Guests pour out from inside the inn, producing a bustling commotion livelier than when they first arrived.
APPLe: Not sure I understand all the fuss. This seems like nothing more than a temporary outage.
APPLe: It should be over quickly.
Regulus: How come the grid is so doggy? It's done in just by a few speakers and an old vinyl player!
APPLe: I'd suggest an alternative explanation. It looks like the authorities have set up a cordon around what appears to be the town's power plant.
Regulus: Just our luck, eh?
She removes her sunglasses and surveys the surroundings.
A crowd of young people lingers across the street, whispering to one another.
Regulus: Any idea what they're on about, Mr. APPLe?
APPLe: This APPLe can only make out the words "Order of Enlightenment" ...
Regulus: The Order of Enlightenment, yeah? Riley mentioned them too. What's their deal?
The term from an unfamiliar era leaves Regulus scratching her head.
Young Man: It wasn't us, man! This is total crap!
Enforcer I: Well, whether it was or wasn't, you're coming with us.
Young Man: On what charge? I know my rights! You can't just haul us to jail for nothing!
The young people are soon flanked on each side by uniformed thugs; there's a tension in the air that would match the best standoff of any spaghetti western.
Enforcer I: We've had our eyes on you punks for a while now. Under the revised Gold Dust Morality Act, you're suspected of organizing an illegal rock performance.
Regulus: What! This is it. We're not letting these thugs get away with arresting these kids!
APPLe: Wait, Captain ...
The crowd outside the hotel has gone eerily quiet as they watch the growing ranks of black-uniformed enforcers on the street.
APPLe: Discretion may be the better part of valor at this moment.
Regulus: Discretion, mate? Don't you know me better than that?
The tension seems set to break when the moment is interrupted by the appearance of a sharp-dressed man that promptly strides up to the line of black-suited enforcers.
And just like that, the tension fizzles away as the young rockers hang their heads.
Enforcer I: See, there's nothing to worry about, son. Let's just do this nice and easy.
Enforcer I: Come along with us. The mayor would like a word. This won't take long.
Young Man: Damn it. Whatever. Just don't touch me. I can walk there myself.
As the commotion fades into a dejected whimper, the sharp-dressed man turns abruptly and makes a beeline for Regulus.
???: Ah, a new face. What a blessed young lady.
Mayor Jonathan: My name is Jonathan, Mayor and Chief Representative of the Order of Enlightenment in this town. We'll be hosting a gathering at the Broadcast Theater tonight.
Mayor Jonathan: I do hope to see you there, Miss.
The gentleman offers her a handwritten invitation; the fresh ink seems tinged in an oddly ominous hue.
Regulus: What's this about, eh? Some kind of show?
Mayor Jonathan: Of sorts, yes. It's our weekly Sunday hymnal, where we come together to lift our voices in praise.
Regulus: In praise ... to who?
She lowers her sunglasses to scan the invitation, catching her tongue on a particular title.
Regulus: "The Sufferer"?
Mayor Jonathan: Yes, the Sufferer. We gather to sing praises for THEIR sake.
Regulus: So, you and all your little rozzers are going to be tilting your heads back and warbling for this "Sufferer" guy?
Regulus: Like Vertin and her little followers singing in a choir in school?
Regulus: You couldn't catch me breathing at something as dullsville as all that.
Regulus: Thanks, but no thanks, mate.
Mayor Jonathan: A shame to hear that, Miss, especially as a fellow arcanist.
Mayor Jonathan: If you change your mind, you're always welcome among us.
The gentleman's gaze lingers meaningfully on the floating apple beside her.
APPLe: ...
Mayor Jonathan: And that goes for every arcanist.
Mayor Jonathan: I do hope you and your—"Mr. APPLe" was it?—will be submitting those registration papers soon.
Mayor Jonathan: Have a pleasant stay here in Gold Dust. All we ask is that you mind our town's ordinances. If you find yourself needing any assistance, do feel free to drop by the theater to see us.
Mayor Jonathan: The Order of Enlightenment is always eager to assist.
The strange gentleman offers an odd bow, leaning on his cane, and hobbles off as the rest of his enforcers disperse.
Regulus: Bit of a creep, eh?
Regulus: Order of Enlightenment? So this mayor is some kind of arcanist extremist; I wonder if Vertin and the Foundation might want to know about these guys.
Regulus: You ever hear of this lot, Mr. APPLe?
APPLe: This APPLe hasn't heard the name before, Captain. My apologies.
Regulus: No prize for guessing this town's dodgy rules are their doing.
Riley: Hey, Regulus!
A familiar face waves to her from across the street.
And just as quickly races to meet her.
Riley: Looks like your apple friend survived! Pleasure to meet you.
APPLe: This APPLe is likewise charmed, I'm sure.
Riley: Oh, and he's got manners too!
She suppresses a laugh. It's not every day she greets a talking apple.
Regulus: She's the top bird that gave us a lift.
Regulus: Good luck that she stopped when she did, or else I might've had to use that disk.
APPLe: You're a veritable hero, Miss.
Riley: Hmm, what did you just say about a disk?
Regulus: Oh, it's a portable teleportation disk.
Regulus: It's all on frequency; I was told it's permitted for use under the Foundation's Public Security Law.
Regulus: Well, that's what they told me anyway. I never bothered reading them.
APPLe: In essence, the guidelines dictate that all registered arcanists constrain themselves to pre-approved arcane skills.
APPLe: It's a matter of ensuring that arcanum is used for the good of all.
APPLe: Though that part ... seems to have fallen by the wayside lately.
APPLe concludes his statement on a low note, but it seems not to have thrown off the groove of his compatriots.
Riley: Blah, blah. All I know is rules are meant to be broken, haha.
Riley: Especially if breaking said dumb rule doesn't do any harm.
She flourishes her statement with a laugh before popping a piece of chocolate in her mouth.
Riley: See? Is there anybody in the world that's put out over me having a bite of chocolate?
Regulus: Smashing, love. Good to see I've found a fellow rebel.
Riley: And not just one. We've got a whole bunch.
She holds out a chocolate ball, as if offering a badge of office.
Riley: So, you in?
Riley: We're planning something fun—to bring a little excitement to this boring old town!
The two kindred spirits lock eyes; there is no question in Regulus's mind.
Regulus: You can count on me, pal.
Regulus: Oh! Make that count on us!
APPLe: This APPLe need not say more. We're with you, Ms. Riley.
He bobs up and down in the air as a show of courtesy.
Riley: Alright, catch you two later.
