Ex Libris -- The Story --The Beginning


Artillery_MKV

 

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“That’s it, kid, get out of my classroom. I have had enough of your smart aleck comments.”
“Where do you expect me to go?” The girl retorted.
“I don’t care, just leave my sight. Go to the principal’s office. I expect that he will work out the transfer details.”

Another teacher down, the young girl thought as she walked the long corridor of classrooms. This was the third time she had been removed from class by a teacher. Her outbursts weren’t intentional; they were driven more out of the desire to fit in, or perhaps it was because she knew she never would fit in. But that didn’t have to mean going unnoticed.

Izzy waited at the receptionist’s desk with obvious chagrin. Ms.Bailey always felt sorry for her. The kindly woman couldn’t imagine losing both parents and siblings in a freak boating accident. To be the sole survivor of such a catastrophe was beyond anything she could remotely relate to.
Ms. Bailey recalled the newspaper article outlining the morbid details of the Dubois family, lost to the darkness of the ocean over the long 4th of July weekend. And the eight year old girl found alone, drifting amid the wreckage.

“Principal Dewalt, Isabelle is here. She was sent by Mr. Drake.”
“Send her in Ms. Bailey.”
Principal Dewalt was no stranger to Izzy’s file. Recently an orphan she suffered from violent nightmares. Socially disturbed, but overwhelmingly bright for her age. This was the third placement for Isabelle Dubois, and he was running out of options. At what point, he thought is the limit to what we can do? The case was perplexing at best.

Izzy walked into Principal Dewalts office with trepidation.
“Well Izzy, what happened this time?”
“Nothing,” Izzy shrugged.
“Nothing huh, well I don’t think Mr. Drake would kick you out of his class for nothing. Isabelle you are a smart girl, I just don’t know what I am going to do in this situation.”

Honestly, Izzy had no idea either. It was only November and this was the last teacher available in her grade. Mrs. Olsen was fed up with her lack of follow-through. Ms. Pritchert had found her curled up in the coat closet and felt that Izzy needed more attention than she could provide. And Mr. Drake was tired of the disorder caused by Izzy’s verbal outbursts.

Principal Dewalt had just finished a phone call with Izzy’s foster care provider Hanna Bert. Izzy liked living with Hanna and didn’t want to cause problems for her or be forced to live somewhere else.

“Hanna says you like it here at this school, Izzy, so I would like to try and make this work for everyone. I think you know that my job is to make sure that every child who attends Moorecrest Elementary has the chance to reach their potential as a student. That includes you Izzy, but that means I have 347 other students to think about as well.”
Izzy fidgeted in the oversized chair. She knew what he was driving at, and knew that her behavior was going to get her in some real trouble if she didn’t “shape up,” as Hanna put it to her the last time this happened.
“So Izzy, what do you suggest that we do? We can’t send you home. Hanna has to work and you cannot be left unsupervised. And you can’t just stay here in the office.”
“I don’t know, sir. I guess you could just send me to the library.”
The library was Izzy’s refuge. She could escape into a quiet corner and jump into a book that would take her away from all the cares and concerns of this confusing world that was now Izzy’s life.
Principal Dewalt picked up the phone.
“Dr. Evans, I have Isabelle Dubois here in my office. We have had an issue arise which has led us, temporarily, to seek another placement for her where she will be able to able to keep up with her studies.”
There was a muffled response that Izzy couldn’t quite understand.
Dr Evans was a retired physicist who used to teach at a local University. God only knows why he would take a job in an elementary school library, but Izzy liked him a great deal. He always spoke to her as if she was an adult and could understand much more than other people gave her credit.
Izzy had always been a book worm, and if the elementary school had enough of a budget to computerize their circulation desk, it would easily show that Isabelle Dubois was the most well read child the elementary school had seen in the last fifteen years. Starting at the first grade Izzy quickly read through most of the books that Mrs. Larsen had recommended from the junior section. So Izzy was introduced into the Dewey section in the second grade, two years before most children were taught it as part of the school curriculum.
Principal Dewalt hung up the telephone.
“Ok, Izzy. Dr. Evans has agreed to supervise you until we can find a suitable situation. I will arrange with Mr. Drake to have your school packets delivered each day. I expect you to keep up with your studies, and Dr. Evans has agreed to assist you with this. Now I don’t want to hear that you are giving Dr. Evans any trouble. Do you understand?”
Izzy nodded, trying to hold back her enthusiasm; perhaps this was what she wanted all along: freedom from the mundane routine and social anxieties that others referred to as the fourth grade.

The library always seemed a peaceful place to Izzy. Even more than church had been, and she hadn’t stepped foot inside a church since the funeral. In fact she couldn’t even see one or it reminded her of all she had lost. But the library was a neutral setting. Sometimes she thought of her family because a book she was reading reminded her of times they had shared, but memories like that made her feel good, like she was part of something -- not like church where she felt like a part of her was missing.
“Welcome, Isabelle,” Dr. Evans said as she sauntered into the library.

“What is the question?” Dr. Evans quipped.
“To be or not to be,” Izzy answered.

Dr. Evans was a great fan of the literary giants and had as of late started to introduce Izzy to the works of Shakespeare. Izzy was commonly drawn to her particular fascination of fantasy fiction, weapons, and encyclopedias. But she seemed to take to the classics with ease most of what Izzy read were abridged versions or somewhat watered down bits of Olde English, but she didn’t seem to have any trouble picking up on the intended meanings or rhyme and meter of the Bard of Avon.
“Well I guess we are waiting on these supposed learning packets of yours. How about for today you give me a hand re-shelving these books, and then perhaps we can start on cataloging some new media that has just arrived?”
Izzy took the cart that Dr. Evans was referring to and pushed it towards the large, oak card catalog towards the non-fiction section. This was her favorite spot in the library, the catalog filled with thousands of book references it seemed to represent endless possibilities and plot twists. On the wall above the catalog printed in large block letters were the words, Ex Libris. Something about those words seemed so powerful that it always captured her attention. She paused there for a second trying to figure out the meaning.
“From the books,” Dr. Evans said as he came up behind her with the fiction returns. “Ex Libris means from the books.”
Izzy smiled and thought to herself, ‘my real education begins now, here, in the library.’

Jump to Part II

~Ex Libris~The Story part I by Jill Henderson


 

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((First comment to redname! Awesome story!))


 

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((Woo Second. Very awesome story.))


 

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((I just pray this doesn't mean another Immortalized Hero. Still, interesting to see a Redname make a honest RP post around here. When was the last time one of them actually did that?))


 

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Oh wow, really neat!


 

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((OOC: Um...I think Lighthouse.....And mabey Dr. Brainstorm. ))


 

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((Too true, great to see))


I am taking my sig to MWO and MWT. Let them wonder what it means.

 

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((Lighthouse, Yes, Dr. Brainstorm, definately not. He's just another genericscripted character planned by a huge conspiracy years ago.))


 

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((OOC: Oh! Good catch! ))


 

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Thanks all, I am really looking forward to developing the story line a bit as I enjoy content writing.

You can see the introduction to me professionally in the announcement forums and I have also asked for art submissions.

And FYI I am only me, today!

~Ex Libris~


 

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The new CC is a roleplayer? Coolness.


Arc ID: 475246, "Bringing a Lord to Power"

"I'm only a simple man trying to cling to my tomorrow. Every day. By any means necessary."
-Caldwell B. Cladwell

 

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((OOC: Just wait 'till your birthday! I get to sing!

*starts warming up with a horribly off key voice exercise*

HaaAAAaappy Birthday to Yo- *cough - cough*

-Burning Fang

P.S. The World is Flat! *runs off*))


 

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((Welcome aboard! Very nice story so far Looking forward to seeing more soon, and nice to see another writer on these boards.))

Ashes to ashes,
Pheonyx


The Cape Radio

"It's good to have friends. Wish I did." - Troy Hickman

 

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Nicely written... and I can spot Asperger's Syndrome a mile away. XP

Good to learn what the name comes from (and your character seems fitting given the introduction of Inventions), and I'm wondering how this leads up to a new hero... or villain?


 

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Or! Both! I know its a long shot but you know what, I don't care it's a possibility, though.


 

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I like this story, mainly because I ALSO am a bookworm. Does that mean I will gain any abilities she will?

'Cause, you know, that'd be okay with me.


 

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((OOC: Heh. Ex Libris, let me introduce you to Prodiguy. No matter how unusual an RP can get, Prodiguy joins it.

-Burning Fang))


 

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((more more more! I have to have more anyway if you want submissions and arts! ))


Please read my FEAR/Portal/HalfLife Fan Fiction!
Repurposed

 

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((Lies and deciet.

It has to at LEAST be spelled in English.))


 

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Welcome Ex Libris. I am Flareback. It is so wonderful to get an intellegent girl in here. If I may, I could recommend you pay special attention to the tomes on fighting techniques through out the ages and across the world. Also knowledge about the sciences will work out as well.

For myself, I resigned to reading up on the socialogical nature of humans when my family and I came to earth. You could say that we were illegal aliens, but we did try very hard to fit in and met all the requirements to stay, but with being dumped on earth from a trader vessel, it was rather difficult to say no to us. All in all, things work out and now we help out whenever we can for the good of the planet even if there are small groups that hate us for being different.

If you ever see what looks like a comet streaking across the sky, remember that it might be me and just give a wave if I pass close by.


 

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((OOC: Does this mean we'll be seeing the new bookends offensive set soon? How about the Unabridged defensive set?))

Ex Libris, I'm Artillery MKV, the latest crime fighting airman to come out of the USAF's Project Pegasus. The Project managers wanted me to remind you that the GI Bill offers some excellent educational opportunities for people with special talents and you might want to keep that in mind as you look ahead in your academic career!
We're all looking forward to hearing more of your origin story! Welcome, hero!


 

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((Leave it to a post by a redname to attract people out of the woodwork to us. Very cool- the more the merrier! Welcome to this corner of the forums!

Looking forward to more on a promising story. Good to see you here.))


 

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Marvelous, darling... I cant wait to hear more.


((Well written, and I love that you could use this as "in the past"... or nearly current (personally, I prefer the latter).. Also, you've asked for help "fleshing out" the concept... and Im sort of curious... where would YOU see it go?
You have the idea, a young hero who's "not very good with people", but more importaintly, she had gained her power through all that she has learned, what she believes, in books. I notice also, that she seems to stick "mostly" with fiction, especially interested in fantasy and weapons that fit that genere(classic weapons). It seems to me that it wont be a tech or mutant your crafting here.... magic is an obvious choice, but I see something else.

what if there is a system... a unifying law of creation... something more natural.... Im not speaking of "creationism", though of course it is in those books as well. Pieces of it are in every printed page, and ever piece of art.. small, maybe only a letter here, a word there. The Greats may have a whole sentance. All those who create are graced... but none before have had the wit, the bredth of field, or the intuition to see the greater picture.


a greater picture that, if understood, could enable a person to become a true creator.... bringing about matter, energy, or even vitality(heck, all three) from nothing.

Dr. Evans is the key... why would a scolar of physical phenomenon resign himself to the written word? Because he feels there is some value in it. Possibly he believes this natural truth, this unity of creativity exists....
believes that there is a piece of the puzzle in all things created, and all things created are written about. And as he watches this young girl understand arcaic english intuitively at such an age, who is so smart, and quick... he begins to believe that little Izzy might be able to understand what is hidden there, in all writing...

We then have a young girl or young woman (depending on how long it takes to uncover and master this knowlege in books) who's powers we could manifest in any form what so ever... creating a weapon purely by concentrating, or creating fields of energy to hamper her foes... even locking down enemies by restructuring the matter benieth their shoes(or OF their shoes).
through knowlege and understanding she has the power to change the world. Of course she is merely mortal, and such effort would be taxing, limiting her abilitys....for the moment.

this also leaves us with more interesting twists and turns. Once Izzy understands this truth... what will Evans do? Afterall, this is not something that, even if seen, can be understood by just anyone.
What does he do, now that he's right in his theories? he cant risk the knowlege being public, who knows the chaos that could come from just a handful of people who "understood". But is he the dutiful protector? or does he have his own, less genuine interests in keeping Izzy close at hand.... more nefarious interests???))


((Ive posted an idea for costume, with notes on your other thread (I would hope that you can flex your "team muscles" to be able to create your idea in the game, even though the pieces may not already exist)...))

((Here's the link, for the costume ideas..))


 

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Beautimus!


FREEDOM
- Chemofrost lvl 50 Rad/Ice Defender
- Pushrod lvl 28 Nrg/Nrg Blaster

 

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Ex Libris:

The Paragon City Detective Agency (Triumph Branch) is interviewing for an Archivist position. Interested Applicants Only.