Log 1(6)

[toujoursfluer]

[For most of the day, Robin will be in the library. There is a sign tacked on the door reading:

Those with outstanding fines or books overdue two weeks or more will be severely penalized in three days time. It's recommended you take care of this now. ~Robin Nico. Head Librarian.


She herself will be inside the library all day, awaiting frantic returns and/or deposits before someone comes to remind her that she is going to be late for dinner again. Feel free to stop by at any time.]

Comments

[fourthgenerationprincess]

[ In the afternoon, after school, Twilight noses the door of the library open and slinks in, carrying a book in her mouth and five more in her hand-stitched saddlebag. She lays the book on the front desk and looks away, muttering: ]

Sorry, Mom.

[toujoursfluer]

[Robin looks up from her book. Feeling the warmth of affection at the young pony. But a pinch of irritation, to]

Do you think sorry is enough? You should know better, Twilight Sparkle. [she turns the page] I'm sure you know well enough by now how to check them in and put them away.

[fourthgenerationprincess]

[ Twilight nods and drags over a convenient stool; if either her horn or wings worked, she wonders if this task would be made easier, and she wishes - not for the first time - that she could use magic or fly. Of course, magic isn't real, and her wings are too small for her anyway, so she'll have to do this the hard way, as usual.

She holds the books open one at a time and scans them in, tucking them back into the saddlebag her parents gave her as she does. She feels a little bit of indignant shame, but her mother is a stickler for the rules, and there's nothing she can do about that. Twilight doesn't entirely blame her, either.

She stops on one book and pushes it towards her. History of the Stars. ] I couldn't put this one down, I must have read it six times. Do you think we could go looking at them some time?

[toujoursfluer]

[poor sad little pony. Anything else Robin would give her leeway with but books were books and must be archived and preserved properly. Though she does take the book lightly, looking it over. She knew this one. Quite a popular read though not highly in demand.]

Of course, sweetheart. Maybe when... your father gets back. [why does that word stick in her throat? She mentally shakes it off.] We can have a night picnic.

[she shuts the book and puts it the desks lower shelf for her own purposes.]

I'm going to go make some coffee. Would you like some, Twilight-chan? Or would you prefer tea?

[fourthgenerationprincess]

At this hour, after the sun's set? Of course! [ Twilight grins. Late nights are her bread and butter. So is coffee. It's no wonder she's named after the late hours. She shoulders her saddlebag back on, in order to shelve things along the way.

Her stomach gurgles. ] Uh, maybe a snack, too?

[toujoursfluer]

[Robin laughs and plants a gentle kiss below her horn.]

Of course. I might send you out a little later on before the grocery closes. [though none of them would be in the mood for cooking but such is life.]

Go on. [she lightly swats Twilight's flank before going to the small kitchenette and humming a song they both knew. An old song about a young man who had sadly fallen in love with a supernova.]

[fourthgenerationprincess]

[ The guilt she felt earlier is replaced by warm feelings for her mother. She hums the counterpoint as she traverses the library, shelving books in the proper places, having memorized the library system as a filly.

When she finishes up, she trots over to the kitchenette and nuzzles her leg. ] Is it finished yet?

[toujoursfluer]

It is almost. [she's doing something special and just out of eyesight of Twilight] Coffee is on the tray.

[the wheeled tray, made especially for Twilight, was waiting by the door. Two mugs resting on it and steaming lightly]

How was your day today? [since the kitchenette was close enough to the front desk to talk normally if the door was open]

[fourthgenerationprincess]

Thanks, Mom. [ She takes the mug with a hoof and sips. Then spits out the coffee and starts blowing on it instead. Then tries sipping again. ]

It was good! Some people put a lot of work into their costumes. I think people liked mine, even if they didn't know what it was.

[ Her own costume is sitting back in their basement - an electric replica of the Pleiades, powered by a small battery. She and Robin worked for a week on it. There's a small mark on her shoulders where she was wearing it, which she rubs absentmindedly. ]

[toujoursfluer]

[Robin notices the mark as she sets the plate down. Red and green apples cut into a star shape, with some grapes scattered around to represent galactic clusters. Though she notices the spot and moves Twilight's hoof away to get a better look]

We'll need to use more padding I think.

[she moves to sit beside her, sipping her own coffee] We might as well stock up on that--who knows how long the textile workers will strike. [she glances at Twilight] Why do you think they're holding out?

[fourthgenerationprincess]

[ Twilight brightens at the gift of food and starts munching on it right away. She leaves some for her mom, though. ]

I think it's not just a financial picket. I think it's a moral stance, too.

[toujoursfluer]

Oh? And why is that? [she can't help but love to watch Twilight's mind work. It made her proud to have a daughter that thought so much and kept in mind exquisite details that others might have overlooked.

Delayed library returns notwithstanding]

[fourthgenerationprincess]

[ Twilight thinks. ] The empirical evidence is particularly striking. They've done this before and can expect the same result: incremental differences or none at all.

It's like they're trying to establish a new status quo. And if the government doesn't like it, they'll have to be the ones to blink.

[toujoursfluer]

Fufufu you're so seditious! [just what she likes to hear, honestly. That Twilight at least knows what goes on through the heads of others.]

I doubt the government will blink, though. They will likely smash first, as governments are wont to do. At any rate, its worth keeping an eye on, ne?

[fourthgenerationprincess]

Come on, Mom, nobody would listen to me as a leader. I'm just Twilight! [ And not looking like the majority of Luceti. But she doesn't say that part out loud. ]

[toujoursfluer]

No? I think you undersell yourself. You're charismatic, intelligent and most importantly... [she raised Twilight's chin to meet her eyes] Related to me.

[and kisses her nose]

Now tell me your plans for the homecoming dance. I suppose you have a checklist?

[fourthgenerationprincess]

[ Twilight giggles a little in spite of herself. ] One of these days, Mom, we'll take over the world.

I've got it right in here! [ Twilight pulls out - can it be? - an entire folder of checklists, and she pages through it to find the right one. ] Aha! [ She lays it out for both of them to see. ]

[toujoursfluer]

Of that I have no doubt.

[they are the family of-- no that's not right. The ones who follow-- who? Someone who needs to take over the world... It's like a fuzzy memory fluttering butterfly wings on the back of her mind. But as Twilight pulls out the checklist it dissipates and she shakes her head. How odd.

She can't help but chuckle at Twilight's enthusiasm though]

Well it seems as if you have most of this covered. Hmm...but I think you're missing something on here. Something vital...

[fourthgenerationprincess]

[ Twilight's heart skips a beat and she scans the list frantically. ] I. Missed something. On a checklist? How could I have missed something on my checklist?! I double-checked! Twice!

[toujoursfluer]

It's the same thing you always forget. [Robin takes a pen from the counter nearby and makes a little check box and then next to it, writes the words 'Have Fun']

Keep it in mind, ne?

[fourthgenerationprincess]

Oh. [ Twilight stares at the extra item. Right. Sometimes her completionist mind misses the most obvious things. ]

But how will I know if I can check it off?

[toujoursfluer]

Hmm. Good question. [she finishes the last of her coffee and regards the young pony over the cup] Can you think of an answer?

[fourthgenerationprincess]

Uhh... Not really. Fun is qualified differently depending on the situation and the desired emotions derived from it. I'm not sure there is an answer.

[toujoursfluer]

And what are your desired emotions? [Robin sets the cup down and puts her hands on either side of Twilight's neck] Close your eyes, breathe in deep and listen to your heart. What does it tell you?

[fourthgenerationprincess]

[ Twilight does as her mom asks, comforted by her warm embrace. Her mom is no stranger to meditative exercises such as this one and by extension neither is she. She reaches into her core and tries to figure out what exactly she wants from homecoming dance. ]

To be... happy, nervous... energized, uh... loose. Social, a little. [ Twilight's still not entirely used to that aspect yet. ]