week 5, wednesday w/ steph

[alchemenace]

[ it's a beautiful wednesday morning! it's wednesday now. it was always wednesday. if you like constant rain. either way, varian is knocking at steph's door. ]

Hey, hey Stephie, I've got a special delivery! For. For you.

[ he's smooth as butter. ]

Comments

[vigilantics]

[ and once he's gone, she's going to have a quick and easy emotional breakdown.

and once that's done, steph takes off her pants to then try to put her new leggy on. it takes a bit, but once it's properly placed she will... put on a pair of shorts. ]

Come iiin.

[alchemenace]

[ he's going to pretend he didn't hear the emotional breakdown and just come back in ]

So, does it fit okay? I've never made one of these before.

[ just casually dropping that like it's nbd again. ]

[vigilantics]

[ what a good friend ]

So far. I haven't tried walking in it yet.

[ she did not want to do that when she was alone in the room in case she died. ]

[alchemenace]

You can try now? I'll make sure you don't get hurt.

[ i'm sure it's reassuring to be spotted by a four feet tall dwarf ]

[vigilantics]

[ he can break her fall at least! ]

Okay, here we go.

[ she will.. carefully get off the bed. she doesn't walk yet, but will stand just a little unsteadily. ]

[alchemenace]

[ varian watches with bated breath, hoping the prosthesis doesn't explode. somehow. ]

[vigilantics]

[ she's also hoping it doesn't explode. weirder things have definitely happened.

once it becomes apparent that she isn't going to die by just standing, steph takes a hesitant step forward. she's... wobbly... ]

[alchemenace]

[ he's got his arms stretched out already. oh no. he fucked up. are the legs uneven. can it not hold the weight. IS IT GOING TO EXPLODE??? ]

[vigilantics]

I think it works?

[ it hasn't broken apart yet after a few steps anyway. ]

[alchemenace]

Yes!

[ throws his arms ... no still just the one, up in the air triumphantly ]

I mean. I knew it would. Obviously.

[vigilantics]

Thank you, Varian.

[ she's been thanking him a lot lately. ]

[alchemenace]

[ she has. it's a disease. ]

I told you I'd do it. You don't have to keep thanking me. I'm glad I could help.

[ ... and i can't think of a good segue, so. ]

But like I said, I didn't just come here to deliver that. Well. It was the main reason? But there's some stuff I've learned recently.

[vigilantics]

What kind of stuff?

[ she's just. poking at her new wooden leg now, but she's listening. ]

[alchemenace]

You know how there are Blotters and Historians? I've learned what the other roles are, and what they do.

[vigilantics]

What? Really?

[ this got brought up as a possibility during the last trial. ]

How many more are there?

[alchemenace]

Four roles for six people. There's one Alchemist [ ROLLS EYES!!!! ], two Viziers, two Editors, and one Shield.

[vigilantics]

I wonder why the numbers are like that...

[ oh well. it's probably not??? important??? ]

You said you know what they do?

[alchemenace]

Right. Well. I do, and I don't? I have the descriptions, but not what matches with who? But I believe my guesses on which is which matches up. Um. Here.

[ he takes out a piece of parchment that he obviously transcribed himself:

"One role holds the power to protect whomever they wish, and may offer another up or themselves as an alternative sacrifice.

One role may inquire into a Narrator's personal business, into their privacy, and receive answers on their allegiance.

One role is tasked with making choices that affect the castle each week.

One role holds the responsibility to answer to the Crafters' assigned tasks, and they cannot be faulted for that."

there's a letter next to each of the lines, in order-- S, V, A, E. ]

[vigilantics]

[ she's... frowning as she goes through each one. ]

I think most of them are... more or less easy to figure out, but...

[ she points at the last one. ]

This is kind of concerning?

[alchemenace]

Right. I, I think the tasks they can't be faulted for... That has to be... [ he heaves out a sigh ] The only thing I can think of is that they have to kill people? But why would they need that on top of the Blotters?

[vigilantics]

... this actually came up before.

[ in a trial or a. pc. i literally do not remember where i had this thread and i don't want to look ]

That there might be other people besides the Blotters who kill? It was my main theory as to why there was a Thursday murder, honestly, after talking to some people.

[alchemenace]

[ varian sighs looking pensive ]

It's what makes the most sense, based on the description and the events of the past few weeks. And that's also why I think the name "editor" fits best, since that's, that's people who change a story. But I don't understand why the Crafters would need to take people out like that.

[vigilantics]

I'm guessing there has to be a reason, we just need to figure it out.

... Shield is pretty straightforward, at least.

[alchemenace]

Right. That was the easiest one to assign. I also, I also know they used their power to protect Natsuo the week Dave was killed. He received a letter stating as much. [ he points to the one he wrote V next to ] This one, I believe it's referring to titles, gifts and objectives? And maybe roles if they have any.

[vigilantics]

So... you get letters when the Shield protects you?

[ hm. ]

So that might leave whatever the Alchemist does.