Chapter 4: Friendly Chats and Fatal Falls
Seriously, how many of you remembered that woman's name? If you were like me during that introduction, you mainly looked at the faces and didn't pay much attention to the names. This is where that bites you if you lack a reference or don't luck out with the parser to find a way to make the game tell you her name (“look at woman” "look at room") so it will let you talk to her (“talk to woman” doesn't work). I opted to look online rather than sit through the intro again. Anyway, where were we?
Delicious doughnuts!
Oh, that's right.
Hmm? Oh, Laura! Are you all right dear?You're looking a bit poorly.
Yes, I... I think so. Sorry for shouting Mrs. Prune. It's just that I thought...weren't you were still in the dining room?
Oh I was, but everyone wandered off not long after you and Lillian left
so I found my way up here for a quick drink. And
call me Ethel dear, really.
But..I was in our room the whole time. When did you...How did you get in here without me seeing you?
Really Laura, how should I know a thing like that?.
Well..what? I mean, you just notice don't you? People don't just move up a floor without realizing it.
The way I see it, my feet do their thing so I can be free for other tasks. I don't go about questioning their methods and
neither should you.
But..
But nothing, dear. We do not question the feet. That's all I've got to say about it. Are we clear?
But
Ah, ah.
Yes Mrs.Pr- Ethel.
Wonderful dear. By the way,
She went to... freshen up in the bathroom. She'll be right back, I think.
I see, I'll wait for her then.
Umm, Ethel? About Lillian..
What's she done now!?
Periodically, you can find some prompts that bring up an exchange between Laura and the person in question. They're the only times she ever actually speaks for herself outside of an animation like the introduction and certain dramatic moments.
She was just awfully angry after dinner, is all. She didn't even want
me around when she went to calm down, so I'm still a bit worried. Do you
think she'll be all right?
Oh she'll be fine. She gets tiffy sometimes, but it's not anything to fuss about.
Well, if you say so. I'm mostly used to her being bubbly and care free, so this turn is a little new to me.
We've all got our little triggers that set us off, dear.
I suppose that's true. If I may ask, what did you mean by “What has she done now?”
I'd have thought you would know. Someone is always complaining to me
about her doing this or that. This flapper thing she's going through is
just one more thing on the list.
Ah, so are you two doing alright?
Oh, don't worry yourself on our behalf. Lillian and I have had our ups
and downs over the years like any mother and daughter. We disagree sometimes, but we always make up in the face of
family.
You mean family brings you together?
You could say that. It's much the same way a foreign attack unites a country.
I see. Umm Ethel, excuse me for asking, but are you drinking from an empty glass?
Of course not Laura. What good would an empty glass do me?
It's just...you've been taking a lot of drinks and I don't see a bottle in here.
Oh, I don't need to refill it. This is my special glass. The details are unimportant and illegal in most countries. Let's just say it's blessed by the spirits of spirits.
...Right. So, I guess Mr. Prune couldn't make it?
...
Is something wrong?
I'm afraid my husband has not been able to make it to any reunions for quite some time now.
..? Oh. OH! I'm so sorry! Lillian never mentioned..I had no idea, really!
I'd really rather not talk about it.
That's fine, really. I'm so sorry I brought it up.
Laura:...
Umm yes, I think I will. Goodbye then, it was...an experience meeting you.
Oh, thank you dear. It was nice talking with you.
You too, Ethel.
Ugh, that could have gone a lot better. Where did she come from though?
And that shot glass. Ugh, my head hurts thinking about it.
Alright, lets leave...that alone and
concentrate on the rest. There's plenty of people and places here and
hopefully they don't all defy logic and physics. Maybe this will even
make sense later. Now, Lillian isn't here, so she must still be
freshening up.
Just need to find the bathroom and hope she's back to her usual self.
Hmm? What's this?
A welcome distraction from the looks of it.
...
Is that a laundry chute?
It is! I'd almost forgotten what these even look like, since the university made us start washing our own clothes.
Ah, still remember sliding down the one at the old apartment when I was little and...
Hmmm...
...No! This is a terrible idea and I know it! I don't even know where
I'd end up and I can't see much down there, but I'm pretty sure the
chute goes straight down and I'm on the second floor for muffin's sake!
Better that I find Lillian.
Stop. Before that, let's travel to another dimension. A dimension not only of sight and sound, but of rampant impulsiveness, of cruel vindictiveness, and a shocking lack of basic safety protocol. A journey into a horrifying land whose boundaries are that of imagination, and impermanent death stalks every turn. That's the signpost up ahead- your next stop,
The Restart Zone!
...Swyve it.
The Fall and Harp
THUD!
Death
Ah, Sierra. Your special brand of punishing wit has done so much to shape my sense of humor.
Next Time: Mental scars for everyone!
Fun Fact: Just about everyone had an alcohol deity. The Greeks had two.
Seriously, how many of you remembered that woman's name? If you were like me during that introduction, you mainly looked at the faces and didn't pay much attention to the names. This is where that bites you if you lack a reference or don't luck out with the parser to find a way to make the game tell you her name (“look at woman” "look at room") so it will let you talk to her (“talk to woman” doesn't work). I opted to look online rather than sit through the intro again. Anyway, where were we?
Delicious doughnuts!Oh, that's right.
Hmm? Oh, Laura! Are you all right dear?You're looking a bit poorly. Yes, I... I think so. Sorry for shouting Mrs. Prune. It's just that I thought...weren't you were still in the dining room?
Oh I was, but everyone wandered off not long after you and Lillian left
so I found my way up here for a quick drink. But..I was in our room the whole time. When did you...How did you get in here without me seeing you? Well..what? I mean, you just notice don't you? People don't just move up a floor without realizing it.
The way I see it, my feet do their thing so I can be free for But.. But nothing, dear. We do not question the feet. That's all I've got to say about it. But Ah, ah. Wonderful dear. She went to... freshen up in the bathroom. She'll be right back, I think. I see, I'll wait for her then. Umm, Ethel? About Lillian.. What's she done now!?Periodically, you can find some prompts that bring up an exchange between Laura and the person in question. They're the only times she ever actually speaks for herself outside of an animation like the introduction and certain dramatic moments.
She was just awfully angry after dinner, is all. She didn't even want
me around when she went to calm down, so I'm still a bit worried. Do you
think she'll be all right? Oh she'll be fine. She gets tiffy sometimes, Well, if you say so. I'm mostly used to her being bubbly and care free, so this turn is a little new to me. We've all got our little triggers that set us off, dear. I suppose that's true. If I may ask, what did you mean by “What has she done now?”
I'd have thought you would know. Someone is always complaining to me
about her doing this or that. This flapper thing she's going through is
just one more thing on the list. Ah, so are you two doing alright?
Oh, don't worry yourself on our behalf. Lillian and I have had our ups
and downs over the years like any mother and daughter. You mean family brings you together? You could say that. I see. Umm Ethel, excuse me for asking, but are you drinking from an empty glass? Of course not Laura. What good would an empty glass do me? It's just...you've been taking a lot of drinks and I don't see a bottle in here. Oh, I don't need to refill it. This is my special glass. The details are unimportant and illegal in most countries. Let's just say it's blessed by the spirits of spirits. ...Right. So, I guess Mr. Prune couldn't make it? ... Is something wrong? I'm afraid my husband has not been able to make it to any reunions for quite some time now. ..? Oh. OH! I'm so sorry! Lillian never mentioned..I had no idea, really! I'd really rather not talk about it. That's fine, really. I'm so sorry I brought it up. Laura:...
Umm yes, I think I will. Goodbye then, it was...an experience meeting you. You too, Ethel.
Ugh, that could have gone a lot better. Where did she come from though?
And that shot glass. Ugh, my head hurts thinking about it.
Just need to find the bathroom and hope she's back to her usual self. Hmm? What's this? A welcome distraction from the looks of it.... It is! I'd almost forgotten what these even look like, since the university made us start washing our own clothes. Ah, still remember sliding down the one at the old apartment when I was little and... Hmmm...
...No! This is a terrible idea and I know it! I don't even know where
I'd end up and I can't see much down there, but I'm pretty sure the
chute goes straight down and I'm on the second floor for muffin's sake! Better that I find Lillian.Stop. Before that, let's travel to another dimension. A dimension not only of sight and sound, but of rampant impulsiveness, of cruel vindictiveness, and a shocking lack of basic safety protocol. A journey into a horrifying land whose boundaries are that of imagination, and impermanent death stalks every turn. That's the signpost up ahead- your next stop,
The Restart Zone!
...Swyve it.The Fall and Harp
THUD!
Death
Ah, Sierra. Your special brand of punishing wit has done so much to shape my sense of humor.
Next Time: Mental scars for everyone!
Fun Fact: Just about everyone had an alcohol deity. The Greeks had two.
