal.com]

[She frowns, looking it over as best she can.]

What language is it?

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

That's the big question.

[haruhifujioka.livejournal.com]

It is?

[She looked confused. Was it really a big question?]

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

I don't know. I mean, I don't know what language it is.

[haruhifujioka.livejournal.com]

Oh.

[She frowns in thought. There has to be a way to figure it out. Maybe by comparing the words to other words from other languages.]

Well, it's not in Japanese. Let's start with Latin, Greek and German.

[He leaves for a few moments to come back with three books, one in each language to compare the writing to.]

See if any of these have words that looks the same.

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ For a moment Philip looks at the book, lost in thoughts. He snaps out of it too late to stop Haruhi from leaving for the books.

When she returns he looks at her sheepishly. ]

I'm... sorry, I probably should have said more.

[ Sigh. Okay, here goes: ]

Back at home I showed this book to a professor of linguistics. So whatever language it is, I doubt I-- I doubt we have ever heard about it.

[ Another sigh for good measure. ]

I don't want to keep you, this isn't-- [ BUT WAIT! A question arises. ]

...Maybe if you have a section of books in languages from... other worlds here somewhere?

[haruhifujioka.livejournal.com]

[She frowns, thinking about that. There should be. After all, everyone is from a different world and probably speaks a different language there. Unless they speak the same language.]

Probably. Do you know what the book is about?

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

I wish. Haven't got a single clue.

[ He sighs. ]

But... anyway, I-- I guess I'll just keep looking, uhm... see if I can find those other languages.

[ A smile. ]

Thank you-- thanks for your help.