#lost custody

(You obey.) Loop, where is my child.

[...You should take a shower. Eat some food, sleep.]

Why won't you tell me? You said not to worry, but now I'm getting blinding CONCERNED!!!

[CALM DOWN!]

[Just keep breathing. You know, like you just doing.]

(They won't tell you unless you do as asked.) (You breathe until Loop speaks again.)

[Lupus... is on vacation.] [I'm keeping them away from the Labyrinth.]

[You're crying...]

N-No, I'm not! Wh-why do you th-think that?

(Smooth, Siffrin.)

[It's okay to miss me! When I come back I'll tell you EVERYTHING that happened, and then it'll be like I was never away at all!]

[AND ALSO I'll teach you how to roast marshmallows! Luu said they'll teach me!]

[So don't be too sads, okay?]

…Okay. I hope you have lots of fun.

[You know, you can… try… to have some fun while we're gone, too.]

[Things with dusk are… rocky… at best right now.] [But it's been hard for you both.] [You both can... be cruel to each other.]

I'm not mean to them.

[No, not on purpose.] [But that translation thing the Director brought up, that was true.]

[And I don't think you understand how hard it's been for them as a "ghost".]

He never talks about it.

[Maybe try asking? They'll talk if it's you.]

[Look, I'm not you need to forgive him and have a bonding ceremony, but it wouldn't hurt to try to meet in the middle.]

It's not like that.

[I know, sorry. What I mean is that...] [Dusk needs you. And I believe you need them too.]

[So when they do arrive, try to… give them some grace?]

(You wipe at your face.) (Loop is smarter than you.) (If they think it's for the best…)

(Maybe you could try to follow their advice.)

(Even if… the idea of seeing them right now…)

(Makes you utterly sick to your stomach.)

[WOAH! WHAT THE STARS IS THAT THING?!]

[That's our cue to hang up, dawn.] [It's time to say goodbye for now.]

(The book. The book told you.) I love you. I love you so much.

(You won't see them for such a long time.) (It'll feel like forever, oh stars!)

(You miss them horribly already, and they're still on call with you.)

[I love you too! I love THIIIIIIIS MUCH!]

[Twinkle star, they can't see you right now.]

[IT'SA LOT! I spread my arms as far as they'll go! Cause I love you as far as I can!!!]

I love you more than that, Lulu.

[Nuh uh, I love YOU more!]

[Okay, okay, that's enough! You love your silly nugget, I get it. Don't make me sick with how wholesome you're being.]

[Hehehehe! Your face is SOOO funny, Luu!!!]

[Okay! Bye Siffy! I'm going to go play now. But I love you! Byeeeee!]

Bye, Lulu, I love you-

(They hung up on you.)

...Too.

(Someone's knocking?)

...Siffrin? Are you alright in there?

(BLIND IT, now is NOT the time for this!) (You can't stifle your cries.)

'M fine. Don't. Come in.

Are you sure? We heard a thud and then yelling... you weren't responding either...

(Loop did say they were listening.) (So they heard all of that?) (Or only your half?)

(Regardless, how embarrassing!) (How mortifying!!!!!! They heard all of your personal business!!!!!!)

(Ghhhh...) (You can't keep back the sounds escaping your throat.)

Are you hurt?! Can I come in? I think I should come in!!!

N-no-!!!

(You stumble.)

(What?)

(Huh?)

(Did... did the Director just rewind time again?)

(Why?) (Why do that?)

(You weren't even talking about xem!)

Knock knock.

Y-Yeah?

(BLIND BREATHING!!!! BLIND BEING CALM!!!!!!!!)

I WON'T LET YOU KIDNAP MY KID, YOU CRATER OF A STAR!

[SIFFRIN.]

(You flinch.) (Loop never calls you that.)

[Blinding stop yelling, your party is eavesdropping.]

So what.

[So- So what?!] [WHAT do you mean SO WHAT?!]

[Look, whatever, this loop is a bust.] [But STEALING! KIDNAPPING! Such harsh words, dawn!]

Bring Lupus back right now, or I'll make you regret it.

[Threats now? Wow. That's real cute!]

Loop.

[I… just… think it'd be best… if you lost costudy for a little while…]

(How fast can you get to the well?) (Mirabelle doesn't wait for you anymore.) (Isabeau ignores you.) (You think you could get there fast.)

[You just THREATENED me.] [You're THINKING about hurting me, aren't you!?]

(You were.)

[Is this... really the state of mind you should be in while raising a child?]

(You-)

(You don't want to hear that.)

(You feel like a massive black hole, your gravity so impossibly strong that it stretches and atomizes everything.)

[Dawn, please breathe.]

(You choke out a sob.)

[Dawn...]

[I'm sorry.] [It really won't be forever.]

[You're not a bad person for this, okay?]

("Not a bad person".)

(Stars, what have you been doing?)

(You killed the Director.)

(They deserve it, they deserve ALL those horrible vile things you wanted to do to them but stars!)

(But you didn't just kill him.) (You brutalized hir.)

(That's... that's not normal.)

(You never considered yourself to be a violent person before.)

[You're not the Director.] [Please knock it off. You're the victim too.]

("Too".) (Does that mean they're a victim?) (That you're an evil monster who hurts others?)

[You can BOTH be victims in different circumstances, dawn.]

[And it doesn't minimize the damage he's done to you. I think their tally score goes over yours by quite a blinding lot!]

(You don't regret it.)

(You don't think you'd hesitate to attack them again if they allowed it.)

(...)

(Okay. Yeah.)

(You really don't need Lupus around you.)

[I can't imagine how this must feel.] [If it means anything, I'm truly sorry.]

[Would you like to... speak with them?]

(You gasp over your stupid sobbing.) (You can't even respond, so you nod until your head gets dizzy.)

[Okay, okay! Good, because they've been waiting VERY patiently to call you, and they have NOT been pestering me about it whatsoever!]

AH?!!