Approaching "Nyvo the Dolphin"

Let’s see... Sam J Benjamin is presenting “Nyvo the Dolphin” in the Mauve Room, which is somewhere over here. [[What’s Sam like?]]

I don’t know Sam very well. Actually, I think this is Sam’s first year at Castle Balderstone, which is a little ominous. [[Ominous?]]

Maybe “ominous” isn’t the right word. But you have to understand: This conclave we’ve got going here is two hundred years old. [[I see what you mean.]] [[I don’t see what you mean.]]

Yeah. It’s not anything against Sam personally. And it’s not necessarily anything against the community! It’s just human nature to loathe change and be hostile toward outsiders. [[No it’s not!]] [[I wouldn’t put it quite that way.]]

Well, it’s—Hold on, let me make sure we're alone... Okay. It’s like this: The convocation at Castle Balderstone is a very old community. Communities, because they’re supposed to be a source of stability, have a tendency to resist outside influences, and this tendency gets stronger over time. So very old communities don’t like new people. [[Yeah, that’s true.]] [[That’s an overgeneralization.]]

Well, if you want to argue about what is and isn’t human nature... [[Yeah?]]

How would you put it, then? [[I would say SOME people loathe change.]] [[I would say people TEND toward RESISTING change.]]

Well, if you find a community that’s completely friendly and welcoming to new folks, keep watching it for two hundred years and see what happens. Anyway, I have no idea what Sam’s deal is. But we’ll find out as soon as we get to the Mauve Room. [[Is it down that staircase?]]

...then you should talk to someone else. Anyway, I have no idea what Sam’s deal is. But we’ll find out as soon as we get to the Mauve Room. [[Is it down that staircase?]]

A minority of people, you mean. [[Right.]]

Isn’t that what I said? [[You said “loathe.”]]

If you say so. Anyway, I have no idea what Sam’s deal is. But we’ll find out as soon as we get to the Mauve Room. [[Is it down that staircase?]]

Oh, right. Anyway, I have no idea what Sam’s deal is. But we’ll find out as soon as we get to the Mauve Room. [[Is it down that staircase?]]

Thank you. I think so, too. Anyway, I have no idea what Sam’s deal is. But we’ll find out as soon as we get to the Mauve Room. [[Is it down that staircase?]]

What? No, it’s somewhere on this floor, I’m pretty sure. Keep your eyes peeled for something mauve. [[What does “mauve” mean, again?]] [[Where does that staircase go?]]

I don’t know. This place has more staircases than a dog has ticks. [[Should we check it out?]]

Mauve is like, kind of pale purple. But also kind of gray. I think. [[Do you have any idea where we’re going?]]

Yes! You don’t have to keep asking me that. I know that the Mauve Room is on this floor, in this general area. [[Is that it over there?]]

Hey, yeah! See? We found it. [[Good job.]]

Thank you. And welcome, my esteemed guest, to the Mauve Room—one of Castle Balderstone’s most fascinating obscurities. Though today all its furnishings are bedecked in mauve, from the canopied bed to the Venetian chest of drawers, the chamber’s namesake is its infamous mauve wallpaper, designed in 1856 by the controversial “psychological decorator” Arvid Kalstad. The twenty-four mauve-upholstered chairs must have been procured especially for this event, as I am almost positive they are not original to the room. The assemblage faces the bed, and the individual seated casually between canopy-hangings must be Sam J Benjamin. You and I find a pair of empty seats near the Venetian chest of drawers: The room is almost full. [[Is Sam supposed to be sitting on the bed?]] [[What’s so infamous about this wallpaper?]] [[Is there something special about the drawers?]]

No, no, no. We’re fine. I know that the Mauve Room is on this floor, in this general area. [[Is that it over there?]]

//I don’t know.// It’s a bold choice. It could be interpreted as disrespectful, or overly casual—and Sam is in a delicate position with the broader Castle Balderstone community, as we’ve previously discussed. [[What’s so infamous about this wallpaper?]] [[Is there something special about the drawers?]] [[Is the story going to start any time soon?]]

Ah yes, the wallpaper! Take a close look—but not too close! Arvid Kalstad took a singularly scientific and somewhat mystical approach to interior design. He avowed that the patterns in this wallpaper possessed irresistible soporific properties, perfectly suited to the bedroom of an insomniac like Laura Balderstone. But the story goes that these walls have had additional unintended effects on their occupants, and tales abound of the strange dreams and stranger awakenings that transpired within these walls. [[What kind of tales?]]

I don’t think so. They're from Venice. I assume it’s hard to find mauve drawers. [[Is Sam supposed to be sitting on the bed?]] [[What’s so infamous about this wallpaper?]]

In answer to this question I can only sort of tilt my head back and glance around mysteriously. [[Is Sam supposed to be sitting on the bed?]] [[Is there something special about the drawers?]]

“I think perhaps it is,” comes a voice from the edge of the canopied bed, responding to your indelicately-phrased question. “Good evening, colleagues. My name is Sam J Benjamin, and this is my first time attending the festivities at Castle Balderstone. I’m deeply honored by the opportunity to present a story to you at this historic bicentennial convocation.” Sam pauses, smiles, gestures helplessly and disarmingly. “That’s what I’m supposed to say, of course. But the fact is, I really can’t express what an honor it is just to be invited. There are so many great authors here, whose work I’ve admired for so many years. It’s hard to convince myself that I belong here.” I glance over at you: Ominous. “But I’m here regardless! And I’ve been asked to present a story, so that’s what I'll do.” With that, Sam opens a notebook and (link: "and begins to read...")[(goto-url: 'nyvo.html')]