[[a survey + eventual survey discussion closed post]]

[ravkanwitch]

As promised, there’s a new stack of paper on the welcome table in the main lobby; each sheet has many questions on it along with a cup of pens on the side and a brightly colored box with a large slot cut into the top of it. Nina’s ready for her new project. For most characters, if they don’t see this, a very charming and friendly Nina Zenik will be tracking them down with the sheet of questions and a pen eventually…

“MANSION SURVEY: Help us take stock and plan fun and activities!*

*answers are private to Nina and Susan only”

[[Please check out the Fun Mansion Questions tab in the Mansion Demographics spreadsheet and have your characters fill it out! Check the discord if you don’t have a link.]]

Comments

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan rises smoothly to her feet and draws an invisible rapier. "En garde," she says, falling into a fencing stance.

[ravkanwitch]

Thrilled at putting to use the forms that Laertes had taught her, Nina raises and draws an invisible rapier as well. "Oh. So it's to be this, then?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"A queen must be able to defend herself," says Susan, sternly. "Even if it is against her own traitor of a protege." And she makes an opening move.

[ravkanwitch]

"Protege? Not in the world of the rapier, you'll find," Nina says grimly, deftly blocking Susan's invisible blow and sending a seeking attack of her own.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan blocks it, and then counters the movement. "Is this what led you to such a betrayal? Is this why you spurn your queen?"

[ravkanwitch]

Nina tosses her hair and gives Susan a rebellious look. "No," she says, dramatically slow. "It was the suggestion of a list of chores."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Subterfuge," Susan gasps, clasping her chest, and dances forward in a half-lunge.

[ravkanwitch]

Nina's eyes widen, parrying the move. "You're faster than I expected," she admits.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"A queen must always be prepared to defend herself, in a kingdom like this one," Susan sighs.

[ravkanwitch]

"Yes, can you defend against this?" Nina asks, making a move with a slight spin that Laertes definitely did not teach her.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"The Geraldine offense!" Susan gasps, ducking and jabbing her invisible sword forward even as she clutches dramatically at her shoulder. "Tell me, foul girl, what is your aim here?"

[ravkanwitch]

"You were the one who challenged me, your majesty!" Nina says in shock, dropping the invisible rapier. She stands still, staring down the point of Susan's blade. "I didn't mean to injure you--"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Only after you maligned my charm," Susan says, and takes a stumbling step forward, slumping and resting her weight against her invisible sword. It actually takes an incredible amount of core strength, to hold this sort of position, and she has to hide the look of triumph that wants to cross her face at the knowledge of her growing strength.

[ravkanwitch]

“No!” Nina cries in alarm. “How bad is the wound?”

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Mortal, I'm afraid," says Susan, collapsing further, like she no longer has the strength to hold herself up even propped by her sword. With one hand, she clutches at the spot where Nina 'stabbed' her, and then draws the hand away, trying her best to blanch at the sight of invisible blood.

[ravkanwitch]

Nina staggers a step back, appearing to grow faint at the sight. "That's... that's so much blood. I didn't-- I wasn't--"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Then what???" Susan demands, weakly, falling the rest of the way to the floor and curling up around her wound. She gives a wet, weak cough and lets her hand shake.

[ravkanwitch]

Nina drops to her knees next to Susan, quite dramatically. "I have a confession to make," she says. Her voice is quiet and solemn.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Say... it...," Susan croaks.

[ravkanwitch]

Nina leans in very close to whisper in Susan’s ear, expression mournful. “Your majesty… unfortunately, we’ve been at this for so long, I’ve completely forgotten why I stabbed you.”

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh..." says Susan, letting her eyes drift shut. She coughs once, weakly - it's partly to suppress the urge to laugh - then lies still.

[ravkanwitch]

"No!" Nina cries, slumping over on the floor; she really brings the performance home by hammering her fist on the floor a couple of times in despair. "I didn't mean for my betrayal to go this far! They'll hang me for this!"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan is dead; she does not answer, but she does bite her lip to help swallow the urge to laugh, which has not diminished.

[ravkanwitch]

Nina lets out one last mangled sob then sits up, speaking in more of a calm narrator's voice now. "After that terribly misfortunate death, Queen Susan was lifted to Saint status. Sankta Susan oversees organization... and charm. The end."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan does laugh now, sitting up and stretching. She's regarding Nina with something very like surprise. "Delightful," she says, and then, "You ought to read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."