linkingup | IN THE FOREST OF THE LOST

The only one hurting her is you. You're oblivious if you can't sense that.

[ He knows he's just talking to something purely cognitive, but he can't help it. This place makes him angry.

He's going to keep bringing the items over. To the others: ]

Here. We can take a look at these, some of these are repairable.

How you going to fix a crying doll?

[ That's creepy? ]

I have no idea.

[ Whoops... Does it look like Mafuyu? ]

No.

It looks like a normal student, wearing the same school uniform that Mafuyu wears.

You get the feeling that the voice isn't just talking to you.

....

I see. So her mother chased off Mafuyu's friends...

[ Gods. ]

This represents someone at her school, I think.

Tch. Figures. She would throw away all of her friends, too...

The doll nods.

I just wanted to see her. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I won't get in the way again.

[ Wait?! He gives the doll a look of surprise. ]

You talk?! Wait! You're one of her friends, right?

Not anymore. The Queen forbid it. I- I didn't get good grades, so she wanted me to not hold her back. I'm sorry...

Can you tell us where to find the Queen? We got a whole lot of words we want to have with her right now.

She's in the theater. She has to make sure the Princess is performing right.

[ Theater... ]

Yeah? Where is that in this place?

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Give it a tissue?

[He's actually serious.]

Oh! That could work! Maybe use your shirt instead? I didn't bring a tissue or handkerchief with me.

I woulda brought a pack if I knew we'd have cryin' to deal with...

[Jesse is going to find a non-dirty spot on his shirt to dab at the crying doll's damp cheeks.]

Chin up, yo, it's gonna work out. We're gettin' you outta the dump. [...he's talking to the doll now.]

... But I was bad... I'm a bad influence...

The doll seems to be crying more now. Which is impressive for a little cloth doll!

Hey, you ain't bad, you hear? "Bad influence" is just what crappy parents say when you're too cool for them. You're probably like the coolest doll ever, man.

... Really?

For real! I got a sixth sense for cool factor.

The doll giggles, but its watery, like she's still crying.

Okay.

... I miss Mafuyu.

She does this to everyone. If you aren't good enough... if it could risk her grade... she even tried to talk her out of her clubs recently...

[Jesse looks solemn for a moment. Mafuyu can't even have friends or hobbies without her mother approving of them? What parent puts that kind of pressure on a kid? It's obvious that the pressure is threatening to crush Mafuyu if this place is what her mind conjures to represent her home life.]

That blows.

Come on, doll girl. Let's go find Mafu.

Think we could fix this? [Jesse holds up the phone.] I dunno, Mafu's friends sound chill, so she'd probably be bummed not being able to call 'em.

I think it's worth trying. She'll be grateful to have contact with them again.

[ He has no idea how to do it but! He approves! ]

I mean, probably easier to fix the phone than the laptop, unless we get like...a really big crate of rice? Do you use rice to fix wet computers too?

I don't know. I don't even really know what computers are.

[ SORRY, JESSE. ]