WEEK 5: CYOA (CLEMENTINE, LUP, JEANNE, ALPHINAUD)

[retellers]

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[arcsplainist]

[ Alphinaud suddenly looks tired already. Whoever this king is, they sound like—coughs—a royal pain in the ass. ]

Are you able to recall where the king was last seen?

[retellers]

[ They look at the trays then back at them. ]

No, you should finish whatever you're doing now first. [ If they're on this floor then these two must be doing something important, so they don't want to interrupt... but they look at Alphi. ] They were in your library.

[evocationary]

[ lordt

okay. lup sighs. ]

We'll, uh - we'll go check after this, then. You wanna direct us to the room with the sick guests?

[arcsplainist]

[ whoooooboy. ]

Then we shall deliver these quickly—if you may tell us where we should.

[retellers]

How do you not know...

[ They all sound annoyed? Whatever. The maid points down the hallway to some of the last rooms. ]

Anyway, watch yourself. They just had their morning leeching.

[evocationary]

[ i'm sorry their morning what ]

Uh. [ she gives alphinaud a vaguely alarmed look ] Right.

[ she is now hesitant to bring food to a place where there are leeches ]

[arcsplainist]

[ ... Just how sick were these guests? Alphinaud manages to look largely unbothered, giving the servant a polite nod. ]

Pray excuse our forgetfulness—'tis been a frenetic day, you understand. We shall be off.

[ Canting his head toward Lup, Alphinaud walks past the maid and down the hall. ]

[retellers]

[ Sometimes leeches are there.

But off they go! And thanks to the directions, they can find the right rooms easily enough! There's two, so they can pick which they go into first! ]

[evocationary]

[ she just picks the closest one. the first one she comes up to.

also she's wearing this but with a corset that shows off her none cleavage, to make it more appropriate for the time period. this is important because she hates this dress. ]

Uh, knock knock? [ she calls, through the door. ]

[arcsplainist]

[ From behind Lup, Alphinaud peeks in. ]

We are come to deliver your meal.

[retellers]

[ In a weak, sickly voice. Cough cough. ]

Come in... I have finished my leeching.

[ Cough. ]

[evocationary]

[ HEURGH

lup... comes into the room, and then just does not get any closer. she doesn't want the plague? thanks. what are we looking at here. ]

[arcsplainist]

Good, good.

[ Wow, they look like hell. Alphinaud will set down the tray he holds upon the bedside table, then stepping back, as to give them room to take their meal. ]

Are you feeling any better?

[ Much as he knows this is just some weird... probably not real place, he plays along. Juuuust in case. ]

[retellers]

[ The girl in the bed has weird marks on her face and arms, although admittedly, that just might be from the leeches.

But she coughs into her hand. Where is a tissue. ]

I've been better. I'm starting to believe the curse about the king here is actually true and not just a bunch of rumors though... I accidentally insulted their favorite bard, and immediately after I got sick!

[evocationary]

[ oh, bad ]

Huh. [ she's staying over here. ] We should probably make sure the king's not too furious, in that case.

[arcsplainist]

'Tis curious indeed.

[ He looks back at Lup, still holding her tray. ]

Yes, we will make certain that the king bears no ill will towards you—or anyone else, for that matter.

[ Once they, uh, apparently find him?? ]

[retellers]

Ha! Good luck. We'll probably have to deal with another reset...

[ She shakes her head. And then reaches for the tray? Gimme. ]

[evocationary]

Hey, quick question - remind me what a reset is? I had to deal with the head chef and he knocked my braincells out of my head.

[ squint. ]

[arcsplainist]

[ The laugh that follows is surprisingly convincing from Alphinaud. ]

Aye, that he did! I could hardly believe it happened! She has been ever so forgetful since.

[ It's a convenient excuse. ]

[retellers]

[ She opens her mouth like she's about to answer, and then pauses, her gaze growing distant as she stares at nothing for a moment. And then she snaps out of it. ]

What reset? I said tantrum.

[ No she didn't. ]

[evocationary]

[ ... alarming!

lup just glances at alphinaud again. ]

Sure. Tantrum. Oookay, time to go give the other person their food and then find the king, right, Mr. Librarian?

[arcsplainist]

[ Alphinaud frowns; there is no immediate response, but when it comes, it's slow and thoughtful. ]

... Yes, I believe so. I pray that good health comes to you, miss.

[ He turns to leave. ]

[retellers]

Alright, goodbye.

[ She mumbles something about how weird the two of them are. Why is the librarian bringing her food? They must be short staffed...

But the two will exit the room and return to the hallway. ]

[evocationary]

[ she pauses before they go into the next room, right outside the door, glancing at alphinaud. ]

Reset? Like... what does that mean? Look, The Fantasy Maxtrix was overrated, I'm not really down for this red pill, blue pill nonsense.

[arcsplainist]

I—

[ What?? ]

... The cook mentioned a "reset", as well. Something is slipping through whatever front this memory is attempting to be.