AUDIENCE: RAVEN

[retellers]

Comments

[laid]

[Well the first move he's going to make is practically falling over backwards as he startles at the sudden arrival!]

Man, warn a guy before you do somethin' like that, would ya!?

[retellers]

Oh. My apologies.

[ when goat speaks, raven might notice that where one might normally have molars, goat has rows of fang in the back of their mouth. it's probably fine. ]

Are you all right?

[laid]

[Raven standing here, trying to remember if goats are supposed to have teeth like that? Did Wolf have weird teeth when he talked to them before??? Anyway, he puts a hand to his chest, over his heart.]

I dunno, a spook like that'll strain this old man's heart.
[A beat, and then he laughs.]

Just a joke. I'll be fine. Just didn't expect ya to show up like that. Figured I aughta introduce myself to my fearless leader.
[It's hard to tell how much of this is sarcastic but it's definitely at least partly sarcastic. In any case, he's holding out the flowers.]

[retellers]

You are still young, though...

[ oh! it's a joke. phew.

they nod, any sarcasm possibly flying over their head. ]

I am Goat... Are those for me?

[laid]

[The real secret is that it's only like 80% a joke.]

Yup. Unless ya don't want 'em. I figured I oughta bring something, no way ta know which side of the temperament spectrum you were gonna fall.

[So far they at least seem less surly than Wolf, so that's good.]

[retellers]

[ they take the flowers. ]

I do not require any offerings, but I will accept them with gratitude.

[laid]

[Works for him!]

So what's the deal with the teams? Are we bein' pitted against eachother?

[retellers]

That wasn't our decision... [ they're quiet for a moment. ] Part of it is that each of you is connected to us. When we gave up our memories, we could only protect a certain amount of you each, so that's how that protection was divided.

But I think the Realm also thought it would motivate you more to gather nova, in case some of you wouldn't care about your worlds.

[laid]

[There's a lot to unpack here.]

You gave your memories up fer us? And what the hell is nova?

[retellers]

[ a pause, before they speak, confused. ]

Did Fox and the others not explain this yesterday...?

[laid]

The one old Raven talked to wasn't exactly the most forthcoming. Suppose I didn't ask the right questions?

[retellers]

I see... I can try explaining, then.

[ they pause, thinking. ]

Nova is what... forms memories. Yours, and those of worlds'. However, its flow has been disrupted, and something may be wrongfully stealing it. That is why we're here--to gather the scattered nova and restore it to where it should be, so that everyone's worlds will remain stable.

[laid]

... Huh. So we're losin' them now too, right? I dunno why, but since I woke up this morning I keep feelin' like I forgot something important.

[retellers]

... Yes. [ their shoulders droop. ] I'm sorry. Perhaps if I'd been more powerful, I could've prevented it...

But, um, it shouldn't happen as quickly as it did to us.

[laid]

[NO DON'T BE SAD.... Raven claps them on the shoulder.]

Hey, if yer tellin' the truth, you're just as much a victim as we are.
[There there. And then his grip tightens minutely.]

Course, if we find out you lot haven't been honest with us, there'll be some pretty dire consequences, I reckon.

[retellers]

[ they don't seem bothered by the tightened grip, and respond solemnly. ]

I understand. If anything goes wrong, I will take full responsibility.

[laid]

[So earnest... Reminds him of Flynn a bit.]

You and the rest of your masked friends, I assume. Trying to take on burdens by yerself isn't good for your health, y'know.

[retellers]

[ a little confused, ]

I cannot speak for the others... but isn't it our duty? There is no position that comes without burden. [ a pause. ] Also, I don't think I can get sick like a normal human, so that is not a concern.

[laid]

[Hm, well that's a little point to pick at.]

like a "normal human"? What does that make you lot?

[retellers]

I believe the others are human, unless they say otherwise, but I don't know what I am.

[laid]

Ya seem human enough to me... Maybe you are and you just forgot?

[Testing to see how much is up for grabs when it comes to memory loss.]

[retellers]

No... though I don't remember most things about myself, I remember, at least, that I am not.

[ also what humans do you know who have fangs, raven ]

[laid]

[Listen he's trying to be careful of other people's races after Lup accused him of being elf racist.]

Hmm... What things do ya remember, then?

[retellers]

[ they shake their head. ]

Mostly just that.

[laid]

Sounds rough. There's some memories I wouldn't mind givin' up, but ta lose all of them is pretty miserable.