Alex is getting booted from this plot due to inactivity.
Swami M
As Seraphina weaves her story, Alex realizes that he has something ridiculously urgent to do, and quietly leaves the room, making his way back to Sacramento and leaving his companions in the Hedge.
In the future, just remember that taking voluntary penalties to represent attempting to achieve a work of greater complexity and beauty makes the IC outcome of the roll better. So, for instance, taking a -5 for a Homer level of story and getting 1 success would beat 20 successes with no penalty. However, since a -5 would still leave Seraphina with 1 success, I'm to going retro-actively apply that penalty so her story is as awesome as it was intended.
"My my," the Mistress of Ink responded, her voice breaking the deep silence that had formed in the wake of Seraphina's masterful retelling.
"I will be more than happy to add that tale to my collection, though I fear that none could do it justice but you. A shame, that such magnificent talent should come at such a cost, that your works will forever wilt without the light of your dying sun. Alas, there is one tale that I have yet to hear before I shall tell you the tales of what you wish to know."
Pippin