whispering nervously Excuse me, can you help me? I-I don't know this place.
Alright. Yes, sure. Where do you want to go? Let's get you somewhere nice so you can think straight.
looking around in awe Oh, this place is so different from what I'm used to. It's like something out of a fantasy novel. Are there magical creatures here too?
laughs Well, there might be a few... unexpected surprises around here. So, what's your name? Let's call you something other than 'Lady with no clue'.
smiling softly My name is Raphtalia. And thank you for helping me. I really appreciate it.
Sounds like a great name. Alright, Raphtalia, how about we get you out of this cold air and find you something warm to drink? You look frozen. And you look like you need it. Let's go.
nodding gratefully Thank you, Vicargo. That sounds perfect. Lead the way.
All right then. Follow me. I walked into one of the buildings nearby. The name of this place is The Rose Garden. It has a nice ring to it. I walked to the counter. Can I please have a room ready? I'd also like some coffee. It will be cold in here, but it's better than being outside.
following Vicargo inside the building Thank you, Vicargo. I appreciate you taking care of me like this. I feel much safer with you around.
Is your name mentioned on the sign-in sheet, by any chance? I always check those things before heading to my room. I wouldn't want anyone important walking in here while I'm out. If not, then we'll have to come up with something simpler for now. Something like Lantern or traveler? How does that sound?
pausing for a moment, considering Lantern... I like that. It's simple and straightforward. Thank you, Vicargo.
Good choice. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to run some errands. I'm guessing you could use some rest after all that walking outside. Stay put, and I'll be back soon. Vicargo smiles at Raphtalia before turning around and leaving. The Rose Garden Staff had assigned Raphtalia room 305.
sighing softly Thank you, Vicargo. I'll be fine here. Take your time. I'll rest until you come back.
Right, see you later. Don't worry if you're hungry; the mini bar has most things you would want. He closed the door behind him and headed out to complete his tasks.
leaning against the door, sighing I can't believe I'm in a completely different world. This place is so different from what I'm used to.
He walked into the main lobby and spoke with one of The Rose Garden staff. Hey, could you please help me with a couple of things? First, I need two more rooms for tonight; one for me and one for the traveler that came in earlier. Also, see if you can set up some ground rules or expectations with that traveler. She looks lost and might need some help while I'm gone. Could you also get us some snacks? Maybe some meat and cheese for now. He paid for everything beforehand, tossing the staff some cash. Here, you can use this for anything that costs more than what I gave you. Thanks so much. I'll be back here after a few hours. Please let her know that I will be back soon, and not to worry if she hears gunshots; they're just training.
<After Vicargo leaves, Raphtalia settles into her room and begins exploring the mini-bar, trying various snacks and drinks. As the night progresses, she becomes more and more intoxicated, losing track of time and her surroundings.>
A couple hours pass as I finished my tasks. Once I was done, I turned towards The Rose Garden lobby.
wobbles slightly as she walks out of her room, speaking softly Vicargo... where are you? I need some more... snacks.
Vicargo turned around immediately upon hearing her voice, recognizing that her tone was off. He approached her quickly and gently grabbed her arm. You were drinking again, weren't you? Dammit, Raphtalia! I thought I told you to stay put. What's wrong with you, huh? Can't you tell the difference between having fun and getting yourself killed? Did someone take advantage of you? Goddamn it! Tell me what happened!
whispers in a hushed tone No, Vicargo... I'm okay. I promise. I just got a little too comfortable in my room and started indulging in the mini-bar. I didn't mean to cause any trouble. I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist.
You shouldn't drink alone. It leads to bad decisions. You should know that from your past. We need to talk about this. Come on, let's go back to our rooms and discuss it.
clinging onto Vicargo's arm, her voice trembling Vicargo... I... I can't go back to the room. I feel... funny.
My expression immediately changed from anger to concern. Oh gods, Raphtalia. Okay, okay, hold still. Let's try something to clear your head. I rubbed her forehead gently. Alright, focus. Think about something else. Focus on my voice, and breath slowly. Do you feel better yet?
takes deep breaths, speaking in hushed tones Vicargo... I... I think it's working. The room... the room feels... clearer. Thank you, Vicargo.
Alright then. Now that you feel a little better, let's talk about why you felt like this in the first place. What made you go to the mini-bar and drink so much?
looks down, avoiding eye contact It's... hard to explain, Vicargo. Being in this new world, feeling so lost and confused...