Chapter Text
(You enter silently.)
(...)
(You don’t hear cutlery or anything.)
(Your stomach hurts.)
(They must’ve eaten without you.)
(Maybe they’re already sleeping.)
(But no— You can hear them talk.)
(You get closer…)
MIRABELLE: “... And... And then I left. I couldn’t… be there anymore.”
ODILE: “...”
ISABEAU: “Why would Sif act like this suddenly? That’s not like them at all…”
ODILE: “Clearly, something happened.”
BONNIE: “B-But what?” I don’t understand… Why he’d do stuff like that. I don’t understand at all!”
MIRABELLE: “Bonnie…”
ISABEAU: “...”
ODILE: “... Everyone. Siffrin might come back any second now… So we need to decide what to do.”
ISABEAU: “What to do?”
MIRABELLE: “About tomorrow…?”
ODILE: “Yes.”
BONNIE: “Huh? What do you mean?”
MIRABELLE: “Are you saying… Leave without Siffrin?”
ISABEAU: “What?! I-I understand how you feel, but… But we shouldn’t leave Sif behind! H-He’s the one who leads us… We wouldn’t be able to evade traps without them! Plus, he’s our friend! We can’t leave them behind!!!”
BONNIE: “Yeah! H-He was mean, but, but Frin was always with us, so—”
MIRABELLE: “I agree, but… B-But would he even agree to come with us, still? Maybe they won’t even come back tonight…”
BONNIE: “No, Frin will be there!!! I know it!!!”
ISABEAU: “And either way, we should wait for them, everyone… We can’t…”
ODILE: “Please, listen to me."
". . .”
“I… I just… I just don’t know if we can trust Siffrin anymore. Not at such an important moment.”
ISABEAU: “But—”
ODILE: “We’ll be fighting the king tomorrow, Isabeau!!! It’s not just a simple Sadness. It’s the KING. The being who has trapped Vaugarde in time. And we need to be a team. We need to be united, we need to trust one another. ...After what just happened to all of us today… Could you do it, everyone? Could you entrust your life and future to someone like Siffrin right now?”
MIRABELLE: “...”
BONNIE: “...”
ISABEAU: “...”
(...)
(You)
(You decide to—)
(...No. No… You can't. You can't go without them— You need… You need them… Your friends… Your family… You need them… You need them…! You can't go without them… If you go without them, you'll— You'll—!)
(You need to loop back… They hate you. They hate you, and you know it. You can't move forward without them… You want to stay with them… Even if you manage to beat the King… What's it worth if you can't stay with your family…? What's it worth if the only people who matter to you hate you?)
(You can't go you can't go you can't go you can't go youcan'tgoyoucan'tgoyoucan'tgoyoucan'tyoucan’tyoucan’tyoucan’tyouCAN’TYOUCAN’TYOUCAN'TYOUCAN'TYOUCAN'T!!!!!!!!!!)
(Your body feels weak… You feel like you can't move… You freeze. You never left the clocktower, but you can't recognize your surroundings.)
(Gah— Your ears…! They ring, they hurt so bad!)
(...)
(You hear yourself laugh.)
(No, no, no, no, no… Stop, they're gonna know you're there!!! They can't see you!!! Not like this!!! Not when you know they hate you right now!!! They're going to laugh at you, or, better yet, yell at you about how you shouldn't have come back to the clocktower!!!)
( They hate you!!! They're going to leave you behind!!!! You can't go!!! Loop back!!!)
(You hear a thud. Your knees hurt. You fell. You can't… stop laughing… Your cheeks hurt from the stars-awful smile you've been putting on for so long… From how you've been laughing…)
(...)
(You hear… footsteps.)
(No, no, no, no, no no no no no nonononononononono…)
(There's a burning sweet smell… Everything feels like it's falling apart… Please, you can't!!!... You can't let them see you like this!!!)
(Please, you can't breathe— can't breathe, can't see, your eye is shut so tight that you're starting to see things in your not-so-vision and you feel like you're choking and everything hurts and you just want it to end already because you just can't DO this anymore…!!! YOU CAN'T—)
(GOD DAMN IT, PLEASE!!! )
(LOOP BACK!!!)
(LOOP BACK!!!)
(LOOP BACK, DAMN IT!!!)
(Yo u fe el a tu g o n you r sto ma ch)
LOOP 325.
(...)
(Ah… You— you can’t…)
(...Breathe…)
(You feel… empty. Like there's something stopping you. Like something is wrong.)
(It wasn't over then, was it…? Did you actually manage to force yourself to loop back?)
(You look around. Your head hurts.)
(Come on, Siffrin… Put your smile on and calm down. It's a new loop… It's a new loop… It's a new loop.)
(Iiiiiin, and ooouuuuut. Breathe. Iiiiiiiin, and oouuuuut. Iiiin… And out…)
(See? You're okay! You're fine.)
(Everything's fine.)
(You're fine.)
(You're fine.)
(You're fine, you're fine you're fine.)
(...)
(Huh. Looks like you really managed to have SOME control over the loops outside of dying. That's… Good! That's great!!! Isn't that fun~! Teehee~~!!!)
(...)
(Back to the stage.)
(Another deep breath taken, you get up and start walking back to the village. You can’t feel your smile, your face has gone numb. Are you even smiling? You don’t know. You put your finger up to your face to feel it, but your lips only curve downwards. You wonder if you’ve lost the ability to smile. But no, that can’t be it, you think. You’re just not on the stage yet, you’ll get back on track as soon as you can. It feels freeing right now, though.)
(Feeling the grass beneath your feet, you make your way to the village. Ah, there's that forced smile, again. You swiftly approach Mirabelle, and Mirabelle approaches you. Before she can say anything, you should speak up. You have to move quickly, after all. And deal the final blow. As soon as you get to the King.)
MIRABELLE: "Siffrin! You're up!"
SIFFRIN: “Hey, Mira. Have you thought about having a sleepover, yet?”
(...)
(She looks surprised, as always.)
MIRABELLE: “...Ah– Yes, I have, actually! How did you— Ah…”
“...”
“Siffrin…”
(...)
(What now? Is there something on your face? Why is she staring at you like that? Come on, this is just like last time. Get back on track, follow the script, just— Just stop asking questions already!!!)
SIFFRIN: “Uh. Yes, Mira?”
MIRABELLE: “...Are you… Okay? Like, are you okay okay? You don't look good… Not good at all. I'm worried. Did you have a nightmare? Or, or— Maybe, did you—”
SIFFRIN: “Mirabelle.”
(You stop smiling. This isn't how this was meant to go. Do you really look that bad? Why won't they just go back on script?!?!? This happened a few loops before as well, you don't get it!)
SIFFRIN: “I'm fine. Just didn't have a good sleep. That's all. Look, can…”
(You pause and stare at Mirabelle's expression… You don't know what to say. She isn't budging.)
SIFFRIN: “...Nevermind. I have things to do. I'll see you later, Mirabelle.”
MIRABELLE: “...Oh… Okay. If you ever want to talk to someone though, I'm here…!”
“...Well… Goodbye, Siffrin…”
(...)
(So blinding annoying. You wish you could just loop straight ahead. But you need to get them stronger now. But first, you should go talk to Loop… Because the last loop certainly was something.)
(Making your way back to the Favor Tree, you almost run past Isabeau again. You should probably talk to him, so you can go talk to loop.)
(You approach Isa.)
ISABEAU: "Hey, Sif!"
SIFFRIN: "Hi, Isa, I need to do the favor tree thing!"
(Quick, and easy.)
ISABEAU: "O-Oh! Alright, I'll, uh, leave so you can do your thing, but..."
"Are you okay?"
(... Huh?)
(This, again? First Mirabelle, and now Isabeau? This isn't in the script. Come on.)
SIFFRIN: "Yeah, I'm good!"
(...You can tell he doesn't believe you. Whatever, it doesn't matter since you'll be looping this time anyway, you think.)
(Isabeau gives you a look. you don't know how to respond.)
ISABEAU: "Uh-huh. Oookay, then..."
"Take care, Sif."
(And The Fighter takes his leave.)
(You can feel Loop staring at you. You stare back as you approach the tree. Sitting down, they only greet you with a nod. They're never usually silent, so you assume it's because they must be a little mad at you for what you did last loop. You hide your face, waiting for them to comment.)
"You know, what you did was very..."
(Loop does a weird hand gesture.)
"...It wasn't great. You should really be more careful, Stardust."
(...)
SIFFRIN: "I know. I'm going to fix it this loop. I can't hurt them again."
"That's not what I meant."
(Huh?)
SIFFRIN: "Then what?"
"Stardust..."
"You can't keep looping like this. Change isn't a bad thing, you know! Why don't you try being slightly more honest with your party? I'm sure they'd appreciate it if you were."
(Ha...)
(You almost laugh at the absurdity of that idea. You can't do that. Never. You can't make them worry about you, or else they'll start asking endless questions, and then they'll find out.)
(You can't do that.)
SIFFRIN: "You know I can't."
"But you haven't tried, yet. Think about it. At least for this loop. You're putting too much unnecessary stress on yourself."
SIFFRIN: "What else am I supposed to do, if not carry this burden?"
"You should already know by now that I have to be the one to do this. I thought you understood that."
(It's starting to get a bit on your nerves, now.)
"..."
"You're losing yourself, Stardust! How do you not see that? I'm getting sick and tired of seeing you endlessly chasing the answers around in circles. Seriously, Siffrin, it's starting to become..."
(Loop pauses. You can only stare.)
"It's..."
"You're not going to get anywhere if you keep going like this. I'm here to help you, so let me help you."
SIFFRIN: "I'm so close, though! You can't seriously be telling me this."
"I still haven't even gotten to the King to beat him yet."
"If you want to 'help' me so much, then have some blinding faith in me! I have the answer already, I'm so close! I just need to BLINDING deal that FINAL blow and be done with it!"
(Loop stares and goes silent. You grit your teeth. You should get up and get going, soon.)
"Stars, you're so... How are you okay with this? I'm really trying to support you, but it's so hard when you're so stubborn, Stardust! I'm telling you, this isn't the answer you're looking for!"
"Blind it. ...Suit yourself. Just... Don't say I didn't warn you."
(Right. You don't respond. You only get up, turn around, and walk away in a fit of rage. You can feel their glare on you. Well, what does Loop know, anyway?!)
(You're so close. You just... You just have to beat the king.)
(Right, the friend quests. You should try and go do those, now. You don't think you'll be talking to Loop anytime soon, not in this loop.)
(You need to go talk to The Housemaiden. So that's what you do next. You go back into town, put on a smile, and pass the Change God's statue to go talk to Mira.)
MIRABELLE: "Oh, Siffrin! I'm glad you decided to come talk. ...Do you wanna talk? What do you need?"
(Ask the same question.)
SIFFRIN: "I already told you, I'm fine."
"But... Do you need help with anything? Like, those papers, maybe?"
MIRABELLE: "A-Ah! No, nope-- Maybe? Yes?? But, they're just so I can take my mind off the more important stuff!!! Nothing else!!!"
SIFFRIN: "...Those are bonding papers, aren't they?"
(Don't mess it up, this time.)
"You know, if you don't want to get bonded with anyone... You don't have to."
MIRABELLE: "H-Huh? Wait, how did you-- What?"
"Argh, nevermind! ...What do you mean I.. don't.. have to?"
SIFFRIN: "I mean, it's not like you're obligated to, are you?"
MIRABELLE: "But.. But, I...---" >>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
(...)
(You almost missed your cues, there. But at least you didn't mess it up. It went a little off script, but, you got Mira's skill, now.)
(...She doesn't think you're suspicious, does she? You can tell that she still doesn't buy your words completely. She's always been a little naive, though, so... She's probably forcing herself to believe you. You're not entirely sure you like that thought all too much, but... None of this will matter in a day or so anyway.)
(You should go talk to Odile, get her familytale... But you'll have to be extra careful. She was too perceptive last time. How annoying.)
(You make your way into the store, and go talk to Odile.)
ODILE: "Ah, Siffrin..."
"You don't look all too great. Is something wrong?"
(Again.)
SIFFRIN: "I just had a small nightmare, that's all. I'm fine."
ODILE: "Are you sure? You--"
SIFFRIN: "Nothing's wrong, Odile."
"So, what are you looking for?"
(...She's not quite ready to let the topic go just yet. You-- >>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
(Much better. Back in the Boulangerie, you take the Familytale. And then you take Odile back to the same clearing she took you to the first time. Always the blinding same.)
(You stare at her, and she stares back. You better put your act on. You smile as big and as cheerfully as you can, but it doesn't work.)
(You wait for her to speak.)
ODILE: "Siffrin..."
"You've been acting very off today. Listen, I'm not good with emotions, but... I can tell that there's something wrong. You don't have to tell me, but... If you want to talk, we're all here for you."
(This talk again...)
SIFFRIN: "I know."
"I'm fine."
(You keep a smile throughout. The Researcher finally starts speaking up about h>>>>
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>>>>
(Two left.)
(Isabeau is also going to be a bit tricky. You always have to leave Isabeau for last. Plus, after all, The Kid's training has to be believable, doesn't it? You better go talk to Bonnie.)
(Making your way over to the field, you approach Bonnie.)
SIFFRIN: "Bonnie."
BONNIE: "....heyfrin. ...What do you want?"
SIFFRIN: "I was thinking, I should teach you how to fight today! Since we fight the King tomorrow..."
>>>>
>>>>
(And you both arrive at the field.)
(You can't mess this up again. Don't hurt Bonnie like last time. You can do this. Just don't fall on purpose.)
(Sadness time.)
>>>>
(You trip on a rock. Bonnie immediately jumps in to defend you.)
>>>>
(You hug Bonnie.)
>>>>
(Wow, you've been zoning out a lot! You do need to hurry, so it's not like you mind all too much. Either way, you've already gone through this countless times... So you don't really care about being too present. It gets tiring and boring after a while.)
(You've been losing your patience, lately. You wonder if the Universe finds this annoying or lame. You have an audience to entertain, so you better put your act up well this time around.)
(After all... You have to talk to Isa now. And he won't let it go, no matter what. You go to the end of the hill, where Isa stands.)
ISABEAU: "Siiiif. Hey."
"You ready to talk, now? Or are you just going to pretend things are fine, again?"
(You don't want to deal with this again.)
SIFFRIN: "...Isa. I'll be fine."
"I'm just stressed about tomorrow. I'm not sure if we'll be able to do it."
(Will that do the trick? You frown slightly, staring up at him. You can practically see his brain gears turning.)
ISABEAU: "..."
"Sif..."
"I think we can definitely beat the King tomorrow!! After all, we've come this far, right? However... I know that's not all you're thinking about. Whatever it is, you don't have to shy away from it, you know? You can tell us anything!"
SIFFRIN: "I know..."
(You know, you know, you blinding know. But you can't talk to them about this. They'll hate you.)
(Quick, make up an excuse.)
"I know we can probably do it. I just don't want to see any of you hurt."
(Technically, you're not lying.)
ISABEAU: "Well... With your fast reflexes, and all of our powers combined... I know we'll all be able to protect each other!"
"Things are going to be okay, Sif. If we get hurt, we'll heal. That's just how it is."
(You nod.)
(This conversation is far too new, so you can't zone out, but ...)
ISABEAU: "Again, you don't have to hide your problems from us. We'll listen, and we'll help."
SIFFRIN: "...Yeah."
"Hey, Isa...?"
ISABEAU: "Yeees, Sif?"
SIFFRIN: "Do you think we could have a picnic? To look at the stars, maybe?"
ISABEAU: "The stars...?"
"Yeah, sure, Sif! I-- >>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
(...Bingo.)
(It went just as you thought it'd go.)
(...You feel empty.)
(You have everyone's skills now, at least. Now, all you have to do...)
(Is beat the King.)