Chapter Text
==>WANDSTUCK.
A young woman sits on a stool in her bedroom. It just so happens that this day, admittedly no day in particular, is NOT her birthday. Though it was some 8 levels ago she was given life, only today shall she be given a name.
** >Enter Name. **
** -Amity Aimlessberry **
A good name indeed! Names are important here, and it would have been incredibly silly if we were to spend our time here on goofs, japes, and tomfoolery giving our characters unfitting and all around ridiculous names. Let's keep it up, as we have one more young woman who is severely lacking in the way of monikers.
**> Enter Name, Again, (But Different). **
**- Sassypants Stinkberry **
...
Alright, to be honest I asked for that one. I won't get mad... this time.
**> Try Again, (But Good). **
**- Tenacity Timidberry **
Much better. Interesting motif with the berry suffix, but I'm sure it is just a reference to some old joke told in a place and medium far disconnected from this one, a running gag with a well of humour to be drawn from and enjoyed as deeply as it is relevant and significant to the story. Which is to say, not much. But we are doing it anyway. Now, let's get something out of the way first.
**>Take Second Person Perspective, (Officially).**
Very good. You are doing great.
**>Enter Scene.**
Your name is Amity, as was previously established. Your Sister is Tenacity, and she is Cutting Your Hair. Your hair is a Very Dark Shade of Blue and it has gotten slightly Too Long for you. You like to keep it Shorter, as you find it Cute and easier to manage with your Horns. Your short black horns protrude from your hairline and curve towards and parallel to the top of your head, making it difficult to brush your hair when it is long.
Your sense of style is elegant and could be described as gothic were such a word to have any meaning in this world. You wear almost exclusively clothes that are either white or black, and usually in a fancy blouse and skirt combob. The exception to your monochromatic rule is of course your School Robes. Which are quite frankly, no longer Robes. The school is in a state of Lockdown, due to a slight Murder. In that time, you decided that simple robes were not going to cut it for you, and with you Love for fashion and your Dabbling as an Ametuer Seamstress, you altered the long boring deep blue robes of your school into a Fashionable Short Cloak.
Aside from your interests in Fashion, you have your Studies. As a student of Wildcliff you are invested in Magic, learning about its history and practises, as well as growing your own abilities. Your specialty is Abjuration, a school of magic focused on Protection and Prevention. Your Grades are Above Average but Not Spectacular, and you are Fine With That. You are also a little bit of a troublemaker. Not so much in the sense that you cause trouble on purpose, but you have a tendency to wander where you do not belong. Inside you there is a pull towards exploration, and the old storied stones of Wildcliff’s halls and towers bring it out of you like nothing else.
**> Examine Haircut. **
Your sister has finished cutting your hair and has handed you a mirror. You are certifiably adorable, a vaguely poofy mess of short curls sits atop your head in a way you find very agreeable and manageable. Oh- Your sister is trying to talk to you it seems. Do you answer?
**> Listen To Sister. **
TT: Well, how did I do?
AA: Wonderful as usual, sis! I doubt I could have gotten it nearly this neat.
TT: Thought so. We can come back to praising me in a second, but I want you to really start thinking about learning to cut your own hair in the future. You’re going to have to be at least a little independent at some point, you know
AA: I know... but while we’re in school can’t I just focus on being cute and studying?
TT: Don't try that dorky little innocent smile thing with me young lady. Gosh, Where is all that charm when you’re trying to make friends?
AA: -
**> Amity, Be Interrupted. **
The sound of heavy brass against tired wood rings out three times as you turn your attention to the door. Despite the playfulness of the morning so far, you both knew this could be news neither of you were prepared to deal with. The headmaster of your school had been murdered, and you had no way of knowing how to process this information. For the past three days, the question of “Are we in danger?” was unspoken but ran through your mind constantly, and you were sure everyone else's as well.
**> Answer The Door. **
Neither of you move. Three more knocks.
**> Look At Your Sister. **
She is frozen. You will have to make this move. Three knocks, once again.
**> Steal Yourself. Answer The Door. **
You open the door. Waiting on the other side was a familiar seven foot tall figure, a fountain of celestial blue cloth flowing down from their shoulders, concealing their large brass frame. Their oblong crystalline head gave you the impression of being observed more than being looked at. If you could call anything about the way they stood in your door frame “body language”, it was indifferent to your presence. This was the golem Ari. You know them to be rather chill. They spoke.
Ari: AMITY AIMLESSBERRY, I AM HERE TO BRING YOU TO YOUR FINAL DETENTION DUTIES. PLEASE COME WITH ME. THE COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATORS HAS DETERMINED THAT DETENTION SENTENCES SHALL BE CUT SHORT DUE TO LOCKDOWN, BUT PER THE FINAL WISHES OF THE LATE PROFESSOR UNDERBOUGH, ONE FINAL SESSION SHALL BE SERVED TODAY.”
AA: Oh, um.. Alright then.
You are admittedly aghast. You are broken out of it as your sister's laughter shatters what remained of the tension in the room. Neither of you were expecting THIS after so long without any information from Wildcliff’s administration.
**> Go To Detention. **
(Why didn’t that prompt work? What is this?)
(Hey wait. What are you doing. It’s not Time Yet.)
(This is Still My part of the Story!)
(No. I see that Prompt Coming Up. I’m Not doing it- Stop Capitalising My WOrds!)
**Narrator, Switch.<**
(Much 8etter.)
(May8e we Can Actually get Moving like This.)
(Now, 8e A Good Reader Dear. Play your part, 8e Amity, Engage the Prompt.)
**>Go To Detention.**
The 8ig handsome Golem ushers you through the Halls of your School.
Your sister gave some Sappy Good8yes and Encouragement, Long winded and Not at all Worth Recording every last detail of.
Ari Assured you that The Council had Determined it was now Safe enough to Proceed with the Headmaster’s Final Wish at this Time.
You Also Learn that Your usual Detention has 8eem Swapped for something easier to keep a safe Eye on You throughout.
There is also Another Group of Tou8lem8kers joining your usual Detention Crew of Murundeen and Corrina. Two Characters I am Certain you Already know, 8ut I’ll let you have fun when we introduce them.
** > Arive. **
Wow, look how easy that was.
(You skipped so many things! You absolute hack.)
(Quiet. My Words are 8igger so I’m More Important now.)
(How is the Reader going to know their character and fulfil their role if we don’t on Amity. You skipped an entire section about how the she can feel the tired old stones of the school begging her to explore them, how it resonates with her inner fire-
(OK OK Enough out of You on That. It’s Important and You Have Now Told Them. I’m Letting them see This 8TW.)
(They can see this?? What are you doing? What if they don’t do what we need when the time comes, they have to make the choice themselves, and… Fine. Do whatever you want, just don't get caught.)
(At least do the puzzle. I worked hard on it.)
(IF You Shut Up, I’ll Do the Damn Puzzle.)
(Thanks. We can’t rush this. If we skip too much They will notice.)
(I know you know that, it’s why I’m trusting you here. I’m just.. Reminding you to be careful. And try not to narrate too much in your quirk, it makes what we are doing way too loud.)
Ari Opens the door to What Appears to 8e-(Sorry, “Be” ) A completely Average custodial Closet.
Inside the Surprisingly not very Dusty room is a Large Wooden Table that you Expect is not usually here.
Seven Odd B-(Ugh. H8te using B’s)-Boxy Devices.
Ari Instructs you to Stay Put as they Fetch the other Students.
You are alone for the time 8eing (I earned that one).
You remember that you are a Very Anxious Individual, Something Definitely established Previously and not Glossed over ain the Slightest.
You will have to Steal Your Resolve if you are to face a Room full of Strangers without your Sister when the Time comes.
For now though, There is a Puzzle we can’t Skip.
** > Check Out One Of The 8oxes. **
You Find that they are Not Boxes. They were only Described as box-like. They have a wide flat base Clamped to the edge of the table. The CLAMPS have Long Arms and Big ol Hands and This joke is going nowhere.
The Device’s Primary Mechanics seemed to be Housed Snuggly in it’s Cubic shell, but there are many interesting bits and bobs on the outside.
( OK you are Just M8KING me use "B" words now, I see how it IS!)
On each side of the Machine is a lever with a crystal handle.
On the Front Face You find Three Main Features, in Ascending order:
1. A vertical metal Tube extending from the base.
2. A Horizontal Wheel of rings Lined up with the Lower Tube.
3. An Upper Tube, Suspended from a lever-arm.
It’s Very Interesting. Beside each of the identical Machines is a long wooden Box.
What Will You Do?
** >Turn the Wheel.**
** >Join the Tubes.**
** >Open the Box.**