#loop 54

W-who--What are you?!

(That's not a puppet.) (That's not a human.) (You don't know WHAT that is?!)

. . .

(You can't move.)

(You can't move a muscle you can't speak you can't do anything you can't breathe you can't you-

(You don't think that's him anymore.)

Pierre-

GRAB!

You're nothing without me. You need to love me. I can't let you go.

(You struggle against its hand.) (But it doesn't budge.)

GET OFF OF HIM!

My attacks aren't doing anything?!! I don't understand-!

No no no no-!

(GHR, Its hand is tightening-!)

Don't I shower you with gifts? Don't I love you like no one else has? Why aren't you happy?

I NEED YOU. I NEED TO BE YOU. EAT MY HEART.

(You grab the bastard by their shirt collar.)

Let me get this one thing clear, you do not get to talk to Siffrin like that. Speak to him like that again, and you will regret ever being written.

...

.......You don't need to do this. He didn't mean it.

He most clearly did. Don't you dare forgive him, Siffrin.

He'll forgive me.

(H u h?)

Because that's what I want from him. I'll pull his strings until I get what I'm owed.

What are you... talking about?

(You're lost.)

(This isn't a part of the murder mystery.) (The game doesn't cover this.)

I'll speak unsupervised. I define the will of all.

(Ghk-!) (Something just broke-?!)

(Wait.) (That puppet.)

(Ah.) (The showing fizzled out.)

Director, where did Isabeau and Mirabelle go?

Anonymous said: That was such an exciting scene! Oh, what are the Director and Dawn gonna do next... I'm on my toes!

mal du pay: (repeats)

(What?) (Why'd it say that?)

I'm bringing them back. Despite what this THING thinks, I'm still conducting everything.

(Odile!) (She's awake!)

...?

A-

SHUSH! I'm concentrating! It's so hard to THINK when I have you all screaming in my ear all the time!!!

...

novaamethyst said: This was your choice. Manipulating them into loving you wasn't enough for you

mal du pay: (repeats)

Shut up. The show must go on.

arionmyshoulder said: You never deserved to have them with you. They gave everything for you to have a chance, and you failed them

mal du pay: (repeats)

Hghh... come on, where's that tug?

Anonymous asked: aren't you tired?

(You decide to wait.) (Whatever this is, the Director has it under control.)

Anonymous asked: “Siffrin…Oh, Siffrin…you’re shaking…”

mal du pays: (repeats)

We're not... we weren't...

(That was Odile's voice?!) (How could it-?)

Anonymous asked: I see you. Y-You're still here, look!

mal du pays: (repeats)

Haaahh... ha...

(It's... comforting... them?) (But no, that's not quite right.)

(Wait. You know that voice.)

Anonymous asked: Stardust. You're here, with me.

mal du pays: (repeats)

Oh, Siffrin, finally you answered! What's wrong, what happened?

You weren't answering me...

And you're so pale...!

Aaa ah… please… please… touch me.

(The darkness jumps back, out of reach.)

Ah, s-sorry!!!

No...

I'm sorry... Did you... have a nightmare?

Yes, that's exactly it.

Oh no... It must've been a horrible nightmare...

But you're awake now.

(Everyone sits down for a snack break.) (All, except for dusk.)

I'm going to go to the Garden. Wish me luck.

(You frown.)

And... if I don't return, remember what I asked of you.

(You frown harder.)

...Don't look at me like that. It's for the best.

(It really isn't!!!)

Bye bye dusk! See you later!

I'm not here, stars blast it!

…But bye, Lupus. Be good to your Siffrent.

What are you talking about?! Who is "Dusk?!"

Dusk isn't here. He's my other Siffrent.

(With that settled, dusk leaves.)

OTHER?!

Um. Cough. So who is this "Dusk"?

Ugh, did you not hear me? Dusk isn't here, and he doesn't want to be talked about! Don't be stupid!!!

(You pop open your book and flip to the "punishment" section.)

(...No! There are too many paragraphs!) (You need simple, quick answers!!!)

Um! Lupus! Don't talk that way?

Talk in what way?

...Nevermind.

…

Nevermind your name, Siffrin. We're in a showing, let's get serious.

Yes. Serious showing business.

...It's not much of a game, now, is it? We just play the characters and then it's over?

There must be more to it than that.

Maybe the game hasn't revealed itself yet? But what can come from a Dinner party...?

(It's a murder mystery.) (You can recall that, now.)

(It couldn't have been madame Pompy -you mean, Mirabelle!) (You'd been killed after she'd been handcuffed.)

(That means it has to be Isabeau, Odile or Bandit.) (And Bandit had been acting suspicious-)

(Wait.)

Where's Bandit?

...Who?

Bandit. My dog. The Director's dog.

Was that in the cards? Huh. Didn't take the Director to be an animal lover.

I don't think he is? I was always the one who had to take care of him.

Hehe, you did, did you "Mx.Paige?"

(Hghghhhh.)

Yes! Yes, and he was such a sweet little fella when he wasn't stealing or getting into trouble!

...So, you're saying he was good except for all the times he wasn't?