(He greets him warmly enough but he's definitely lacking some of his usual pep. Something's on his mind and there's no doubt that Chiron has figured out what it is,)
I was just checking something out. (Just going to... lower his bow. Even his hold is wrong.) You know, I've had this since we got here... (His bow and he starts to fidget with the frame. Something's off. Something's wrong. He's figured it out by now and he doesn't like it. He doesnt get it.) And I'm supposed to be good at archery...
(He had arrows! He read about it in his profile! And quietly, he adds,)
But I don't think I could tell you the first thing about it. That's not right, is it?
[... yes, the grip on the bow is concerningly juvenile, what Chiron is used to seeing from students who have picked up the weapon for the first time. The centaur stares at the hand as his mouth thins into a stern line]
... Can you think of any reason for the change?
[of course, the most obvious reason is the one Chiron doesn't say but is what unfortunately guides most of the anxieties of this Realm: Claude has merely forgotten how to use his bow.
Even still, Chiron asks as if inviting Claude to search for a different answer, just to be certain]
Look, don't get me wrong. (The way he plays with the frame of the bow and can't seem to focus clearly betrays any attempt he might have made at appearing calm. He's troubled! ) I don't care about the bow. I mean, I do but I can always relearn that. I probably wouldn't be as good as I was before but...
(The realist and the optimist,)
I already forgot something! You can't forget things twice, can you? Or three times? Or even more than that? What about you?
(He has a point and he shuts his mouth, biting down his tongue and looking away. There was never a rule that said they would only lose one memory. He knows that! He thought about it! But--
Exhale. Inhale.)
Teach, hear me out. I didn't just wake up like this.
(He needs to compose himself. Just give him a second and, )
I've been forgetting things all day. I made three cups of tea because I kept forgetting I already made one. When I tried to go back to my room, I couldn't remember where it was. I kept walking around in circles and couldn't find my name anywhere until I checked my PHS and saw my name was--
So you are saying this is beyond the normal losses we have experienced so far.
[and frankly, that is more than a little alarming. He might have chided Claude for thinking a bit too optimistically, but this is also beyond even the centaur's expectations. He approaches Claude, expression subtly pinched as he leans down and inspects his face carefully.]
Did you do anything that might have influenced your memories in such a negative way?
(He holds his ground when Chiron approaches and raises his chin to look up at him. Despite everything-- the confusion, the frustration, and the mild anxiety-- he's not afraid. He's still as determined as ever to get to the bottom of this, even if it's a little more frenzied than his usual, calculative way,)
he nearly tells the other to relax -- his gaze is not meant to be a challenge, but a more careful examination, ruling out any possibilities of sickness. But Chiron can't find anything and so pulls back, arms folded behind his back]
... Then we are down to a few options. Either this is the Realm taking more of your memories, you naturally forgot for some unknown reason, or someone here has done this to you.
(Everything is a challenge when you're used to being sized up. When you've grown up being called weak and unworthy-- an easy target in a certain land and just expect people to come for you.
When Chiron pulls back, Claude also relaxes. Or, well, he relaxes as much as he can given the circumstances. There's still a frustrated tension about this whole situation,)
This doesn't feel natural. I know I'm not bad to look at but let's be real, my mind's the real catch. (Just gonna... deflect with some humor. But he means it! His mind is sharp, always working, and perhaps more than his bow or any combat experience he has, it's his mind that has always been his best weapon,) So it has to be one of the other reasons...
But why now? (Thursday. The day before everything is supposed to happen.) And why me?
You haven't noticed anything, have you?
(And... everyone else he's run into today seems fine?)
Miss Hikaru has come down with a sudden case of exhaustion. I do not know the circumstances, but it is uncanny timing. There's no reason for it, even if I were to consider stress as the culprit.
[he's speaking more to himself than to Claude, because he does not have all of the answers. Wisdom is often times walking through a riddle like you're lost in the forest, blindfolded, and must feel your way to the exit]
"Why you" can only be answered if we look at the question from specific angles. If it is you naturally forgetting, just as Miss Hikaru's fatigue is "natural", then there is nothing else to question.
Likewise, if we blame the Realm for your sudden lack of ability, either you have done something to prompt that loss, or it is a random phenomenon.
[...]
And then, there is perhaps that it was done on purpose. By whom, I cannot say, but you would be an enticing target.
(If anything. He's pretty sure he didn't do anything but it's hard to be certain when there are gaps in his memory, both long and short term. The chance that this could be "natural" or "random" is still concerning in it's own way but if this is true, there isn't much they can do for now. Not unless the same thing happens to someone else.)
I get the feeling everything here happens for some reason, Teach.
(Ugh.)
Y'know, I might be forgetting things but I remember enough to know who ever thinks that is in for a surprise. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve still.
... Yes. Very rarely do there seem to be... accidents.
[Unfortunate consequences? Yes, plenty of those. Cruel fates? Also more or less what Chiron anticipates. But it's as Claude has said, everything still happens for some reason.
Words to live and die by.]
My suggestion would be to keep mindful of who you talk to, what you say to everyone, and perhaps ask your Leader if you haven't already.
[...]
Even if this is simply an accident, best to rule out the more suspicious options.
(Claude is just going to give a loud and heavy sigh. It's not that he's tired, he just knows this is something that can't be helped and that comes with it's own set of frustrations. )
Right, right. (He's fine. Everything will be okay. Do you see? He can hold his head up high and smile, still,) This'll be our secret.
I'm going to try and talk to them soon. It was mostly small things up 'til now... (Things that were strange but could have been brushed off as exhaustion or mental fatigue,) I'll see what I can find out. Can't let this mind go to waste!
(...)
Don't worry, Teach. I might be a soft and squishy noble but I've made it this far. (He hasn't died yet. He refuses.) I'll be careful.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
(He greets him warmly enough but he's definitely lacking some of his usual pep. Something's on his mind and there's no doubt that Chiron has figured out what it is,)
I was just checking something out. (Just going to... lower his bow. Even his hold is wrong.) You know, I've had this since we got here... (His bow and he starts to fidget with the frame. Something's off. Something's wrong. He's figured it out by now and he doesn't like it. He doesnt get it.) And I'm supposed to be good at archery...
(He had arrows! He read about it in his profile! And quietly, he adds,)
But I don't think I could tell you the first thing about it. That's not right, is it?
no subject
... Can you think of any reason for the change?
[of course, the most obvious reason is the one Chiron doesn't say but is what unfortunately guides most of the anxieties of this Realm: Claude has merely forgotten how to use his bow.
Even still, Chiron asks as if inviting Claude to search for a different answer, just to be certain]
no subject
(He shakes his head,)
Look, don't get me wrong. (The way he plays with the frame of the bow and can't seem to focus clearly betrays any attempt he might have made at appearing calm. He's troubled! ) I don't care about the bow. I mean, I do but I can always relearn that. I probably wouldn't be as good as I was before but...
(The realist and the optimist,)
I already forgot something! You can't forget things twice, can you? Or three times? Or even more than that? What about you?
(Has he forgotten... multiple things this week?)
no subject
[it's spoken gently, but at least from what Chiron can remember, the assumption was one bred from optimism instead of truth.]
I have forgotten only one thing this week, at least from the last time I inspected my memories.
[a thoughtful hum, eyes glancing upward]
... No, it is only one memory lost for me.
no subject
(He has a point and he shuts his mouth, biting down his tongue and looking away. There was never a rule that said they would only lose one memory. He knows that! He thought about it! But--
Exhale. Inhale.)
Teach, hear me out. I didn't just wake up like this.
(He needs to compose himself. Just give him a second and, )
I've been forgetting things all day. I made three cups of tea because I kept forgetting I already made one. When I tried to go back to my room, I couldn't remember where it was. I kept walking around in circles and couldn't find my name anywhere until I checked my PHS and saw my name was--
(He catches himself and moves on quickly,)
Then there was this bow in my room...
(ITS BEEN A LOT.)
no subject
[and frankly, that is more than a little alarming. He might have chided Claude for thinking a bit too optimistically, but this is also beyond even the centaur's expectations. He approaches Claude, expression subtly pinched as he leans down and inspects his face carefully.]
Did you do anything that might have influenced your memories in such a negative way?
no subject
If I did, I sure can't remember it now.
no subject
he nearly tells the other to relax -- his gaze is not meant to be a challenge, but a more careful examination, ruling out any possibilities of sickness. But Chiron can't find anything and so pulls back, arms folded behind his back]
... Then we are down to a few options. Either this is the Realm taking more of your memories, you naturally forgot for some unknown reason, or someone here has done this to you.
no subject
When Chiron pulls back, Claude also relaxes. Or, well, he relaxes as much as he can given the circumstances. There's still a frustrated tension about this whole situation,)
This doesn't feel natural. I know I'm not bad to look at but let's be real, my mind's the real catch. (Just gonna... deflect with some humor. But he means it! His mind is sharp, always working, and perhaps more than his bow or any combat experience he has, it's his mind that has always been his best weapon,) So it has to be one of the other reasons...
But why now? (Thursday. The day before everything is supposed to happen.) And why me?
You haven't noticed anything, have you?
(And... everyone else he's run into today seems fine?)
no subject
Miss Hikaru has come down with a sudden case of exhaustion. I do not know the circumstances, but it is uncanny timing. There's no reason for it, even if I were to consider stress as the culprit.
[he's speaking more to himself than to Claude, because he does not have all of the answers. Wisdom is often times walking through a riddle like you're lost in the forest, blindfolded, and must feel your way to the exit]
"Why you" can only be answered if we look at the question from specific angles. If it is you naturally forgetting, just as Miss Hikaru's fatigue is "natural", then there is nothing else to question.
Likewise, if we blame the Realm for your sudden lack of ability, either you have done something to prompt that loss, or it is a random phenomenon.
[...]
And then, there is perhaps that it was done on purpose. By whom, I cannot say, but you would be an enticing target.
no subject
(If anything. He's pretty sure he didn't do anything but it's hard to be certain when there are gaps in his memory, both long and short term. The chance that this could be "natural" or "random" is still concerning in it's own way but if this is true, there isn't much they can do for now. Not unless the same thing happens to someone else.)
I get the feeling everything here happens for some reason, Teach.
(Ugh.)
Y'know, I might be forgetting things but I remember enough to know who ever thinks that is in for a surprise. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve still.
(AT LEAST, HE REMEMBERS THEM FOR NOW)
no subject
[Unfortunate consequences? Yes, plenty of those. Cruel fates? Also more or less what Chiron anticipates. But it's as Claude has said, everything still happens for some reason.
Words to live and die by.]
My suggestion would be to keep mindful of who you talk to, what you say to everyone, and perhaps ask your Leader if you haven't already.
[...]
Even if this is simply an accident, best to rule out the more suspicious options.
no subject
Right, right. (He's fine. Everything will be okay. Do you see? He can hold his head up high and smile, still,) This'll be our secret.
I'm going to try and talk to them soon. It was mostly small things up 'til now... (Things that were strange but could have been brushed off as exhaustion or mental fatigue,) I'll see what I can find out. Can't let this mind go to waste!
(...)
Don't worry, Teach. I might be a soft and squishy noble but I've made it this far. (He hasn't died yet. He refuses.) I'll be careful.
(And ready.)