expiationnet | 01. video.

[ The video flicks on to show one Claude von Riegan, having dispensed with his usual fineries of billowing fabrics and elaborate capes to more simple fare, simply a loose white linen shirt and brown trousers, seated at the desk of what looks to be an incredibly cluttered shop. Herbs hang from strings from the ceilings, the dark, burnished wood of the shelves covered in various dusty jars filled with strange liquids and ground plants and all manner of things; what little table space is not covered in these mystery jars is instead covered in stacks of books and parchment strewn about. It is, as some may be able to recognize, Aldrip's apothecary. ]

Hey, everyone. For as long as I've been here, I don't think I've ever properly introduced myself... so allow me to make up for lost time. My name is Claude von Riegan, and I've been here for, oh... three, four months? Longer than I thought I'd be stuck here, to be honest. But I've got more than simple introductions on my mind today.

[ He reaches into one of the jars and plucks out a few herbs, adding it to whatever concoction is in his mortar and pestle, the grinding of stone against stone a low, pleasant sound. ]

I'm sure you've all noticed that our humble hosts have been disappearing, one after the other. [ He holds up a paper, noting a date and time that has already passed, an invitation to meet with Those Who Were. ] This seems to be the culprit -- someone sending them missives, telling them to meet with their gods, or holy figures, or whatever else you'd like to call them. Something worth investigating, I think.

[ He pauses, putting a pinch of some other spice into his bowl. ]

But in the meantime, they've left their businesses behind. So I've gone ahead and temporarily commandeered the apothecary until they return. It's too important an institution to leave empty, and besides, this place could do with some organization. And some good dusting. And, frankly, some revamped bookkeeping, because it's just in shambles.

The thing is, though, is that my own knowledge of herbalism is confined to my own world -- and it's specialized knowledge, at that. So if you know anything about it, or know of anything I ought to be stocking, that you might be needing, do me a favour and let me know. [ He licks the tip of his pinky, dips it into his concoction, and licks it off, only to shudder in revulsion. ] Eurgh, that's nasty.

[ He clears his throat. ]

Or, of course, you can help me search for our missing persons. I haven't had much luck, but hey! Maybe you will.

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[ ...

Now Ange is definitely imagining Claude as a mouse. A tiny mouse person. Like a small mouse with Claude's hair, and a permanent smile on his lips, just the way Claude always seems to have.

Apparently she's not opting to share it, but it definitely passes her mind. Maybe she'll bring it up some other time. Maybe irony will turn him into a mouse at some point, and she can make some dumb mouse joke at him about it. ]

I just know.

[ Ange chooses productivity for now, judging by her answer. ]

Not in all cases. I guess magic can probably come in way too many forms for me to recognize all of it. [ And it's not like she's the world's biggest expert. Ange is well aware of that. She just knows some things. ] But I think I have more experience with it than the average person. And I'm smart.

[ Thanks for the humble brag, Ange. Maybe she's saying it so casually though because she knows she can get away with it - more or less - in front of Claude. ]

I've been trying to find out more about the magic of the beings that brought us here, anyway. It could be a good opportunity to maybe learn more about it. [ ... ] That, or all the people disappeared for some really mundane reason, and then it's just going to be very lame.

Ooh, I'd love a little mundanity every now and then. Wouldn't it be nice if they all turned up and went oh, you've all been so silly, you flock of panicked geese -- we were just out in the woods, having a grand old time sleeping underneath the stars and roasting rabbits over the fire!

[ His smile is teasing, but his eyes are serious. Ange has faith in her own sensibilities, and so Claude decides to have faith in her too. He's thought this about Ange again and again, but she truly reminds him of Lysithea, and there was no brighter mind in magic or academia than hers despite her relative youth. He teased her too, but when push comes to shove... well, it's foolish not to listen to someone else's strengths just because of their age or diminuitive stature. ]

I'm happy to use your magical expertise, just like you can use my, uh -- archery expertise, I guess? [ He laughs. ] Or I can brew you a mean cup of tea, these days. In any case, I'd like to know more about the magic that brought us here too. I've been trying to figure it out from my own perspective, but when it comes to magic itself? Pbthht. All we know is that it's all connected to the gods here. Once we get to the bottom of them, everything else should fall into place.

[ ... ]

Or at least half of everything else.

Definitely your archery expertise. Cute girls like me need bodyguards, you know? [ Please note the fact that cute girls is said with the flattest tone possible, like Ange isn't actually complimenting herself here.. She'd rather die than genuinely call herself cute, thanks!! This is all for deadpan's sake. ] And you're definitely not even half as annoying as my bodyguard back home.

[ Only the highest of compliments for you, Claude..

At least she does mean it. In a positive way, even! ]

Though.. if you'd have to guess, what do you think is more likely? That the disappearances have something to do with those gods, or whatever they actually are, or that the disappearances are caused by something more mundane than that?

Cute boys need bodyguards too, but I'm pretty sure I chased all mine away, [ Claude says, batting his lashes comically at her.

He's joking, but part of him isn't. He is pretty darn cute, if he says so himself. ]

My guess is that if it has to do with the gods, it has to do with the followers of those gods. So, my vote's for the mundane. I can't discount spiritual intervention entirely, but in my experience, it's way less common than people just being people. We just have to figure how and why. What do you think?

[ Ange lets out a slow breath, sounding very much like a sigh.

It's not even in response to the first part of what he says. Sure, Claude, you can claim you're cute too, whatever. Ange will allow it. Not like you're very hard on the eyes, she guesses.

No, the sigh is more when she tries to think about the question he throws right back at her. Not that it's a very difficult question, it's just that every single possibility as to what's going on here just feels like a potential pain in the ass to her. ]

I guess the locals do believe in whatever those god-beings are enough that they'd do pretty much anything if they were told to do so in the name of those gods.

[ Which wouldn't even have to come as a direct order from said gods.

False prophets are a thing in just about any world, after all. ]

They seem very gullible.

Yeah. They seem to go with what they're told. When we first arrived, I thought that their welcoming us was... strange, to say the least. We're outsiders, criminals, but because their gods told them that we were to be welcomed, they did it. Even if for all they knew, we were murderers and thieves.

But then they suddenly switched it up, when we did nothing to deserve it. Almost as though they've been told to, right?

Like someone told them we're bad after all.

[ She sounds willing to believe it, practically finishing his thought like that.

.. though, since it's Ange, she just can't resist but add: ]

I really think some of us aren't helping that impression though. [ There's definitely some shade in her tone as she's saying it. Sure, they might not be able to help the locals' reaction to them if whatever brought them here is working against them, but she can also complain about some people being total annoying jackasses, alright. Two wrongs are still wrong!! ]

Pff, yeah. I think we were unnaturally lucky that they continued liking us as long as we did, honestly. Here we are, soaking up their resources and goodwill, staying permanently in their inns... ironically, I think we're contributing more to them now than we ever had before.

[ Look at him now! A regular businessman! Contributing to society! ]

Unless you think that we're the ones that brought this on ourselves? I'm not too clued into everything that goes on here.

[ Claude, such a great member of society.. Why can't everyone be a little bit more like you, obviously.. ]

What, you're telling me you don't know about some of the dumb crap some people here get up to?

[ She doesn't even sound sceptical. Or-- well, not by Ange standards. Maybe by regular people standards, but that's because Ange sounds sceptical at all times by those. ]

Can you teach me how to live like you? Because I would love to live in that world, honestly. I would love to be a little less aware of the annoying people here. [ It's called 'minding your own business', Ange.. Maybe you should try it one day.. ]

I concern myself more with the locals. My mistake, maybe, but I like seeing what the people who were born and raised here have to say about... well, everything. They guide this place more than we do.

But if you ever want to complain about your irritating neighbours, I'm a particularly good listener. I'll even make tea!

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