10440/Librarians in the Rain

Librarians in the Rain
Date of Scene:	12 March 2022
Location:	Library
Synopsis:	Emma Frost makes a donation to the Mansion's collection, and Xi'an swoons.
Cast of Characters:	Xi'An Coy Manh, Emma Frost

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Xi'An Coy Manh has posed:
Xi'an Coy Manh is assiduous in keeping the library tidy and well-attended. While she's in the stacks, a simple silver bell rests upon her desk for ease of gaining her attention should a student or faculty member require her help.

At the moment, she's in the computer pod, her fingers rapidly tip-tapping on a keyboard to do some quick maintenance on the security software. Someone downloaded some malware onto this machine last week and she's making sure that it doesn't result in an actual breach. Her black-nailed fingers move swiftly and she sighs as she finishes her work. "Done." she says aloud.

She wears a peach-colored silk blouse, long and untucked, over pressed khakis and heels. Her hair is shaved on the side and cut into an asymmetrical bob, with silver rings studding her left earlobe and jewelry on her manicured hands.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost is entering in to the library. Emma's carrying some sort of smartphone over in a hand that is buzzing, keying in and out of the Mansion's secure network. Emma's occasionally fiddling over with it while moving to tweak some settings on it. "Ah, excellent."

Shew ould gesture over at Xi'an for a moment as if just noticing that the woman was there. Then making an immediate 'come over here' beckon with a finger.

Xi'An Coy Manh has posed:
Xi'an Coy Manh doesn't appear to be bothered by the gesture. This is her workplace, after all, and someone should summon her if they want her attention. She isn't going to just run up on anyone like an eager puppy just because they walk in the door.

"Can I help you, Miss Frost?" she asks respectfully, her tone measured. She clasps her hands at the small of her back, her posture firm and shoulders back. "Normally I prohibit smartphone use within the library, but I'll make an exception in your case," she says with a hint of a smile.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would just smile at Xi'an, "Excellent. I'm needing to make some arrangements to have a purchase transferred here to the school and put in the archives. Something that's somewhat old so would need to be treated properly before being put on display and properly tended to." She would glance at Xi'an.

"And you seem the one best suited over to take charge of such things."

Xi'An Coy Manh has posed:
Xi'an Coy Manh nods, "I absolutely am. I am licensed in document preparation and preservations with the Metropolitan Museum, in addition to my expertise in library and computer science," she says.

"Tell me about this item. I'm intrigued," she says, the academic's eyes almost sparkling at the prospect of an old book falling into her hands.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would smile, "Lovely then. Thank you." She would go to type over on the smartphone, and go to display a picture of Charles Darwin's 'The Origin of the Species' and scroll through some pages of it. Which were covered with ink. Jottings, notes..

Xi'An Coy Manh has posed:
Xi'an Coy Manh stares in awe, her finger rapidly flicking through some of the different pages, "This is a first edition. Oh my. Even more than a first edition, an early draft, with some of the notes Darwin himself added. Oh, this truly is monumental," she says.

"And a treasure for us, as an institute dedicated to evolution itself in many ways. I'm sure the Professor was thrilled," she says.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would smile, "Yes, the joy of early release versions. That have notes, edits, random thoughts.. They can give more of an insight into things. They might not be as fully.. Intact.. As more carefully preserved ones are.. But I find they lend themselves a little more to understanding the -process- as to how such things are formed."

Xi'An Coy Manh has posed:
Xi'an Coy Manh nods, "I might have to have a special vault put in, but that shouldn't be too hard. Just something to make sure it isn't exposed to too much oxygen. I presume all the necessary precautions have already been made in shipping?" she says, eyes bright.

"Are you doing this as a donation, Miss Frost, or is the Institute itself buying it?"

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would smile, "A donation, Ms Coy Manh. A donation. Something that I had procured as a tax writeoff but upon reflection this institution seemed a far better fit for it than where I was initially going to have it."

Xi'An Coy Manh has posed:
Xi'an Coy Manh smiles slyly, "I should have suspected as much. Shrewd has always been your byword," she says, looking up at the beautiful woman for a moment and then almost blushing, tucking her hair behind her ear as she returns her attention to the book.

"Do you know when it's going to arrive yet? I'll have to make preparations."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would smile, "Thank you. It's nice to know that such things are appreciated. And here seems to be an appropriate forum for it." She would muse over and then glance at Xi'an, "And in approximately a week. I'm making sure that it's properly handled and insured and that I've found a reliable method of transporting it here."

Xi'An Coy Manh has posed:
Xi'an Coy Manh nods, "I'll have everything ready for it by then," she says.

"I'll make sure to get a good display case. We might even have some limited media in, although I'd have to clear that with Jean. We do work so very hard to control our image, after all," she says.

"Well, whether for tax purposes or simple generosity, I cannot thank you enough. I look forward immensely to seeing this piece in person."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would give a sly smile at Xi'an, "Of course. Ultimately it's a treasure to humanity. Something of learning, of knowledge. Of the scientific method. It belongs in an institute of learning, not locked away in a vault somewhere and kept in a collection. I'm glad that it's somewhere that it's appreciated."

Was.. Emma Frost having a moment of actual sincerity?

Xi'An Coy Manh has posed:
Emma probably doesn't get a lot of genuine gratitude or appreciation from others, who usually see schemes and machinations in even the nice things she does. Xi'an doesn't really care about such things. Results are what matter to her.

Xi'an considers for a moment and then says, "Perhaps I can thank you in some way? Would you perhaps like to join me...for dinner sometime?"

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would glance at Xi'an, "Oh? I suppose I could have a clear night on my schedule available for it. Ah.. Thank yoU Xi'an. I will look forwards to it sometime soon. I take it that things are going well over within the Institute?"

Xi'An Coy Manh has posed:
Xi'an Coy Manh nods, "At least insofar as my affairs go, yes. The student semester is winding down and about to come to an end. We'll have a little measure of piece during the summer," she says. "I may take a trip to visit my family for a time, but my real home will always be here, I think. As it is for so many who come through these halls."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would nod, "Oh? If you don't mind my inquiring.. Never mind, that's an impolite topic of conversation to have now. I'm glad that you have here to enjoy as a home and a place that belongs to you in place and spirit."

Xi'An Coy Manh has posed:
Xi'an Coy Manh shakes her head, "I don't mind an impolite topic. I tend to believe most topics should be spoken of more openly. Taboos and held tongues don't lead to truth or happiness. I kept enough secrets for most of my youth, mostly for men who demanded it lest it cost me something dear," she says. "You may ask me anything you please."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would smile, "Just as it is allowed to ask something does not mean that it is appropriate. It's part of the rules of society and etiquette. Asking you to go into the details of such a personal thing is inappropriate in these circumstances." She would add.
    "I believe at least I'm obligated to take you up on that offer of dinner first."

Xi'An Coy Manh has posed:
Xi'an Coy Manh smiles, "Well, then, I will extend that offer to our dinner then. You may get to know me and I may get to know you. You are something of an enigma in many ways, Miss Frost. The things people say about you. I do not believe most of them. But maybe I should," she says with a hint of a coy grin.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would just smile, "That is the point darling. Always be in control of how others perceive you. Give them enough to make their own conclusions in the matter but make sure that you're in control of just how things are perceived." Spoken like the businesswoman she was.

Xi'An Coy Manh has posed:
Xi'an Coy Manh nods, "I usually have no problem controlling other people. It is something of my specialty," she says. "Of course, you do it rather artfully without even using your powers. I am sure that there is a great deal I could learn from you, given the opportunity."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would smile gently, "Then, Ms. Coy Manh, we'll have to set aside some time to work on that, won't we." She would offer ehr hand over. "So sometime after the edition is properly secured here and readied for display then we can start with your tutoring."

Xi'An Coy Manh has posed:
Xi'an Coy Manh takes the hand but, instead of giving it a shake, bends forward slightly and kisses the ring as a traditional gentleman caller might to a lady fair. "I look forward to being under your tutelage, Miss Frost. I can promise that you will have my full and undivided attention."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost would smile, "Then I will look forwards to it. I'm sure that it will be a very interesting experience for the both of us." She would dip her head to Xi'an in gentle respect. "Let me know if there's anything else that I can have brought in to assist with preparations."