Episode 3 - Books

## Books

A white drawing of a book that is opened to a middle page, the visible pages have a red text 'hello' and a red eye, the entire image is framed with a white border.

### Guest

Andrea Hilborn as Valerie

Olivier gets a special assignment, Violet's morning routine is interrupted, and Mort is raised from his resting place. The theme of tonight’s episode is Books.

***Content Warnings:** Static, kidnapping + abduction, body horror, omniscience, drowning, death + injury.*

## Intro - Things That Watch Me Sleep

Nikignik speaks to the Dreamers about books and their ability to transport the reader to a world of fantasy, mystery, or horror. Most of the time the reader makes it back, too. The classic "Things That Watch Me Sleep" by Mary Strix has 514 readers who never returned. Nikignik's favorite chapter begins with "Hello from the Hallowoods."

Nikignik is sitting on a park bench outside of a public library in a clearing in the forest, although they remark that its austere and threatening facade doesn't make it look very public. Wars have been fought over the information in the library, which are now only remembered by the books inside it.

## Story One - Rain on Downing Hill

Olivier Song walks into the Downing Hill Public Library, taking comfort in the roiling storm clouds outside, and tells the librarian that they have an appointment with the director, C. S. Blackletter. They are pulled into the depths of the earth by a shadow and transported into a cozy office. At the desk sits an elderly looking woman, the director. Blackletter asks Olivier for their current pronouns (Olivier responds with "they-them is fine") and remarks that she likes how they imagine the library, quaint and dignified. Olivier states that they are very lucky to have learned to foster their "gift" at the library.

Blackletter tells Olivier she needs them for a "delicate opportunity". Olivier says they would do anything, and Blackletter asks if they have ever heard of the Instrumentalist.

Olivier leaves the library without any more of the conversation being relayed by Nikignik. As the storm rages around them, Olivier scatters the rain to keep themself dry. They gather clouds around themself and fly into the storm towards the task they have just been assigned.

### Interlude One - In Bibliotheca Est Bellum

Nikignik discusses the different interpretations of the idea of a library. For some, it is a large, severe municipal building. For others, they are warm rooms with tall shelves of beloved books. Above all, a library is war. It is the collection of generations of work trying to combat the repetitive cycle of history. However, for those who wish to learn, a library is a home.

## Story Two - The Good Diplomat

Violet Keene is woken up by her wife, Bern, who wakes up at the crack of dawn much to her distaste. As she tries to go back to sleep, a blaring siren forces her to get out of bed and start getting dressed. She takes the curlers out of her hair before leaving, remarking that no good diplomat ever shows up half-dressed. She walks outside and asks Bern what they've got this time. Bern tells her that Big Mikey is coming. Violet, Bern, and some combat scouts walk past their barricades and ramparts to meet Big Mikey outside, making sure to keep their weapons low so as not to upset Big Mikey. Slowly, Big Mikey and his horde of dogs approach, his green eyes shining in the mist. Bern comments that the bag over his shoulder is new.

Violet asks if Big Mikey is in a good mood today. When he responds that he is in a very good mood, she asks if he's brought them more dogs. He instead says that he's brought them a surprise, which makes Violet and Bern uneasy. Big Mikey tells her that she has to pay first to get the surprise and asks for "five". Violet approaches him with a bundle and spreads out a dozen books, saying he can choose five. He looks at them asks what one of them is about. Violet describes the book (presumably "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn") but says that it may be above his reading level.

After choosing his books, Violet asks to see the surprise he brought. Big Mikey undoes his sack and dumps a girl out onto the ground.

### Marketing - Old Friends

Lady Ethel Mallory interrupts the broadcast with her show "Old Friends", with her special guest, Valerie Maidstone, who was recently found when someone activated the "Recommend a Friend" program. Lady Ethel and Valerie discuss Valerie's band, the Stonemaidens, and their fans, the Stonemaids, which Lady Ethel is unfamiliar with. Lady Ethel mentions that she didn't listen to the Stonemaidens very much, as Valerie said many "unkind" things about BotCo at the time.

Valerie asks if the Dreamers know that they can't escape from the Dreaming Boxes and tells her daughter, Riot, to keep running and not to return to their bunker. She implores Dreamers not to trust BotCo and Lady Ethel and to try to escape the Dreaming Boxes. Lady Ethel goes to a commercial break.

### Story Two, Continued - The Good Diplomat

Nikignik urges the listeners to consider what BotCo is broadcasting; to find their faults and see the company for what it truly is.

Violet is sitting next to the bedside of the girl that Big Mikey brought to them, waiting for her to wake. When she does, Violet calls Bern into the room and the pair ask the girl her name. She introduces herself as Riot and says that she needs to leave. Violet and Bern are confused. As Violet tells Riot, she's in the Scoutpost at Lurch Lake with no settlements for sixty miles, although Bern corrects this to 67.2 miles.

Concerned, the two ask Riot how she got caught by Big Mikey. When she tells them that she was running from the Instrumentalist, Bern immediately demands that they double the Scoutpost guards. Riot asks Violet why Bern's reaction is so extreme, and Violet explains that they have lost people to the Instrumentalist. Once you hear the music, she says, it doesn't stop coming for you. If Riot is in the Scoutpost, then the Instrumentalist is on his way.

### Interlude Two - Don't Do Omniscience

Nikignik tells listeners that it is their duty to remind everyone to "Just Say No To Omniscience". It may be tempting to be all-knowing, but such power would leave the user atomized or horribly disfigured. For instance, the Nameless One got omniscience, and now he stumbles through the Grand Archives of Zelkryzelk, a contemptible former shadow of his past self. If you wish to expand your mind, choose a safer avenue, like books.

## Story Three - Are You My Friend?

An unnamed revenant rests underwater, enjoying the light glimmering through the water and the weeds that surround him. He likes to watch the fish dart around and chase each other. However, he is pulled from the lake by an orange glow into the ruins of the city above. In front of him stands a man wearing a crisp floral suit and carrying a book and an umbrella. He realizes that he has a body now, including an arm resembling a giant crab claw.

The man introduces himself as Polly, and asks the name of the revenant. Not knowing how to respond, the revenant looks at the signs around him on the abandoned buildings and names himself Mort after seeing a sign for a "mort-u-ary". Polly is amused by this naming choice.

Polly asks Mort if Mort is aware of how to use his body, specifically his large claw, since he's in need of security. Mort responds by moving his claw and begins to move his new body, which hisses and steams in a mechanical fashion.

Mort asks Polly if they're friends, to which Polly says yes. As Mort follows Polly, he sees a view of himself in a reflection—a skull with glowing green eyes floating in a dome of black water atop a mechanical body and a bladed claw—and decides he doesn't like it. The two of them leave the lake and walk into the woods.

## Outro

Nikignik ends the broadcast by speaking about the importance of books. They hold so many stories of humanity, and they smell nice too. Burning a book is not just the destruction of the physical object, but also the destruction of thought in a desperate attempt to control those who have gained knowledge, courage, or acceptance from the books. A book can light the fire of change and pass on ideas for generations, and ideas are much harder to destroy.

## Trivia

This is the first Guest Segment in the show, with Ontario-based writer and naturopath Andrea Hilborn providing the voice of Valerie.

Marissa Paternoster of the Screaming Females was first to be offered the part of Valerie Maidstone. She politely declined.