EPISODE 5 - UNIVERSAL CURRENTS: Part 2
A hostage negotiation. Cryptic revelations.
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continued from last time…
I.T. Presents the glass to the FAT KING,
The FAT KING slowly takes the glass, drinks a sip, eyes closed in ecstasy. He moans with pleasure.
Close up of his eyes as they open, we see tiny shimmering currents of fluid running through the veins in his eyes for a moment before they disappear]
FAT KING
(shouting)
Exquisite!! I’ve never tasted such glorious wine!! Rise, Itinerod, you saint!! My life would be so dreadfully dull (looks meaningfully at the other nobles in the room) without you and your collectors.
I.T.
(rising to their feet)
You honor me, my lord. I am but a humble merchant seeking to bring even a small measure of joy to my King.
FAT KING
(draining the glass)
Wonderful! Just wonderful. What is your price for the bottle? Simply name it, and it is yours.
I.T.
I seek nothing save an audience, my Lord. I hope to discuss the brigand named Triangulus that plagues my business. It seems he has escaped our trap in the town of Innsburg…
FAT KING
(thundering)
Unacceptable!!! That scoundrel thinks he can use his reputation as an old-world hero to justify his crimes?! This will not stand! Come come come let us discuss this further over more Honeywine in my private chambers.
[I.T. bows again]
I.T.
I do not deserve such an honor, my King. I am humbled.
[The camera angle is from the floor looking straight up. We see I.T.’s eyes behind the glasses narrow with sinister joy
smash cut to black, the FAT KING’s annoying laughter echoes for a while]
SCENE 3
[Outside. Early morning. The forest we left the trio in. The campfire is smoldering. CHIFFON stirs awake as we watch. THE LAUGHING SWORDSMAN and TRIFOO are sleeping.
Montage:
CHIFFON stokes the fire,
CHIFFON gathering various foodstuffs in the surrounding woods,
CHIFFON wraps some of the gathered food in a large leaf, and sets it near the fire.
CHIFFON produces a small satchel of herbs and a small tea set from her pack.
She’s sitting near the fire, sipping a steaming cup of liquid, poking at the leaf bundle, turning it over.
Close up of TRIFOO’s nose, sniffing at the air,
His eyes snap open,
He sits up, looks at CHIFFON]
TRIFOO
(a little awestruck)
Is that….?
[CHIFFON smirks, takes another sip.]
CHIFFON
That’s right. My secret stash of Gold Root Tea.
[THE LAUGHING SWORDSMAN literally jumps to her feet from a dead sleep, she looks side to side cartoonishly fast, her horizontal ponytails whipping about.]
THE LAUGHING SWORDSMAN
Do my ears deceive me?! Is there Gold Root Tea around?!
[CHIFFON nods at two small earthenware cups sitting near the fire, steam rising from them.]
[TRIFOO looks hungrily at the cups.
A small trail of drool peeks out from under THE LAUGHING SWORDSMAN’S mask]
[CHIFFON holds up one hand.]
CHIFFON
(with confidence)
That’s right. Two cups of the rarest tea in all of Island.
CHIFFON
(smugly)
All you have to do to get a cup of your own is level with me. I ask questions. You answer until I’m satisfied. Deal?
THE LAUGHING SWORDSMAN
(laughing gleefully)
Sweetness, I would betray my whole family for a taste of that godly nectar. Ask away.
[TRIFOO looks grumpily at the tea, then CHIFFON, then the tea, then CHIFFON, then simply grunts and nods.]
CHIFFON
Good. Now we’re getting somewhere. Question one: What in Rift’s name is under that mask?
[CHIFFON and TRIFOO both look at THE LAUGHING SWORDSMAN expectantly.
THE LAUGHING SWORDSMAN sighs, sits, and leans back against a rock.
CHIFFON uses her foot to push the cup of tea closest to THE LAUGHING SWORDSMAN, causing it to tip— dangerously close to spilling the contents inside.
TRIFOO audibly winces,
THE LAUGHING SWORDSMAN sits up straighter.]
THE LAUGHING SWORDSMAN
(Chuckling)
Ok ok sheesh! Playing hardball, huh? What’s under the mask… It’s a long story. The tea would grow cold long before it was over.
CHIFFON
(Resolute)
Give me the quick version.
[TRIFOO looks at the tea, and then at THE LAUGHING SWORDSMAN pleadingly. Well, as pleadingly as the stone-cold killer facade allows: a small quirk of the eyebrow.
THE LAUGHING SWORDSMAN sighs again, puts her hands behind her head.]
THE LAUGHING SWORDSMAN
(Serious)
Well… I guess the long and short of it is I made a trade that I wasn’t qualified to make. It cost me much. The least of which were my eyes. I wear the mask to spare the folks around me from having to see the consequences of a rash decision made in my youth.
[Light, bitter chuckle]
CHIFFON
[Thinking for a moment, then seemingly decides it was enough]
Ok. That’s fine for now. BUT! You both have to answer a question, or neither gets to drink.
[THE LAUGHING SWORDSMAN clicks her teeth in annoyance.]
CHIFFON
My tea. My rules. Question two: What are you running from? Are you still a part of the Order?
[Looking at TRIFOO]
[TRIFOO looks down, hiding his face in shadow,
CHIFFON and THE LAUGHING SWORDSMAN look to him, waiting.]
TRIFOO
(Under his breath)
Rifting hell…
[TRIFOO looks at the tea again.]
TRIFOO
(Begrudgingly)
Just as the Swordsman said, that story would take more time to tell than we have to spare. But I can simplify it to this: I disagreed with the nature of the restrictions placed on my education. I endeavored to exceed those restrictions during a crucial conflict… It did not go well. I was punished accordingly.
[Silence for a bit as CHIFFON thinks.]
THE LAUGHING SWORDSMAN
[clears her throat]
Really blue ballin us with the tea, huh lady?
CHIFFON
[snaps out of deep thought]
A deal’s a deal. Help yourselves.
[TRIFOO and THE LAUGHING SWORDSMAN both snatch their teacups, but neither spill a drop. TRIFOO winces a bit due to his injuries.
They both drink deeply, the pleasure is obvious.
THE LAUGHING SWORDSMAN has a big ‘ahhhhhhh’ and a hearty laugh,
TRIFOO simply closes his eyes in bliss,
CHIFFON drinks while looking off to the side, deep in thought.
TRIFOO opens his eyes, looks directly at CHIFFON.]
TRIFOO
Now I have a question for you.
[CHIFFON looks surprised, gestures for him to go ahead, starts taking a sip of tea.]
TRIFOO
Are you of the Knowing lineage? Is your last name… Gnosis?
[CHIFFON does a spit take right into TRIFOO’s face
THE LAUGHING SWORDSMAN laughs.]
Bonus! Illustration by the author
