She finds a single hair tie. The detector must've picked up on the metal bond. "UGHHH." "Juvie doesn't have enough hair for this..." "There's nothing on this beach they want and they hate ground-prizes anyway..." Mini sniffles. She sits down in the sand. "... And they hate me..."

You are not as resilient as the gravedigger, nor as carefree as the princess. If you lived underwater, like the mermaid, then nobody, at the very least, would be able to tell that you are crying, but you do not, and I can. Believe me, I can.

I've always loved you. Don't forget me.

You do not want the witch touching your hair. You do not want her touching any part of you. You do not want to be alone, but you do not want to be with her either. You do not want her to disappear, but you cannot bear to look at her.

Do you remember when we killed each other with such fervent passion that death itself no longer sat on our shoulders?

What, really? You’re fine with being eaten alive in a dark, dingy dungeon, then being left to rot? That does not sound like a very satisfying ending to this particular narrative... But if that is what you want, then so be it.

He's dead and buried — *I* buried him — and now I'm all alone!

Oh... can you not hear our plea? Listen in, don't you feel it ring?

"This is a bad place. We're supposed to be together, but it keeps making us hurt each other." The torch falls from the Princess' hand and bounces down the stairs. "It'll be so much better when it's gone."

Ah... My adorable, beautiful Rosette. No matter how much time passes, I still find myself drawn to you. Even now, I still adore you. Whether a mermaid, a poor village girl, or a princess, I will continue to love you.

Are you not happy with the hand that fate has dealt you? ...Very well. I cannot blame you. It is quite a grim ending. I would not wish it upon my worst enemy, and you are rather dearer to me than that.

YOU WERE ALWAYS WORTHY OF LOVE

She finds a single hair tie. The detector must've picked up on the metal bond. "UGHHH." "Juvie doesn't have enough hair for this..." "There's nothing on this beach they want and they hate ground-prizes anyway..." Mini sniffles. She sits down in the sand. "... And they hate me..."

You're just an object. A tool. You once were something else, a long time ago. But was that something you, or is it just a dull and jaded memory? There is no other ending here. Just take her hand and set her free.

This is a love story.

I feel so stupid. And I know it's my fault. I just wanted to stay with you. I didn't want to complicate things. I didn't want to overstep, to know more than I was supposed to. But I don't know what's real anymore. What I'm allowed to think, to feel, to say, to do.

Whatever horrors you may find in these dark spaces, have heart and see them through. There are no premature endings. There are no wrong decisions. There are only fresh perspectives and new beginnings. This is a love story.

But you did not choose to end me. We were still one, but we were also separate, and we were free. We were as we are. Will you excise that part of yourself now that you see me from yet another angle?

When I succumbed to myself, you patiently stood by me and cut the thistles that rooted in my skin.

I love you. "I... love you, too." "But I'm trying not to be sappy about it! Don't make me get all emotional."

I love you. "Everything is going to be okay. I love you, too."

Don't look so alarmed! Did you think this would end arm-in-arm?

Here you go roobye! It's for doing a what a great job! I gave Roobit a the gumball. "!" "a sphere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

What if I just laid down in the road and waited for one of those cultists to finish the job because I'm too weak to stop them without my friends. I guess probably it'd take a really long time and I'd be bored.

I guess it can't be helped, it's just a matter of when. Do you think she'd notice if I never bloomed again?

The princess's mouth is on your neck. The princess's teeth, sharp as needles, are in your flesh. The princess is draining your blood.

And sure it hurts, these fingertips covered in dirt, still digging for a love returned; a single sordid verse.

Ethel stammered, stunned by this sudden, unexpected closeness: stunned, too, by the sensation of the girl’s skin upon her own. Her hand was icy cold.

It always hurts to forget at first, but then you forget the pain.

Like something without a soul would understand... There's no other choice for me.

You know, little petal... You've been awfully quiet. Is something else bothering you?

She finds a single hair tie. The detector must've picked up on the metal bond. "UGHHH." "Juvie doesn't have enough hair for this..." "There's nothing on this beach they want and they hate ground-prizes anyway..." Mini sniffles. She sits down in the sand. "... And they hate me..."

I guess it can't be helped, it's just a matter of when. Do you think she'd notice if I never bloomed again?

You killed me last time and it hurt a lot! Why did you do that? "I'm sorry! Didn't you want me to?"

Not knowing what it means is why I want it. We knew everything out there, but we don't know this. I want to know this. "I guess, when you put it that way... I want that, too."

I don't think she's happy you're here. But what do I know? I'm just a set of eyes and ears. I don't make choices. At least not any that matter.

You knew me and I knew you, even more than either of us know each other now. And you chose to pull apart that weave.

Love melted into skepticism, and you pulled back layer after layer after layer until all you were left with was the knowledge that you did not know me.

If she knows I'm a robot, then—then what?! There's no coming back from that!! She'll abandon me!! She'll abandon all of us!!! I can't let that happen!! Not my first friend—not the only person in the entire world I can trust! She CAN'T know...!!!

What if I just laid down in the road and waited for one of those cultists to finish the job because I'm too weak to stop them without my friends. I guess probably it'd take a really long time and I'd be bored.

Hollow eyes watch from the dark corners of a forgotten place flooded by emotions left unspoken. The tide rises.

So, what did you think? "About what...?" About my singing, obviously! Was it good? Great? The best thing you've ever heard? "You were... enchanting."

Love melted into skepticism, and you pulled back layer after layer after layer until all you were left with was the knowledge that you did not know me.

Stop me...? Oh, ILLI... what are you and a soulless doll going to do to ME? "Violent things!" "I don't have a conscience holding me back." "Hope you're ready!!"

You blink, and the Princess is gone. All you have left of her is a small, melancholic weight that sits at the borders of your heart.

The Princess' eyes speak again. "I'm cold. I don't want to be cold."

You can't leave roobi t! because... Because!!! Because I love yOU!! "!!!" "i am does a shock!" 'you won a girlfriend at the carnival???' 'What the hell Kiane why wasnt i invited'

You forgot about me.

At the end of the day, whatever the two of us have going on down here is about trust. Whoever sent you to "slay" me *claimed* I was a threat to the world, but they didn't tell you why. I don't trust that, and I don't think you do, either, or you wouldn't have come down here to talk.

but... you're here now aren't you? you performed the ritual. only a few minutes until you join me and then i won't be alone forever.