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doodlescanjo · 4 months ago

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Hi howdy hello! I am in a isat telephone game (Specifically, the “MDP returns” chain on chipper-smols telephone game), and can now link to the ao3 chapter where my section is! I’m going to put it under a keep reading here as well, and I highly recommend looking at the other chains and chapters if you haven’t already. They’re all really good.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65503747/chapters/168609286

Isabeau let out a sigh as he pulls out the handkerchief, trying to focus on what he should add next. The handkerchief is a large thing, closer to a cloth napkin than a true handkerchief, but even with its size, it’s hard to find a section of its light cloth that doesn’t have a design already there. It’s been almost two whole weeks since they had beaten the King, and you are worried about Siffrin.

The Traveler has been reserved since they left Dormont, and still hasn’t opened up about anything that happened in the time loops. Oh sure, they’ve told you about things like hitting a countertop and making a funny noise, or how they dont hate being touched, and even told everyone about their home and how it’s gone (and boy, didn’t that explain a lot).

But still, they’re very clearly hiding more than a few things, and any time anyone tries to get them to open up about it they get blatant deflections and lies, followed by Sif looking like they just kicked a dog on accident, so you’ve decided to not push and just let him open up at their own rate.

You thought everyone else had come to the same conclusion, which is why you were so surprised when Odile chose to push them on it today.

There hadn’t been anything that made you think today would be any different than usual, it was just the regular: They woke up calm, Bonnie made oatmeal, and you are almost at the next town, maybe a day or two out. Siffrin was joking with Mira, you were listening as quietly as you could, and all of the sudden Siffrin stops in the middle of a joke, and sinks into their collar in thought. Usually that’s the end, as everyone lets the moment pass, but this time the M’dame apparently decided enough was enough, because she pushed them on what they were thinking of, and didn’t let up until Siffrin was practically catatonic, and they remained that way all day, and were still mute when they went to bed.

You shake your head, physically throwing the thought from your mind as you refocus on the handkerchief. The handkerchief is a gift, one you’re making for Siffrin, and also it’s a good excuse to get back into the swing of sewing and embroidery, those skills having fallen to the wayside back when you left the defenders without remembering to grab your sewing supplies. It's also a great way to get your mind off things, just sewing your worries and fears into the fabric hoping it will help the person you give it to. As you finally decide on what to add, you start sewing, your mind filled with wishes for Siffrin to open up, for Siffrin to tell you what's bothering them, for Siffrin’s fears to be visible.

Unknown to you, the Universe listens.

*****

“…So, I thought I should give you this! Thanks for everything, Sif. Remember, we care about you!”

And with that, he hands you the handkerchief, walks back down the hall, and enters his room.

You sigh, holding the gift. The fact that he went out of his way to make this, to make you a gift, fills your heart with warmth. Your ears are practically burning from the compliments, not helped by the fact that the handkerchief is still warm, practically buzzing actually, and probably smells like him as well (disgusting as always, huh?). You hurry into your room, quickly put on your pajamas (you didn’t use to have them, but any difference from the loops helps) and climb into bed. You consider what to do with the handkerchief, before deciding to just fold it and put it in your cloak. As you climb into bed, you feel the phantom sensation of sugar on your tongue.

You awaken sometime later to that taste on your tongue being much stronger, but still not quite burnt, and a flash of light at your window. Worried you overslept, and not mildly scared of the sweetness in the air, you try and get up.

You try and get up.

You try and-

You can’t get up. You try and push but the only bit of your body that moves are your eyes. Great, just what you needed when there might be wishcraft nearby. Sleep paralysis.

As you calm down and finally focus on the window, your breath hitches. There, slightly broken up by the frame, is a star practically identical to the one in Loops chest. Your mind whirls as your heart sings and cries all at once. Is it Loop, are they back? Why did they come back? Didn’t they go back to their family? What’s wrong? Why-

And suddenly, the star flares, and a figure materializes.

No.

No no no no nonononononononoNO!

There, silhouetted by the star it rode in on, is your darkest moment. Your worst thoughts given life, the creature your family friends saved you from, your Sadness.

Mal Du Pays stands at the windowsill, silhouetted by a wish, its expression a tired, sad derision as it stares at your frozen form.

*****

Mal Du Pays stood staring at Siffrin, silent and unmoving as the star behind it fades and the sheer animal panic in the Travelers eye grew, until Siffrin managed to regain enough mobility to stand at the ready, at which point the Traveler began to try and gather craft, energy pooling in their hand before it suddenly stuttered and faded, their craft exhaustion still making any large craft unusable. The figure still stood in silence as he began to angrily whisper at the shape in the window, mindful of the others sleeping in the next room over.

“Why!? Why the hell are you here!?!”

The figure was silent, observing.

“I’m happy now! I don’t want you here, nobody wants something like you here!” He continued.

The figure looked annoyed, yet still remained silent.

“Leave before any of the others see you, go away! The script is done, they didn’t forget me, and I didn’t let go so you can’t be here!” They said, their panic rising back over their anger as tears gathered in their eye.

The figure opens its mouth…

“…[Oh stardust~, always leaving your messes behind for others to clean, aren’t we?]…”

(No! Not again not again no no NO!)

“[Really, I don’t want to be here any more than you

do, but you just. can’t. let. go. can you? You just cling, and plead, and trick those around you into doing whatever you want using your worthless tears to drag them down with you. It’s no surprise that the only person the Universe could find that would help you, was you! Tehee~! Isn’t it funny, then, that the only time I was honest with you was when I was trying to kill you? That even you cannot stand being stuck with someone as worthless as yourself?]”

(You feel like puking. You know that it's just saying whatever it can to hurt you, but still.

Isn't it the truth?

You open your mouth to ask, beg, plead for it to stop, only for it to continue.)

“[But no, I’m not here to help you hear the truth, or to be your helpful guide to your Loops again, though I am your guide. No, stardust, I am here to guide you through being honest and open with those around you, so you stop wasting all their time and they can finally know enough to break free of your disgusting lies.]” the figure closed its mouth, seemingly pleased with itself.

As you stand there, mind reeling from its threat (you think?) and trying to figure out if that was more torment or an actual explanation, there is a noise at the door, and Bonnie steps in, looking confused, tired, and blindingly furious.

*****

You wake up to the sound of someone trying very hard to screech at the top of their lungs and whisper silently at the same time. This doesn’t work, only making what echoes through the wall sound to you like an as-matic snake, and making you want to hear what they are saying even more. You extract yourself from the cuddle pile (there was only one bed, and no-one wanted to go bother ‘Frin after the last inn) and put on your clothes all sneaky, leaving your shoes and hat to be a better sneaker. The whisper-shouts were joined by a voice that sounds really familiar, and as you open the door to your room, you can finally pick out Siffrin as the mysterious whisper-yeller. As you pad slowly towards their door, you can finally make out the other voice as belonging to that star person who helped you save ‘Frin from his forever-school, the one who you were told had disappeared, and was now apparently getting chewed out for ditching without saying goodbye! You had to hear this, so you stuck your ear up to the door, and listened.

“…[-ust, I am here to guide you through being honest and open with those around you, so you stop wasting all their time and they can finally know enough to break free of your disgusting lies]...”

…what?

How dare they?

‘Frin is still trying to get over the stupid brain they got from being stuck in forever school, and the star person is trying to pry them open like a clam? They may not be honest about everything, still doing that stupid smile when you ask if they’re ok, but they are getting better! They don't need some stupid star headed idiot to tell them that everyone will hate them for not lying, that's gonna make everything worse! Having decided to teach that crab a lesson, you slam open the door heroically (open it fast and keep it from hitting the wall, you know your manners) ready to point your fist at the crab and save ‘Frin!

Only there isn't a star person, there's a travel-ready lightless copy of siffrin with no mouth, and both Siffrins are looking at you like you died. (you are pretty sure you have, but you’ll wait.) you end up with the lightless ‘Frin hugging you tightly and rambling nonsense from the weird ghost ‘Frins around it that you are pretty sure weren't there a second ago. With otherfrin practically sobbing around you, you turn to the only one in the room not sobbing into your shirt, and demand an explanation.

*****

As Bonnie tells the party all about “Wish-sif”, there is mixed reception. While Bonnie and Mira are fairly pleased that Siffrin has a helper to make them ok with opening up, Odile is suspicious of the general “wishcraft” as a response to her question of “how?” and will be consulting the “Wish-sif” when they have a moment, as they currently seem fixated on hovering over Bonnie like an odd shadow. Isa is mostly embarrassed, having figured out his part in the “how”, and trying hard to not think about his part in the “why”. Siffrin is relieved that even his sadness doesn’t want to hurt anyone but him, and is now planning to try and figure out what the wish he has to fulfill is.

***** Vinny1

After the first night, Mal Du Pays didn't speak, and for the most part the party simply assumed they couldn’t, and tried to include them in other ways while they looked for a book on sign. This proved unnecessary when one night, when Siffrin had been particularly avoidant of anyone, it struck. As they had gathered together to eat, siffrin sat slightly outside of the circle, still there but not touching anyone. After a round of conversation, as Mal Du Pays was helping Bonnie with the dishes, it stopped, turned to stare at Isabeau, and opened its mouth. “(Please oh stars touch me, please please please! I know I'm disgusting, I know my eyes are bigger than my stomach, but please. I can’t say it, it’s life endingly embarrassing, but please!)” it said in the tone of siffrin having a breakdown, and promptly turned back to scrubbing the bottom of a pot, ignoring the bomb they left behind. Siffrin ended up not allowed to go without a Isabeau hug for at least an hour for weeks, and by that point it had become a ritual, you understand.

***** Vinny2

It took until 3 days after the “Wish-Sif” opened its mouth for them to finally separate from Bonniface and Siffrin, and even then you are pretty sure that the only reason they did so was that you stopped bothering to hide your desire for a private conversation. As you and the negative of Siffrin step into a clearing, you about-face and finally ask the question you have been meaning to.

“Are you a sadness?”

It appears shocked for a moment, but it fades into a curious mixture of fear and joy.

“…Their grief and sadness is all that remains.” “SIFF!” “[…helpful guide…]” they say in a collection of voices, sounding not dissimilar to a fever dreams blending. Suddenly, one of the everpresent ghosts surrounding the sadness speaks up “(Wishcraft can be woven into cloth, and the desire woven and its strength determine the outcome.)” and with that, the ghost seemed to be cut by a knife through the throat, and faded. There were additional questions, but you received no response. It seems that you have exhausted the goodwill this Sadness has for you. As you leave it occurs to you to ask its name. Hearing it both confirms it truly is Siffrins, and pulls at your own heartstrings. (You won't spread it, of course. You are many things, but a snitch is not one of them.)

***** Vinny3

It's been months since the being known to most as “wish-sif” had joined the party, and they were almost to Bonnie’s hometown, where petronille should be. It was interesting seeing how quickly siffrin took to being open about his fears and desires when something as minor as not informing anyone of their deadly allergy to one of the chef-cookers favorite foods leads to “wish-sif” doing dramatic re-enactments of each of their deaths to said food, at the dinner table. They were kicked out of the tavern after the second hour as though saviors they were, no one wanted to listen to the sound of someone dying from food while they ate soup. Bonnie still hasn’t forgiven either ‘Frin, as they had talked the owner into sharing some recipes the night before, and were not allowed to collect. There was a night where Odile got drunk and asked the sadness what the worst death had been, which was followed by a chorus of despairing ghost-frins as Mal Du Pays replayed Bonnie's death, including the pleas of the family. Bonnie still has bodyguards, and was getting real tired of being Siffrins only source of bodily harm and trauma. Nevertheless, the family has integrated the sadness into their group, much to the mild annoyance of Siffrin, who had grown used to Mal Du Pays’ taunting and harassment, and was more annoyed with the fact it hogged Bonnie time.

#Words #segment #Isat spoilers #isat telephone game #Isat Siffrin #Isat mal du pays #isat bonnie #isat odile #isat isabeau #Mirabelle is also here but doesn’t have a pov section #Sorry Meeble

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