auguste

As the travellers move along, things quieten down around you and you can savour the feeling of being on dry land once more. So. <<cyclinglink "You've arrived safely in Tizari" "Auguste should be here soon" "You're off the boat" "The holiday's about to start">> - that's the important thing.\n\n[[Examine the map|map]] | [[Eye the passengers|passengers]] | [[Take in the scenery|scenery]]
"I'm not sure I follow," you say to the stallholder. "Who's Lin?"\n\nHer expression doesn't falter as she tosses mixture onto her scalding hot plate. "Lin always comes around here," she says more slowly, obviously thinking this is a language barrier. But that's not it.\n\n"I'd love a chocolate and hazelnut wrap," says Auguste. "What would you like?"\n\n<<display "foodchoice">>
"Of course," Auguste says graciously. "I'll show you where I'm living."\n\n<<display "walk">>
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"Now," <<$augustethey>> say<<$augustes>>. "Let's get something to eat."\n\n<<$Augustethey>> <<if $relationship is "friends">>stride<<$augustes>> at your side<<else>>offer<<$augustes>> you <<$augustetheir>> arm and stroll<<$augustes>> at your side<<endif>> [[into the city.|intocity]]
You decide that Auguste isn't taller: the change is a little more subtle. When you first met, <<$augustethey>> <<if $augustethey is "they">>were<<else>>was<<endif>> all dignity and cool-eyed etiquette, but now there's something more open about <<$augustethem>>. Warmer, perhaps.\n\n<<$Augustethey>> head<<$augustes>> down a narrow alleyway and unlocks a wrought iron gate. With a small proud smile on <<$augustetheir>> face, <<$augustethey>> turn<<$augustes>> to you.\n\n"It means an awful lot to see you again," <<$augustethey>> say<<$augustes>>. "Thank you for coming."\n\n<<if $relationship is "friends">>You<<else>>take <<$augustetheir>> hand and<<endif>> follow <<$augustethem>> into a covered garden, and welcome relief from the heat. Your holiday is about to begin.\n\n[[+++|end]]
Auguste lowers <<$augustetheir>> voice - though between the noise of passers-by and the vendors, surely no one could overhear.\n\n"Lin's an economics student," <<$augustethey>> say<<$augustes>>, "and <<$augustethey>> <<if $augustethey is "they">>have<<else>>has<<endif>> a horrible roommate with a dog, and the only respite is leaving the house to come out here."\n\n<<display "stands">>
Auguste is the consummate host, pointing out landmarks - here's the fountain commemmorating the Jezhani deity Alvir, here's the first sundial built in the country, and [[here -|unpack]]
Beyond the docks, you reach a huge park, worlds away from crowded Westerlind-style town houses. Together you walk beneath vast trees dripping with purple blooms, making the air heady with scent, as cars sedately drive past alongside horse-drawn carriages. Soon the cars give way to wide avenues for pedestrians, and the occasional horse-rider, as you make your way to the centre of the park: Tizari Square. A crowd of market stalls surround a band playing unfamiliar music. Everything smells of smoke and frying oil and burning sugar.\n\nIt's <<cyclinglink "beautiful" "overwhelming" "off-putting" "stunning" "delightful">>.\n\n[[You continue on.|enterroom]]
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Auguste makes one of the most undignified yelps you've ever heard from <<$augustethem>>. "Spies!" <<$augustethey>> say<<$augustes>>. "We don't call it that!"\n\n"So making up stories about yourself to prepare for being a diplomat isn't spying," you say.\n\n<<$Augustethey>> shake<<$augustes>> <<$augustetheir>> head. "That makes it sound far too dramatic," <<$augustethey>> say<<$augustes>>. "Most of this business is paperwork - nothing so thrilling. But would you like to meet them?"\n\n[["I'd prefer to have time with you."|rest]] | [["Let's explore the city."|rest]] | [["I just want to rest after the journey."|rest]] | [["I'd enjoy that."|friends]]
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<<$Augustethey>> <<if $relationship is "friends">>stand<<$augustes>>.<<else>>take<<$augustes>> your hand and turn it over, lightly stroking your fingertips.<<endif>>\n\n"I'd enjoy bringing you to meet my friends," <<$augustethey>> say<<$augustes>>. "Would you like that?"\n\n[["Are they learning to be spies too?"|spies]] | [["I'd prefer to have time with you."|rest]] | [["Let's explore the city."|rest]] | [["I just want to rest after the journey."|rest]] | [["I'd enjoy that."|friends]]
"Ah!" Auguste says triumphantly. "Here's my favourite snack place."\n\nIt's a tiny stall on wheels selling wraps, savoury and sweet; Auguste speaks confidently in Jezhani to the stallholder, and the two of them share some joke. The stallholder raises her eyebrows at you.\n\n"Lin needs some friends," she says in Westerlind. "So lonely, coming here each day."\n\nLin?\n\n[[Question]] | [[Accept]]
"There you are."\n\n[[It's <<$augustethem>>.|arrive]]
You go for <<cyclinglink "spicy, savoury meat" "banana and chocolate" "hazelnut praline" "vegetables and cheese" "sweet and sharp berries">>, and retreat to a bench beside a [[wide pond.|eat]]
Tizari Square
Beyond the moored boats and the long promenade lies the sparkling sea, and the beach. Tourists with parasols lounge on the pale sand, dressed in scandalously thin linens. You wouldn't see that on a Westerlind beach.\n\n<<display "there">>
You unfold the map. You bought it in a little travel shop on the Fenburg docks, thinking it would make your life easier when you arrived. Now, the sun shines down so brightly that the tiny letters swim in your vision.\n\nThe Westerlind Embassy, Auguste's workplace, sits south of the main port. <<$Augustethey>> mentioned walking along the promenade watching the waves during lunch breaks.\n\n<<display "there">>
<<if $relationship is "friends">>There's that moment of stiffness again, just for a moment, and then Auguste pats you on the back lightly before drawing back.<<else>>For a second there's another moment of uncertainty, but then Auguste leans against you with a quiet pleased noise. <<$Augustetheir>> hand presses on your back for a moment before you break apart.<<endif>>\n\n<<display "goeat">>
Auguste tilts <<$augustetheir>> head questioningly. "Still, though," <<$augustethey>> say<<$augustes>>.\n\n<<$Augustethey>> delicately wipe<<$augustes>> <<display "chocolate">>
Auguste delicately wipes <<display "chocolate">>
a scrap of chocolate from the corner of <<$augustetheir>> mouth. Some habits have remained, then.\n\n"I'm learning a lot in diplomacy class," <<$augustethey>> say<<$augustes>>. "We've been doing this assignment about coming up with different names and backgrounds, to see if we can be convincing."\n\n<<$Augustethey>> say<<$augustes>> it a little bashfully, as though it's a bit embarrassing, but there's the spark of proud excitement in <<$augustetheir>> gaze.\n\n[["You're learning to be a con artist?"|con]] | [["That's not like any studying I know."|study]] | [["You're obviously doing well."|study]] | [[So what's your fake background?"|bg]]
As you walk along the edge of the pond, ducks and geese scrap for food. Auguste tells you of <<$augustetheir>> hall of residence, which sounds rather smaller and less grand than Gallatin - but all the same, <<$augustethey>>'<<if $augustethey is "they">>re<<else>>s<<endif>> [[enthusiastic.]]
"Wonderful!" Auguste says. "I've told them all about you. Everything good, obviously."\n\n<<display "walk">>
Auguste is quiet as <<$augustethey>> eat<<$augustes>>. Even so, you've never seen <<$augustethem>> eat something so undignified: it's always been genteel breakfasts, or dinners with a hundred kinds of fork.\n\n"That was embarrassing," <<$augustethey>> say<<$augustes>>. "I shouldn't have put you in that position."\n\n[["What's going on?"|goingon]] | [["There are worse things."|worse]]
Auguste's wearing more rings than <<$augustethey>> used to: mostly chunky silver, though one bears a small stone you do not recognise. Auguste looks down at your hands as <<$augustethey>> clasp<<$augustes>> them back for a moment. Then <<$augustethey>> draw<<$augustes>> away.\n\n<<display "goeat">>
A trio of exhausted-looking adults and three small, very energetic children move past you, all talking over each other in a mixture of Westerlind and Jezhani. <<cyclinglink "Shall we go to the museum-" "But we need to get to your uncle's-" "We need to get some juice-" "Did Vilhelm say-" "I really think-">>\n\n<<display "there">>
A bright morning at the Tizari docks, but your eyes are sandy with tiredness. <<cyclinglink $sleepless "The motion of the boat kept you up all night." "You were too excited about your arrival to sleep." "Noise from other passengers made it hard to settle.">>\n\nNow, you're in a crowd of noisy passengers filing onto the shore. Families meet and hug. Travellers haul their suitcases, slumped with exhaustion, or step brightly, faces upturned to the fresh air.\n\n<<replace>>You look for Auguste.<<becomes>>You look for Auguste.\n\n[[Where|where]] the hell <<cyclinglink $augustethey "are they?" "is she?" "is he?">><<endreplace>>
Auguste straightens <<$augustetheir>> shoulders, looking pleased with <<$augustethem>>self. "It's rather exclusive," <<$augustethey>> say<<$augustes>>. "And I'm set to get top marks."\n\n<<$Augustetheir>> pride is all too evident. Like <<$augustetheir>> mother, <<$augustethey>> <<if $augustethey is "they">>have<<else>>has<<endif>> a knack for a respectable appearance. No doubt <<$augustethey>>'<<if $augustethey is "they">>ve<<else>>s<<endif>> managed to charm every street vendor here in the months <<$augustethey>>'<<if $augustethey is "they">>ve<<else>>s<<endif>> been here.\n\n<<display "stands">>
Auguste steps back and looks you up and down. "It's so nice to see you."\n\nAnd it sounds genuine. More than it would have done a year ago, you think. Like <<$augustetheir>> mother, Auguste was never one for public displays of warmth.\n\n[[Kiss <<$augustetheir>> cheek|kisscheek]] | [[Hug <<$augustethem>>|hug]] | [[Clasp <<$augustetheir>> hands|clasp]]
Auguste's cheek is soft, and you feel the movement of <<$augustetheir>> smile. <<$Augustethey>> <<if $relationship is "friends">>pat<<$augustes>> your arm lightly<<else>>make<<$augustes>> a quiet pleased noise<<endif>> before drawing back.\n\n<<display "goeat">>
Auguste picks a chocolate and hazelnut wrap without comment. "What would you like?"\n\n<<display "foodchoice">>
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Hannah Powell-Smith
Is Auguste taller? Maybe a little, it's hard to tell. <<$Augustetheir>> hair has grown out a little in tight coils, and <<$augustethey>>'<<$augustes>> wearing a Jezhani-style suit the colour of charcoal, with a bright flash of white linen shirt. No tie.\n\n<<$Augustethey>>'<<$augustes>> smiling, but there's that awkward little moment of tension as you hesitate. You may be <<cyclinglink $relationship "friends" "partners" "engaged">>, but it's been [[months]] since you've been face to face.
First, you gather your bearings. Everyone's <<replace>>talking,<<becomes>>talking too loudly for you to make sense of anything,<<endreplace>> some in Westerlind and some in Jezhani - which makes sense, since this is the capital of Jezhan, but doesn't help figuring out where you need to go.\n\nBeneath a vast advertisement for canned fish is a quieter spot, an alcove set into the wall. You [[duck]] out of the path of the other passengers.<<if $augustethey is "are they?">><<set $Augustethey = "They">><<set $augustethey = "they">><<set $augustethem = "them">><<set $augustetheir = "their">><<set $Augustetheir = "Their">><<set $augustes = "">><<elseif $augustethey is "is she?">><<set $augustes = "s">><<set $augustethey = "she">><<set $Augustethey = "She">><<set $augustethem = "her">><<set $Augustetheir = "Her">><<set $augustetheir = "her">><<elseif $augustethey is "is he?">><<set $augustethey = "he">><<set $Augustethey = "He">><<set $augustethem = "him">><<set $augustetheir = "his">><<set $Augustetheir = "His">><<set $augustes = "s">><<endif>>
Auguste's frown tightens <<$augustetheir>> brows. "That's not what it is at all," <<$augustethey>> say<<$augustes>> haughtily. "It's to learn diplomacy. One day I'll be doing this to help the Westerlind government, so. It's important."\n\n<<display "stands">>