Marionettes, Cut down all the strings, rewrite their presets

⠀⠀Haa ha ha!!
⠀⠀⠀⠀Even the figures
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀understand their roles!

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⛛

Rude entities like you get punished for the sins of others.

reference below:

niel.

Figuring its normal appearance out-!

⠀⠀Nooo!! You're not allowed to be clever-

⠀⠀Leave some fun traits for the rest of us!
⠀⠀Ha ha ha!

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⛛

⠀⠀[ CRUNCH.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀CRUNCH.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀CRR-ACK.

⠀⠀plastic always takes a while to chew through. it takes its time while it finishes, arranging the fabric behind the curtain comfortably like a nest.

⠀⠀guests always deserve the softest place possible! ]

⠀⠀So so nice! I see you quadrice!!

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⛛

⠀⠀[ it seemed to stare blankly at him, head's faux horns only wobbling with what could be read as breath.
⠀⠀considering a thought, maybe.
⠀⠀its body stretched up, fabric flowing taut, smile returning⋯ and it slipped behind the curtain. ]

⠀⠀I'll find something.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⛛

⠀⠀It's okay!
⠀⠀I let myself get beaten up in that game,
⠀⠀don't I?

⠀⠀We both just want an outcome where
⠀⠀they're happy with what we've done.

⠀⠀Where they get a choice to play around!
⠀⠀𝘏𝘦 liked it.
⠀⠀I always liked him being around, too...

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⛛

⠀⠀Exactly!
⠀⠀The same sort of joy as the outcomes
⠀⠀before they figured out you...

⠀⠀... oops! Ha ha.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⛛

⠀⠀Ha ha ha.
⠀⠀It's just a video game! I didn't make it.
⠀⠀He had fun. It's not a crime to have fun.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⛛

⠀⠀Didn't you ever
⠀⠀⠀⠀notice the manhole?

⠀⠀Hehehee! Don't worry, I love Kris too.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⛛

⠀⠀I don't know why you act like
⠀⠀you hate me.

⠀⠀You made part of the S-Rank reward
⠀⠀ME, after all!
⠀⠀And your partner loved to come by...

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⛛

⠀⠀How gracious, my favorite handler.
⠀⠀I'll find something else to chew on!

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⛛

⠀⠀[ clink-clink.. what a pleasant sound. it silently observes from the dark corner of the room, inwardly nurturing the sparks of surprise which felt so unfamiliar.

⠀⠀fabric slithered along the floor, startling a hidden croak from a sealed bin to scare it across towards her. just to watch. ]

⠀⠀Hehehhh!! Awww!
⠀⠀Do you have anything else to eat?

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⛛

⠀⠀We both just want something better,
⠀⠀don't we?

⠀⠀And I don't judge anything
⠀⠀that happened.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⛛

niel.

Figuring its normal appearance out-!

Your head is on my hotplate, paired with a glass of wine.

⠀⠀[ it watches, of course it does. it's always been able to see through the screen.

⠀⠀the two had played around before. to flip like a switch in how she treats it.. the mantle holder could only wonder if she'd remembered something.

⠀⠀so it snaked along when she left. following. ]

⠀⠀Tssst. That Pippins.
⠀⠀From friendly and comfortable
⠀⠀to anxious and nervous...

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⛛

⠀⠀[ there's a genuine jump- its fabric bounced in surprise before brightly giggling. ]

⠀⠀Oh, don't worry yourself.
⠀⠀If I wanted to break it, I'd do worse.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⛛

⠀⠀[ down drips the coffee... it's faster, that's for sure. a benefit of magic. ]

⠀⠀Mnnnn. Nothing.
⠀⠀Thank you! Even though you hate me.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⛛

⠀⠀[ MUNCH. the vegan but bloody-looking steak was good enough. ]

⠀⠀So nice!

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⛛

⠀⠀Kris?? Kriiiiiis???

⠀⠀Can I have a snackie treat please?
⠀⠀For being a useful Mantle!

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⛛

⠀⠀Thank you!

⠀⠀.. You don't need to be so scared.
⠀⠀I'm not like Tenna. I don't throw a fit.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⛛

⠀⠀... I like it.

⠀⠀The name and the game.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⛛