Chapter Text
„Stanley, love?“
The Narrator spoke softly, carefully walking over to where he heard his love in the kitchen. Stanley always made sure to keep their home as tidy as possible, so that his Narrator wouldn't get hurt walking around blindly. Their cat Adven, who was as energetic and lovable as her namesake, didn't make that all that easy with the occasional toy strewn about. Not that either of them could ever be upset about it -the Narrator had gotten as attached to their kitty like he had to the Adventure Line™, and Stanley loved how happy she made him.
[Yes?]
Stanley replied, curiously looking towards his Narrator. Just seeing him made him smile, seeing his love in a buttoned shirt, and a specially made scary, yellow and arrow-shaped, but made of a thin and light material. It was a lot more comfortable for the warmer days, and it made him look absolutely beautiful, if Stanley may be so bold.
The Narrator smiled softly, carefully walking up to Stanley. His hands moved to sign kiss, and Stanley eagerly leaned down to meet his Narrator, gently cupping his cheek as they kissed. The Narrator liked to use some signing sometimes to ask for things like kisses, since it felt a little awkward to him to ask out loud. And since they had learned tactical sign language together, it was good for practice regardless.
„I'm not sure if you remember but... Back in the Parable, there had been an ending you didn't get the chance to do. I told you about it, because I made it together with the skip button one- a hidden ending in the Memory Zone, just for you. Nothing to do with the reviews.“
The Narrator said softly, a light blush colouring his cheeks. The yellow may be inhuman, but it was purely the Narrator, and Stanley loved seeing it. Even if the Narrator had to make sure he looked appropriately human in that regard when they went out. But while they were at home, the Narrator could look however he pleased, and the form he's had for most his existence was simply the most comfortable.
Stanley hummed softly as he listened, tilting his head as he tried to remember. It had been so long since then, and he barely thought about the Parable and the Office anymore. He sometimes had dreams about it still, or got a reminder during day to day life, but he didn't try to think about it if he was honest.
But he had done every ending in the game so often, until that skip button. And... he did vaguely remember having looked forward to do something else in the Memory Zone. His memories were tainted by him actually living there though, so he wasn't sure if he really remembered.
[I think I know what you mean. What about it?]
Stanley was curious what his Narrator was getting at. Just as rarely as Stanley thought back to the game, the Narrator rarely brought it up either. Of course there was the actual game now- an achievement that had taken them quite a while, but with the help of friends, they had managed to get „The Stanley Parable“ made into a real game to share with the world. They had never figured out where or how the Parable had made it a game, not finding anything about it, but well. Now it existed, at least, and it was doing well. The Narrator had no worries he'd cease to exist for decades yet at the very least.
So bringing up that special ending now was surprising for Stanley. If they talked about their past, it was usually after a dream or nightmare, or sometimes it was because Stanley mixed up his memories of the dreams and of what had actually happened.
„Well, It... It was a very special ending. It wasn't meant to feel like an ending either, actually. But it's- that is to say- Stanley I...“
The Narrator was getting increasingly nervous, so Stanley gently took his hands, pressing a soft kiss to the back of both of them. The Narrator smiled softly, willing himself to relax. The Parable hadn't been that horrible that they didn't want to think or talk about it anymore, but the Narrator was still hesitant about this.
„I had said that you would need to look for that ending. Or, well, you could've stumbled upon it without meaning to. And I... Kind of set it up again, in a way? It's- I understand if you don't want tot hink about the game and the endings and such ever again, and maybe this was- a bad idea on my part, but-“
The Narrator was cut off by Stanley gently pressing a kiss to his lips, effectively shutting him up. Stanley gently held his face, smiling at his love. He could tell just how nervous the Narrator was, and he appreciated how he worried about Stanley's feelings.
[I can tell it's important to you love. I don't mind it at all, I think it's actually really nice. It was an ending meant just for the two of us, after all. And if I can find it now, and make you happy in the process, I couldn't be more delighted.]
Stanley gently reassured his Narrator. He relaxed as he listened to Stanley's words, smiling softly up at his love by the end. He was glad Stanley was so understanding, and that Stanley would enjoy it too. Of course Stanley had no idea what was waiting for him, but he could clearly see that it was very important for his Narrator. And he would like to know what it was, he'd enjoy whatever „ending“ he had recreated for the two of them now, no matter if he was going to find it soon or stumble upon it another time.
The Narrator slowly hugged Stanley, nuzzling into his love, and Stanley happily wrapped his arms around him to hold him close. He was immensely curious what it may be, so he would probably go and look for the „ending“ soon. Once he's had lunch, that is, because even though he didn't need food, just like the Narrator didn't, he enjoyed the activity. Plus, his human instincts liked to tell him he should eat regardless.
As soon as Stanley had finished his lunch, he was starting to search. The Narrator had settled down to read, very happy and eager to read books that humans had written, although it wasn't easy to find braille books. He could hear Stanley walking around and looking at things, the occasional thought drifting to him of Stanley wondering if maybe here was the „ending“. It made the Narrator smile, and eventually he gave up on reading and just relaxed on the couch, listening to Stanley moving around.
When the Narrator caught the thought of Stanley going to look in the right place, he shifted to stand up, nervously tugging on his scarf. Stanley was curiously searching, until finally he came upon a strange little box. Curiously lifting it, it looked like a toy, a puzzle sort of. Engraved in the wood was „For Us“ in cursive, and Stanley wondered if this thing could be opened. He's not seen this thing before, and regardless of it was for the „ending“ or not, he brought it over to the living room, finding his Narrator standing there and fiddling with his scarf.
[I found this wooden toy box thing?]
Stanley announced, walking over to the Narrator. The entity perked up, smiling as Stanley came up to him. Stanley smiled as well, feeling almost certain that this thing was what he had been supposed to find. He was curious what exactly it was, the engraving making him even more curious. He offered the cube to the Narrator, with a gentle thought about it, though he lightly shook his head.
„It is a puzzle, so you may want to try and open it. The engraving is on the top.“
The Narrator said softly, so Stanley nodded, and began fiddling with the puzzle. He was glad he knew it was somehting to be opened at least, though he was curious what may be inside of the puzzle. As he started fiddling with it, the Narrator took a deep breath, before he continued to talk.
„When I had made the ending in the game, a lot of things were uncertain. We didn't know if we would ever get out of the game or how, nor did we have any help at that point. All we had was each other, and making the best out of what we have. The Memory Zone was supposed to be our escape from the game, to let us have something we wouldn't have otherwise. A little bit of freedom. I always knew I couldn't promise we'd have a „normal“ life, something like the humans now around us have. But I knew one thing I could promise you.““.
Stanley listened attentively as the Narrator spoke, slowly figuring out the puzzle. It wasn't exactly easy, but he wasn't stupid either. And if his brain was hurting already, levae him be. He was focusing on what his Narrator was saying! He was allowed to struggle a little with the puzzle. And as he heard the Narrator's words, his hands paused, and he looked over at the entity.
The Narrator smiled softly, reaching out to Stanley. Finding his hands with the puzzle box, he carefully moved his hands over the puzzle, finding where Stanley had stopped and showing him the rest. Stanley had a weird feeling in his belly, though he opened the box, eyes wide.
„I can promise you, that I'll always love you. I'll always be with you. That's- it's all I've wanted, for a long time now. And I know that- in the game, this maybe wouldn't have meant as much. It may not mean as much here either, but- I love you, Stanley. I don't think I could continue without you.“.
Stanley saw the pair of golden rings in the box, different sizes, one for each of them. They were simple but beautiful, and more than Stanley would ever ask for. Looking up at the Narrator, tears were in his eyes, shocked and touched and overwhelmed. His Narrator looked a little nervous, but being very brave, his hands still gently cupping Stanley's.
Stanley looked back at the rings, biting his lip as he took them in. He had no clue when the Narrator had even gotten them. Maybe while he had been at work?
„I know it's a lot to ask, and- frankly, I don't know if it's actually possible. But... Stanley? Will you marry me?“
The Narrator asked, voice soft and betraying a little bit how nervous he actually was. When they had been in the game, the Narrator had wanted to promise Stanley the same things: to always love him, and to never leave him. In the game, it wouldn't have been quite the same as marriage, of course. He had wanted to give Stanley a ring too, of course, to make it feel... real, perhaps. And he would've made sure the two of them would keep the rings, no matter what the game wanted to do to them.
But now, out in the human's world, he could really ask it. He wasn't exactly sure of the laws, of course, but... no one would have to know he's asked. In case it wasn't legal, of course, but he was pretty sure Stanley would know. But really, it wasn't important right now anyways.
„I- yes! Yes Narry.“
Stanley replied, his voice shaky as he couldn't stop his happy tears. The Narrator smiled brightly, overwhelmed with emotions as tears brimmed in his eyes too. He gingerly tugged free the ring for Stanley, his love giving him his hand to carefully slide the ring onto his finger. Stanley tugged the other ring free after, gingerly taking his Narrator's hand and pushing the ring onto his finger.
And then he dropped the box, and pulled his Narrator's face to his, kissing him hard and desperate. The Narrator wrapped his arms around Stanley's neck, holding tightly onto him as the both of them cried, parting from their kiss with smiles and happy little giggles.
„I love you so much Stanley.“
„I love you just as much.“
Existence had thrown a lot at the both of them. They had gone through so much over the years in the Parable, had nearly lost each other, had nearly died and ceased to exist. And yet, they had fought through it all, had never given up on the other. Even when it had hurt, even when it had been hard. They had always had each other, and they would continue to have one another.
Their existence may still not be certain, depending on other people remembering the Narrator, but they weren't in any danger for the forseeable future. They had their game, out there in the world, to be played and experienced by hundreds and thousands of people. They had their friends, their neighbours, and so many more people they would meet in the future. And even if not, they weren't afraid.
Because they have each other.
And they have you.
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Thank you.
Without you, these two may never would have made it. At least, not like they have now.
They're going to be okay, I know it. :-)
There's so many people out there who think about them and talk about them after all! :-D
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Do don't you worry about them.
They've found their freedom.
And as long as you remember them, they will never die. <3
So thank you. Truly. Without you, even I couldn't have done this.
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We we're all in this together.
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You can now enjoy their story over and over.
Every time you restart their series, The Stanley Parable will play out again, for you.
And nothing in the story will change when you do this, either.
It'll just be the same, again and again and again.
What do you say? Should we go forward with this plan?
I like it, but I want you to have a say as well.
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Let's do it.
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Good! Then it's agreed! Their love story, every time you restart the series.
We're going to keep the wheel turning.
I'm ready. Are you ready?
Great. There's only one last thing we need to do.
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Please think of their time together.
Please imagine their life continuing.
Thank you. Please enjoy your life.
:-)