I'm afraid the only place I've seen anyone like you is in storybooks.
[ and not usually in flattering contexts... ]
... In addition to the Shadows family, we're attended to by servants who act as cooks, cleaners, and Faces. They make up more than half of the residents of the manor.
Because shadows do not have faces, we have to distinguish ourselves in other ways. Wearing specific clothes and perfumes... but also, by having an attendant who acts as one's Face in social situations. They are to express our identities and emotions in the ways that we cannot.
[shakes her pinky! gently. she's very, very warm. almost feverish.]
I've got... this thing, in my head. It's not dangerous to you. But it's been quiet. Which... it never is, it's never quiet. So that leads me to think it's asleep or something.
But the thing is, if it is, I should be... way less red and way more slimy. Seeing as I'm not, I'm guessing the timer's stopped.
It's a countdown. You've got something like three, four days before you turn into a monster once these things have you, but I've got a friend - that's the quiet thing - making it so that doesn't happen to me.
... Sorry, I know that's the sort of thing nobody wants to hear, right? The person you're talking with just up and tells you they're bad, but. If I feel it happening, I'm not going to let myself hurt anybody. I'll die first.
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[ lol. ]
... I'm afraid I don't have such a clear explanation for my own existence as a shadow. Our origins are... not very well understood.
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Yes.
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[well. she has, but she's not going to say those shadows tried to murder her, she's got some tact.]
Could you tell me a little more about it? You're not like... someone's shadow? You're your own person.
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The Shadows House where I reside is populated by many shadows like me, but the information made available to children is very limited, I'm afraid.
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Are there not-shadows? Humans or... I guess anything that looks like me. You seem like you know what a devil might be.
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[ and not usually in flattering contexts... ]
... In addition to the Shadows family, we're attended to by servants who act as cooks, cleaners, and Faces. They make up more than half of the residents of the manor.
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Faces?
[curiously.]
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Because shadows do not have faces, we have to distinguish ourselves in other ways. Wearing specific clothes and perfumes... but also, by having an attendant who acts as one's Face in social situations. They are to express our identities and emotions in the ways that we cannot.
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Oh, that makes sense. You've got one of those?
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... I worry about what may happen to her if I'm away for too long.
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[ that smoke is back. ]
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... Well, then we've gotta get you out of here and back quick, then. I've got a pretty decent guess that time's fucky here, so try not to worry.
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[ she won't repeat the word because she is a good christian cryptid, but what? explain. ]
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Weird. [good job]
I mean, there's a possibility it's stopped while we're here. [she thinks this for reasons.]
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Why do you think that?
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... Alright, well, I've shown you this much, so I guess I can tell you the rest, but you've got to promise me you won't tell anybody. Yeah? Promise.
[holds out a pinky.]
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[ she holds out her pinky to match. ]
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I've got... this thing, in my head. It's not dangerous to you. But it's been quiet. Which... it never is, it's never quiet. So that leads me to think it's asleep or something.
But the thing is, if it is, I should be... way less red and way more slimy. Seeing as I'm not, I'm guessing the timer's stopped.
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... What timer...?
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It's a countdown. You've got something like three, four days before you turn into a monster once these things have you, but I've got a friend - that's the quiet thing - making it so that doesn't happen to me.
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[ there's no visible facial expression, but she does seem to tense as that sinks in. ]
Then... both the cause of the affliction and the source of your protection have stopped, somehow?
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... Sorry, I know that's the sort of thing nobody wants to hear, right? The person you're talking with just up and tells you they're bad, but. If I feel it happening, I'm not going to let myself hurt anybody. I'll die first.
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But I truly hope it doesn't come to that.
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