Four.

> Aubery, someone's behind you. Perhaps you should let the book go, and apologize? If you want to.

>"Yup, let's just leave the the thing and goooooo faaaaar awaaaay."

A denizen of the In between? The Management suggests you Apologize, and introduce yourself. Explain you were seeking refuge from the Static. Being polite rarely hurts. Especially if you are intruding in someone's domicile. Being Hospitable might mean your host might offer hospitality in turn. Given your position as a guest, and an uninvited one at that, you have a duty to your Host. Even if they do have tacky taste in furniture Grab the Book and Run. The Focus Groups do not lie. Take The Book And Flee from the Confrontation and your ratings will be higher than even before!

Aubrey's pulse quickens.
She wonders why she didn't sense this presence—then berates herself for assuming she could.
She turns around slowly.

>hey you did ask for the book's permission, maybe you should lead with that. also wow I can't believe asking for permission worked. I've gotta rethink my strategy for all this metaphysical BS.

" Ｔｈｉｓ ｕｎｉｔ ｗａｓ ｓｔａｒｔｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｗｏｒｒｙ ｔｈａｔ ｔｈｉｓ ｐｌａｃｅ ｗａｓ ｄｅｓｅｒｔｅｄ. Ｌｅａｒｎｉｎｇ ｍｏｒｅ ｈａｓ ｉｍｍｅｄｉａｔｅ, ｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔ ｖａｌｕｅ. Ｂｕｔ ｄｏ ｋｅｅｐ ｙｏｕｒ ｇｕａｒｄ ｕｐ, Ｖｉｓｉｔｏｒ Ａｕｂｒｅｙ. "

> Ask the emo girl(?) about this place. Do not antagonize her before you're sure you can obliterate her.

>Is the book yours?
>She must be part of the welcoming committee. Begin the interrogation. What does she know?

AUBREY
"Is this your book?"

The denizen's expression remains static.

? ? ?
"The book is under my employ, yes."
"You can't take it."

AUBREY
"To be fair, I did ask its permission
before trying to read."

? ? ?
"Did you, now? Surprisingly polite for a trespasser."

AUBREY
"Is it trespassing if the door's open?"
"Because I found it that way."

? ? ?
"Curious indeed, considering you shouldn't even have been capable of leaving the area wherein you landed."

Aubrey thinks back to the one-way gate she encountered. Her eyes narrow.

AUBREY
"So that was a cage! You wanted to trap me there? That's some hospitality."

Ada hovers at Aubrey's shoulder, but she dissaudes her from violence with a shake of her head. The being chuckles. Its laugh seems tinged with static.

? ? ?
"Playing the victim when you came into my realm uninvited, hmm? The 'cage' is a simple security measure. Nothing personal. Your sense of entitlement is amusing, if baffling, though it explains a lot."

Aubrey gets the feeling this person(?) enjoys being cryptic at her expense.

AUBREY
"You know what? Nevermind."
"Pardon the intrusion. I never wanted to be here anyway."
"If you can point me to the 'Blue World', I'll leave you to the privacy of your sparkling book and newsprint resort."

The air grows thick with tension.

? ? ?
"The Blue World you might remember is no more, I'm afraid."
"Its Master has long carved out another space in the In-Between over which to rule."

Aubrey's blood runs cold. This wasn't part of the plan.
Ada chimes in distress.

AUBREY
"What now, Council?"

? ? ?
"Hmm?"

AUBREY
"I wasn't talking to you!"

? ? ?
"Moody, moody, and muttering to yourself at that!"
"The In-Between does have an adverse effect on long-term Visitors..."

**Aubrey's emotions roil.**

TUTORIAL
The more emotional Aubrey becomes, the hotter burns her WILL.
It shall draw the In-Between's less savory inhabitants like ants to a sugar jar.
If you want to unlock Aubrey's STRESS METER as part of the HUD,
why don't you try getting closer to her? Revealing one's innermost feelings
requires a great deal of trust, after all.