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PLAY IT COOL ==>

You look at the strange old man. What was it your dad (don't think about him stabbing you) said his name was? Sketch?

YOU: Yo, uh, Sketch?

He scowls a little, apparently offended by your presumptuous reference to him by his first name. You decide upsetting him is the morally correct thing to do. Sketch it is. You're not scared of him, even though your friends might be.

Diana, at least, is terrified of him. Wren seems more angry with him than anything, but some fear is definitely present. Alex gets so quiet around him... Maybe out of fear, maybe anger. This guy has messed up so many people you know, you should probably hate him. But you can't really get the energy to hate such a frail-looking old man.

YOU: So, uh, what's up, man? You need something. 

Sketch: Aberdeen ...

He says the word like he's tasting it, like he's considering it's nuances and seeing what it means. It genuinely freaks you out.

YOU: That's... My name.... Good job.

Sketch: You are the Knight, correct?

For a second you have no idea what he means. Then you remember. The Oracle called you that. Meaning it's one of those stupid, hard to parse bits of real world worldbuilding that you can barely remember. Those actually confuse you more than anything, to be honest. 

YOU: Yes? Unless I'm mistaken.

Sketch: I've always been fond of Knights. You understand. You choose to hide your true selves to seem more dependable and reliable. You understand what's important.

YOU: Dude, I have absolutely no desire to be psychoanalyzed by you, of all people.

Sketch: I assure you, psychoanalysis has no part in this. Those who fulfill these mythic roles always act in similar ways to those in the same role as them.

YOU: Okay, thanks for the explanation of that minor in-game detail, but let's return to my initial line of questioning, namely why you're talking to me in the first place, and what caused you to consider any interest on my end as a possibility.

Sketch: I'd like to help train you.

YOU: ... Are you kidding. 

What happened to that " I'm not a reluctant mentor, I genuinely want nothing to do with you" crap he was spewing?

Sketch: No. I rarely kid.

YOU: Why me? And just about a week ago, you said you didn't want anything to do with this!

Sketch: I ... I reconsidered. I still don't wish to teach my grandchildren. Alex is more thoroughly incapable than even the typical Heir, and that is a significantly difficult achievement. Wren is... Not worth the effort. Perhaps capable of succeeding... But perhaps not. Her little girlfriends, I would rather not discuss. You though... You may have potential.

Does he actually think insulting your closest friends is going to help his case?

What do you even say? 

POLITE, YET DEFENSIVE ROUTE==>

Your first impulse is to agree to his "training" with the caveat that your friends join you. You are... honestly a little taken back. It wouldn't naturally be your initial line of thought to agree with someone being so thoroughly rude... You've always heard about personal turmoil leading to being a more compassionate person. Is that what this is? 

You have to resist smiling, because probably not. You don't think any compassion you're going to develop is gonna start with this guy. Regardless, you feel the urge to agree to whatever he's talking about (or at least consider it, you reserve the right to back out of it ends up being insane) and tell him on no uncertain terms that your friends will be joining you. 

YOU: I'll consider your plans... But I'm not doing this without the others.

Sketch: It's... Interesting, that you believe yourself to be in such a position that you can make demands.

YOU: Not so much a demand as a condition. I won't even consider whatever you have in store, unless the others are allowed to do the same.

Sketch: Well. Let's see. The Oracle and I have developed a way to... Awaken a human individual in a timely manner. It only takes a number of hours. How many of you lot are going to the dance? 

You pause to think.

YOU: I almost forgot about the dance tonight. I won't be going, given my newfound status as a fugitive in hiding from my father. Antimony won't either, and I think Tracy is coming over to see me.

Sketch: Antimony is the duplicate... And Tracy is the androgyne, correct.

YOU: Yeah... But I don't think "androgyne" is the preferred term nowadays. If it ever was. 

Sketch: Very well. Antimony is already Awakened, I believe. But I can run the ritual with you and Tracy tonight. They're a Hermit, anyway, an often forgotten role by nature. It'd be good to get them now, and not have to think about it later. 

That sounds fine to you, but there is actually something bothering you about the whole situation.

YOU: If the "ritual" is so quick, why did you have any problem with them doing it to begin with?

He smiles, and it's not a pretty sight.

Sketch: The way Awakening works, the way it's meant to work, at least, is that a long period of time passes in which you are repeatedly traumatized. You grow from that hardship, and some strange, as of yet unknown cosmic force rewards you. But it can be done quicker. This happened to the duplicate. It was hurled at Apophis, and survived. A horrific experience, doubtlessly. As a result, It almost immediately Awakened. The ritual places you in a trance like state, and, well... Then harms you enough that you... Sink or swim, I suppose.

Ah.

Do you accept his terms?

hey, sorry, but hiatuses will be frequent for a while. on Monday, I'm out of town again.  if you send a command by tomorrow, i will probably be able to put out one more part before I'm gone for a bit. and then ill be back like always :)

ACCEPT==>

You consider for a while, before nodding your consent. As ominous as all that sounds, and boy did some of it sound ominous, something tells you Sketch isn't the kind of guy to lie to you, or harm you intentionally. Harming you by inaction, sure, that seems to have been his entire method of raising children, but outward, physical harm seems out of the question. 

YOU: Okay. Yeah, I wouldn't want to ruin the night for Diana and Wren, and an incredibly awkward night for Alex. 

Sketch: Okay. We'll get the duplicate, and wait for the Hermit.

You walk behind Sketch to the room across from the one you've been staying in. He knocks twice.

Antimony: Hello? 

YOU: Hey, can we come in? Are you decent? 

Antimony: Come on in! 

Sketch briskly swings the door, and Antimony wheels her way over. She looks at Sketch and makes a face.

Antimony: What are you doing with this guy?

Sketch: You are Awakened, correct? Do you have any grasp on your powers? 

Antimony: They are still primarily involuntary reactions to stressful stimuli. 

Sketch: You will likely be of little help, but regardless. We can't risk the chance.

Antimony: >:O

Antimony: I am not unhelpful! I am- 

Sketch: You are a flawed copy of another person. This isn't your fault, but it is true. You are the lesser of your counterpart.

Antimony: ... >:O

Antimony: If you are talking about Diana, we think of each other as partners, thank you very much! So! Buzz off!

Your cellphone buzzes. 

YOU: Tracy's here, sir.

He smiles, ghastly as always. 

Sketch : Excellent. Let's get to work.

You think it's going to be a long evening.

Which story arc do you want to follow first?

>School formal adventure 

>Mysterious training vision quest 

I drew Diana and Wren with digital art! (I'm in taiwan so its my only resource haha) I'm pretty happy with it :) also just wondering what are the pairs/couples other than Diana and wren?