when your thoughts turn sour make them sweet instead

[sentree]

[ That was...positively horrible? Ugh. After a few hours, notes are slipped under each person's door. They read, in a neat handwriting: ]

Banquet in Vanellope's honor in the dining room.

- Reyna, Sally and Thalia

[ You may not know what to expect when they say banquet, but it...really is one, isn't it? Thalia's main dish is cheeseburgers, so there are so many of those, but the table's positively covered in an arrangement of fruit and vegetables and all kinds of bread. Looks like they've gone all out.

What's really the cream of it all, though, are the desserts. Not a lot that's special, but there's a wide collection of cookies and cupcakes, and enough hot chocolate to feed an army. Maybe literally. There is a section that's particularly fancy, and that's the many candy apples, definitely courtesy of Sally. Along with a cute amount of peppermint bark. It seems like the food is unending, too, since there's the delicatible smell of baking cookies and simmering candy from the kitchen. Thalia and Sally are keeping you stocked, don't worry. ]

Comments

[theduck]

Given what just happened? Not too terrible, I guess. But if this keeps on happening like the Narrator wants it to...

[higitusfigitusmigitusmum]

Yes yeesss...

[He rubs his head again.]

There must be a way to stop all this!

[theduck]

We can't let any more kids get killed, that's for darn sure. But we've tried just about everything we can at this point, and we're not any closer to finding a way out.

[higitusfigitusmigitusmum]

[He nods quietly.]

The child dying was already hard enough, but that monster's attitude about it all...

[The wizard huffs again.] We need to find a way. And quickly! There must be SOMETHING to be done about all this!

[And yet he didn't have a clue.]

[theduck]

It was pretty hard to stomach. Even Goofy seemed upset about it, and I didn't think anything could get him mad.

[And also he was apparently terrifying when he was mad? Who would've guessed.]

If there was an escape route by now, we probably would've found it. We might have to think of more... creative options.

[What he wants to say is 'LET'S FIGHT ROD' but he's not quite foolish enough to just. Say that where anyone could hear it. And he's not sure it'd be a very good idea anyways.]

[higitusfigitusmigitusmum]

Yeeesss his reaction was surprising hm? He normally seems like like the carefree type, but I think we were all pretty wound up from it.

[His eyebrow raises though.]

What are you suggesting?

[theduck]

I think he was saying he has a kid back... y'know, away from this place. Probably hit a little too close to home.

Er, well, I just mean... the Narrator is the only one with any idea what's going on, but he isn't giving us any answers. We definitely have to do something about him to even get a clue at how to get out of here.

[higitusfigitusmigitusmum]

Ah... I see. I might be able to understand then. [He didn't have a child, but Wart was the closest thing to that. He is very important to Merlin too. Thinking about him makes him sad...]

Hmmm you may be right. Didn't one of those rowdy girls try to fight him already?

[theduck]

Did they? I wouldn't be surprised. I kind of lost track of who was fighting who the first week or so. I'm guessing it didn't work out very well?

[higitusfigitusmigitusmum]

[He scratches his head.]

I can't quite remember but I feel like she did. Of course there's something very...off about that man. It was of no use.

I worry too about the hotel's rules as well. Someone could get hurt if we aren't careful about this.

[theduck]

I'm not sure he's even real. I mean, he could just be a hologram. Or a ghost. Either way, it's not going to be easy to get anything out of him one way or another.

Weird that we're allowed to try and attack the Narrator, but not the hotel walls. Seems like their priorities are a little off, if you ask me.

[higitusfigitusmigitusmum]

Hologram...?

[Merlin knows a lot but not anything like that.]

A spirit makes the most sense to me! Perhaps that is why he has such a blood craze; revenge perhaps? And if he truly is a spirit he wouldn't want his home damaged.

[theduck]

You know, a, uh, a bunch of... it's a bunch of light, and it comes from... a computer, I think...?

...I'm not really sure how it works. But he could be digital. Y'know, not a real person.

[he's too old for this]

Right! I was thinking when we first got here, if he's a ghost or something, he must still be here for a reason. If we can figure out what he wants, he can move on and we can get out of here!

[higitusfigitusmigitusmum]

Digital...? BAH! That 21st century stuff.

[He'll take the 20th century thanks.]

Let's go with that theory then! Perhaps we can find a way to exorcise him from this place. Hmmm...

[theduck]

Not a fan, huh? Can't say I blame you. I can barely figure out some of the boys' gadgets.

[He... really shouldn't be surprised that Merlin knows about exorcisms, but it's still a little weird to hear from him.]

Do you... have experience with that...?

[higitusfigitusmigitusmum]

[Wait wait wait]

The boys...? You have children?

Also I do not, but I could certainly look into it!

[theduck]

Well, nephews, but... I mean, I raised them, so sort of. It's... complicated.

I'm not sure there's going to be books on exorcisms just lying around.

[higitusfigitusmigitusmum]

Ah I can understand. I too had my own ward.

[He taps his fingers again.]

I'll find a way. I must! We need to get out of here.

[theduck]

You did? I guess you do seem like the mentoring type.

Let me know how it goes, I guess. Somehow I doubt the Narrator's going to take kindly to us looking into how to exorcise him.

[higitusfigitusmigitusmum]

Of course! I have been mentoring the greatest king england will ever see!

But yes I'll be sure to do so. And I'll do my best to keep him in the dark about it.

[theduck]

...Wait. The King of England? Are you- are you talking about Arthur? You're that Merlin?

[HE... PROBABLY SHOULD'VE FIGURED THAT OUT SOONER BUT LIKE- he would've thought that Merlin would be way more powerful than some random ghost named Rod.]

[higitusfigitusmigitusmum]

Of course! What did you take me for!? I'm the most powerful wizard in the world!!

[theduck]

Uh... wow. Okay.

...And you're sure none of your magic is working? I just find it hard to believe that, y'know, Merlin wouldn't be able to help us at all.

[higitusfigitusmigitusmum]

BAH! Don't insult me! There is daaark magic affecting mine here! But that's why I've been researching all this week; there must be a way to stop this!