Episode 1 - Scene 1

PERCEPTION (+): You're in the Junior Graphics section.

PERCEPTION (+): A safe ways away from... them.

AD ...

AD לִילִית.

EMPATHY (+): Without delay, she appears. It's a familiar rhythm, summoning her.

You hear the familiar fluttering of crystaline wings. Like a wind chime.

EMPATHY (+): It helps that, when dormant, she remains just as astute.

AD Don't look at me like that.

AD They were rambling. I was providing a mercy by absconding.

Hoo?

EMPATHY (-): Though, she can offer... unnecessary commentary. Damn those judgmental eyes of hers.

AD For them, obviously!

AD I could've handled myself. I was... caught off guard.

AD No one could simply... respond to a question like that.

AD (sigh)

You stand up straight, glaring at your beautiful, loyal companion.

AD No need to flatter yourself.

AD It's far too early for this. I don't know where they got the idea, or the audacity...

AD But I'm not risking everything just to humor them.

AD Or you, for that matter.

COURAGE (+): Your Specter is prone to trouble. A temptuous devil on your shoulder, if you will.

AD You know how absurd it would look if I had answered them?

AD That was utterly improper of you.

AD I don't know how you did it, but it better not occur again.

Tick, tick, tick. Your Specter rotates its head counter-clockwise.

AD Fine. Play dumb.

AD As if you can ever resist throwing a wrench into my plans.

AD I don't even know how you... how you would...

Tick. Tick.

AD ...

ACUMEN (-): If it wasn't your Specter, then what? Too many things are swirling in your head at once.

AD Alright.

AD It was... pre-emptive of me to assume you were responsible.

Your Specter blinks calmly in response.

AD But you felt it too, right?

AD Even now... I can't describe it, but it's as if...

AD ...

AD We'll discuss this later.

AD For now, you know what to do.

AD Be careful.

AD I have a sense that things are different, this time.

A low hoot of confirmation, and she takes off.

ACUMEN (+): The less flashy they are, the more inconspicuous they'll be. Why don't they understand that?

AD And stay out of sight, לִילִית!

She doesn't respond. She's too busy being gone in a blink.

AD (sigh)

AD How ridiculous...

PERCEPTION (+): She's already disappeared into the labyrinthian rafters. Eyes back on the shelves.

You push the cart forward and resume business.

PERCEPTION (-): You're... still in the Junior Graphics section.

The Junior Graphics section is haphazardly organized, as usual. You expend the additional effort to pick up some stray material, since you've already wasted plenty of shelving time already. Most of them are worn - the spine labels are peeling off, and if it isn't water-damaged, it bears the enthusiastic creases of an adolescent. You'd be disappointed in the youth, but you never took care of your materials that well, either. You place some of the worse-for-wear ones on the cart for bindery and discarding later.

AD Hm.

You mentally note a potted plant withering away in one of the corners. No one has taken care of it so far - you might as well add it to your infinitesimal list of responsibilities.

AD Might as well make an excuse to visit -

AD What the - !

?? EEK!

?? what is that??

?? Is there rat infestation?!

AD No! Don't be ridiculous!

AD It could only be a Specter!

AD Only an idiot would let theirs loose in aaaaaAA -

EMPATHY (-): Damn that living wind chime!

AD -AAAHH YOU )IDIOT BIRD!(

> continue

CS:/ep1/virprinceps4