Logs:More Than One Way to Burn A Book

More Than One Way to Burn A Book
Dramatis Personae Jackson, Kyinha, Piper
In Absentia	2020-04-28 "Maybe you have a type, in terms of preferred trash nonsense?"
Location <XS> Gardens
<XAV> Gardens - Xs Grounds From indoor gardens to outdoor, though without the protective greenhouse glass the back gardens do not last all year round. Still, the gardens out here are well-tended and well-worth spending time in, as well. The paths wending through the beds of flowers and herbs and vegetables spread out through the school's back grounds, tended by students as a credit class. Benches offer seating and a small pond is home to koi and turtles, as well as a few frogs. At the far back edges of the garden, a droning buzzing marks a few stacked white boxes as beehives. It isn't raining, for once, and though it's not exactly warm yet Jax has still grabbed the lunchtime opportunity to get out and into the sun. He does nominally have a food with him -- a large thermos and a plate that seems to be piled only with fruit and chocolate peanut-butter cupcakes -- but for the most part is just lounging on a bench, legs outstretched and face tipped up toward the sky. Presumably enjoying the rare student-free downtime. He doesn't exactly look back to the perfect picture of health -- still a bit on the pale side, still a bit too thin -- but his hair is shiny-bright (metallic purple streaks through shaggy black locks), his purple and green makeup impeccable. His outfit is -- for him, at least, fairly workday standard, neat black skirt with rainbow lining between its pleats, crisp asymmetrically colour-blocked green and blue and black button-down, silver and black boots. The sketchpad currently in his lap is getting just as ignored as his food is. Kyinha has been lounging quietly beside Jax, with a plate of real lunch on his lap -- taco Tuesday is back! -- which he is also ignoring. He looks, as he has all winter and every winter, not particularly healthy but almost shockingly beautiful. If anything, the slight pale cast to his brown skin only serves to make him look more otherworldly. His thick black hair has been trimmed back -- though not very short -- from its unruly quarantine growth. He's wearing just a soft, gauzy tanktop covered with blue wave motifs and loose-fitting gray cargo pants with zip-off legs, currently zipped off and piled beside him with the navy softshell. Though there are goosebumps plainly visible on his arms and legs, he's steadfastly refusing to don his extra clothing for now as he works his steady way through a copy of Human Diversity by Charles Murray. His expression has been growing steadily more incredulous as his eyes travel down the current page. "I knew it would be bad, but -- this," he says at last, shutting the book, "is garbage." Even Piper has noticed that the weather has changed for the better. Instead of eating lunch in the small office the library affords her, she’s brought a thermos and two wax paper wrapped sandwiches with her outside. She fits in well with the colorful surroundings, dressed in a lemon yellow long-sleeved blouse with a lavender collar, a black a-line skirt with a bright cherry blossom pattern, dark gray leggings and black ankle boots with a short, square heel. Her hair is pulled back from her face, secured in a bun with two pencils, though more than a few tendrils have escaped since that morning (and escaped her attention.) With how she’s paying attention to the sky and letting memory lead her, she’s nearly in front of Jax and Kyinha when the snap of a closing book pulls her back to Earth. “Oh! I’m sorry, I wasn’t watching--” Stepping back some, Piper glances down at Human Diversity and cuts herself off, nose wrinkling. “Gosh, I know you try to stay away from the library, but I can bring you something to read if you’re that desperate,” she says, her tone only somewhat joking. “It’s nice to have clear weather finally, isn’t it?” "Mmm?" Jax's head rolls to the side, and he looks down at the book with a wrinkle of his nose. "Oh please that is doing a disservice to garbage, you can do a lot with garbage. Less so with that Nazi edgelord nonsense. Here --" He holds up his plate, rotating it to offer the brownies out. "I'll trade you. You have a cupcake, I'll have a book-burnin'." His smile is quick and not at all sheepish as the librarian approaches. "Provided there's no objections from our book-custodian. I promise this one ain't no loss." Kyinha does not seem much fussed at how close the librarian was walking. His frown has smoothed out to a dazzling smile. "It is so good to have some sunlight," he tells Piper brightly. "And it's not for lack of better things to read that I have this." Waggles the book from between thumb and forefinger as if it were something vile. "I was supposed to critique the science, but I find that is not possible." He hands the offending volume over to Jax and picks up one of the offered cupcakes, looking very pleased with the trade. "Please, put it out of my misery." “It’s no loss at all,” Piper agrees with an easy smile. “I have a list of missing books to replace. I may just happen to forget to add it if it’s never returned. I certainly won’t miss it.” Taking a seat on a neighboring bench, she unwraps one of her sandwiches—cucumber and cream cheese—but doesn’t start to eat. “Critiquing the science would require there be any science instead of… whatever is in that waste of paper and ink. One of Jax’s cupcakes is a far superior thing to have.” "You want?" Jax holds the cupcakes out toward Piper, pierced brows lifting. "Oh gosh I hope this weren't one'a ours, the kids get enough poison for their minds just in class." He's taking the book in question from Kyinha, tossing it up into the air where -- it catches, stays. For a moment it just hangs overhead, suspended over the path in a glimmering and very faintly iridescent sphere, but before long a thin wisp of smoke is curling up. Then a more visible lick of flame -- then, soon, the whole volume starting to crackle. "Oh, but it was a loss," Jax is wincing, too late, "there been toilet paper shortages all over an' here I am being wasteful. Who was you writing a critique for? You can just tell 'em. 'Better as kindling'." "I probably would not have hesitated even if that was one of your, Piper, but this copy came from the the National Science Teaching Association -- they sent out a bunch to members who said they had relevant specialties...presumably for the fun of watching us tear it apart." Kyinha tips his head back and watches the book ignite, his smile warming. "Though probably they didn't mean it quite this way -- such a delight! I was just wishing I could do it myself, but you, you burn books with style." He beams at Jax as he unwraps the cupcake. "My critique for the association will probably be a bit more involved than that, and hopefully no less scathing. I am sure it would have made very poor toilet paper, but still better that than whatever I just read." Then, suddenly glancing at Piper, cupcake half way to mouth, "Do you have a copy of that in your stacks?" “Of course I want one!” Piper takes a cupcake with glee, carefully setting it on top of her unwrapped sandwich. That seems to remind her of the one she’s already unwrapped, and she cheerfully watches the free show while eating. Her mouth happens to be full when Kyinha asks his question, but it doesn’t bother her. She needs time to think anyway. A few feet in front of where she sits, a 4’x6’ rectangle bends the light and gives her a rainbow spectrum to write on. A chart appears on it glowing white, listing out the Dewey Decimal Classification. All but one row fades: 300-399 (Social Sciences, Sociology, Anthropology). To the right of that, another list starts to appear. 300 (Social Sciences), 301 (Sociology & Anthropology), 302 (Social Interaction), all the way down to 309 (No longer used – Formerly History of Sociology). After a few more moments, she lands on 304.5 (Genetic Factors). With a swipe of her hand, the ‘board’ wipes clean, and she starts the process again—this time with the Xavier’s catalog. “No Charles A. Murray,” she’s happy to report. “At least not in that section. If I ever find anything similar or by the same author, I’ll be happy to bring it to either one of you. I did my best to weed out some of the more… non-educational things from the catalog when I started, but with the amount of books, I undoubtedly missed some.” "Burn books with style. That's the kind of glowing praise we outta be putting in our brochures." There's a bright amusement in Jax's face as he watches the orb flutter its smoke up into the sky. "Gosh, do got our whole catalog memorized? That's an awful lotta books." He is now plucking at one of his grapes, idly skinning it between his teeth. "I'm fair sure we did have The Bell Curve when we was here, come to think." Kyinha has devoured half of the cupcake at one go and is making generally positive-looking gestures with his free hand until he can speak again. "Oh, this is so excellent." Licks his lips, gazing up at the projected catalog numbers. "That is very impressive! I don't even know my lesson plans by heart, though I could probably bumble through it without a computer, in a pinch." His eyes return to the remnants of the book suspended in mid-air. "I was so sure that the Professor would have insisted on having a copy of The Bell Curve around, if only because it is so controversial and he would want to presenting both sides of the issue, no?" He strokes his shin thoughtfully, though there's no beard there to stroke. "Perhaps it is in his personal collection, instead? Or misfiled as biology?" The ‘screen’ shimmers out of existence. Piper only shrugs and continues eating her sandwich, watches Jax work. “I’ve been working on memorizing it for a long time. It helps when I can do that.” She waves at where her projection was. “There was a copy of The Bell Curve here when we were students, but it was gone by the time I came back to work. Maybe someone else decided to burn it at some point in the past.” Brushing bread crumbs off of her hands, she picks up her cupcake like it’s a Christmas present. “Or maybe Professor Xavier took it.” "I wouldn't hardly be surprised. After all it's so important that we keep a balanced viewpoint, right? Hear both sides of every issue. Listen to the hens an' the foxes." Jax pops the peeled grape into his mouth, chomping it with satisfaction. He flicks his fingers towards the bubble, sending a dart of light out towards it -- it pops in a shower of oddly glittery ash that scatters on the breeze. "You got a lesson plan you're already three steps ahead of me, I just tell my students to create as the spirit moves 'em an' hope for the best." Kyinha takes another nibble of his cupcake. "Well, I wish him much joy of it. Better in his study than the library." He shrugs, unconcerned. "Or better kindling," he adds, smiling up at the sparkling ashes as they drift away. "Creating as the spirit moves -- this does not always work so well in math, or in biology. I do try to keep a little spirit in there when I can, though." He flashes a mischievous grin, "Especially if I do not have my lesson plans in front of me. I suppose Charles Murray might have something to say about why this is, if he could figure out what race to count me in." “Having to make a lesson plan is not something I envy of teachers,” Piper says, trying her best to come across as sympathetic with frosting on either side of her mouth. “I do envy your baking skills though, Jax. You’re an amazing teacher and coworker, but I’m still a little in disbelief that you didn’t open a bakery.” Folding the cupcake wrapper inside of the paper her sandwich had been wrapped in, she uses that to wipe her mouth. “I know a wonderful book about biology and creating as the spirit moves. The creator ended up regretting things in the end, and caused a lot of pain and suffering as a result.” She grins over at Kyinha. “It may be best to stick to a lesson plan for now.” "I feel like most white supremacists just don't consider mutants to have any kinda race at all but then there's nazi mutants who throw the whole thing into a jumble." Jax is adding some berries from his fruit pile to the top of one of his cupcakes before starting in on it. His nose wrinkles up at Piper's comment, head shaking firmly. "Oh gosh no, why on earth would I want to open a bakery, I actually enjoy baking for people. I've seen what Shane deals with at Evolve. Two days of customers screeching at me because their sprinkles was the wrong colour an' they can't get a five-tier wedding cake done same-day an' not a single friend would get cookies just cuz I was in the mood ever again." "Frankenstein?" Kyinha asks. "Or the Book of Genesis? I have no read either, but I, too, can be taught." He offers Piper a bright and sincere smile and gestures at the air over their heads. "And, since I finished my current reading so much ahead of schedule, I would welcome a recommendation." He bumps his shoulder gently against Jax's. "You are an artist, in this and all things. Maybe good to keep one art where you can be free to ah, create as the spirit moves you?" “In that case, I’m glad you never opened a bakery and I will continue to enjoy whatever baked goods you leave in the teacher’s lounge,” Piper cheerfully answers, before Kyinha’s guess catches her off guard and pulls a laugh from her. “I meant Frankenstein, but that is also the Book of Genesis, isn’t it? If you’re interested in the former, the original 1818 text was republished a few years ago. I made sure to order a few copies for our stacks. If it’s the latter, I think Jax may be the best one to assist you in that.” Jax presses his knuckles to his mouth, stifling a laugh. "Oh gosh no. I don't just carry 'round spare Bibles on me that's more Flicker's alley. I'm sure they ain't hard to find, though." He polishes off the rest of his cupcake, licking crumbs from his lips. "Do you know I ain't never actually read Frankenstein, I'm a terrible boor. I have been watching Penny Dreadful, though, that's like. Almost the same, right?" "Fortunately I need not trouble the good doctor, either -- the Internet carries around infinite spare copies of the Bible at all times." Perhaps not all that eager for the majesty of Creation, Kyinha does not make any move to acquire said ebooks. He wrinkles his brows thoughtfully. "Ah, Penny Dreadful is...a bit like that Once Upon A Time you also like, yes? Except for 19th century romantic literature?" He picks crumbs of his cupcake from the paper absently. "I would like to read Frankenstein, though. Please do put a copy on hold for me, unless I would be depriving some AP literature student. It seems like the kind of thing a biologist ought to read." He pauses, glancing between his coworkers, deep brown eyes wide. "Oh! Maybe it could be the next read for our staff book club?" Piper makes an uncertain noise, one hand wobbling in the air. “How the Creature looks is accurate to the novel. I personally wouldn’t agree with the characterization of Dr. Frankenstein. I would say that Penny Dreadful is more faithful to it’s sources than Once Upon a Time, though.” As she unwraps her second sandwich, Piper brings her screen up again. A half crossed out ‘To-Do’ list appears on it a second later, it’s font in Comic Sans. At the bottom, another item adds itself to the list (‘Put holds on Frankenstein, Jax, Kyinha.) before the whole thing winks out of existence again. “Ooh!” she gasps at Kyinha’s suggestion, clapping her hands together, exuberant. She nearly loses her second sandwich in the process. “Yes! That’s a great idea!” "Oh my gosh he is a doctor I am not done being excited about that it's gonna take a while." Jax's smile is bright and wide. "Wait, is Penny Dreadful like Once Upon a Time? They're both -- sort of trash nonsense, I guess!" The delight in his voice is clear. "I hadn't exactly thought it through before but I guess they're trash nonsense that pretend like they got some kinda of pseudo-pop-literary roots. Amazing. -- Wait," His eye has widened, "we got a book club?" Kyinha nods excitedly. "Perhaps we throw him a party? I'm sure he's celebrated back home, but here -- well, he has been so busy, we hardly see him. But surely it would be good to recognize this achievement with his teammates, schoolmates, and even old teachers?" His eyes track Piper's display, his head still bobbing slightly. "Maybe you have a type, in terms of preferred trash nonsense?" This with an easy smile. "The book club -- this was news to me, until last month. Not to say," he adds hastily to Piper, "that I would not have been interested without the quarantine. I think it's only been Piper and Matt" “It *has* been just Matt and I, but quarantine did wonders for our membership numbers,” Piper cheerfully confirms, before turning toward Jax, her eyes wide and cajoling. “I imagine that if you attended and brought some cupcakes, Jax, we’d have even more people! We could start by reading all the books that *Penny Dreadful* borrowed from… Once a party is thrown for Dr. Flicker, of course.”