0:00

well hey there. Venturers, welcome back to another episode of Venture Maidens the favor campaign.

0:06

I've got an important announcement for you before we dive into today's show.

0:10

But first off I want to thank Emily Mayo for composing are awesome.

0:13

Favorite theme song. Think tabletop audio for providing additional music and thank the wonderful folks who support us by leaving ratings and reviews and supporting us via monthly donations to our Patreon.

0:26

So on the announcement docket we've got some unfortunate news in light of the ongoing O.

0:31

G. L. Situation with wizards of the coast. We have decided to not move forward with our streamed play through of the Dragon Lance campaign.

0:38

While we are bummed, we won't get to manifest our plans for that campaign.

0:42

We have decided it is the ethical move for ourselves and our community not to follow through with a streamed play through of a wizard's product at this time.

0:50

If you're curious to learn more about the issues we're referring to,

0:54

we encourage you to check out the many articles available online that break down the nuances of the situation.

1:00

We will continue to keep you all posted on any new licensing developments that may affect the future of Venture Maidens as they come up.

1:06

But don't worry, we are here to stay no matter what happens with the future of D.

1:10

N. D. For those of you concerned about what the O.

1:13

G. L. Announcements mean for the Venture Maidens campaign guide.

1:16

Don't worry since the book is already written and published in digital format,

1:20

any d authorization of the original O.

1:23

G. L. Should not affect the V. M. C.

1:25

G. In any way as per the latest Kickstarter updates.

1:28

The books are still on schedule to hit the two C.

1:31

Gaming us warehouse in March where there will be packed and shipped out to backers.

1:36

Alright, so that covers the basics. So I'll hit you with that recap of what happened last time.

1:40

Then we'll start the show last time on Venture Maidens.

1:43

After a few weeks of downtime to rest and cool off,

1:47

our heroes came back together to take on a new bounty hunting job.

1:51

A cryptic note about a wedding between an elderly lady named Raina Pollyanna and Tony's cousin Enzo Silver tail sent the crew hurrying to lily hall,

2:01

a famous noble estate in the mortal realm.

2:03

Upon arriving, they met a retired constable named sten,

2:06

who explained that a series of strange supernatural events had plagued the days leading up to the wedding.

2:12

The family had finally accepted his request to hire faye bounty hunters to settle the troubles.

2:17

Before the situation got any worse,

2:20

our maidens took the job, got settled in and met stens other hire a half Children,

2:25

half elf scholar named cassie.

2:28

Finally, as the evening drew to a close Tony was able to have a sweet reunion with her father,

2:33

who had rushed from his business ventures in the capital to attend his nephews sudden wedding and that's what happened.

2:40

So now here's the show gather round travelers to hear our tail.

2:50

We now face a curious case riddled with details out of place.

2:58

Someone here has some something to hide but who to blame.

3:03

We must decide follow the clues as we head into favor.

3:10

Episode 29 knives out.

3:39

Hey, hey, everybody welcome back.

3:42

It's another episode of Venture Maidens,

3:44

episode 29. We are so happy to have you all here.

3:48

It's the second episode of summer, second day of summer.

3:51

You know, you're out of school, you're ready to officially like stop vegging,

3:57

check out a park, smell the air.

3:59

Go to the beach. Yes,

4:01

yes, you're ready. You are getting into summer vacation and we are here for you.

4:07

We are the sun balm for your soul.

4:09

Welcome everybody. We're Venture maidens were in D and D.

4:11

Actual play, fifth edition stream that converts to a podcast.

4:15

We we play in homebrew setting called the plains detailed in the Venture Mains campaign guide.

4:20

This is a very adult theme stream so you can expect standard things like graphic fantasy violence,

4:26

swearing, we keep a general body horror content.

4:29

Warning up. But yeah, if if you're a kid,

4:32

get out of here, this is for adults and cool teens only.

4:36

But with that, let's get into it. Hey everybody,

4:38

my name is celeste conduit and tonight I will be your dungeon master.

4:43

Hello, I'm Katie and I'm playing blueberry Seth.

4:46

You're single and apprehensively mingling,

4:49

drought rogue. Hello,

4:52

I'm and I'm playing your half orc fighter,

4:55

Tony silver tail. Is that in disguise?

4:59

Everyone Naseem just put on glasses.

5:02

Who is for podcast listeners?

5:04

Who is this with the wonder Woman?

5:08

Look detective detective Tony.

5:11

Ooh, detective Tony,

5:13

yes, yes, yeah, we kind of mentioned it,

5:17

but yeah, there's some mystery vibes going on here.

5:20

So that's where we're jumping in. So you all had arrived also,

5:24

by the way, this grand like party,

5:26

you know, this wedding that's happening between the silver tail and between,

5:29

you know, one of the old Yonas, which is like one of the big powerful noble families in the Eldred Empire.

5:35

This is all happening again the backdrop of this holiday oxy a which is one of the eight major Children holidays and it is the one that celebrates the beginning of summer.

5:45

So while everybody is preparing for a wedding,

5:48

there's also three days until this huge festival where basically the family opens up the doors of their summer home to all kinds of people from fail in the capital,

5:58

which is, you know, just a couple of miles away from this,

6:00

this summer home here. So there's going to be a lot,

6:02

a lot of people here in about three days time on top of this wedding that is happening.

6:08

So against all that backdrop, there's gonna be a ton of people here and if there really is a fait causing trouble and played in the family,

6:16

it could be really bad news. So that's why sten has brought you all in as well as cassie who apparently he's worked with before in the past,

6:23

this fe expert to try and get some answers and solve this whole thing before,

6:28

before a lot of people potentially get hurt.

6:32

So here we are picking up just in the last few moments of last time.

6:36

So we had left to and cassie had kind of been having a conversation while lou skulked off to fight slash talk with the kitchen staff in the cool outdoor culinary station that is being set up.

6:50

That is happening. And Tony has basically just connected with her dad who was obviously super surprised to see you here and kind of given the quick rundown of what's happening.

6:59

So dive right back, picking up into that action,

7:03

Tony, it's not long before you know,

7:05

you, you settle things with your dad, you have your,

7:07

your greetings, you're still in the big like green tent that has been set aside for the silver tail family,

7:13

you know, as the family of the groom.

7:16

Your family is given a tent of honor, close to,

7:19

you know, the proceedings, the big happening. So your tent is even nicer than like the glamping RV setup that we have,

7:25

you know, for the rest of your party. Here. It is.

7:27

Yeah, I mean it's like a mansion in a tent.

7:30

It's way better than any house you've ever lived in.

7:33

For sure. You're like, is this velvet, is this a velvet couch in my tent?

7:37

Sure is like that kind of level of extravagance.

7:41

So after a few exchanges have gone back and forth between you and your dad.

7:44

Finally, the other two silver taels that are expected to show up.

7:48

So you see following into the tent flaps,

7:51

another super tall figure,

7:54

just like your dad, like kind of stoops to get in here.

7:57

And it is Geo your little brother is not so little anymore.

8:01

He has shot up like a beanpole.

8:04

He is so tall, but has none of like the bulk of your dad.

8:08

So he's, you know, like 6.5,

8:11

even a couple inches over you. But he's just got like no muscle mass quite on his body.

8:15

He's just like so tall.

8:18

And as he goes in, you can see him dragging like a big trunk behind him.

8:21

He looks in and then sees you and he's like,

8:24

Tony. Oh my God,

8:27

wait, what? What kind of drops it?

8:30

And his voice squeaks a little bit as he like,

8:32

runs over. He's like, are you, wait, is this real?

8:35

Yes, You squeaky little string bean!

8:37

Get over here. Oh my God!

8:41

What? This is what dad is this like?

8:44

He's like hugging you?

8:46

He's like, I don't know, what are you doing here?

8:49

Well, dad will fill you in on all this stuff,

8:51

but basically I'm here on some business,

8:54

but we can't let people know we're related.

8:57

Okay. I'm I'm on the job.

9:00

You see what this is?

9:04

Like? What and like behind him.

9:06

You see your uncle who you've only seen a couple of times in your life.

9:11

Mostly at like business occasions when,

9:13

you know, he was meeting with your dad, like in Fallon primarily.

9:17

So, Laurie is a very serious looking man.

9:22

Whereas your dad has, you know, a bunch of like smile lines and you know,

9:26

he's, he's clearly, he's got the gray in his hair.

9:28

He's been around. The uncle is just,

9:31

there's something, you know, quiet solitude about him.

9:36

As he comes in, he's got like a very neat set of,

9:38

you know, tunic on. And as he steps into the space,

9:42

he kind of observes and nods.

9:45

You all know Tonia. It's good to see you.

9:48

I didn't expect you here. Hi,

9:51

Laurie. It's really good to see you too.

9:54

How are you doing with all of this?

9:57

It was a bit of a surprise,

10:01

but I,

10:03

I guess it's good to hear that Enzo is happy earliest,

10:09

I assume from his letters. Not that he told me anything about all of this.

10:16

I had no idea. He was still in contact with Giuliano's after everything that happened.

10:20

So this is all kind of surprised to me.

10:23

Have you want Enzo been in contact at all over the last year letters.

10:29

He's been giving me updates. He's been at university in Fallon.

10:33

So we haven't stayed much in touch.

10:37

I mean kind of drifted apart since his mother died,

10:40

but at least I got an invitation.

10:43

Have you guys talked since, How did you guys just get here?

10:48

No, we've just arrived. I haven't been up to the main house yet.

10:52

Have you ever met the bride? Yes.

10:55

I'm familiar with juliana's.

10:58

Um, I was the one who arranged his first marriage to friends of the family.

11:03

The alien Ism. I knew Minna much better,

11:06

but I had seen rain in passing.

11:10

I heard about what happened between Enzo and Mina and I'm so sorry that that happened to him and her.

11:17

Yes, he was pretty messed up about it for a while.

11:21

Which is also one of the reasons.

11:23

This is all such a surprise. Can I ask how she died?

11:27

I think she drowned. The family hasn't been too forthcoming about it.

11:33

But they're all pretty shaken up as well.

11:38

Maybe that's why this this all got approved.

11:41

If everybody's still feeling that loss,

11:44

I suppose a wedding is a good way to celebrate life.

11:48

Well, I guess since we're all here together,

11:51

I'll let you know what I'm doing here and she'll go on to and he listens and will nod and of course I will be discreet and if there's anything I can do to help.

12:04

Thank you, Laura. And tell me please.

12:08

I mean, I'm here to help our family above anything.

12:14

And I want to make sure Enzo is okay and safe in doing this because that's what he wants.

12:19

So, if you hear from him or the family or you see anything weird,

12:25

I'll be around okay. I'm in tent number whatever it was.

12:29

30 something. 30 to 30 to 10.

12:33

Number 32. I'm not far.

12:35

So I appreciate that.

12:38

I'm actually headed up to the house this evening for dinner.

12:41

I'm I have a place in inside as the I don't know if they insisted the father of the group.

12:47

So I'll be on my way over there shortly.

12:49

If you would like to rendezvous and go with me,

12:53

we can perhaps explain this tens o together and get a read on whatever is happening.

13:01

Yes. I definitely want to talk to Enzo.

13:03

I want to check on him. I have some friends here with me who are here to help as well.

13:07

They're very experienced and capable and I'm sure we'll figure out what's happening.

13:14

Good. Thank you for Tonio.

13:17

Or do you heard them say Tony?

13:20

Is that what you go by now? I mean Yeah,

13:24

if that's if you're okay with that,

13:27

it's okay. You know, He doesn't know how to be that casual with.

13:33

Yeah, he doesn't either. He's yeah,

13:36

he's so serious that it was like, is that okay?

13:38

He's like, I don't know is it okay? And he's like,

13:41

yes, Tony.

13:43

Good. Well then I'm going to head up to the house if unless there's anything else you need.

13:49

And uh your dad is Luca is like,

13:51

no, we're um we're good,

13:54

go get settled and he kind of walks up and like,

13:57

you know, claps his brother's shoulder and gives them sort of a reassuring,

14:01

you know, wiggle and that way the grim faced brother knots and then walks out.

14:07

Your dad goes, you can see it's been a difficult few days.

14:13

Your uncle has never been a cheerful guy,

14:18

but this really seems to have him thrown for a loop.

14:22

I mean, I'm I'm still amazed that in the first place he arranged a marriage between this family.

14:29

I mean, who knows? I mean,

14:33

you're your uncle and his people have always been a lot more keyed into.

14:38

They spend a lot more time in Phalen than the planes these days.

14:42

He's good with money. I can say that.

14:44

And I mean, the oleanders have always been kind to us.

14:48

I don't know. I've never been one for politics,

14:51

but your uncle has a better mind for that sort of thing.

14:53

But look at this my two kids and he like holds out his hand and he's like,

14:58

and then he like, kind of like gets you again and like drags over and she was like,

15:02

like, squirming, promise me if you ever get married,

15:05

I'm gonna no way ahead of time, Okay.

15:08

He kind of puts a hand on your head. Yes,

15:11

yes, papa, you'll know, okay,

15:14

I don't care who it's too, I just want to know ahead of time so I can be involved and do silly things,

15:19

you have to know so you can talk me out of it first of all?

15:23

All right, good girl. And you I'm not worried about you.

15:29

Not yet, but you'll be handsome soon.

15:31

Be like, like playfully slaps your brother's face and he's like dad,

15:36

dad like wiggle up again out of the way,

15:40

fixes his hair. Alright, well do you have anything to do right now or can I meet these friends of yours or apparently your uncle is off doing whatever he does.

15:52

But I did see a few businesses and such are starting to get set up.

15:58

I would love for you to meet them.

16:01

Let me let me go touch base with them and see how he can do this and Oh yeah,

16:09

of course, of course. You know I know meeting the friends.

16:12

I'm just your dad.

16:14

Well how about for now you come by our tent later in like a couple hours and I'm sure they'll be psyched to meet you sure.

16:23

Sure. Yeah. 32. Right. Yeah.

16:26

All right, well I might take a nap,

16:28

joe if you want to pack everything geos like uh over in the corner doing teenage shit.

16:35

He's like ruffles your hair again one more time and you're allowed to exit the family tent.

16:42

Yeah, I ruffled joe's hair one more time just to pass it down the line.

16:46

He's like why does everyone in our family do that smooths It tries to get the cowlick like down it's just never gonna happen.

16:56

Poor kid. Such that awkward stage of teenage hood.

17:02

Alright, move along. And then who do you want to jump to because lou if we had some different stuff,

17:06

you all want to rendezvous and kind of share information,

17:09

we've, it's sort of up to you how we want to guide this investigation,

17:14

Toni hasn't offered to go and meet Enzo later this evening.

17:18

But otherwise, that's like your only real appointment cassie had mentioned the opening of the metarie soon.

17:24

So of course, that caught his attention and she wants to go where the drinks will be flowing because yeah,

17:30

that makes for loose lips sure.

17:35

Yeah, for sure you can all meet at the media if you want.

17:38

It seems like there's only a couple of places that are gonna be open tonight that are mostly like catering to the staff and stuff.

17:44

The people who are here again, very much like a ren fair where it's like your vendors get in a couple of days beforehand and you know,

17:51

the people building up the fair and then it's those days and then the performers arrive and then finally,

17:57

you know, the crowd. So it seems to be this mystery in like a barbecue pit place that's catering right now.

18:03

Yeah. Especially getting getting it in and some time with the staff who the staff always see things that they shouldn't be saying.

18:10

So cool.

18:13

We all want to rendezvous at the memory.

18:15

Yeah, I think that luke spends some time in the kitchen doing the chef thing where you just start feeding each other.

18:21

Yeah, eventually, like they come to a conclusion with like this like bomb a sandwich with like sour dough bread with the toasted sesame crust roast beef with like a fresh chimichurri,

18:31

early chimichurri and a garlic aioli.

18:34

And she like, make sure to like fold it into like this paper because it's a messy sandwich and she's like,

18:40

this girl likes books so she can't have messy fingers.

18:43

So put this in there and okay,

18:46

I'm gonna go grab a drink to pair with this.

18:50

So I will go over to the mystery.

18:54

You made your girl sandwich,

18:56

boogie sandwich with forethought to going to win this lady's heart with this sandwich.

19:04

Let's wrap So nice. Try in a swan.

19:09

Like foil. Okay, love me a good well wrapped treat.

19:16

Yeah. So you went on off to the mystery and you will see it to drifting around there and Tony.

19:22

Do you want to head there or do you have another plan?

19:25

No, I was going to head back to the tent where I thought we were going to meet up,

19:30

but I'll go to the mystery.

19:32

It looks like everybody's gone. Yeah.

19:35

And some people in the streets are like, like making their way over there.

19:38

It's kind of like things are winding down for the day now as it's getting more into full night because you got here around 435 work is starting to drift down and there's a very clear pattern of like anyone who is here is probably going there at this point.

19:55

Then she will follow the crowd. Yes.

19:58

You all see each other from across the way Kathy doesn't seem to be here yet.

20:03

You're not sure where she went off to. Yeah,

20:05

I immediately hunt down you guys. Whoever I see first,

20:09

I jump over to you and I squeeze you who's there,

20:12

Everyone except rock and cassie.

20:15

So everyone here and the DM and psychically floating over your time,

20:19

particularly because we know that people was waiting for Tony to get back but didn't want to rush Tony's time with her family and everything while they had a chance to talk,

20:29

not under the, you know, the gaze of everyone because I think it would definitely be on the lookout to be like,

20:35

alright, where's Tony? I'm gonna flag her down as soon as I see her.

20:38

Like God, you got like the sweet,

20:40

you talked a bunch of people and giving you the sweetest table,

20:42

it's like the perfect distance, like right by the bar,

20:45

but not in like the walkway,

20:47

you know, every time people come by being like,

20:50

can I get the chair, she was like absolutely not.

20:52

I need all of these and you've made friends with everyone around you.

20:55

So they're like, no, you can't sit there.

20:58

Is there a problem here. This really big dude like just gets in front of anyone who bothers you Tony can clock.

21:05

She hears like a loud irish person's going like like no you can't sit here and you're like there there she is.

21:17

Sweet. Yes. So you can all find each other in that sweet sweet corner booth down guys.

21:26

My dad, my brother and my uncle here.

21:28

It was so nice to see them and apparently they're just as fucking shocked about what's happening as I am.

21:35

So what I've heard so far is that later tonight my uncle is going to go have a well I guess dinner some he was invited to go like a family dinner like the close family dinner.

21:48

Right? So it's going to be parents of you know the bride and groom.

21:53

Yeah. The the immediate family is having a private dinner,

21:57

right? And so he's invited me to come along.

22:01

I hopefully will gain some stuff.

22:03

I'll see if you guys can join me in some capacity in terms of the investigation at least.

22:09

But I mean, does the family even know that this is happening?

22:13

I know he wanted discretion, but does the family know that we're having an investigation?

22:18

The so they would know that the old Yonas would know because it was their friend basically.

22:25

So the private the P.

22:27

I you know the retired P. I constable.

22:30

He is sten he is the family friend.

22:34

So he's talked to the old Yonas. and basically asked if he could bring in people to investigate.

22:40

So they're probably aware of who you are. But they also don't want it so much in their face and they're like trying to keep up pretenses and pretend there's nothing wrong.

22:51

But yes so they will be aware of you.

22:53

And also if you want to interview them that will all absolutely be arranged.

22:57

But it's sort of a we're keeping this very british.

23:00

Uh The Children are like if you need to talk to me we will arrange like a private thing and do the thing.

23:05

But like we don't want you interfering with the event.

23:09

We don't want anyone else to know that you're involved.

23:12

We want this all to go away. Thank you.

23:16

Got it. Got it. Then I think we might have a good chance of getting you guys in there with me in a much smaller manner.

23:25

Yeah. Just like have you guys say that we're trying to explore the property and see if we can detect like faye presence.

23:33

Something like that. But yeah we have an opportunity to get close to the family tonight.

23:38

I learned that apparently this isn't Enzo's first engagement.

23:41

He was engaged to the sister Rayna's sister Mina and she drowned a year ago.

23:51

And I'm sorry a prominent family not knowing how to swim.

23:56

I wouldn't be surprised if there's an indoor pool.

23:58

Also they have a fucking lake that they built on their property.

24:03

Yeah I mean they have how unusual.

24:07

Yeah but anyway.

24:11

Well I guess that's it. I might be a little bit jumpy given you know I want I want to keep my name separate from this but I can't deny that it's making me a little bit more like nervous and anxious to get things started and going.

24:26

So there may be times where I need you guys to hold me back in case certain things escalate.

24:31

But that's it.

24:34

That's the update I have for you. Well,

24:36

cassie seems perfectly nice, doesn't she lou she seems like she's really excited to work with us and she should be around here.

24:48

Um She's got, you'll see her, she's got like the brightest blue eyes and just like this ponytail that just goes on for days.

24:55

Like beautiful hair. So but yeah,

24:58

I think she's really going to be in an asset to us and and this it's we're lucky to have her.

25:05

Yeah, I'm sure Yeah I mean I'm sure she'll just love you.

25:10

I mean look at you like you've got muscles for days so like anyone who first meets you is gonna be like,

25:18

hey, so well I'm excited to meet her.

25:24

Not like that. I mean not me. Like where I'm I just know I mean I'm gonna shut the funk up.

25:40

She just zips her lips blue.

25:45

What you gotta,

25:52

you gotta crush. I don't even know her.

25:55

Don't be ridiculous. I did get her the sandwich though when it is getting cold.

25:59

Do you guys see her? You gave her a sandwich?

26:03

I'm going to why are you saying it like that people need to eat?

26:09

That's just everyone That's an everyone thing a sandwich.

26:15

Everyone knows that foods. Your love language calm down.

26:20

I mean everyone knows, would you say that everybody knows that like even just like raises her eyebrow,

26:27

like tilts her chin down and looks at you like,

26:29

come on. Really? Should I throw the sandwich away?

26:33

Is that too obvious? No, because I did tell her and I don't want her to think that I'm,

26:37

I don't follow through with what I say that I'm going to do and just in the middle of all this,

26:42

you hear like, hey guys, like from the middle of the crowd here and you say Tony just as described this very tall woman with a ponytail for taste.

26:54

You know, cascading red hair down her back,

26:57

she kind of wave stands up and waves and she's like,

27:00

do you want anything from the bar?

27:03

I know the bartender just like,

27:07

she makes like money sign.

27:09

Yeah, she's like, okay,

27:11

just and she goes like shots or she goes like take pictures,

27:16

pictures. Just got it like from across the crowd and she makes eyes with you,

27:21

Tony. She's like, oh me tuna sec, y'all just thumbs up,

27:26

walks over to the bar and is back in like record time pushes past all these people Like they just part and let her and she,

27:33

she must know somebody comes back over with like,

27:36

two, like, big gas pictures and let them down and she's like,

27:39

hey, you must be Tony. I'm cassie.

27:42

Hello cassie.

27:44

How are you? So nice to meet you.

27:48

Nice to meet you too. Um just as described,

27:52

Eva is a award smith.

27:55

Oh yeah, yeah, it is very friendly.

27:59

Great at great at the introductions.

28:01

I hear good things about you too. I'm excited to work with you.

28:05

Tell me you like sandwiches.

28:08

Yeah, I, I love them.

28:11

Food is kind of my love language, you know, and she like,

28:13

goes over and like sits down right by you lou cause I'm just gonna assume that that's how that works and scoots in and like her thigh like touches your thigh and she's like,

28:24

oh man, is that a sandwich? She says like right in front of you,

28:28

that smells amazing.

28:31

Yeah, I,

28:33

I talked to the chefs. It was, you know,

28:35

I tried it and it was just okay, so like we,

28:38

we worked together and we tweaked it and I think that the sauce really brings out the flavors,

28:43

but here I wrapped it up for you.

28:46

So your hands didn't get messy. Oh,

28:48

this for me. Well, yeah, I mean I didn't,

28:51

I helped make you one so nice,

28:55

thank you, I'm so hungry.

28:58

That's like so great, I really appreciate that,

29:01

wow. I not only are you all super nice.

29:05

We're also sitting at the most attractive table at this entire place cheers to that.

29:11

It is an absolute pleasure to be working with you all.

29:14

Yeah, she clink the glass,

29:16

like blue shoots back her entire glass immediately and she can drink.

29:24

Yeah, she does. Little golf clap hands.

29:29

Yeah, it's just, you know, it's great to cut the grease of sandwiches.

29:35

So yeah,

29:37

what's our plan? She's like 6" away from you,

29:41

looking at you. She's like,

29:44

like every time she like keeps like going to turn to like be polite to like address everybody at once and she's talking and every time she like jumps your face is so close to my face.

29:56

Yeah. So yeah,

29:58

Tony met with some people and found out a little bit more about everything.

30:03

So I guess we're gonna have a way to get in and do some sleuth in.

30:09

But you obviously you can you can stay because I know that you have your whole setup and everything so we can just come back if we find anything that that might.

30:19

Yeah. Yeah. I mean I don't I don't want to get in the way you all are the,

30:23

you know the pros you wouldn't be in the way I mean if you but I mean if it's helpful for me to whatever you prefer is what I'm saying,

30:33

So okay. And she kind of gives you like a look and then kind of turns to you Tony and she's like,

30:39

I was sort of explaining to them. I really sort of the way I'm used to working is when I work with groups like yours,

30:48

basically the more information I can get, the more helpful I am to all of you.

30:52

So I'm here for you all as a resource.

30:55

I'm kind of working for you I guess.

30:57

So if you need me to come with you,

30:59

I'm more than happy to do that or Yeah,

31:01

just basically the more you can get me any little detail might be important because honestly we're floating in a lot of generalities at this point I was giving you to think I was kind of walking over and the sheer number of faye that could potentially be behind weird weather phenomenons and you know that that kind of couples into the mist,

31:23

that's not really helpful.

31:25

And also the weird dreams that we need to know more about the dreams who is affected,

31:32

you know, anything, anything you can get me really helps.

31:36

My little nerdy brain kind of just,

31:39

you know, be useful for you. So we know that groomsman has had dreams,

31:44

we'll be talking to him later and see if we can learn anything more from him.

31:49

But with something like a marriage,

31:54

I mean, and with all of these,

31:56

I guess incidents have been happening around the empire.

31:59

Do you have any idea about all that?

32:01

Because it seems like so much more activity has been happening.

32:08

Yeah. I have been really busy the last few weeks.

32:12

It feels like every time I turn around there's,

32:14

you know, weird mystery on my desk.

32:17

Something is definitely going on. There's just not a lot of information coming in about what it is.

32:22

And usually, you know, I know some people,

32:25

you know around in the Aldrin empire.

32:28

You know, I work with people like stan a lot.

32:31

So usually if a, you know a cop or P I isn't over their head,

32:35

they might bring me on as a consultant. But it's been pretty much silent on that end.

32:41

I think standing is only calling me because he's retired.

32:44

He's not really involved in the government anymore.

32:46

So it's do you ever work with the Carolyn's?

32:51

The Carolyn's now? That's a whole day.

32:53

It's a whole club to get into.

32:56

So I am now I prefer to work independently.

33:02

Let's say I know they have a lot of juicy stuff in there.

33:05

God, if they would just let everyone get a hold of it.

33:08

But that's a whole other can of worms.

33:12

Well, I'm glad to be working with you as well.

33:14

And oh,

33:16

just like for fun, let's talk about,

33:20

let's talk about like, what do we think this?

33:22

Sexiest dessert is?

33:25

Oh my God. Oh,

33:27

I love this question. Okay. I want to say Cannoli,

33:31

is that, is that two on the money?

33:36

I don't know. She says Tony was not expecting that answer.

33:43

And she's like, oh, wait a minute.

33:48

Okay. Oh my Lord.

33:52

That's a good yes. You know what I got to say on the scale of like 12 sex,

33:58

That's that's a sex. That's that's it.

34:00

Yeah, you got it.

34:03

You nailed it, nailed it.

34:05

She said before she says anything else.

34:08

She's gonna elbow lou like loot, tell us your,

34:11

tell us your sexy dessert. I where to begin.

34:16

I guess that I would start. Obviously it has to be lift a ble so you could feed each other.

34:22

So something with a good base, like a tart.

34:25

And then if you had like a fruit sauce in the center of it.

34:31

So it's just, you know, a little bit messy. So you can help each other out.

34:35

But obviously you need dark chocolate because I think that's just like the sexiest ingredient and then you do chocolate covered strawberry on top because that's just like two sexy desserts in one.

34:48

So it's com it's complicated and it would sound great to dig into.

34:56

I mean, I could make it for you sometime.

34:59

Like if if we have time after this,

35:03

you should, I mean,

35:05

yeah, anything like this. Say yes.

35:08

I mean, what am I going to say? No.

35:11

Amazing. I'm sorry you made this right.

35:14

What the hell you guys like she makes breakfast for us.

35:19

Like every morning, she's just a fantastic shift.

35:23

She never gives herself enough credit. How do I get into this like,

35:27

adventuring club because I am on board?

35:29

Honestly, it has nothing to do with any of us.

35:32

You have to make look like you. Good luck.

35:36

Oh yeah Brooke where um I haven't seen her yet.

35:39

Is she around or kind of a private person?

35:43

I'm getting a read. Yeah,

35:45

she um she's maybe she's pretty short right now.

35:51

So sorry,

35:54

that's stupid. She she'll be around,

35:57

I'm sure we're sharing the tent, so you'll see her,

36:00

sorry if she's she she knows a lot about the fe so maybe you'll have a great time talking with her though.

36:09

Yeah, I mean I I hope I know a lot,

36:14

if nothing else, I'm sure she'll be great to talk to and you know,

36:18

listen to. So so actually I'm going to get a refill if you don't mind and she's just gonna awkwardly like scoot past her in the booth like sorry,

36:29

oh sorry, are you going to do like the scoot?

36:32

Like not wait for her to get out. So you're like, but isn't her face like that kind of Yeah,

36:36

because she's making a break for and while while lou goes to go get a refill.

36:41

She's looking out for any of the people who had those little ear pieces and going to be trying to bump into them to try to swipe it.

36:53

Yeah, you start walking away and like, you know, seeing your,

36:56

your marks through the crowd and um, cassie will kind of lean and be like,

36:59

is it just me or is like luke kind of running away for me A bunch.

37:05

Coming on too strong. FIFA lets out a long exhale and she says it is a little complicated and she hasn't exactly fully recovered from her last relationship,

37:17

they were gonna get married and it didn't happen for tragic reasons,

37:22

I'll leave it at that. But she's a slow burn.

37:27

You know, is it like a tragic reasons?

37:32

Is it like weird divorce with kids thing or is it like what are we talking here,

37:41

Tony? Are you dying in your chair? Like Tony is like too much,

37:48

too much to ask and people will very slowly and gently sort of put her hand on to the table and then look up to her with these like big sad eyes like communicating the the tragedy and the severity of it.

38:06

She's a bit closed off. But if you take the time to get to know her,

38:11

get to know her. She opens up,

38:13

we've only known each other for hell a few months but we've been in through life or death situations and it's brought us together but it takes time Good to know I guess.

38:27

Um Thanks for the warning honesty.

38:33

Not really sure how to You doing okay over there.

38:36

20 screaming.

38:40

I'm really debating if saying anything or really,

38:46

I just want to lean over to Eva and be like, you know,

38:48

mystery is a good thing. I love how I love how friendly you are.

38:54

I love you Eva. But we don't always gotta Last relationship 10 years ago.

39:01

Fiance lost at sea baggage.

39:06

She didn't, she's obviously not gonna spill the whole story,

39:10

but you know, she's getting mixed signals from Louisville wants to shed some light on it and be like,

39:15

take it, take it slow, you know,

39:18

it's fine. All right,

39:21

well, does anyone need a refill? I'm gonna need a refill.

39:23

So I'll be uh I'll be back and lou why don't you go ahead and make me an investigation check as you're looking for looking for a mark here 18 plus eight.

39:34

So 26. Oh, jesus, okay.

39:36

I'm not sure how familiar you are with event coordinators,

39:39

but it's a job where you work seven days a week,

39:43

20 hours a day and you fucking like restaurant folk,

39:47

you work hard, You party hard. So there is a table of fucking outrageously drunk people who look nearly identical to each other,

39:57

which is probably why it was hard to tell them apart.

40:00

You can see a stack of clipboards have been thrown on one side of the table here and they all are just like going like,

40:06

you can't even believe the conversation I had today.

40:11

Like somebody tried to deliver an ice sculpture to the sun garden like for the love fucking sakes.

40:20

Like I'm not paid enough to deal with this level bullshit and there's like a Yeah girl,

40:26

like, from around the table, so there are a bunch of that,

40:30

this table is right for that.

40:33

They are deep in the, like, girl power anger.

40:37

They're not all women either, but they're just,

40:39

you know, they're dealing with this whole it is it is a mess over there.

40:43

So, anyone from that table would be probably pretty easy.

40:47

Those clipboards have been thrown so precariously.

40:51

Yeah, lou is going to, kind of,

40:53

like, bend over the table to, like, be in the center of all of them and be like,

40:58

you guys were so helpful today,

41:00

They do not deserve you here, let me please get you a picture.

41:04

Oh my God, thank you.

41:07

Like, you totally get it.

41:10

No one appreciates how hard it is.

41:12

You know, they're like, expect to show up and everything's perfect,

41:16

and I was like, oh wow, I did this like,

41:19

no idea. No, you you get it.

41:23

I feel you I work in the food industry,

41:26

I've seen you guys in the trenches, you are all God's blessed caterers.

41:31

Amazing. You guys.

41:34

Well, the ones who get it right, right?

41:37

This, like, just beautiful person,

41:39

like, puts up their hands, like on either side of your face and like,

41:42

thank you God.

41:44

Yeah, I mean, no, no, I want to get you a drink,

41:48

I want to get you a drink. Oh my gosh,

41:50

no, I insist. And as she's like,

41:52

being pulled in with her hands, like, she like,

41:55

taps the sides of her cheeks and like between her two fingers like goes and like takes the little ear but out.

42:02

Oh yeah, you take that shirt off like yeah,

42:04

no worries in your pocket.

42:06

It's like okay, well you just,

42:09

you just let me know we're gonna be here all night obviously.

42:14

So if you just want anything, you just let us know,

42:16

we drank half off, lucky,

42:19

maybe someday I'll work it would be to work with you guys.

42:23

Let me go get that picture though for you and like,

42:25

oh my God, do you have a card? No, I have a card.

42:28

Um here and there, like looking around like I don't usually do weddings but thank you so much,

42:34

I will definitely follow up with you, I'll be right back two seconds,

42:37

don't worry. And as she turns like in her other between the other two fingers,

42:41

she like grabs the papers off of one of the clipboard and there's like a burst of laughter from the table and there's someone was like,

42:50

oh my God bitch. Oh my God, I totally forget you exist.

42:54

You wander away. Yeah she will go and she'll she will still send a picture because like that was like 50% ruse.

43:03

50%. Like she knows.

43:05

Yeah and there's like, Oh whoa you hear come from across the eatery and then she'll grab one more picture to go back to the table.

43:13

Cool. So you get back, you slide in and you know,

43:15

cassie is just coming back with with a drink as well.

43:19

Feeling feeling a little bit more confident after making that so smooth and she's just like so what are we all talking about?

43:25

Oh I was just getting another round but you know actually if you all are busy,

43:31

I'm sorry, I totally realized just like invited myself over but I can start bookmarking some stuff and you know putting putting some thoughts together if you all got to,

43:40

you know, do your hero thing.

43:43

Yeah. Sure.

43:45

Yeah, okay, well we'll meet up with you later then if that's what you wanna do.

43:50

Yeah. Actually um lou do you mind if I just talk to you just for a second?

43:54

Just like right over here?

43:57

Sure. And she's like goes and starts to leave the booth and she turns back and looks at them and she's like what the fuck?

44:05

She's like yeah yeah, for sure.

44:07

It will go with her. Yeah. And she just leads.

44:10

You know, like a few like steps away from the table,

44:12

just out of earshot kind of kind of leads, you know against one of the posts that are forming like the wall of this place.

44:19

I hope that's not like to forward but I really like you and I'd like to get to know you better if you're okay with that?

44:27

Like in a romantic way.

44:29

Not a working way. I just figure if we start with that now,

44:33

you know, it might be less awkward if we turn into co worker,

44:36

then we're like, oh man, we're working together.

44:39

Are we dating? Like if we start,

44:41

you know that? Yeah,

44:44

that that would have been a logistical nightmare.

44:49

Yeah. Was it the sandwich?

44:52

I mean, well, it was before the sandwich sandwich helped.

44:54

I'm gonna tell ya, I helped a lot.

44:57

It was, but it was like 70% there.

44:59

You know, the sandwich really clinched it and probably the way you blushed about giving me the sandwich was probably the last like 10%.

45:08

I yeah,

45:11

sure I should let you know.

45:13

I am. I mean,

45:15

it's it's obvious I'm not good at the start of this kind of thing,

45:22

but I've I'll please be patient.

45:27

Yeah, Yeah, totally.

45:29

Yes, I've been told that I should get to know you and kind of take it slow.

45:34

So do you want to meet later? Like,

45:36

I don't know whenever the night is done or whatever.

45:39

We can like grab a drink by ourselves, maybe by the lake somewhere and I can just get to know you a little better.

45:44

Yeah, I'd really like that.

45:47

Cool. All right. See you later.

45:52

She like clenches her fist to not do finger guns and just turns around and walks away.

46:00

She's cool. No pressure, no lean in nothing.

46:03

She's playing it very cool. Holy crap.

46:06

Holy crap. Holy crap. Okay, Okay.

46:11

It was even got her hands perched her head perched in her hands with her elbows up on the table of blue,

46:18

like wonders back over to the table.

46:21

Oh my God, what did you guys say to her?

46:23

Because she totally asked me out on a date?

46:27

Well I mean, I don't know, it's a date like getting to know me better.

46:30

It's like, you know, because maybe she does and she's like,

46:33

oh no. Um but if she doesn't that then it's like a date date which I haven't done in Has anything changed in the past,

46:44

like 20 ish years,

46:47

prehistoric times. The last time I was dating you both were like six years old.

46:52

So not don't put any kind of pressure on yourself.

46:56

It's just like hanging out with any other friend.

46:59

You know, you just happened to know that you're both into each other.

47:04

Just focus on getting comfortable around each other.

47:08

We've gotten to get to know you and you know lou I like you a lot,

47:12

You're you're smart, you're very conscientious.

47:16

You you think about things in a way that like my brain just like would never and you're so incredibly kind and compassionate and thoughtful and anyone who's worth a lick of sense will see those things and admire them.

47:32

Okay, shut up and she wipes away it's here.

47:36

I mean thank you, that's really sweet of you to say.

47:39

Okay just me, Miss l she pours another drink and then she's like oh ship we're working and pushes it away.

47:46

Yeah, you're like, oh my God, we gotta be at dinner in like 20 minutes.

47:49

Yeah,

47:52

I don't wanna let's stop talking about this because I need to focus so that we don't do anything stupid mostly me because I'm a lots happening.

48:01

So instead of thinking about Cannoli,

48:04

did you think that Cannoli was a strangely phallic answer?

48:07

I wasn't gonna say anything. I wouldn't say can only is the perfect answer.

48:13

I think it represents every kind of sexuality personally.

48:19

Just checking. Okay, that was the last thing I'm going to say weirdly phallic.

48:24

I mean ok and I are in the same.

48:27

Never mind.

48:29

I'm with you Katie.

48:36

Keep an eye out for the twitter poll coming.

48:38

Yeah. The twitter poll.

48:42

If you had a friend who said this,

48:45

guess what their sexuality might be.

48:49

Anyway, so what do you have a dinner that you're going to go to?

48:55

Since they know what our job is there?

48:58

Are you going to go like as a guest or are we just gonna be like lurking?

49:02

I'll say like for for just ease of admin purposes so you probably won't be able to attend and sit at the dinner but they're gonna be like drinks ahead of time and drinks after right?

49:14

It's like one of those meet the parents thing.

49:17

So if all of you wanted to go and talk to everyone like post dinner drinks or before like cocktails.

49:23

That would be an ideal time and you all would be welcome to do that before the family actually met for the proper dinner.

49:30

I was gonna say, I would say post dinner cocktail hour because you get that dinner discussion and then get to have little sides with everyone also,

49:39

that's when they're the most slashed.

49:41

Yeah, yeah.

49:44

And things have either gone very well and everybody's feeling great about each other or things have not gone so well and they're like eager to tear each other apart.

49:52

Oh yeah. Win win for us either way.

49:56

Yeah. So then in your planning you would think they're probably having dinner ish now and your uncle would have communicated like this would be a good time to come.

50:03

And so yeah, if you want to make your way up to the main house,

50:06

they'd be more than happy to greet you all and you know,

50:08

you can leave a note for your dad to Tony like, oh man,

50:11

like that's one had to go because he was going to swing by the tent later and stuff.

50:17

So true.

50:19

I guess it'll probably be around the same time.

50:21

Yeah, I'll even, I'll say come by tomorrow,

50:25

you can guess the evenings are probably going to be the most ideal time to gather information because during the day everyone is going to be pretty involved in like very intense event planning shit.

50:35

So over the course of this investigation night is gonna definitely be the most active time.

50:40

So during the day you all can kind of do whatever you want.

50:42

Sweet! Alright, so yeah, you wanna all head on,

50:46

head on over to the main house.

50:48

The hall lily hall. Indeed.

50:52

The interior of the hall is exactly what you would expect from the extravagance of the outside.

50:57

This is a summer home. So that means it is not a home that gets lived in most of the time.

51:03

So it's all just, you know, opulent,

51:06

the most beautiful furniture, the stuff you're looking around,

51:08

you're like, is this a comfortable place to be?

51:10

No, probably not. But boy, is it really impressive when you bring your friends over?

51:14

It's like that kind of perfectly manicured magazine wondered full interior decoration in every room of this place.

51:22

And immediately as you go inside,

51:24

the butlers greet you and they know who you are before you go in and somebody you know,

51:29

directs you to a lounge off the main dining hall where several people are floating about.

51:35

They have their own private waiter behind a bar,

51:38

like in a library or like five people who are engaged in different levels of conversation and Tony.

51:45

You very quickly find your uncle Laurie who looks just so out of place,

51:52

kind of grim in a corner,

51:55

sipping a from a very small glass,

51:58

some kind of colorful beverage and just looking so out of place and he says Tony.

52:06

It's good to see you are these your friends,

52:10

I'm assuming. Yes.

52:12

My friends here lou and if to,

52:15

this is Laurie silver tail and he does a fall like bow and then handshake like extremely formal father of the groom.

52:27

Yes, Many congratulations then.

52:31

Thank you. It's a charming event.

52:39

Have you seen Enzo yet? No,

52:42

but I'm sure we'll get some alone time with him tonight.

52:47

Yes, if you'd like to. He's off the main parlor.

52:52

Apparently there's a second parlor.

52:56

One is for smoking. One is not and I don't really know.

53:00

I'm just staying close to the bar.

53:03

Was the dinner enlightening?

53:06

I suppose Enzo does seem very happy and Reynaud is a charming girl.

53:14

It will be interesting to have her in the family.

53:19

I think for the best probably parents are very generous and good friends of mine.

53:25

Will she and and so get instead of theirs of themselves for themselves or will they move in and stay with you or do they have plans for what comes after?

53:36

Oh, I'm not sure how familiar you are with our lifestyle,

53:39

but I am the leader of my clan in particular and they wish to come live with me with us.

53:48

So that will be interesting.

53:51

Was there any mention of the strangeness that's been taking place since the engagement?

53:58

Everyone was very polite about it.

54:01

But I could tell Endo at least was certainly disturbed by something.

54:09

He's worse than I've ever seen him.

54:12

He's always been a very active boy and I don't know.

54:18

Maybe it's the stress I all these people seem on edge and you know how they are antonia They just don't they never lay their cards on the table,

54:30

not all of them. Anyway, I don't know how to be around these people,

54:35

so no indication of an opinion of this arrangement and any other way,

54:40

just politeness. Well,

54:43

when I arranged the marriage the first time with with Mina,

54:47

it was all a very good affair.

54:50

And again, I've had very pleasant dealings with them in the past and all that graciousness still seems to be extended.

54:58

I don't know. Something feels wrong.

55:01

But I suppose that's why you're here. But it's all pretty words from what I can hear.

55:07

Well, we'll let you know what we discover. I'll be here,

55:12

he says, and kind of swishes little like cocktail sword and he's half drunk,

55:17

you know, melted ice drink. All right,

55:21

let's go talk to some others.

55:25

You're suddenly remembering why you probably your dad probably didn't spend a lot of time around your uncle.

55:30

And so he's just so fucking serious. And your family is so not like that to clarify our general knowledge.

55:37

Did the daughter and did the bride and groom specifically request to have us as soon as possible or did the pressure will come from the daughter or from the daughter's family you don't really know.

55:51

And the uncle doesn't really seem to know.

55:54

It seems like the couple was pretty eager to get married on that like lucky holiday and the parents seemed fully on board with it.

56:01

So you're not sure can I ask also if we know whether or not Raina or Mina is the older younger sister.

56:11

Mina was the eldest daughter. So which would make sense,

56:14

arranged marriage, eldest daughter.

56:17

And then it was just the two girls is and so an only child as well.

56:23

And so it's a normally trial and his mom is dead.

56:26

So it's just Enzo and the dad and Lori who apparently are a bit estranged since the mom's death,

56:33

which you would know Tony happened. I mean probably about a decade ago,

56:37

but both of them have been kind of on their own since.

56:40

Yeah, I think the next best move is go find Enzo.

56:45

Yeah. And you can find on the, you know,

56:47

the second lounge off the lounge and the doors,

56:51

there's like a pair of french doors that are open to like a small like patio.

56:55

And Enzo is, you know, smoking a cigar with,

56:58

you would see an older l drin and very nice clothing with sort of like a powder lavender color hair as he's sitting there as well.

57:10

They're just smoking on the balcony there and so see you all walk in and um you see his eyes like,

57:18

yeah, like open with recognition. He goes,

57:20

so sorry papa will him if I could just,

57:24

I um these are the friends.

57:27

I mentioned that my my uncles friends.

57:30

So if I could just have the room and uh well,

57:32

I was like, of course my boy always good talking to you.

57:36

Yes. And I'm sure I will meet you all shortly.

57:40

You have a lovely house. Thank you for having us.

57:45

Yes, well, thank you for attending.

57:48

It's always a pleasure to meet the girl's friends.

57:53

It's a yes,

57:55

we'll be freshen my drink and he doesn't kind of pushes past you all and Enzo runs over and grabs your hands Tony quietly.

58:04

He's doing it. He's like, it's good to see you again cousin.

58:09

He whispers my father kept me up on everything.

58:13

And as you look at him, it's been a while since you've seen him.

58:16

But he's got like bags under his eyes and his skin is you know,

58:21

the like the sallow of someone who just has not slept in.

58:25

It looks like days. Honestly,

58:27

his eyes are a little bit bloodshot, but he's,

58:30

you know, seems cheerful, he runs over to you and it's like it's it's so good to have family here.

58:36

I'm so sorry, I wasn't able to really tell more people.

58:40

But I don't know, it's this all happened so fast and you know,

58:46

it just seemed like the perfect time. Rain is so great about just really,

58:51

I don't know like why why I stopped,

58:54

you know, start living our lives Tony.

58:56

Like you can see her eyes start to water and turn red and she has not done this before.

59:04

She is squeezing Enzo's hands like it's so good to see you and I'm so sorry.

59:11

It's been so long since we've been in contact.

59:17

I just found out about everything you've been through the past year losing Mina.

59:24

I'm I had no idea.

59:27

I'm so sorry. I I mean that's all it's been a really weird time.

59:34

But honestly like when I think about it,

59:36

I if I hadn't lost Tamina,

59:38

I I wouldn't have met Raina and I don't know who it is,

59:45

like, you know, the mother, the father, other gods,

59:48

like, but I'm glad,

59:50

I'm glad it all led to this and I'm so glad you're here.

59:54

Who? I'm sorry. Who are your friends? I'm so rude.

59:57

Hi, I'm Enzo, Silver tail.

1:00:01

Lou, nice to meet you, lou.

1:00:03

Hey, welcome.

1:00:06

And I mi fa even so nice to meet you so Tony and you kind of squeeze your hand again and I was like,

1:00:14

hey, so yeah,

1:00:17

well, I'm glad your dad filled you in basically.

1:00:21

I mean, what have you been experiencing?

1:00:25

I have to say it,

1:00:28

I have to agree with the constable.

1:00:30

It does sound fe influenced,

1:00:33

I have had my own experience with dreams brought on by the fai and I I I just want to help you.

1:00:43

We'll hear any indicates,

1:00:46

you know, armchairs for you all and you know,

1:00:49

ask someone to go get everybody drinks if they want them so you can get cocktails.

1:00:52

He'll get a refill, you know, big fat refill of some kind of brown very alcoholic,

1:00:57

something you know on his table that comes back by him.

1:01:00

Uh you also noticed to Tony like God,

1:01:03

he looks so comfortable, you know, in this like leather chair and he's sort of this nice suit,

1:01:07

he's like come into, he just, he looks such a part of this world,

1:01:11

you know, as he kind of settles into this this chair and said,

1:01:14

folks keep asking me about what's going on and I know I look like hell and I haven't been sleeping,

1:01:22

but I, I don't know,

1:01:25

I things seem fine.

1:01:29

I guess the minute I wake up,

1:01:31

I think it's just nerves, but I can't deny,

1:01:35

I mean things things around here, Everyone else at least it's I think it's affecting raina more than it is.

1:01:41

Me. Anything. She's just worried everybody's stressed and it should be such a happy thing and it just feels like this weight and I don't know what it is and I don't I don't know how to help.

1:01:57

Was it her idea for you all to get married so soon or was it I mean,

1:02:04

no, everyone's so worried about that. I know it was both of us,

1:02:08

you know, I've Tony we haven't caught up in a long time,

1:02:11

but I've been really drifting away from my dad and all of this and you know,

1:02:17

ran and I were we met at school and fell in and I didn't even know she was related to Mina until all of this and honestly I knew the family but Mina was an arranged marriage and I never really got to know her the same way I got to know Raina and just we've been dating for a while and it all just kind of came into place you know and it just seemed like the perfect time and that makes a lot more sense And of the gossipy crossbow wooden picture that's been painted.

1:02:52

I know I got there.

1:02:54

Well you know you know how parents are,

1:02:59

it's it's easier to pretend,

1:03:02

right? And then of course I know how it looks with Mina and everything but I mean that is how I knew the family.

1:03:10

That's sort of the connection I guess Raina and I even met over and my dad was really torn up about it,

1:03:16

you know when when Mina died and I just didn't want to disappoint him again.

1:03:20

So this is just sort of our was our decision to make this happen and now all of this and he waves a hand to the house and the outside and the it's just all gotten out of hand and while he's talking describing if I would definitely like to do an insight check on him For sure,

1:03:43

go ahead. That is a 15.

1:03:49

Okay. You can tell he seems really genuine about what he's saying.

1:03:54

It's not that he's like lying to you?

1:03:56

The only thing you think is flagged is like maybe at the beginning when he was talking about like,

1:04:02

you know, it's not that bad for me. I'm more worried about everyone else.

1:04:06

Like I don't really know what's going on. It seems like he's probably experiencing a little bit more distress than he's letting on.

1:04:13

But you can tell he's being, he's trying to be really brave about it.

1:04:16

And also this dude is exhausted.

1:04:19

Like this isn't like anxiety jitters,

1:04:22

this is like something medical,

1:04:27

some medical issue. Like he's not getting enough sleep.

1:04:30

Like he does not, he does not look great,

1:04:34

but he seems very genuine when he's talking about,

1:04:37

you know, like claiming their lives and meeting Reena and you can tell he feels like it's that guilt but at the same time that just overwhelming like he feels they were so meant to be together that it's like,

1:04:48

it's just got to be what it is. And there's that you can tell also with that inside there's a little bit of Tony in him too.

1:04:53

It's like, you know where your heart goes.

1:04:56

It's that same kind of way. You can see that in Tony.

1:04:59

It's like, here's what it is. So with the sleeping issues you've had as you happen to remember any of the dreams or is it just you wake up suddenly and you know that it was a bad one.

1:05:14

You know one of those, Have you found any glass marbles around your room,

1:05:20

marbles? Know what a odd question.

1:05:23

No, no marbles or anything. And you know the family,

1:05:26

they've they've ran his family. They've been really helpful.

1:05:28

They have, you know, physicians and stuff. And so I've been taking some stuff to help me sleep.

1:05:32

So honestly I don't I don't remember much but I don't know it's like a wake up and I can't I can't breathe.

1:05:43

I felt something cold. It's like something heavy was sitting on my chest and then and then I'd wake up.

1:05:51

So, but you know the sleeping stuff,

1:05:54

I've um it's been easier I guess.

1:05:59

I mean do you remember anything from before you started taking medication for it and self medicating?

1:06:06

She points to the drink, he's like,

1:06:09

I am getting married in three days.

1:06:12

Give me a break. No, I mean that's what that's what I would remember from those those days.

1:06:16

No, now it's less. I would wake up and I was so afraid but I didn't know why and I think it was that it was just not being able to breathe.

1:06:29

It would just and honestly I look like I look like hell when I wake up,

1:06:35

you know, but I'm in my own bed and I don't know,

1:06:39

I've never really been big on dreaming before.

1:06:42

This is, would you I mean one of the doctors said something like night tears or something and I don't know.

1:06:52

Would you feel comfortable while we do our investigation?

1:06:55

If you know, we may be watched over you.

1:06:58

I know it's weird, but if you're feeling physical discomforts,

1:07:03

like we'd better be safe and sorry.

1:07:05

I mean if that's something that's going to help you,

1:07:08

you know, put an end to all this or just honestly,

1:07:12

I just want this wedding to happen. You know,

1:07:14

I whatever you need,

1:07:17

I get it. You know, I want this to happen for you too.

1:07:21

I think that waiting for that kind of thing is just stupid.

1:07:24

But we'll do everything. We can obviously.

1:07:27

I mean you're part of Tony's family.

1:07:30

Everything aside and we'll do whatever it takes.

1:07:33

You know? Yeah, if you want to be in the room,

1:07:37

I I hope it helps.

1:07:40

I'm more than fine with that. Whatever you need.

1:07:44

I think what would help us to is if you avoided the medication for a night or two so that when we do observe you,

1:07:52

we can get whatever full impact of what's happening and you can have a full memory.

1:07:59

And he kind of puts down the drink.

1:08:01

He had to his lips too. And he's like, yeah,

1:08:04

pushes it away, you know on the table as well for what it's worth.

1:08:09

You keep saying. You look like hell. But I think you look really happy.

1:08:12

So, so weird.

1:08:14

You know, I feel happy and then I look around and all this and I just feel like I shouldn't be,

1:08:23

no, fuck that Enzo. You should be.

1:08:26

You should be. You can't blame your dad and the rest of the family for being a little skeptical.

1:08:31

I mean, you guys haven't been in touch, it's sad it happens.

1:08:35

But I can tell you're excited to start your new life with your wife and that makes me happy.

1:08:43

I'm happy for you. Well,

1:08:46

hopefully when all of this is done, we can actually do something fun somewhere out,

1:08:50

go riding again or something. I've,

1:08:52

I've been in the city too long. Honestly.

1:08:55

Yeah, I'm sure we will. You have to introduce your new wife to the country life anyway.

1:09:02

Yes, Raina, I'm sure that's part of it too.

1:09:05

We, you know, it's just stupid alleging custom.

1:09:08

You know, we're not supposed to see each other a few days before the wedding.

1:09:11

So it's been even worse not being able to see her and kind of check in,

1:09:16

but you know, except in front of these big family things.

1:09:19

So anyway, I think she's with her mom,

1:09:24

you know, other side girls wing sort of thing.

1:09:28

So you should see her and I mean Tony,

1:09:30

I'm sure she'd love to meet you and honestly,

1:09:33

if she's feeling as weird as I do and probably be nice to have some reassurance from you.

1:09:40

Rain is very independent and capable.

1:09:44

So sure she'd appreciate some of that,

1:09:48

that same flavor. Being surrounded by all these of this.

1:09:53

It's a lot as it is difficult not being able to see your bride to be amidst all this chaos and stress evil rip out a piece of paper from one of her notebooks and slide on the table across from her with the,

1:10:06

with the pen and say, we're planning to go see her to get,

1:10:09

you know, hear from her about everything.

1:10:11

As you say, she's been much more stressed about these things.

1:10:14

Do if you want to write her a little note that we can pass off to her,

1:10:17

let her know that you're thinking of her. I'm sure she'd appreciate it.

1:10:21

I won't, I won't get anyone in trouble.

1:10:25

She knows how I feel. He kinda smiles to himself.

1:10:30

Anyway, I should probably actually call back in Wilhelm before he gets suspicious.

1:10:35

He's, he again, not a lot of socialization on that guy.

1:10:40

He works as a judge in Fallon's and this is sort of like his one holiday.

1:10:46

I can't wait to get him out to see the family and get him on a horse.

1:10:50

He looks, he looks at you and Tony,

1:10:52

it's just like, huh,

1:10:58

what am I doing? It does surprise me that you do.

1:11:03

You know, you do seem so at home here and that you've really ingratiated yourself with these people and this family and I guess it kind of surprises me that the two of you are going to go back to your family,

1:11:13

who you've said yourself that,

1:11:15

you know, you've grown distance from,

1:11:19

well when uh randy and I met we kind of had a smiles,

1:11:26

I guess a deal sort of,

1:11:28

you know, I learned a lot about her world and became a part of it and oh,

1:11:34

it's time for her to learn about mine. That's sort of the fun of it all.

1:11:39

Very admirable. Certainly.

1:11:43

I think we'll probably end up back in this one.

1:11:46

But I mean maybe we can,

1:11:48

maybe we can build something new in between.

1:11:51

Who knows? Sure. Well,

1:11:54

we'll have to come meet again under different circumstances after you all have gotten settled in your new mary wed life.

1:12:01

And you know, we've we've been dying to meet Tony's family too.

1:12:04

So we'll make a make an event out of it.

1:12:08

Yes, perhaps then we can have a real,

1:12:11

a real party. So do all this very formal.

1:12:16

I'm sure Tony will tell you nothing quite like drinking under the stars.

1:12:21

Well, we'll let you get back to help Wilhelm.

1:12:23

We'll get out of your way. My duty gives you a salute.

1:12:28

Heads off. He's like Wilhelm, Where'd you go?

1:12:32

Claps him on the back in the,

1:12:34

in the other room and sweeps up his father as well in a conversation.

1:12:38

So that's them. Where do you all want head next?

1:12:41

We wanna meet this lady,

1:12:44

this lady. Pretty lady.

1:12:47

Yeah, for sure. Yeah. So you can exit this way and you get,

1:12:50

you know, casual directions towards where raina is.

1:12:54

And yeah, you enter a very similar kind of lounge parlor just on the other side of the house.

1:12:59

This one is more little bit more tastefully decorated.

1:13:01

Last one was very like stag heads and like like red velvet smoking couches and stuff and this is a little bit more,

1:13:09

a little more posh, nice fresh flowers and such velvet fainting couches and whatever as you head for all that fainting that women do.

1:13:20

Yes. Everyone expects women to think there's just a circle of fainting couches centered around and a bunch of women are just sitting there.

1:13:30

They're all sitting on them casually, you know drinking from this giant fucking goblet like glass picture thing of wine in the center of the table and you step inside and a couple of them yeah like rosy cheeked looking up at you as you come in and you very quickly clock that most of the women in this room are like in the like the maids in the house staff uniform just all kind of hanging out in this space.

1:13:56

And one of them towards, you know the front of the room is the only one in like the nice dinner attire looks like kind of the lady of the house and she's got sort of like a powder pale green hair look like that.

1:14:10

Maybe a set off. You're like okay these two the two elder and you've met so far.

1:14:14

She she looks over at you and she's like oh you you all are you?

1:14:21

You are the friends, right stands friends.

1:14:25

Yes. And Enzo. Yes, yes,

1:14:27

yes, yes, come in, come in. Do you need us to freshen your beverage?

1:14:31

Is she kind of giggles. And some of the other women in the room were like rosy cheek wine drunk.

1:14:38

It was looking at like a still full cocktail glass.

1:14:41

Well, whenever you need one, that's all,

1:14:44

it's so fine. Here please sit,

1:14:46

sit, sit, sit, are you enjoying the festival?

1:14:50

I'm sure it's much more fun out there than it is in here.

1:14:53

Oh, God, did I introduce myself?

1:14:56

I'm Ariadne e this is my summer house.

1:15:01

It's a pleasure to meet you. Welcome.

1:15:04

Thank you for having us. I mean it's beautiful.

1:15:08

You have such a beautiful summer home.

1:15:10

Like the fact that it's your summer home.

1:15:13

I mean we've paid a lot of very talented people to make it look beautiful.

1:15:20

So they thank you anyhow.

1:15:24

Is there, is there anything I can help you with?

1:15:27

Oh yeah, we were taking a look around,

1:15:32

trying to suss out exactly what's going on here.

1:15:37

Are you okay to speak here or did you want to go into a different room?

1:15:41

Oh, no, you can speak here.

1:15:44

Ladies business,

1:15:47

she says and looks around at the rest of you know,

1:15:50

the women in the room and they sort of like not knowing the,

1:15:53

you know the pick up one of the pictures and head out and she's like,

1:15:57

we need to get up early in the morning.

1:16:00

Don't be too probably fine.

1:16:04

Sit down. Thank you. There's one thing you learn how to do in Eldred society.

1:16:09

It's to put on a brave face in the morning I've heard anyhow.

1:16:14

Yes. What can I do for you?

1:16:16

Yes, questions. It seems to have been quite a few brave faces considering the mysterious events that have been happening around since the engagement was announced.

1:16:28

What's mysterious about it? It's young love that's mysterious in and of itself.

1:16:33

But you are happy to see you mean hormones flying around.

1:16:39

But you are happy to see this match met though they do look so lovely together.

1:16:44

So, you know, if you had asked me probably a year ago,

1:16:48

if I would approve of this,

1:16:52

I don't know if I would have said yes. But honestly,

1:16:55

I mean now the rain is my only daughter.

1:17:00

I don't think, you know, the family line is continuing.

1:17:03

I certainly have no more interest in having Children or anything else with my husband.

1:17:08

Why not be happy? You know,

1:17:11

there are plenty of juliana's out there. Much more qualified to take positions of power than my family.

1:17:17

So it is my gift to Enzo and Raina to let them be happy.

1:17:24

You know when Mina died, it all sort of came into focus.

1:17:29

I don't know. It's certainly not a natural thing to lose a child.

1:17:35

I'm I'm sorry for a loss.

1:17:37

No, certainly nothing I expected in my lifetime.

1:17:42

Parents are supposed to outlive their Children.

1:17:45

I'm not No. The other way.

1:17:49

Sorry, could you hand me that? And she like pointed the picture of wine.

1:17:54

Efa will certainly pour her a glass.

1:17:57

I mean, if you don't want to get into it,

1:18:00

that's that's certainly all right. But I mean,

1:18:02

no, let's get into it. You're here to investigate drowning.

1:18:07

Seems so unusual for a living at a place that's got a built in lake.

1:18:13

For living in a city on the ocean. Did you all suspect or investigate all?

1:18:21

The whole thing was terribly tragic.

1:18:24

It's mean it was out on the lake and it was a bad summer and storms.

1:18:31

And she must have been out there climbing on the rocks and she must have fallen when we found her.

1:18:39

She had a terrible blow to her head and she must have slipped.

1:18:44

And that's what, that's what killed her.

1:18:47

Isn't that always the way bright girl,

1:18:50

beautiful girl world of possibilities.

1:18:53

One little fall and it's all gone.

1:18:58

She go out there by herself.

1:19:01

It seems like there's so many people all over the place over here.

1:19:04

I don't know. Oh, both my girls.

1:19:07

I raised them to be their own. Yes. They were very adventurous.

1:19:11

Always climbing and swimming.

1:19:14

I want to do inside check.

1:19:18

Yeah, yeah. Oh,

1:19:21

Not bad, 19 plus seven,

1:19:25

Well, that's better than mine. So,

1:19:27

jesus christ you both keyed into this.

1:19:32

This woman seems really being really fucking honest about this whole thing and you know what?

1:19:39

She's probably the person you've seen who is probably the most on board with this relationship of anyone you've talked to so far and yeah,

1:19:46

she's she's sauced. So you can tell she's probably playing it up a little bit more than she actually is.

1:19:51

You don't know why maybe to be fun or like,

1:19:55

who knows? But she seems to believe with perfect honesty,

1:19:58

everything she's saying too, and she's really sad about it and honestly she misses her daughter a lot,

1:20:03

but she is really happy for her other daughter.

1:20:07

Well, I can only hope for a happy union between the two,

1:20:10

but I have to say it, it does come to some surprised to hear that at least your judgment of the situation regarding Mena's death is that she slipped and fell,

1:20:26

causing her to drown. That's not what we've heard.

1:20:29

I don't know what to tell you, but I was the one who had to identify the body.

1:20:33

So she was out there all the time out on that little island in the center of this lake lily is the whole fanfare.

1:20:44

She would go out there. How often it's there's a little cottage on the top.

1:20:49

You know, I know whenever the girls had friends or whatnot,

1:20:52

they would go and spend the night out there.

1:20:56

Get away. I certainly did that in my youth,

1:21:02

but there are quite a few rocks around there and like I said,

1:21:04

it was stormy that night. And climbing up their sheep.

1:21:09

She must have fallen. Why?

1:21:13

She was out there on such a godforsaken night?

1:21:15

I don't know. But she was always a very stubborn child.

1:21:18

So is Raina? It's part of their charm.

1:21:22

Tell me, does this frankly, I mean,

1:21:24

you know why we are here where we want to discover if there is any fae involvement?

1:21:29

So I have to ask, are there any debts owed in your family to the fe any favors?

1:21:37

Oh, goodness, no, no.

1:21:39

I've we we've been failing for so long.

1:21:42

It's you have to understand when you're in the society and you don't have a lot of No,

1:21:48

absolutely not. Would be a scandal.

1:21:51

I mean, I can't speak for myself, but I'm pretty sure my husband isn't interested enough to do such a thing.

1:21:58

And I doubt my daughter would be.

1:22:00

And Enzo looks an awful lot like you,

1:22:03

by the way. Don't think.

1:22:06

I haven't noticed. It seems like a perfectly honest boy.

1:22:11

I think he's quite good for my daughter actually.

1:22:14

I think it's probably a better match than he and Mina we're ever going to be.

1:22:17

And perhaps this is my fault for saying yes soon arranged marriage and this is the price I have to pay.

1:22:26

Don't want to believe that Karma is that harsh.

1:22:31

Who knows? I haven't been a very kind person in my life.

1:22:37

But it's politics. Well arranged marriage or not.

1:22:42

They were good people who still would have been good to each other.

1:22:45

I'm sure it's not like it was an act of cruelty to agree to such a thing.

1:22:50

No, but they didn't have what clearly rain and have,

1:22:56

you know, and perhaps I didn't even know what that looked like until I saw it.

1:23:02

I had an arranged marriage. Everyone, my mother had an arranged marriage and that's just sort of the way it's always been.

1:23:08

Here's to change and blue will pick up a glass new traditions.

1:23:15

Yes, cheers to that. I hope you figure out what's going on.

1:23:21

The very least it'll make for a funny story when they celebrate their 10 year and they get to look back at this wild time and laugh.

1:23:30

Yes. Well,

1:23:33

we would love to speak to your daughter if you could point us in the right direction.

1:23:38

Ranger was in here earlier, but she's she's bored and tired all this.

1:23:43

I think the stress, She's already retired for the evening,

1:23:46

but please do catch us at breakfast.

1:23:49

Poor girl! She's been through hell. And everyone keeps looking at her sideways,

1:23:53

accusing her of being pregnant. She's not,

1:23:55

I assure you. But if I hear the word shotgun wedding one more time,

1:23:59

I think I'm actually going to kill someone.

1:24:01

We would never say anything like that.

1:24:04

I would not want to be on the long.

1:24:07

The pointy end of a sword with you holding it. That's for certain.

1:24:10

I'm better with a sword than I look,

1:24:13

you better believe it. Okay,

1:24:16

well, how many days do we have left until the wedding?

1:24:21

So this will be officially,

1:24:23

so it's going to be on the festival day. So this is one night.

1:24:27

So you've got two more nights and then on the dawn of the next day is the is it like late night time to say good night?

1:24:36

We can't really chat with any more people.

1:24:38

Yeah, it's getting around 9, 10.

1:24:40

So people are probably gonna start to retire because if dinner went long and of course,

1:24:44

you know, it was long because they're rich. So then multiple courses and then they're all,

1:24:47

they've already had drinks. People are starting to fade very quickly.

1:24:50

Like, like the lady of the house here seems about ready to go to sleep on this fainting couch.

1:24:56

Okay, Tony's gonna crowd y'all and say,

1:25:00

okay, I want to stay on the grounds for this night.

1:25:08

I just to see if anything passes through.

1:25:12

I don't know what I'll find. I'm not expecting anything.

1:25:15

But I just want to be close to the family tonight while we wait for the morning to chat with Raina.

1:25:23

Did you want to stay with Enzo tonight and watch,

1:25:30

I can I mean if you guys don't mind,

1:25:34

I can come meet up with you later. I don't need a lot of sleep.

1:25:36

So I just wanted to go meet with cassie at the lake.

1:25:42

Oh please. But if if you need me um find anyone with one of these and she has like a little ear piece uh and scream at it.

1:25:54

And I will probably also scream and ruin my date but I will come just scream at a party planner lou get over here because even if I can't hear you they're going to talk about you in five seconds.

1:26:07

True. I would be happy to stay with Enzo tonight.

1:26:12

I think I might try something.

1:26:16

I've got an idea. Oh that's the secret idea or I've got a bit of magic that lets me see invisible things.

1:26:27

So if there's something sneaking into his room at night at least for a few hours I'll be able to detect it.

1:26:35

Just a little thing I can see invisible things.

1:26:38

You magic users are crazy. I mean your glasses do the same.

1:26:43

You know also see magic ship but do you know how hard I had to work to make blow some sequence around I deeply these in the blood of a door.

1:26:53

Yeah. So yeah I lose going to want to do that.

1:27:00

If you guys are okay by yourselves and then she'll come meet up with you.

1:27:04

Yes go have your date.

1:27:06

It's a get to know each other.

1:27:09

I wouldn't say date. She didn't say date,

1:27:12

she said meet by the lake. So that could be that could be anything.

1:27:17

I might get murdered. Who knows?

1:27:20

I very much doubt that lou you're very hard to murder.

1:27:25

She's just a consultant anyway.

1:27:27

I mean oh maybe you should go to that island.

1:27:33

Maybe find a robo and do some investigating and have a meet cute two birds,

1:27:39

one stone date and an investigation.

1:27:43

Some Scooby doo bullshit.

1:27:46

Yeah. You don't think that would be off putting.

1:27:51

I mean if you don't think so. I mean I do that's what kill and I did and look at where we are now.

1:27:58

I just I feel a little like guilty as it is like leaving you guys to go do this.

1:28:03

But so I wouldn't mind if you don't think it will be extremely detrimental to anything happening because I I mean not like happening.

1:28:14

Just I wanted to go.

1:28:16

Well she seems extremely up for adventure.

1:28:21

I'm sure I got blocked picks if I had knives and the cold iron dagger.

1:28:29

Oh this is not a date outfit.

1:28:33

Okay, so they're pushing you like lou please go.

1:28:37

So if a you are going to go into Enzo's room and watch over him while he sleeps.

1:28:42

And then Tony where were you headed? I'm just going to be in the property,

1:28:46

like the grounds just to see things coming in and out of the building.

1:28:50

Anything like that. Just like a guard dog.

1:28:54

So kind of walking around like the perimeter house is pretty big.

1:28:57

So just sort of walking around the outside.

1:29:00

Okay so you all you know,

1:29:02

heading your separate ways and you know you link up with Enzo eventually who he's like,

1:29:08

all right. I'm yeah, he gets you know,

1:29:10

has you wait in his room when he gets into jammies and brushes his teeth and stuff.

1:29:16

He's like, you know, I I genuinely can't say I've ever had somebody watch me fall asleep.

1:29:22

But you know what? I'm very tired.

1:29:24

So you'll forget I'm here.

1:29:28

Do you need anything like a,

1:29:30

like a I don't know, a robe.

1:29:32

Like, I don't know what to offer you a robe.

1:29:35

She, you know, she like picks up a pillow and she like smoosh is it?

1:29:40

And fluffs it and throws it behind her and she's like,

1:29:42

don't like don't mind me, I'm fine.

1:29:45

I've never done this either if it makes you feel any better.

1:29:49

But you know, strange times.

1:29:52

Yeah, it's sort of like a like a sleepover.

1:29:55

Just like a when your kids not like a anyway,

1:29:59

okay, I'm gonna go to sleep I guess.

1:30:02

Okay, goodnight. Like throws the covers up over his head.

1:30:07

You you settle in for a long night,

1:30:10

Tony. You begin your walk about and as you are,

1:30:13

you know, people are, the night is definitely winding down.

1:30:16

The memory is still popping for a couple of hours,

1:30:19

but somewhere around one a.m. people started to finally drift back to their tents.

1:30:23

A lot of them giggling. A lot of them going in pairs back to you.

1:30:27

You know, it's it's hookup city for sure.

1:30:29

Don't forget to oxy as the time for its at the time for lovers and a lucky time to get married and starting your relationships and people are really feeling that summer heat vibe.

1:30:40

And then yeah, so liu So you go in towards the edge of the lake where you were going to meet Cassie,

1:30:47

Yep, she's just on the way is like straightening her hair and redoing it like 18 times and finally just like suck it and just leaves it down all over the place.

1:30:57

And she's like, this is this is a like I look less uptight,

1:31:01

sure she's just like talking to herself and takes a deep breath.

1:31:04

She's like, shut the fuk up lou go talk to a woman marches down to the lake.

1:31:12

Yeah. And you do. And you see like sitting uh you know on one of the many benches kind of ringing the lakeside,

1:31:20

it's absolutely meant for, you know, viewing and it's a beautiful summer night as well.

1:31:25

You know, full moon stars all over the place.

1:31:27

Just freaking gorgeous. And you see,

1:31:30

you know, cassie sitting there on one of these benches and she seems again looking up at the sky,

1:31:34

she hears your footsteps and turns around and says,

1:31:37

oh, hey, hey, glad you came.

1:31:40

Hope you weren't waiting too long. I mean how could you be mad waiting and all this.

1:31:47

This is this place is gorgeous.

1:31:50

That's true. I actually prefer nighttime sometimes,

1:31:54

especially in the summer is just so fucking bright all the time.

1:31:58

Oh right. Yeah that eyesight thing right?

1:32:02

With. Yeah. Yeah.

1:32:04

I mean it's not usually too bad. It's only like really bright glaring light.

1:32:08

So it's not it's not too much of a hindrance but I just I always like nighttime better anyway,

1:32:14

feels magical. Yeah, absolutely.

1:32:17

I mean I think probably most of the best things in my life have happened to me at night.

1:32:24

Maybe another best thing can happen today night.

1:32:29

Well I certainly like that. Do you wanna keep sitting or walk around?

1:32:34

I don't know are you a walking talker or Oh God stare serenely at the lake.

1:32:39

I mean I could I could go either way. Uh Actually I don't know I feel weird about asking this,

1:32:47

but I, you know I am here for a reason and I I was wondering there was a little cabin of sorts on island.

1:32:57

Maybe we could take a like a boat trip out there and look around together,

1:33:04

get some work done when we get to know each other.

1:33:06

So I feel less fucking awkward. Okay you want to take me to a cabin on a lake at night?

1:33:14

All right. Oh, but I mean I just like whatever we're both comfortable,

1:33:24

we'll see. I mean I'm good.

1:33:28

Do you have a but I guess we can probably find one around here right.

1:33:35

Who just like looks around with her like crazy laser drought vision in the night to see if you can find one.

1:33:41

Yeah there are a couple you know like those little like locked up boat houses,

1:33:45

you know where that looks like they probably have like paddle boats like that's,

1:33:48

that's what you would need. Like one of those things you would sit in two people to like go across the lake.

1:33:54

It's a swan. Yeah,

1:33:57

this is like a lake that would be in a major parks like golden gate park in san Francisco or you know central Park like in new york like that's about the size of it.

1:34:05

So it's a very cute paddleboat like a little bit like I mean so I mean not that efficient but I see some paddle boats over there that works for you transportation wise.

1:34:18

Yeah sure. Okay great.

1:34:21

She's like, so can I ask,

1:34:23

I don't know. Again, I I don't know just let me know if this is like a me being too curious or insulting.

1:34:30

I'm sure I probably almost insulted your friend earlier when I asked if she was from the wild and she's seder but honestly I have not met a lot of drought in the empire and I was just wondering is that did you grow up in the empire or no,

1:34:45

I actually, I, I grew up for like Not to tell my age but literally to tell my age.

1:34:53

I grew up until I was about 40 in the under dark and then the underworld and then eventually,

1:35:01

you know, it wasn't the best growing up,

1:35:06

but I found my found family and came up to the surface and been here a little over 50 years.

1:35:17

And I mean, oh my God, the food,

1:35:19

she's like, okay, we're about the same age,

1:35:22

then I'm always a little worried, that's always so awkward when you're like,

1:35:25

I'm like, I'm sort of Yeah,

1:35:31

I mean it's definitely a conversation to have when,

1:35:34

when Yeah. And I have I have literally no idea how long I'm going to live.

1:35:38

I think I'm the only half elf half Children I've ever met.

1:35:44

So who knows? Kind of like roulette.

1:35:47

Well, you know, I mean you're you're making it work for you.

1:35:51

I think you are like just you're so pretty.

1:35:59

I how did you know what was growing up like with that?

1:36:06

Yeah. And she's, you know, she's smiling at everything you're saying and kind of,

1:36:09

you know, nodding her head along like and sort of letting you,

1:36:13

she's not like looking at you. There's no judgment coming from her and she's like,

1:36:17

well it was pretty weird, you know,

1:36:20

to culture is really different from each other,

1:36:23

but I don't know. My parents did their best to make it work,

1:36:29

but I never really fit in anywhere.

1:36:32

I guess that's why or I kind of fit in everywhere at the same time,

1:36:37

right, pick up a little bit of everything and I don't know,

1:36:42

I just eventually just started going wherever my heart took me.

1:36:46

I'm sure books were a great escape to,

1:36:49

you know? Oh yeah,

1:36:51

I mean, well, I mean, what I love about books,

1:36:53

it's not so much the escape, but just the,

1:36:55

I guess an excuse right to go everywhere and learn about everyone.

1:37:05

Right. It's amazing how many places you can get into if you just say,

1:37:10

hey man, I'm just here to like learn about you.

1:37:13

I it's opened so many doors.

1:37:16

I can't imagine just speaking to anybody like that and having something come out of it.

1:37:25

Like uh, that's,

1:37:28

that's really incredible here after you.

1:37:32

And she'll like take her hand and like help her to the paddle boat.

1:37:35

Oh yeah, thanks. She gets down.

1:37:37

She's like, I don't think I've steered one of these since I was a kid,

1:37:42

is that is that? She's like going back and forth on the pedal.

1:37:46

She's like, is this, wait, is it that way we do it at the same time as the opposite ways we'll go at the same time.

1:37:54

It's gonna be a lot better. There's a few of these back in where my family is so from.

1:38:01

I love it. There some of the best galleries,

1:38:05

libraries, all of that,

1:38:07

wow, it was hard to leave,

1:38:10

but I mean I wouldn't be here and this place is gorgeous.

1:38:14

So yeah,

1:38:16

pedal out and to finally get rhythm and sort of make it like halfway kind of out the lake,

1:38:21

like heading towards this, this island in the center.

1:38:24

I think it's probably like a minute of silence and she says,

1:38:27

so I don't wanna again sort of rush into anything here.

1:38:34

But I do get a really good feeling about you and us and stuff and I just kind of want to ask this big love you had,

1:38:47

right and lost. And I know I'm sorry,

1:38:50

I'm not supposed to know about your friend is really forthcoming and stuff and I feel bad that she told me so much.

1:38:57

So I'm just gonna level with you and said, you know, that happened and I know that.

1:39:00

And was this something like,

1:39:03

uh, Like a major personality flaw that I should avoid or some kind of like a,

1:39:10

you know, I mean, it's a whole thing.

1:39:12

You see someone and then like 10 years.

1:39:15

That's a lot to live up to like, I don't know,

1:39:17

is that okay?

1:39:20

We're gonna talk about this on the first date.

1:39:22

I mean, sorry. I really like,

1:39:25

I know this is so not where I would have started this,

1:39:29

but it got brought up. So it's clearly something big I guess.

1:39:35

I mean, I'm not gonna beat around the bush.

1:39:38

You know, I don't really is someone who's not exclusively dating elves or anything like that.

1:39:47

You know, I kind of don't believe in one true love because who knows,

1:39:54

I don't want to live my life alone, but she was really special.

1:39:59

And I thought that we were gonna have a lot longer together and that's not how it worked out.

1:40:05

But I mean I mean everybody who met her just loved her.

1:40:12

It wasn't just me, she was she saw the best in every person.

1:40:17

She was able to listen to me go on and on and on and get in my own head and understand what I was trying to say easily.

1:40:27

And if she didn't for one time she would just sit back and let me explain.

1:40:32

And I really have struggled since losing her too to show people what I want to show them.

1:40:44

Sorry. But I you're talking to me.

1:40:48

So I mean it's it's not it's not like I'm gonna be like,

1:40:54

oh comparing my partners for the rest of my life about it.

1:41:00

I don't want you to think that I just you know,

1:41:03

I'm never not gonna say she wasn't special to me and not talk about her,

1:41:08

but I'm not gonna be comparing anybody if that's like what makes you nervous?

1:41:16

No, no,

1:41:18

I thank you for telling me.

1:41:20

I I know what that's like,

1:41:24

well probably not exactly like that. But you know when you have people close to you and I guess ghosts around you,

1:41:33

I know what that's like to have to live with a ghost and I'm really glad you had that kind of love in your life.

1:41:42

It makes us stronger, you know for having it and yeah,

1:41:47

she definitely made me better and I I mean I hope that,

1:41:51

I mean I know there there are lots of people that I've had in my life who have done that for me and I hope that I find a lot more so I think that I don't know,

1:42:01

it's really weird to me that you're not jumping off the side of this boat.

1:42:04

I don't even actually like boats to be honest with you.

1:42:06

I'm just trying to act really confident. I don't either but I just you know,

1:42:10

I'm leaning into it but she she like taps you on the knee and she's like listen I have a feeling you're gonna meet a lot of people in your life who love you,

1:42:21

you just have that way about you.

1:42:24

She's you know, smells like,

1:42:28

I mean I'm not, I hope I can get to know you more and you know,

1:42:35

I'm not gonna pressure you about your own ghost.

1:42:39

Yeah. Um I guess I mean you were so honest with me.

1:42:44

I should probably. Alright,

1:42:47

I'm just gonna lay all my cards out on the table right here I guess so you know,

1:42:52

being a researcher is one part of what I am.

1:42:56

And then what is that?

1:43:00

She says and kind of looks off across the water when you see something it looks like a figure.

1:43:09

Is it like on the edge of the island,

1:43:14

sort of like laying prone and like the sandy beach sort of like a lump of like white there.

1:43:23

Do you see that? She kind of squints and she's like,

1:43:26

yeah or let's paddle.

1:43:31

Yeah. And you like start kind of paddling harder and around this time I think if a two you've been definitely like it's been hours your how you like kind of drifting off,

1:43:40

nothing has happened. Enzo has been sleeping an occasional snore of just the exhausted since he does seem to be like asleep.

1:43:50

She'll take the time to to look around his room and to look for any of those little clear glass marbles that she's seen in the past because maybe it was a little dream dragons who paid him a visit or you know,

1:44:02

and so and very faithfully every hour she casts the invisibility just so if anything creeps through,

1:44:10

you know, through the door, through the window, through anything she'll,

1:44:13

she'll catch it. But she's definitely like pinching her cheeks and giving them a little slap and yeah,

1:44:19

like oh my God. Yeah. And like you keep like doing this and like waking up and whatever and like yes,

1:44:25

the spell and you're like, oh man, hours just tick tick tick by and you're like nothing like and Tony,

1:44:32

it's been mostly the same for you to just patrolling around.

1:44:35

It's like after everybody goes to sleep,

1:44:37

it's you know around two and probably for all of you around like you know,

1:44:42

one am two am Tony.

1:44:45

Why don't you go ahead and make me a perception check just while you're outside,

1:44:51

see what side of the house you're on? If you hear this.

1:44:54

11 11,

1:44:57

okay then you you do not hear this,

1:44:59

but to a scream,

1:45:03

like a shrieking, shrill scream comes from just down the hall,

1:45:08

not in Enzo's room, it sounds like down the hallway like towards one of the other bedrooms.

1:45:13

A woman just bloody murder screaming and then she starts going help help somebody.

1:45:20

Oh my God, screaming down the hall.

1:45:24

Books it Yeah, so you go and you see Enzo's like kind of like wakes up,

1:45:30

it's like what's going on from sleep?

1:45:33

So before she runs out, she'll yell it. And so I always like snorting himself awake.

1:45:38

She'd be like, stay here, lock the door,

1:45:40

make sure the windows stay closed,

1:45:42

I'll handle it, okay,

1:45:44

Okay. And you're like, yeah, he's struggling and my shoes just trying to figure out what's going on.

1:45:50

And you burst out of the bedroom hall and you can see like down the hall where this is like a row of bedrooms,

1:45:56

you know, one of these long hallways towards a door like three or four down from where you are.

1:46:01

There appears to be like a chambermaid,

1:46:04

she's out there, she's holding like linens and stuff where she was that are now crumpled on the ground and you can see the door to the room is open and water is just gushing out like pouring seeping over her feet and like dripping over,

1:46:19

you know the banister that leads down to the other floor and she looks at you,

1:46:22

she's like, help him,

1:46:25

she says and looks at you and waving to something inside the room,

1:46:30

she'll go inside. So as you pass through the door,

1:46:33

you see Tony's Uncle Laurie,

1:46:37

he is like on his bed and you see he's there's like water that is dripping down across it.

1:46:42

Like, like a bunch of water was just dropped down,

1:46:45

you can't see the source. It's not really coming from anywhere,

1:46:48

but it's moving across like the bed and the floor and seeping out into the hallway here and he is like convulsing on the bed here and he seems to be like choking and you can see like water is coming out of his mouth,

1:47:01

it's almost like he's drowning like and he's like clutching at his throat like he can't breathe now if you will immediately run and she'll go to the chambermaid and she'll be like,

1:47:13

there's a half orc woman outside, named Tony,

1:47:16

go get her immediately. She's patrolling the house.

1:47:19

Yeah, I'll do what I can okay?

1:47:22

And she goes and she she she books it and people are starting to wake up across the house.

1:47:26

Yeah, now and it's not long Tony, you know,

1:47:28

you have somebody like you hear somebody screaming for you from outside and but yeah,

1:47:33

what are you doing? Like right away. This guy is he is not going to live very long immediately.

1:47:39

She'll take the sheets and she'll use them in order to try and like drag him out of the out of the bed and out of the water.

1:47:49

And will is there is there a place where the water is not as high?

1:47:53

Where if she were to put him up on his side?

1:47:55

Yeah, so the water isn't high anywhere,

1:47:59

it's like only a couple inches of sewer water.

1:48:01

But as you like kind of turn him on his side,

1:48:04

you can tell he's expelling water.

1:48:06

It's like he's not a submerged in water.

1:48:09

It's like water is generated inside his lungs and you can't tell it's like he's dry drowning but he's coughing up water as if he had it all around him and he's looking at you,

1:48:21

his eyes are open, he's fully awake of this.

1:48:23

He's fucking terrified looking at you and he can't talk because the water is like spewing out of his mouth and yeah,

1:48:31

knowing what what little she can do,

1:48:34

she'll put him on the side, she's like patting on his back to help him cough it up,

1:48:38

get it out of his lungs. And then while she's doing that she'll she'll cast a lesser restoration on him.

1:48:44

Hopefully that maybe it'll do something.

1:48:48

Yeah. Yeah. So as you like kind of flip him so he's not like on his back anymore.

1:48:53

You can see like more of the water is absolutely like coming out of him and he's coughing and choking as like this water is like moving on to the floor and it just keeps on coming and like when it finally like slows down to a trickle,

1:49:05

you know, you reach out with that magic and you can feel like it looked like he was about to probably lose consciousness but you can restore him to like some kind of semblance of normalcy is,

1:49:17

you know, his burning lungs, he's coughing out everything he has and then Tony that's probably about the time you would get there like as you see your uncle like soaking wet as if he's been dripped in water on his side.

1:49:28

And if a is like slamming his back then she let him back on his back and then she wants to like open up his mouth and see if there's like anything in it.

1:49:38

Yeah. And he's he's yeah, he's so he's so in shock.

1:49:41

He yeah, he opens there's nothing and and Tony like as you're running into the room too,

1:49:47

you can see the water drying up like beneath your feet almost like it's under intense heat suddenly and it's all disappearing kind of rising up into this almost silvery mist on the floor before it evaporates and there doesn't seem to be much of anything.

1:50:06

But yeah Tony, you step into the room, you're seeing this water evaporate and you're like uncle laying on the bed,

1:50:12

what are you doing? He's conscious and spitting of water.

1:50:16

Yeah. So it looks it looks like now that has gotten the bulk of the water out.

1:50:21

So he's out of danger right? As these last things are like dribbling and he's just like,

1:50:25

what's going on is he's soaking wet and seems to have like stabilized him.

1:50:30

And the water's stopping now. I don't know,

1:50:33

I don't know what this is. Are you okay?

1:50:36

Do you remember anything? Were you dreaming?

1:50:40

And he's he's like rasping because I all all of his air,

1:50:46

everything in his body was heaving.

1:50:48

He's like, I don't uh And you see his eyes kind of gaze up and like across you know from the four poster bed that is into the far wall and he goes so pale,

1:51:07

so so pale as he looks at two words that are written there on that wall,

1:51:12

like scratched in. You can both follow his gaze and it says see me with my c invisibility on.

1:51:22

Do I see anything I could see into the ephemeral plane?

1:51:26

You don't you don't see anything with your magic sense.

1:51:30

But as the water evaporates and even your uncle,

1:51:34

like he's still damp but nothing around him is it's like the water just vanished.

1:51:40

And just that message remains see me written on that wall and lou and cassie as you were getting closer and closer to this island,

1:51:51

you can see it now. Like as as you're approaching there's a girl just laying out there in like a crumpled white nightgown just clinging to her like she swam here.

1:52:04

You had to guess and she looks pale and you're not sure if she's dead or she's sleeping or what.

1:52:12

But she looks an awful lot like that woman with her pale green,

1:52:17

you know powder hair, that ultra woman you just met before and you think that might be raina and that's where we're gonna end the episode for today.

1:52:31

Ah It's a mystery.

1:52:36

My family shit.

1:52:40

You family messed yes,

1:52:42

messed up and some stuff.

1:52:45

Mm hmm.

1:52:48

Yeah. You monkey almost died luckily if is there with Lester restoration though.

1:52:52

Oh no, this is why I always make my family in D.

1:52:56

And D. A mystery and sad and disappeared because family sh it hurts me.

1:53:03

I solemnly swear I will never ever hurt your like first line of family all of you.

1:53:08

So no, no fathers,

1:53:11

no mothers, no immediate siblings or brown family or otherwise.

1:53:15

But your your second branch of families and more as well.

1:53:19

So we were like, here's our family on a silver platter.

1:53:24

Thank you know,

1:53:26

you know I would never hurt your dad's or your mom's or your siblings but it's okay if a saved him it's fine.

1:53:34

Thank you to just doing what we can holy sh it.

1:53:40

But anyway, thank you all so much for joining us for another episode of Venture Maiden if you like what we do,

1:53:45

please do. Like subscribe if you're watching this on the video platform,

1:53:49

hit that button. It really makes a difference and if you toss a couple of bucks by subscribing on twitter youtube all the better.

1:53:54

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1:54:00

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1:54:04

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1:54:10

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1:54:14

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1:54:18

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1:54:22

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1:54:24

Patreon dot com slash Venture Maidens head on over there and you can only donate at an annual level for the year or monthly.

1:54:33

As well as $1 gets you access to so much cool stuff like hundreds of hours of bonus content.

1:54:38

We recently did a special Halloween bonus episode that is only going to be in podcast form on our Patreon as opposed to remain feed.

1:54:46

So that's a cool thing. You can do learn a little bit about a very favorite pumpkin spirit uh and such by heading over to patreon dot com and just throwing us a couple of bucks beyond that.

1:54:59

Did we have news? Yeah.

1:55:03

Yeah, so hopefully if you've been paying attention,

1:55:06

you know that there have been protests in Iran for over a month now and they have progressed to a revolution,

1:55:13

the first feminist revolution in history.

1:55:17

It is groundbreaking. It's unbelievable to happen in Iran of all places.

1:55:22

And they are asking for basically a new system.

1:55:27

They're done with the regime and they have have been out day and night every day for over a month protesting and demonstrating for a new government and you can follow activist in Iran Iranian creators,

1:55:43

artists, celebrities like they we've been posting that I've been posting follow me like I'm posting about it nonstop if you want updates.

1:55:53

Um, but there's a lot you can do to support.

1:55:55

And it's even as what seems trivial and past movements as social media re posting and retweeting all those kinds of things.

1:56:03

It's actually a good thing in this movement.

1:56:06

If you can repost retweet share the things you hear about Iran and the protesters on the ground.

1:56:13

That's a big help. And there's a website that I believe will be posted in the chat right now.

1:56:21

Um, I did not mention it last time.

1:56:23

Let me say the words out loud this time. It's N U F D Iran dot org.

1:56:30

There will will be a link and chat right now that will lead you to a script,

1:56:36

you can copy and paste send to your representatives and it will also help you identify locate the email address numbers of your representatives because remember they work for you.

1:56:46

This is not political. This is a demand for basic human rights in Iran and you can copy and paste this script,

1:56:54

send it to your representatives. Ask them to support those voices and their demands so that their sacrifices aren't in vain.

1:57:04

They have been fighting day and night for change for basic human rights.

1:57:09

And you can help both retweeting re re sharing all those things.

1:57:15

Contact your representatives. That's what we that's what we want.

1:57:19

And believe me, we are paying attention. We are seeing the people who are participating.

1:57:24

Yes. And then also if you are listening in the podcast audience,

1:57:27

that link will be in the show notes.

1:57:30

So if you go just look at this episode in whatever podcast app you're on,

1:57:34

look down there. The link is right there so you can figure out what to do if you're not in the US and you're listening or watching,

1:57:41

please share the link with folks that you know um in the U.

1:57:45

S. Um please get the word out.

1:57:47

It is the best way to make change.

1:57:51

Great. So thank you thank you. And of course we always want to take some time at the end of the episode to say thank you to those folks who do donate to us on Patreon at the highest donor tears.

1:58:01

Um you folks are awesome. You keep the lights on your fucking rock stars.

1:58:06

Uh so let's go ahead and take some time to say thank you.

1:58:09

Thank you so much. Cody. Becker at Cody rolls for on twitter.

1:58:13

Thank you Debbie. Thank you curry.

1:58:16

Thank you muffin at the one on jury lane.

1:58:19

Thank you so much. Mr Mckinnon.

1:58:22

And for our affairs, drinking mates tear.

1:58:24

Thank you chris Markle.

1:58:26

I thank you. Thank you fable.

1:58:29

Thank you so much, Tony.

1:58:31

Thank you sheep. And Ben,

1:58:34

thank you also known as flower crown gaming.

1:58:37

Alright, that's it. That's all we have for you folks.

1:58:40

So thanks so much. I've been your dungeon master celeste kana.

1:58:43

Which Hello,

1:58:45

I'm Katie and I've been playing with very severe drought.

1:58:48

Rogue cell. Um I am Naseem.

1:58:51

I have been playing your half work. Fighter,

1:58:53

Tony Silverton and I'm your life raft.

1:58:57

Eva flannery played by Sage.

1:59:00

Your first date barred.

1:59:02

Birthday barred saver of family.

1:59:06

Love and life. Yes. Uh Thank you all so much for joining us.

1:59:10

I can't wait to see what happens next time in two weeks.

1:59:14

But until then everybody venture