The Craven and the Socialite

Facility Event: Rhythmic Resolutions

Episode 1

The Craven and the Socialite

Next Quest

A Dissonant Duo

Summary

The prince visits the town of Quinbell, where a local lady named Catherine asks for help with their summer festival. When a social outcast named Eugene refuses to pitch in, the two have an altercation which is interrupted by the appearance of a curious and lovely creature.

Dialogue

Comparisons are a common thing
As rocs are set against the merles
Though miles apart, we're yet alike
All are but fools, so let us whirl
Weeeell, if it isn't Eugene! Man, when you told Catherine you weren't gonna help with the summer festival, I thought every vein in her forehead was gonna burst. Oh, er... Um... Yeah, I guess. Dunno why she even cared, honestly. Waste of space like that... Don't make a difference whether he pitches in or not.

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Festivals are stupid anyway. It's way better for me to chill with you here, right, Sam? Suu suu. Quinbell: A country town in South Grastaea that
enjoys cultural interchange with Hinomoto.
In honor of this relationship, the town hosts an
annual summer festival in the Hinomotoan style.
Whoa, check out the festival stage! Wonder what the deal with this thing is? As I understand it, people surround the stage and perform what's called a bon dance. Dude, that sounds like fun on a bun! I wish we had one of these thingies back at the Halidom so ol' Notte could cut some rug. I wonder if a bon dance resembles a traditional ballroom dance? Two people joining hands and gazing lovingly into each other's eyes... Eeeee! The bon dance is not a partnered affair, but rather a solo one. Ribbon? In place! Skirt? Of the finest cut! Luxurious curls? PERFECTION! I am pleased to make your acquaintances, good people of the Halidom. My name is Catherine, and I am the acting mayor of Quinbell. Oho! Oho ho ho ho! The Perfect Lady

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Catherine
Please allow me to welcome you to our town. You must be the representatives of the festival planners, yes? That's right. Unfortunately, Yaten and the others are pretty busy this time of year, so they asked us to come in their place. You have my gratitude. And to show it, permit me to offer you these coupons for use at the night shops. That is SO perfectly you, Cat! Ever-so-slightly magnanimous! So long as I hold the reins, this year's festival shall be a vision of perfection! I've even summoned a special guest, which ensures all will have a rollicking good time! Oho ho ho! Miss Catherine, this is terrible! All the members of the young people's organization are wiped out! Message for you, Cat! She says the young people's organization has been wiped out. ...Wait, WHAT?! I fear they all overdid themselves with the festivities last night, and they're in no shape to be going out. But they were responsible for escorting tourists, running the night shops, and everything else besides! Oh dear, I fear we may have to postpone the festi— Resolutely and absolutely NOT! There will be no further talk of canceling my perfect festival. Cat, you know I love you, but this festival requires a ridiculous amount of manpower. How are we supposed to get around that? If our labor force is running low, we'll simply have to recruit from different quarters. And why, may I ask, are you looking in our direction? If wagging tongues are to be believed, a great deal of your work at the Halidom involves the helping of others. And ON that note, I would like to formally request your assistance in ensuring that my summer festival is sheer perfection! She's asking, but I don't think she's ACTUALLY asking... I don't mind helping. Heck, there are plenty of folks in the Halidom who love putting on big events like this. Cat, we can't just ask these people to help for FREE—that would be terribly gauche. Indeed it would, Sandy. And in that case, perhaps our reserve materials for the stage might serve as payment? Then you can build your own in the Halidom. A hometown bon dance? Yes! BIG yes! All of us! Notte speaks for everyone at the Halidom in this matter! Well, I'm glad that's settled. Now then, chop chop, everyone! We've plenty of work to do, and little time to do it. Oho! Oho ho ho ho ho!

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This Halidom certainly does seem to be bursting with highly talented people. Perhaps tomorrow's festival will be a grand success after all! Hmm... What is it, Cat? You look troubled. The people in charge of procuring items and managing the festival are mostly from the Halidom—which means OUR festival is in danger of becoming THEIR festival. If this is anyone's festival, it is MINE. At the very least, we need to get the assistance of more Quinbellians. We're an older town, Cat, and this kind of work requires a lot of heavy lifting. We may not have any more young people who CAN help. Well, there is one—though I fear he's rather dour and craven. You can't possibly mean Eugene, can you? He might be better than nothing. "Might" being the operative word... Still, it is intolerable to think that boy is just sitting on his hands and not helping one whit with my summer festival! Sandy! Becky! Take care of things here! I have a slacker to wrangle. Intolerable, is it?

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All right, my turn now. I rolled a ten, so my light infantry gets to advance. Introverted Young Man

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Eugene
Suuuuuu suu! Hardening your defenses with heavy cavalry? In that case, my next move is— EUGEEEEEENE! GET OUT HERE AT ONCE! Crap, it's the one-woman idiot brigade. We gotta hide, Sam! I know you're in there sucking down nougat and playing those absurd board games! If you don't come out this instant, I shall break down your front door myself! Hmm. Perhaps he's actually gone out. I don't see how anyone could have heard that speech and resisted its charms. Well, I suppose I'll be off! La de dum... Looks like we slipped the idiot trap. CATHERIIIIIINE KICK OF PERFECTION! I KNEW you were here! Next time I knock, young man, I expect you to come bounding forth with the speed of a thousand hares. Hey! I NEED that door! Oh, stop fussing over a measly door. Great minds dwell not on small matters. It's not small! It costs money and all to get it fixed! What do you even WANT, gosh? The people from the youth organization have all been felled by exhaustion, and your help with the festival is better than no help at all. ...Probably. Yeah, I don't help with stupid crap. People who go to festivals and talk about dumb stuff like making summer memories are all empty-headed morons. They'll be like, "Oh, we don't want to get separated!" and use it as an excuse to hold hands and be all over each other and barfy stuff like that. I wouldn't help with that junk if you kicked in all my doors. Heck, you can kick ME! Go on! Kick me to death! I'll never help! As ever, I have absolutely NO idea what you are on about. In any case, I came here to get you myself, so it's time to suck it up and be grateful. Now get to thanking me! Haaaah! Wh-wha?! No! Lemme go, you crazy lady! Suu! Suu! No, Sam! Stay inside! Heavens above, what IS that creature?! Suu!