kate

[undread]

Comments

[sootprints]

He did that? [ a soft gasp. ]

Was it just the two of you?

[undread]

No. It was us, Gale, Rondo, Marina, Caelus...

[a bunch of people. she's frowning now, though, thinking about it.]

[sootprints]

[ a little pang of hope and longing at some of those names (not gale) ]

Hm? ... I thought Gale was here, though...

[undread]

He... I suppose so. I saw him earlier. I don't think he was a finalist.

[sootprints]

So he was in the pageant, too? How strange.

Were you and Astarion the finalists, then? What about the others?

[undread]

I think Marina and Caelus also made it to the finals. But I'm the one who won.

[sootprints]

Oh. Poor Rondo.

[ must be the hair... ]

Was there a prize for winning?

[undread]

...Yes. Though it's hard to remember exactly what it was. It was more of a feeling. I wanted to win.

[sootprints]

Oh...

[ a little unsure about that. ]

Um, did you end up finding some kind of strange item at the end? A ritual component, maybe?

[undread]

Oh, yes. I did find something.

[holding out - a jar with an eyeball in it.]

[sootprints]

[ hm. she doesn't love it, but at this point she knew what to expect. ]

There was only one eye?

[undread]

[nodding...]

Astarion took the better one, the rock. [resentful!]

[sootprints]

I see. [ reading the mood. ] How... inconsiderate of him.

Was there anything distinct about this rock?

[undread]

It had googly eyes on it. Why?

[sootprints]

I just thought there must be something special about it if it was found there. Some letters we received mentioned rocks, too...

I'm not sure what to make of that, though.

[undread]

Well... it might be special, but mine is special, too. It could be important, too.

[her feelings are hurt! astarion is more special than her...]

[sootprints]

Y, yes, it's very important. These ritual components may be the key to us escaping this place.

[ she doesn't know that for sure. but probably. maybe. ]

[undread]

Well, you can see mine whenever you like.