Reset AU ... mirror room art piece and a supplemental from ghostloop's pov 🎉
Writing under the cut! (Lots of words... oops!!!!!!!)
(Venturing through the house has been nothing short of a terror.)
(The sadnesses littering the area are NOT helping!)
(Granted, you know how to fight - you have each sadness' type memorized, each name and gimmick on lock - but your craft...)
(You're not sure what Craft type you are. You're corporeal enough for your hits to connect, but not corporeal enough for attacks to land on you. Harder still, considering the craft types are all equally as easy for you to summon.)
(Maybe "easy for you to summon" is poor phrasing. Your attacks feel wrong. Unfamiliar.)
(Your Piercing Craft likes to trail, not unlike the rest of your body. You struggle the least with Scissors-type attacks, but it feels like something fundamental is missing in each of your strikes.)
(Your Creative Craft leaves after-images. You thought you were Paper craft for a good while, but you're clumsy with it - like it wasn't made with your body in mind.)
(Your Protector's Craft sparks like energy through your fist. Something pangs at your chest each time you form the handshape.)
(Your attacks are strange. Craft personalizes itself to its user, but for such attuned craft to be so alien....)
(Thinking about it gives you a weird headache.)
(So you won't!!)
(You watch Siffrin fight. He made you sit out of battle after that time you downed yourself. Impeccable aim, Loop!!)
(... They never win, but you figure you should respect their wishes regardless.)
(You feel Experienced. Like these sadnesses would wither away if you poked them too hard. They probably would, if you could land a hit in the first place!)
(You can't help but compare the way he fights with the way you fight. Or, the way you think you should.)
(Like his name, like the House, like everything else, it's all familiar. You fight the same way as him, but your craft makes it difficult to do so comfortably.)
(You can't help but be envious. Why are you envious?)
(The style isn't even yours! You're pretty sure it's adapted from his, even!!)
(Nothing is your own. Not even your body is safe!!! Your skin prickles when you look down. Stars dance across your form naturally, yet it feels unnatural all the same.)
(Stars, are you going crazy? You think you're going crazy!)
(Siffrin shifts next to you, walking comfortably in your silence. You lead the way to the next door.)
("Why Stardust?" They asked you that, before. At least, you think they did? What did you respond with? Something about what's left...?)
(... You don't know. Just, seeing him, talking to him - he's Stardust! So, you must be Loop.)
(It found you so easily in your sea of muddled memories. It must be what the Universe willed!)
(But you still don't know. But you still can't remember. What's wrong with you?)
"Finally, third floor..."
(Siffrin turns a key. You're climbing the House. Right.)
(You smile. Is it forced? You're not sure. The gesture reminds you of something.)
>"Awh, good job, Stardust! It only took you... ehm...."
>"20 Loops! That's great! A bit worse than me, but who's keeping track, right?"
"'A bit worse than you?' Did you remember something?"
("A bit worse than you?")
>"What? I didn't say anything."
(You didn't. Did you?)
(Siffrin makes a noise. They're looking at you funny.)
"Nevermind."
(O~kay. Weird.)
...
(The King sobs.)
(They talk to you about him. A lot more than you want them to, if you're being honest.)
(Hearing his name, his likeness, to be spoken of so fondly - you feel rage. A deep and primal anger you're sure you've never felt before and will never feel again.)
(So, yes! Hearing the King sob the whole time like he's not actively dooming an entire blinding country has done wonders on your psyche! The reminder of his existence fills you with such joy and whimsy!)
(Your smile is pulled so taut you think it would tear at your skin, if you had any.)
(Siffrin's expression is plagued with sympathy. Something in your core stirs violently at the thought.)
>"Chin up, soldier~! One more floor to climb!"
(The sympathetic look fades, but you don't feel any better. You don't think about the implications.)
"... Right. One more floor."
>"I hope all this effort was worth it!"
"Ditto. Even if I can't snap some sense into him, I just..."
"I want to talk. I've told you about it before, but-"
(stop don't talk about him no no no no)
>"STARdust! Surely there's no need to go over everything again!"
>"You might be forgetful, but helpful Loop here already knows the ins and outs of your fool-proof plan~!!"
>"You've told me about it, you continue to tell me about it, you don't stop telling me about it — I GET IT ALREADY!"
>"Just. We'll. We'll get to it when we get to it, right? Please."
(you're not sure why)
(but the thought of talking to the king fills your entire being with sickness)
(Too bad you can't throw up! Teehee!!)
(Siffrin looks pained.)
"Right, I'll just -- I'm."
"I'm sorry..."
(Oh.)
(His voice is so tender. So quiet.)
(You ruined it.)
(That's fine. You don't -- you don't need the ability anyway. You can make your way through the house on your own. You don't need them to get stronger. It's fine.)
(...)
(What were you thinking about? It doesn't matter.)
>"So~! That out of the way."
(This time you ignore the King wailing above you.)
>"Where do we go?"
(His face is hidden from you, beneath the brim of his hat. You have a fun time thinking about the expression under it!)
(Is it twisted in frustration? Appalled? Mortified? Betrayed?)
(You know those faces like the back of your hand, but the specifics amalgam in your head, a foggy mass of uncertainty.)
(You feel a tingle on your cheek.)
(... Yes, fun! What fun!)
(Siffrin clears their throat.)
"... You've been leading me through most of the House, Loop."
"So I thought you would know where to go?"
(You have?)
>"I have?"
"Yes?????"
(What????)
>"No I haven't."
"Yes? You have??"
(He looks offended???)
"The rock trap? The key I missed in the Head Housemaiden's office?"
>"'Fraid you're not ringing any bells!!"
(Conversations are one of the only things you remember. Everything else blends together.)
(So, you should know this, shouldn't you? They must've brought it up a few times while you were walking. You weren't thinking too hard about where you were going. The paths feel wholly natural to you... But you do remember that the amount of times you had to give Siffrin a Super Sour Tonic was atrocious, really.)
(How does anyone lose to sadnesses THAT often? It's ridiculous! He should just let you fight!!!)
"Loop?"
(Whoops!!! You should pay more attention to your surroundings...)
(...)
(No, okay, wait.)
>"When did we get to the mirror room?"
(The glare Siffrin gives you bears the striking image of absolute incredulocity.)
(That's not a word. Whatever!!! You can make up new words if you so please!!)
"You're kidding."
>"Completely serious question, Stardust!"
"...'Stardust, I am the epitome of good memory...'"
(HE'S MOCKING YOU!!)
>"I am! I swear it on my mother!"
"Stars have mothers?"
(You shrug before remembering to raise a gloved hand to your mouth.)
>"I don't know!"
>"But I'm sure, if I had one, she'd be especially bright."
(An eyeroll.)
(They don't laugh.)
(Why does that bother you?)
(Eh, probably because that one was funny! No fair!)
>"You're no fun, Stardust..."
"Okay."
>"Whatever! I'll find a pun buddy somewhere else!!"
"And where would you go? Vaugarde's frozen in time."
("And you're practically a ghost," is what goes unsaid.)
(...mmm. No, it's fine.)
>"I'll write to them! We'll be pen pals!"
>"Or I guess we'd be pun pals, ehe."
(They snort. Mission success!!!)
"Not funny."
>"Oh, come on! You laughed!! That means I won the bet!"
"The bet was about laughing at your jokes. Puns don't count."
(Bummer! You pout.)
"Real talk. Any particular reason for bringing us here? I trust you, but..."
"... The only thing in here is that mirror."
(They point to the large mirror at the end of the corridor. You nod. There is a mirror, and nothing else.)
>"Indeed so."
"And you called it the mirror room?"
(Did you?)
>"No I didn't."
"I'm not arguing with you again..."
(Aren't they doing that already?)
"Just answer the question."
>"I wasn't aware I was being interrogated! I need a lawyer!!!"
"Loop."
>"Fine! I-... Um."
>"I."
>"I'm not ... quite sure?"
"You're not sure."
>"Nope!"
(They sigh.)
"So you led us here... for no particular reason?"
>"Exactly!"
>"Well. No, I'm sure there's some reason we're here."
>"I feel like there's something else in this room, you know?"
>"But! As far as I'm aware!! There is nothing in here!!! Save for that dazzling old mirror!!!!"
"Right."
(He doesn't believe you.)
"... Let's look around, then?"
>"Sounds good to me."
(You look around.)
(Okay, you don't actually do anything. Siffrin's going at it, though!)
(He checks the pillars. And the corners. And the bricks. And the pillars again.)
(It's... really boring.)
(It's better than the Other Thing you could be doing. The Elephant In The Room. The Big Mirror In The Corridor-Room. That.)
(Hm. Hmmmmmmm.)
(You weigh your options.)
(Boredom. Or headache. Boriiing borreeedooom...... or excruciating headache.)
(Or answers? You don't know the mirror's deal! You could get something meaningful out of this!)
(Or you could get a headache.)
(Or you could lean against a pillar, bored, for the rest of eternity, waiting to be Done and Over With This.)
(...)
(You've been pointedly ignoring the existence of the mirror for quite the while now.)
(Something goads you. A whisper.)
(You follow. Siffrin watches you, curious.)
(You don't... You don't really want to look.)
(Just looking down spikes something uncomfortable under your skin.)
(So you're not sure what to expect, if you were to look in your reflection.)
(Whispers turn to spoken tongue turn to yelling turn to screaming as you approach the glass. Yet, no matter how loud they get, how heartfelt they screech, you can't make out the words.)
(Something in you hurts as you stand in front of the glass.)
(You take a breath)
(in, and out.)
(And you look up.)
(and all at once)
(everything goes quiet)
(...)
(You gaze at your reflection)
(You gaze at a star.)
(is this you?)
(you wave your hand)
(it waves back.)
(You frown. It frowns too.)
(Stars. All up its body.)
(More than you could dream of, could you still dream in the first place.)
(Flame-like spikes flicker freely from its head, immitating hair.)
(Imitating life.)
(You're looking at a ghost.)
(you're a ghost?)
(The screaming returns. You flinch back in surprise. The ghost does not flinch with you.)
(LOOP, it screams. LOOP, LOOP, LOOP, LOOP !!!)
(Its head morphs. It's something spikier, now. It's something right.)
(your head hurts)
(The ghost snickers at you. You look at it.)
(You look at it)
(it's)
(it's)
(loop)
(you look at loop)
(LOOP, the screaming chants, in agreement. LOOP!)
(someone is shaking you?)
(this is loop)
(but you're loop?)
(are you loop?)
(The screaming rises. You didn't think it could get any louder. You cover your ears and cower. It doesn't do anything)
(loop laughs at you.)
(you forgot)
(of course you forgot! you always forget! forgetful little siffrin! sieve brain siffrin)
(you stole their role. in the play)
(you stole them)
(you)
"LOOP!"
(You blink)
(You is in front of you. Your back is leaning against cool glass.)
(if your back is to the mirror)
(how are you looking in your reflection?)
(The you in front of you sighs.)
"You were out cold there... What happened, Loop?"
(you wait for them to respond)
("Nothing, Stardust!! You should go help out your little entourage! Or, you know, you could do something more productive? Like talk to the Head Housemaiden?")
(that's what you think they would say)
(you feel a shiver)
"... I'm not... part of a party...? Oh, no, nevermind. I get it."
(your reflection releases you. you slump to the ground.
(you pull your hands up to your head)
(and stop)
(your arms)
(your arms..)
"Loop."
>"... Loop?"
(Oh!)
>"Yes! I am Loop."
(Siffrin gives you That Look again.)
"What was all that?"
(All that?)
>"I'm not sure what you're talking about!"
"It was like you... um..."
"Forgot your name. Or something."
(Forgot your name? Scandalous!! You'd never forget such a thing!)
>"Nope, all good!"
>"I just... hm. Thought you were talking to someone else there, for a second?"
>"But I'm fine now!"
"If you say so."
(He doesn't take your word for this, either.)
(Oh well!)
(You bend down and flip the switch, extra careful not to look at the mirror. Or the photo that materializes in front of it.)
"How did you-?"
(They try to ask, but you're already moving for the key.)
(Loop.)
(That's you!)
(So why does that name remind you of someone else?)
