central_librarylogs | AUGUST EVENT

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AUGUST EVENT - BAMBI SQUAD

It is a warm, fall day in one of the most beautiful areas of the North American Wilderness. Yellowstone National Park is renowned for its natural wonders and the majestic creatures that live on its protected lands. Unfortunately some of the wildlife that has found its way into Yellowstone are not native to the Park.

While exploring the Forest, Bambi, Thumper, and their woodland friends scampered into a new area to play. Excited by the chance to explore the group has decided to see what friends and adventures they can find. Friend Owl flies beside them, hooting warnings at the group. “These woods are not safe,” he warns, but the youngsters are too excited to listen.

Catching sight of a strange looking deer, Bambi and Faline bound off to find out why his antlers look different than the Great Prince of the Forest’s. Thumper and his bunny friends hop off to find a tasty bit of clover to nibble on. At first Flower stays near Friend Owl but soon he’s just as curious as the rest, exploring fallen logs and looking for potential dens.

While the group rambles and plays, the other creatures in the park are slowly beginning to notice the newcomers. The days are growing shorter and the weather is turning colder. It is time to prepare for winter and these young creatures might make a tasty meal. Along with the potentially dangerous wildlife to avoid, there are also tourists and park rangers to evade.

The Head Librarian has cloaked the woodland creatures so that they seem like the animals that the park rangers and tourists would expect but there are limits to these disguises. If an unsuspecting visitor chanced upon the animals, they might hear something unexpected. The Librarians would prefer that none of the locals have a conversation with Thumper but he is a chatty rabbit.

Your team will enter through the blue white portal and step out into one of the meadows in Yellowstone Park. Find the woodland creatures before they encounter a danger they cannot escape … catch them. Bring them back to safety and make sure that nothing or no one harms them.

[OOC: This is for Team: Bambi Squad only. You will play out tracking our woodland friends, collecting Bambi and the other creatures from the Forest, and returning them home. This is ONLY for team work and getting things done. If you have questions, you can call for Bob the Skull or The Cat to help you. Bob will be running communications. Once you finish the event (or at the same time if you will), patrons may use this time to use portals to enter Modern day Yellowstone National Park and visit the tourist areas, shops, lodges, and restaurants in a private log. But not in the team log.]

Update! To help the event conclude, options are being provided to help organize the groups. These can be tagged meme style to help give more structure to the tasks. Current threads can be completed and new ones started.

Options

1. Finding Bambi and Faline! Is it really that easy to tell two talking deer from the rest of the herd? Now you get to find out!

2. Wrangling the Woodland Friends! Thumper, Flower, Friend Owl need to be gathered up so that they can return home. Be careful that you don't frighten them away!

3. Avoiding the Locals! Please keep the park rangers and tourists from noticing the talking animals. That's not as easy to explain away as some might think.

4. Fending off the Wildlife! Yellowstone has its share of carnivores. Make sure the wolves, cougars, and other predators don't find a tasty storybook snack.

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"Magnus?" Sebastian looked towards the man he guessed was Magnus a felt a slight sick feeling twisting a bit in his gut. What if he'd come here before everything? Would he have been brought in with Jack? It was a line of thinking he couldn't follow any further. The whole point of Julliard and New York had been to help him get over the pain of losing Jack and to move on with his life. Or maybe he had been using it as an excuse to hide from everything. Bury himself in music.

To be honest, he had no idea anymore.

Here he was in a forest with a group of people he would have never imagined meeting searching for animals who could speak. And just from the tiniest bit of conversation he was guessing father problems were definitely universal. Which also made him wonder. How old was Alec? He looked young. But he also felt older. More experienced.

Nothing like Sebastian.

"Magnus is my boyfriend." Unconsciously, Alec lifted his chin, readying for some sort of verbal attack. He'd heard enough comments from his father and from the other Shadowhunters to know that some people might not approve. Mundanes seemed to accept it more readily than Alec's kin but there was still part of him waiting for a fight.

At least he was until he noticed Magnus watching him. Then all he could do was grin as he remembered that he didn't have to worry about the Clave anymore. No one was going to strip his marks because he was in love with a male warlock. He didn't have to worry about his father's attempts at trying to earn his forgiveness. No one here could judge them unless they let them. "This is our second chance.

"I'll introduce you to him after he's done planning spells with Ms. Granger. If you want." He wouldn't push since Sebastian seemed shy. Like Alec had been only a few months ago. It felt like it had been years not months... "The people here. We aren't that bad. We all have our problems but the Library is somewhere we can find solutions to them or heal." It was a little of both for him and Magnus. Somewhere safe where they could start over and Alec could live outside the shadow of his siblings.

The way Alec said those words. So easily. Whatever Sebastian had been expecting it hadn't been that. Boyfriend. Magnus was his boyfriend and they were here together. Given a second chance.

It hit him. Hard. His gut. His chest. Like someone had knocked the air from his lungs. An unexpected understanding. There were no second chances and he couldn't imagine finding a solution or healing. Jack was gone. And he would never get the chance to introduce Jack as his boyfriend the way Alec had just now.

It took everything he had to push it all back down where it belonged, the regrets, the anger, the emptiness, and he turned away quickly to wipe away the tears. Not here. Not now.

"Allergies." Sebastian cleared his throat, composed himself before he looked to where the others were. He had a choice. He could choose to play it safe the way he always had. Or he could take a chance. Ignore the instinct to run away. He doubted there was another person alive like Jack who would waste their time chasing him down if he kept walking away. If only he hadn't wasted so much of Jack's time... "Maybe when they're not so busy."

His hands were still clenched, but hiding in the pockets of his coat now.

"To be honest I don't know about animals or tracking or anything useful. I came because I wanted to try and help and I couldn't resist stepping through a magical portal to another world. My world is pretty boring in comparison."

Of all the reactions Alec expected, Sebastian suddenly turning away wasn't one of them. That wasn't a look of disgust or disdain like the Nephilim sometimes gave him. That was something else. He wasn't sure what but it wasn't good. Alec began to apologize for whatever he'd said when Sebastian offered that excuse.

The words stilled as he considered that, deciding that he'd give him space. He'd already accidentally said the wrong thing. It was probably best if he didn't say anything to draw attention to it. "A few of us probably will have them since we've never been out in this kind of country before."

Nodding toward the magic users, he scrambled for a subject that might be less awkward for Sebastian. "He's never too busy to meet new people." Especially not someone that he could potentially tease and flirt with. "He can be kind of overwhelming at first." Especially to mundanes who weren't used to meeting warlocks. Hopefully the catlike eyes and pointed teeth wouldn't freak Sebastian out too much.

Frowning at that assessment, Alec considered what he'd been told about the patrons. "According to the Librarians, each one of us was chosen because we had something important to contribute to the Library. Just because you don't hunt demons or cast spells doesn't mean you can't help." Pausing, he thought of Simon and how someone who was 'just a mundane' had done more than anyone had ever imagined. "I have a friend back home. He thought he was boring too and in the end, he helped save the world. He saved my life a couple of times. Magnus' life too. If the Head Librarian chose you, then you're meant to do something important."

Shaking his head, he smiled ruefully. "I don't think we have to worry about boring anymore."

"I can help organize the books." Sebastian huffed. Not really a laugh and only just a hint of a smile. Because Alec was right about one thing. They probably wouldn't have to worry about being bored when there were talking forest animals to find and portals to step through.

But saving the world? Or a single person?

"I think maybe they meant to choose someone else." He took a deep breath. "Someone with bird seed or...carrots in their pockets. I have no idea what deer eat." And then he did something that was only slightly forced. He smiled. A little. And it hurt for reasons he didn't even dare think about if wanted to remain composed.

"Which is more than the Cat can do. He doesn't have hands." It was meant as a joke and was probably a terrible one. Few people understood his humor since he seemed serious most of the time.

Sebastian probably didn't realize it but Alec was serious about possibly saving the world. He'd dismissed Simon because of Shadowhunter elitism and been proven wrong. It had given him a different view on what made someone a hero.

"I don't think the Head Librarian makes mistakes like asking the wrong people here. There's too much at stake to not be careful." Worlds' worth of information and portals to different realities were too tempting to some people for the Librarians not to be cautious.

"Honestly, I don't know how to track animals. I was supposed to be taught how but I grew up in New York. Now if we were hunting demons..." They should all be grateful that they weren't. "I think that deer eat grass. They might like carrots." He shrugged. "I'm kind of out of my element here. I'm used to more concrete when I'm out hunting."

It was a joke he imagined Jack making just to get a reaction from him. It wasn't very funny and that was the point. It was also the reason why it was a little funny. In a strange sort of way.

But Sebastian wasn't convinced. He couldn't really imagine he had anything important to offer. Other than being able to keep secrets and organize the books. He liked books. A lot. Maybe that alone was enough to make him worthy. He cared about the books and the stories they told, the information they held, and what they meant to little kids who built forts to hide from the real world.

"It seems to me they're not much different than we are. Just...more instinctive and less complicated. Maybe all they need is to feel safe. Birds will come closer for food if you're patient and don't move around too much." But demons? He glanced towards Magnus again, curious. "Are all demons...bad?"

"We can't be sure that they're less complicated. They're from a different world." Alec didn't want to become overconfident and then everything could fall apart. The Head Librarian was depending on them. He wasn't going to ruin that trust because of assumptions. "I think you're right about feeling safe. If they trust us, it'll be easier."

Which probably was easier said than done considering what happened to Bambi's mother.

The question about demons caused Alec to pause, remembering Abbadon and Magnus' father. "In my world they are. I don't know about others." Maybe they were like Downworlders in other realities but in his, he'd never consider one good. Which might give Sebastian the wrong impression of Magnus. "But those who are related to them. They can be good or bad, just like humans can be."

"They're not people." Sebastian thought that made them better in a lot of ways. Not that he had any experience with talking animals. But he remembered watching Bambi once. He'd cried and slept in his parents bed for a month because he was afraid they'd be shot by a hunter. He had been three at the time and already he was learning how cruel people could be.

"Is Magnus...?" A demon?

"In their world they are. They're sentient. Human isn't the only definition of 'people'." At least not for Alec since most of his friends weren't, technically, human. That made 'people' harder to define.

"Magnus is a warlock. That's why his eyes are different. It doesn't mean he's evil no matter what some people might think." He kept his tone level, but it's a sensitive subject and Alec had always tried to defend Magnus when his heritage came up. "You can't choose who your parents are. I'm a demon hunter so if he was evil, then I wouldn't be dating him."

"I didn't...that's not what I..."

Sebastian missed the short time in his life when having a conversation didn't make him want to avoid having them. He'd never been very good expressing himself beyond defensive sarcasm meant to push people away. It had even taken Jack months to have a real conversation with him. Before it had been mostly Jack talking and Sebastian either snapping at him to go away or attempting to ignore him. Jack had worn him down with his charm and smiles and his determination.

"I like his eyes." He admitted finally, softly. Jack hadn't given up easily and neither should he. It was meant to be an apology and his way of saying without knowing how to put it into words that he didn't think Magnus or Alec were bad.

It was a weak apology he decided the moment the words left his lips.

"I'm not...good..." He chewed on his bottom lip, pushed his hands deeper into his pockets. Deep breath. "It's fine if you want to walk away and pretend none of this happened."

Alec decided that it was probably best to let the subject of Bambi and his friends drop. All of this was new to them and if Sebastian was a mundane, the idea of someone other than humans existing was probably still weird. In time, he'd figure it out. Or the Cat would help him figure it out. Hopefully Sebastian wouldn't need that nudge. The Cat made Church look friendly.

The compliment would have caused jealousy weeks ago but now Alec smiled. Magnus' eyes were beautiful. Golden green and glowing in the right light just like a cat's. "I do too. They're a warlock's mark. In my world, warlocks have some sign that one of their parents weren't human. That's why people think the worst of him sometimes without noticing who he is beneath the mark and the flashy clothes."

But Magnus was good. One of the truly good people Alec had ever met even if Magnus claimed that he was selfish.

Giving Sebastian a wry smile, he shook his head. "You're wrong. You're good. Or you are according to my scale. Remember the range of bad in my world includes demons." Maybe that was why he didn't understand why Sebastian would assume he'd want to walk away. Maybe they'd broken some kind of Mundane social rule that Alec didn't know about. "Why would I want to pretend none of this happened?"

Sebastian wanted to tell Alec the reason was most people thought the worst of him without noticing who he was beneath everything else. He'd learned to see himself through others eyes. And right then he couldn't imagine Alec was seeing him very well. He wasn't good with people and whatever good he'd learned to be with Jack seemed to have died with him.

"I don't know how to tell you or anyone how hard this is. Words and...making what is in my head come out sounding remotely smart or even right. I just....I just wanted to help. I'm suppose to be...but I'm not. I'm just....saying too much to a person who was nice enough to talk to me and all I've done is...sound like an idiot."

And there went his composure. If he weren't so afraid he'd break down sobbing he'd laugh at himself.

Sebastian held his breath and slowly looked around to see if he'd been loud enough to be heard by anyone else. His face burning with regret. If Alec hadn't wanted to walk away before he would probably be changing his mind now. He chanced a glance at Alec to see if he was right.

"You haven't sounded like an idiot. I kind of know how hard it can be. I was the quiet one back home. No one noticed me because my siblings are amazing." Beautiful, talented, bright as the sun. And Alec was quiet and competent, the big brother of the group. "I was the disappointment." It wasn't something he would have said when he'd still been hiding from the world but having the other Shadowhunters start looking up to him and having to stand up for himself had changed things. "Sound like yourself not what others want you to sound like. It gets easier if you remember that.

"You are helping. You said you're good with organizing and you're willing to help." Taking a slow breath, he ignored the frustration he felt whenever he thought of the Clave. "That's a rare trait. Most people just ignore a problem and hope it goes away."

Studying Sebastian, he had the feeling that there was something going on that he didn't understand. Shyness shouldn't cause this kind of reaction. "I'm not going to judge you because you don't always know how to talk to people. Most of the time people say I'm too blunt. You can say as much as you want to me." Shrugging, he gave Sebastian a small smile. "I'm a big brother. I'm used to everyone telling me everything." Usually he had to poke at his siblings until they talked but when they were ready, he was the one they usually confided in.

Sebastian found it difficult to believe anyone would think of Alec as a disappointment. He was nice and smart and he knew things, important things. He was a demon hunter. And he was handsome.

"I'm an only child." What did that say about him if he was the only child and still a disappointment?

He shook his head as if trying to make the voices in head go away. Things had changed. A lot. And while he didn't completely trust his father and he was still angry at him, he loved his father. He loved him and wanted everything he said to be true.

But without Jack...

"I'm sorry. Some days are...it's...I'm not always like this." He attempted a small smile for Alec. "I was the disappointment and the one person I could...talk to...he would have liked it here."

As Sebastian explained some of the reasons why he'd been upset and expected Alec to walk away, he began to understand why he'd started talking to the Mundane. There were similarities between them. Or between the places they'd been in their lives. He'd been the disappointment. Never the brightest or best of the Lightwood children and not the straight son that Robert had wanted.

"I'm the eldest so I was supposed to carry on the family name and be the best fighter." There was no bitterness in his tone. The comment wasn't meant for pity or to make his situation sound worse than Sebastian's. It was a simple explanation of what had been expected of him. "Sometimes our parents are going to be disappointed no matter what we do." It had been a hard lesson for Alec to learn. Part of him still wished for Robert's approval. He had it, in a way, but Alec was still skeptical of it. "My father probably will never accept that I'm gay. But it doesn't matter. What matters is doing what's right for you."

"There's nothing to apologize for. Being here isn't easy for most of us." Returning the smile, he looked almost sheepish. "And if you'd seen me a few months ago. I barely talked to anyone and when I did I snapped at them. I was angry at the world. If people put up with me then the occasional moments like this won't be a problem." Pausing, he was momentarily homesick as he thought of Izzy and Jace and his friends. "That person may show up. They're still bringing people to the Library."

Angry at the world seemed about right. Where Alec had been Sebastian was currently. Struggling between trying to do what he thought Jack would want him to do and everything else. Anger. Regret. An ache so deep and so painful there were times he couldn't breathe. It had been over a year now and he didn't feel like any time had passed. Some days it felt as if Jack had just...

"J-Jack." The name, his name, he hadn't spoken in so long. Not out loud. No one at Julliard knew. He didn't talk to anyone. From the day he'd made his decision he had lived, breathed, dreamed music. It was the only way he knew how to heal. And yet saying Jack's name made him feel like someone had punched him in the chest. So he tried again, swallowing and trying to take a breath, say the words. Say them!

"His name...was Jack." Do not cry. Do not break. Not now. "He won't be coming."

With Izzy or Jace, Alec would know what to do. He'd hug his sister and tug on her hair until she made half-hearted threats to beat him up if he didn't let her go. Jace would be more complicated but Alec would know how to ease whatever hurt was lingering. He couldn't do those things for Sebastian.

Alec almost reached out to touch Sebastian's arm but held back. Bringing more attention to what was happening would probably make him resent Alec. His expression showed understanding and grief of his own. He'd almost lost Magnus and death was still something that would always linger between them. And there had been Max, his brilliant, younger brother who Alec should have protected.

"I wish I could have met him. He must have been an amazing person." He had to have been if Sebastian's heart was so caught up in loving him. Part of him wanted to say that it still might be possible for Sebastian to see Jack again. There was a part of Alec still hoping that Max might arrive in the Library but saying that might be cruel.

But there was something Alec did know. "You will see him again, someday. Maybe not in this life but -" It probably sounded like Mundane religion but there were things out there that no one understood. Things that Alec's ancestors had told him about while he'd been trying to deal with Magnus' immortality. "I know that sounds weird but souls that are connected find a way to be together."

Not if they're being punished.

It wasn't a thought he was willing to speak out loud. Not to Alec. Not to anyone. He imagined they would all say he was being overdramatic or making excuses for not moving on with his life. But there was no other explanation. He had finally found someone wonderful. Someone who loved him and wanted him without wanting to change him. Acceptance. Love. Happiness.

And he'd wasted it all.

No. He wouldn't see Jack again.

But even as he stared at Alec, uncertain what to say in response to that, he wanted to believe he could see Jack again someday. He wanted to believe there was a chance they would find each other. But he couldn't allow himself. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

"He was...he was a-amazing. More than I deserved."

As soon as the words left his lips he inhaled deeply and quickly started drying his face, clearing his throat.

"I'm sorry. I don't...I haven't...talked to anyone..."

The uncertainty caused Alec to continue. "I know most people don't believe in it but the things I've seen.. the people I've talked to. Most of the things that most mundanes think aren't true are real. Angels, demons, vampires, werewolves, ghosts... Why can't there be an afterlife?" After reading Magnus' journal, he believed in it even more. "Magnus knew someone who believed that everything is a wheel. Eventually you meet the people you love again. I have to believe that."

The weight of his belief had to sound strange. He nodded toward Magnus. "Or I'll never get to see him again."

The comment about not deserving someone hit a little too close to home. How many times had he thought the same thing? "If he was amazing and he loved you, he wouldn't be pleased that you said that. I'm sure he thought you deserved him. He probably wondered what he'd done to be able to be with you.

"It's okay. If you need someone to talk to, I can listen. I do it all the time for Izzy and Jace... when the finally decide that they should talk instead of sulk or beat people up."

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AUGUST EVENT - BAMBI SQUAD

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