Chapter Text
Mal Du Pays looks at The Researcher, patiently waiting for an explanation as she thinks about her answer.
It has been seven minutes, fifty six seconds, twenty milliseconds of empty silence since it found her. The Researcher seems more tired than usual, likely from all of the stress of today.
Mal Du Pays doesn't mind the comfortable silence that has taken place, simply returning to staring at the stars above in fascination. Things… have gone very off-script, especially with the fact that The Housemaiden didn't do her speech during the dinner, but it's fine. Everything will be fine.
Unlike the one who abandoned them all, Mal Du Pays won’t let go of everyone. They're like HIM in a sense, being a greedy thing who wants their Party to be with them. No matter how wrong or irrational it is.
And currently, one of them has decided to go outside for reasons unknown. So naturally, Mal Du Pays went to investigate.
“...How much do you know about Siffrin?” Just hearing the name makes Mal Du Pays angry, a frown appearing on their face. They stare at The Researcher and then simply point their hand at their face.
“...Sadnesses are usually formed after a person's most intense emotion they felt, all taking unique shapes.” Mal Du Pays nods at that, following The Researcher's logic.
“So then, why do you look… exactly like Siffrin?” There's some form of emotion as she says the last few words, an emotion that Mal Du Pays can't understand. But, it does understand the question, so it takes a moment to think.
HE was starting to lose himself at the end of the last loop, unable to keep being in-character. HE didn't care about how suspicious HE looked, about how THEY knew things THEY shouldn't and where to find things they needed to progress further.
Because, no matter what THEY try or do… The end result will remain the same. Only variation is how The King will slaughter them all this time around.
The King was simply too strong, someone THEY couldn't beat no matter how many times they threw themselves at him. So what was the harm in blitzing to him, taking the shortest and quickest way?
But then. Something different happened. The script was broken, the actors on the stage were saying different lines, everything was wrong and yet…
And yet, it was all so right.
They… they weren't feeling that great, but.
But.
They did feel better, after the entire ordeal. But despite that minor deviation, the entire Party marched forward after he was finally done being useless and stalling for time. All of them walking to their inevitable doom.
They faced The King. Everyone felt more energized, things were going somewhat smoothly, The Housemaiden was healing and supporting everyone, The Fighter gave encouragement to keep fighting, The Researcher was using her crafts and… And it was all futile.
Because.
The King.
Is
UNDEFEATEABLE.
As The King prepared the final attack, the one that would defeat you and everyone else as it has oh so many times before…
You
Closed your eyes
And accepted the end
of this loop
. . .
But then Isabeau took the attack for you. Odile gave you encouragement. Bonnie desperately gave you a Sour Tunic.
And Mirabelle empowered you, allowing you to finally end this once and for all.
…You won. The cruel King was defeated, royalty overthrown, the happy ending obtained. Everything seemed perfect. Everyone else was talking about what they would do now that the King is defeated, where they would go next, back to their respective old friends or family or research or-
And then
You feel a tug on your stomach and-
…Siffrin didn't take that well. He gave up. Just like that. Not caring for his own supposed family, taking advantage of them like a parasite and leaving them in the dust once the play was over just because he couldn't handle it. But, Mal Du Pays understands that it makes sense. Siffrin only knew how to take and take, and never gave back like the selfish thing he was.
And surely he knew it as well, which is why Mal Du Pays was formed. They knew that they were selfish, toxic and worthless, that they didn't deserve the love given, that their only option left was to run away and-
“-Du Pays? Can you hear me?” The Researcher's voice snaps the Sadness from its internal musing, quickly looking at her.
She backed away from where she was previously standing, staring at Mal Du Pays with her hand held in a Scissors sign. Oh.
Mal Du Pays tilts its head at her, practically asking ‘why are you anxious?’. Not afraid, because the Researcher is never scared. She's stoic, fearless and smart. She has every trait that HE lacks.
So it ignores the way her hand is shaking, the way her neutral expression is clearly forced, the way her breathing has grown irregular as she still stares at Mal Du Pays.
…Upon looking closer at her, it seems like she has… shrunk in size?
No, wait- everything, not just her, looks so much smaller now. The Sadness is rightfully confused and decides to look at its arms-…
Hm. This is not right. Was it always this big? It takes a look around and confirms that yes, the world did not shrink. But they have somehow… grown in size?
An unexpected development, but usually it wouldn't concern the Sadness. It would simply move on and continue doing what it does.
But, since the Researcher has shown concern for them, Mal Du Pays decides to try and revert this. So, it focuses and tries to shrink itself, closing their eyes.
It thinks about why it's doing this. Well, if it was big, then it wouldn't be able to hide behind the Fighter. Nor would it be able to jumpscare the Housemaiden. And the Kid will definitely be able to hit them more due to them being bigger, thus easier to hit.
. . .
They open their eyes.
The world looks correct, the Sadness taking the previous form it possessed. It is sad about no longer being tall, but that's a small price to pay for The Researcher's sake.
It looks expectantly at her. She's still holding the Scissors sign. It takes her a moment to register that, resting her hand to the default position afterwards.
. . .
Mal Du Pays continues waiting, still curious on what The Researcher was doing here. She does not continue the conversation, looking into the distance instead.
She seems to be deep in thought.
. . .
“Why-…” The Researcher cuts herself off before she can even continue her sentence, seemingly rethinking something.
“...We can talk about that later, after we defeat the King.” She says, her tone of voice suggesting she's talking more to herself than the Sadness nearby.
“Let’s get back inside before anyone notices we're gone.” And with that, The Researcher makes her way back inside.
Mal Du Pays follows after her, closing the door behind them.
Tomorrow, Mal Du Pays will lead the Party to The King. And unlike HIM, it will make sure that everyone else will not be grievously harmed.
It sleeps without dreams that night, comfortably taking a nap. It reminds it of being frozen by a Tear, if Mal Du Pays had to give a feeling to it.