Humpty Dumpty Retelling

As you walk down the cobbled streets of the town center, you notice a ruckus one street over. [[1.Investigate]] [[2.Ignore, you've got better things to do]]

It's a parade! Oh, what fun for a poor little urchin boy like yourself. You've been so down on your luck lately, a little celebration like this is just what you need to lift your spirits! Trying to get closer to the crowd, you bump into a man. He seems to possess the wealth of a merchant. ''Oi, watch it lad! '' [[1.Watch yourself, buster!]] [[2.Oh, terribly sorry sir, I was distracted by the parade]]

Really? It looks like it might be fun. [[1.I'm sure]] [[2.Okay, let's check it out->1.Investigate]]

Seriously? [[1.YES]] [[2.Fine, let's see what this is about->1.Investigate]]

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He //pushes// you into the oncoming parade, and in the excitement of everything, you're (text-colour:red)[crushed] under the wheel of a cart carrying... ''Egg''

''Oh, I suppose that's alright. Apologies for losing me temper. '' [[1.I suppose I should watch where I'm going as well.]] [[2.Yeah, that's what I thought->1.Watch yourself, buster!]]

"Say," you ask, "what's all of this for anyway? There a new holiday?" ''No, there's a little boy the king is celebrating. He's said to be revered by all the king's men, and honest to God, I see the appeal. '' [[1.Move closer to the crowd to see the boy on the approaching float]] [[2.Ask about this mysterious young boy]]

You move closer and see, sitting atop a pile of velvet pillows, is an egg. The egg is wearing fine trousers, a little hat, and buckled shoes on his little egg feet. His little egg arms are waving hello to everyone. You're confused. [["That's an egg.'']]

''Aye, they say that despite his fragility, he saved the king's life. The squire announced earlier in the town square that today shall henceforth be known as //Humpty Dumpty// day!'' Humpty Dumpty, what a ridiculous name. His float is pulling up, and... [[What the hell?->"That's an egg.'']]

That's an egg. [[THAT'S AN EGG!]]

Frail, fragile little boy my ''(text-colour:red)[behind]'', that is an (text-colour:red)[''EGG!''] That's an egg that will never starve, never struggle, and never want for anything ever again, and why? Because of a stroke of pure luck? Where's your luck, huh? What are you going to do? [[Follow the float that's holding Schmupty Dumpty]] [[Ask further about the egg lad]]

You follow the float down the street, tailing close behind but not close enough to be noticed. What are you doing? [[I don't know.]]

"He's an egg," you remark. "What's up with that?" The man shrugs. ''Beats me, all I knows is that he saved the king.'' [["Seems unfair that he gets all this hurrah for something that was clearly an accident"->1.Watch yourself, buster!]] [["Is that so?"]]

''So! Ain't he just the best? They're going to prop him up on a wall for everybody in the kingdom to see? '' [["Mhm"->Follow the float that's holding Schmupty Dumpty]] [["Whatever," and walk away]]

You follow the float down the street, tailing

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Yes you do. They've stopped. They're raising him up on the wall. The wall you've climbed a million times as a short cut on your way to odd jobs, just to make it by. He's being raised on that wall like it's a goddamn pedestal. [[Walk away, deterred->"Whatever," and walk away]] [[Keep going.]]

It could be so easy. You've climbed this wall so many times. He's so fragile, a shell, really. [["No, I can't!'->"Whatever," and walk away]] [[Keep. Going.]]

You keep going. You're climbing the wall, hands calloused by hard work that will never pay off. Nobody notices you. [[Push him]]

Humpty Dumpty had a great [[fall]].

All the [[King's]] horses and all the [[King's]] men

Couldn't put Humpty together again.