Part 34: Goon Playthrough - Part 34

I am not the one at fault here!


You are not the ONLY one at fault here. We all are. Reason dictates that all the sides of a conflict contribute to its current state. And so we all did.


Let us assume that is correct. What would you propose then?


Then Sophia and I would have to admit we were wrong to attack you and hinder your efforts to take care of the house.


Oh, so true.


You, on the other hand, would have to admit that you blindly mimicked Carmosa rather than using your own reason and abilities to best take care of the house. We all need to change our ways. If things are to improve, blame is not important. Refraining from our hold habits and working together IS.


That does conjure up a good image. I think I would like such a change. One thing though—




Gloria. Would you please stop for a second to think and answer one simple question truthfully?


And what question might that be?


What do you like to do?


I—


And no, I don't mean something that you feel obliged to do. Not a chore, necessity, or an assignment. What do you LIKE to do. What makes you happy? What do you do just for yourself and nobody else?


But—




I—I do not know. I just want to make everything better. This house should work as intended and it should do so because of me. I want to make everyone happy and keep it all together.


Fine. And when you accomplish that? What then? Imagine, the house is running smoothly. Carmosa is proud of you and relaxed. All tasks complete. What would you do with all your free time then?


I do not know what to say. Indeed, such a situation seems highly unlikely to occur. So I have not given it any thought. I—


Who are you? What do you know about yourself?


I... I do not know—




You get no understanding because there is nothing there to understand.

Cinders is really laying on the burns in this scene.

You came here to reenact Carmosa in a state of superiority!


That is not true! I did indeed try to get through to you! You simply would not listen!


You didn't either. 'Get through to me'? You came here with your air of superiority to boost your own conviction! You don't care about myself or Sophia. All you care about is you!


This is pointless! I see no reason to listen to such nonsense. Especially since I did nothing to deserve such treatment from an immature brat. Both of you are trying to turn everybody against you. Then you will be able to whine about fate that brought you to living in cinders and pain. I must have had some kind of huge lapse of judgment to even consider treating you as a mature woman!


Oh, look who's talking! Do you even understand the word 'mature' or is it just something you repeat after Carmosa?


Fine, Cinders. Get out. Enjoy your freedom while it lasts. You have one more day till Carmosa returns. And I will not stoop to debating the order of things with you any further, nor try to teach you. You can go and do as you please for today. We'll see where your freedom gets you!


Haha! We both know you are powerless to stop me from leaving the house. Or from doing anything for that matter. So you can stop pretending. Or did you grow accustomed to pretending too much? Pretending to have control, to be self-confident, to be Carmosa.


I do not have to listen to this! Goodbye!

Double track drifting with the Hug Train was a noble effort, friends, but it seems we went off the rails too many times for Gloria to ride it. Whether or not that is a bad thing I leave to you to decide.




Because I have to warn you—after the conversation I just had, I'm hard to impress.




Only old surprises apparently, you really should try harder next time, hall.


Having a conversation with a room? How bizarrely refreshing!


It's good to see you too, Sophia.


Now, I never thought I'd say something like this, but here it goes: Carmosa was right, too much reading DOES make you crazy! But evidently it also makes you interesting. At least interesting enough to make my eternally uptight sister sneak into your room when she thought I wasn't looking!


I seriously doubt she's that naïve.


Doesn't matter. The real question is: what did she want from you? Did she come to ask for help? So many hours without the chance to struggle for Carmosa's approval must've left the poor girl quite disturbed.




I take it she came to spread her usual Carmosian propaganda among the little ones?


Only to meet with steadfast resistance of the people. 'We will not be silenced'--shouted the crowds.



You guys are such dorks.


If you're asking if there was any violence, then yes—plenty. The streets and squares practically turned red.

What?


Oh! How lovely! Was she hurt? Did you slap her?


Uhm, no. I think that would be going a bit too far, don't you think?


My dear, simple sister—who can really say? Such things tend to be relative, you know. One man's hero is a criminal to someone else. It's simply too complex for a girl like me to decide. So when it comes to Gloria, I don't analyze and stick to the golden rule: Violence is always the answer.

Uh, are... are we sure we want Sophia on the Hug Train, guys?


I see. I think you've just given me a bit too much information there, Sophia.


Oh, you're such a child sometimes. In case you didn't notice, we're living in the middle of a dangerous and unforgiving forest. This place is packed with wild, bloodthirsty predators. And whether we choose to see them or not—they exist.




Oh, you're going out again?


I have to eat something first but yes, I am going out. Why?


Uhm, I was just wondering, if you well...


What is it? Sophia, are you blushing?



C-Cinders no baka!


I was just thinking that maybe, you could use some company?


You want to leave the house?


Yes? Is that a crime?


Dearest Sophia, no! Not in my book. Of course I'd love to go with you. But a lot is happening now and I wanted to have some time to think alone. I'm really sorry. Maybe some other time?




Don't be like that. I'm really sorry, you just caught me by surprise, but I really would want to go out with you whenever we get the next chance.


Yes, yes. I understand. Go then and have fun doing your secret stuff.


Thanks, I will. I'll see you in the evening. Sorry again.





Even now I see some commotion in the street! I wonder what it is about—





What are you talking about, woman?


My poor Molly has died. And she was in so much pain for days. She mooed like she has never mooed before! It was almost like moaning or crying. It was your fault! I have seen the bad omens. My poor Molly moaning and the odour her wretched body made. It must've been your curse, witch!


Cows smell on their own, and your Molly didn't need my help in that department. You might not have noticed because you only bathe occasionally.


My poor Molly is dead. Lifeless as a clump of mud on the street. And the heartless witch that you are dare to jest about it! I knew it was your doing, you wretched—




I told you to come to me so I could take a look at your bloody cow and heal it. But did you listen? No! The animal's pain was not enough reason to spare a few coins.


But I did bring her to you!


When it was terminal! Before that you said: 'It is for fate to decide what happens.' So when it's your responsibility, you leave it to fate. And who would have guessed? It doesn't work out well!


But you said the cow would die. And she did!


I said it would die if you won't take care of it. Fate certainly won't! The damn cow was seriously ill. You could see that for yourself. You only came to me when it couldn't move any more. That is when you finally realized that trusting to fate isn't effective. Well, too late! So you're just searching for someone else to take your blame. Your Molly died because of your stupidity!


Oh, but she didn't die until you looked at her, you witch! This whole town knows you are bad news. You are not welcome here—


Shut up, or else I will turn you into a frog! Or a cow, to compensate for your loss!




Oh, good captain! Please arrest this evil witch for killing my poor Molly with her evil eye and her devilish beads! She has—


Molly?


My poor cow! She was so kind and helpful and—


Is there any truth to what she accuses you of?




Alright then. My dear lady, I am going to have to ask you to go home and wait till I sort this out.


But—


I will make it my responsibility to sort this out. Now please go home and do not pursue this matter on your own. Do you understand?


Yes, yes I do. Fine.




Oh, I do know! They blame the wicked witch. Sometimes with the help of torches and pitchforks!


I hope, however, that you realize that you are welcome here. These are good people. They just get carried away sometimes. However, they have grown to expect you to always be able to bail them out of their problems. For generations they did that. And of all the old noble professions—yours is still needed.


Oh yes, I am so needed that you had to intervene! How many times has it been now? Them blaming me for their own stupidity! This town sure has a strange way of showing appreciation. It might be the time to move on now.


Now surely you don't mean that. Just yesterday this young woman told everyone in the inn how much you have helped her and—


Sure. A grateful lady nobody listens to one day. Insults, blame, and pitchforks the next! That seems like a good cue to leave.


You have good reasons to be angry.


Oh, just give me some time, please. I need to think. Someone in this town should anyway.


Fine, I consider the matter settled and you will do as you see fit, like you always do. Until next time, Madame.




Good day to you too, Captain. May I inquire what is going on?


Oh, just another day in the town, as usual. Nothing out of the ordinary.


Sure, let's attack the witch, as usual. Exactly my point!


That is not what I meant. I meant, there is no danger, so you do not need to worry, Cinders. Everything will be fine.


Don't you have some robbers to kill or at least vagabonds to hold down by the ear? Or did picking up girls just become a priority of the town's watch?


I have been in many battles and I have stood my ground. But when a lady as decisive as Madame Ghede gets her temper up—there is no shame in retreat. So please excuse me, Cinders. I shall bid you, ladies, farewell. I will stay in the inn for a while if you feel like talking.


Oh, no need to apologize. Farewell, Captain.




People are strange here. Illogical and stupid. They just sit and demand. Do nothing and hope. Morons! The time has come for me to change the scenery.


What did they do?


Oh, nothing spectacular. Just more of the usual. People come to me. For medicine, for advice, for a solution to every stupid problem they have created. They still fear me, though. And every time something goes wrong, they blame me. They used to blame the devil, or evil forces. Now the evil forces live next door, ready for those morons to blame!


Surely the townsfolk do not mean that. They seem to respect you a lot.




But you have friends here. Just a second ago, I thought I saw you speaking with the Captain on very familiar and mostly friendly terms.


Oh, we do have some history together. But do not let me bore you with the details.


Oh, go ahead, please.


Your curiosity is commendable. But let's discuss something of more importance. Have you given any thought to our last conversation?


Not yet. I haven't had the time to—




Just don't wait too long, because I intend to leave this damn town soon, and I will not look back.


Thank you. I will take time to consider and decide soon.


You do that. Goodbye, child.






I will have to consider that side of her. Vulnerable, and so human. But right now I have a whole day of freedom to plan as I will. What shall I do now? Maybe pay Tobias a visit again? I could also spend some time in the tavern. Chatting with townspeople, making friends and hearing all the gossip—that is where the life of the town concentrates. And the Captain said he was headed there. Speaking to him proved to be worthwhile so far.