WEEK 3: CYOA (Alyssa, Hansa, Hilda, Emet-Selch)

[retellers]

Comments

ONE MONTH LATER

[retellers]

[ One month later (though it'll really only feel like a couple of minutes for everyone):

Hansa and Emet-Selch have arrived at the big village and obtained a home of their own, though not necessarily anywhere near Hilda and Alyssa—no intersecting for you just yet! Hopefully, everyone's now adjusted into their new happy family life.

One evening, as it begins to rain... ]

CHOICE - GROUP H

[retellers]

[ While it rains outside, Hishi does her latest schoolwork. And by schoolwork, I mean extra credit schoolwork. Someone's an overachiever! In fact, it looks like she's finished, but she's going over her work again. ... And again. Maybe she has nothing better to do?

There probably isn't a lot in the house just yet, though. Lots of books, though! Mostly nonfiction, but there's a few fiction books among the collection as well.

What will Hilda and Alyssa do?

A. Let Hishi keep going over her schoolwork.
B. Read a book with her.
C. Anything else Hilda and Alyssa might think of. If there's a common item they need (e.g. hair ties, toys, etc.), it may conveniently manifest for them... ]

[assistance]

going with c! FUN ACTIVITIES FOR HISHI

DISCUSS - GROUP H

[retellers]

[axecessory]

[ as adorable as their fake child is... she's definitely a nerd. hilda can't relate, but sometimes, people are nerds? it's fine, but— ]

Alyssa—I can't watch this anymore. A kid needs more hobbies than homework.

[assistance]

Yeah, you're right... even I think it's a little overkill.

[ hmm. what do kids like... ]

She doesn't have any toys, does she? Other than the dinosaur.

[axecessory]

I haven't seen any, no.

[ hilda picks up a fantasy book off the many piles, flipping through its contents. ]

Maybe we could try to teach her one of our hobbies? Me, I make accessories, but she seemed really into your science stuff.

[assistance]

Ooh, what kinds of accessories? Like, jewelry and things like that?

[ she pauses, then something hits her. ]

Oh, we could combine our hobbies! You could make her a bracelet or something, and depending on how you make things, I can teach her some basic chemistry... geometry might be a little complicated for a kid her age, but it'll never hurt to try and see what she can handle, right?

CHOICE - GROUP K

[retellers]

[ Kaiza's been going to school in the village for the past month now, for the record. He seems to be happy so far and hasn't had any complaints, though he has been returning home oddly late on some days.

Today, while it rains outside their home, Kaiza is... wait. Actually, where is Kaiza? Hansa, Emet-Selch, your child is missing!

A. Go out to look for Kaiza.
B. Do nothing. Eh, maybe he'll come back eventually.
C. Alert the authorities for a missing kid. ]

[robopriest]

They're going for A! And leaving a note saying that he should stay put in the house until they come back.

DISCUSS - GROUP K

[retellers]

[robopriest]

[Ohhhhhh no WHERE IS THEIR KID. Hansa is instantly worried, already heading to the door.]

He hasn't returned for ages... [He looks back at Emet-Selch.] I'm going to go look for him. Do you want to come with...?

[arkitect]

Staying out on their own is something children do, is it not? But I suppose he is still young enough to be fragile...

[also, it's raining and he'll get a cold at that rate? which will be a life lesson, honestly. but still.

he exhales a sigh.]

If you insist, I will accompany you, but we must leave some sign. Otherwise the boy will arrive here and immediately wander off again seeking us.

[robopriest]

[Normally, Hansa would be okay with this. Kids will be kids. He was a kid once! He fought bears! Everything is fine! Except he sort of learned at a young age that not all kids are made alike, and kids can't always do the same things he does.]

[Honestly, deep down, he's torn between just leaving him be and going to find him, but for now, he just wants to make sure this kid hasn't like, found a cliff to walk off of or something.]

[..................Wait, is this how his foster father felt when raising him? Yikes.]

...Yeah, you're right. Lets write down that if he comes and we're not here he should stay here and wait. [A huff.] Lets not spend too much time looking, though. I hardly want you to get a cold from this.

[arkitect]

What, are you worrying over me as well now, Hansa?

[he raises a brow... then exhales a small huff of a breath that sounds faintly amused.]

I am hardly so fragile. Do not concern yourself overmuch.

RESULTS - GROUP K

[retellers]

[ As Hansa and Emet-Selch walk through the village streets, looking for the missing Kaiza (still raining, unfortunately)...

... they may hear a meow? Should they follow the source of the noise, it takes them to a more secluded area, where a figure sits, crouched near the ground with an umbrella. "jan are umbrellas even jungle aesthetic" look i made an effort and gave up

However, the umbrella isn't covering the figure. Instead, he's holding the umbrella over a box... containing a small black cat?

Oh, and that figure is definitely Kaiza. Congrats, you found your missing kid! ]

[robopriest]

Oh! Kaiza!

[Yeah, he's running up, and....................oh.]

[That sure is their kid protecting a kitten from the rain. What the heck, that's adorable.]

Goodness, here you had us worried. [He's honestly relieved, though, moving to see the kitten closer - he raises a hand to try to at least provide some cover for Kaiza's head.] Hey, are you okay? Is this what you've been doing all this time?

[arkitect]

[listen, he favors coats and robes at all times, so whatever he's taken to wearing definitely has an extra layer or two no matter the usual weather here... so he sighs as he removes the outermost layer to help use it as a makeshift covering. the kid is probably already soaked, but oh well.]

Next time, move it to shelter instead of soaking yourself...

[retellers]

[ Kaiza looks up at them in surprise, with a sort of deer in headlights expression.

But thanks for the covering, Emet-Selch. Kaiza is basically soaked at this point, but it's fine. ]

... Oh. Um, hi. Am I in trouble...?

[ The kitten mews at Hansa. ]

[robopriest]

Not at all. I mean, maybe a little for not letting us know where you are, but otherwise...nah.

[Looks like Emet's taken care of covering the kid, so Hansa will reach for the box with the kitten and gesture for Kaiza to give him the umbrella to hold.]

I'm guessing this little thing has no one to take care of him, huh? Let's take it home. [hansa: our cat now] We can't have you keep running out here to keep taking care of it, hm?

RESULTS - GROUP H

[retellers]

[ A jewelry kit and baby's first chemistry set will manifest, just for Hilda and Alyssa. This is a perfectly normal thing to happen.

In any case, Hishi is going over her work again when she takes a moment to look up. ]

... What are those?

[ It's not a curious tone just yet, and more of a flat "moms, what are you up to, should I be worried" tone right now. ]

[axecessory]

[ why is it that the seven-year-old feels the oldest here. anyway, get hype, hishi! hilda pops over to her, smiling very nicely but in a way that does indeed read as mischief. ]

Oh, Alyssa and I were just arguing over who has the better hobby—maybe you could be our tiebreaker, Hishi.

[ she may be gently pushing her homework away...... ]

[assistance]

[ alyssa silently mouths "arguing?" at hilda with mock disbelief, but hishi doesn't need to know that. while hilda takes care of hiding the homework, alyssa pushes both of the kits toward their charge. ]

What do you think? You can make cute, sparkly bracelets with Hilda... or you can do some really cool science experiments with me.

[retellers]

[ Fortunately, Hishi appears oblivious to her vanishing homework. ]

... I will do my best to be a good judge.

[ Hishi takes her responsibilities very seriously!

...

Seems like she has to think hard on this, though. She's mumbling under her breath—sounds like she's evaluating the pros and cons of each activity...? Finally, though, a lightbulb goes over her head. ]

Please tell me the good things about both.

[ That's the only way she can fairly settle their tie!! She can't make a good judgment without more info. ): (She does not realize she is being tricked.) ]

[axecessory]

[ hilda just bats her eyes innocently over at alyssa before opening one of the kits. ]

Well, everyone should be able to make something. And crafts are a way to express yourself! You get to show off your style and have something tangible in the end—there's nothing as satisfying as creating beautiful things. I can use flowers, crystals, string, fabric, glass... whatever I can get my hands on, really.

[ it's just an exercise in creativity. she twines some cords together deftly, picking out a metal bead to pull onto one of them before braiding that in too. ]

In an... um, practical sense? [ she does not think like this ] It really gets you an eye for precision and detail. And I have to admit that I'm pretty good with my hands.