Week Four

[stagemanagers]

[Last week, Gershwin High School Academy University saw its very first intentional murder! What a milestone! And right after Spongebob's No Murder party, too - that doesn't seem like it bodes very well for anybody's future.

You all wake up this morning with yet another new memory returned to you. You'll also find that the school's external doors have now unlocked. Congratulations! You're free! Unfortunately, you also seem to be entirely in the middle of nowhere. So maybe it's more of a symbolic victory.

Still, you should look around and do some investigation! Maybe you'll find a fun surprise.]

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

(( Be sure to submit your memory regains and your AC for this week! Hester's office hours and the merch booth also remain available! ))

Comments

[alchemistake]

[Well...Angus probably isn't wrong about that. Getting up atop the building would give them a vantage point they've never had before, after all...maybe clues as to some entrances up there into vents or rooms they haven't yet seen.]

You're pretty brave, aren't you, Angus?

[mcfife]

Me? [Well, considering everything...] I would say so. Courage is needed to fight monsters and evil wizards. I never thought about it much before.

I have a duty as a prince.

[alchemistake]

[His duty as a prince...]

And...I bet you have a lot of people who count on you. And look up to you. Right?

[mcfife]

That's what being a prince is about. [He looks at Varian curiously.] Why do you ask?

[alchemistake]

Well, it's...uh. Complicated.

[He looks off to the side, then up at the auto shop's ceiling.]

Let's just say I've...dealt with royalty not keeping their promises before.

[mcfife]

[That's not good. Angus leans against the side of the car.]

What kind of promises?

[alchemistake]

[...he really probably shouldn't talk about this, especially with how it's been making him feel, but...

He trusts Angus. He's a good guy.]

I remembered...that my kingdom's Princess made a promise to help me and my village. But...when the time came when I really needed her...

[He sits up, putting one of the tools he'd been working with back into his belt.]

She couldn't.

[mcfife]

[There's a lot of ways that could go. Was his village wiped out by a villain before she could help? Did she refuse to help him?]

Did anyone get hurt? [He furrows his brow. If they did, then it would be on the Princess for breaking that promise.] Were you alright?

[alchemistake]

[He doesn't...want to get too deep in the details. It's too personal, but...]

I was fine, but...some people did get hurt.

[He rubs his face with his hand.]

She did what she had to, I get that. But it's still, just...

[He feels so betrayed.]

[mcfife]

You thought you could rely on her.

[Just as everyone on Earth thought they could rely on him.]

Because that is what a lead does - protect their people no matter what.

[alchemistake]

Yeah. Exactly.

[Varian's unfairly leaving out some details, here. Like how Rapunzel was alone, struggling to keep her kingdom in one piece during a devestating blizzard. Her parents missing...

But he's too bitter to provide it just now. Too upset at the memory too fresh.]

It kinda...reminded me how not all leaders have everyone's best interests at heart. Those living on the fringes are fine to overlook.

[mcfife]

[And Angus? Are there young people like Varian out there who have been betrayed by him? What of the citizens of Dunkeld who wished they had been rescued by their brave prince? Did they hate him for losing the battle and fleeing?

He never had a chance to ask. It was always running forward, getting Zargothrax out of the picture as quickly as possible. When he turns around after returning to Fife, what will he see?]

Who will you turn to in your time of need now on?

[alchemistake]

Well...I don't know. But it's fine. I don't need the kingdom...or the Princess.

[His brows knit together, something in his eyes as determined as it is angry.]

I'll figure out what to do by myself, if it's the last thing I do.

[mcfife]

[It hurts to see Varian mistrust someone because of their failure to protect their people. It hurts, and Angus can't let anyone else in Fife become another Varian. Another betrayed face.

It's his duty as a prince to stop this ever happening.]

You have each other, don't you? When things are dire, you have only your village to protect yourselves. [It will keep them stronger, Angus hopes. If they all band together.] I wish you well on your endeavors. Your people would be proud to hear one of their own rise to the occasion.

[alchemistake]

[It's a good sentiment, one that he wishes he could cling to. It's difficult, when he knows his fellow neighbors don't understand the full extent of the danger...mostly because his father was hiding it from them.

But he doesn't have it in him to talk about that now. Not after what he's remembered.]

I hope you're right, Angus. There aren't all that many of us, but...we make do with what we have. We aren't going down without a fight, at least.

[mcfife]

...You're a brave young man, Varian. Intelligent. Resourceful. We have your back.

[He's not alone. They're all going home together.]

After, if your princess won't help, I, as a prince, must step in for her.

[alchemistake]

[He really appreciates the sentiment, even if he isn't entirely sure how much he believes it. Varian...has difficulties with trust, at this point.]

I'm...glad you think so, Angus.

[...]

Maybe I'm being too hard on her, but...I dunno. I'd be doing more without her if I had the power to.

[mcfife]

Sometimes, it just so happens that you are left alone. Whether she will come back for you or not, you have yourself to rely on.

[Angus did eventually come back to safe Fife. Was that enough? Did the peasants of Dunkeld ever forgive him for letting their city fall?]

Someone will save your village, do not despair, young alchemist.

[alchemistake]

[Varian's expression softens slightly, in spite of everything.]

Thank you for saying so. You make for a much better ruler, I think.

[mcfife]

[A short laugh.] You flatter me. I haven't been a proper ruler yet, I just made too many promises in war.