Rouge came from a wealthy family in Vox, with his dad being a renowned musician. As such, music was a huge part of Rouge's life too. He learned to read sheet music before he could do basic maths, and he always preferred to learn directly from his dad rather than the books. It was his dream to reach his father's level of skill.

All he wanted to do was absorb himself in music all day, which meant shirking out of all his schoolwork. His tutor would have to chase him around the property yelling for him to stop singing and focus! And the dad totally enabled him—if he was present, he just would tell the tutor to give Rouge a break & let him sing one more song 🎵

One day when he was 13, he noticed his voice started to crack. At first he thought something was wrong with his throat but then he realized it's probably puberty, so he shrugged it off and said he'd get used to it. He didn't like how deep it was getting since he used to be a soprano, but he kept his head up and decided this was OK, he'll just train to be a good baritone! It's like changing an instrument. Now the doorway was open for him to sing a bunch of new styles of songs he could never sing before.

But his dad didn't agree 💀 He called Rouge to their living room one day alone, and told him: "Your voice is a gift from the heavens. You cannot allow a voice change to take away that priceless, unparalleled voice of yours."

Dad wanted to take him to an innovative doctor before Rouge's vocal chords could finish transitioning, so that they could cut them out, "temporarily preserve them", and return them when the time was right. And of course he tried to reason by saying this was all for Rouge's sake, not his.

Rouge tried to make a dash for it and his dad clawed at his throat with his nails, hard enough to draw blood but not so deep that it was fatal. He was able to make it outside, crossed a moonroad, and ended up in an unknown country.

Exhausted from running for so long, he sat down for a very long time. He was hungry, had no money, and his clothes were a wreck. Eventually he decided he'd try to sing to make some tips, since he'd always been able to attract crowds with his singing voice. But when he tried to open his mouth, his dad's words flashed through his head again and he threw up. Any time he tried to sing thereafter, the sensation of his dad's fingers caressing his throat would resurface. He just couldn't do it. The chapter ended with him letting the rain envelop him.

He lived in that town for seven years. Although he thought he'd never be able to sing again, as time passed he slowly healed from being haunted by the illusion of his father and picked it up as a way to make money.

He was surrounded by people who gave him their pity and he had drinking buddies who encouraged him to take the meister exam. He passed and officially became a playing bard meister, but the achievement didn't really change his life much. He was still a drifter, singing as he pleased around town, sometimes lodging with random people passing through, and sometimes camping outdoors. He never formed any deep relationships and spent away his money as soon as he got it. But, he was satisfied with this lifestyle.

Then one day, he got to the bar a bit later than usual. His buddies told him that one of them had won a shitton of money from a bet so all drinks would be on them. Needless to say the night ended with Rouge absolutely wasted 🤪

This wound up being the same night he met Grandflair, who found him stumbling around outside the bar. Gran immediately stopped in his tracks to give him a handkerchief and some water. Rouge thought he was shady asf but this guy was just genuinely trying to take care of him. He said that in all seven years of living here, he had never met someone who showed him that much kindness.

anyway ignoring all the Rouge slander we get from his guild, there was a scene where he mentioned that his interest in music was a pretty natural development since he came from a musical family/country. But then he said that he wasn’t on good terms with his parents since they had “differences in values” and there used to be a time he actually hated music. (+ elaborated a little further and said he used to hate life as a whole as well).

I think this was the first time he’d sounded that solemn since usually he’s silly asf

anyway this gets more context in his past story. “Differences in values” was a gross understatement jfc you guys. you guys. apparently Rouge’s dad was obsessed with his singing voice when he was a kid and didn’t like the changes it was going through when he hit puberty so he wanted to have a doctor cut out his vocal chords so that they could preserve his young “heaven-sent” voice. Rouge ended up running away and couldn’t bear to sing for a while because remembering his dad’s words kept haunting him <-- that’s all I have unlocked atm but this shook me to my core HELPRLLPP HELLO??

But I’m sure this is no match for the difficulties you face, as someone who handles automatas, or Gui, who builds magic tools. Right?

I can’t find the right words right now, but I guess what I mean is I really respect you all… Honestly, I just think it’s incredible.

Towa: It makes me happy to hear your praise, Sion-sama. But the value of a craft has nothing to do with how complicated the process is.

If you put your whole heart into it, that toy will be one of its kind, and that makes its value priceless. That’s what I think.

And I’m positive that that will be passed down to the one who ends up in possession of it. It will surely be cherished.

Sion: ......

...I see. Hearing that puts my mind at ease a little.

Towa: By the way, let’s backtrack to that comment about deepening your respect for Gui-sama...

He just passed by us. I think telling him directly would definitely facilitate communication between you.

Sion: !?

Gui: Did someone call me~?

Sion: ...Nobody did.

Gui: Huh? B-But, I could’ve sworn Towa-san just said the name “Gui.”

Sion: I just said that nobody called you.

Gui: Ee!? I-I’m sorry!

Towa: (Why did Sion-sama’s attitude change so abruptly? Human emotions really are so complicated...)

[Mateo]

Emma: Mateo, what do you say when a customer comes?

Mateo: Welcome…!

Many… toys! Toys… fun!

Emma: Excellent. Okay, and… Hello. May I have this doll?

Mateo: Yeah! …Ah…?

Next… what question?

Emma: ‘Is this for you, or would you like it gift-wrapped?’

Mateo: !! Right!

Agh… Talking to… customers… hard…

Emma: But you’ve gotten so much better since last time! Besides, all of us will be with you on the actual day, so don’t worry.

Mateo: Okay! Mateo… try hard!!

If I do… good job… make Sion happy?

Emma: Yes, he’ll be so happy!

Mateo: !! Mateo… try even… harder! Emma… thank you!!

Emma: You’re welcome. Okay, why don’t we take it from the top one more time?

Mateo: Yeah!

[Towa]

Emma: Towa, do you have a minute? I wanted to ask you something about toy-making…

Ah, Heinkel’s here too. Sorry, were you in the middle of something?

Heinkel: No, I’m just here to observe.

Emma: Observe?

Towa: I’m servicing my automata.

Emma: (Oh, that bear automata…)

Is that the one you always carry with you?

Towa: Yeah. I haven’t had the time to perform a proper maintenance on it lately.

Emma: (He has a really gentle look on his face…) You take such good care of them.

Towa: …Yes. They are, without question, very dear to me.

Heinkel: …Towa, is it alright if I could observe you one more time? After Emma finishes what she needs.

I’d like to be far more dependable at healing the ones dear to someone dear to me.

…Hm? I apologize. That was a rather confusing sentence.

Towa: Don’t worry, I understood you perfectly. I really appreciate how thoughtful you are, Heinkel-sama.

[Heinkel]

Platinum: Yo, Heinkel-sensei. Could you fix this broken toy for me? Towa and Gui weren’t available. They told me to come to you.

Heinkel: Mm…? I don’t mind, of course, but… Platinum. I’m having trouble believing you only want the toy fixed.

I figure there must be a reason for it…

Platinum: Oh, you’re pretty sharp. Yeah, you’re right. This guy could sell real high if it was fixed up some.

Heinkel: I see. That sounds more like you.

Platinum: What? Are you not gonna fix it ‘cause you don’t like that reason or somethin’?

Heinkel: Heh, don’t misunderstand me. My mission is to heal everything regardless of what the reason may be.

Even if you were to have malicious intentions, that will not prevent a mended toy from serving its purpose to me again.

Platinum: I don’t think you were tryin’ to do this, but that sentence is slicing me up like a knife.

But whatever. I’ll leave this with you. And I’m just saying this from a professional standpoint, but I think those toys would’ve preferred that over going unsold.

Heinkel: In some way or another, you have a very practical spirit… or maybe I should say you’re very business-minded. I don’t hate that in itself. I’ll most certainly take this for you.

(Platinum leaves)

Heinkel: Now… Where should I start?

So that this body you were born with may shine again, I will heal you with all of my spirit.

[Gui]

Boy: Thank you for the toy, Oniichan!

Sion: No problem, thank you for purchasing it. There are a lot of people around here, so make sure you don’t wander away from your parents, okay?

Boy: Okay! Bye-bye!

Gui: ......

Sion: Gui? What’s the matter?

Gui: Ah! It’s nothing, just… I was just noticing how gentle you sound when you talk to kids…

Sion: When you put it that way, you make it sound like I'm normally mean to you guys.

Gui: Ee!! Th-That’s not what I meant at all! But, I guess sometimes you are a little scary…!?

Sion: I don’t mean to be doing that. But is my attitude here proving your point? I apologize if I’ve ever hurt you.

Gui: N-No, no, no, no! I should be the one apologizing…!?

I was just a little jealous of hearing you talk so nicely…

Sion: ……..

I mean, I could try to force myself. But it’ll probably seem like I’m a completely different person.

If you’re fine with me turning into an angelic oniisan every time we talk, even back at the guild, then I’ll think about it.

Gui: ……

That doesn’t sound like it’d be good for your mental health, so I think I’ll decline…

Sion: ……Okay. I’ll try to watch my attitude next time we talk.

[Platinum]

Girl: Hey, Oniichan. What kind of toy is this kitty here?

Platinum: Oh ho, little girl. You have an excellent eye. That is the craftsmanship of the highly talented meister Towa.

Its cute factor is not the only thing it has going for it. If you press its belly just a smidge, like so——

Stuffed Cat Toy: Meow~

Girl: Wow!! It meowed! That’s so cool!

Platinum: Hahaha, isn’t it? I guarantee that your days would be so much more fun with this little friend to talk to.

Girl: Okay! I’ll take it please!

Platinum: Oh, thank you for your patronage. Make sure to brag about it to all your friends, alright?

Towa: Platinum-sama, how are things over h——?

…! You’ve already sold this much? This is a feat I could never accomplish.

Platinum: Ahh~ That’s because you’re missing a little something from your dialogue, Towa.

But you know, talking up a product’s strengths is one of the basics of business.

No matter how good a product you make, it’ll all go down the drain if it never falls into the hands of someone who’ll use it. You know?

Towa: ...Yes. Once you make something, it should end up serving someone. I really appreciate your help, Platinum. Thank you.

Platinum: No problem. You promised I’d get paid plenty, anyway.

Plus... I gotta make it clear to Gui and Emma once again that I’m a guy who knows what he’s doing.

Oh yeah, Towa. Let’s keep this teamwork up till the Toy Market’s over. Yeah?