No one cares about the rules!

I- I think it's working? Alright.

Hi! Y- you can call me Charlie. I work for the company Strix as a product tester.

Uhh right now, I'm testing a.... Live.... stream.... Thing?

I'm not sure, it's a very early test, they just told me what it does.

But either way, you're inside it! Y- you can like- see me.... And.... Probably talk to me, too?

Can you talk to me?...

Don't be shy!

No no no, don't axxume thingx xo quickly, you don't know a thing about me.

We're obviouxly xtill going to the lab; I made a promixe, and I refuxe to break it.

I'm ximply xaying that we xhould be cautioux, and xtay vigilant about our xurroundings and the intentionx of otherx.

Thoxe experimentx are xerioux buxinexx, xo don't joke around.

Oh dear.....

Uuh- wish us luck!

Are you ready, my dear?

Ah, no....

Actually, I don't think I want to do this, we probably shouldn't risk it.......

Again, there'x no need to be so apprehenxive! Thing'x will go xwimmingly well, you'll xee!

[-> Behind the door are stairs that lead downwards, with a break and curve that keeps the secrets away from view. Charlie panics a bit just by looking at it.]

A- are you sure?

We can just hang out in the break room, if you want! Eat some donuts o- or something?

How do things work in that lab anyways? I don't want to see gore!

............

[-> They both stare at the badly illuminated staircase, the air suddenly tense. Everything behind that door felt straight out of a horror movie, and knowing what comes after it didn't help.]

.....Hey...

......

Can I be honext with you?

Y- yeah?

Thingx uxed to look pretty bad down there, and the people couldn't be dexcribed ax "friendly" either.

My purpoxe wax to take care of the place, to keep everyone from going inxane and wreaking havoc

But now.... it'x been almoxt a year xince the laxt time I wax there.

I actually have no idea what we'll xee.

Oh that is frivoloux, I xeriouxly doubt anyone here would exxentially kill us juxt for fun.

.........Ok, perhapx they would do xome very fatal experimentx if they find out,

What?

But they wouldn't go after ux for fun! It'x a waxte of time and they have no reaxon to xuxpect ux!

Fuck, I dropped the keyx, wait a xecond.

They're experimenting on Felony, who's higher in the company than you.

Why wouldn't they experiment on their traitor shitty leader and the normal employee working with him?

[-> They look nervous, trying to put up a facade of their usual pride, although their forced expression is giving it away.]

That ix...... Indeed a poxxibility, yex. Xtrix doexn't treat traitorx kindly, no matter their poxition.

But.....

[-> Accompanied by Charlie, they reach a metal door on a secluded part of the department; the door has a sign with "authorized personnel only" written on it. They fumble with the keys, attempting to open the door.]

I don't- I don't believe that'll happen to ux.

"Why?"

Obviouxly, becauxe our plan ix perfect.

You can be playful with a rival, maybe even become friendx with them;

But

I AM a geniux

Wh-

Oh, Ximon ix a?-

Uh-

I-

But he-

Hm.

I expect the bare minimum, and yet you xtill dixappoint me. It'x deplorable at bext.

Txk txk txk

[-> Charlie stares at Alex for a second, seemingly anxious.]

Well, I get confused when both of them talk........

But MAYBE our machine is more of a freak, haha....

What ix thix even xuppoxed to mean? Why can't you juxt be normal?

Charlie, are you hearing what thexe... depraved foolx are xaying???

Oh, uh-

Well, "Freak Machine" doesn't describe you well, b- because you're not the machine of the team!

What kind of fucking loxer wearx a fedora?

I'm the Head Of Rexearch and the moxt intelligent perxon in thix entire company, I can moxt definitely keep him xafe and that'x incontextable.

And I already confirmed that before, didn't I? It won't be dangeroux, becauxe thix ix MY goddamn department, and no one getx hurt unlexx I-

Ok, I think that's enough.

Wh-

I'll go, but only if you allow me to leave whenever I want.

Oh, that'x quite the xtellar bargain!

All I need to do ix not fuck it up and let xomething bad happen, and I'm great at doing that. I'm confident that thix will go xwimmingly!

.....Sure.

[-> Alex laughs a bit, then puts his hand on Charlie's shoulder, seemingly attempting to be friendly...?]

Now, let'x depart, my dear, our time ix limited and the clock ix ticking.

.................

........Yeah......

What ix that xuppoxed to mean?