Researcher (oof1) Wait... Over there, isn't that...

Kid (ew2) A bathroom...?

Fighter (happy1) Seems so!!!

Kid (uwah1) ......If it's there, then......

Kid (uwah1) Does the King... need to poop?

Researcher (ew1) Gems alive.

Housemaiden (smile1) Hehehe...

Fighter (confident1) We can definitely beat someone who needs to poop!!!

Fighter (embarassed4) Oh!

Fighter (embarassed2) Um.

Fighter (embarassed2) ...

(He squirms uncomfortably.)

(Better make a small detour to the bathroom.)

You cannot proceed until going to the bathroom.

(You've heard this already.)

Kid (neutral2) Bathroom!

Housemaiden (smile4) Bathroom!

Fighter (happy2) Bathroom...!

Researcher (oof1) ...

Researcher (wondering3) Just so you know, if you DO need to go...

Researcher (smug1) When they make books about this moment, I'll be sure to mention how we needed to stop for a bathroom break.

Kid (phew1) Heh! Nah, I'm good.

Housemaiden (smile1) I'm good as well!

The fighter sweats.

Fighter (embarassed2) I, uh, I don't need to go.

Kid (phew1) ...

Researcher (smile1) ...

Housemaiden (awkward3) ...

Fighter (embarassed3) I DON'T!!!

Kid (proud1) Ho ho ho.

Kid (surprised1) Oh, hey, wait, do you need to go too, Siffrin?

Siffrin (fake1) (...)

• "Actually yeah!"

  Fighter (ohfuck3) Oh thank god.

  Fighter (embarassed2) I-I mean, what a coincidence!!! I need to go too!!!!!

  
  

  The door clicks shut, and the screen darkens. Siffrin has entered the the bathroom.

• "Nah."

  Fighter (ohfuck3) (aw come on)

  Researcher (oof1) Just GO.

  Fighter (embarassed3) OKAY I'M GOING

  
  

  Siffrin sits down left of the Change God statue. The housemaiden, the researcher, and the kid, are in a circle to the right of the bathroom's entrance. The fighter isn't present, as he is in the bathroom.

  Siffrin proceeds to monologue outside the bathroom.

(You enter the stall, and lean against the door.)

(You try to breathe, slowly, silently, in, and out.)

(Stay in character.)

(Follow the script.)

(The show must go on.)

Static covers the screen.

(You have to act, you can't crack, you have to fake it and play it exactly as you did the first time for the whole way through so your friends don't find out anything is wrong)

(You don't want to know what would happen if they knew their quest was in vain)

(If they knew their quest for justice and change always ends in stillness and death!)

(You can't let them know!)

(You can't let them know you can't let them know you can't let them know you can't let them know you can't let them know you CAN'T. LET. THEM. KNOW.)

(Hahaha, aaah, your skin feels hard and cold, you're breaking, you're rotting, you're being frozen alive...!)

(The only thing you can do at this point is ignore it all! Ignore how everything's breaking down around you by closing your ears and covering your eyes!!!!)

(And you can't think about... ...)

(..............)

(Did you say "close your ears"?)

(Uh, wait. You can't close your ears.)

(You can't close your ears, you dummy!!! What does that even mean??? Are you an idiot??? Are you LOSING IT???????)

(You laugh at yourself for a little bit.)

(If you're gonna lose it, might as well laugh about it!)

(Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha h

Three knocks on the door. The static fades.

Though there is no namebox or image, you can tell the Fighter is the one speaking by the pitch of his voice.

Fighter Sif?

Fighter Hey buddy, what's up? I can hear you laugh...
Is there a funny drawing in there?

(You cover your mouth with both hands.)

• "Nothing, sorry"

  (But you REALLY wanna ask though!!!)

  
  

  You are then forced to choose "You ever try closing your ears?"

• "You ever try closing your ears?"

  Conversation proceeds immediately.

Fighter Closing... my ears?

Fighter I mean, I could try closing them, like a ravioli, try a new fashion, but--

(A RAVIOLI?!???!!!)

(You burst out laughing.)

(Ooooh no, you can't laugh, you can't make noise, that's so creepy, stop--)

(Oops, tears and snot are running down your face.)

(Stop laughing and crying like an unhinged person, or he'll start worrying!!!)

(Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!)

(Or will he? Maybe laughing like this is something you did, before?)

(Did you     used to laugh at your own jokes?)

(The thought sobers you up.)

(...)

The sound of the door opening.

(You open the door.)

Fighter (surprised2) Woah Sif, you look like you... needed that?

Fighter (embarassed1) Either the laughing or the...

Fighter (worried3) ...

Fighter (embarassed2) A-anyways!!! Let's get going?

(You nod.)

(You both exit the bathroom.)

After a brief fade to black, Siffrin is facing the exit to the right with the party behind them.

Fighter (happy1) Alright! Onwards!!!

Everyone then leaves.

(You do your business while having no breakdown whatsoever.)

Everyone then leaves.

When Isabeau does shoulder touch:

The screen returns to normal. The fighter is right of Siffrin now, and jumps as Siffrin turns to him.

(You sit down and hide your face beneath the rim of your hat.)

The screen goes dark as Siffrin begins to monologue.

(Finally hidden, you drop your smile.)

(STARS, your face hurts.)

(You massage your cheeks for a minute.)

(Keeping a smile on everytime someone looks at you is exhausting.)

(But   if no one can see you   then maybe   you won't need to exist   for a little bit.)

(Soon, if you don't die first, you will be facing the King.)

(You must have had reasons to do so before. A goal.)

(Now   walking to your death is just routine.)

(Will you get farther this time?)

(Will you live this time?)

(Or   are you stuck listening to the same lines forever?)

(...)

(Stars, you're so tired.)

(Sometimes   you wonder how long you can keep doing this.)

(But still. You're not stupid! You know what this is!)

(This is   the "Hero loses faith" act.)

(You used to love those moments in plays.)

(The darkest act, where The Hero, at their lowest point, is alone. Only their thoughts for company. They often forget what they're even fighting for.)

(Was their goal even achievable? Noble? Is the world broken, or The Hero?)

(And then, ah! The Hero wakes up! Gets their life around! Lives happily ever after surrounded by all their friends!)

(But, ah...     How very egotistical.)

(You're not a hero, Siffrin.     You never were.)

(You're just you.)

(.........)

(Something's on your shoulder--

The screen returns to normal. The fighter is next to Siffrin now, and he jumps.

Fighter (ohfuck2) Woah--

The fighter sweats.

Fighter (happy1) Sorry, you weren't answering so I thought you were sleeping...

Fighter (embarassed2) And I tried to shake you awake...

Fighter (embarassed1) And... Um... You can let go of my wrist now?

(...ah)

(You had forgotten about the shoulder touch.)

(One finger at a time, you let his wrist go.)

Fighter (worried2) ...

Siffrin (fake2) (Quick, quick...)

• "You scared meeeee~!"

  Dialogue proceeds immediately.

• "Sorry..."

  (Don't apologize. Act normal.)

  Siffrin (fake2) (...) "You scared meeeee~!"

Fighter (happy1) Oh noooooo! I'm sorryyyyyy! I didn't mean to~~~!

Fighter (thinking1) May this young fighter ever hope to be forgiven???

Siffrin (fake1) (...) "You will be spared today..."

Fighter (happy1) Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay! I'm spaaaaaaared!!!

Fighter (worried2) ...

Researcher (wondering1) Are you two all done over there?

Fighter (happy1) Yes! All done!

Everyone leaves the bathroom.

The screen goes dark as Siffrin thinks to themself.

(You wait outside and absolutely do not dig bruises into your wrist.)

(You're ready this time.)

(Someone touches your shoulder.)

The screen returns to normal. The fighter is right of Siffrin now.

Fighter (happy2) Hey Sif!

Fighter (happy1) I am... ALL DONE!!!!!

Researcher (readingup1) Did you wash your hands.

Fighter (annoyed1) Of course I washed my hands--

Kid (neutral2) For twenty seconds?

Fighter (proud1) Yes!!!

Housemaiden (smile4) I'm so proud of you!!!

Fighter (embarassed2) Th-thank you???

Researcher (wondering2) Alright, he washed his hands.
Let's get moving, everyone.

After a fade to black, the party gathers behind Siffrin, and they can now proceed.

(Don't waste more time.)