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File 164108745506.png - (229.18KB , 1000x1000 , 56.png )
1019132 No. 1019132 ID: 629f2e

A mystery/horror quest about children uncovering the horrifying mysteries surrounding their small town.

THREAD 1: https://questden.org/kusaba/quest/res/1010078.html
WIKI: https://questden.org/wiki/Perpetuity

---

Sunday, Two Days Ago

It had seemed just like any other day. There was no way of knowing what was to come...
156 posts omitted. Last 100 shown. Expand all images
>>
No. 1028826 ID: 629f2e
File 164965396373.png - (1.20MB , 1000x1000 , 107.png )
1028826

As the adults bicker, Temmie moves closer to you to talk.

Temmie: “It does seem a little unfair that Albert gained nothing from this game. Perhaps Temmie could share something with you?”
Albert: “It’s not as though we’ll really be getting anything from this. I’ll wake up soon enough and forget all about it.”
Temmie: “This is what is likely. But if Albert is to Remember, then perhaps there should be something worth remembering. A Fortune perhaps?”
Albert: “...I suppose it may be interesting to see what my subconscious believes lies in my future. Very well, I accept-”
Eye: “What point is there in getting a fortune from her?”

You both turn to the other girl, who apparently takes issue with Temmie’s offer.

Eye: “She Can’t see the future.”
Albert: “Obviously. It’s impossible.”
Temmie: “...My fortunes are very appreciated by those who have purchased them. Does the girl with true future sight not find this sufficient?”
Eye: “I’m sure what you do is good enough for most kids in a boring predictable small town, but it’s not precognition. You’re just taking in more information than anyone else and making educated Guesses.
Eye: “If you really want to know what your future holds, you should ask Me.
Temmie: “Temmie wonders what the point of knowing a future one cannot change is. Why know the Inevitable when you could receive the tools to Choose your fate?”
Eye: “The future has many possibilities, but some are far more likely than others based on how people are to act. Giving them information that will Change those actions lets me Lead them to the future of my choice.”
Temmie: “Of course you can. And Temmie would not wish to imply that you would misuse that knowledge to Mislead others for your own amusement. That would be a very unfortunate accusation.”
Eye: “It certainly would be a spurious allegation. It would be like if I claimed that you were using your classmates as guinea pigs to test your abilities on.”

You’re wondering if you should feel left out as the only person not arguing. No complaints here though, this is significantly more fun than the auction itself was. Fingers crossed one of them throws a punch.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the progression. After a few more verbal jabs from both of them, they turn to face you.

Temmie: “Who would you prefer to hear a fortune from.”
Eye: “I’m only offering if you turn her down. You can only choose one.”

This has taken a rather complicated turn. Still, you’re rather sure that you gleaned enough from their argument to make an informed decision between their two brands of fortune telling. Although you know on a deeper level why this choice is irrelevant and meaningless, you can put that aside and play pretend for long enough to make an honest assessment.

From which girl do you wish to hear your future?

1: Temmie Fortune
-Temmie will share her interpretation of your future
-Temmie’s prediction will tell you what CAN be, but not what WILL.
-She will speak cryptically, her prediction requiring interpretation. But instead of answers, she will offer advice

2: Eye’s Precognition
-Eye will tell you of things that WILL happen in your future
-Eye’s prediction is inescapable. Whatever she says will happen is guaranteed to take place
-Her prediction will be straightforward and easy to understand. Some portion of the fortune will be intended to mess with you, but she will not lie

>>
No. 1028828 ID: e51896

A, Temmie.

It is best to handle what we CAN control over what we can't control in our future to give us a possible better outcome and better future, despite her predictions not being as accurate as eyes... plus Temmie is someone we know, and after what Albert went through, I think he needs advice more than anything to better himself as a person.

plus, knowing a bad outcome that we cannot stop would only serve to gain FEAR. knowing what we CAN control in our future might make the inevitable not as bad.

Lastly, it's because Temmie is cool, and she felt bad for us to give us a free fortune. Listen to her as thanks.
>>
No. 1028834 ID: 8483cf

I was about to suggest 2 in order to be certain of what we needed to do, but frankly, Polt's convinced me. Hope is important to conquering fear, and since Temmie's offering advice unlike SOME people, we're in a good position to take it.

We need to be in a position to act to change fate, not react to something unchangeable. One is more powerful than the other.
>>
No. 1028840 ID: e5709d

Eye's Precognition.
We need consistency. If you don't like the results, then tweak the context. If you tweak too much context out of a Fortune, you run the risk of making the situation near-impossible to occur, negating the point of the prophecy. But with precognition, you know what is going to happen and nothing you do, no matter how nonsensical or insane, is going to change it.
Take a risk. Prepare to short-sell.
>>
No. 1028845 ID: 1c6255

Hard pass on the inevitable. Go with Temmie. No rails!
>>
No. 1028977 ID: e51896

Hey Temmie, hey! Can you still hear us? It's me, one of the spirits helping Albert.

Do you still want Roger to get you a 100 grand candy bar? We found out Clive just bought one.

If you could, may you please convince Albert to convince Clive to give him the 100 Grand bar so that Albert can give it to Roger and convince him to give it to you so that Roger can convince you to help him?
>>
No. 1028992 ID: afe7de

I'm on #2 because knowing a situation and being able to prepare or manipulate the context or contents of it can be way more valuable than a chance, which, while advice is good, I think Albert would rather take a known than a potential so he can use his big brain to try to take advantage of the moment.
>>
No. 1029342 ID: 629f2e
File 165000566485.png - (1.29MB , 1000x1000 , 108.png )
1029342

Albert: “I’ll go with Temmie. Hers was the more persuasive argument.”

Somehow, despite the mask, you can just tell that Temmie is grinning at your choice. The larger girl clicks her tongue in disapproval. You certainly considered her offer, but it just wasn’t as compelling.

Albert: “Why do you sound disappointed? If you can really see the future, you should have Known from the start how I would answer.”
Eye: “Things get fuzzy when I go off-script. I was hoping that would change the outcome, but I guess you’re just committed to being boring.”
Temmie: “Temmie is thankful to have been chosen though. Please listen well. You’re going to have to remember all of this when you wake up.”
Albert: “Wait, what?”
Temmie: “Don’t worry. Just pay attention...”

“To the Genius who has failed to understand the hearts of others, I offer to you a gift. To you, I offer a chance for reflection. May you evolve, for the sake of others.”

“You shall encounter the king of fools where all journeys meet their end. When he reveals himself, an opportunity will suddenly be laid at your feet. Consider whether or not you should take it. Your decision shall carry a deep consequence.”

“This meeting is certain, but some opportunities are mere probabilities. If you are to meet with a scornful one locked out of their cell, it may be your final chance to prevent a tragedy. When clouds weep, the chill of night will overwhelm lost souls. Though your tongue often lashes out, hold thy barbs lest they pierce too deep to be removed.”

“This is the Past, the Present, and the Future as I have seen it.”


...

Despite yourself, you feel a tinge of Fear at her words. Why though? Why were you putting any stock in this inane fortune, given by a figment of your mind? Even if this somehow really was Temmie, it shouldn’t matter.

Because... It’s Impossible. There’s no way she could know what lies in your future!

Eye: “Psh. Of all the things you could have told him, that’s what you chose?”
Temmie: “Temmie believes that The Genius can handle most things. He’s very capable! But when it comes to people, he is a bit helpless.”
Albert: “H-Hey!”
Temmie: “Does the seer not think that this will lead to a happier future than if Temmie had told him something else?”
Eye: “...You won’t get any clues from me. After all, he chose you, remember?”
Eye: “But I don’t mind giving him a taste of what true Precognition looks like, just to let him know what he missed out on.”

She chuckles scornfully, as she walks forward and places a hand on your shoulder.

Eye: “How does it feel to know that I can see Everything that lies ahead for you. I already know how your story ends.”
Albert: “...I... It’s just a dream. That’s impossible.”
Eye: “Oh really? Because I think you’ll believe it when my prediction comes true, and you’ll see exactly what you missed out on.”

Behind the mask, you see a gleam in her eyes, as she suddenly speaks.

“Within 48 hours, you will scream with terror as your friend is Beheaded before your eyes.”

...

...

...What?

B...Beheaded?

Your friend will be... beheaded...

Eye: “Of course, if I’m lying then you can feel free to correct me.”
Temmie: “...”
Albert: “Beheaded...”

Somewhere deep, the word struck a chord with you. The world which had previously felt almost real fades into a numb feeling of unreality.

And when you feel yourself again...

...

...
>>
No. 1029343 ID: 629f2e
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1029343

W̴̬̞̙͈͝͠D̶̨̼̩̘͈̠̦̯̜̥̱̱̑͐̎̅͌͐͝S̴̡̛̗̼̠͖̥̆̈́̌̅ ̵̧͓̱̝͚͕̱̦̞̦̦̦͈̳̼͋̆̽͛̅E̴̠̎͊̄̉͛͗͊̓̓̒̊̽̾̍͠A̸̡͎̠͙̩͈͔̹̍͠͠D̷̹̉̉ ̸̢̢͇̫̟̲̥̜̹͑̊͒̒̈́̈́̍͑̿̽̀̇̂̏͝Ḛ̷̡̧͔̜̯̺̬̰̮̙̼̣̯͈̂̏͛̎̃̒͗Ẹ̶͔̰̗̞͂̐́̅̽̍̓̑̎̿̕̕͝Ę̷͈̺͇̳̭̹͓͙͘L̷͓̼͉͙̬̱̹̐̈́͊͆̄̀̇̕T̴̨̛̼̬̦̬͒͐͆̀̈̆̂̌́̋̕͠ ̷̞̣̒̔͂̈́͑͌̅̑͌͝͝A̸̯͎̼͔̗̣̭̬̠̓̍̃L̸̨̢̙̲̫̪̫̞̺͓͙̲͗̂̀́̒͑̀̇͊̅͗͛̊ͅM̴̡̠̦͖̘͚͓͕͍̣͓̺̐̀̑͆̈́̾͐͐̾̔̀̓͘͠Ȩ̴͙̭͎̥̰̗̤̥͓͌͌̇͐͗̇̄̏̊͆̕͝ͅ ̴̡̡̧̰͈̞̗̻̤̦̤̥̻͉͒̄̒́͋̎̓̾̈̀̋͒̚͠O̵͕̫̫̗̍́N̵̨̳̜͙̻͍̲̟̊̑͝O̵̼̱͎̗͓͉͓͛̊̅̓͊͆͘͠P̶̘͕̠̙̤̺̀̎̉̓̓̍̌À̷̬̳̼̪̲̪̪̘͔͓͙͓̀̈́̀͐̊̏̕͜ ̴̞̰̟̫̮͍̲̼̐̈͛̄̎͂̔͠͠͝Ş̷͎͖͍͒̉͐̈́̉T̵̙̈͊͒͑̊̈͂̀̐̇ͅṔ̵̢̲̬̱̪̫̯͈̣̹̆̎Ë̸̛̫̃̾͐̄̈̽̀̌̋̎̍Ē̵̳̝̯̹̉͂̔̌̂͌͑́̈̎̄̕͘͜͝ ̵̬̯̦̻̟͙̻̲̅̍́̐̊́̐͊͑͛̂̿͝͝Ơ̵̛̛̮̜̫̝̯̜̺̫͇̙̰̬̳̑̃̀̽̒͂͒̊̈́̔͜͝͠Ȁ̷̰̄̒̏̅͒̓̚͘S̵̪͚̭̙̜̯̘͉̲͌̔͊Ȍ̸̡̡̧̨͎͚̻̮͈̓͂͆̚͜͜Ṱ̷̢̛̬̦̹͇̠͕̖̖͎͇̯͉͌̽́͑̓̏̄̈́͒͋̕̚̕͠ͅ ̵̢̛̫͖̖͖̯̰̏͋̈́̇Ȩ̸̢̢̖̭͚͙͚͕̱̦̲̘̎̌͌͆̊̅͛̍̃̾̉͗͘̕͝ ̶̨̼͙͔̰̅̎͂̒́͊͗͋̊̄͂L̷̡̧̧̠̲̣̣̙̜͕̤̬͆̆̃̔͆̑͆̏̅̚P̸̨͙̲͉̻͖̮͇̒͛̓͂̐͌̒̃̓͘̕ͅP̵̥͐’̶̨̹̥̲͖͓̩̝̹̤̞̮̙͕̓̀̂̎̊̃͑͋͜͝͝N̸̛͙̻̻̗͈̈́́̏͒̐̆͌̈́́͆͋̚͠ ̶̡̭̞̫̼̄̃̂̌̅̂̉̔ͅ ̷̳̙̝̮̱͕͈̦̄͊̈͜ͅM̷̛̯̘̮͛͐́́I̴͖̭͔̲͓͓̗̰̯̝̐͌̌̎͗̿̇͑͘͘͘Ă̵͉͖̳̙͔̱̼̣̹͇͍̝̩̜̓̇̊̈́̏̄́͘͝͝Ḑ̸̲̱͔̭̲̲̤̱̬͑̔̒̎͐͐̓͆͝͝ ̵̳̲͚̹̫̫̰͈̰͈̜͍͊̈́͆̀̋͜S̸̮̳̝̘̫͍̹̞̯̺͎̩̊͊̅̓̏͋́̽̑̇̓̚̚ͅĻ̶̭͈͓͖̺̺̰̰̹̫͉̫̻̍̆̾̄͐̽̒̈̎̚ͅ-̶̨̦̜̩̲̻̲͕͈̗̞̞̙͈̑̉͋̄̔͑͠ͅ
>>
No. 1029344 ID: 629f2e
File 165000586215.png - (0.98MB , 1000x1000 , 110.png )
1029344

You wake up gasping for breath. Sweat drips down your face, and your heart feels like it’s racing at a dangerous pace.

Clive: “H-Hey.”

You hear his voice, but are too distracted to register him. Your hands find their way around your neck, confirming that it’s still there. A wince of pain courses through you. Ah, right, the bruises. Your breathing starts to calm anyway, just feeling it’s still there.

Clive: “...Are you...?”
Albert: “Fine, I’m fine. Just... a bad dream is all.”
Albert: “...Just... a dream.”

Creepy fortunes and sudden nightmares plagued Albert’s sleep, causing him to gain 10 Fear
[Albert is visibly distressed]
Going off of appearances, Clive didn’t sleep well either. He has gained 4 Fear
[Clive looks exhausted]

Party Fear Levels:
[Albert: 48/100]
[Clive: 40/100]

Although your party’s Fear isn’t looking good, the rest has allowed Albert to recover from some of his ailments

Albert’s [Tinnitus] has cleared up entirely!
Albert’s [Vertigo] has cleared up entirely!
Albert’s [Headache Lvl 4] has decreased to [Headache Lvl 2]

Current Symptoms:
-Headache Lvl 2: An irritation, but one you can handle. You’ve felt worse. [1 Pain]
-Sprained Leg: Forces Albert to walk with a cane. Going without one risks injuring the leg further. [1 Pain]
-Mild Head Trauma: Bruises on your face and neck. By some miracle, nothing broken. You are visibly injured [1 Pain]
Current Pain: 3/10


You don’t want to talk about your dream, and Clive doesn’t ask. Sometimes you appreciate his quiet nature.

Albert: “Before anything else, has Rebecca dropped off-”
Clive: “‘Bec.
Albert: “She isn’t here to care!”
Clive: “...That doesn’t mean you should call her whatever you want.”
Albert: “...Has ‘Bec brought over the food we both ordered yet?”
Clive: “No. ...She usually gets to it later in the day when fewer people are out. She’ll drop it off in a bush outside, and I collect it when nobody's around.”
Albert: “That’s fine for you, but what about me?”
Clive: “...You can pick it up here tomorrow. Or I could bring it to your house.”

The thought of your mother devouring the last of your cereal this morning comes to mind.

Albert: “...Nevermind. It’s safer here I suppose. Away from the Vultures.
Clive: “...Right.”
Clive: “There’s still time before curfew. I’m going to keep looking around. ...You can come if you want.”
Albert: “I’m feeling better than I was before, so there’s no reason I would need to tap out early.”
Albert: “Come, let’s discuss our options.”
>>
No. 1029345 ID: 629f2e
File 165000590684.png - (73.93KB , 1000x1000 , 111.png )
1029345

As you rise from the bed, the difference between your current state and before the rest fully hits you. It’s refreshing, dare you even suggest that you feel Good.

...You don’t of course. Your head still ached, though less than before, and the occasional brush of fabric against the bruises on your neck came with an inconsistent flash of pain. The morphine you almost found yourself enjoying feels like a distant memory now.

Albert: “My Apartment wouldn’t be far away. If we wanted to go there to look around, now would be a very convenient time. Although, at this hour Mom might be home now...”
Albert: “Where else could we go...?”

The question really comes down to what we want to investigate most at the moment. We have a few different topics we could follow up on.

If you head home, that would give you a chance to really look over the Crime Scene. If you’re actively investigating, you might find something you wouldn’t have noticed while just living there. After all, you try to minimize your time at home as much as possible. If there was evidence, you weren’t guaranteed to find it.

Your father had brought up the Nuclear Plant during your visit, which is something you have never heard of. While it would be foolish to start questioning adults about it, you wonder if you could find something about it at the library. They do keep old newspapers there that you could look through.

There’s also the matter of Franklin and Lillian still. You will have to Meet Up with them sooner or later to swap information. It would be tough to avoid, given you plan to stay the night with Franklin. You aren’t expecting much from them, but it might at least give you the chance to ask Franklin about some of the gossip Rebecca shared with you.

...You aren’t looking forward to that. After what happened with Lillian this morning, it’s guaranteed to be awkward.

Speaking of people, there was Rebecca’s other bit of gossip. You now have a list of likely Suspects, even if you don’t know what makes each of them suspicious. You could start doing some digging into them. Mrs. Horvitz would be difficult, since she doesn’t have a child you could use to get invited into her home anymore (given that Jhonen has graduated). Mrs. Foster is doable, but interrupting Enid’s rest and recovery would likely be ill-advised. She absolutely does not need to start feeling paranoid about her new mother right now.

That just leaves Ms. Leoi. You aren’t the closest to Louie or Saihu, but his position as Class President might give you a number of possible excuses to talk to him and learn more about his mother.

You lay out your options to Clive, and decide together.

What should you investigate (You will likely only be able to visit two to three more locations before curfew)

1: The Nuclear Plant
-Head over to the Library
-Try to learn more about the Cattenom Nuclear Plant from newspaper articles and books
-It will be a bit of a walk. You’ll make it without needing a break, but you will only have time to look into one other thing afterwards
-Clive supports this choice, +1 Vote

2: The Crime Scene
-Head home
-Look around your apartment for evidence left behind
-You have a feeling something VERY BAD will happen if you come here, but also something IMPORTANT

3: One of Our Suspects, Ms. Leoi
-Head to the Leoi house
-You’re going to need to think of an excuse to be let in
-...And there’s a chance that Louir and/or Saihu won’t be home, which will increase the difficulty of that check
-You will certainly meet Ms. Leoi at least

4: Find Franklin and Lillian
-Check out a few likely spots your companions may be at
-Exchange information and learn just how badly they botched the school investigation
-There is a chance that you won’t be able to find them depending on where they are and what they’re doing
-Albert isn’t afraid to face his friends. There’s just no reason to when he expects nothing but failure, -2 Votes

5: Change Our Focus
-Look into something outside of what has been going on with your father
-Write in what you want to investigate, and Albert will calculate the best place to visit to learn more about the chosen topic




6: Investigate Your Dream
-You don’t believe in fortune telling, but hypothetically, if you decided to take the predictions from your dream seriously…
-The King of Fools is definitely Lemmy, and you would guess that the Scornful One would be JoJo
-What do you think Temmie meant by her predictions?
-If enough people want to closely investigate these fortunes, you will visit a location relating to the majority opinion on how to interpret them

>>
No. 1029346 ID: e51896

Gonna be hard to win, because of the -2 votes, but

4: Find Franklin and Lillian. Start believing in your friends more for once. I think we learned enough very important info to share with our friends right now, and need to get this info to them before something happens.

Plus, probably best not to see mom right now since we stole some of the ham, going to the library too much might start raising eyebrows since we went there yesterday
>>
No. 1029347 ID: 96c896

If you can find JoJo and prevent the tragedy, then perhaps Eye's prediction will fail. After all, she said even her predictions are only the most likely events to happen.
>>
No. 1029348 ID: e51896

My interpretations:

“You shall encounter the king of fools where all journeys meet their end. When he reveals himself, an opportunity will suddenly be laid at your feet. Consider whether or not you should take it. Your decision shall carry a deep consequence.”

Pretty straight forward, we don't have enough info what this opportunity is though, could be anything, but whatever it is, our choice will have huge ramifications

“This meeting is certain, but some opportunities are mere probabilities. If you are to meet with a scornful one locked out of their cell, it may be your final chance to prevent a tragedy. When clouds weep, the chill of night will overwhelm lost souls. Though your tongue often lashes out, hold thy barbs lest they pierce too deep to be removed.”

I get the feeling if we come across Jojo, something is going to happen that is going to really anger the spirits (or more specifically, us as suggesters) This is going to happen at night time, as Temmie said "the chill of night" and "clouds weep" could mean a rain (unless she meant something sad is going to happen which might make the suggestors angry, maybe at Jojo) so really, if this happens, it's going to be on a rainy night.

I believe Jojo is going to do something that might seem unforgivable, or do something that might make Albert and us angered or overwhelmed, but no matter what, we'll need to keep a level head and not lash out at Jojo, or whoever, there might be more at play than what we might witness.
>>
No. 1029349 ID: 96c896

Oh I forgot to mention: "where all journeys meet their end" could be a graveyard.
>>
No. 1029353 ID: afe7de

Go find your friends, yeah it has a -2 votes, but… if you can successfully find them maybe you can help them if they are in a SITUATION, and if not then maybe you can end up in the library to look up the plant since you met there yesterday, maybe they’re even there, waiting for you!!!!
>>
No. 1029355 ID: b83475

You need to meet your friends. The sooner you know the bad news, the sooner you can try to fix it before it worsens.
>>
No. 1029395 ID: 8483cf

I vote 4: Find our friends. Not because it's what Albert would do, but because everyone hates doing what they know is the right (but difficult) thing.
>>
No. 1030994 ID: 629f2e
File 165147745423.png - (1.23MB , 1000x1000 , 112.png )
1030994

...You really should get this over with sooner rather than later. Seeing Lillian again will be awkward, but that won’t change just because you put it off another hour or so. Besides, it’ll be good to check and make sure they haven’t botched things too badly and implicated the rest of you.

Plus, it’ll give you a chance to ask Franklin about the Scar he’s apparently hiding.

Clive agrees with your decision, but questions where you could find them. Admittedly, you aren’t entirely sure yourself. The Elementary School seems like a good starting place at least. If they aren’t there, then the odds of finding them will drop significantly. None of this is even considering the possibility that they were caught and were taken somewhere already. Very worst case scenario: They’re inside the high school building.

The walk to school is short and, as you’ve come to expect with Clive, hushed. You go back and forth on appreciating his taciturn nature and finding it obnoxious. At the moment, it was giving you time to reflect upon your dream.

You don’t know why you’re still thinking about it, but you are. Despite all evidence pointing to the fortunes being some bizarre formation of ideas produced by your subconscious, you were trying to unpack them as though there was substance there to unravel. It was Fake, naturally. Beheading is impossible, the very idea is ludicrous. Even in the event of you being caught investigating the town’s dirty underbelly, those involved with graduation would surely prefer a more discrete punishment. Why use brutality when you can ship your problems away to a seemingly inescapable building?

That fortune was Impossible. You would spare it no further consideration

Temmie’s however... Well, you had to admire your mind’s craftsmanship. The fortunes she told were both creative and understandable to some degree. It felt like there was a form of reason to them, even if you couldn’t fully unravel their meanings.

King of Fools was a no-brainer, that can refer to nobody other than Lemmy. Where all journeys meet their end though... Could that mean the Graveyard? After all, that’s where everyone ends up at the end of their life, corpses buried in the earth. That would make sense if you consider that she seemed Certain of this one coming true. You’re already planning to stay the night with Franklin, and he lives at the morgue.

But if Lemmy was at the morgue, you have doubts about Franklin’s ability to hide that fact from the rest of you. And if he isn’t yet aware, then how did Lemmy go undetected? That’s assuming he’s been there since this morning, but if he ran away last night then he would have had hours to establish his hiding place. It seems unlikely that he was still moving about while the sun was up.

Most importantly, what about the Opportunity? The fortune claimed that an opportunity would be laid at your feet, and the implication was that you would have to make a choice. All that comes to your mind is the decision of whether to reveal Lemmy’s presence to others, which seems rather simple. Adults have no need to know where their next victim is hiding, and your companions can be kept in the loop.

That still leaves the other fortune however, the one regarding a “Scornful one”. It feels like that’s referring to Jojo, but you can’t even be sure about that. For all you know it could be Rebecca, or Clive, or perhaps even Lillian right now. Even if you lock down who it’s about, the advice isn’t very helpful either. The most you can make of it is to watch what you say around them. Whatever Tragedy you can prevent, you don’t know what it could be.

There was one part you understood about it however. When clouds weep, the chill of night will overwhelm lost souls. Clouds weeping has to refer to Rain, and it goes on to specify night. Thus, you can interpret the line to mean that “A tragedy may take place on a Drizzly Evening”. The part about overwhelming lost souls is a bit too vague for you to interpret however, but it could be literal. Rain and cold will overwhelm lost souls.

...Hmmm... When you put it that way, you feel like it almost makes sense. There’s still something missing though, a connection you’re failing to make.

Clive: “...Something on your mind?”
Albert: “Huh? Oh, nothing important. I was simply... considering something.”
Clive: “...Considering what?”

“I was just wondering whether or not the fortune I heard in my weird dream was real or not.”

No, you don’t think you will say that. How better to phrase it then...?

Albert: “How familiar are you with Temmie, The Fortune Teller?”
Clive: “...About as much as anyone else.”
Albert: “It may seem silly to ask, but since I know some of the slower kids in class believe in her talents, what do you think about her purported Gifts?
Clive: “...She can’t see the future.”
Albert: “Of course not, obviously, but-”
Clive: “But she Does have some kind of powers.”

You freeze. That... wasn’t what he was supposed to say. The fact that his claim wasn’t too far off of the conversation you’d witnessed between Temmie and the other girl in your dreams sent a wave of paranoia through your system.

Albert: “...Why do you think that?”
Clive: “...Because Rodney told me. I believe him”

A small wave of relief hits you. He’s just blindly trusting his brother, of course. That makes far more sense.

Albert: “Right...”
Clive: “...You don’t agree?”
Albert: “I’m skeptical of anybody claiming to have supernatural abilities. I’m sure that whatever reason Rodney had to believe in her seemed very compelling to him.”
Clive: “...You’re the one who brought her up. Why?”
Albert: “W-Well... Curiosity?”

It was a lame answer, and you get the feeling he wasn’t buying it. You keep your face as neutral as possible, trying to hide any doubts you may have.

Clive: “...Rodney was sure of it. My brother was never wrong about others.”
Clive: “He Understood people in a way I never could. Just by watching someone talk he could tell you what they felt about others, themselves, and seemingly anything else.”
Clive: “...So if he says Temmie has powers, then she does.”
Clive: “Never got a clear answer on what they are though...”
Albert: “Honestly, I never got that sort of impression from Rodney. I just assumed others appreciated him because he was pleasant to be around.”
Clive: “He was. He just also knew how to speak to people the way they like to be spoken to.”

That was something you’d never picked up on regarding The Socialite. You really had chalked his popularity up to simple amicability, never considering a degree of Guile under the innocent smile he always wore. Clive would know best what his brother was capable of.

Rodney believed that Temmie had supernatural abilities. He didn’t simply agree with her claims, he supported her supernatural abilities while ultimately Disagreeing with her public image.

Eye: “She can’t see the future.”
Eye: “...It’s not precognition. You’re just taking in more information than anyone else and making educated guesses.”


...You wouldn’t be able to dismiss this so easily after all.

Clive: “Look.”

As you come up on the school, who should you see but one of the two you were seeking out? The most recognizable boy in town is sitting outside the building, staring up aimlessly at the clouds.

Albert: “Franklin, my expectations were low, but please at least tell me this isn’t all you’ve been doing since we split up.”
Franklin: “Oh! Albert and Clive, I was looking for you.”
Albert: “...We can’t fly. We’ve been over this before.”
Franklin: “I know. I was just thinking about where to search.”
Albert: “Right. And how long have you wasted thinking instead of actively seeking us out?”
Franklin: “...I dunno. I don’t have a watch.”
Franklin: “I just figured that you were smarter than me, so if I stayed still you would find me before I found you.”

His strategy was successful. You’d located him at the very first location you thought to check, so it was hard to disagree.

Albert: “I suppose that wasn’t the incorrect choice.”
Clive: “...Why isn’t Lillian with you?”

It’s only for a moment, but Franklin’s mouth twitches down into a frown. You sigh, having seen this coming from back before you’d even split up.

Albert: “She was Caught, wasn’t she?”
Franklin: “Huh?”
Albert: “Wonderful. I knew this would happen, I told her this would happen, and yet she still let it happen. Why do I even bother giving her advice when she doesn’t listen?”
Franklin: “...Um, Lillian went Home.
Albert: “...Excuse me?”
Franklin: “We finished looking around, but she didn’t want to see you again, so she asked me to share what we found with you guys and then went home.”
Franklin: “There were a couple adults inside the school, but I don’t think anybody saw us.”
Albert: “...”
Clive: “...heh”

You glare back at Clive, whose face is impassive as always.

Albert: “What?”
Clive: “...You were so confident that they would fail. It was funny watching you make a mule of yourself.”
Albert: “They got Lucky. Sending them here was a terrible idea, and if you knew either of them as well as I did then you would have put exactly the same quantity of faith in them.”
Clive: “...Sure.”

...Somehow, Clive’s neutral expression felt exactly like a smirk for a moment, despite never faltering.

Albert: “Look, I’m glad that Franklin and Lillian are alright. Of course I didn’t want them to get into trouble, even if that outcome had the highest probability.”
Albert: “We are all very fortunate that they made it out okay. Let’s not take this as evidence for future reckless decisions.”
Franklin: “...Whoa.”
Albert: “What?”
Franklin: “You sounded just like Jhonen for a second!”

It felt like Franklin had punched you in the mouth. That comment dealt physical damage.

The fact that Franklin was the source made it harder to infer how to take it. If it was anybody else, you would have zero doubt in your mind that such a sentence would only be spoken as an insult.

...Hopefully it wasn’t a genuine observation, as that would be more insulting than anything else.

Franklin: “Your face is red... And black. And blue- hey wait- what happened to you?”
Albert: “Lillian did.”
Franklin: “Huh- oh, right...”
Franklin: “What about your neck? I don’t remember it being like that before.”

There is a 0% chance of you telling him the truth. Hmm, what is an excuse that Franklin would accept?

Albert: “Do you know what carpet burn is?”

He nods.

Albert: “I pulled off a scarf too quickly, and left burns on my neck.”
Franklin: “...”

For the second time today, Franklin’s expression had turned doubtful as he examined you.

Franklin: “Are you sure?”
Albert: “Why would I lie?”
Franklin: “Well... If Clive hurt you while you were alone, he could have Threatened to do it again if you told anyone.”

His gaze shifts to the other boy, concern evident in his expression. Clive’s only reaction is to narrow his eyes and furrow his brow.

Clive: “...Wasn’t me.”
Albert: “He’s telling the truth.”
Franklin: “Really? You aren’t just saying that because he’s in punching range, right?”

The concern was appreciated, but unnecessary. You take a few steps away from Clive.

Albert: “Yes Franklin, I’m being honest. Clive didn’t lay a finger on me.”
Franklin: “...That’s good, I’m happy he behaved and didn’t get violent.
Franklin: “...So... who did hurt you then?”
Albert: “It was a scarf, I just told you that.”
Franklin: “Really? But, those bruises don’t look...”

He looks closely at you again, squinting.

Franklin: “...”
Albert: “...Franklin?”
Franklin: “...Huh? Oh, nevermind. I guess I just misunderstood.”

You sigh, gently pushing him back to regain your personal space. This topic was pointless, but it did provide a natural segue into one you did plan to bring up.

Albert: “While we’re discussing neck wounds, Clive and I heard a very interesting story about you earlier.”
Franklin: “Really? What was it? I always like hearing stories about myself that I don’t remember.”
Albert: “Is it true that you have a Scar on your neck?”
Franklin: “...”
>>
No. 1030995 ID: 629f2e
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1030995

His mouth thins to a flat line, and his eyes maneuver to avoid your gaze. An uncomfortable silence fills the space between you for a few long seconds.

Clive: “...”
Albert: “...
Franklin: “...”
Franklin: “Nope! That’s definitely wrong.”

So that was a lie.

Albert: “Is that so?”
Franklin: “I think so. I see my neck every morning in the bathroom mirror, so I know I don’t have one.”
Clive: “...What if it’s on the back of your neck?”
Franklin: “...Well, I guess that would be hard to see, but I don’t have one there, so there’s nothing to not see. Not see- wait- did I say that right...?”
Franklin: “There isn’t a scar. That’s what I’m trying to say.”
Albert: “Pardon the skepticism, but could you tug the collar of your shirt down so we could see for ourselves?”
Franklin: “I could! And if I did you would see that I don’t have a scar.”

He says that with a smile, as neither hand moves to his shirt collar.

Albert: “Very well then. Please, show us.”
Franklin: “...No thank you. I would rather not.”

You and Clive share a look. He shrugs impassively, while you’re feeling a bit too stubborn to simply drop the topic.

Albert: “This is ridiculous, it’ll only take a second-”

You reach forward to grab his shirt yourself, only for him to take a big step back gripping his collar tightly. His expression shifts to one rarely seen on the easy-going boy’s face, Fear.

Franklin: “Don’t!

Instinctively, you move to protect your head. It’s taken enough of a beating today, and this was looking like the exact kind of situation that ends in you taking a punch. Fortunately, Franklin doesn’t lash out, content to simply quiver in his boots.

Franklin: “...Can we please stop talking about my neck? It’s Private.
Albert: “...Fine.”

Apparently, Franklin was capable of keeping Secrets. That’s... concerning, but not immediately relevant.
>>
No. 1030996 ID: 629f2e
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1030996

Deciding it best not to push the point (for now), you ask about what he and Lillian discovered. Franklin pulls out a notebook and starts reviewing their findings.

Franklin: “So, I ended up going through a Lot of papers, but there were about Three things that stood out as being super important to me and Lillian.”
Franklin: “Well, everything important we found came from the principal’s office. We didn’t really find much anywhere else, except for a tasty donut in the teacher’s lounge.”
Franklin: “The first were these Forms that I found a whole folder of. They had a lot of sections, like height, weight, age, sex, and uh... Well there were a lot more after that, they were really packed.”
Franklin: “Lillian told me not to spend forever writing all of them down, because it was really the Names that were important.”
Franklin: “From front to back it was... Phillip Dyad, Jhonen Vasquez, Jacob, Cassidy Castillo, Jonah Wells, Calvin Stenbeck-”
Albert: “All of the children who graduated early.”

Well, not all. You had already heard the contradiction, and judging by the glare Clive was shooting Franklin, so had he.

Clive: “There wasn’t a form for Rodney, was there?”
Franklin: “Um... No. I looked through all of them, because I thought it might have gotten shuffled in somehow, but I never saw one with the name Rodney on it. Not even in the Others.
Albert: “Others?”
Franklin: “There were other folders with the same kind of thing. Except I didn’t recognize any of the names in them. Lillian didn’t either.”

Hmm, older forms from previous generations you would guess. They likely weren’t relevant to your current investigation.

Franklin: “After that, there was this Memo to the Staff. I think the Principal wrote it.”
Franklin: “It said...”

“Frederick Anderson’s death has publicly been ruled an accident. His daughter, Enid, is now staying with the Fosters. Enid Foster will be enrolled in Jennfier’s class as she was always meant to be.

We do not believe that Frederick has told her anything at this time, he was not careless. Out of precaution though, please keep a close eye on her and report any indication that this may not be the case.

The loss of Frederick Anderson is a tragedy. Please try to remember him for the generosity and kindness he showed us all throughout the years, rather than the betrayal he dealt to us near the end of his days.”


Franklin: “...I never really thought about it before, but is Enid’s last name Foster now?”
Albert: “Franklin, that is in no way the area you should be focusing on!”
Clive: “Betrayal... What could he have done?”
Albert: “It could have something to do with Enid never attending school. She was outside of the system, which means she never would have graduated if things stayed that way.”
Albert: “They would have been aware of that for some time though. Every kid knew about Enid, it wouldn’t make sense for the adults not to.”

It wasn’t a bad guess. It was just unfortunate that it had to be a Guess at the moment. You didn’t know anything about what happened to Enid’s father. It was something you were all aware happened, but it never seemed relevant to your missing companions.

Franklin: “...Oh! Lillian pointed out something fishy too when I showed this to her.”
Franklin: “She thought it was weird that they said his death was publicly ruled an accident, because that makes it sound like it was privately something else. Like... On purpose?”
Albert: “It could have been Intentional.

Could Frederick Anderson have really been... Murdered? It’s a dark thought to consider...

It would mean that two different people in town were attacked last Sunday. Your father, assaulted in his apartment; and Mr. Anderson, put to death in a burning building. That couldn’t be a coincidence, there has to be some kind of Connection there.

Hm... Perhaps you might learn more about what happened to your father by looking into what happened to Enid’s, and vice-versa. You’ll bring it up to her tomorrow.

Clive: “...Franklin, what was the last thing?”
Franklin: “Huh? Oh, right, it was just a Note to the principal.”
Franklin: “Daniel’s been in a moody phase for some time now. I think he may have realized something. Ask that daughter of yours what he knows, and I’ll prepare the forms if required.

Ask that daughter...?

Albert: “Wait.”
Albert: “This note was given to Principal Butler?
Franklin: “...Yes? I think so at least, it was on her desk.”
Clive: “...”
Albert: “...”
Franklin: “Um... Who is the Principal’s daughter by the way?”
Clive: “...Temmie.

To the best of your knowledge, Temmie and Daniel have never spoken. Them being close friends wouldn’t make sense, as Daniel Chamberlane is a middle schooler, while Temmie is one of the younger kids in your grade. They were never even in the same class, not even for as little as a week. It’s clear that requesting Temmie’s insight into Daniel isn’t because she’s close to the boy.

Unfortunately, eliminating that leaves one obvious answer, and it isn’t a good one.

Albert: “Temmie might be a Snitch.
Franklin: “A what?”
Albert: “A tattletale.”
Franklin: “...Ohhhhhh, that’s not good.”

No, it wasn’t. Especially not if she actually had powers as Clive and his brother believed. If she could actually suss out the children aware of Cattenom’s conspiracies...

Clive: “...You don’t think that she might be telling the adults-”
Albert: “Don’t jump to the worst conclusion just yet. It’s questionable what information she’s choosing to share.”
Albert: “Consider this: The adults believe that Temmie will rat out any child who is catching onto their suspicious deeds, but in reality she’s giving False Assurances.
Albert: “It clearly isn’t proactive, or else all of us would have graduated already.

Not to mention, Clive and Rodney would have graduated a long time ago, given his situation at home.

Albert: “All she would have to do is deny that any child they ask about is aware of anything. Perhaps she could reveal one or two who are likely to get caught on their own, just to keep the illusion up that she’s actually working with them.”
Clive: “...Hm... It’s a possibility.”
Albert: “It’s the most likely one I would argue. But it isn’t guaranteed. We’ll have to watch what we say around her, just to be safe for now.”
Clive: “...Like that would make a difference.

That did still leave one question, the main inquiry of the note.

Clive: “...What about Daniel? Do either of you think he knows?”
Franklin: “...Who is Daniel again?”
Albert: “I’m not certain. He could just be gloomy, but maybe... Well, he is the child of a teacher. That would put him in a good spot to stumble upon something.”

Daniel Chamberlane was considered by most to be The Musician, due to his affinity for just about any instrument he could get his hands on. More relevantly however, he was the son of Jennifer Chamberlane, your classroom’s teacher.

Roger or Lillian have probably talked to him more than you, so they would be better sources on Daniel’s mood. Unfortunately, your paths rarely crossed, save for settings involving many other children.

Franklin: “...So yeah, that’s basically it. What did you guys find?”

You give him the quickest runthrough of facts as you can, leaving out the specifics of your altercation with your father. Clive doesn’t fill in the gaps, likely because you skip over any details relating to his home situation as well. At the end of the explanation, Franklin seems to be considering something.

Franklin: “...Cattenom Nuclear Plant... That sounds familiar I think, maybe?”
Albert: “Where did you hear that? I’ve never heard anything about a nuclear plant in this town.”
Clive: “Same.”
Franklin: “...”
Franklin: “I’m sorry. It just... isn’t there.”

He pushes his hands against his head, trying to pull something out, but eventually gives up.

Franklin: “I definitely heard Something about it at some point. It must have spilled out I guess.”
Clive: “...You can’t help what you don’t remember. It’s fine.”
Albert: “We’ll be standing here forever if we wait for you to remember something. If that’s everything, then we should carry on with our search.”
Clive: “...What next?”

Good question. And one that both your companions quickly submit different answers to. Looks like you were going to be the deciding vote.

Whose idea should you support?

(Your decision here will significantly alter the ending of this thread)

1: Franklin’s
-Franklin won’t tell you what his idea is, but he insists that it’s a good one
-If this is chosen, Clive will perform an investigation of his own elsewhere while you go off with Franklin
-Franklin wants this a lot, +2 Votes
-Clive doesn’t mind solitude, but doesn’t see any reason to support this, Neutral vote
-Following Franklin blindly has never proven to be a good idea in the past, so you’re hesitant, -1 Vote

2: Clive’s
-Clive wants to check out the library and your apartment, focusing on the investigation you started
-If this is chosen, you have a feeling that something POTENTIALLY VERY GOOD may happen
-Franklin won’t be happy, -1 Vote
-Clive thinks this is the best thing to do, +1 Vote
-You agree with the library point, but feel a bit uneasy about visiting your apartment, Neutral vote

3: Yours
-You’re still thinking about your fortunes, and may just elect to pursue them to clear your head.
-Depending on the Spirit’s majority opinion for where Lemmy can be located and how to interpret the “Scornful One” fortune, this may turn up either nothing, or something POTENTIALLY VERY GOOD
-Franklin is too confused by this development to object, Neutral vote
-The only way you’ll be able to win Clive over onto this idea will be to admit that Temmie gave you this advice in your dreams, which you are far too proud to confess, -1 Vote
-Albert wants to put this matter to bed, +1 Vote

>>
No. 1031005 ID: 1c6255

Frankly I'd go with Franklin's idea because his ideas tend to be fleeting, better follow this one while he still has it.
>>
No. 1031012 ID: 0276a0

C. I want to say the 2nd fortune relates to Lilian, even if it's the wrong answer, because i just want Albert to make ammends with Lilian. It"s no good if we make enemies with a friend at a time like this.

Friendship is most important.
>>
No. 1031015 ID: 798908

>>1030996
an unfortunate split between Franklin and the prophecy here. I'm leaning towards the prophecy, but I feel we've been pretty mean to franklin and it might be smart to throw him a bone. He's not a bad kid.
>>
No. 1031041 ID: 276183

Wow, you're not making this easy.

I vote A: Franklin. I thought about writing a nice, long reason why, but... ultimately, I just trust his intuition.
>>
No. 1031074 ID: afe7de

A because you were wrong about them before, maybe you're wrong now, and maybe, just maybe, you SHOULD work on your empathy like your dream said.
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No. 1031560 ID: 629f2e
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1031560

…Your instincts tell you that picking Franklin is a bad choice. “It’s Franklin,” you want to say, brushing the idea off on concept alone. However, a voice of Doubt makes itself known in your mind.

How many times has your Insight let you down today? The bruises covering your face and neck were very helpful reminders of where your assumptions about others led you. Now, that isn’t to say you hadn’t made any good calls today. Your handling of Enid at lunchtime was very much to your satisfaction, and somehow you even managed to calm Clive down from his panic attack, despite the pressure it put you under.

Sadly, that doesn’t remove the failures from your data. You have to acknowledge that when it comes to other people, there’s something about the way you’re forming your calculations that is throwing them wildly off. If your Judgment of others can’t be relied on, then it’s not fair to rule out Franklin as a result of said judgment.

As soon as you decide against ruling him out, the decision becomes obvious. Clive is the more likely option to produce results, but Franklin clearly has another motive of some sort. You may not know what his plan is, or why he’s so attached to it, but it’s clear enough to you that he would feel hurt if you turned him down. Even if you aren’t as close to him as your other companions, Franklin is still your Friend. You don’t want to upset him.

Albert: “...I think Franklin has accomplished enough today to deserve some faith. Wouldn’t you agree, Clive?”
Clive: “...Yeah.”
Franklin: “Really? You’ll come with me then?”
Albert: “As long as it isn’t too far. Even with this cane, walking is still rather Painful, you know.”
Franklin: “Oh! That’s bad. I could try to carry you if you want.”

You consider that option for a brief moment, before quickly shaking your head. You didn’t want to make a habit of being physically supported when your legs worked fine enough.

Albert: “The offer is appreciated, but I’ll pass.”
Franklin: “…I don’t think it’s very far from here, so you should be fine, right?”
Albert: “I’ll survive. What about you Clive?”
Clive: “...Do you need me for whatever you’re trying to do?”
Franklin: “Hm... Well, I guess it might be Better if you aren’t there.”

Better without Clive? Must be a Social encounter then. But who will Franklin want to meet with…?

Clive: “Then if you two are fine, I’m going to leave.”
Clive: “I’ll see if I can find out anything about the Nuclear Plant at the library.”
Albert: “They’ll be closing soon. You won’t have too much time to search if you don’t hurry.”
Albert: “Unless you find something urgent, we can meet to discuss whatever you uncover at lunch tomorrow.”
Clive: “Alright…”
Clive: “...If you find out anything at all about Rodney, consider it urgent and tell me as soon as possible. Please.”
Albert: “Yes yes, I’ll have Franklin sprint to your house if we learn anything.”

Clive nods at you both, and heads off into the woods, taking the most direct route to the library instead of the sidewalk.

Albert: “So then, where will we be going?”
Franklin: “It’s this way…”

He starts walking towards the nearby townhouses, being considerate of his pace so that you can keep up with him easily.

As you trudge along, you begin trying to piece together his intentions. Who would he want to talk to? Why does he want to talk to them? Has he picked up on something that you haven’t? If something in your own investigation report had triggered this, then a few ideas did come to mind. Jhonen’s mom was one of the suspects in your father’s attack, so perhaps he wished to interrogate his friend’s mother?

Franklin: “Hmm…”

It’s obvious that the boy is mulling something over as you walk. He’s totally focused, a rare sight for one whose mind often wanders. You can’t help but probe.

Albert: “What’s on your mind?”
Franklin: “...Huh? Oh, um... Hmmm…”
Albert: “Franklin?”
Franklin: “I was just thinking... There was definitely a girl named Judy in town, wasn’t there?”

Didn’t you do this already? You could have sworn you’d been over this already back during lunch, and had definitively reached the conclusion that no such person existed.

Albert: “Franklin, we went over this already, it’s not possible.”
Franklin: “You said that. Lillian didn’t know her either, but I’m Sure she was here. It just feels right.”
Albert: “Once again Franklin, not ever you were here when she allegedly was, given the time table you provided.”
Albert: “Unless of course she used to stay in the morgue with you.”
Franklin: “Hm... No, I don’t think so. I think the morgue has always just been me, mom, dad, and all the corpses buried out back.”
Franklin: “...Oh, and whatever bodies dad is working on in his lab, but they usually end up out back sooner or later.”

So to review, this Judy girl was someone he was aware of three years ago, before he had ever left his home. But she was also somebody who had never visited his home...

Albert: “You understand the irrefutable contradiction in your statements, right?”
Franklin: “...Um... You mean that it’s impossible for me to have known her without me being wrong about something?”
Albert: “Precisely.”
Franklin: “I wonder what I’m wrong about then…”
Franklin: “Maybe I got the dates wrong?”
Albert: “That wouldn’t resolve the contradiction of nobody else knowing her though.”
Franklin: “Right... Then that means I’m wrong about her not being in the lab? Maybe she was there all along, and I just forgot?”
Albert: “Franklin, there’s a limit to what you can conceivably forget.”
Franklin: “...That’s not a problem. Jhonen tells me that I’m Inconceivable all the time.”
Albert: “I suppose that much is difficult to deny.”

He doesn’t bring it up again, but you can tell that he’s thinking about it for the rest of the journey. As you’ve come to expect from Franklin, the conversation ends with no real answers, only more enigmas to join the ranks of all the other Franklin Mysteries ™.
>>
No. 1031561 ID: 629f2e
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1031561

As you pass by house after house, a sense of dread starts to creep into your mind. It spawns from a single thought, a guess as to our destination. That seed of dread quickly blossoms into an unfortunate revelation, as Franklin stops in front of That house.

Franklin: “So... we’re here.”

He has the decency to fidget nervously under the weight of your glare.

Albert: “So this is why you wanted to keep it a secret. I see. How very Devious of you.”
Franklin: “...I thought that if I asked you to come here, you would say no.”

You couldn’t say he was wrong. The Dyad Household was the last place he wanted to be right now, unless Phillip was about to step out the front door, alive and well, announcing that game night was back on. No, that wasn’t going to be happening of course. It goes without saying why Franklin would bring you here.

Albert: “I don’t want to talk to Lillian right now.”
Franklin: “I know. But... You Should. You know that, right?”
Franklin: “You’re really smart, so I’m sure you do.”

He’s playing to your Pride. Given his friendship with Jhonen, it’s obvious where he picked up such a strategy. You won’t be swayed by it.

Albert: “Franklin, I see what you’re trying to do. I know that I’ll have to speak with Lillian eventually, but she’s already made it clear that she doesn’t want to see me today.”
Albert: “I barely wanted to meet with her while searching for you both, but I was willing to put up with it then for external reasons. Those aren’t a factor anymore.”

It was a good thing this was happening after Franklin had given you his investigation results. Removing that from the table will make it difficult for him to coerce you.

Albert: “She’ll let me know when she’s ready to talk.”
Franklin: “...Why do you think she doesn’t want to see you?”
Albert: “Isn’t it obvious?”
Franklin: “Is it?”

You sigh. Yes, it was.

Albert: “She’s still Irritated about my previous statements regarding her. Granted, I will concede that my statements were inappropriate to-”
Franklin: “No, I don’t think that’s right. I think Lillian is mad at Herself.

You raise an eyebrow.

Albert: “While I would appreciate some acknowledgement that her reaction was disproportionate, I’m doubtful that’s true.”
Franklin: “But it is?”
Franklin: “Because... Umm... You feel bad for what you said to Lillian, right?”
Albert: “...I hold some regrets about my handling of the previous situation, yes.”
Franklin: “Right... So, you’re upset because you hurt Lillian. But for Lillian, it’s the same.”
Franklin: “Because... Lillian hurt Albert too. And now she feels really bad about it.”

You rub your bruised cheek, barely even wincing at the sting now.

Surprisingly, Franklin actually did have a point. You hadn’t really considered how Lillian might feel about your previous encounter with her. You had looked at it purely from your perspective, but failed to consider hers. Could he be right then?

Albert: “...That doesn’t change the fact that she doesn’t want to see me.”
Franklin: “...Well, I guess not…”
Albert: “Whatever her motive, she’s made herself clear. We should go somewhere else and leave her be.”
Franklin: “No!

In an uncharacteristic showing of passion, Franklin grabs you as you’re turning around to walk away, halting your flight.

Franklin: “You can’t just leave because you’re scared.”
Franklin: “You hurt her, so that means You have to make it right and Apologize.

You knock his hand away, taking a step back. Annoyance bubbles up as a defense mechanism, and the words you respond with carry accusation and scorn.

Albert: “Interesting you’ve chosen to give me this speech instead of her. You seem to agree that both of us made mistakes, so why does the responsibility fall on me to remedy things?”
Franklin: “Because... Albert is fine, and Lillian isn’t.”
Albert: “Define fine, because I have a few bruises that would like to debate with your usage of the term.”
Franklin: “But, Lillian is hurting more... Not her body, um, I mean inside.”
Franklin: “And she should apologize to you too, she even told me that she wanted to, but…”
Franklin: “...You’re... really hard to approach. Because whenever you get mad, you get like... That.
Albert: “...”
>>
No. 1031564 ID: 629f2e
File 165199234242.png - (819.10KB , 1000x1000 , 117.png )
1031564

The frustration you had been feeling fizzles out, leaving you feeling cold and empty inside suddenly. He hadn’t meant to, but Franklin’s words had revealed a truth so ugly that it made you physically ill. You grimace, unable to meet his eyes.

Albert: “Oh...”
Franklin: “...Sorry.”
Albert: “...”

...

You really were His son, weren’t you? Lashing out at others when you get frustrated, so Vitriolic that the people you’re closest to are scared to confront you...

You wonder if it was genetics or environment that made you this way. Did you learn this by being subjected to his tantrums when you were younger, or was this always going to be a part of you because He was your father? It didn’t really matter how it happened, because the end result was the same.

...You hate that he put this in you. You wish that his influence was a part of your body that you could just Rip out. You would do it in a heartbeat, even if it killed you.

But you can’t. He turned you into something vile. And you just have to live with that...

Albert: “...I’ll talk to Lillian.”
Franklin: “...Thank you.”
Albert: “Don’t. I shouldn’t have needed to be told to do this, but I did. Don’t thank me for being inadequate.”
Albert: “...Let’s just get this over with.”

You are your father’s son. His ugly tendencies are a part of you.

...Recognizing that just means you’ll have to work harder not to let them surface. You don’t want to be like him. And the first step to differentiating yourself will be doing something he’s never done in his life: Fix your own mistakes.

Franklin: “Hmm…”
Albert: “What is it?”
Franklin: “...Should I be coming with you? I could watch TV in their living room while you two talk, if you don’t want me there.”

It was a fair question, and you realize that this decision will set the tone for the difficult conversation you’re about to have. Will you bring Franklin in to help mediate, or go in alone?

Do you want Franklin to come in with you?

1: Yes
-Franklin will be there to support you both, mediating the meeting
-You think having Franklin present will ensure that you and Lillian make up. You’ll at least be “Fine”
-Neither of you may get deeper into things with Franklin in the room

2: No
-It will just be you and Lillian talking to each other, no mediator
-You don’t know how the conversation will go. You have the chance to mess up if you go in without a safety net
-If it’s just the two of you, your conversation may dig deeper than it might otherwise. Your bond might grow deeper than ever before if you’re willing to open up yourself
-You’re scared

>>
No. 1031571 ID: e5709d

No.

She's rich. You're not.
She doesn't have a 'father'. You do.

However she feels about you at the end of this, she needs to learn that not all people get the same choices in life.
She needs to know that she has been given a chance to change things
a chance that you'll never have or crave.
>>
No. 1031590 ID: 8483cf

No, don't bring Franklin.

Being afraid is good. It means we're getting outside our comfort zone. True growth only happens by pushing your limits and fighting through your internal resistance in the name of a worthy goal.

It's up to Albert whether the goal of actually forming a deeper bond with Lillian is worth it.

(But it totally js)
>>
No. 1031623 ID: afe7de

See I'm on team Yes because we've gotten our ass handed to us by a ton of decisions so far, but you know what, why not, let's go for No and just see how fucked Albert's gonna get this thread lmao.

On the flipside though if he does a good job with this maybe he'll stop being so gosh darned stubborn and just be a little stubborn and let a little bit of his pride go.

Just a smidge.
>>
No. 1031966 ID: 629f2e
File 165232860868.png - (1.05MB , 1000x1000 , 118.png )
1031966

On the one hand, Franklin would probably help moderate the room, ensuring that you didn’t get hit again even if you botch this reconciliation. It’s very tempting to say yes because of that.

However, you think it’s ultimately best to leave him out. A large portion of the choice is born from recognizing your Pride, as you expect this conversation to require you getting Vulnerable to some degree. That is going to be difficult enough with just Lillian in the room, but add in Franklin and it becomes practically impossible. Ultimately, you’re less likely to require a mediator if there are fewer people present.

Albert: “No... I can handle this myself.”
Franklin: “...Okay. I Believe you.”

That should mean nothing to you, since Franklin has already proven that he can lie, however you’ve yet to see Franklin lie convincingly. Despite everything, you feel a small boost of confidence.

As you go to rap on the door, you hesitate, pausing to consider the exact words you’ll say if you run into Lillian immediately. Once you have an answer in mind, you knock.

Mrs. Dyad calls out that the door is unlocked, so you let yourselves in and announce your presence. She steps out of the kitchen as you’re taking your shoes off at the doorway.

Mrs. Dyad: “Hello boys! Remember to leave your shoes nice and neatly by the door. Perfect orderly pairs please.”

You assist Franklin in following her rule properly, as it can be arduous to get right. Lillian’s mom is a Stickler for things being organized correctly, and each member of your game night group has been nagged about their shoes at least five times. They had to be spaced out correctly, equally close to the wall, and perfectly parallel. You have never seen her bring out a ruler to measure, but you would not be surprised if she did so when nobody was looking.

It was annoying, but your standards for parental guardians are understandably low. Being a neat freak is hardly worth complaining about. Honestly, you wish your parents would care a little more about Cleanliness, as the apartment was a mess due to their bad habits.

Mrs. Dyad: “Lillian’s just upstairs in her room. She didn’t mention any guests though. How long will you be staying?”
Albert: “Not for long. Lillian requested that I help her with something we went over in class today.”
Mrs. Dyad: “That’s very kind of you to help her! Just don’t strain yourself trying, I know she can be a bit slow to pick things up.”
Albert: “I’m well aware. Is it alright if Franklin watches TV while he waits?”
Mrs. Dyad: “Go right ahead, but don’t take too long. My soaps start in 20 minutes.”
Franklin: “...Does that mean you’ll be using the bathroom?”

You let her sort out Franklin’s confusion, as you head upstairs to Lillian’s room. Well, it was actually both Phillip and Lillian’s, but accommodations have changed recently. A repetitive Sound is coming from it, like an object smacking into something. It plays with a seemingly consistent frequency.

The door is shut tight, giving you time to reconsider. Your Fear tries to shake your confidence, reminding you of all the ways that this can go wrong. It wasn’t hard, as you had been thinking of them the whole way here.

What if you make things worse somehow?

What’s to stop you from saying the wrong thing again?

She’ll be upset with you, so what if she stokes your temper with harsh comments of her own?

By your own calculations, it feels almost certain that this conversation is meant to end badly.

...You knock, silencing the fearful voices in your head. The repetitive noise goes silent, leaving the space between you silent.

Lillian: “...Mom?”
Albert: “Not exactly... It’s just me.”
Lillian: “...”

It’s fine if she turns you down here, right? After all, you would have made an attempt, which is all anyone could ask of you. If she refuses to be bothered, then there really is nothing you can do.

Lillian: “...You can come in.”

...You want to be upset, but this is for the best and you know it. Steel yourself, Albert. This is going to be Rough.

Slowly, you push open the door...

The room is the same as usual, if a bit cleaner than before. Likely because Phillip took some of his things when he left. Though you recognize a fair bit that’s clearly his, so not everything he owned went with him.

Lillian is there, sitting at the foot of her bed and tossing a ball against the wall. That explained the noise from before, as she catches and chucks the ball over and over in an almost lazy rhythm. Her eyes meet yours for just a moment, before focusing purely on her solo game of catch.

Lillian: “...Did Franklin find you yet?”
Albert: “Yes. He filled Clive and I in on your investigation.”
Lillian: “Good...”
Albert: “...I was hoping we could talk. About earlier...”
Lillian: “...”
Lillian: “Sorry.

You blink. It wasn’t completely unexpected, Franklin told you she felt contrite, but you didn’t expect her to say it first. And without much prompting too.

Lillian: “I shouldn’t have hit you for running your mouth. Sorry that I did.”
Albert: “It’s fine. Admittedly, I shouldn’t have said most of the things I did, so I’m to blame as well.”
Lillian: “...”
Lillian: “...Just said what you Thought, right?”

...How are you supposed to answer that? The truth would just make her mad, but a lie would be even worse if she caught you in one.

How should you answer that?

1: Albert: “...Yes. I did.”
-Be completely honest, and offer no justification
2: Albert: “Yes. I didn’t think it was such a big deal at the time.”
-Tell the truth, and start to explain your mindset at the time
3: Albert: “No. I only wanted to provoke you, because you had upset me.”
-Lie, and start to explain how she upset you with her comments
4: Albert: “...”
-Say literally nothing. You can’t say the wrong thing if you don’t say anything!
5: Albert: “Well...”
-Suggest something entirely different Albert can say, or a variant to one of the presented options

>>
No. 1031967 ID: afe7de

I'm mid 1 and 5 for a being fully honest but adding an extra few words.

... yes I did, and I was wrong.

He's blunt and not the most social and while he could do 2 and blather about it he said he'd need to get vulnerable and copping to his mistake would be him showing he recognizes his pride and maybe make the conversation be on a better starting position.
>>
No. 1031968 ID: 96c896

5: 2, but make it clear that your mindset at the time was wrong.
>>
No. 1031970 ID: 8483cf

1. Any explanation or justification would doubtlessly be peppered with commentary of WHY Albert said what he said, and I don't trust Albert to do that in a polite manner.
>>
No. 1031973 ID: e51896

take to heart with what TEMMIE said earlier: "If you are to meet with a scornful one locked out of their cell, it may be your final chance to prevent a tragedy. When clouds weep, the chill of night will overwhelm lost souls. Though your tongue often lashes out, hold thy barbs lest they pierce too deep to be removed." it might not be about Lilian, but if it is, think of it as a riddle: clouds weeping could actually mean that crying will be involved, and by night overwhelming souls, it probably means we're going to be in the dark with how to proceed with this conversation.

4. if only to listen to the advice "Though your tongue often lashes out, hold thy barbs lest they pierce too deep to be removed" Sometimes, our silence says it all, she'll understand that we did say what we thought, but also from our silence see that we feel guilty about it.

if we're not doing that, then >>1031967 this Ed's idea.
I feel if we do 2, she'll just think we're just trying to come up with an excuse to save face. She'll probably get mad at us for telling the truth on how we felt starting out, but we need to make it clear down the line we were actually WRONG. The key word is we THOUGHT after all, it's not what we think NOW
>>
No. 1031978 ID: 798908

>>1031966
"yes, and I was wrong."

if pressed for elaboration:
"intelligence is broad. I'm book smart, but I'm not emotionally smart. you not having booksmarts doesn't make you stupid. Franklin was smart for pushing me to come here, and I should have been smart enough to trust my friends.'

if not pushed, just let the apology settle as is. it needs no elabotation so long as she knows you understand.
>>
No. 1031984 ID: 1c6255

5. "Thinking it was wrong in the first place."
>>
No. 1032133 ID: a70a13
1032133

>>1031967
>>1031978

I think both of these are perfect. We want to make sure that we are honest, that we did think those things, but it wasn't OKAY to think those things.
>>
No. 1032164 ID: e5709d

1. "Yep.
You want to know the secret to being intelligent? No, really, I have it boiled down to a science:
* Subsist on a 300-calorie-a-day diet. Mine's lower.
* Never be encouraged by your friends or family, no matter what you accomplish. You have to learn for yourself.
* Always control your anger, no matter how much you hate your abusive father.
... There. My life sucks, and I'm filled with as much bitter hatred as you're filled with feral rage. But we have to keep it controlled if we want to grow up.
Don't let the adults tell you I'm better than you; that's how they divide us, make us attack each other."
>>
No. 1032174 ID: 629f2e
File 165251784387.png - (444.53KB , 1000x1000 , 119.png )
1032174

You pause, considering. The last time you spoke your honest thoughts to Lillian, it didn’t exactly have a happy resolution. Something inside of you says to just lie for the sake of survival, but your Reason steps in to remind you how poorly this conversation will go if she were to catch you spouting falsehoods. With that in mind, you settle for pillowing the harsh truth with a softer one.

Albert: “...Yes. I was just saying what I thought at the time...”
Albert: “But I was Wrong. I thought that you wouldn’t be able to handle a simple investigation without a chaperone, and I was mistaken.”
Lillian: “You really thought I couldn’t do something that simple?”
Albert: “Well... No. I suppose not.”
Albert: “I didn’t trust that you could manage Franklin and still manage to perform a thorough investigation.”

She rolls her eyes, before leveling you an annoyed glare.

Lillian: “Really? You didn’t think I could do Both of those things? So then if I had gone without Franklin you would have been fine?”

...You sigh. Full truth it is then, no cushioning the blow.

Albert: “No. I would have been equally doubtful.”
Lillian: “Thought so.”
Lillian: “The problem’s still me then, ain’t it? I was the one you didn’t think could handle herself.”
Albert: “...It was more evenly split between you and Franklin.”
Lillian: “Yeah... We were the Burdens, right? Too stupid to leave alone, more trouble than we’re worth.”
Albert: “Look, I-I recognize that I was wrong to think-”
Lillian: “Yeah, you were.”
Lillian: “Glad you stopped thinking that, doesn’t change the fact that you did.
Lillian: “You looked at me, and you saw a useless ditz that would only get in your way.”
Albert: “...”

She winds her arm up, and hurls her ball against the wall. She effortlessly leans just slightly to the side to dodge, as it bounces back with great speed. You spot a dent in the wall where it hit.

As the ball loses momentum and rolls away, she lays back and stares up at the ceiling, stealing occasional glances at you.

Lillian: “That’s what everyone thinks about me, isn’t it?”
Albert: “...”
Lillian: “Why?”
Lillian: “Why did you think I was so stupid?”

...That was a good question. Obviously for a time you would have accepted the simple answer of ‘it’s Lillian, need I say more’ but now that you actually have to consider saying more... It’s difficult to pinpoint.

Why exactly had you thought so poorly of Lillian?

1: Albert: “Your grades.”
-It’s the simplest answer, she has some of the worst grades in school
-She may not be satisfied with this. She's well aware of this already, and she isn’t the only student in class with poor grades

2: Albert: “Your demeanor.”
-Claim that her general attitude was the source of your confusion
-Asserting that someone’s natural character makes them appear foolish seems like the quickest way to introduce your face to their knuckles

3: Albert: “Our tutoring sessions.”
-Your one-on-one efforts to teach Lillian ABSOLUTELY played a major role in your opinion, but it doesn’t do much to explain why others may have felt similarly
-You have a feeling this answer might be the most upsetting

>>
No. 1032175 ID: 1c6255

None of the above: YOU are the one whose intelligence has, for better or worse, become their defining trait; so you unconsciously judge others harshly on that because it helps you feel superior.
Others don't think of Lilian as a ditz, YOU do because YOU're the one who uses that to push yourself up.

Tell her that.

Failing that, C.
>>
No. 1032176 ID: e5709d

B: "I have a tendency to look at people who don't recognize harm and/or abuse, when it stares them in the face, as stupid.
You know, when you punched me despite my many physical conditions."
>>
No. 1032177 ID: 782e0e

I don’t think any of those are the right thing to say, in all honesty. The truth is that you’ve used yourself as a basis in which to compare others to. Intelligence is an incredibly diverse thing to discuss and you’re smart enough to know that people can be smart in different ways.

The reason you didn’t think Lillian was smart was because in comparison to YOURSELF, she didn’t stack up.

Explain this to her, apologize for it, and admit that you based your world view on your limited experience. If you want to help, add something about Lillian that you simply couldn’t do. The way that she can almost instinctively aim a ball’s throw and dodge it? That must’ve taken practice and she’s probably more in tune with her abilities, reflexes, and limits in a way that you probably aren’t and may never be! Knowing yourself and your body is a very special type of intelligence, and I think sharing this with her might help to show you’re putting an effort into fixing your busted behavior.
>>
No. 1032179 ID: 96c896

Why not all of the above?
>>
No. 1032183 ID: e51896

Something to consider as to why Lilian thinks everyone believes she is dumb, I think it relates to what Lilian's mother herself said to Albert

>Mrs. Dyad: “That’s very kind of you to help her! Just don’t strain yourself trying, I know she can be a bit slow to pick things up.”

I might be looking too deep into it, but something about her mother phrasing that doesnt sit right with me, specifically her saying she's slow to pick up on things and dont strain yourself from trying.

I dont know, but is anyone else getting the impression that this felt like a polite way of saying, 'she's not smart enough to learn and understand, and too much of a loss cause to put effort into helping her as she wont understand what your tutoring?' It is probably a bit too extreme as to how I put it, but her mother calling her own daughter slow and telling Albert to not try his best to help her improve, especially saying this BEHIND LILIAN'S BACK just didnt feel right, and could be a reasoning why Lilian thinks everyone believes she is stupid. Thinking in Lilian's position, if I overheard my own parent say that about me to someone else, I probably would be upset.

Consider also her mother is a stickler, im wondering if behind closed doors, Lilian isnt meeting her mothers expectations and may have been getting on Lilian's case about her intelligence, and might explain why she feels everyone thinks she's not smart...

In any case

Im thinking B or C. Leaning towards C. I think while C might not explain why others may have felt similarly and might be most upsetting, it would be more of a way of getting her to understand that her behavior and lack of focus from Albert trying to tutor her could also apply to other factors in her life towards others which could make people mistake her for being stupid.

I think really, it might not be an issue of intelligence, but Maybe an issue of staying focused? Maybe she needs to understand that she has a lot of potential to raise her grades and do a lot of great things, she just needs to disipline herself to focus, much like how she was focused in sneaking in the school and taking care of Franklin, and succeeded because of it. If she can apply that focus to other aspects that she'd normally find boring like lessons, she can achieve so much!
>>
No. 1032195 ID: ce39da

C (modified): "... I honestly can't speak for everyone else. My experiences over the past day or so have given me painful evidence of my currently having the Emotional Intelligence of a toaster. I can tell you why I thought you less intelligent, though, and maybe that can offer insight into the broader problem. Only if you want me to, though."

"During our tutoring sessions, you needed several repetitions before you could get a single problem down. You struggle to power through those repetitions due to a seeming lack of focus. You get bored easily and don't seem to enjoy learning and critical thinking."

"Of course, while this explains why I Thought what I did, I admit that the reason I Said it was... mostly out of anger. I am not Talented - I wasn't at first, anyway. I've... realized, however, that it's unfair to compare your Effort to my own - I was uniquely motivated, after all. I had fallen into the trap of thinking Academic excellence was all that mattered when evaluating others... because, in my own life, it was all that mattered. It defined my every action."

"It... It was the difference between whether my parents let me Eat each night. For as long as I could remember."
>>
No. 1032196 ID: 8483cf

>>1032183
>>1032195
Agree- C is the correct choice here.
>>
No. 1032205 ID: 0838d6

>>1032195
>>1032183

I definitely DONT think you should throw her mom under the bus. That'll cause more long term problems then you think, but I agree that C and then mentioning that your livelihood is directly tied to performance, you showing your weakness, will likely get her to show hers and thus you can come to terms with eachother. It WILL be rough, and unless it was unanimous like it is now, I doubt he'd even be willing to broach the topic.

However if she brings up her mom's expectations (or lack thereof) on your own, you can offer your insights.
>>
No. 1032214 ID: e51896

>>1032205
Oh yeah, agreed, definitely don't bring up her mother. She might bring it up herself if she's comfortable with it, but lets not be the one to do that for emotional reasons, we don't want her to feel uncomfortable.

But it is something to keep in mind as a possibility as to why she might think everyone thinks she isn't smart and that Albert making her feel that way with his comments isn't just the only reason that is making her believe people think she isn't smart (though Albert was most likely that major final straw for her after those comments he made to her earlier in the day. Really, she needed him to be a friend to believe in her when most others wouldn't).
>>
No. 1032791 ID: 629f2e
File 165294050104.png - (923.30KB , 1000x1000 , 120.png )
1032791

Albert: “...Do you remember our tutoring sessions.”
Albert: “You asked me to help you prepare for your math final. I assumed at the time that you didn’t quite get some of the things we had recently covered.”
Albert: “When we finally met up however... You were just so far Behind. I was explaining things we’d covered months ago, and you took so long to make any progress...”
Albert: “And after a full Week’s worth of meetings, you treated getting a ‘D’ like acing the whole thing.”
Albert: “It felt like I had thrown my freetime into a black hole, and nothing had come out of it.”
Albert: “If I had to pinpoint a starting point for this, that would be it.”
Lillian: “...”

Despite your fears, you walk closer into the room as you talk. Your legs were getting tired from standing, and her cushiony bed was just too alluring to pass up. She sits back up as you take a seat beside her.

Lillian: “...I was Proud of that ‘D’. I hadn’t expected to do so well, I was just hoping it would be a high ‘F’. Getting more than half the questions right was pretty cool.”
Lillian: “And I thought you’d be happy to see that I didn’t fail, since you helped make that happen.”
Albert: “...”

...Perhaps your perspective had been biased. You couldn’t deny that grades meant a significant bit more in your household than most others.

Lillian: “...Y’know... Mom really got on Phillip’s case about him getting ‘C’s in most subjects last time our report cards came in. You remember him whining about it?”
Albert: “Yes, he complained often, arguing that it was a passing grade and was therefore acceptable.”
Albert: “...I suspect that is why he graduated early. He fits the Jonah example perfectly.”

She huffs, but doesn’t insist on Phillip being an exception to the graduation pattern as she had before. She doesn’t even deny your theory this time.

...She suspected it from the start, didn’t she?

Lillian: “Yeah? Well I didn’t even come Close to ‘C’s in most subjects. ‘F’s, ‘D’s, and yeah, obviously an ‘A’ in gym, but that’s not really school. I had bad grades almost everywhere.”
Lillian: “...But she never brought it up. Not one time.”
Albert: “That seems... very inconsistent. Why wouldn’t-”
Lillian: “I don’t know! Mom would always tell Phillip that he could do better if he tried, and that he wasn’t putting his all in if he was getting ‘C’s.”
Lillian: “But she just... never talked to me about grades or classes. Never told me I could do better, or that I just needed to study more.”
Lillian: “It’s like... she treated me being Dumb as this unshakeable fact. And I just... Do I just give off that vibe or something?”
Lillian: “It’s not like Phillip was blindingly smart or something. So why can he do better, but I’m stuck with what I’ve got?”
Albert: “I-I’m not... I don’t know.”
Lillian: “I’m not Incapable of learning. I got a ‘D’ on the math test! I improved! I studied, and it made a difference.”
Lillian: “I’m not dumb! So...”
Lillian: “...Why does everybody think that I am?”
Albert: “...”
>>
No. 1032792 ID: 629f2e
File 165294052353.png - (728.28KB , 1000x1000 , 121.png )
1032792

>>
No. 1032793 ID: 629f2e
File 165294053323.png - (795.12KB , 1000x1000 , 122.png )
1032793

>>
No. 1032796 ID: 629f2e
File 165294089321.png - (592.32KB , 1000x1000 , 123.png )
1032796

>>
No. 1032799 ID: 629f2e
File 165294108858.png - (442.14KB , 1000x1000 , 124.png )
1032799

Albert: “...I’m sorry, Lillian.”

You can’t remember the last time you genuinely apologized to someone, but the words come naturally to you. The pride you had been holding onto fades into the background, as a drop of Humility enters your mind for the first time in a while.

Albert: “My troubled relationship with intelligence has inescapably altered my perception of it. Even so, I should have been giving you more credit.”
Albert: “...You aren’t an idiot.”

The words take a moment to set in. She finally meets your gaze, disbelief clearly written on her face. A few seconds pass before she finally seems to accept it.

Lillian: “...Thanks.”
Lillian: “I don’t need you to tell me that, but... it’s nice to hear it.”

She wraps an arm around you, and pulls you close. It’s a mighty hug, as you’d expect from her. There’s a hint of care to it however, as she’s careful not to powderize your bones within her grip.

Lillian: “Wow. This... is the worst hug ever.”
Lillian: “You’re too skinny dude! I can feel your bones stabbing into me!”

She lets go of you and ruffles your hair (your hair is thankfully immune to becoming a mess, as it always is). The mood change is a bit forced, but you go along with it. You’re already physically vulnerable due to your health, so emotional vulnerability is an extra serving that you truly hate. Besides, you’d said what you needed to.

There’s a lull, as it becomes clear that the previous topic had run its course. You consider leaving, but know that you have more time before you need to. Now would be a good time to talk to her about other matters.

What will you change the topic to? (Pick two)

1: Tell her about the investigation, and see if she knows anything
-You suspect that Lillian won’t have many insights into what you and Franklin discovered that you haven’t already heard
-There is a chance that she may have unique insight into your findings

2: Talk a bit more candidly about yourself
-She told you about herself, so it’s only fair
-Deepen the bond between you both
-Lillian will pity you

3: Tell her about the fortunes, and see what she thinks
-Practice that humility you just learned and admit that you’re considering something you heard in a dream
-Lillian thinks very differently to you, and has a very different base of information to go off of. She will offer a different perspective

4: Talk about Franklin
-Lillian is a lot closer to Franklin than you are. She may be able to tell you more about the boy you’ll be spending the night with
-You have a hard time believing you would learn nothing about him by asking her

5: Just chat for a bit
-Have a light conversation about nothing specific
-Gives you a chance to cool down from your previous chat
-Will result in minor Fear recovery

6: Talk about something or someone else
-What will it be?

>>
No. 1032802 ID: e51896

no matter what, one of the choices should be 2. She deserves to know about what you've been through, and help give her insight as to why you've been thinking and acting the way you have.

As for the second topic, either 5 or 3 with a lean towards 5. Talk about 5 to calm your nerves before talking about 2 though.

as for what to talk about if 5 is chosen, talk about her character Nipha during game nights and how focused she gets during those sessions which has lead you all to success before (plus it's a way to get to see what their game sessions is like.

After we're done, here is an idea: ask Franklin and Lilian if Lilian could join for tonights sleepover at Franklin's place, will help Lilian feel better. Best to ask her mom's permission first too.
>>
No. 1032804 ID: 96c896

>>1032799
2, 3. When you have a prophecy it's very important to get more than one interpretation of it.
>>
No. 1032812 ID: 798908

>>1032804
this gets my vote, 2 and 3.
>>
No. 1032857 ID: ce39da

2: "I know I've already apologized, both for my words earlier and for my lack of credit toward your intelligence. But I still feel like I owe you an explanation for my behavior, at the very least. Events over the last day have painfully highlighted how my own relationship with Intelligence has Poisoned the way I view and interact with people..."

Then either 1 or 3; Lillian needs to be clued in on something you discovered. Even if you don't go with 1, at least warn her that you discovered something Huge on your end and that you should all meet somewhere private to discuss it later. We don't want to get the whole "when were you planning on telling me this" spiel when someone drops that bombshell on her.
>>
No. 1032923 ID: 8483cf

2. I'm not a big fan of 3, since I don't know how she'll feel about fortunes, but I'm not voting AGAINST it, if that makes any sense.
>>
No. 1032992 ID: 0838d6

2/3

You're already going deep, and maybe she'll take 3 as a joke, give her opinion and it'll crack the ice leading to a cooldown before you leave.

Though I really want 2/5 but there's not enough votes for it.
>>
No. 1033197 ID: 629f2e
File 165319631217.png - (753.07KB , 1000x1000 , 125.png )
1033197

Albert: “...”
Lillian: “...Ugh. I can tell by your face that you're about to drop some heavy stuff on me, aren’t you?”
Albert: “...I was considering it, yes. However... it isn’t something I like to talk about.”
Lillian: “You can keep it to yourself then. I won’t force you to spill anything that makes you feel gross or whatever.”

How does assuring you that you don’t need to say anything somehow add more pressure on you to talk?

Albert: “No, no. This is something I feel that I need to say, so I will. I’m not sure where to begin though. I don’t think I’ve ever outright told this to anyone...”
Lillian: “Why don’t you start at the Worst parts of it? Then it’ll get less awkward the more you go on.”
Albert: “That sounds like a terrible idea.”
Lillian: “Probably, but it’ll get you started, right?”
Albert: “...”
Albert: “...My father beats me.”

Lillian’s mouth clamps shut in an instant. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea. The look of immediate regret on her face certainly encouraged you to go on. Envisioning this as Teasing Lillian makes it easier than seeing it as being Vulnerable with her.

Debatably healthy mindset? Certainly, but it’s fine so long as it gets you talking.

Albert: “Yes, it was quite awful. Would you like to see the scars?”

You were already dragging your sleeve down, revealing the nasty memory of a wound on your shoulder.

Lillian: “Whoa! What-”
Albert: “Beer bottle. It broke when he smashed it into me, and the glass ripped into my skin.”
Lillian: “This is serious? Your dad really...”
Albert: “Yes.”
Lillian: “...Alright yeah, gonna need a second to process this.”
Albert: “Take your time.”

She runs her hands down her face, before standing up and pacing back and forth a couple of times. You watch curiously, as her expression shifts between disgust and confusion. Finally, she stops.

Lillian: “You didn’t put him in the hospital, did you?”
Lillian: “I mean- I’ve got your back if you did, the jerk had it coming, I’m just asking-”
Albert: “I Wish I had done it, but unfortunately, no. I have a few suspects I need to look into, but I don’t know the culprit behind his attack at this time.”
Lillian: “Okay. That’s good. I think.”
Albert: “It means we don’t have to worry about concealing my deeds while also hiding our investigation. It’s a positive overall.”
Lillian: “Good. Sorry that happened at all though. It sucks.”
Albert: “...Yes. It does.”

She sits back down, eyeing you with concerned interest.

Lillian: “Is that it?”
Albert: “That isn’t even half of the story.”
Lillian: “Fine, but if it somehow gets worse than that, I’m gonna shove you off this bed for not telling me sooner.”

You walk her through the full story, or as much as you felt comfortable saying at least. Each point goes by as quickly as you can force it to end, as this was a conversation you had wanted to be finished since it had started.

As you get into your family’s minimal income and your malnutrition, you have to brace yourself. You don’t want to be Pitied, it makes you feel like a victim. There are so many things that can define you, but you never want the things your parents put you through to be what people think of when they look at you. You’re more than that.

You’re the top student in class. You’re the wizard in your tabletop game’s party. You’re-

Lillian: “You’re an idiot.”

...an Idiot apparently.

Lillian: “Dude. Between me, Roger, and Franklin alone, we have So Much food! And you’re starving!?
Lillian: “I mean, yeah, if you reached a hand onto my plate you’d lose it, but I’d bring extra for you if you asked! Or Phillip would have if he were still here, he’d probably consider your allergies better than I would.”
Lillian: “Seriously, get over yourself dude and just Ask when you get hungry, and we’ll toss some snacks your way.”
Albert: “...Okay?”

That... had not been how you pictured this going. She had skipped straight past the unwanted sympathy into getting annoyed with you. Frankly though, you weren’t complaining! You would let her smack you in frustration if it meant there was going to be zero pity involved in this conversation.

Lillian: “You should probably tell Roger and Franklin this stuff too y’know.”
Albert: “Perhaps, but then I would be having this conversation again. Once is already more than enough I feel.”
Lillian: “Fair.”
Lillian: “Just the stuff about food then.”
Albert: “...Later.”
Lillian: “...Actually, just Roger. I think Franklin already knows.”
Albert: “What!? H-How!?”
Lillian: “Dunno. Just thinking about some of the things we talked about earlier. Kind of Obvious what he was saying in retrospect, but I was too peeved to catch it.”

...Perhaps Lillian isn’t the only person you’ve been failing to give enough credit. You never realized Franklin could be so Observant. Mainly, because all other evidence pointed to that not being true. His focus is atrocious, but perhaps when he’s able to pay attention he catches more than you would expect.

Well, you’ll have plenty of time later tonight to figure that out.

Your mind drifts back to your earlier dream. The ending was vaguely terrifying, but everything before had felt so Real...

Lillian: “Got anything less horrible we could talk about? Think I’m tapped out on deep conversations for today.”
Albert: “...How would you feel about trying to decode fortunes from Temmie?”
Lillian: “Bored, which is a step up from feeling sad or annoyed.”

You repeat both of them to her, word for word so as not to leave out anything. She rubs her head in thought.

Lillian: “Lemmy is the King of Fools, right? Who else could it even be?”
Albert: “I concur.”
Lillian: “And you’ll meet him where all journeys meet their end? Wouldn’t that be like... All people die, so the Morgue?
Albert: “I was thinking of the graveyard specifically, but yes. That general area seems like the most likely place to find him.”
Lillian: “If you and I just reached the same answer, then Temmie made that one too easy.”

You both chuckle. That riddle had certainly been an easy one to crack, but that still left the far more complex fortune to unravel.

Lillian: “Honestly, I don’t know what scornful even means. What do you think about that one?”

This meeting is certain, but some opportunities are mere probabilities. If you are to meet with a scornful one locked out of their cell, it may be your final chance to prevent a tragedy. When clouds weep, the chill of night will overwhelm lost souls. Though your tongue often lashes out, hold thy barbs lest they pierce too deep to be removed.

Albert: “Scornful means... Well, you can think of it as someone filled with Hatred.
Lillian: “Oh. That’s not me, right? I’m chill now.”
Albert: “Yes, you have been rather chill ever since I arrived, so I doubt it is.”
Lillian: “So who else can it be? JoJo? She hates everyone.”
Albert: “...Perhaps. But I’m not sure what to make of the rest.”
Albert: “A tragedy may take place on a drizzly evening is the best I have come up with.”
Lillian: “Pretty hard to do anything about if you can’t guess what the ‘tragedy’ even is.”
Albert: “Exactly.”
Lillian: “How about that other part then? A scornful one locked out of their cell. What’s that mean?”
Albert: “Hmm, what could constitute a cell in this fortune...? It doesn’t have to be literal.”

You both pause to collect your thoughts. Cell... Cell...

Lillian: “School feels like a prison.”
Albert: “Yes, but why would she be locked out?”
Lillian: “...Because it’s locked after hours?”
Albert: “Which doesn’t matter if she has no reason to go at those times.”
Lillian: “Okay... Where else does she usually go that she could be locked out of?”
Albert: “Well... There’s her Home. I would describe my apartment as a cell, and I imagine it’s... the same for her......”


Your door comes up first. She hangs back and waits, not walking past you to her own yet. You know why, but don’t feel like poking the bear further by bringing it up.


And just like that, it clicks in your mind.

Albert: “It Is about Jolene! She’s the prisoner who gets locked out!”
Lillian: “Neat! How?”
Albert: “Because Jolene gets locked out of her apartment constantly.
Albert: “Do you know how many times I’ve seen her hanging around outside the apartment block because her parents locked her out? I don’t know if it’s negligence or a form of punishment, but it’s very common.”
Albert: “This fortune Definitely refers to Jolene.”

Those were two mysteries down. You had a better picture of the situation you were dealing with.

A tragedy may take place on a drizzly evening, but may be prevented by talking to Jolene while she’s locked out.

The next time you encounter her in such a state, you’ll make a point to speak with her. It wouldn’t be wise to ignore this. Of course, that brings up the question of whether you should seek her out or wait for the opportunity to happen...

It’s getting late. There’s more you could talk about, but Curfew will be coming up soon. You need to leave. Lillian seems fine now, and you’ve said all that you felt was necessary. You don’t doubt that things will be okay between you if you leave her here.

That said, you could invite her to come over (assuming Franklin approves). It would be nice to spend time together, especially since you didn’t have the chance yesterday. You’d also have more time to discuss your investigations before school tomorrow.

Alternatively however... You know that you need to speak with Jolene at some point to prevent a Tragedy. You could leave to do that now, before it gets much later.

The issue is, you can’t go out Alone. You’ve already been injured to the point of being unable to walk by yourself earlier today, and that risk is still present due to your leg (which will be heightened if you put yourself in the immediate proximity of The Bully). You would either need to take Franklin, who will need to go home to inform his parents of the unplanned sleepover, or Lillian. Given that Lillian’s been in a bad mood since earlier, and wasn’t doing anything when you came up here, you have a suspicion...

Albert: “This may seem random, but do you still have Chores to do tonight?”
Lillian: “...Oh yeah! Thanks for the reminder, mom would nag my ear off if I forgot.”

Figures.

You aren’t going out on your own. If you invite Lillian, then she’ll need to take care of her chores before she can head out with you, at which point it’ll be too close to curfew to go anywhere besides the Morgue. If you don’t, you can take her with you, and she can worry about those tasks when she returns. Which will it be?

What will you do?

1: Invite Lillian to the Sleepover
-You will go straight to the Morgue, arriving just before curfew
-You’ll have a fun evening with your friends
-The three of you will lose more Fear tonight due to comfort
-If Lemmy is at the Morgue, you will be present when he’s found

2: Look for Jolene
-You won’t invite Lillian
-You will make one attempt to find the Jolene, before going to the Morgue with Franklin
-There is an unknown chance that you are unable to find her, that the tragedy you wish to prevent has already happened, or that the conditions for the meeting won’t be right at this time
-If Lemmy is at the Morgue, you may not be present when he’s found

>>
No. 1033198 ID: 8483cf

As much as Albert and Lillian both DESPERATELY need a fun evening, I have to vote for 2: Look for Jolene.

Albert is too logical, and Franklin too emotional, to not try and prevent a Tragedy with all their effort. They'd both regret it later.
>>
No. 1033200 ID: e51896

uhhh, I really really want 1 so bad as I want Lilian to join the sleep over, but I think it's best to go 2. Might change my mind since this is a hard choice, but my reasoning for my choice is this:

Lilian has chores to focus on, so it's best to just let her work without getting distracted.

>If Lemmy is at the Morgue, you may not be present when he’s found

and yet Temmie said our meeting with him is certain. I don't think we will need to worry about that. Whether he will be present or not when he's found won't matter as we will still encounter him and be given a choice. We might just lose some context on what is happening, and might make our choices harder, but we got a tragedy to fix.
>>
No. 1033202 ID: 96c896

>the chill of night will overwhelm lost souls
Ah, I see. I think JoJo's going to get locked out and die of exposure. That is easy to prevent, so long as someone can find her and warn her that she needs to find shelter. Maybe even offer it to her? Hmm, disrespecting her at that point would probably result in her refusing help, too, so that's what the warning about holding your tongue is about.

That said I can't decide between A or B.
...is it possible for Albert to help Lilian with her chores to save time and combine the benefits of both choices?
>>
No. 1033212 ID: 1c6255

Look for Jolene (with Franklin), before heading to the morgue.
>>
No. 1033233 ID: afe7de

I'm sorry y'all but I think we should do 1 solely because Albert WILL get fucked over if he has to walk there and to the morgue tonight. Please dont kill albert or have him get more injured, I have a bad vibe about 2 :c
>>
No. 1033237 ID: ce39da

… Check the weather. If it’s going to rain tonight, 2. If not, 1.
>>
No. 1033808 ID: 629f2e
File 165371655411.png - (1.61MB , 1000x1000 , 126.png )
1033808

Finding Jolene takes top priority. If you have the option to prevent a tragedy, choosing to do anything else would be nonsensical.

Albert: “Could I ask a favor, Lillian?”
Lillian: “Depends what it is.”
Albert: “I would like to find Jolene, since she seems to be the subject of this fortune. Would you mind escorting me? I may need help returning if our discussion goes...”
Albert: “...Well, anything like our conversation earlier today.”
Lillian: “Oh yeah, no problem. As long as we don’t go too far. It’s pretty late.”
Albert: “We’ll just be stopping by the Apartment Complex. If she isn’t there, I’ll try to speak with her at school tomorrow.”

...Assuming she’s there. Given the recent track record, and the fortune drawing you to her, that wasn’t something you can take for granted at the moment.

The two of you head downstairs, and have a very brief meetup with Franklin. It’s obvious how pleased he is to see you both interacting amicably again, even if he doesn’t outright say it. You both send him home to let his parents know what to expect, and head out yourself.

Lillian: “Oh yeah, Franklin mentioned your Sleepover tonight. What brought that on?”
Albert: “Nothing noteworthy. My mother recommended I not be home tonight.”
Lillian: “Any reason you chose to stay at the creepy place with dead people?”
Albert: “Franklin seemed unlikely to question my sudden desire to spend time with him.”
Albert: “An assumption which was entirely mistaken. He found my request peculiar.”
Lillian: “Well it’s not like he hosts sleepovers often. He comes over a lot more than kids go to him. Y’know, his place being the morgue and all.”
Lillian: “A lot of kids are actually really big babies about sleeping with the dead.”
Albert: “Perhaps they’re intimidated. After all, the dead are Professionals when it comes to slumber. They’ve mastered the craft to the point of never waking up.”

That earns you a laugh. The rest of your conversation is pleasantly mundane, as you casually discuss whatever comes to either of your heads. It feels relaxing to put aside the mysteries and difficult conversations you’ve dealt with all day, and instead just spend quality time with a companion.

It’s a shame that it has to end so soon, but duty before pleasure as they say. The apartments come into view. As they do...

A Raindrop lands right on your nose. An early signal of tonight’s weather.

Albert: “...I’m going to look around upstairs. Check the back of the building to see if she’s loitering on that side.”
Lillian: “Okay.”

With a shared nod, you split up to search.

...Unfortunately...

Your investigation comes up empty. When you and Lillian meet back up, neither of you can claim to have seen her.

You had even knocked on her apartment door, just in case she had already made it inside. Neither her nor her parents answered. It's too late to look anywhere else, and you have exhausted this location. Your search has hit a Dead End.

Albert: “...Where do you think she could be?”
Lillian: “No clue. I don’t hang around JoJo, she’s a pain in the butt.”
Albert: “Truthfully, I don’t spend much time with her either. Whenever I extend my hand to her, she lashes out.”
Lillian: “...Why are we looking for her again? It seems like whatever tragedy would happen would just affect her, right?”
Albert: “The fortune didn’t specify, but that does seem the most likely.”
Lillian: “Then it’s most likely not a big deal. I mean, I don’t Want anything bad to happen to her, but if it does... It’s JoJo.
Lillian: “I could live with knowing I let her down.”

She did raise a good point. Jolene made it hard to feel sympathetic for her, given her reputation as The Bully. She was the type of girl who would taunt others, break their things, and get violent when pushed. Honestly, you had already invested more effort into helping her than she likely deserved. You could easily call it a day right here and feel secure knowing that you had done as much as anyone could expect of you. Frankly, you could have done that much back at Lillian’s home, and saved yourself the trip back here.

So why were you going out of your way to try and help her?

Albert: “...Solidarity I suppose.”
Lillian: “Huh?”
Albert: “Sorry. What I mean is that Jolene is by no means a nice girl. However, she is who she is because of the way she was raised.”
Albert: “Similarly... I don’t think it would be right to describe myself as a particularly nice boy, nor would you I imagine, and much of that comes from how I was raised.”
Albert: “In that sense, I suppose I feel a Connection with her.”
Lillian: “Hey, you’re not... Ehhhh...”
Lillian: “Well, you aren’t that bad.”
Albert: “How touching.”

She opens her mouth to say something, but stops.

Lillian: “...Hey, did you hear that?”
Albert: “Hear wh-”
Lillian: “Look. Someone’s coming.”
>>
No. 1033809 ID: 629f2e
File 165371660498.png - (1.45MB , 1000x1000 , 127.png )
1033809

You turn to look, observing a figure approaching from a distance. They’re coming from the townhouses, and are clearly walking towards the apartments you’ve yet to leave. It’s obviously not Jolene, as they’re too tall. As they get near enough to make out their appearance, you recognize them.

Albert: “Reb- no- ‘Bec!

She pauses, before visibly groaning and walking up to you both.

Rebecca: “Look, I dropped your junk off with Clive already, so if you want-”
Albert: “No, that isn’t it. I just wanted to ask if you had seen Jolene recently?”

Without missing a beat she extends her palm to you.

Rebecca: “You already know information isn’t free. But I’ll tell you for just a dime.”
Albert: “I’m not requesting gossip, I’m just asking a question. Have you seen her?”
Rebecca: “Coin in hand, then you get your answer.”

You’re broke of course. Before you can start arguing about it however, a dime lands between her fingers.

Lillian: “You’re lucky these are actually Phillip’s shorts. He always leaves change in them.”
Albert: “...Why are you wearing Phillip’s pants?”
Lillian: “Because laundry is a drag, and he isn’t here to complain.”
Rebecca: “Thanks for the fee. Sorry, but I haven’t seen her around.”

It was very fortunate that Lillian paid that herself, because you would battle Rebecca to the death if she had scammed you out of ten cents with a useless answer like that.

Albert: “Can you keep an eye out for her?”
Rebecca: “Not without a good reason. Why are you looking for that rascal anyways?”

A straight answer would make her dwindling interest flicker out, unless she’s the type to believe in Temmie’s gifts. Best to leave some mystery to it.

Albert: “We have a reason to believe she might be in Danger.

There’s a shift in her demeanor. Her posture stiffens, and her rueful grin fades into a tight frown.

Rebecca: “...What kind’a danger?”
Albert: “*tch tch* Sorry, but that information is currently on a need to know basis. Unless you’re willing to pay a fee.”

You hold your own palm out to her, only for her to shove it away.

Rebecca: “Cheeky piece of- ...whatever.”
Rebecca: “I know her usual haunts. I’ll get some answers out of her instead.”

The joke was on her of course, because she was effectively saying she’d perform a wellness check on Jolene, which is exactly what you want. You say nothing more as she goes into one of the apartment doors and closes it behind her, not wanting to change her mind on the subject.

Lillian: “...Is that it?”
Albert: “Yes... I think that will suffice.”

And so, you both walk away.

Lillian: “...Man, this Sucks.
Albert: “What specifically?”
Lillian: “You’re getting to spend the night with Franklin, and I’m gonna be stuck at home doing chores.”
Albert “...Sorry. If we hadn’t come here, you would have been able to join us.”
Lillian: “Oh? So you don’t mind me being there?”
Albert: “No, of course not.”

She grins.

Lillian: “Great! I’ll catch up with you there then!”
Albert: “I thought you were going to be busy with chores?”
Lillian: “Well yeah, but those won’t take long.”
Albert: “It will take you at least until curfew. I don’t see your mother letting you out after nine.”

A devious chuckle rises from her.

Lillian: “Sure, not alone. But I bet I could get her to walk me over herself if I ask enough times. No rules broken if I have parental supervision!”

In your experience, excessive whining would get you slapped, not rewarded. The fact that normal parents respond differently is not at all shocking.

Albert: “You could play up how Lonely you’ve been without Phillip around. That would open the floor for the argument that a sleepover would be therapeutic.”
Lillian: “Yeah, not much playing up needed there.”
Lillian: “Like, I never realized how Quiet it gets at night without someone else being there...”
Lillian: “...We gotta get to the bottom of this graduation stuff soon.”

You silently nod in agreement.
>>
No. 1033810 ID: 629f2e
File 165371665364.png - (670.36KB , 1000x1000 , 128.png )
1033810

You part ways at her house, as she heads in to finish her duties and butter her mother up. The rest of the walk to the morgue is uneventful, although the rain starts to pick up as you go on.

As you reach the gates leading into the property, you stare up the hill. The property carries an ambience fitting of a horror film. It would be no shock at all if the dead rose from their graves in a place like this.

The thought is just that however, and nothing more. It’s childish to expect something so unrealistic. It’s simply a fiction woven by terrified youth letting their imaginations go wild.

This is nothing more than a place where the dead lay, and where the family of their caretaker resides. If anything, it was the Living residents of this building that were a true curiosity.

The gate is unlocked, so you let yourself in. The sooner you’re out of this rain the better.

As you approach the front door, you start to hear something.

???: “...-here, aren’t you?”

...That voice sounded young, but... It wasn’t Franklin’s.

...Could it be-

*THUNK*

Something hits the floor inside. You barely have time to question what it is before you hear the voice again.

???: “H-Hey! Come on, that’s not funny. Get up!”

A cold sweat joins the raindrops dripping down your forehead, as you grab the front door’s knob and throw it open.
>>
No. 1033815 ID: 629f2e
File 165371697241.png - (1.14MB , 1000x1000 , 129.png )
1033815

The first thing you see as you stare into the room is Lemmy. It’s... not very surprising. The fact that he was here at least, it was admittedly mildly shocking that you didn’t have to seek him out at all. He’s frozen stiff in front of an ajar door, staring at you in a panic.

Lemmy: “A-Albert!?”

By his feet... lay Franklin.

Your heart leaps into your throat as you stare at the boy, eyes shut and body unmoving.

Albert: “What... is-”
Lemmy: “H-Hey, I know how this looks b-but I didn’t- just so we’re clear-”
Albert: “Franklin!”

You drop your cane in haste, dashing across the room to be at his side. Adrenaline fills your veins, as your own pain doesn’t even register in your mind. As you’re leaning over him, examining for any trace of life, you see it.

His chest rises and falls. He’s Breathing.

You let out a long breath of relief. He’s okay. Thank goodness.

After a few seconds to get your bearings, you gather yourself and move on to step two: Questions.

Albert: “Lemmy.”
Lemmy: “I didn’t touch him. I mean it, I never lie. In fact, I even sleep sitting up.”
Albert: “Lemmy.

He withers under your glare, finally shutting up.

Albert: “What actually happened?”
Lemmy: “That’s a great question, phenomenal question, number three on a list of the top ten questions ever asked.”
Lemmy: “I dunno.”
Albert: “...”
Lemmy: “C’mon, I’m serious! I really don’t know. I fell asleep in this closet, woke up a minute ago, stepped out to see if anyone was here, and ended up making first contact with The Alien.”
Lemmy: “So I start making excuses, but he wasn’t even listening. He was just quaking in his boots like a cowboy entering a duel with a water pistol.”
Lemmy: “And then just like that, his eyes roll back and he’s on the floor.”
Albert: “He Fainted?
Lemmy: “Yeah! Crazy right?”

So Franklin passed out upon seeing Lemmy? That seems odd. You hadn’t brought up the fortune to Franklin, so admittedly finding Lemmy here was likely very surprising, but enough to cause the boy to pass out?

There’s just something missing. Some Context you missed out on. Unfortunately, you won’t be getting any answers until Franklin wakes it seems.
>>
No. 1033816 ID: 629f2e
File 165371700748.png - (1.12MB , 1000x1000 , 130.png )
1033816

The moment that thought crosses your mind, another enters right afterwards. It’s a thought that seems to make the entire world come to a halt.

Franklin is Asleep.

When you and Clive spoke with him earlier, he lied to you. He kept his neck covered to hide something, and you had no choice but to accept those facts and move on. Whatever his reasons were, you had no avenue to dig deeper.

Right now... Well it was as simple as tugging down the collar of his turtleneck.

...

You want to know. You really do. But you also know that you would be breaching his trust if you look.

Franklin might never know, there would be no way for him to discover as long as you ensure Lemmy’s silence. However, you would. You can’t put the genie back in the bottle once it’s out. Once you know, you know Forever.

...Is it worth it?

Whether you choose to peek or not, you might regret that choice for a very long time. You’ll either kick yourself over the missed opportunity, or become overwhelmed with guilt for finding out this way.

Either way... No matter what you choose...



Your decision shall carry a deep Consequence.

1: Look
2: Do Not

>>
No. 1033818 ID: afe7de

2, because you respect your friends autonomy, because you're learning to be humble, because if he found out you did that it'd be a huge breach of respect and ruin the progress you were making, and because Lemmy is there and you need to interrogate the fluff out of him for falling asleep in a closet in a house that isnt his and for being here, and for the fortune, for so many reasons he's more important to dissect-er interrogate.
>>
No. 1033819 ID: e51896

2. Respect his privacy. If he wants to show you, he'll do so at his own time. Because he's your friend.
>>
No. 1033820 ID: 7af43f

2, obviously. We've learned a lot about what's important to us today, and respecting friends' boundaries is a big one. Just because we think we know better doesn't make it so.
>>
No. 1033821 ID: 96c896

2. Also, look in the closet. Lemmy opened the door, which means Franklin saw what's in there. Perhaps what scared him is in there...
>>
No. 1033824 ID: 798908

>>1033816
2, we LITERALLY just learned this lesson an hour ago
>>
No. 1033834 ID: 1c6255

2. Let's be worthy of his trust and leave the creep behavior to people like Jhonen.
>>
No. 1033994 ID: 2de4fd

2. You can pressure him into telling you later. This is clearly important to him. If you find out in any way that doesn't involve getting Franklin to give a massive amount of trust to you, you won't be able to do anything good with that information anyway. Even if he is a clone or whatnot, confirmation won't do anything but satisfy yourself. Your own satisfaction will be short lived, and not protect the ones you love.
>>
No. 1034031 ID: 629f2e
File 165395018292.png - (1.73MB , 1000x1000 , 131.png )
1034031

...This isn’t right.

It doesn’t matter how much you want to know. Franklin isn’t ready to tell you. Maybe he will be someday, but right now, he Isn’t.

You hate talking about the issues that you deal with at home. You know it’s Irrational, and that you would be better off if you talked to your friends about them, and yet you still refrain. While you don’t know why Franklin hides his neck, who are you to ignore his boundaries while maintaining your own? As someone who appreciates privacy, denying your friend his own would be the height of hypocrisy.

...Although in fairness, Franklin did try to tell Lillian earlier about your home life, which you don’t like others knowing about. You will cautiously offer him a pass there however, as you never expressed to him displeasure in others knowing about it (mainly because you hadn’t realized he was even aware).

There’s no such ambiguity here. You know how Franklin feels, and you have to respect it.

Albert: “...We should move him to the couch.”
Lemmy: “Yeah, that sounds like a plan. Should I take his legs, or-”
Albert: “Yes, do that. I’ll take- GNG!”

As you bend over to try and lift your friend, all of the Pain you’d ignored rushes back to you in full force. You end up collapsing beside him, panting for air as your leg throbs with agony.

Lemmy: “H-Hey! Don’t you go sleeping on me too now. I know this is a slumber party but this is ridiculous!”
Albert: “Cane-! Give me my cane!”

You thrust your pointer finger at the doorway, causing Lemmy to rush over and pick up your dropped walking aid. He brings it over, shoves it in your hands, and helps you to your feet. The tool gives just enough support for you to hobble your way over to a reclining chair and fall into it.

Albert: “Thank you...”
Lemmy: “Jeez, I get that this is a morgue, but don’t just die on me like that.”
Albert: “Can you lift Franklin yourself? I’m going to need a few minutes.”
Lemmy: “Totally, it should be a cinch. After all, the dude’s an airhead, so he’ll probably just float if I get him started.”

You don’t respond to the pun, but take pleasure in watching him struggle to drag the unconscious boy over to the sofa. He’s panting from exertion by the time Franklin is lying comfortably on it.

Lemmy: “S-See... *huff* easy peasy.”
Albert: “Good. Now then, I believe it’s time to ask the obvious.”
Lemmy: “Alright, what are we asking it?”

He laughs at his own joke, while you simply wait for him to finish.

Albert: “...Lemmy. What are you Doing here?”
Lemmy: “Talkin’ to you.”
Albert: “...”
Lemmy: “...”

He chuckles nervously.

Lemmy: “Man, this whole situation’s a joke ain’t it? Dead audience at the morgue. The gags write themselves!”
Lemmy: “Though I could do that if these were landing too. Killer jokes slay the audience!”

...This conversation will be... Trying. Lemmy is deflecting rather intensely at the moment, so getting a straight answer out of him will take some time. You’re tempted to wave it off and simply have Lillian threaten the truth out of him when she eventually arrives.

You don’t however. You’re going to Persevere, and pursue this line of questioning until the Truth comes out. Lemmy may be annoying, but compared to everything else you’ve been through today? Interrogating him would be a cakewalk.

Albert: “Let’s try this again, shall we?”
>>
No. 1034033 ID: 629f2e
File 165395031627.png - (1.85MB , 1000x1000 , 132.png )
1034033

...

Hello again.

It feels nice checking in with you once more. I hope you don’t mind that I’m drinking while we talk.

Do you like tea? Most kids don’t, and I’m no different. This is actually chocolate milk. Still, it wouldn’t be a “tea party” if we didn’t call it tea, right? They’re both brown drinks, so I don’t think anyone will mind the difference.

I never stopped listening. While you guided Albert along, I heard every word of advice you gave. You did very well.

Mostly. You did almost have Albert beat himself with his own cane.

I’m glad you didn’t, as that would have been a very wrong choice. I get the temptation though. Kids want to do silly things all the time, and sometimes it’s hard to ignore the desire. Just look at me. I knew that I would be speaking to you now, but I really wanted to have my tea party. My wants won out, and now here I am drinking chocolate milk when I’m meant to be helping you.

Speaking of, it’s time to move on to that, isn’t it?

To the voices of things that were, that are, and that will be, I will use my talents to help you once more.

By granting the gift of Hearing, I will allow your influence to reach those you can’t yet guide. And as before, my gifts will come with a Toll. For each soul we strengthen, we must cripple another. The threads of fate are intertwined. To act on one end, you must inflict an opposite reaction on the other.

You will choose one to empower, and one to cut down.

...As have I.

Sorry. I know that I’m just supposed to stay a spectator, but I couldn’t help myself this time. It was a Desire I just couldn’t ignore. I hope you’ll forgive me. I am still young, and at times I cannot help but follow my impulses.

Along with your selections, I have chosen to give my gift to the boy lost within his own mind. When the fiction breaks, and all that remains is the Truth, he will need your help facing the new reality he finds himself in.

As for the fee, let me worry about the cost. It was my choice after all.

>>
No. 1034034 ID: 629f2e
File 165395037161.png - (1.00MB , 1000x1000 , 133.png )
1034034

That brings us to your selections then. Along with The Alien, you may follow one other. This time, I’ll let you choose between three.

Will it be the Cursed Child who never learned to smile? Alongside The Alien, you would be following the two children Least Understood by their companions. You would have a chance to see the world from their perspectives, and thus gain an understanding of them.

Or will you choose the young Miracle still mourning a painful loss? This would make for an interesting pair, as I’m not sure how Compatible my gifts will be with them. There is a striking difference about both of them that may result in very... Unique results.

And I don’t think we should forget the Lonely Twin underestimated by all. I suspect that she may be the dark horse choice of this group, but she and The Alien both share the trait of being Undervalued. Compared to The Anti-Socialite and The Miracle, I believe that you would have an Easier time guiding The Athlete.

Those are your options. Who will you choose to follow?

>>
No. 1034035 ID: 629f2e
File 165395045083.png - (864.04KB , 1000x1000 , 134.png )
1034035

As for the price... I’m sorry, but it will be rather Steep today. Something is happening that you cannot prevent. You can only decide who will receive the misfortune.

Of the children who recently graduated, you must pick one of two.

One, an Enthusiast whose interests were not what they were meant to be.

Another, a Seeker of Truth who learned too much while trying to help his friend.

I won’t tell you who to choose. I don’t know if I could pick one myself if I had to...

I will follow the will of the majority. Make your decisions now.


Who should be the POV character of Perpetuity Thread 3 (Alongside The Alien, Franklin)?
A: The Anti-Socialite, Clive
B: The Homeschooler, Enid
C: The Athlete, Lillian

Which of these characters do you choose to receive VERY BAD THINGS?
1: The Nerd, Phillip
2: The Freak, Jhonen

>>
No. 1034036 ID: 8483cf

I vote 1: The Anti-Socialite, Clive. Clive has total and complete freedom to be a wild card. Enid is smart and capable, but she has limits. Clive has no limits.

Let's wait to have Lillian be POV. We need her to be the one bravely taking action once we have clear path. But until Clive and Enid dig up more dirt, she's not likely to be able to put her drive to good use.

As for BAD THINGS...

I'd prefer neither. Lillian doesn't deserve it. Jhonen is, from what we've seen, a force of nature all by himself, and anything bad happening to him would be a terrible loss for Catternom.

Ultimately, I know that Jhonen might, just might, have a warm, fuzzy blanket to help him through it.

Sorry, Jhonen, but I choose you.
>>
No. 1034038 ID: 8b82ee

I vote for Nerd, Phillip to get a VERY BAD THING. I hope it lives up to its description, I mean we aren't talking here about MEDIUM BAD THING.
>>
No. 1034045 ID: afe7de

B1, please no hurt Jhonen

I want Enid now because she's fresh and recovered, we can then go with Clive or Lillian next thread depending on what happens. Clive will have a ton of utility given that he's basically off the radar. Lillian will be stronk and useful for anything wild we might need to do as well.

Basically we're using next thread to prep then the 2 after to go buck-wild!
>>
No. 1034048 ID: ce39da

A: Clive. He has all the answers regarding the Murder incident, and while he prefers to stay away from social interaction, he has far fewer limits on what he can do in those shadows.

As for the second... I wasn't sure. On one hand, Lillian cares a great deal about Phillip... at least outwardly. However, if we just discount Franklin's feelings about Jhonen, I think we're going to end up immediately regretting it.

And at the end of the day, Jhonen possesses knowledge of important secrets. I have no idea if it'll become relevant, considering the places we'd have to go and the information we'd need to learn just to reach him, but with the scales of personal bonds not being as out of balance as one might assume...

1: Phillip.

... We'll get to speak again, right Temmie?
>>
No. 1034049 ID: e51896

Clive makes people suspicious of anyone who is near him. It's probably a bad idea to have Franklin, "the alien" near him at this time.

so either B or C for me (Enid, or Lilian). Leaning towards Lilian, so that we might be able to get some closure on the cliffhanger... if her mom will allow her over.

For the very bad thing,

2. Jhonen. I'm sorry, but I think Lilian will be devastated the most if something terrible happened to her brother, her own close family member in comparison to Franklin's relationship with Jhonen. Plus, it's clear that he'll have enough KARMA points to remember this past life in CATALYST, so I feel he'll do something very important in this world regardless of how bad he might have it...
>>
No. 1034050 ID: b4ab25

I heard voting was happening, and I have no idea what is happening outside of >>1034034 and >>1034035, but I vote A (and abstain from the second vote)
>>
No. 1034079 ID: 84cd4c

I feel like I'm better off not giving input, seeing as I don't really think my "Guidance" would be any good, but from binging the last several posts, the conclusion I've come to is...

B: Enid - Judging from the fantastic turnaround we've been able to grant Albert, I would say that she's more in need of the opportunities we can grant. Clive can hold on without us (I hope) and I feel like Lillian is something of a trump card we need to save for later.

As for the second choice, I don't feel qualified to choose... but if I had to say, it would probably be Jhonen.
>>
No. 1034098 ID: c0bd54

>Compared to The Anti-Socialite and The Miracle, I believe that you would have an Easier time guiding The Athlete.
B (failing that, A).
We're not here to guide who is easiest, but who needs it the most.

2.
If the two are of equal status, we must consider whom they're linked to. Misfortune to Philip would affect both him and Lillian, so I'm throwing Jhonen under the bus.
>>
No. 1034146 ID: 344f1d

Let's go with Clive,
and >>1034098 has a very good point; Jhonen's gotta take the hit.
>>
No. 1034673 ID: a70a13

I'm gonna go ahead and say A. Clive for the POV character. I think it'll be important to see what happened with him and his family beforehand, it might be a really good idea. I worry about the psychological effect Enid will recieve from us poking around, and I trust we can get to Lillian later.

As for the very bad things? I genuinely don't know....

Is there a way we can leave it to a coin flip? I feel like that's fair. We're dealing with kids, guys.
>>
No. 1034695 ID: 629f2e
File 165483868071.png - (1.34MB , 1000x1000 , 135.png )
1034695

...How interesting. You seemed to have very split opinions this time around. I remember you being more firm in your decision before. Ultimately, the majority of your voices have decided on Clive to follow, and Jhonen to receive the misfortune. This is your will.

...To be honest, while I’m normally unsure of what choice is best, I think perhaps this was the Right decision. Following Clive that is. He’s had it hard for a while now, and things seem to keep getting worse for him. More than anyone else, I think he could use a helping hand.

Please take good care of him. He is in a fragile state at the moment, separated from the one he lives to nurture. Appearances can be deceiving, and behind the irremovable mask of apathy and ire lies a tormented soul, plagued by Fear and Guilt so intense that they threaten to consume him.

May fortune shine upon him for once, and may your influence allow his wounded heart to finally start healing.

And then... there is Jhonen.

...

I understand why you made the choice that you did. You are not wrong.

To harm Phillip would be to harm others as well. His friends, his sister, the pain you inflict on him would echo across so many hearts. In contrast, Jhonen’s relationships are fewer, and far less close than Phillip’s. Save for one...

It isn’t fair. Nor would it be had you chosen Phillip. It is simply, and sadly, the Inevitable. The sole promise that comes with life.

Jhonen...

To the investigator who never received the respect he yearned for.

To a clever boy who found the truths that others tried to keep hidden.

To a lonely child who tried to help his one true friend understand himself.

...

I’m sorry. You never deserved this fate.

>>
No. 1034696 ID: 629f2e
File 165483871453.png - (461.61KB , 1000x1000 , 136.png )
1034696

[VERY BAD THINGS have happened to Jhonen]

...

To the cursed child of Cattenom, I give to you ears that can Hear their voices. May their guidance lead you closer towards your goals.

And to The Alien, I shall Try to offer you the same. I know not what this will do to you, as you’re very different from the rest of us. But I shall try anyway.

May we change the past, the present, and our futures with these gifts.

>>
No. 1034698 ID: 629f2e
File 165483889231.png - (1.40MB , 1000x1000 , 137.png )
1034698

...

...

...

It’s Cold. The wind blows really hard up here. Mittens shivers in my lap.

I don’t really like climbing trees. Heights are scary, and I always get stuck because climbing back down is just too hard. Apparently Mittens is the same, because she was meowing for help up here when I came out to play.

Poor sweet baby. I stroke her fur, earning a small purr of approval.

I thought that I could just climb up a little bit, and then she’d jump into my arms. But she wouldn’t budge, no matter how much I promised that I’d catch her.

So I climbed higher. And then higher... And then even higherer......

I guess that was a bad idea. By the time I reached her branch, I was holding onto the trunk of the tree for dear life. The ground is so far down, I’m sure that I’ll die if I hit it from this height. My head will crack open, my brain will spill out, and then Judy will steal my corpse and use my blood for her Rituals.

That last part isn’t so bad actually. If I die, I hope it’s for a good cause. Like summoning a demon! A nice demon that cooks kids eggs for breakfast and can get cats out of trees without getting stuck in them itself.

Himself? Herself? I dunno, depends on if it’s a mommy or daddy demon I guess.

...That’s right, mom and dad should be home soon. They Promised they’d be home tonight, so that we could finally have a Family Game Night! They’ll come home, see me up here, dad will get me down with that big ladder he likes to use, and then we’ll stay up all night playing board games! Or at least until my bedtime, I’ll probably be too tired to play then.

I just have to wait. They’ll be here, any minute now.

Just have to keep Waiting...

...

Perpetuity Thread 2: END
>>
No. 1034700 ID: e51896

Good night Temmie.
Hope your tea party won't keep you up past your bedtime.
Though I have a feeling it'll probably end much sooner than you think...
That said, I hope your fortune telling is helpful for your next client ;)
>>
No. 1034707 ID: e5709d

>[VERY BAD THINGS have happened to Jhonen]
... Did you have to snip the doll's head off?
I mean, are you predicting the future, or did you just select a method of death for your little play-pal that is degradating and traumatizing to anyone who sees the headless plushie? I mean, you're at the very least going to lose your scissor priv-

>Clive will now hear headvoices
YAAAAAAAAAY
What was I talking about again?
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