Staircase

Hey, where are you going? [[Nowhere.]] [[Off by myself.]] [[Where does this staircase go?]] <span id="shortcut"></span> <script> let libVisited = window.localStorage.getItem("libVisited"); if (libVisited == 1) { document.getElementById("shortcut").innerHTML = "<a href=josephine.html>I’m going to back to that place I ran off to before.</a>"; } </script>

You’re not supposed to do that! You’ll get in trouble! Or you’ll just get incredibly lost. [[I’m not worried about that.]] [[How much trouble?]]

I don’t know. I’ve tried to find floor plans of the castle, but they’re not online. [[Then we should check it out!]]

Well you should stick close to me! I told you already: The labyrinthine architecture of Castle Balderstone is one you can never hope to escape! [[One what?]] (link: "Okay, fine.")[(goto-url: 'castlemap.html')] [[Hold that thought.]]

One architecture. “The labyrinthine architecture of Castle Balderstone is a labyrinthine architecture that you can never hope to escape.” [[Oh, I get it.]] [[That’s using the word “architecture” in kind of a weird way.]]

Get back here! You’re gonna get in trouble! [[I’ll be fine.]] [[Then you’d better stay over there, or you’ll get in trouble too.]]

Yeah. We should probably head back over to the main area. (link: "I guess.")[(goto-url: 'castlemap.html')] [[I think I’m going to check out this staircase.]]

You think I don’t know that? But I can’t change it now. We here at Castle Balderstone take tradition very seriously. [[“We?”]] [[That’s so honorable.]] [[So what are we doing next?]]

What do you mean, “‘We?’” [[Do you speak for the whole convocation?]] [[I thought you were more of an outsider.]]

I feel like you’re being sarcastic. [[Of course not!]] [[Of course not.]]

We should go back to the main area. They probably don’t want us snooping around the rest of the castle. (link: "I guess.")[(goto-url: 'castlemap.html')] [[I think I’m going to check out this staircase.]]

Well, you’re not supposed to go off by yourself. And I’m not supposed to go off by myself with you. [[I’m okay with that.]]

Whatever. We’d better head back to the main staging area thing. (link: "I guess.")[(goto-url: 'castlemap.html')] [[I think I’m going to check out this staircase.]]

Sure. Just keep in mind who you have to ride home with at the end of the night. We should head back to the rest of the group. (link: "I guess.")[(goto-url: 'castlemap.html')] [[I think I’m going to check out this staircase.]]

Well, no. I guess I should say, it is my impression that tradition is taken very seriously by these Castle Balderstone people, of whom I am nominally a member. Hmm. I think we should join back up with the group. (link: "I guess.")[(goto-url: 'castlemap.html')] [[I think I’m going to check out this staircase.]]

That’s a good point. And, as an outsider, I have been able to observe the Castle Balderstone crowd objectively, without the bias of being fully accepted into their fold. So I can say with some authority that we—by which I mean, they—take tradition very seriously. Speaking of the Castle Balderstone crowd, we should head back over there. (link: "I guess.")[(goto-url: 'castlemap.html')] [[I think I’m going to check out this staircase.]]

All right, fine. If you get permanently lost... Just start screaming, I guess. [[Will do.]]

Okay then I will! Good luck! [[Thanks!]]

[[Let’s see...]]

[[This is a really big staircase.]] [[How far down does it go?]]

Okay fine! Good luck escaping from the labyrinthine... [[Yeah, yeah.]]

[[Let’s see...]]

Okay, well, you might consider that you’re my guest, so if you get in trouble, then I’ll get in trouble. And then I’ll be mad at you. [[That’s okay with me.]] [[You’re not responsible for my decisions.]] (link: "Fine. Let’s go back.")[(goto-url: 'castlemap.html')]

Well, you could get banned from the Convocation. They’ll do it. They’ve done it before. [[I think I’ll stick with you, then.]] [[That’s the worst they can do?]] [[They ban people for wandering around?]]

Smart choice. (link: "Let’s join back up with the group.")[(goto-url: 'castlemap.html')]

Basically, yeah. [[Then I’m going to see what’s down this staircase.]]

No. They’ve banned people for other stuff, though. Look, let’s just go back to the main group. (link: "Fine.")[(goto-url: 'castlemap.html')] [[No, I’m gonna check out this staircase.]]

All right. It’s your funeral. [[Yeah, yeah.]]

Okay fine! Have fun getting lost forever and then banned! [[Yeah, yeah.]]

No, because we’ll get in trouble. Or we’ll just get irreparably lost. [[We won’t get lost.]] [[We won’t get in trouble.]]

Oh! Maybe I’ll skip a few steps and get mad at you right now! Bye, I guess! [[Sorry.]] [[Bye.]]

No, I just have to bear the consequences of them! [[That’s a good point.]]

I will accept your apology in a few minutes, when I’m not so steamed. Let’s get back to where we’re supposed to be. (link: "Okay.")[(goto-url: 'castlemap.html')]

[[Let’s see...]]

Thank you! [[I apologize for my insensitivity.]]

Thank you. [[Can you forgive me?]]

Yes. I forgive you, gentle guest. Now, let’s return to the part of the castle where we're supposed to be. (link: "Yes, let’s.")[(goto-url: 'castlemap.html')]

Yeah we will. I believe I already explained to you that the labyrinthine architecture of Castle Balderstone is one you can never hope to escape. [[One what?]] (link: "Okay, fine.")[(goto-url: 'castlemap.html')] [[Hold that thought.]]

Yeah we will! These people love judging and ostracizing people. Especially fresh meat like you! [[You’ve got some really cool friends.]]

They’re not friends. They're //colleagues.// [[I’m going downstairs now.]]

Fine! But I’m angry about it! [[Fine!]]

[[Let’s see...]]

[[What floor were we on originally?]]

[[Shouldn’t have looked over the railing...]]

[[Just keep your eyes on the stairs.]] [[One foot after the other.]]

[[For Pete’s sake, am I lost already?]]

[[AAH!]]

[[Getting kind of dark.]]

[[You can’t walk and think about walking at the same time.]] [[Oh my gosh, if I fell down all these stairs...]]

[[Think about something else.]]

[[I’d just hit the wall at the next landing. I wouldn’t fall all the way to the bottom.]]

[[That only happens in cartoons.]]

[[Hey, a hallway.]] [[That’s something that isn’t stairs.]]

[[I should turn on the flashlight on my phone.]] [[Will someone see me?]]

[[What else is there to think about?]]

[[Is Ryan mad at me?]]

[[He’ll get over it.]]

[[Hey, a hallway.]] [[That’s something that isn’t stairs.]]

[[But that’ll eat up the battery.]] [[But I have no choice.]]

[[Is there anybody there?]] [[Hello?]]

[[Maybe I can get along without any light.]]

[[GAH!]]

[[Am I going around in circles?]] [[I feel like I’ve seen this landing before.]]

[[Yes.]] [[It’s a spiral staircase.]]

[[But this hallway looks cool.]]

[[But I’m not lost.]] [[Not yet.]]

[[What a profound metaphor for...]] [[Something.]]

[[I’ll just head down here a ways and then head back.]] [[I wish I had some chalk,]] [[or something.]]

[[Or I’ll just ditch the Convocation entirely.]] [[No, I can’t do that.]]

[[I’ll find my way back.]] [[Probably.]]

[[A loaf of bread.]] [[Or a ball of yarn.]]

[[Did something move?]]

[[I’ll find my way back.]] [[Probably.]]

[[I could probably hide out here.]] [[I could live inside one of these suits of armor.]]

[[Ryan is my ride home.]]

[[I’ll find my way back.]] [[Probably.]]

[[I’ll just head down here a ways and then head back.]] [[I wish I had some chalk,]] [[or something.]]

[[Hmm.]]

[[Did something move?]]

[[I could be the Mad Hermit of Castle Balderstone!]]

[[And eat priceless paintings.]]

[[Hmm.]]

[[I guess anything can be a metaphor for anything.]]

[[I think I’m getting bored.]]

[[Hey, a hallway.]] [[That’s something that isn’t stairs.]]

[[But typically, people who are lost don’t realize they’re lost until it’s]] [[too late.]]

[[Hey, a hallway.]] [[That’s something that isn’t stairs.]]

[[No?]]

[[Oh my gosh my own voice is so creepy.]]

[[Okay...]]

[[Hey, a hallway.]] [[That’s something that isn’t stairs.]]

[[I wasn’t creeped out when I was just muttering under my breath.]]

[[Suddenly I feel like...]]

[[Hey, a hallway.]] [[That’s something that isn’t stairs.]]

[[Too bright!]]

[[Hey, a hallway.]] [[That’s something that isn’t stairs.]]

[[I can just creep through the darkness.]]

[[Alone.]]

[[Hey, a hallway.]] [[That’s something that isn’t stairs.]]

[[A shadow moved,]] [[up ahead.]]

[[There’s something down here.]]

[[Around that corner.]]

[[But I appear to be walking toward it.|AlHi]]

[[And I am still walking.|AlHi]]

Hello? Who’s there? [[...]]

Please say something. I’m beginning to feel creeped out. [[Hi, sorry.]]

No need to apologize. Please, come in. (link: "Okay...")[(goto-url: 'josephine.html')]