Miss Origami

[Bean Bandit]

Kaitlin's eyes widen a little at the summons, and she nods once, stifling the instinctive reaction to pump the messenger for information. Standing up as gracefully as she can, despite a sudden attack of nerves, (After all, she'd only recently been approved for active duty) she arranges the desk for the librarian who would be sent to take her place, and she heads to the entrances to the lower levels the building, nerves giving way to an eager excitement.

After all, working with books is a great deal of fun, but the headquarters of the British Library Association...well, for a book lover, there's no better place to be.

[Ebiris]

The woman who gave you the message smoothly takes your place at the information desk.

Making your way to the rear of the Biographies section you come across an elevator marked 'Staff Only'. It only takes a quick swipe of your access card to enter, and inputting the 4 digit code on the brass panel to set the elevator downwards to the secret heart of the British Library.

Down past the first two basement levels it goes, before the floor indicator stops showing anything, although if anything the lift picks up speed, whizzing downwards...

Just when your stomach begins its first murmurings of protest at this treatment, your ride smoothly comes to a stop, the doors sliding open with a cheery *ding*.

And so is the true British Library revealed. Massive stacks, two storeys tall at least, line the walls. Smaller, more human sized, bookshelves arrayed at their base like pygmies. Here and there are raised podiums seating British Library researchers, using holographic displays rarely seen outside of science fiction. It's a curious blending of old and new. Not the jarring clash of steampunk, but a smooth merging of Victoriana and sleek high tech. A middle aged man pushing a trolley of manuscripts pauses to nod in greeting as he passes the lift door in front of Kaitlin, before clearing the way for her.

[Bean Bandit]

Kaitlin nods happily in return to the man as she steps out of the evevator...and falters slightly. Woo...dizzy. I hate that elevator. Slowly, she regains her equilibruim, and resumes her journey, grinning a little as she folds her hands behind her back and looking around, almost wistfully. There'd never be enough time to read them all, but Sure'n I'd like to try...

Unfortunately, this was not to be, as there was work to be done. Reluctantly, and looking at all the shelves as she passed, Kaitlin headed inward, in search of Mr. Joker, a little seed of nervousness beginning to take root.

[Ebiris]

It takes a little while to cover the distance, including a brief trip on another elevator up one floor before you reach Mr Joker's office. A woman about your age with light blonde hair stands outside, currently brewing a pot of tea. "Miss Origami?" she looks up at your approach.

[Bean Bandit]

Kaitlin winces at her codename, but nods agreeably, biting her lip, but trying not to appear anxious. "Yes, ma'am. Mr. Joker sent for me?"

[Ebiris]

"Go on in," she nods. "I'll be through in a moment with the tea."

[Bean Bandit]

Tentatively, Kaitlin knocks on the indicated doorframe, to announce her presence, and then steps through the doorway, and into the office as instructed. "You sent for me, sir?"

[Ebiris]

Seated behind a large oaken desk, you find the eponymous Mr Joker, currently dressed in a rather dapper tweed suit with his blonde hair combed neatly back as is his wont.

"Ah, Miss Origami," he smiles as you enter. "Won't you take a seat? I've just been going over your file."

[Bean Bandit]

Resiting the urge to sigh at the use of her code name, Kaitlin bobs her head lightly in a nod, and smiles back shyly as she complies with the request, moving to a seat and smoothing her skirt under herself as she lowers herself into a chair. "Thank you, sir."

Just calm down, it's not like they'd send someone as new as me on a life or death mission, right? Right... she bolstered herself, while waiting for the well dressed man to elaborate further.

[Ebiris]

"Yes," he settles back in his chair as you sit. "You have a lot of potential, but little experience in field work. Fortunately, a job just came up which I believe..."

He trails off as the blonde secretary enters with a trolley, pulling up alongside the desk. "Ah, thank you, Wendy," he says, accepting a delicate porcelain teacup of said drink.

"How do you take yours, Miss Origami?" Wendy asks, bending over the trolley as she pours a second cup.

[Bean Bandit]

Kaitlin nods along, intent on what Joker has to say when the tea arrives, and distracts her.

"Oh," Kaitlin blinks, a little flustered by the interruption, but gathering herself quickly. "Um, with honey, if you have it, please. If not, two lumps is fine." she murmurs, smiling embarrassedly.

[Ebiris]

"Of course," Wendy smiles, amazingly enough having just what you asked for.

Once both of you are suitably provided with refreshments, Wendy quietly exits, allowing Joker to resume. "Where was I? Ah, yes. I believe I have a mission in mind which would prove beneficial to you. Nothing too taxing, but it will provide experience for the future.

"Tell me," he asks, setting down his teacup, "Have you ever been to Hong Kong?"

[Bean Bandit]

Warily, Kaitlin lets herself relax a little at Mr Joker's assurances that the mission isn't too breathtaking. "I'm afraid not, sir. I've been briefly to the surrounding area with my mother, some time ago, but never to Hong Kong itself."

[Ebiris]

"Then this should be a good chance to familiarise yourself with the area, as well, then," Joker notes, taking another sip of his tea. "The British Library has long maintained an extensive presence there, something we hope to continue even after the island reverts to mainland rule.

"In any case, are you by chance familiar with Li Shan's Wenxuan Wuchen Zu?" he says the Chinese phrase without the slightest hint of an accent, before amending in English, "Five Master's Commentary to the Wenxuan?"

OOC: It's a book. Which may or may not be rare in real life. However, for the purposes of the game, it is very rare. Think only a few obscure and slightly garbled copies, if Kaitlin is enough of a bibliophile to know of it at all.

[Bean Bandit]

Kaitlin blinks, leaning forward a little. "The name only is familiar. I've heard it mentioned...not a great deal, though." she murmurs, trying to dredge more details from her memory, and ultimately failing.