alphi catchall

[outsidebones]

Comments

week 0; friday

[outsidebones]

[harrow is in the lobby, pacing slightly, having a look around. she nods her head as she sees alphinaud approach.]

Well? Have you found anything worthwhile?

[sageguidance]

[ His expression twists some at "worthwhile", but: ]

Unfortunately, yes. We discovered the location of her body.

[outsidebones]

Ah. Report what you found, please.

[sageguidance]

[ Since she asked so nicely! He nods. ]

There had been an unusually large swarm of butterflies in the area. They gave way for us to pass through, yet the closer we had approached, the more we saw...

It seemed as if she were lying peacefully within the plants, but we did not get to see her for long.

[outsidebones]

In the butterfly garden? Was there anything else unusual about them, save for their size?

[hmm.]

I'm surprised a body was found at all. That is fortuitous, I suppose. It will be at trial.

[sageguidance]

No. I would not say there was aught to make note of regarding the butterflies, but... that could change on the morrow.

[ For all they know. ]

You're—surprised? Would you not need a body in order to solve the crime?

[outsidebones]

We never got it in advance. We'd have to find it on investigation.

[so confirmed alphi is not a chasma...]

week 0; sunday

[outsidebones]

[after the execution, harrow can be found in the courtyard, sitting and having a cup of hot water. she glances up when she sees alphi.]

Good afternoon.

[sageguidance]

[ Looks like they had the same idea. Alphinaud gives her a polite nod in greeting. ]

And a good afternoon to you, as well. Naught like a pleasant garden view to calm one's spirits, hm?

[outsidebones]

...I do like greenery, yes.

[a bit embarrassed to admit it, for some reason.]

[sageguidance]

I cannot imagine there are many who do not.

... But—mm... How fare you? Are you managing all right?

[outsidebones]

I have little experience with it. Aside from subsistence farms, we do not have it - flora is not native to my planet and is not well supported by its atmosphere.

[she takes a sip of her hot water with lemon.]

I'm alright. The worst has passed.

[sageguidance]

[ There's a nod of acknowledgement, and—rather than dwelling upon the weekend's events—Alphinaud decides to venture down a less unpleasant topic. She claims to be well, and he has little reason to say otherwise. ]

A star without flora...? That is—quite curious, I must say. I can scarcely imagine life without it.

week 1; monday

[outsidebones]

[a room it is. harrow and alphi arrive here:

6. You open the door and find yourself inside an art studio. The door vanishes behind you; in front of you, there is a canvas, and beyond that, there is a space for a model to strike a pose. One of you must paint the other, using paints in very specific shades. Once the painting is finished, you both find yourselves back out in the hallway, disoriented. Only four minutes have passed, but the subject of the painting will find themselves overwhelmed by the emotions corresponding to the colors they were painted with for half an hour after emerging from the room.

]

...Art? Why?

[sageguidance]

[ oh ]

Not a fan?

[outsidebones]

Well. I do not dislike it, necessarily, but...

[does harrow seem like she is a fan of anything that's good...?]

[sageguidance]

[ a mystery for the ages. ]

... Hm! Worry not, Harrowhark—if you'd prefer, I shall take over the painting side of matters, and you need only sit and wait.

[outsidebones]

Acceptable. If you feel you have satisfactory talent.

[apparently that matters. She will sit, then.]

[sageguidance]

Satisfactory to your liking, I do hope.

[ As she sits, Alphinaud picks up the palette, looking over the colors. ]

Now, to begin with... What colors do you like best?

week 2; monday

[outsidebones]

[harrow can be found sometime on monday exploring the city of ankheen. where the ribcage corset is usually around her waist, she instead has what appears to be an actual pair of ribs, pointed at the ends like claws, jutting out of the front of her chest, and a spine-like exoskeleton running up her back. her eyes, large in her especially skeletal face, are glowing a bright gold.

despite this horror show, she seems especially small and lost among all of the shadows and shapes of the market.]

[sageguidance]

[ She is, at least, still taller than him. Alphinaud likewise had a mind to explore the markets, but all the shadows in lieu of people make it especially eerie. When he thinks maybe it's time to go back, he turns a corner only to see—

The horror show that is Harrow, yeah. ]

—Gah!

[outsidebones]

[she just stares back at him.]

What?

[sageguidance]

[ ... ]

O- oh! 'Tis only you, Harrowhark. Pray forgive me, I had thought you another one of the shadows.

[ Only creepier. ]

[outsidebones]

...

[she sort of makes an odd face at being mistaken for a shadow, but it doesn't seem to have insulted her exactly.]

Are you hiding from the shadows?

[sageguidance]

[ ........ ]

—Of course not! They are only shadows, after all.