Carl's Choice
Later that night, Carl and Leo were going around the Melies. "We've been wandering trying to find Columbia and... nothing.", Carl says, tired. Leo purrs. "No, Leo. I am not giving up.", Carl says in confidence.
"Oh, you wanted to find Miss Columbia.", Marguerite answers as she enters. "She is to your right.", Marguerite continues. "That's-", Carl responds but is cut off. "But I heard from a little birdie that she got all shouty.", Marguerite interrupts. Carl ignores her as they go to the Hall of Lost Mascots.
"I'm taking you to see her, but after, roll the hell out of here. And you, you're going in away.", Marguerite refers to both Carl and Leo. They arrive at the front. "We're here", Marguerite says. All three stand at the gate. Leo scratches the door. Joseph-Arthur gets to the slot. "You want me out here?", he asks as he opens the gate. Marguerite nods and Joseph-Arthur shuts the door, but doesn't lock it.
"I see Miss Columbia's words of pissed-off wisdom appealed to your better nature.", Marguerite says as he observes Joseph-Arthur's clearer-than-usual blue eyes. "Come on, Leo. In you go.", Joseph-Arthur says. "Heh. Wait until they see you.", Joseph-Arthur continues.
Carl sees a curled-up Columbia. His face is one of sadness. "Madame?", he asks. "I think I should be in with Columbia." Marguerite feels conflicted. She knows that with now 3 in the Hall, one she always wanted, one she punished flippantly, and the other on his own accord, the desperateness of her condition is catching up.
"Carl, I don't want you to.", Marguerite answers. "But I do, just for her.", Carl replies. "But what she did today was insult and berate me, calling me "pissant and bitch and fuckstick." You don't want that.", Marguerite says in sincerity. "Carl, she made me cry. You do not want this.", Joseph-Arthur says in uncharacteristic agreement. "She made me cry before. And you know what she did after? She felt as guilty. I think after we split up she didn't recover. I want to rebuild this.", Carl states and rolls into the Hall.
Marguerite sighs. "You might as well." Joseph-Arthur locks the door and Marguerite turns away. She hangs her head and walks back to her quarters with Jerome. Carl stops rolling and comes up to Columbia. He turns away and finds a blanket laid out and sleeps in it instead. Carl then goes to sleep.