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Guilleme's arguments are made from a place of cynicism and fear, not from a principled and well-reasoned worldview. And that's a shame, since he's evidently had quite a lot of time to study philosophy and ponder these questions for himself.
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Jan 5, 2017 18:27
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Chapter 8, continued Always, the love of self is first, Rosa. I don't take it personally.  Don't you ever get tired of justifying your hunger? So, Catherine wasn't perfect, yet you simply pass the blame. All just excuses! The truth is, you just don't want to stop, do you? You're no god. No higher being. You're nothing but a common vampire! A monster!Guilleme's face twitched.  Feeding on the love of the people who love you? You must know how wrong that is--Guilleme's fist shook visibly, but he kept his smile. His voice remained pleasant and calm.  So you compare me to storybook monsters now, Rosa? How insulting. But yes. Wouldn't it be easier if I dined on blood or flesh? Something tangible, perhaps. Something physical. Things would've been so much simpler. After all, if I drank blood, I wouldn't have to tangle with their lives.He turned to Rosa, his eyes burning and she could feel the heat in his stare.  I wouldn't have to be sane.Guilleme's voice shook with anger. She flinched.  You self-righteous minstrel, how dare you talk to me about guilt! How dare you call me a monster! You chastise me, singing songs of praise for the greater good. Have you ever tasted your own betrayal on the lips of the person you love? Do you know what it's like to strangle hope with your own hands? ... I look into their eyes and see them die from the inside out. Am I worth it? Am I worth all their lives? Never! But I do it again and again. Again and again. Just for the right to exist. You read my journal and act like you know me. You know nothing! I wish I was a monster-- Maybe then, I wouldn't have to feel! ...The silence reigned between the two of them.  He forced his lips into a placated grin. P-Pardon me... I... I didn't mean to shout.He took a deep breath and refused to speak again. Rosa buried her face in her hands. He was right. She had come here with an overestimation of herself. Her ethics were the cries of a child. How could he listen to someone immersed only in her own tender ideals? If she wanted to help him, she had to know his pain. But what could she say? Her mind struggled with the words. They all sounded artificial in her head. All she could do was hold out her hand to reach him, couldn't she? She could offer him hope; a little warmth away from the chunk of ice beating inside of him. She approached him, tentatively.  I-I'm sorry... I shouldn't have spoken such hateful words-- But, don't you see? You don't have to endure this pain anymore. I am offering you a different path, Guilleme. Let me help you... ...He didn't speak, nor move. Rosa held on to the pain she saw in his eyes a moment ago. It was her only hope... But if there ever was a trace of it in his face, it had flitted away before it took substance.  "Spider Eyes" by Kevin MacLeod Then his laughter filled the room; cold, bitter laughter that chilled her skin into a shiver. Rosa drew her hand away in fear.  You really don't get it, do you? I meant to say, that is what makes it substantive. It is... precious. W-What? Make no mistake, I endure all this not for something as silly or disposable as blood. Love. Love is worth all the pain. The best wine tastes like the dirt from which it was exalted.Rosa's mouth dropped in horror. She stepped away from him. A cold shiver passed her spine. No. No...!  No... Guilleme!She stared at him, grasping at the flicker of hope that came as fast as it went.  Both ruler and prisoner, both exalted and doomed.  He wanted to get out. Rosa thought she saw light in his darkness. A hand reaching out to be saved. SFX: Glass breaking  ...Where was this hope? ...It was... ...gone. Had it ever been there at all? ...Or did her desire to help him trick her into seeing what she wanted to see? Rosa bit her lip to steel herself. ... Oh, don't look at me like that. I had the same morals as you when I was younger. But time smoothes out our rough ideologies. ... I-I was wrong. I thought I could still save you-- You are quite full of yourself if you think you can "save" people.Guilleme took a step towards her, and Rosa's throat closed up.  Get away from me. I'm not going to hurt you, Rosa. If you wish to debate philosophy further, we can do so for a thousand more years. But aren't we ignoring the single, most potent truth? We found each other. So many souls running around this earth and we actually managed to meet. Do you realize how momentous this is? I can give you love, Rosa. Forget Catherine or your Mother. They are remnants of a bitter past. How long are you going to hang on to their memories, anyway? Love is not something to be thrown away, Guilleme. It endures. I know this because I've loved Mother this long, despite the pain. She was the first person to show me I matter.From under the folds of her dress Rosa took out a locket. It was the locket he had given her at the cliff.  Remember the person in the picture, Guilleme? Oh, you got it open. Pray tell, who is it? Is it the queen? This is my Mother. ... What?Guilleme's mind went blank for a moment. I've felt something for you from the very beginning. My heart felt close to you. I... I want to believe that is because we are family. Don't you see? That's why I can't give up on your redemption so easily. I care for you more than you think, Guilleme.Guilleme furrowed his brow. Indeed, the woman in the picture stirred something in his memory. And yet, no matter how much he searched his memories he could not remember. Was there such a woman that bore him a child in the past? A sudden hope dug its nails into his chest once again. He answered this hope with contempt.  Pardon me. My memory is a bit rusty. What was her name again?
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Jan 9, 2017 23:40
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"For you, the day Guilleme graced your home was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday."
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Jan 10, 2017 01:35
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Well, it's like the man says: every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness, and dies by chance.
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Jan 10, 2017 03:47
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Chapter 8, continued Rosa parted her lips in disappointment. Is that all you're going to say?! You were carrying my Mother's picture all this time! You are my father, Guilleme! That is probably why we are the same!Curiously, there was an urge to take back his haughty words. But Guilleme forced it down. This pain made him uncomfortable. Her tears were starting to hurt him.  He didn't like how she made him aware of his own failings. A sudden irritation at Rosa came over him, an itch to hurt her. Oh, dear me. Forgive my cynicism, darling.He scratched his chin to hide his distress. That portrait is quite blurry...I'm not really sure how a portrait can be 'blurry' like a photograph. A poor likeness, perhaps, or 'smudged' maybe. (I think that early on this may have been set in more modern times. That might also explain the power lines in the village seen in the demo.) ...and I am barren.Rosa staggered. How much of your Mother do you really remember? I don't remember any being birthing me, do you? ...! You must admit the possibility that this Mother you speak of-- --Was simply a stranger who took you in as her own, Rosa. Fueled by the force of our curse, she was deluded, possessive, and hysterical. I do not deny that I might be the root of her delusion. She must have searched for me... and found you, by accident, instead.Guilleme shrugged. An alternate theory, but one that makes more sense. W-What are you saying? Simple. Whoever created a pathetic thing such as me deemed it impossible to scatter my seed. It was just as well...There was a tinge of bitterness in his amused voice. After all, to wish this curse upon somebody else, my child, nonetheless-- That would make me a different kind of monster altogether.Rosa looked at the locket with shaking hands. She opened her mouth to say something, but promptly closed it. The fight had vanished from her eye. Tears fell as she closed the pendant in her fist. Guilleme fidgeted uncomfortably. I-If you want to believe it so much, then I can be your father if you so wish.Why did he say that? He admitted that he didn't expect the words to come out. He was only mulling it over in his mind, looking at her dejected face. It was pity, wasn't it? A favor out of pity for this poor, lonely girl? Or was it...Penance? ...I don't mind.He did his best not to sound distressed. Perhaps a part of him wanted it to be true. Guilleme looked at Rosa and felt the same stirring of affection he had for her through the years. It wouldn't be much of a stretch, would it? He could protect her and care for her, like a real father would. Hope began to sprout in his heart again. That dastardly thing grew like a weed. It veered dangerously close to breaking through his pride. Wouldn't it be a miracle...  Exactly how a child would look up to their parent...what a nice sentiment. By this time, Guilleme was already well acquainted with the dying screams of hope. He knew which soft, secret places to push in order to kill it.  ...You don't deserve that. Of course, of course.Guilleme laughed, almost a bit too loudly. Rosa winced. ... Don't look so troubled, my daughter. We're family, aren't we? Enough of such moody, sentimental topics. They bore me. Instead, why don't we start thinking about possibilities? Guilleme, please...She was still bent on changing his mind, but Guilleme could tell her resolve had all but fizzled out. Oh, again? You still haven't given up? I'll admit, you have some spirit. It's admirable that you'd go to such lengths for me. I mean it when I say I'm honored. But you are so naive. Tragedy is everybody's friend, Rosa. If you stay with him too long, his smell will linger on your skin. I don't care much for tragedies myself. I am more interested in opportunities. And what we have right now is a dawning. A beginning.Guilleme stepped closer to Rosa, touching her cheek with his palm.  ... Aren't you glad you found me? ... You're not alone anymore. We are blood. You don't have to hide and cower, to subject yourself to the motions of this cruel life. Enough of this fascination for glorified sacrifice. ... Come with me.Rosa stared up at him. …What? Come with me, Rosa.He repeated his words with a cheerful smile. Let us leave this place and go far away! Start over. Doesn't that sound grand? ... It's about time you let go of the bad memories and face something new. Don't you think you owe yourself that much? And what of the victims you will continue to take, Guilleme? What about them? What about them? I care little for strangers. It is you I want to make happy, Rosa. Please let me. I need you, as much as you need me. ... M-Mother...? I need you right now. Please let me hear your voice.She struggled with the pain in her heart. She was freefalling. Mother...
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Jan 16, 2017 20:54
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It'd be interesting if we actually got to speak up again at this point, but I doubt it's going to happen.
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Jan 17, 2017 14:06
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Can we stab daddy and take his stuff yet? I'm happy to see Rosa taking the decision so seriously though.
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Jan 18, 2017 09:41
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RA Rx posted:Can we stab daddy and take his stuff yet? Alright, let's do it.
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Jan 20, 2017 20:06
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To hear her Mother's voice... She had always been the ground she stood on. Both the pain on her bare feet, and a place to stand. Whether she walked or chose to fly, that ground would be there when she landed. Such was the role of family. It didn't matter if she was her real mother or not. What mattered was the love she gave her. The memories were real. She was... Rosa's jaw clenched. She tasted the caustic realisation in her mouth. …? He looked down. There was a knife sticking out of him. The knife Rosa had stolen from the kitchen.  ... I'm sorry.The blade clattered to the floor. Rosa's lip quivered. B-But I have to make this right.Guilleme's body lost all strength. He slumped on the floor, blood staining his shirt red. He just laughed in amusement. Oh, you stupid girl. So, t-this is your response to my generous offer? Ugh, how trifling. I expected better from you.Guilleme winced in pain.  Been a while since I was s-stabbed... ...She knelt beside him. She didn't speak at once. That wound will not heal like the others, Guilleme. ... Oh? I-I... must end it here. For Catherine. For Mother. For all your victims... For you... I have to do the right thing.She said this aloud, but she only half-believed it. The right thing... hm? Was there such a thing? Rosa reveled in this confusion. The least she could do was carry the burden of her choice for the rest of her life, instead of forgetting. She had considered simply leaving him, unchanged and a prisoner of his own twisted ideals. She still could. If she reversed the spell now and allowed him to heal, then he would survive. Young, powerful, and healthy, but unchanged and carrying the same shadow in his heart. She had tried, hadn't she? Whatever he did next should be none of her concern. There was a pinch in Rosa's chest. ...But to know that she doomed him to make the same mistakes forever. To stop caring about him and degrade him into nothing but a failure. It seemed crueler somehow. It would make her... like him. Guilleme sat up wordlessly, his back pressed on the wall. This pain was different. The blood hadn't stopped leaking from his chest. He coughed, and liquid flooded his lungs. It was getting harder to breathe. A part of him wanted to ask how she had found a way to kill him. It seemed quite pointless now, a waste of precious breath. He sat there bleeding, willing himself to anger. He thought of threatening her, demanding her to do something. But he didn't. He was surprised to find something else in his heart.  "Sekiryou" - Yasupochi (apparently inspired by artwork of that name, which means 'loneliness', but the link to the image is dead) [direct mp3 link] Rosa held Guilleme's hand as the blood continued to pour out of his wound. Dimly, Guilleme reflected that she really did have spirit. The courage to do what he could not. He used the last of his strength to lift up his hand and wipe away her tears.  Don't cry. ...I'm fine with this.His hand lingered on her face for a while. He searched his heart for anger, for bitterness for this girl. But there was none. How curious it was to feel the steel in his heart and yet no hate for its wielder. How curious it was to know that this was all an act of love. Rosa... You are an anomaly. You confuse me. Maybe if he had listened, would he have--? Maybe she was right. He could change. ... But it was too late for him, wasn't it? It had been too late for him decades ago. Long after he had degraded life, including his own, as pointless and petty. That was the only regret.  I wish... I wish we had met sooner.He took a deep breath. The pain in his chest throbbed with every breath. Still, it was only a distant buzzing in his mind. The pain was simply white noise. Rosa held his hand tighter.  I-I'm sorry... I-- Apologizing again? I thought I've... m-made myself clear with that.Guilleme coughed and tasted metal in his mouth. He chuckled and wiped it away. Rosa... I was never strong enough to endure this life... ...But it looks like you are... ...That's good... ... You'll stay with me for a while, won't you? P-Please? Yes, Guilleme. ... T-Take my journal with you. It might help. I would still... wish for you to start anew. Board the ship... the papers... Take the money in my office. ...Use it to build a new life. ...Guilleme coughed out red flecks of blood. He swallowed, and his throat felt like it was on fire. He had a lot more to say, a lot more to tell her. He tried to speak as clearly as he could, despite the bulge climbing up his windpipe. Avoid... small towns. They don't take to strangers kindly. You'll stick out... like a sore thumb. Always present yourself... as nobility... or a person of influence. Give people another reason to think you're desirable. Otherwise, they will... fear and hate you... confused... by their own urges.His breathing was getting erratic. Also, remember to-- Shh... Please rest now.Rosa smiled sadly.  You are still so generous... even if you are like this.Guilleme smiled. ...Like what?He chuckled at the memory.  ...Generosity is the only saving grace of the dying. ...Or a parent, I suspect. ... I'm happy I found you, Father. Likewise... The last... few years I have spent with you were my happiest.Guilleme stared at her, his vision clear now. He pushed a strand of hair away from her face and touched her cheek fondly. ...My daughter.Rosa's eye filled with tears at this. You are... beautiful. A-At the end, I... I got to meet you. To know that... something good... came from my existence... It is not... so bad. ... ...I love you, Rosa. As do I, Father. Please... Be free. He savored this.  ...Thank you, Rosa.The two of them crouched alone in a corner, cherishing each other's warmth for as long as it lasted. The candle's wick expired and the room was plunged into darkness.   Yes, Mother. I know it was hard... But all the same, I am... grateful.Mother didn't sound spiteful or on edge this time. She was simply… serene. Rosa got up, looking down at him one last time. Mother, I cannot get rid of the feeling that I should've done things differently. Should I have done more? S-Should I have sacrificed more?Tears once again stung her eye. I wish I could turn back time and change something--anything... I feel so powerless. ... I understand. Loss will always hurt, my darling. It makes us vulnerable. But you must know that changing things does not guarantee happiness. Do you understand? ... Y-Yes... Oh, my darling, I wish I was there to hold you. ... What are you going to do now? I don't know. Whichever direction you head, I will be with you. I know you will, Mother. Your presence saved me, as it always does. You reminded me that nothing lost should be thrown away. Catherine, Guilleme, and you will always be with me. I am not alone. I am proud of you, my beautiful daughter.The first rays of light slipped past the window and touched her face. Rosa left the room to welcome the dawn.  So we've made it to an ending, and we got a pretty complete one for the first time. I'll be showing off all the major endings, but each has variations in it that can alter it somewhat. Opening the locket, for example, allowed Guilleme to die a bit happier for having found his daughter (if she is his daughter, that is). Otherwise it's just a fondness of affection between them as he dies. With slightly better treatment of Rosa from Mother he would have added a line about 'your mother raised you well'. There was also a chance of Mother being cut out entirely at the end, and the final talk with her simply doesn't occur.  As Rosa was wondering about a bit too obviously, we have the option to go back and make other choices and get to a different outcome. The next run will have most or all the choices voted on, and then show off whatever endings we didn't reach the first two times. Although the next post (and later ones at the endings) will take a break and look at the story in a literary context, now that we know more of the characters.
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Jan 20, 2017 20:16
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You did alright, kid. You did alright. It really didn't seem like our sire was going to take us seriously.
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Jan 21, 2017 01:14
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That was beautiful! I'm sorry we had to do it, but it was nice of him to change in the end... Even if he couldn't have stayed that way forever if we'd healed him. He made Rosa's life better in the end. I'm glad she didn't have to steal his things. I think I'll only read the next post. Sometimes I prefer only to read my own ending.  (
RA Rx fucked around with this message at 05:55 on Jan 23, 2017 |
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Jan 21, 2017 09:14
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Not my favorite ending, but I like this one a lot. Thanks for showing this off! Rosa deserves a vacation with Guillaume's money after all that.
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Jan 27, 2017 19:15
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Now that we've made it through the story, we can see why the game has the name Cupid. While the author has stated that the characters are not meant to be viewed explicitly as the characters of the myth, this is nevertheless a story that draws on the mythic tradition of Cupid, and in particular, the most famous story about Cupid, which is that of Cupid and Psyche. There will be future analysis posts comparing the story in the game to they myth, as well as other retellings and traditions, because I think it there are some interesting influences to be seen. It also makes for a nice break in between endings of the game. For this update, I'll simply tell the story of Cupid and Psyche, as related by Apuleius. Apuleius was a North African writer who lived in the 2nd Century under Roman rule; he wrote in Latin. His most famous work is the 'Metamorphoses', also known as 'The Golden rear end' (a name that was used by St. Augustine to refer to it). The story of Cupid and Psyche appears smack in the middle of the story. While the rest of the book takes place in the then-present-day Roman world, this section is narrated by someone else as a tale told to them, clearly as a myth. It has a tendency to jump around with locations and characters, and delves into allegory and symbolism quite often as well. This is not the oldest version of this myth and not the only one that uses these characters; even in Apuleius's time there would have been a variety of stories told about them, and they are easy to read as symbolic forms. Cupid, of course, represents love, and Psyche represents the soul (which is the meaning of the name in Greek). Not all later versions of the story derive from Apuleius. This story is the first major telling of it, however, and by virtue of its age it may well be the most influential in Western culture. The Tale of Cupid and Psyche There was once a king and queen who had three daughters. The elder two were indeed beautiful, but the youngest, who was named Psyche, was so perfect in her appearance that anyone who saw her was struck into a reverie by her beauty. People came from far and wide just to look at her, and some even began to worship her as if she were the goddess Venus. Venus herself, once she got wind of this (and also having noticed that visits to her shrine had gone down as of late), flew into a rage. She ordered her son, Cupid, to punish the girl for her insolence. She told him to make it so that Psyche would fall in love with some vile creature, something so disgusting that all would end up hating her for it. For her own part, Psyche actually despised her circumstances. She could hardly go anywhere without worshippers falling down around her. Because her beauty was so great that she was regarded with religious reverence, there was no one actually willing to propose to her. Once her sisters had been married off to foreign princes, her father the king decided to consult the oracle at Delphi to discover Psyche's fate. But what he heard filled him with despair, for the oracle told him this: "Outfit your daughter for a wedding, and then leave her on a mountaintop. No human husband will be hers, but instead one that is wild and cruel and viperous — a winged creature that menaces the world with fire and steel; Jove himself trembles, and all in heaven and in the underworld are terrified." All the royal family was in mourning as they prepared Psyche for her 'wedding', but the divine instructions could not be disobeyed. They led her up to the mountain, and as they continued to cry Psyche berated them, pointing out that her fate had been sealed as soon as people began to worship her as Venus. Her family ought to have mourned for her back then, because inciting the wrath of the gods always leads to the ruin of humans. She was now prepared to meet her destiny; there would be no point in running from this creature since it had been said to be something that could destroy the world. Once Psyche's family left her, she stood alone on the mountaintop. Then Zephyr, the gentle west wind, picked her up and carried her down into the valley below the mountain's face. Once there, Psyche found a pleasant green meadow, and came across a marvelous palace. Finding the place to be totally unguarded, she hesitantly entered, and discovered the palace to be filled with unimaginable wealth in every room. Then an unseen voice spoke to her, addressed her as "Mistress" and informed her that everything in the place belonged to her. The invisible servants provided her with food and whatever she needed, and eventually as night approached they led her to a bedchamber. In the dark of the night, her husband entered the room and climbed into bed with her. He consummated the marriage, but then left before the dawn arrived. Much the same thing happened the next night, and for some time her life continued in this way. In the daytime, she was free to wander the palace, with only the unseen servants as company; at night, her husband would share the bed with her. But he would always leave before the sunrise. One night her husband spoke to her, telling her that her sisters, believing her to be dead, were planning on coming to the mountain to pay their respects. He gave her a warning, saying that if she were to try to contact them, it would likely bring ruin upon their marriage. This only upset Psyche more, and she lamented that she was never allowed to see another person, and desired greatly to comfort her grieving sisters. Finally her husband relented, and allowed her to meet with them. But he warned her another time, telling her that she must not heed any advice from her sisters, and furthermore, that she must never try to get a look at him in the light. Psyche assured her husband that she would not betray him, and would never want to upset their happy life together. She went to the mountaintop and found her sisters there weeping for her. Their tears turned to joy when they discovered her to be alive. The three then travelled on the wind back down to Psyche's palace, and the sisters marvelled at the finery on display. Rather than tell the whole truth, Psyche made up a story about her husband being a handsome and strong young man, who spent the days hunting around in the countryside. She was nervous about them finding out anything more about her situation, and so she sent them on their way with gifts of gold and jewelry from the palace. Her sisters perceived Psyche's behavior as aloof and rude, as if she had been eager to get rid of them because she now found them inferior to her. They also suspected that since she was living in such a fantastic palace, and even was starting to look more like a goddess than she had before, that somehow she was now actually married to a god. When they compared her circumstances to their own, envy began to get the better of them, and together they resolved to find some way to ruin her. For a start, they informed no one else that she was alive, and Psyche's parents continued to mourn for her. Not long after, Psyche's husband brought her another warning. He told her that she was now in greater danger than before, and that when her sisters returned, she must not even speak to them again. She must do this, he said, for the sake of their family — and by this he meant that she now carried his child. He told her that if she remained silent, the child would be born as a god, but if she broke her promise, the child would be a mortal. Psyche was overjoyed to think that she soon would be a mother, and all other concerns left her for a time. Months went by and she could feel the baby growing inside her. But one day her husband told her again that her sisters were plotting great evil against her. Her ordered her to have no contact with them. Psyche pleaded with him to allow Zephyr to bring them down into the valley, if only so that she could see a familiar human face once more. Her entreaties softened his stance, and he reluctantly allowed this to happen. The two sisters returned and the warm wind carried them down to the valley. They then rushed inside the palace and found Psyche. Concealing their treachery, they embraced her and congratulated her on her pregnancy. Psyche allowed them to stay for even longer this time, but made a critical mistake: She'd forgotten the tale she'd told of her husband previously, and this time claimed that he was off in another country, and that he was a prosperous and well-established businessman. The sisters returned and both noted to each other that either Psyche was lying, or was for some reason forbidden from meeting her husband. Maybe she didn't even know what he looked like. The very next day they returned to Psyche's palace and told her that she was certainly being deceived by whoever — or whatever — her husband was. They reminded her of what the oracle had said: she was to marry a wild and terrible creature. Then they told her that people in the countryside had actually seen him in the daylight: He was in truth a giant and deadly snake, who was merely fattening up Psyche so he could devour her and her baby whole. This disturbed Psyche greatly, and she admitted that she had never actually seen her husband's face. She revealed to them how he only came to her at night, and that he had strenuously ordered her to make no attempt to see what he looked like. She feared their story was true, and was now lost as to what to do next. The sisters suggested a course of action for her. They told her to take a lamp, light it, and set a jar over it to conceal the light. She would also need to keep a sharp knife close at hand. Once her husband was asleep in the bed, she should lift the jar, and when his true snake form was revealed, she must with all speed take the knife and cut off his head, before he could strike her with his poison. Psyche, at the very least curious to know the truth (and at worst, fearing for her life) followed their instructions and prepared a knife and lamp that very night. As her husband lay sleeping, she uncovered the lamp and revealed his sleeping form. No snake-man or wild creature did she see, but instead a god — no less than Cupid himself. The sharp knife tumbled from her hand as she gazed in wonder at the perfect handsomeness of her divine husband. As she moved the lamp along his slumbering body, she noted at the foot of the bed his bow and quiver, which held the arrows of love. Curious now to learn more about him, she investigated the arrows, but by chance pricked her finger with the point of one, and thus fell even more madly in love with her husband. She rushed back to the bed and began to kiss him all over with wanton abandon. Her heightened desire caused her to be careless with the lamp, and a drop of hot oil fell upon the sleeping god; he immediately awoke. Without a word he swiftly spread his wings and flew out of the palace as she grasped desperately after him. He did not abandon her right away, but out of love stopped in the top of a tree to speak to her once more. He told her of how his mother, Venus, had ordered him to punish her by forcing her into a horrifying marriage with a some vile beast. Cupid had in fact shot himself with his own arrow, and taken her as his wife instead. If only she had heeded his warnings, they could have remained happy as they were. Now, sadly, he would have to leave her, and that said, he took off and up into the sky. Initially she was ready to kill herself, and jumped into a nearby river hoping to drown. But the river, afraid to allow the wife of a god to die, instead deposited her on its banks, where she revived. Psyche wandered for a while, not sure of where she was, until she came to a city as night was falling. As luck would have she found the city to be ruled by one of her brothers-in-law. She was taken to her older sister, and told her that she had done as they had suggested to reveal the truth about her husband. She'd discovered that her lover was no feral snake-man, but in fact the god Cupid. She went on to say that because she had betrayed his trust, her husband had rejected her. But then Psyche added, as a trick, that he now wanted to take one of the sisters as a bride instead. The jealous sister jumped at the chance to wed a god, and informed her own husband that Psyche had arrived with the unfortunate news that her parents had died, and she must depart immediately. Quick as she could she made her way to the mountaintop. But when she jumped off the cliff and called for Zephyr to carry her to her new lover, the wind was nowhere to be found. She perished on the jagged rocks below. Psyche then went to her other sister, and told her the same story of how Cupid had rejected her, and how he was waiting now for one of Psyche's sisters to come to him as a replacement wife. Needless to say this sister met the same fate as the other one on the rocks below the mountain. By this time the news had reached Venus that Cupid had somehow been injured (it turned out the burn from the oil was rather serious). One of her attendants mentioned to her how he had lately been rather taken with some girl named Psyche. This enraged Venus, as she wondered if her son had ignored her commands and simply thought his mother had been pointing out girls for him to date. She found him and railed at him, calling him worthless and insinuating that she could get a better son by adopting one of her slaves to do his job. She even complained that his father Vulcan never paid any support for him. Cupid for his part bore this abuse in silence. Venus went out to complain to the goddesses Ceres and Juno, and she told them that they must help her find Psyche so that she could have her revenge. Ceres and Juno seemed a bit unsupportive; they told Venus that her son was getting old enough that it's no surprise that he would start chasing after young women. Venus is insulted at this and returns to her home in the sea. Psyche now wandered the land and came to a temple on a mountaintop. She entered it in the hope that just maybe Cupid (or someone who could assist her to find him) would be there. It turned out that Ceres was there, and though she felt sorry for Psyche, she told the girl she cannot offer her protection for fear of offending her sister Venus. Likewise Psyche entered a temple of Juno. The goddess turned her away as well, and even gave a legal reason - offering Psyche asylum would be as though holding a runaway servant without informing their master. Venus in fact pursued this legal angle, and asked Mercury to announce a reward for her discovery and capture, and told her to spread a description of Psyche's appearance far and wide so that nobody could offer her protection. Psyche, however, had already decided to man up* and confront her mother-in-law directly. She knew that no one would give her protection, so facing up to the angry goddess would be her only choice. She also held out a faint hope that she might even be able to see her husband at his mother's house if she went there. [* The phrase used there is that she would need a 'masculine spirit'.] When she arrived at the dwelling of Venus, she was accosted immediately by the housekeeper and dragged before Venus. The goddess asked her if she'd finally deigned to come visit her mother-in-law, or if she was just there to see her "husband". She then turned Psyche over to her handmaidens, Care and Sorrow, to be tortured. While those two tormented the girl, Venus regarded Psyche's pregnant belly and told her that she considered the child to be a bastard. The marriage to her son would be completely illegitimate, as it had taken place far from any witnesses and without the consent of his father. Venus went on to beat up Psyche and tore at her hair and clothes until she was a complete mess. She then told her that, since she was so ugly, she would have to earn her position as daughter-in-law by hard work. The goddess threw together a pile of seeds, grains and beans of all types. She commanded the girl that she must sort each of them into a pile of their own by evening, and then left the pile in front of her. Psyche was in shock from the horrible treatment she had received, and simply stared at the vast mixture that she knew would be impossible to successfully separate. But just then a passing ant saw her, and went to the rest of the ants, pleading with them to have pity and come to the aid of the wife of Love. The ants gladly came to her assistance, and in a short time the entire pile was sorted by a myriad of the six-legged creatures. Venus returned to find the work completed, and was only the more angry at Psyche. She knew she could only have accomplished the task with outside help, and felt that it must have been Cupid who had aided her. For indeed Cupid was in the same house, but his room was guarded, both to protect him in his convalescence but also to keep him from seeing Psyche. The next morning Venus brought Psyche to a wood near a river, and told her that sheep with golden fleece came and grazed there, with nobody guarding them. All that was required of Psyche was to bring her mistress some of the golden wool of those sheep. Psyche left her, intending not to get any wool at all but in fact to just throw herself off a cliff into the river. But before she did so, a grass reed spoke to her, and told her she ought to stay alive. The reed then told her how she could accomplish Venus's task. The sheep were far too dangerous and wild to deal with directly. Instead, she should wait until after they had come through the forest, and were resting calmly near the cool river. At that time she need only gather the wool that had been caught on the low brush in the forest. The distressed girl decided to follow those instructions, and in short order was able to deliver a heap of golden wool to Venus. The goddess was all the more displeased, and once again accused Psyche of receiving help from her lecherous son Cupid. She set yet another task for Psyche: This time she must go to a steep nearby mountain, where the spring of the River Styx was to be found, and retrieve a jug of that freezing-cold water direct from the source. Psyche made her way toward the mountain, but as she approached she began to see just how impossible this task was. The spring came forth from the top of a sheer rock face, and plummeted to a deep chasm filled with jagged stones. To make matters worse, deadly serpents slithered all around the rock walls. Even the water seemed to be crying out to her to turn back and depart that dangerous place. Far overhead the eagle, the bird of Jupiter, spotted the girl trying to find a way to get past these insurmountable obstacles. Remembering that long ago he had once performed a service for Cupid, the noble bird descended to see if he could now help the wife of that god. The eagle spoke to Psyche, telling her that she would be truly foolish to attempt to get close to the spring, or even to touch the waters of the river, as even the gods themselves were intimidated by it. Instead the eagle took the jug, flew up between the rocks and dodged the serpents, and filled it up with the cold spring water before bringing it back down to Psyche. When Psyche returned with the water so soon after she had been sent to retrieve it, Venus was still angrier. She declared that Psyche must be a witch, for there could be no way for her to accomplish these tasks so easily. Thus she gave the girl one final task. She presented Psyche with a small casket. This casket she must take to the Underworld, and once there she must go to Proserpine. She must then make a request that Proserpine put some of her divine beauty into the chest, to lend to Venus, for she had used up her own while caring for her ailing son. Psyche now knew she was beaten, and went to the top of a nearby tower to throw herself off of it. But with divine inspiration now the tower spoke to her. If she was going to kill herself, she'd end up in Tartarus anyway, but could never return from it. She ought to at least make the attempt to get in by some alternate route, and with luck, she'd be able to come back as well. The tower explained to her that near the city of Sparta, in Greece, there was a passage that would take her down to the underworld, straight to the palace of Orcus where Proserpine resided. That was the only route by which she could enter alive, but she needed to take some things with her in order to pass safely: Two barley cakes soaked in wine and honey, and two coins, carried in the mouth. The first would allow her to pass by the three-headed guard dog at the gate to the palace, and the second would be required to pay Charon, the ferryman of the river of death. She needed to use one of each on the way in, and also on the way out, or she would never leave that place. The tower also told her that she would no doubt encounter other people along the way asking her to help them, or to get her to give up those precious means of payment. All such things she must pay no heed to, for they would merely by tricks of Venus, who would surely be hoping that the girl would stay stuck in the depths of Tartarus. She must also take care that, even though Proserpine would welcome her to the palace and offer her a soft seat and a friendly meal, that must be declined: She would need to sit on the floor, ask for some simple bread, and then inform the goddess of the duty she was there to accomplish. Once the casket was filled, she must carry it out, and most importantly must not at any point open it to see what was inside of it. Psyche equipped herself as instructed by the tower and made all haste to the indicated entrance to the underworld. She was ferried over the river by paying with the coin, got past the guard dog with the cake, ignored all distractions on the way, and was finally brought into the palace. There she sat on the ground and asked her hostess for bread. After this, the casket was filled, and Psyche walked out of there even faster than she'd gone in. Upon reaching daylight and the surface of the world, Psyche was amazed and delighted to have succeeded. But then some fit of curiosity overtook her, and she decided that she'd be a fool not to help herself to a bit of the divine beauty that she was carrying, for maybe it would be just the thing to please her lover. And thus she opened the box. She discovered nothing in it but a dark cloud that surrounded her body. She immediately fell to the ground in a sleep as of death. Cupid had by then recovered from his wounds, and he could no longer bear to be apart from his love. As his wings had been restored, he was able to fly up to escape the cell he was in, and swiftly rushed to Psyche's side. He carefully wiped the sleep off of her and put it back in the box. As she woke he chided her again for letting her curiosity get the better of her, and told her that she still needed to finish the task his mother had set for her. Then he left her to go before Jupiter and plead his case, while Psyche went back to Venus with Proserpine's gift. When Cupid appeared before Jupiter, the great god told him that, even though he had so often caused great mischief even to him by shooting his arrows and causing him to fly into passions that led him to defile himself with earthly beings, he would nevertheless offer the young god what he desired. Jupiter then ordered Mercury to announce a convocation of all the gods to make his announcement. When the gods had gathered, Jupiter said that Cupid surely would need to have the impulses of his youth tempered in some way, and a marriage would be just the thing to accomplish this. He then promised to Venus that he would make the marriage to Psyche legitimate by making them equals, and so saying, her invited Psyche to drink the ambrosia of the gods and become immortal. Thus Psyche and Cupid were restored to each other, the meeting quickly became a wedding feast, and all the gods enjoyed a good time. Even Venus danced gracefully to Apollo's lyre. In due time Psyche gave birth to a daughter, whose name is Pleasure.
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Jan 28, 2017 08:42
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Before I kick off the second run, I wanted to add just a bit of analysis and comparison of Apuleius's story to Cupid. There are some superficial resemblances, for starters. Like the three daughters of the king, there are three women in the story, and in Cupid the other two even die, though not due to malice by Rosa. Rosa is (even by common perception) the older 'sister' to the other two, but also adopted, and so treated as an outsider. She shares the same nature as Psyche, in that people are naturally attracted to her, and that is still seen as a curse, somewhat more literally in the game. She even has a bit of Psyche's personality - often despairing, but also hopeful and able to summon courage when necessary. The character of the mother figure of Venus shows stronger resonance in Cupid, although instead of being the mother of Cupid, she's the mother of Rosa, and seeking vengeance the other way. There are other traditions of Venus that the game draws on that makes this less of an alteration, though that will be in a later discussion. What we do see is that she's as tempestuous and angry as Venus is portrayed in Apuleius, and also seems to be as domineering as Mother in this game. It's not all that surprising that such similarities would persist in the story even if only partially based on the myth. One reason that Apuleius's version of the story has had such lasting impact is that his characters have felt real to readers across the centuries. The Greek and Roman gods were always portrayed with more human traits, but he gives them dialogue and interactions that make them authentic and interesting. When you hear Venus asking Mercury to publish a description of her fugitive daughter-in-law, or complain to her son about her divorced husband not paying child support, it hardly seems to be removed from the modern world. While Psyche's character seems to vacillate a bit rapidly between suicidal and determined, that's not too far off for someone feeling love for the first time – willing to go to great lengths to keep it, and greatly despairing if it seems it might be lost. In the next analysis section I'll be looking at some more modern versions of the Cupid and Psyche story (not as modern as this game, but certainly modern relative to the Second Century). We'll see that each age seems to adapt the characters for the story it wants to tell, as well as for that era's perception of love and its relation to the human soul. Cupid, Run #2 We're going to go through the game a second time, still with thread input (but expected knowledge of how things can turn out.) We may or may not get new decision points. If there is new content, I'll post it, but otherwise this will mostly be links to the previous updates with commentary added, and it'll probably be less readable as a story than the first run. I do encourage everyone to re-read it, though, because given the character reveals, there's a lot to find by going back through it. I also expect to be able to update more often, as I won't need to add very many images or play through each segment in full to grab them. Please indicate your choices for how we'll act in the Introduction and Chapter 1 (the party at the château) In the introduction, our first few options aren't that different from what I laid out at the start. However, we have more knowledge about who (or what) she really is. We also know a bit about Guilleme, too. Generally we have the option in the intro to be mean to our daughter or more caring. We also should decide if we should guide her to mistrust others or to stick by our guidance to keep her away from harm. Also, we can start making decisions about Guilleme specifically (give an idea).
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Jan 30, 2017 20:55
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Thank you for sharing that story. I was very rusty on my Greco-Roman myths and did not recall that one at all. As for the second run, hmm. Which options would you say we ended up with last time? I'm guessing being caring and sticking to our guidance. So, let's be mean this time, and teach Rosa to mistrust others.
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Jan 30, 2017 21:23
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Klingon w Bowl Cut posted:So, let's be mean this time, and teach Rosa to mistrust others. Going with operation Stone Cold Psyche Rosa.
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Jan 30, 2017 21:41
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For the decision points, can you remind us how we voted before? I think that'll help.
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Jan 31, 2017 01:40
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Yeah, it's a good idea (especially as there aren't too many branching question routes this early, just different resulting game text for a bit). In the last run, we chose almost all the 'caring' mom options. I should have chosen one more at the end, but if I hadn't, we would not have advised Rosa to get the knife from the kitchen. That actually would not have changed the ending - she still uses it on him, but it's odd since if you don't pick one up it seems to come out of nowhere. As for our interactions with others, we were ultimately somewhat mixed between distrustful of the world and allowing Rosa to open up to people who could be friends. We never seemed to think our daughter was all that fond of Guilleme. Specifically, in the Intro for the first run, we went with 'I fear for your safety' over 'Haven't you learned your lesson, idiot?' at the start, and then in response to 'May I stay?' we said 'No', reflecting concern for her and a mistrust of others. In Chapter 1, we have the following choices and I think these don't branch, so if you wish to be precise, you may pick them specifically (vague votes are fine as well): (previous choices bolded) Are you hungry? / We must not linger. He is the same as everyone./ I do not like him. There are no more good people in the world. / It is hard to say. ->Am I a good person? Yes/No. Didn't I tell you to leave?/Didn't I tell you people are cruel? Now that we know that she might be some horrible love-vampire, maybe we hold a different opinion.
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Jan 31, 2017 07:17
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Note: In the new runs, choices that were previously made (in any run) are marked with a *. Whatever choice we make in the current run will be marked in bold. When we rejoin previously-seen dialogue, there will be a marker of ****** on a line. If new dialogue exists that is not preceded by a choice, a ******> on a line will indicate the start of it, and ****** will indicate going back to previously-seen dialogue. Cupid, Run 2 : Introduction Original Run: A Mother's Love covers up to the first choice. Nothing changes when you start another game. Our as-yet-unnamed daughter enters the church, the priest comes to help her, and then we reach the quiet moment when we first begin to guide her.  Barely a sliver of moonlight filtered through the stained glass. The girl sat alone in a ring of darkness.  . . .She opened her mouth.  No, I know. If I may say my piece, surely-- ... Yes. Yes, Mother. But he is so very kind-- Original Run: Penance covers the rest of the introduction.  -Haven't you learned your lesson, idiot?! -I fear for your safety * You truly are an idiot. Haven't you learned your lesson? You are injured because of your own doing. And you dare tempt fate again? ... I'm sorry, Mother... I just thought it better to eat and sleep first before I left. Please don't be angry. -Then stop your disobedience! -I only want you to be safe, dearest.We have the option to really run hot and cold on our daughter, which I find to almost be more disturbing than flat-out cruelty. If you do not want me to be angry, then don't give me a reason to be! Haven't I told you, time and again, that the world is full of beasts? If only you were not like this. You saw the way that priest looked at you, didn't you? ... And still, you insist on staying. Where is your head? ... I understand. I shall leave at once.****** How am I going to mind you like this? You attract so much misfortune everywhere you go. ... -This is all your fault. -My poor child. * Why must you be like this? You are a blight to my heart. I'm sorry. ...It is... It's all my fault.****** ... Mother was right, after all. She was always right. Everything was her fault. Her fists shook with a mixture of fear and conviction. She had to do penance. Mother. Give me strength. ...There is something I wish to do.The girl rose from the pew. And then we learn about the dangerous lives of altar boys and why not to keep sharp implements in the sanctuary, leading to the end of the introduction. Chapter 1 will come within a few days, although voting on our behavior is still open (see previous post for specific options.)
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Feb 3, 2017 08:44
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Kangra posted:We have the option to really run hot and cold on our daughter, which I find to almost be more disturbing than flat-out cruelty. 
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Feb 3, 2017 16:19
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Run 2, Chapter 1  Original Run: A Sleepy Chateau in the Countryside << Rosa stands outside the château gates, looking in. There are lines here about hunger that take on a whole new meaning once you know the rest of the story... >> The girl stared at the food. She hadn't eaten properly for the past few days. -Are you hungry, child? * -We must not linger. We must not linger in this place any longer. I detest it.******  S-Surely we can look around for a bit? It's still a little early...<< Rosa spies Guilleme, but doesn't talk to him yet. Incidentally, I've decided to use these brackets to indicate my own dialogue, which is probably something I should've done earlier. I say incidentally because double brackets like these are called 'guillemets' and are named after a printer named Guillaume, so perhaps the Marquis's current name is an older form. >> He is the same as everyone. * I do not care for him. He is the same as everyone. Greedy. Insatiable. Maybe not for you. But for something else.  But he is a kind man, Mother. Don't let his kindness fool you! Sweetest tongue hides sharpest tooth, child. She bit her lip. Why do you even bother with him?  ... H-He makes me feel that there are still good people in the world, Mother. There are no more good people in the world, child. It is hard to say. * There are no more good people in the world, child. The world has run out of them. All that is left are manipulative souls who appear kind on the outside-- --Because they need other people to survive. Ultimately, they only care for themselves. D-Don't you think I'm a good person, Mother? Of course I do! * Of course not! Humans are intristically selfish, including you! Why do you think I take great pains to keep you out of trouble? It's because you are like this. This... little monster. I-I'm sorry, Mother. If I have ever caused you any pain, please, forgive me.****** The girl stared at her shoes and looked around for a bit, hoping for just a glance before she left. And there he was. There was no harm in looking, she reasoned. She would never enter the Marquis' world. Let her heart be filled with hope. He turned his eyes in her direction. Did he smile at her? The girl's heart stopped. Did he recognize her? <<Next we get the three mean ladies, and then Guilleme arrives. There is another line of note in here:>> Her stomach gave a low grumble. She was always hungry, it seemed. No matter how much or how little she ate. <<The ladies taunt her until she almost can't take it...>> The girl moved away as they laughed. Mother, please save me.  Mother... Didn't I tell you to leave? * Didn't I tell you people are cruel? Haven't I taught you this, time and again? People are cruel. Now, you see it firsthand.****** ??? Hey there! A child's voice called out from behind her.  <<We meet the rest of the Perride family, Catherine gives her concert, Rosa gets adopted, and then we get the sudden jump in time to the present day, with Catherine hanging from the ceiling.>> Original Run The Party Crashers First Performance Taking in Strays e: Originally I'd misread the script, and had incorrect information here. These are the options for Chapter 2. Coming up next: Rosa and Mother contemplate how to react to Catherine's death. We have several choices to make (previously taken options marked with *) Catherine... *led Rosa astray / was nothing but selfish. We are... glad she is dead / *glad to have our daughter back. With regard to how Guilleme treated Catherine... remember the fear she had / *look how unperturbed he is now that she's gone. Most importantly for now, what do we seek to determine with the spell? *Justice / Retribution. Finally, there's the question of how we react to the throat needles ( I knew something was wrong about him / *We must get to the bottom of this). Kangra fucked around with this message at 23:01 on Feb 7, 2017 |
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Feb 7, 2017 07:51
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I vote for the opposite of what we did before.
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Feb 8, 2017 01:15
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Run 2, Chapter 2 Original Run: Absence << Rosa is mourning for Catherine, and Mother is telling her how everyone always leaves her. And we're going to be really pushing that point this time. >> I told you to get rid of her, didn't I? I told you to be wary. I knew it from the start, my rose. -She was nothing but selfish. -She led you astray. * You fought so hard. You never used to fight with me. But now, she killed herself. Your sacrifice lost in her selfish ways.****** I knew she would just cause you pain. -I am glad she is dead. -I am glad you are back to me. * It saved me the trouble of delivering you from her clutches. She was poison. I am glad she is gone.****** Your silence bothers me, child. She was important to me, Mother. I... I... loved her...Mother only laughed as Rosa screamed out her pain. << In the next scene she is awoken from a dream by Guilleme. He seems to be there to comfort her, but Mother steps in to cast doubt on his intentions. >> All she wanted to do was wallow in her loneliness...To curl up inside the hole Catherine had left behind and sleep. My child, tell me you see it. Remember the fear in Catherine's eyes in her last days? Look at how he is unperturbed by Catherine's death. * You have seen it, haven't you? She was mostly hostile. But sometimes, when her sanity returned, she was afraid. Afraid of this man! How well do you even know him, child? I-I've known him for as long as I knew Catherine, Mother. He is a close friend... I didn't ask how long you've known him, but how well! Beyond the mask that he displays in public view. Do you even know his past? Do you even know any of his ambitions or secrets?<< Mother does seem to know more at this point than she lets on. She keeps pushing Rosa to do something without revealing everything. There's a single line that gets added here because we've been mean to her, and I think it's worth noting in context. >> You never loved her, you selfish child. I've always known you were this selfish.******> You're a monster! ****** Just like your father!<< Rosa ends up lashing out at Guilleme, and he continues to try and comfort her. She remains grieving, sleeps for the rest of the day, and then wakes in the evening. >> Already a surge of power flowed within her, fueled by her grief. The power filled her up, and there was so much emptiness inside that the energy seemed to saturate her whole body. Purpose was always a balm for grief.  Mother. Tell me what to do. -Justice. * -Retribution.<< This time, it's personal! >> Start with his guilt, child. Uncover his lies. Crush his mask. He must pay for everything he has done.****** Rosa didn't speak, but she started to form the words in her mind, feeling them in her bones, giving life to every thought. << This leads to throat needles, and at the end of it, Mother tosses in a comment. We'll see the other side of that choice. >> -I knew it! -We must get to the bottom of this. * I knew it. I knew it. That man.... We must find out how to destroy him. Rosa stared at the needles in her hand.  Original Run: Accusations Abrasions Coming Up Next: In Chapter 3, we go back in time to well before Catherine's death, and find out what happened to her older sister once she started fooling around with Guilleme. After this, Rosa starts to get closer to Guilleme. There are just a few choices, although the last one's pretty important. When Rosa sees Guilleme already in the library... Leave before he notices * / Go in and ignore him. Rosa is at Catherine's grave, and Mother... Consoles her * / Scolds her. When Guilleme gives her the locket, we tell Rosa to... Open it * / Leave it be. I have a pretty good idea of how we'll play the first two this time, but as we've seen the last one can affect the ending, so make the choice now to see the later consequences.
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Feb 14, 2017 20:08
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I think I want to see the ending from opening it again first. Also god drat, I forgot how harsh the mean version of the mourning Catherine scene is.
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Feb 14, 2017 20:20
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Bonus Valentine's Update Happy St. Valentine's Day, everyone! As a bonus, here's a peak at what's actually in Gilly's diary:  Yes, this is actual bonus content from the game. Be sure to not get hit by Cupid's arrow today. Or let him devour all your love leaving you a soulless husk incapable of emotion.
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Feb 14, 2017 20:23
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I remember that! Funny poo poo. Also, if you're concerned about the amount of updates on a single page, I saw One Weird Trick recently that might help: use the test post thing at https://lpix.org/sslptest/ and then link the result.
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Feb 21, 2017 23:52
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At this point, there won't be too many updates that are picture heavy (until we get close to another ending). If people really want it, I can put them on the Lpix page. My only issue is that for some weird reason, I don't like reading other LPs that do it aside from rare cases. If these forums get upgraded, it would be nice to have some feature to deal with image-heavy threads. Updates have been slow due to the computer I run this on being temporarily indisposed, although I did cobble together an update since we don't have any major new scenes. I hope to have it up and running by this weekend (no damage done to the system, but I pulled it apart for another project and the replacement parts didn't come in as soon as expected.)
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Feb 22, 2017 22:44
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Run 2, Chapter 3 <<Chapter 3 starts off with Catherine and Rosa discussing Emilié and Guilleme's affair, but also Rosa's aspirations of learning to read and write. Emilié enters and asks for a moment of privacy with her sister, so Rosa departs to spend some time in the library.>> Original Run: Discord Looking Ahead  She was about to approach the table when she noticed Guilleme, already occupying a seat. He was writing something in a book, somewhat immersed in the activity. Rosa stopped dead in her tracks. -Leave now while he is not looking, child.* -Just go in and ignore him, child. Why are you so nervous, anyway? Just ignore him. He doesn't seem to notice you.****** Unfortunately, Guilleme lifted his head and saw her by the door.  Oh. Hello, Rosa.Original Run: The Reading Lesson Sister <<Given the way things went last time, it's probably no surprise that this scene is unavoidable. It plays out the same, with Guilleme offering to teach Rosa how to read. After that, the whole scene with Emilié plays out. Then we come back to the present. Rosa lights the candle for Storge, and we find the two of them in the cemetery.>>  The soft wind lightly blew her hair. It reminded her of Catherine and her playful ways. Tears sprouted from her eye. Even the wind... -Console her.* -Scold her. Instead of staring into space, why not do something useful? ... Find out about that Marquis! Please... Mother. ...Not right now. -How dare you talk back to me! -I'm sorry, dear.<< We're just going to keep being mean. >> Well, aren't you an ungrateful little bitch? How dare you talk back to me like that! ... I'm sorry, Mother I-I am just upset. Even in her death, this Catherine still manages to offend me! Good riddance! ...******  Rosa.Guilleme’s soft voice came from behind. Rosa glanced at him in acknowledgement. << Then he offers to let her come and stay with him, and gives her the locket. We'll stick with opening it up, which doesn't change anything in the rest of this scene. There is a minor change at the end of the chapter, since we selected 'revenge' over justice. This line replaces a line about punishment coming swiftly for Guilleme . >> The work lays ahead. To bring him down, we must find his weakness. Then, we attack.>****** Revenge will be sweet, my dear daughter.****** Do it for Mother.Original Run: The Things That Remind Us Next time, we get to the rather long Chapter 4. It doesn't have many choices, though, since it's so focused on Catherine and Guilleme. We do have a few to make. In the theatre section when Guilleme returns, we have a few choices, most of which suggest that either Rosa is attracted to Guilleme/*isn't interested in (or mistrusts) him. Then we can either tell her that... friendships don't last/*family is more important. After the incident with the drunk Catherine, we can tell her that Catherine hasn't seen her because... she's selfish/*she's repulsed by Rosa.
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Feb 22, 2017 23:04
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I like the story more when it doesn't do the "Rosa is attracted to Guillaume" thing, but we should see what the other option leads to, at least. I vote the opposite from before for all three choices.
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Mar 2, 2017 20:16
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Klingon w Bowl Cut posted:I like the story more when it doesn't do the "Rosa is attracted to Guillaume" thing, but we should see what the other option leads to, at least. I'll go with this.
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Mar 2, 2017 20:41
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Run 2, Chapter 4 <<In the present, Rosa lights Philia as she grows closer to Guilleme and seeks to discover his secrets (specifically his journal). Then we jump back to the theater, when he shows up at Catherine's big performance.>> Original Run: Performance Anxiety Guilleme turned around and walked towards her. He stopped midway and took a seat without noticing her presence. Rosa seemed deep in thought. What's wrong, sweetheart? Is something bothering you? N-Nothing, Mother... Don't lie to me. ... ...I just didn't expect to see him here, that's all. Oh, I see. It is the same problem, isn't it? - Does Guilleme's presence upset you? - Are you worried about Catherine now that he's here?* Of course, why focus on Catherine's performance-- --when Guilleme is just over there? Well, go on then, why don't you approach him? ... Ask him about his travels! His work! Tell him all about the books you've read. And then listen to him talk about Catherine as if the girl shits gold. ...As usual. ... That would be nice, wouldn't it?****** ... Oh, you are making your life so complicated, darling! Why do you even bother yourself with these people? -It is obvious he is never going to look at you. -It is obvious she will abandon you. * Do you like being so miserable? It saddens me to see you like this. He has eyes only for Catherine. Must you always impose your presence like a little dog? ...****** It's not like that, Mother. We're friends. Friends? Darling, friendship is nothing but a shallow kind of relationship. People change friends as easily as the weather. You don't even remember the friends you make at a certain age. -Friendships do not last. -Family is more important. * Listen to Mother. Friendships do not last. You always love so much. You give all of yourself. I just don't want you to get hurt. They are not worth the love you give them. ... My dear, every relationship is centered around need. They need you now... But soon, they will abandon you, too.Rosa's tongue felt bitter in her mouth. She was filled with annoyance for her Mother. Wasn’t happiness as fleeting as friendship? Yet it was not any less real than sadness. ******<< In the first run, when we chose 'family is more important', there were some additional lines in here about the value of family. These friends... These were people who accepted her. They shared laughter and tears, their own regrets and dreams. What more was needed? Rosa's confused feelings began to arrange themselves neatly in her mind. Guilleme and Catherine's happiness was important to her. That was the main thing. She knew they felt the same way for her. Her insecurities were real, but they were insignificant. If anything, they were bittersweet. She had no regrets. For the first time in her life, she wanted to talk back to Mother. She bit her lip, quelling the nerves as she opened her mouth to speak. I-I know that. >>******* I know that Catherine matters more to him than I do.******* I know they might abandon me one day for whatever reason. It might be today or next year. Or even sooner. But that doesn't matter in the long run. I am happy with them. We've had years together that I will treasure.<<The entire rest of Chapter 4 plays out as before. That includes the incident in which Rosa gets her first taste of Catherine (and I suggest re-reading it, now that we know what the feelings Rosa had truly meant). After that there is the lengthy scene with Catherine and Guilleme, leading to Catherine's breakdown. At the end of the chapter, we have the choice of how to respond when Rosa is wondering why Catherine has refused to see anyone. >> Original Run: Winning the Audience On Bended Knee The Dance of Love A Nice Feeling <- where the scene with Catherine and Rosa begins Uncomfortable Intimacy Touching and Tasting Silent Contrition Rejection? Secrets Desire Change Consummation -She is selfish just like everyone else. -She is probably repulsed by you. What did you expect? After what you did to her, you little monster! Of course she will avoid you like the plague.<<Nothing can change Catherine's fate, sadly. Chapter 4 ends on the melancholy note of Catherine's impending suicide. >> Original Run: Repulsion Downfall In Chapter 5, we will still see the scenes from childhood (those are unlocked because we chose to open the locket). The major decisions we have: When Rosa vacillates on actually killing Guilleme, do we... accuse her of fancying him/remind her of why he deserves it*? The other big choice is whether to take the dagger/key* when sneaking into his room. Kangra fucked around with this message at 21:05 on Mar 6, 2017 |
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Mar 6, 2017 20:59
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Definitely continue the opposite policy here. Might as well continue going full Rosa fancying Guilleme, and take the dagger 
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Mar 6, 2017 21:40
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Agreed.
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Mar 7, 2017 01:37
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Run 2, Chapter 5 << Since we did open the locket, we get the flashback to Rosa's childhood. When Mother begins to abuse Rosa, the language is slightly harsher. >> Original Run:A Rose  Do you have any idea how much I've sacrificed? What have I wasted my life for?>>****** To be stuck with a filthy monster who betrays me every chance she gets?****** I have told you time and again! Do not disobey me! M-Mother!<< We've changed our reason for getting Guilleme, so the end of the scene and transition out of the flashback are different. >> When the time comes, and you meet a demon like your Father...>>****** You'll take revenge for me.Original Run: A Child << Flashback ends, we're back in the present. >>  Take Revenge for me!Rosa's hands were over her head. She pressed herself into a corner, panting. She had never heard Mother this loud before.  ****** This one was so loud, it rattled around her skull and made her vision blur.  M-Mother…<< Shortly after that, Rosa has second thoughts about carrying out this plan. She doesn't want to kill. >>  I don't want to.Her voice shook.  I don't want to kill him, Mother. I don't want to kill anyone, please. Is this cowardice or stupidity? -You fancy him, don't you?  -You hate him, don't you? * Or, maybe…The voice pewtered out into an abrupt, chilly silence. Rosa waited, sweat dripping down her brow. I knew it. You fancy him, don't you? YOU FILTHY WHORE! I-It's not like that, Mother! Past and present, rinse and repeat! Always, always, a selfish little girl!Rosa was horrified.  No, no-- I'm not selfish-- A selfish little girl that loves a murderer more than her own mother!****** With this final proclamation Rosa was struck to the floor. The feeling of fainting was stronger than ever. Alone in the dark she lay there, panting like a sick dog, waiting for what would come next.  Guilleme killed me. He made me love him and then he betrayed me. He deserves death. Only you can kill him. I... I can't kill him. It's what I want. ... T-That's not true... It is.>>****** You're my best friend, Rosa. Friends avenge each other, don't they?****** My darling daughter… I could always count on you to do the right thing. So kill him. Kill Guilleme. Kill him. Promise me. Make him suffer. Stab him with a knife. *laughs* Stick a dagger down his throat. Gouge his eyes out.>>****** Take... REVENGE!****** Rosa clutched her head so hard she thought her skull would burst. For a long moment, she lay as though she were dead. Five minutes, ten minutes passed. Then, in the middle of the empty room, Rosa's voice rang out as clear as a bell. I understand...Original Run:A Request << The next scene is Rosa sneaking into his room after she drugged him with a sleeping potion. Then we get to the point where she locates the bedside drawer, and must make a choice of which implement to take. >>  -Take the dagger first. -Take the key first. * It might come in handy.Rosa closed her fingers around the dagger's hilt. A sudden feeling of repulsion came over her. She didn't want to hold the dagger any more than she wanted to hold a bloody human tooth. Yet, as Mother said, there might be use for it later. She extracted the dagger carefully from the drawer, keeping her eyes bouncing between her prize and the sleeping man.  Finally, the dagger was in her hand. There was power in it, she could tell.The sleek blade glinted with a sinister wink. Rosa placed it in her pocket-- ****** SFX: Creaking sound Guilleme shifted. SFX: Quick puff of air Rosa blew the candle out. She scuttled behind the small table. It barely hid her. Guilleme had changed positions in his sleep. Now his face was in full view and facing her direction. << With this, Rosa quickly backs away from the bed, and then starts to search at the desk. >> Finally, she pulled on the last drawer. SFX: Drawer catching on lock It was locked. Rosa sucked the air through her teeth.  Of course it's locked! How could I have been so stupid!?Rosa slumped in a depressed heap. << Now, you might think that because we didn't take the key, we'd be locked out here, but ... >> Why don't you use that dagger to pry the drawer open? ...Rosa looked at the sharp dagger in her hand. The idea appealled to her more than returning to the bedside drawer to try the key she didn't take. She shivered. The thought of approaching the bed again made her stomach wind into a tight knot. She might have to try this first. SFX: Knife scraping on wood Rosa positioned the knife to pry open the lip of the drawer. SFX: Wood snapping The wood wasn't terribly thick. With a little more prying, she felt the wood give under her force. Soon she heard a snap. The drawer slid open. Rosa looked inside. There it was. In her eyes, the green journal was a treasure. She lifted the book from its resting place. It was heavier than she expected. Rosa smiled. She ran her hands along the velvet cover of the book, savoring the texture. At last! She had it! Child. Creepy soundscape comes back.Mother's voice was riddled with anxiety. Something is wrong. ...Her excitement had clouded her senses. Almost at once, she felt the change in the air. Everything was.... still. Her stomach shrunk into its cavity. Fresh sweat broke out on her scalp. This silence...It had weight. It pressed on her skin and made the air thin in her lungs. Rosa stood up. >>****** SFX: Heartbeat Another movement stirred the darkness. Were those footsteps? Rosa froze. She heard a sigh. A chuckle. A soft, amused whisper.  I spy-- --With my little eye--Her brain fired several commands all at once.  But her body was paralyzed by fear. Warm breath tickled her nape. She felt a hand reached out for her neck. SFX: Background noise stops, then a gasping sound. Rosa turned. There was no one there. She scrambled from the floor, journal in hand.  She grabbed the knob and half-expected it to be locked. But it turned, and she dashed out of the door, panting. SFX: door opening Rosa was sure that any second now, a hand would pull her back into that accursed room -- a figure would be standing there, grinning from ear to ear.  She was so sure that the words almost materialized. ... Nothing came. Nothing stirred. The room was simply dead. Rosa finally caught her breath. She urged herself to move. There was no time to linger. Despite her shaky legs, she wanted to put as much distance between herself and the room as possible. Rosa gathered her wits and stared at the journal in her hand. She hoped it would contain the information they needed. Original Run: A Darkened Room Getting Out << Thus ends Chapter 5. The alternate exit scene came up I think because we took the knife instead of the key, but maybe other factors affected it. >> In Chapter 6 we make our final decisions for Rosa. First we'll get another chance at the journal. After that, we'll be just about locked into an ending. We have several possible decisions, although not all will likely be the same as in the first run. We do still have the option to tell Rosa to destroy Guilleme... for the greater good*/for mother. [This is a chance to change our primary motivation from Revenge to Justice, if we so desire.] As for the other options, I think this is going to be a mean mom run, so I'll probably opt for anything that tends that direction. The only other possible choice is whether we want to reinforce the idea that Rosa might secretly be in love with Guilleme or not. (We may already be locked into it, or other choices we've made will override it; I don't really know.) Kangra fucked around with this message at 05:23 on Mar 20, 2017 |
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Mar 20, 2017 05:18
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Revenge and romance, I say. This is a tragedy after all.
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Mar 20, 2017 05:23
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Yeah, for mother, and Rosa might secretly be in love with Guilleme. Go full Gothic romance this time.
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Mar 20, 2017 16:44
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Let's keep going with the opposite of the first run.
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Mar 22, 2017 01:33
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Run 2, Chapter 6 << Rosa opens the journal and reads through it. There are extra journal entries that get unlocked, and I thought we'd see some of them. We didn't get any yet, however. I'm not sure if we need a specific ending, or if there's some bug in the save. If we don't see any new ones next time, I'll be sure to post the set at some point. Original Run: Unlocked Either way, Rosa still ends up discovering just what sort of creature this man is, and Mother comes in to encourage her to do what needs to be done. We're going to go with some of the same choices here, but our other actions will guide her to a different course. >>  The discovery of Guilleme's identity shook her to her core. But it also made her feel the burden of their years together. Perhaps the understanding of his pain as well.  Must we really do this, Mother? You still have doubts after everything you have learned? No... But-- This knowledge just makes me want to-- You stupid child. Can't you see it is what should be done? -Do it for the greater good! * -Do it for me! You must do it for me! For my peace! ... Is it really? It is easy to say that.... But... What do you really want? -To destroy him, of course! * -To stop him from hurting more people. Are you really this daft, child? He devours the minds of those that love him. I cannot think of a more disgusting creature. We must destroy him, it needs to be done. He needs to pay for the victims of his curse. But is it really the right thing? Is death the only way to change him? -Yes, it is. * -Maybe not. Of course it is! There is no other choice. It's the only way to stop him. He is a monster. Besides, it is what he deserves. Am I not like him, Mother? I am also... a monster. We are the same. -No, you are not! * -Yes, you are. Yes, you are, and it is part of my regret to have ever loved you. But that is why I am here. To keep you from becoming the monster he is. ... Now that you know his true face, there is only one thing to do! >****** Rosa bit her lip until she could taste blood.  But M-Mother, please... Don't make me kill anyone again. I am scared. -Don't worry, I will guide you. -You've done it before. What is the matter? Haven't you done it before? That was an accident! No. It is necessary. Accident or not, your hands are already dirty. What's a little more blood to you? T-That's not true! I-- ... This isn't right. I can't kill another person, Mother! Yes, you can. You must. To fulfill your goal, it is necessary to crush things along the way. Just remember that they don't matter. It is just you and I, forever, darling. Trust no one. Love no one, but me. Descent - JimiMod & S. LaRue. Track 1 here << This loop was in Chapter3, and in the first ending we saw. >> The rest of the world can crumble to dust. You have thought about punishing him too, haven't you? ... W-What--? N-No... How dare he put you on the sidelines? Are you not good enough to love? Am I not fetching enough? Am I not pretty enough? Why didn't you feed on me instead? No... It bothers you, doesn't it? How could you want Catherine and not me? I'm better than her! She doesn't understand you the way I do! You are... the only one I've wanted this much. Why won't you... desire me? Everyone does... Why not you? S-Stop! And just when my heart turns to Catherine, you take her away?! Bastard! You took my heart! You took Catherine's! You... I hate you! You shouldn't be allowed to exist! ... The very thought of him confuses you. Catherine and him... They are both the forbidden fruit that you crave so badly. Mother keeps you right, darling. If you kill the dirty man, then you will stay pure. N-No... You don't have to be confused. B-But-- -Convince -Scold So you are more willing to face my wrath rather than obey, is that it? What is it that you do not understand? He cannot live. You have read his journal. He is a vile, filthy insect. He has to perish. B-But it shouldn't be up to me to decide! It's not how it's supposed to--- -Believe in Mother, child! -Obey! You are such a little monster! Selfish. Inconsiderate! Ingrate!Tears formed in Rosa's eye. She grabbed her head and scratched viciously. No... I don't understand anymore! I am so confused-- Please, Mother-- -Don't cry, honey. -Stop it. You are not amusing me. Do you want to keep my presence with you? Do you still want my memory to stay? O-Of course, Mother! Please don't leave me! Do you love me, my daughter? Y-Yes. Then do as I say, my child. Kill him. Horror Ambience 45 whooshes - klankbeeld [ The game uses about 3 minutes of this track. The creator of this sound may also be responsible for one of the other soundscapes that I couldn't identify, but it was hard enough just figuring out this one.]Rosa began to giggle. Her tongue danced in her mouth. She licked her lips in delight.  Ye~s! Kill him. This is what he deserves for being filthy. I am a little monster, too, aren't I? But Mother kept me clean. She feeds me and loves me and kisses me-- Watch the pretty blood drain from his dirty mouth. Is that alright? I am a monster. But Mother keeps me right. Mother, can I please play with him a little bit? Pretty please? I want to do naughty things to him.She laughed. I want to enjoy his punishment. I hate him. I love him. Now I understand why.Rosa tittered again. I will kill him, Mother. For all his sins, he deserves to die.For a moment Rosa was shocked by the gravity of her own words…but Mother's voice came to soothe her. That's my darling girl. Make sure you make him suffer for as long as possible. All the pain in the world wouldn't be enough to punish him for the damage he's caused.There was no doubt about that. Regardless of who Guilleme was, whether he was a saint or devil…killing him was the right thing to do. Yes, Mommy dear. But I get to have fun too, right?Rosa lit Eros, bathing her face in the scarlet light cast by the candle. The night went on. The spell buried Guilleme into a deeper slumber. She brought out the dagger she had stolen from Guilleme's room.  So pretty.She played with the shiny thing whilst whistling a lullaby.  Sleep now, my precious Gilly. Dream of me... Dream, and descend into the depths of your personal hell. I hope you like your gift.Rosa giggled while pricking the tip of her tongue with the sharp knife. Let me deliver your atonement.<<We're on a different path now, but there are still some choices that we'll get to make. Next time we get to see Chapter 7. >> Original Run: Remembered Decided Kangra fucked around with this message at 00:25 on Mar 25, 2017 |
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Mar 25, 2017 00:20
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Oh wow. 
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Mar 25, 2017 02:09
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...so we broke her?
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Mar 25, 2017 04:22
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