Circinus: part 1
James
Why?
James appears on screen, lying down on the floor
Why can't I find them?
(They're an organised crime group so it makes sense for them to be good at hiding…)
(But at the same time, with their flashy Manifestos, they should be easy to find)
(I should be able to find them just because of how many Manifesto users would be gathered in one place…)
Where could they be?
Sigh
(Maybe it would help if I just go for a walk)
James
(Where should I go?)
A man accidentally bumps into James
Kid
I-I'm S-sorry…
I didn't mean to, I'm sorry sir…
James
Don't worry bout it kid
(Why is that kid covered in cuts and bruises?)
(He was also shaking when he walked into me…)
Hey! Kid!
Do you need help?
Is something wrong?
Kid
No! I'm fine, please!
Just, just stay away from me!
For your own good!
James
Oh?
Is that a map?
Do you need directions?
Here, let me see
Kid
NO! Please! No!
For your own good!
Don't touch that map!
James
What do you mean?
James grabs the map
???
Rerouting…
James
Wh-what was that?
Did you say that?
I could've sworn I heard a voice just now…
Kid
It's too late now…
It's already got you in its grasp…
James goes to leave
James
What do you mean it's too late?
Nevermind, it's fine
I'll just leave now
???
Please Proceed to the route…
Kid
Please sir! Don't go!
It's for your own good!
James
(What's with this kid?)
(What does he mean for my own good?)
James walks into a trash can
Fuck!
I could've sworn that it wasn't there before…
Where did that trash can come from?!
???
Please proceed to the route…
James faces the map and sees a Manifesto looming over it
Circinus
Please proceed to the route…
James
Wh-what is this?
Kid! Is this your Manifesto?
Is this because of you?!
Kid
No! It just appeared one day when I was going to the store, and it wouldn't leave me alone!
Whenever I tried to change directions from where it told me…
I would get hurt!
Whether it be from walking into objects that suddenly appeared…
Or animals attacking me!
Falling on exposed nails…
Getting caught on sharp objects…
I just want it to leave me alone!
James
(I feel like this kid is telling the truth…)
(He may not understand it…)
(But this thing is definitely his Manifesto!)
You said we have to follow a route
How do we know we're on the route?
Kid
We-well if you look on the map…
You'll see that there are two markers on it…
Those represent us!
There used to just be one, but when you touched the map, another appeared.
You can see the arrow pointing in a direction, that's the way it wants us to go…
James
(hm…so we have to follow this route…)
(I wonder, if I just shoot the map with Lacerta, would we be freed?)
(No, that would hurt this kid…)
(I can't do that)
What's your name?
Gregory
Gre-Gregory…
James
Ok gregory, here's what we're gonna do
I'm gonna take a different path to make sure it wasn't just bad luck
First, we'll make sure there's nothing nearby that could hurt me when I do
Next, I'll make a slight detour by going to the left, instead of the right
James walks to the left
Circinus
You are going off-route
Please, proceed to the route
James
(So far so good…)
Nearby at a store, where construction is being done, 4 nails begin to fly towards James
!
Gree–
The nails get implanted in James' arm
Fuck!
Circinus
Please, proceed to the route
James
(Damn, this thing's the real deal!)
(Those nails came out of nowhere…)
(So it can draw other objects towards us…)
I guess the only thing we can do is follow the map…
I'm not really sure what else we can do…
Gregory
Now you see why I came here…
I had no choice…
Where do you think it's leading us?
James
(Think Spectre…Think!)
(It's not just you in danger this time…)
(There's a kid as well!)
(And I can't just shoot my way out like usual…I have to think about this…)
I have no idea…
But from what you've told me…
Circinus
Please, proceed to the route…
James
It's probably best to follow the map for now, until we can figure out a better plan…
Gregory
(I have to make a break for it!)
(Maybe if there's someone else for the map to attack…)
(I'll be free!)
The kid makes a run for it
James
No!
Kid!
Wait!
We know what happens when you leave the path!
Circinus
Please proceed to the route…
Nails start flying towards the kid
Gregory
(No…I was wrong…)
(I couldn't escape it…)
(Go on mister…)
(Free yourself from the map…)
(I've accepted my fate)
James
!
Gregory
!
M…mister
You saved me!
James
D…didn't we agree we'd escape together?
(Damn…it's a good thing I saved Gregory…)
(But I'm nowhere close to recovering from my fight with Mercury…)
(And these nails will make it even harder to fight if we get attacked…)
Now, let's think about a real way to escape…
Gregory
Starts tearing up
(why?)
(Why did a complete stranger save me?)
(What made this man leap in front of flying nails to protect me?)
James
Why are you crying?
Did one of the nails get you!?
Gregory
No…none of them hit me…
I-I just want to know why you would jump in front of those nails to save me…
James
I know what you're going through all too well…
Not in the way that parents say they know…
I discovered my Manifesto when I was a kid…
It caused other people to get hurt…
I was labeled a monster by my own father…
I-I killed people…
And when I saw you…I couldn't help but see myself in you…
I want to be the person I wish had helped me when I was young…
Maybe…maybe then you won't end up like me…
Bitter, spiteful…
You still have hope of a better future ahead of you…
Again, let's figure out a way to escape together?
Gregory
(This…this man said he was called a monster…)
(That's not true at all…)
(This man, no this angel…)
(Is my saviour!)
Right!
Let's keep walking to see where it takes us!
James
Smiles
Sounds like that's our only option left…
Trust me Gregory…
We'll find a way out…
We'll both make it out of this safely!