ID   An Entertainer.

ID   I see.

He nods with dutiful courtesy. But his eyes dart around, as if the scene unfolding were some sort of crime.

??   △ Yes. I am one of the main two. △

??   △ If you’re interested, my associate is conducting a Storytime over - △

ID   What is your Name?

You step forward. He steps back.

??   △ ...ha-ha. △

CD   △ Claude. My name is Claude Abbott. △

CD   △ I don't have an act set up right now, unfortunately. △

CD   △ So, I can show you where you can - △

ID   I wish to Speak with you. Alone.

Another step forward, and another step back. You search his expression for anything meaningful. Even a flicker of familiarity would do.

CD   △ I'm sorry. △

CD   △ I don’t know if I can help you with that. △

He seems to recognize what you're doing and laughs again. Where did he pick that up? It only further unsettles you.

CD   △ You see, there aren’t many areas here that aren’t mirrored. △

ID   Yes, I Know. It's a Very Nice Symmetry.

ID   I Don't See how that's Related, though.

CD   △ Ah, no, I don’t mean the layout. △

CD   △ At least, that aspect of the layout. △

CD   △ There are reflective decorations throughout the park. △

CD   △ Anything can be seen through them. △

CD   △ It would be hard to find the… privacy you’re looking for. △

It's striking, the muted fear in his eyes.

ID   I Assume you're referring to Her.

ID   The One who Wears them like a Crown.

CD   △ ... △

You take some steps back and assume a more neutral expression. An aggressive approach is counterproductive in an intrinisically hostile workplace.

ID   Then, I would Like you to Accompany Me.

ID   In Exploring the Park, that is.

ID   That's my Only Request.

CD   △ Are you sure... you wouldn't prefer the other entertainer? △

CD   △ She's much more familiar with the park than I am. △

ID   There are More of You?

CD   △ It's mainly the two of us. △

ID   Noted.

ID   But No. It Has to be You.

ID   That Won't be An Issue, Will it?

CD   △ ... △

CD   △ No. Of course not. △

CD   △ A tour, then. △

CD   △ Follow me. △

Your visit is meant to be reconnaissance, not a vacation. So, if you can't get information in a direct manner, then you must accommodate.

You pretend that you're a curious tourist, taking in the sights as the two of you make a wide sweep of the park. None of the stops interest you in the slightest. With exception to the carousel and the ice skating rink, perhaps.

Soon, you begin redirecting your questions to more pertinent matters.

ID   What is it Like?

ID   Working in Such a Strange Place.

CD   △ It's... busy. △

CD   △ And I had a lot of trouble, at first. △

CD   △ I think… there isn’t a day where I don’t get into trouble. Ha-ha. △

ID   What is Trouble, Here?

CD   △ Madness and nonsense, mostly. △

CD   △ But it's been a good few months. △

CD   △ I'm provided for. △

ID   …

He's doing a decent job playing along. It makes you wonder if performance isn't that far off from his true calling.

ID   No. This isn't You.

CD   △ Huh? △

ID   I can See that you're Still Out of Sorts, Surrounded by All this Youthful Fantasy.

ID   What Really Happened, to Bring you Here?

CD   △ I'm sorry, I don't know what to tell you. △

CD   △ Maybe I was looking for something. △

CD   △ Or something brought me here. △

CD   △ Ha-ha. I don't really remember, but it doesn't bother me. △

CD   △ Sometimes, you wake up one day and realise... this is your new life. △

ID   ...

ID   Are you... Happy, here?

He closes his eyes.

CD   △ This is the happiest place on Earth. △

CD   △ It would be strange if I wasn't. △

Before you retort, he suddenly veers over to one of the attractions. A tea party set up with miscellaneous drinks and snacks.

CD   △ Goody. △

You stare as he grabs a biscuit and a cup.

ID   What. Are you. Doing?

CD   △ They're leftovers. △

CD   △ She always puts off cleaning when she has a set coming up. △

You hold back a gag when he takes a bite.

ID   They look Cheap and Stale.

CD   △ They taste fine. △

CD   △ And I think of this as part of clean-up. Ha-ha. △

ID   Your Food shouldn't Ever be someone Else's Refuse.

CD   △ What a nice luxury, to think that way. △

ID   ...

The tour continues, now with a lingering concern that the workers here aren't properly fed.

At one point, he gestures toward the Storytime Area. A rather animated pink harlequin is weaving a tale, enrapturing their captive audience. When they spot the two of you, they beam and wave with their whole body.

??   ▽ :o) ! ▽

With some hesitation, he gives a wave of his own.

??   ▽ :oD !!! ▽

The presentation continues straight away, the exchange entirely missed by their large and captive audience. Did they do that on purpose? Theatrical productions require a surprising amount of coordination.

ID   That must be the Other One.

CD   △ Yes. She likes her story-related sets. △

CD   △ What do you think of her? △

ID   She's... Colorful.

He snorts. It's the most genuine sound you've heard from him.

CD   △ Doesn't she fit right in? △

CD   △ She makes everything look so fun and easy. △

CD   △ It must be, to be here a lot longer than I have. △

You feel the pang in your chest grow.

ID   You're doing a Good Job too.

Though his eyes stay blank, his eyebrows raise ever so slightly.

ID   I Hope I'm not Troubling You with This.

CD   △ Troubling? △

CD   △ That's strange. △

CD   △ The way you requested it, you had made it sound like I didn’t have a choice. △

CD   △ But I'm glad you've come around to it. △

His dull eyes are strikingly cold. But you don't back down.

ID   Only because you kept Directing me Elsewhere.

ID   As if You Wanted to Be Rid of Me.

CD   △ I'm on the clock. I can't afford to humor every guest. △

ID   Stop Pretending that We're Strangers.

ID   You Know I came Out Here for a Reason?

ID   Is it so Difficult to believe that I Want to See You?

ID   Or are you So Content with this New Life of Yours?

He lifts the cup to his face, but he doesn’t drink. His voice is low - only someone as close as you can hear.

CD   △ Yes. And no. △

He lowers his cup and flicks the remaining liquid to the ground with a sigh.

CD   △ I'm afraid that my set is coming up. △

CD   △ This will be the end of the tour. △

CD   △ Have a magical day. △

As he walks away, you find yourself calling out to him.

ID   I'll come Back.

ID   I'll... Visit.

ID   I won't have many Chances to. But I Will.

ID   I'm not Leaving You Here.

CD   △ ... △

You didn't realize it until now, but he had led you to every major attraction, exactly once. Precision befitting someone like you. He doesn't owe you anything more.

Yet, he still turns and gives you a thin approximation of a smile.

CD   △ We'll be happy to have you again. △