Liberi Reader

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Laura

Mr. Dalton! You really got that extra scene for me! And it's a wire stunt to boot?

Laura

How did you get Director Quay to agree so easily, when he wouldn't budge when I asked him?

Dalton

Greta personally recruited me as lead actor. Steven wouldn't dare turn down my requests.

Laura

This is my first time in a wire rig... I'll never forget this opportunity you gave me! Okay, I have to go prepare now!

Dalton

Sure, go on.

Dalton

Now you're acting all humble? Might've even fooled me, if I didn't already know you were trying to get Steven to mess with my role behind my back.

Dalton

First time in a wire rig, huh... Good to hear.

Dalton

Rookies should know their places. Now you'll be a good sport and take it, right? Even if you're left hanging for hours?

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Laura

Shelly! I just got another scene and I need the wire rig. Can you prepare it for me?

Shelly

...No.

Shelly

I know you're passionate about acting. But how many extra scenes is this now? Do you even realize how much you've screwed with the schedule I made for the entire crew?

Shelly

Do you feel even an ounce of guilt, Princess? I'm not changing the entire schedule again because of you. This crew doesn't revolve around you.

Laura

I'm sorry, Shelly. I'm not trying to increase your workload, honest. But Mr. Dalton said the director signed off on it...

Shelly

Dalton did?

Shelly

......

Shelly

Alright then.

Laura

Thanks, Shelly!

Shelly

(He was just telling me how you have no respect for your seniors in the field. No way did he do this out of pure kindness.)

Shelly

(The wire rig, huh?)

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Michael

Hello, Laura! You look wonderful today! Not many actors would be so happy to do an aerial stunt!

Laura

Well, I've never been so excited! This scene will be the only one in the movie that belongs entirely to me. I want to knock it out of the ballpark!

Michael

Well, aren't you just adorable?

Michael

Try not to get hurt though. And if you're tired, you can always come find me in my room. I'll be there all night...

Laura

Oh, Marion! Have you come to touch up Michael's makeup?

Marion

......

Laura

I have to go prepare. See you later!

Marion

Yeah, see you in hell, bitch!

Michael

D-Don't be angry with me, Mari.

Marion

I look away for one moment and you're flirting with another woman! Are you tired of me already?

Marion

You've been making eyes at her on the set too... If you like younger women that much, how about you let her do your makeup from now on?

Michael

Please, babe, I'm serious about you.

Michael

I won't talk to her from now on, I swear!

Marion

...You swear?

Michael

I swear!

Marion

......

Marion

I'm familiar with your vices by now, but this is an important time for your career. Don't screw it up, and don't let me down.

Marion

That Laura girl is a loud-mouthed show-off. I'm sure she's up to something. You can do better.

Marion

Keep your distance from her.

Marion

No talking to her, and no physical contact. Even if she's dying right in front of you, that's none of your business... got it?

Michael

Babe?

He can tell from Marion's eyes that she is not joking.

Michael

Alright, I promise.

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Michael

It's still not my turn? What's going on?

Staff

There's something on Mr. Dalton's end, and everyone on the set's gone over. No one's giving orders now... Look, we've even got that rookie still hanging up there.

Michael

Oh, poor thing.

Staff

You never struck me as the compassionate type. Trying to get her in bed?

Michael

Hey, you know me.

Michael

Let me go check on our poor little beauty...

Michael

I promised Mari this morning that I wouldn't approach her, but...

Michael

We never said anything about her coming to me, right?

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Michael looks up and sees Laura's slender frame hanging in mid-air. Her dripping sweat has formed a small puddle on the floor.

She is tired, but her eyes remain strong, stinging Michael's frivolous heart.

The wire rig is creaking. From experience, Michael can tell there is something wrong with it.

However—

Michael

All the better for me, yeah?

Michael

She'll call for help once she realizes something's not right.

Michael

I'll be her hero and have the perfect excuse for a little tête-à-tête, all without breaking my promise to Mari.

Michael

I'll let her hang a little longer.

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Michael

Why aren't you calling for help, Laura? I'm right here, you know!

Michael

It's been hours, and the rope's sounding increasingly off... Where did this equipment even come from? How could it be so ancient?

Michael

Is that a crack around the belt? She has to have noticed that!

Michael

No, I have to tell her, I have to...

He walks forward, stepping in the puddle of sweat. The heat of the limelight is causing Laura to become dehydrated.

Michael will never understand her determination, her passion. It is as though she is denying everything he is.

Marion

Ahem.

Michael turns around to find Marion standing in the far corner, gazing at him and the exhausted actress with cold eyes.

'Even if she's dying right in front of you, that's none of your business... got it?'

Michael strokes his orange ears and stops in his tracks.

Michael

...Well, it really is none of my business if she chooses to suffer.

Michael

That's your first lesson, Laura.

Michael

Never be too serious. Always put yourself first, even if you have to hurt others. That's the most important thing—

Creak, creak.

The rope above his head is being stretched to its limit.

Michael

You're still not going to call for help?

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Michael

Aaaahhhhhh—!!

Marion

Michael?

Marion

What's going on? What were you thinking about?

Marion

I came with you to the makeup room for an explanation, not to watch you melt down.

Marion

What did Moira mean when she said you wanted to leave the plate?

Michael

We have to get out of here, babe!

Announcement:

Victoria's famous Crimson Troupe is here in Daremont for three days! Don't miss it!

Tickets are first-come, first-served!

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Troupe Leader

It's the first time you've left the castle and traveled so far with the troupe, isn't it?

Young Lucian

Mhm.

Troupe Leader

Are you nervous?

Young Lucian

...I'm fine, Master.

Young Lucian

The others are playing the leads. I'm just a very minor role, watching from the side in most of my scenes...

Troupe Leader

When the true performance unfolds before your eyes, it is not easy to resist the urge to run.

Troupe Leader

You've learned another lesson today, child.

Police statement on the Daremont Case:

At this time, there is no evidence linking the case to the Crimson Troupe which passed through the area recently. The police has established a special task force to investigate.

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A spire in Lupukarn, Leithanien

Troupe Leader

(Claps)

Troupe Leader

A splendid performance.

Lucian

......

Troupe Leader

You've finally made a breakthrough after your first performance as the lead.

Troupe Leader

The tiny black crystal on your neck is almost perfectly hidden. The audience sees only the glamorous star, not the Infected approaching death one step at a time.

Troupe Leader

Your performance is increasingly mature, and your songs move the passions. There is virtually no stiffness, no pretentiousness.

Lucian

Are you complimenting me?

Troupe Leader

Of course.

Troupe Leader

Are you not going? Or do you want to stay, and take in the aftertaste of the stage?

Lucian

Aftertaste?

Lucian

You mean the taste of blood?

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Innocent Child

Excuse me, Mister, please let me through.

Innocent Child

I want to go home.

Lucian

......

Troupe Leader

I think the Crimson Troupe can take her in.

Lucian

Take her in?

Lucian

She doesn't know that her home is gone. She doesn't know that some of the people before her still have her family's blood on them...

Troupe Leader

That is what we'd call a fateful encounter, is it not?

Troupe Leader

As it was with you and the Troupe.

Troupe Leader

Perhaps you should teach her yourself. Teach her how to blend in, how to embrace a new life... how to walk the path that you have.

Lucian

The show goes on, even once we've left the stage?

Troupe Leader

Ah, you remember what I said.

Troupe Leader

Yes, there is no drama like life. The aesthetics of destiny are never bound by any medium.

Innocent Child

...Mister?

Lucian

......

Abyss

What do you think, Lucian?

Abyss

Have you decided? You're in a position to make a choice now, aren't you?

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Miss.Christine

Are you awake?

Lucian

......

Miss.Christine

(Lazy yawn)

Lucian

What's the matter?

Miss.Christine

The bitterness of obsession... your emotions.

Lucian

A challenge to the palate?

Miss.Christine

I wouldn't say that.

Miss.Christine

But your flashbacks have become increasingly frequent since we came to this plate.

Lucian

That means we're getting closer to him.

Miss.Christine

You noticed the strangeness of that coordinator.

Lucian

As did you.

Lucian

Unfortunately, she was visited by tragedy before I could extract any more clues.

Miss.Christine

You used that camera assistant to break the news of the Catastrophe?

Lucian

It was too much a coincidence for that document to show up when it did, the way it did.

Lucian

When one's been in enough plays, it's not hard to realize that such an obvious clue is bound to be a trigger.

Lucian

Dalton's death was only the beginning.

Lucian

The plot devices have been set, and their developments foreshadowed. The curtain has been raised, and it cannot be lowered again.

Lucian

And the author will not appear until the story reaches the climax.

Lucian

...Only then can I kill him.

Miss.Christine

(Yawn)

Miss.Christine

Be careful, Lucian.

Lucian

I know.

Miss.Christine

What I mean is, be careful of yourself.

Miss.Christine

As I said, your emotions are filled with the bitterness of obsession... It's a dangerous thing.

Lucian

......

Lucian

I apologize, Miss.Christine.

Lucian

You will not have to endure it for long.

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