Story: Tiphereth — Episode 5

LC::tiphereth5_intro Tiphereth — Episode 5 SYSTEM: Set BACKGROUND: 'officeBK', effect: 'none' SYSTEM: Play BGM: '1 - Alone' SYSTEM: add_filter ( filter: 'tv_vignetting' ) SYSTEM: SHOW character: Lisa (id: 'tiphereth_aPast') at 'right-near' SYSTEM: SHOW character: Enoch (id: 'tiphereth_bPast') at 'left-near' Lisa (Id: 'tiphereth_aPast') I wanna go home… Enoch (Id: 'tiphereth_bPast') Sister, we probably aren’t going to go back to our old house anymore. Try to think of this place as your new home. Lisa (Id: 'tiphereth_aPast') How can you even call this place home? It’s too different from our real home, and there’s no mom… Enoch (Id: 'tiphereth_bPast') Well… What if we said Carmen was our new mom then? Lisa (Id: 'tiphereth_aPast') No…. This isn’t the same at all…. Let me go home, please…. SYSTEM: Display CG: 'BlackCG' SYSTEM: wait ( time: '2' ) SYSTEM: Hide CG SYSTEM: set_anim ( anim: 'Default1', character: 'tiphereth_b' ) Lisa (Id: 'tiphereth_aPast') Enoch, why do you keep trying to participate in those weird experiments? Lisa (Id: 'tiphereth_aPast') You know we don’t have to. Lisa (Id: 'tiphereth_aPast') Besides, Carmen told us that we didn’t have to worry about anything here, too. Enoch (Id: 'tiphereth_bPast') Of course, it’d be really fun to spend time with you here, without a care in the world. Enoch (Id: 'tiphereth_bPast') Sometimes I imagine a future like that. Enoch (Id: 'tiphereth_bPast') It would be a very happy one. Enoch (Id: 'tiphereth_bPast') But, how would we be able to find meaning in our lives there? Enoch (Id: 'tiphereth_bPast') There are children abandoned in the Outskirts who are dying every day. Enoch (Id: 'tiphereth_bPast') We were only able to live on thanks to an unexpected turn of events. Enoch (Id: 'tiphereth_bPast') Settling for simple comfort in this place is not what I was born to do. Enoch (Id: 'tiphereth_bPast') And it shouldn’t be, either. Lisa (Id: 'tiphereth_aPast') Your words are too hard for me. Why do you have so many thoughts on your mind? Lisa (Id: 'tiphereth_aPast') They say too much thinking might make you a weird person. SYSTEM: Display CG: 'BlackCG' SYSTEM: wait ( time: '2' ) SYSTEM: Hide CG Enoch (Id: 'tiphereth_bPast') You know, Lisa, I think I’ve always been sad. Enoch (Id: 'tiphereth_bPast') I never loved my own life for even a second. Enoch (Id: 'tiphereth_bPast') How nice would it be to live in a happy world next time? Lisa (Id: 'tiphereth_aPast') Enoch… Are you hurt? Enoch (Id: 'tiphereth_bPast') No, it doesn't hurt one bit. Enoch (Id: 'tiphereth_bPast') Please don’t be sad. I know something good will happen next time. SYSTEM: Display CG: 'BlackCG' SYSTEM: wait ( time: '2' ) SYSTEM: HIDE character: Lisa (id: 'tiphereth_aPast') SYSTEM: HIDE character: Enoch (id: 'tiphereth_bPast') SYSTEM: Hide CG SYSTEM: Set BACKGROUND: 'AngelaBackground', effect: 'none' SYSTEM: SHOW character: Tiphereth (id: 'tiphereth_a') at 'right-more', direction: 'left' SYSTEM: SHOW character: Tiphereth (id: 'tiphereth_b') at 'left' SYSTEM: SHOW character: Angela (id: 'angela') at 'center' Angela (Id: 'angela') There were many abandoned children in the Outskirts. Angela (Id: 'angela') These children were one of the many end results of the countless conflicts among the Wings within the City. Angela (Id: 'angela') Aside from disease and hunger, the most frightening enemy for the children were the ones referred to as the ‘Sweepers’. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') Why do we have the same name? Angela (Id: 'angela') The Sweepers usually preyed upon the children, but sometimes they would “accompany” them. Both were worst case scenarios for the children. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_b') Hi, nice to meet you, Tiphereth. SYSTEM: Display CG: 'BlackCG' SYSTEM: wait ( time: '2' ) SYSTEM: HIDE character: Angela (id: 'angela') SYSTEM: Hide CG Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') I keep making silly mistakes, Tiphereth… Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_b') Don’t worry, I’ll help you. I’m sure you’ll be fine on your own pretty soon. SYSTEM: Display CG: 'BlackCG' SYSTEM: wait ( time: '2' ) SYSTEM: Hide CG SYSTEM: set_anim ( anim: 'Default1', character: 'tiphereth_b' ) Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') We made it so far! The other Sephirot wouldn’t have dreamed of working this fast! Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') We might be even better partners than we thought! Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_b') Yeah, I think so too. SYSTEM: Display CG: 'BlackCG' SYSTEM: wait ( time: '2' ) SYSTEM: Hide CG SYSTEM: set_anim ( anim: 'Default1', character: 'tiphereth_a' ) SYSTEM: set_anim ( anim: 'Default1', character: 'tiphereth_b' ) Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_b') I wonder, why do we “exist” here? Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') Why do you worry about that? We’re a part of the Central Command Department, and we’re sitting on a mountain of work to do. We just need to focus on the task at hand. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_b') We’re radically different from normal machines. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_b') I think about you, and you think about me. We both ponder about things, feel pain, and recognize our own existence. There must be some reason for it. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') Be careful, Tiphereth. If Miss Angela finds out you're wondering about things like that, she won’t be happy about it… SYSTEM: Display CG: 'BlackCG' SYSTEM: wait ( time: '2' ) SYSTEM: HIDE character: Tiphereth (id: 'tiphereth_b') SYSTEM: Hide CG SYSTEM: Set BACKGROUND: 'tiphereth_bk', y: '320', effect: 'none' SYSTEM: SHOW character: Angela (id: 'angela') at 'center' SYSTEM: SHOW character: Tiphereth (id: 'tiphereth_b') at 'left', direction: 'left' SYSTEM: set_anim ( anim: 'Off', character: 'tiphereth_b' ) Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') Lady Angela, what will happen to Tiphereth? Angela (Id: 'angela') One Fixer of ours was exploring the Outskirts and came across those children. Angela (Id: 'angela') We could easily guess why she bothered to report her findings to us. Angela (Id: 'angela') We also figured that she had spent quite a bit of time agonizing over whether to report it or not. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') But, Lady Angela… Tiphereth has spent so much time with me… Angela (Id: 'angela') Carmen personally asked her to bring the children here. SYSTEM: HIDE character: Angela (id: 'angela') Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') Tiphereth, Tiphereth, I’m sorry… Tiphereth….. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_b') Why are you crying, Tiphereth? Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') I’m sorry, I couldn’t do anything for you… Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_b') Please don’t be sad. I know something good will happen next time. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') Yeah… SYSTEM: Display CG: 'BlackCG' SYSTEM: wait ( time: '2' ) SYSTEM: HIDE character: Tiphereth (id: 'tiphereth_a') SYSTEM: HIDE character: Tiphereth (id: 'tiphereth_b') SYSTEM: Hide CG SYSTEM: camera_filter ( filter: 'none' ) SYSTEM: remove_filter ( filter: 'tv_vignetting' ) SYSTEM: SHOW character: Tiphereth (id: 'tiphereth_a') at 'center' SYSTEM: Play BGM: 'Requiem (Long Version)' Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') You’re here. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') Sometimes, I spend my time here. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') It makes me think about a lot of things. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') …...... Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') Tiphereth always looked at the world one step ahead of me. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') He was seeing his own world that I will never come to know. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') We were always next to each other, but in reality, we were never truly together. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') Do you know that feeling of missing someone, even though they’re standing right beside you? Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') I don’t care at all about the meaning or purpose of existence that Tiphereth talked about. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') I just wanted the two of us to happily stay here together. That was all. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') But this place won’t allow us to have even that small luxury. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') There are countless of Tiphereth’s dead bodies piled up here, can’t you see? Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') I’m standing here stepping on their remains. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') Trampling over all the memories, reminiscences, and time that I spent with Tiphereth. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') I’m standing on top of it right now, but I still don’t get it. I still can’t reach the world Tiphereth saw. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') I sing the song of our hometown and mourn for Tiphereth even though this will never reach him. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') Care to join me? SYSTEM: SHOW character: Tiphereth (id: 'tiphereth_b') at 'left-full' Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_b') Tiphereth, what are you doing here? Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') Just reminiscing on old memories. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_b') What memories? Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') The good old days, when we were together. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_b') You’re right, we had lots of fun together. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') …. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_b') Come back to me soon, Tiphereth. I’ll be reading the rest of the report. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') I will. SYSTEM: Display CG: 'BlackCG' SYSTEM: wait ( time: '2' ) SYSTEM: HIDE character: Tiphereth (id: 'tiphereth_a') SYSTEM: HIDE character: Tiphereth (id: 'tiphereth_b') SYSTEM: Hide CG SYSTEM: camera_filter ( filter: 'grayscale' ) SYSTEM: SHOW character: Tiphereth (id: 'tiphereth_a') at 'right-more' SYSTEM: SHOW character: Angela (id: 'angela') at 'center' Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') You can replace the machine and transfer the key memories all you want, but that still won’t bring back the Tiphereth I knew! Angela (Id: 'angela') To take two children into the City from the Outskirts required an extremely complicated procedure, but no one complained. Angela (Id: 'angela') The two children didn’t look like siblings, but they depended on each other even more so than siblings by blood do. SYSTEM: Display CG: 'BlackCG' SYSTEM: wait ( time: '2' ) SYSTEM: HIDE character: Tiphereth (id: 'tiphereth_a') SYSTEM: HIDE character: Angela (id: 'angela') SYSTEM: Hide CG SYSTEM: camera_filter ( filter: 'none' ) SYSTEM: SHOW character: Tiphereth (id: 'tiphereth_a') at 'center' Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') ...… Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') I don’t really like you. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') The new manager would always have some kind of influence on Tiphereth, and that would eventually lead to yet another breakdown. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') It will be the same, time and time again. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') We will discard Tiphereth again and again, and he will stray further and further from what he used to be. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') What I’m scared of most is seeing Tiphereth burn to a husk, worn down from all those overloads and resets. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') For now, he can at least look normal and talk with me, pretending to feel nostalgia for the old memories that were forcefully added back. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') But he’s been getting more and more unstable, as a matter of fact. We’re basically pumping electricity into a machine that’s already teetering to keep it running. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') You can make as many copies as you want of his body, but he only has one soul. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') His one and only soul, and look what we’ve done to it… Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') ……….... Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') You, let me ask you a favor. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') You’ve been good at doing favors for me so far. You should be able to manage this one. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') Could you get rid of Tiphereth, permanently? Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') Angela would say that there’s a reason for the two of us working here together. She’d say that we are two, yet one. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') But I can handle the Central Command Department all by myself. I proved myself a long time ago. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') Please let Tiphereth rest in peace, as if I were alone from the beginning, before it gets any worse. I can’t respond. Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') Why aren’t you saying anything? Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') In fact, Lady Angela doesn’t care about us at all! Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') Whether there’s one Tiphereth or two, whether one just became a moving piece of useless scrap for whatever reason, or if one were overloaded and dumped on top of countless other discarded Tiphereth, left to melt in the storage, she wouldn’t care! Tiphereth (Id: 'tiphereth_a') But you’re different, you’re supposed to be different! SYSTEM: Display CG: 'BlackCG' SYSTEM: wait ( time: '2' ) SYSTEM: HIDE character: Tiphereth (id: 'tiphereth_a') SYSTEM: HIDE character: Angela (id: 'angela') SYSTEM: camera_filter ( filter: 'none' ) A (Id: 'a') There were many abandoned children in the Outskirts. A (Id: 'a') These children were one of the many end results of the countless conflicts among the Wings within the City. A (Id: 'a') Aside from disease and hunger, the most frightening enemy for the children were the ones referred to as the ‘Sweepers’. A (Id: 'a') The Sweepers usually preyed upon the children, but sometimes they would “accompany” them. Both were worst case scenarios for the children. A (Id: 'a') One Fixer of ours was exploring the Outskirts and came across those children. A (Id: 'a') We could easily guess why she bothered to report her findings to us. A (Id: 'a') We also figured that she had spent quite a bit of time agonizing over whether to report it or not. A (Id: 'a') Carmen personally asked her to bring the children here. A (Id: 'a') To take two children into the City from the Outskirts required an extremely complicated procedure, but no one complained. A (Id: 'a') The two children didn’t look like siblings, but they depended on each other even more so than siblings by blood do. A (Id: 'a') The girl was easily frightened and wouldn’t open up very much to us. A (Id: 'a') However, the boy started to show interest in our experiment. A (Id: 'a') I saw it in his eyes. A (Id: 'a') He had already seen and experienced so much of this world’s despair and misfortune; his eyes no longer looked like those of a child. A (Id: 'a') “Please allow me to participate in the experiment,” he said. A (Id: 'a') Carmen spent many nights thinking about his earnest request. A (Id: 'a') Then finally, we… Approved his participation. Approved his participation. Approved his participation. SYSTEM: Display CG: 'tipherethCG1' A (Id: 'a') Where did we want to go while holding a child’s hand? Lisa (Id: 'tiphereth_aPast') You should’ve been the one to die… ??? (Id: 'c') Yeah… I— I should have died… A (Id: 'a') Lisa’s vicious mumbling likely had no weight to it, but I knew one thing. A (Id: 'a') I knew Carmen’s answer was sincere. A (Id: 'a') Ever since that day, her wound quietly deepened.