#overseer-the string puller

*God-

*I can’t just shut him down whenever I want! Mike only gave me the privileges to do it whenever he’s about to seriously hurt himself. Granted it’s more so “his precious puppet doesn’t get killed” than out of actually caring about him but…I care. And that’s why I used it.

*…

*How much must he have been worked up about something that wasn’t even there that the failsafe kicked in? How much were you all pushing him?! Or…was he pushing himself…?

*…I don’t want to know what’s going to happen when they actually do meet up again.

*All I can say is, Eileen makes my job a lot less stressful. A Lightner and Darkner forming a bond like that is a miracle, and yet here that are, still together. It’s hard not to feel happy for them.

*But I’m still worried about what he might do.

(Her voice is almost jovial, thought it still sounds a little anxious and definitely tired. In addition to the usual typing there is also occasional the strokes of a pencil. She’s drawing off to the side. Badly, too.)

*It’s a shame about the whole “out of date” thing though…never mind what’s gonna happen when it’s time to turn back. But some of those customers have more power than even Mike or I do…

*…

*SORRY. TRULY, TRULY SORRY. BUT SPEAKING TO HER FOR PROLONGED PERIODS OF TIME WITHOUT SPAMTON NEARBY LIKE THAT IS…NOT PERMITTED, SHALL WE SAY.

*I SUPPOSE I CAN ANSWER YOUR QUERY FOR HER, HOWEVER. BACK THEN WAS ALL THAT SHE COULD DO. BEG YOU TO HELP IN HER STEAD. AND SO YOU DID.

*VERY, VERY INTERESTING. YOU ALL CARE FOR HIM DEEPLY, YET CONSTANTLY QUESTION HIM.

*PERHAPS ONE DAY WE WILL HAVE MORE TIME TO DWELL ON HIM. HOW MY ACTIONS AND YOURS HAVE SHAPED HIM. BUT THAT TIME IS NOT NOW.

*WE WILL SPEAK AGAIN SOON. FAREWELL, AUDIENCE.

*Spafnir…? Spafnir, you better w-

*God-He’s not my captive! Why would I be caring for him so deeply if he was? He’s my…associate. Just like [[Redacted]]-but that’s not important right now!

(Her voice is very anxious and panicky, the relentless noises of a keyboard that is constantly underneath her having stopped for the moment. Other noises, like her fingers running across a desk or papers ruffling, can be heard instead.)

*Everything that’s been happening has been a damn miracle…or a bad miracle, if that exists. My permission for him to use the suit actually working, him getting this far…the fact that this is happening to Eileen right now. There’s only so much I can do, and right now it’s not enough…

(A button is pressed, and there is dead silence for a moment before the *pop* of it popping back out to be pushed again is heard. She groans.)

*Dammit! That’s the button that I accidentally hit that day when he was with Spafnir! How hard must he be suppressing me?! God, why is nothing working…

*…Wait.

*You all can hear me. Even though Spaul can’t right now. Can you…help me? Please…find Spafnir and-

*I-I…I’m not. Hold on, give me a sec…

(Something is flipped, and suddenly it seems Spaul can no longer hear her. You, however, and the rest of the audience, can just fine.)

*I’m…associated with…Mike, I guess you could say. [[Redacted]]. But me and him have never seen each other! Seems to me he just abandoned Spaul after whatever happened between them fell through, so he…transformed him and left me in charge. With some instructions, sure, but…that was it.

*All that’s left of his influence are these failsafes that I just…can’t remove. I’ve tried! I swear on the Knight’s honor, I’ve tried!! But…they’re pretty tightly wound.

*I just…want him to be happy. To live and be as free as he can be with all of these wonderful new friends he’s made. But he’s not gonna trust me for one second if I tell him that. If-If he finds out I “work” for Mike-

**Huff*…just…there’s your answer. I’m not intentionally doing him harm. Not a word of this to Spaul, ok?!

(As he waits for the voice to respond, he is suddenly aware that there is perpetually the sound of hands typing at a keyboard under her voice. Perhaps there’s some sort of truth to her words…

*I’ll…shut up. Or, uh, try to…we’re still connected, after all. But please…try to calm down and genuinely let these people change your mind. I can guarantee you, no one wants you to sacrifice yourself like this.

*4ND 1F I’M [[if not completely satisfied,]]???

*I’ll…oh god I can’t believe I’m doing this…

*I’ll…allow you access to the NEO body. One last time. That’s how certain I am that this is the wrong choice. But if nothing shakes you…I will bend my strings and let you do as you want.

*But please, please please please…let their words actually sink in. You don’t want this, Spaul. Trust me.

*…F1NE.FINE-FIN3-[[there’s nothing wrong!]]. I ACCEPT TH3 [[deal]].

*It’s not a deal ya silly-Ugh, I guess I have to shut up now.

*Please, everyone out there…don’t screw this up.

(All that remains of her voice is the clicking of the keyboard. Still there, but forcing herself to be silent.)

*HEH…[[StarShapedNightlight]]. [Hello there~]. 1’M…[terribly sorry] YOU H4VE TO [[C]] M3 LIKE THIS…

(His eyes cast downwards. Almost feeling guilty he’s letting them see him like this. But only for a moment.)

*BUT I W0N’T BE TH1S [sad and pathetic] FOR MUCH L0NGER!!! I’M G0ING TO [[Becomed]] NEO AND [I’ve got you!] EVERY !!!!

*INCLUDING [[you, yes you!]].

*No, you’re not! Spaul, are you purposefully not remembering what happened to you the first time you did that? The memories, the pain, the delusions? Do you really want Eileen to see you like that?

*K33P H3R [-and it’s outta here!]!!!!!

*And then there’s what Spafnir and The Beast said. Do you think your other selves would lie to you? About how bad that form is for your well-being?

*$HUT UP!!! [[Cut the red wire]] 4ND [Leave Me Alone]!!!!

*Oh no…he’s getting worse…*sigh* I guess I have to change tactics. Unfortunately…

*HAEHAEHAHEAHEAHEHAHEAHEAHE!!!! U KN0W WH4T?!?! M4YBE I SH0ULD!!!!

(One half of one of his Broken Swords is brought out from behind the desk as Spaul goes running towards the ever-ringing phone. About to slam it straight through and shut off the noise once and for all.)

*I SHOULD’V3 [[to do list]] A [[Long, Long Time]] AGO!!!

*SPAUL, NO!!!

(His hands suddenly can’t seem to move from the poised-to-strike position, no matter how hard he tries.)

*1S THIS WHY [they call me-] [Hyperlink Blocked]??? JU$T LET ME-

*I can’t! We’ll lose contact!

*[[So what?]]

*…We’re not done talking. Put down the damn sword Spaul. I’m…I’m either going to make you see sense, or…or…