"We should ban popcorn. Oh, ice cream, so that's what that kid was crying about… Just eat it!" Pierrot grumbled, sweeping the floors, cleaning the benches, and the only one left to clean up today! Fun…
The tent was empty, safe for Pierrot and this black haired adult with and two unusual red eyes and a clipboard. Writing things down with a very inquisitive, if goofy look on his face.
"Hey, mister. Show's over."
"I know." *Scribbles*
Pierrot puffed out air, resuming cleaning.
A few minutes later the adult walked up to the tent's owner.
"Miss Pierrot, I assume?"
"Did you not just watch the show?" She sighed, shaking this stranger's hand.
"Ha, that was funnier than the comedy act half the bird did. My nephew likes you a lot. I'm Mr. Needlemouse. And I'm her-"
*Snnnnoooooooooooooort* "Hahahahahaaaaaaaah! Hahahaha, Needlemouse? Pfffffffffffffffffft!"
The man crossed his arms, so annoyed he dropped his professional behaviour, clearly not the first time he dealt with this. Will he ever learn not to start with that? "Look, I didn't get choose my last name… I blame great-great-etc.-gramps for that."
"I'm dying, aaaahahahafufufu!"
"You done?"
"Yeah? Just use your first name, and I should be okay. *Suppressed snort*"
"I'm Stan."
'Stan? That's an uncommon name. Any connection, I wonder?'
"Dr. Mayor von Frankenstein has sent me for inspection. To see if your equipment is up to modern standards."
"What? And he didn't lemme know in advance?"
"To be fair, he is getting old." Stan playfully poked fun at his employer.
It'd be a bad idea not to go along for Pierrot. The nice mayor did give her Primp citizenship with little effort and little questions about her background. In return, she just needs to host a few public events when requested.
"Okay, to sum up. Everything is in order asides from one of the trapeze ropes, an unclean floor, and benches. I'm afraid I'd have to disqualify you on the last ones alone." He couldn't keep a straight face.
"That joke's lame. Are friends with Mr. Amitie's Dad?"
Stan snapped his fingers and pointed at the clown. "You're good. And, uuuh, somebody has to." He shrugged. "His aura is creepier than mine. And I'm part demon."
"…Huh."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Sig's uncle by the way."
"You don't look like a demon. And does this mean Sig's literally a demon?"
"What did you think his arm is?"
"Weird? I've seen a lot of weird things."
"Pfffft. I'm just happy he doesn't take after his mom much more than that, physically. So glad Primp doesn't seem to care."
"Was his mom more?…"
"Let's just say that I had all the luck out of the genepool our generation."
Stan pointed at his eyes to the side on the ground. "Sis had it the worst…" The man's voice betrayed some even more somber implications. "Anyway, what were we talking about?"
"The inspections or Sig?"
"Hmmm… I can't stay and chat much more, I have the cook for the boy. I'm certain you'll pass. Just continue sweeping and look into that trapeze. Sig would be very upset if you were on the end of that accident."
"I know he can emote."
"Good, but probably a bit more then both of you realize. Before I make a fool of myself. You're Silvana right?"
"Yup."
"Goooood." He sounded relieved. "He helpfully doesn't give me enough context when he talks about his day. I had no clue Pierrot was you until I looked at Sig as we watched the show. Anyway… When he talks, and he doesn't talk about the bugs he befriended. He talks about his friends. Amitie, Arle, Silvana and the Prince of the friggin' Ocean come to mind. He cares."
"I didn't need the confirmation, but thanks anyway, Stan."
"No problem. All I'm trying to say is you have my permission to date my nephew."
Sil's face flushed, subconsciously showing it through her body language.
"When you two are ready of course… Heh heh." He smirked.
"D-Did you have to p-put it that bluntly?"
"I don't know, possible niece-in-law."
'Are all parental figures in this town like this? Or is it just Mr. Am's Dad and Stan?'
Chapter 26: Incurable(?)
Silvana was bummed… She thought a change of scenery for her practice would do her some good. She thought about the park, where she could show off a little.
But if anything, it made it worse. She didn't get any practice in, she found herself staring at the people at the park. Slumping forward on a picnic table. At least she could pinpoint some of what's wrong.
She saw various kids playing, parents on benches. Chatting it up. In fact, that might be Melody and Mr. Amitie's Dad.
The Frankenstein creatures were playing in the sandpit. The ghost twins were having fun with their new ghost sister (in spirit). Onions taking each other out. There a was an angry woman yelling at a crying baby carriage to shut up. 'Yeah, that's gonna work…'
"Good morning, Miss Silly."
Sil turned her head a little to see Lidelle in a good mood.
"Please keep it at Sil."
"Eee, sorry. Are you okay?"
"You tell me… Do I look okay?"
"You look desperate for some company… Mind if I join you for a little?"
"Sure… I got somethings I wanted to ask you anyway."
"About what?"
The imp climbed on the table's bench, scooting next to her classmate.
"About family… Do you have any?"
Lidelle flinched a little.
"Sorry, Lid. Touchy subject?"
"Um… Kinda? D-Don't know anything about my biological family, aside from their last name… I'm an… o-orphan."
"…Me too…"
"Is that why you live alone at your age too, Miss Sil?"
This raised an eyebrow? "You live alone? Aren't you a bit young?"
"O-o-oh. Sh-Shouldn't have…" The shy girl hid her face. "Puh-Puh-Please don't tell anyone, I-I'm actually eighteen, pretty please…"
"Okaaaaaay?" Sil replied in disbelief.
"Y-You don't m-mind?"
"I don't believe you. And if I did I wouldn't care about your age."
"Oh." Lidelle rolled with it, looking young has benefits. "Not to say I didn't have family… I've heard tales of worse orphanages, I-I was never adopted… I did find a big sis and big bro. And does Vento count?"
"Only if you want him to count, it's not my place to decide that."
"And of course Miss Ammy was almost like a big sister."
"You lived with Am for a while, didn't you? Mr. Am's Dad told me as such every I saw you in the picture book."
Lidelle gasped. "O-O-Oh, you poor thing! How much did Mr. Ammy make you sit through?"
"Enough to question my place in the world…"
"I've been there…"
"Good morning~, kiddies."
"Meow."
"Good morning, teacher." Lidelle greeted. "Uh, can you help Miss Sil, please? She's in a rut."
"Hmph."
Accord glanced at her student. "Alright." She sat on the table. "What's seems to be troubling you?"
"…" Sil turned her head not wanting to answer. Fearing she'd confess too much. "Mmm. Can I ask a question instead?"
"You can ask me anything if it makes you feel any better." Accord chuckled.
"I'm not asking you, Prof. I want it straight from Popoi."
"Nyaa?"
Accord did not expect that.
"Speak your mind, like you always do." Sil sighed.
"Almewight, but it's your fault if you call in sick tomorrow."
"Which I'll allow this time, with a little homework of course. This could get damaging. Don't be too harsh, Popoi." Accord tapped he wand on the cat puppet.
"Why do nya expect the worst from me? Ask away."
"You'd think anyone would miss me?"
"Sil!…"
"Ugh."
Lidelle grabbed Sil's arm, the clown shook in response. Looking into her eye holes. "Don't say such things."
Sil didn't know why, but the way she said it sounded hypocritical. "I'm not talking about you." 'I am, but I can't let them catch on.'
"People will meowss you. We saw last night's show. The circus would be missing something if you were gone."
Silvana had another spell of disbelief. "What have done to Popoi?" She asked her teacher petting her puppet.
"You were great last night, I enjoyed it."
"That was Amitie in my suit."
"Oh." Accord simply replied.
"Um… Sil? You're-"
"No, Lid. You shouldn't know that." The jester flatly replied.
"Meep. That's right. Sorry, I-I Ummuh. Spied backstage?…"
"No harm done, just don't do it again."
Silvana finally articulated her dilemma.
"My point is… I feel like I don't fit in… I have this feeling everyone can turn on me overnight! Even the ones closest to me." She dug her head deeper.
"That can't possibly true."
"It isn't."
"Your meowsk isn't doing you any favors."
"On stage all people see is the mask. No comment, Popoi! If everyone wants me gone because reasons, they can have me so easily replaced. I can be replaced in my own circus!" You may have noticed Sil was a bit upset. The others have noticed it for some while.
"You're being hissterical."
"I wouldn't leave sulking like that. And I'm sure the crew wouldn't betray you. I know Vento wouldn't leave you."
"Heh, if that came out of his mouth it would sound like a threat." Sil wryly smirked. Lidelle giggled a little. "I hope you're right, Lid…"
"Feeling better?"
"Not sure, Prof.. May I have another question? Directed at you this time."
"You can ask me anything."
"I doubt that. You'll probably won't gimme an answer, but is your family life like?" "That's a rather personal question… But I see what's troubling you now." "Purrhaps you could take off your mask for once and find a date, and get a boyfriend. That's what people Accord's age did in her youth." Accord blushed at Popoi's words.
"Really?"
"Yet you're Ms. Accord? I think you're telling me a confused moral, Prof."
Unbeknownst to everyone, while Accord kept smiling like usual, she didn't take comment positively. "Oh! How forgetful of me, you can't take tomorrow off. I should've informed you yesterday for a surprise exam tomorrow. Ta-da~" Accord walked off.
'Thanks for nothing, Prof.'
"So what're you gonna do? I could ask Vento to organize a talk between the crew."
"Thanks, Lid. But no thanks… I don't need an awkward talk."
"Y-You could talk to some fami- Oh, nevermind. S-Sorry…"
"Pffffff. Seeya later. I'm gonna go to the library, and maybe read up on what on what I'm feeling. Or to find something to cheer me up. Whatever comes first. Borrowing another book from gram-"
Sil had a moment of realization.
"Oh, how could I forget?!" She slammed her fist against her head once. And besides the self inflicting pain. She was hope she could get out of this rut.
On her way to the Precise Library, Sil found herself hugging Arms tight, quenching her sad mood a little. Not as much as he usually did. But she still squeezed some love out of him.
"Hmm. Suppose we're sorta family, right?"
*Monkey thinking*
"Don't play coy with me~. Gimme a straight answer."
*Happy monkey nod*
"Aw…" *Doppelganger hug* "So happy you see me like that, Army. I wish I could say the same."
*Monkey spit take*
"I'm sorry, but you're a stuffed animal. Besides I don't always wanna be seen with you."
*Monkey "Hmph" turn around*
"Of course I love you. You know how you make me feel. It's just I want someone real."
*Inquisitive monkey*
Silvana sighed, he brought up a good point. "I know gramps' made out of the same stuff as you. But you know what I meeeeaaaaan~"
She lifted her mask a little to kiss him on the cheek. "I know you do your best. I'm always grateful for that. You're more like a part of me. Like that part of me when I subconsciously dreamt up a second more reasonable me that knocked me down a peg and then comforted me. Just a little before we met."
Arms tilted his head as if to say 'are you ill?'
Sil gave him one more hug with a big goofy smile. "Eh, don't you worry your li'l head about it. You're super important to me, don't think it any other way, 'kay?"
*Reassured monkey nod*
"Good. Now back into the bag with you. Haha."
…
"Why did that silly exchange make me cry?" Sil's voice cracked a little as she still smiled.
"Omigosh, you're okay!"
Sil got ambushed from behind. Arms (as in the appendages) wrapped her own. Unable to move. "Hi, Am." She greeted with a semi-pleased tone. "Can you lemme go?" She shook her indicating what she wants. "I have a heavy gig in a few days."
"Oh, heh, sorry…"
"Neh, it's alright."
"Looks like you're okay again from your dad's final blow."
"Yup~. And you're… eeeeeeh. Your mask's on blank again."
"And it will stay this way until I feel better."
"Well, what are you feeling?"
"…A lack of family…"
Amitie was taken aback by Sil's bleak and weighty confession.
"Any idea how jealous Mel made me by trapping me in your dad's fun sucking embrace?"
"Eh… I was too embarrassed to think straight, sorry."
"Nothing we could've done about it. Mel needed her sleep… I'd share some embarrassing things if I had any. But I don't, just things that'd get me jailed. Or worse." Sil's muscles tightened a little by just thinking about it.
"Gee, Sil. I can't imagine what my life would be like without mommy and dad… I don't think I should be asking this. But what's Arle's family like?"
Silvana exhaled all the air out of her lungs. Lazily glancing at Amitie's shamefaced grin. "Don't know at this point… Haven't seen them in years. Mommy's probably still alive not sure about Grams… But those aren't my real family." Her voice got rather venomous and pretty frustrated.
"My real family are a Zombie Wizard, Bird(?) Demon(?) Wizard(?) thingy, the mirror, and the EVIL clam made the pearl whose energy made me!" Amitie cover Sil's mouth. Realizing what she just screamed, Sil looked around her with shifty eyes and a shifty stance. Both relieved no one's around.
"Sorry, shouldn't have asked. This stuff's too real. If we met when we were kids I'm sure my parents would gladly adopt you."
"Eeeeh. Not sure how to think 'bout that… I doubt I'd be reasonable. Thanks for that thought experiment though." A thought on her back burner got itself back on track! "Um…Am?"
"Y-Yeah?"
"Mel's maiden name is Nadja, right?"
"I think so, yeah. Why'dya ask?"
"I know someone else with that last name."
"Oh, really? Who?" This tickled Amitie's curiosity. She wanted to know who.
Sil made a mistake. "I-I shouldn't."
"C'moooon. I'm not stopping till you tell me~."
"…It's Arle." Sil did not beat around the bush.
"Get real."
The clown will never get used to that response. "Are you serious?"
Sil gave a nod to the surprised Amitie.
"And since you're… And Bayoen runs in the family… Ooooh~ W. I. C. K. E. D.~. That must mean we're like long-lost cousins separated by time and space? You do have family, cous. Welcome!~"
"Stop hugging need my arms."
"Sorry, cous."
"Don't call me that… It's probably a coincidence unless one of our moms came from each other's world."
"C'mon don't be like that. You said wanted family."
"True, but even if you two were cousins, I'm just a copy of her… You shouldn't even consider me." If I had a penny every time I made Sil choke up.
"Sil…" Amitie reacted straight-faced. "Can you please stop using that excuse? Both Me and Sig believe so. I can be your cousin if you want, you belong. Self-pitying will get you nowhere. Just don't think about it, cous."
"I CAN'T CONTROL HOW I FEEL, AM!" Silvana bursted, Amitie recoiled.
"Sorry, was I tactless again?"
The clown held her breath to calm down. "Yes. But I don't blame you this time. My issues are unique… My… dreamcatcher fell to the ground…" Sil shivered recalling the nightmare.
"Ah." Amitie kept her mouth shut. Not wanting to tred on a mine. "Sorry to hear that, cous."
"Don't call me that." Sil coldly replied.
"Why not? You said you wanted a family…"
"I go by the name Pierrot, Not Nadja or Rose. Anyone with half-a-brain would catch on that it doesn't make sense."
"Uh… Ffffffiddlesticks, you're right… But that shouldn't matter, right? Ribbitie's my bro, you can be my cous."
"I had enough, my head hurts a little… I'm flattered you consider me part of your family, but I'm not. Best if you forget about it. It's for my own good if we keep this under wraps, 'kay?"
"Okaaaay…"
"I'm off to gramps. Seeya tomorrow. Say hi to "aunt" Mel and "uncle" Am."
"You have a grandpa? Is it somebody you haven't talked about that yet? Or is it that Zombie, the bird, the demon, one of the wizards, or the evil clam?"
'*Mental sigh* slipped up.' "Does it matter?"
"Hi gramps."
The teddy will never get used to that nickname. Though he did put his distaste aside for now. He picked up his 'Grand daughter's' grief distorted voice. "You don't sound too good." He said slightly concerned.
"How could you tell?"
"You can't hide emotions from me, kuma! Now, what brings you here?" The demon went from loud to calm for once.
"Can we talk in private?" Sil twiddled her fingers.
Akuma fulfilled her wish, they were in his Library's private wing. Silvana was resting on a lounge, not unlike a therapist would have. She pressed her mask against her stomach. Her eyes were red. As redder than normal because of the tears, she didn't let them escape her eyes, but it did irritate her.
"Now… What seems to be bothering you, ma, kuma!?"
"It began when I was invited over to the Roses."
Akuma's body limped, and the head fell off, presumably the Poltergeist lost control of the teddy from the shock.
"Gramps!" Sil reached out for his paw on the floor, almost slipping off the lounge.
"I'm fine…" He magically reassembled himself. "Be careful where you throw that name around, ma, ma, kumakuma!"
Sil retracted her neck a little from the shouting. "Why? Does he scare you that much?"
"Everyone does. It's a matter by how much. Now, where were we?"
"Mr. Am's Dad roped me into watching Am's photo album… Since then I've been envying their family dynamic I've been denied…"
"I see." The bear calmly noted.
"I have this urge to tear upon the dimensional barriers," The unmasked doppelgänger demonstrated with a little scratch in the air to give herself something else to do other than mope. Her nose got super stuffy. "B-b-b-but…" She let out a cry induced whine. "Waaah, but Primp's the only place where I'm at home. People know me as my own person, they like me for whatever reason. Yet I'd trade it all for just to do something Arle would want!" The tears were flowing.
"I think I'm relapsing, Grandpa!" Sil clutched her mask tighter to her stomach. Before quickly putting the mask back on. Replacing it with the softer Arms for her hug thing.
"I thought as much." He certainly was concerned.
But Sil had a hard time telling for who. Her, Arle, everyone else or all the above.
"Unless Lemres finds a way you just have to grin and bear it."
"Face it… I'm incurable…"
"That would imply you're ill. BUT YOU ARE THE ILLNESS! MA, MA, MA, KUMAMA!"
This made the clown bawl louder. She just made a long sobby inhale. Turning to the lounge's back curling herself up.
Akuma cleared his throat. "Apologies for the screaming. Not for my meaning, as you should know by now."
"Weeeeeeh. I just wanna be with family, to talk out my issues. You're literally the closest I have that isn't evil or won't shoo me away. Even if you rant on my existence. I don't get many consoles that help. Sig and Am try, but they only know about condition what I know. You're really wise and know a thing or two about my origins. Is there someone else I can consider?"
Akuma took his sweet time answering. "Plenty. Family is what you make of it. The friends made in life are often closer than family. Keep in my mind that family is also not inherently a good thing. If I told who's responsible it wouldn't help much. Just stay close to the ones you know. Tighten your bonds, be happy. DISTRACT YOURSELF FROM THE ABOMINATION YOU ARE NO MATTER HOW MUCH IT HURTS TO GO AGAINST YOUR PROGRAMMING, DON'T DISAPPOINT THEM, AND PRAY LEMRES FINDS A WAY, MA, MA, KUMA KUMAKUMA!"
All the screaming didn't land. It made Silvana just stiffen up in her curled up position, shutting herself off.
"Apologies." He tried to come up with a way to cheer her up. "Would you consider your own kind as siblings?"
"Eeeeh… I guess?"
"Then I can tell you this much. But if you promise to keep it to yourself! KUMA!"
"I will…" Sil tiredly turned around.
"You aren't the only Doppelganger I let live…"
Sil snapped out of her pitying (but not her funk), she was paying full attention. "Get real."
"They are very real…" The disdain coming from the museum curator was just as real, which is very. "Within your lifetime, long before you met them, if you met them, I failed to save a certain amount of people, somewhere in the single digits. These are the last ones I failed to save, kumakuma!" "Who?" "I won't tell, kuma!" "'Kay, so much for giving me somebody to relate to… Why didn't you kill them?"
"They were good friends… And that hurts me more than anything, mamamama! They continue to be good friends. Some have noticed something was off with them, one more obvious than the other. But people shrugged it off. They're mostly harmless, but their behaviour is a bit off at times, make questionable decisions, and are delusional about their situation as expected, KUMA! But on the whole, they're failures at creating conflict between them and their loved ones. I couldn't bear to kill them off, they were friends, and useful to society, ma, ma, ku, maaaa!"
"And you're not gonna tell me who, because you don't want to upset them?" Sil figured.
"Precisely."
"I don't feel much better, gramps. I'm going home." Sil got up in a passive-aggressive mood. "That's for being prejudiced against me, as usual. Despite having friends like me." She half-joked.
"Don't give me a false narrative, you're not like them. You've gone further than any of them. It be a waste if you go down the wrong path, kuma!"
"What do think I'm trying to do, gramps!" Sil exploded. "Kuma!" She added as a flimsy attempt to mock him.
"Then go out there and enjoy yourself, kumakuma!"
"Fine! I will, mamamamamamamamamamamamama, kuuuuuma!"
"Good day."
"Bye…"
Sil tightened her straps and fixed her jacket and left Akuma's private library not changed much. "Maybe he's right. Maybe family isn't all it's cracked up to be… Still…"
"I don't know. I'd like to know what's it like."
Sil realized three things. 1) She was talking out loud. 2) Someone's listening 3) Sig poked his head out of an insectology book.
"Sig…"
"You don't look so good, Sil."
"Heh heh, don't worry about it. Looking at you I remembered something, just one li'l word that will make me feel just a li'l bit better."
"And what's that?" Sig scratched his head.
"Pfffffft. Mr. Needlemouse." To her disappointment, it didn't laugh as hard as she'd hope.
"What?" Sig kept scratching his head.
"Uh… Your last name?"
"I don't have one, I think."
"Wait you don't?"
"No." He didn't seem too bothered by that.
"Hasn't Stan brought that up?"
"Nope. Uncle doesn't talk about mom and dad."
"Why? He mentioned your mom to me and had no trouble bringing up you guy's demon heritage."
"Huh." He stared at his red arm.
Sil's negative mindset stumbled upon a solution, and she hoped it wasn't true. "Have you… Like, ever asked him about your parents?"
"Uh, no? Don't think so…"
Sil felt a little insulted at his indifference. "Siiiiiiig."
"'Sup?"
"Would you like to know?"
"I guess?"
"Then ask!" Sil grasped Sig's smallest wrist and dragged him.
"Where can we find Stan?"
"Dunno, he's goes all over town."
Sil stopped in their tracks. "Got any other ideas?"
"We could just wait at home."
"Oh!" 'I've never even seen Sig's.' "Fufufufheehee~. Let's go!"
"Um. Sil."
"Yeah?"
"Wrong way."
"…and since then I've been envying families. I might also be homesick."
"Woah, Mr. Amitie's Dad did a number on ya, huh." Sig patted her back while trembling at the thought of that man.
"It's not his fault."
"But if not having a family bothers you that much we could we not just ask uncle? That way you don't have to be the only one-"
"Don't be stupid, Sig." Sil flatly replied to his dopey proposition. "Shouldn't you worry about my homesickness?" She jealousy commented.
"I was getting to that."
Sil put her hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eyes. "Don't worry about me leaving. There's nothing there for me in my home world." She sniffed. "I don't know what to do." 'Why do I still have tears left?'
Sig, recognizing this, pulled Arms out of Sil's bag. He held him in front of her.
Sil grabbed her monkey again. "Thanks. But he isn't enough, I want a bit more." She said as quiet as a mouse.
The boy lifted his arm a little for the girl to wrap her arms around.
"Not in public…"
"Ah."
"I'll gladly take you up on that offer later, though~."
"Is Arms not doing it for you anymore?"
"Of course he is!" As evident by her cradling her beloved plush. "It's just… I just want more. Th-Things Arle wants. Sig…"
"Ah."
"If I took your arm… Sometimes. Sometimes I'm not even sure I like you on my own… Or cuz Arle likes you and wanna be like her even if I don't wanna."
"Sil."
Sil looked at him.
"Just take my arm." He encouraged. "Don't worry about it. You like being with me. And you can't help it, right?"
"But Sig, I'm pretty sure if Arle didn't like you anymore I'd irrationally feel the same…"
The boy shook his arm a little.
The jester closed her eyes and let out a sigh. "Sig… You're still naïve." She said very stony. "But on the other hand, weeeeeeeell, you've proven to be a miracle worker before. Can you snap me out of it, again? Pretty please? It all went so well until now." She grabbed Sig's with her own. Not caring who saw it. She smiled and that's all they cared about.
"Huh. I didn't expect your house to be this neat."
"Uncle and me don't clean much."
"But nothing is where it shouldn't be."
"So what should we do?"
"I could show off my room."
"Sure. Can I rest there? I've exhausted myself today."
"No prob."
"Huh. I didn't expect your room to be this lacking in bugs."
"Uncle doesn't want them crawling around the house. He's cool with everything else."
Sil turned to see his nets and pictures with him and bugs, almost like school pictures, bug wallpaper with various types on them. Various bug plushies.
"We could go downstairs again if you don't like it."
"No, it's just this is almost Dark Prince levels of… Eh, forget it. I'll just lie down on your bed if that's alright with you."
"Go ahead."
"Thanks." *Plomph!* "What should be do now, Sig?"
"Mmmm. Dunno. Wanna talk about your issues some more?"
"Nnngh. I don't wanna bombard you with them." She self consciously admitted.
*Not even a minute later…*
"Weeeeeh. My dreamcatcher fell, so I had a nightmare of everyone rejecting me as Silvana because they wanted me for who I truly am. And then." *Sniff* "And then when I woke up I immediately fell back to sleep and I duh-dreamed I did the same thing but everyone ran me out of toooo-hooooown."
Sil was crying out maskless into Sig's chest on his bed. Holding him tight, and he held her gently in return. Silently assuring it won't come to that.
Sil was far from done. She let out her next batch after catching her breath. "Uuuuh! Remember that mirror?" She wiped her tears on Sig's shirt. "The one that showed how you saw yourself in Jeanne Town?" Sil nodded. "Jen Town. I saw two five-year-olds, a young innocent Silvana, and an Arle that bullied her to be just like her! Aaaaaaah! I'm a freaking kid! I'm still what I am at my creation!"
"I CAN'T EVEN DISAGREE! I miss being a kindergartener! I missed out on so much by just being createeeeheeeeed! I didn't grow up prop-prop-perly, nothing was ever normal! Llllllliterally no positive influuuuuu-ence until I came to Primp! And I felt so good as of late, toooooo. I was so giddy a lot, actually fit for my job. One little slip-up and I'm back to square oooooone! I never asked for this. I feel so much more artificial than ever befooooore… If could go back in time I would undo me."
Sig flinched a little at her statement. "Y-You don't mean that, do you?"
Sil's grief died down just a smidge thinking about it. "…No…"
That relieved the bug boy a little.
"I would go back even further to the inception of these mirrors and SNAP their necks, doing the world a favor!" She ain't calm no more… If anything she's grieving harder.
"Want something not artificial?"
"What?!"
Sig hugged tighter and rubbed his cheek against the top of the doppelganger's head.
Silvana found herself stupefied. But when processed what's happening.
"That's the lamest thing ever, Sig. Who writes your lines?" She murmured.
"?"
"And why is it working?" Her tears were ones of joy. A good note to fall asleep on.
Sig's comfy enough to fall asleep too. But before he joined her in la la land he fished out Sil's spare dreamcatcher out of her bag, he did his best to hang it on the support of the planks above them.
He placed his lips on her forehead and made a noise with it. He had no idea why. It did make the unconscious worrywart smile, and that was enough for him to drift off with.
Sil woke up feeling fantastic. So energetic, bubbly, smart, little worry, confident, not knowing what to do with it all these feelings. She tried stretching, but Arms (the buddy) got really heavy all of the sudden.
"Omigosh! Sig."
"Hnngh."
"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you up."
"It's okay, looks like it's not evening yet."
"You're right."
She put on her mask.
"Like… Feeling better?"
"So much~. Except I'm hungry. Check for snacks?"
"Yay~." Sig flatly cheered.
"Morning lovebirds." Stan surprised and embarrassed them a little.
"Eeeee! Stan. Y-You saw?" Sil held her mask.
"Yup." He said chilling across the whole couch. "I hope you two don't mind, but you two sleeping together was so sweet I just had to make a few snapshots."
"I do mind! I don't want people seeing my face!"
"Oh, well don't worry then. I didn't get a good look. But from what I saw your face was cute. Dunno why'd you hide it." He shrugged with a face that screamed shrug.
"Oooh, phew." Silvana felt like a heavy weight has been lifted off her stress. Back to feeling good again.
"So can I use it in our picture book?"
Something just clicked. "Oh. My. GOSH! Yeeeeeeaaaaaah. Can we make some more with me?" She exclaimed so excitedly.
"Sure. So I'm guessing you're staying over, Sil?"
Sil gave it some thought. "Yeah, why not?" She winked towards Sig.
"Good, I was thinking pancakes."
Author's Notes:
Sig's uncle was another manually picked raffle, he fit the the story I was going for. After this they'll actually be raffled again. Another reason I felt like including him because I didn't make clear enough that Strange Klug and Sig's Uncle are seperate people in the Gis chapter.
Scrapped joke: Amitie (somewhere in the cousin discussion and being part of the family): Well, dad'd probably say something like: "I always wanted both a girl and a boy."
You may have noticed I spell "Doppelganger"/"Doppelgänger" however I want. But I actually have a reason for that. Doppelganger = an evil double from a mirror. Doppelgänger = the regular definition. Though I may have mixed them up every once in awhile.
This might be a weird time to bring this up, because this chapter is a bad example. But has Sil been funny since the past few chapters?
And folks, am I addicted to sadness? You tell me.
I'm at least addicted to Mario Tennis Aces demo, of all things, won 6 tournaments. So forgive my inactivity when the actual thing comes out. (PM me if you want wanna get trounced or beat me into an inferiority complex induced depression, (half-joke, don't hold back). Please have a good connection.)
I may need a break from writing in general. During the previous break I still wrote a lot. I wanna avoid burnout, I think you don't want me to burn out. And I wanna play Mario Tennis Aces. See ya when I break my promise. 8 more chapters before this act ends.
Next up: Lidelle's hypno screw up
