-Author's Note-

(Long-ish and personal note, feel free to skip if you so please)

Hiya! You're likely a new reader, but in the case where this story may seem familiar to you, I am the original author of this fic (formerly known as BakaVSAll here on , feel free to PM me if you would like proof).

This fic is rather old, one that I worked on about five-seven years ago, when I was basically a fetus. At some point, I grew increasingly dissatisfied with it, and I decided to pull it all down to give it a hearty rewrite. Fixing a lot of plot holes, replacing some of the more amateurish writing with new amateurish writing, and adjusting the absurdly high scope the original had (I planned to have branching paths and multiple endings, which became a massive mess and is also against 's terms of service) is what I aim to achieve. I do regret not mentioning this to those who did follow me, and if you are one of those people, I sincerely apologize.

Since a LOT of the fic has already been written, updates probably won't take too long (though I'm probably gonna pace myself to do about a chapter a week, aside from the first day since the story starts off slower than a snail trying to climb up a gentle incline).

Also, since I shared this with IRL folk who expressed some concerns, I do feel a need to explain the following.

First, I chose this format of a "stage play" because of the nature of the two games. Both of them are RPG Maker games, which places a heavier than usual emphasis on dialogue (especially in terms of To the Moon). Ib, the game, also has a strong emphasis on environment, and so, I wanted to improve, and slightly alter, the many descriptions that appear within the story. Second, the story will play out as if you, the reader, know NOTHING about either franchise. As a result, those first couple of chapters were just a massive slog if you ARE affiliated with either story. I promise, it does get better, but do bear with it.

Lastly, although this isn't my first time using , it certainly has been a while, so if you do have any recommendations for me in terms of tags, how to use the website, any typos, or anything else, feel free to let me know. I can be kinda dumb sometimes

That's all I gotta say! I hope you enjoy the story~

-End of Author's Note-

Act 1

Scene 1

[Neil is driving in a quiet suburban area, late at night, in the usual company car, with Eva riding shotgun. An acoustic song with a light drumbeat plays softly from the car's cassette tape. Eva glances outside.]

[The clear sky overcasting the entire town reveals a sparkling light show in the stars, with a brilliant golden moon as its centerpiece. The houses in the neighborhood all look like one another, and yet, each house has a subtle but distinct trait to make each of them distinguishable from one another, such as a mildly different color of yellow-orange paint, or the various flora adorning their respective gardens.]

[When the two doctors reach a house marked 41-527 , Neil abruptly skids towards the right side of the road into an open parking spot. Eva braces in her seat, as Neil narrowly avoids running over a white and grey rabbit. The rabbit scurries towards the house.]

Neil: [shifts the gear to park, and stretches] Alright! Got here without hitting any squirrels!

Eva: [wiping her forehead of sweat] I'd say that'd be an achievement, but this place seems to have more rabbits than squirrels. [glancing outside] Not to mention, you nearly killed that rabbit that ran away. [beat] Seriously, is our next client going to be when you finally kill a person? Will we have to alter their memories while they're covered in tire tracks and bleeding out?

Neil: [ignoring Eva's questions] Just get the stuff we need for-

Eva: [scoffs in disgust] Excuse me? You're going to make me get it? Weren't you the one to say that you were going to become more gentlemanly?

Neil: If, by "gentlemanly," you mean "awesome-and-manly," then yes, I'm trying to become gentlemanly.

[Eva covers her face with her hands, with her lab coat sleeves rolling down to her elbows. Despite his protests, Neil exits the vehicle, and goes to the trunk to fish out a sleek, metallic box.]

Neil: [struggling] I... I swear! This... [beat] THING gets heavier... [grunt] after every case!

[His breath is visible, but only just. The puffs of air seeps out with every grunt he makes.]

[He walks near the passenger side of the car, and places the box on the floor. He peers into the window, and sees Eva taking off her seat belt. Eva rolls down the window and pops her head out.]

Eva: By the way Neil, did you already finish all of your painkillers?

Neil: Ugh... Yeah. I need to go to the pharmacy later and get some more. [sighs] Man, I wish you didn't find my pills back at Johnny's.

Eva: Yeah, well I'm not the one that decided that leaving them in the car and forgetting to take them was the smartest of ideas.

[Neil cracks his back.]

Neil: Sheesh, I'm definitely gonna need them soon. You really are out to break my back, aren't you?

[Eva rolls up the windows and steps out of the car.]

Eva: That'll make up for squirting me with water during the Halloween party.

Neil: [raising his hands in the air] How could I not? Halloween's like a second April Fools! And a little water never hurts anyone, but a broken back will!

Eva: Try drowning in a lake first, then come back to me and say that. [deflates] Forget it, let's go.

Neil: Fine, whatever.

[Neil and Eva walk down the walkway to the porch.]

[The two-story house is shaded a very pristine, glowing yellow. The pathway is made up of smoothed out cobble. Solar-powered lamps eradicate the darkness and the garden is almost glimmering in the light. With the lawn illuminated, the house's distinct trait is revealed; there are life-sized bunny statues scattered along with patches of red and yellow roses. A silver convertible is parked in the driveway.]

Neil: [whistles] Man, this place looks fancy. I know the job pays well, but I doubt I'll ever get a place quite like this.

Eva: Heh, you got that right. You couldn't keep a nice place like this tidy to save your life.

Neil: Tidy enough to keep my diary off of my desk at work.

Eva: [turns towards Neil] Wait... what? [voice raising] Did you look in my diary?

Neil: [grinning sneakily] Every beautiful, cheesy word. Glad you enjoyed my prank last week.

[Eva smacks Neil in the back of the head. As Neil flinches in pain, he trips over the first step of the oak porch.]

Neil: [weakly] Ow...

Eva: Huh. I was intending one hit, but two will do.

Neil: [trying to get up] Just knock on the door.

Eva: Wait... you didn't even pick up the equipment when you placed it down! Go get it!

Neil: But Eva, that's so far... And I'm so tired...

[He lies back down to where he fell.]

Eva: Now, Neil!

Neil: [getting up fully] Fine. But you bring it back once we're done.

[After patting his lab coat of the tiny bits of debris that clung onto him, Neil heads back to fetch the equipment. Eva rings the door bell, but no sound is heard. Several seconds later, as Neil is struggling to bring the equipment up onto the porch, a woman answers the door. Eva briefly stares at her attire.

[The woman appears to be ready to go to a formal gathering of sorts. She is wearing an elegant red dress with a black camisole. She brushes her luscious auburn hair out of her face, which is perfectly tied into a pony tail. A mild scent of sweet smelling perfume permeates from her.]

Woman: Oh, hello, Miss.

[She curtsies towards Eva.]

Eva: Oh. [beat] Um, there's no need for... umm... never mind. [clears her throat] Hello, Ma'am. My name is Dr. Eva Rosalene, and my colleague is Dr. Neil-

Neil: [screaming from afar] Emiliano Rosoliano!

[The woman peers towards Neil.]

Woman: Um... what was his name, again? I didn't catch his... erm... yelling.

Eva: [rolls her eyes] ... Dr. Neil Watts. Are you familiar with the Sigmund Agen-

Woman: Ah, yes. I heard about you and your agency from a close family friend. Please, come in. I was already making some tea. We'll discuss the terms in the living room.

Eva: Thank you. [to Neil, hushed] Hurry up already!

Neil: [clearly struggling] Me... and my infinite strength... costs speed... you know?

Eva: You're not from some video game. Why are you speaking like you are?

Neil: Yet you were so content with playing the game I made to the very, very end.

[Neil, expecting a response, stops in his tracks. However, Eva turns around and silently walks inside the house, only slightly nodding her head. Neil rushes in, still hobbling from the weight of the box.]

[The door closes.]