#((ooc) mentions of autocanibalism

[rosetheex-editor]

[Video transcript begin.]

[The transcript begins with the camera in a wagon, it faces the back of someone in a brown jacket. A ruby sewn on the back. The person's hair is not visible from the hood, their arm is outstretched, the black plastic handle of the wagon in their hand. In the background the faint jingle of a music box is heard, seemingly being played in the wagon.]

?: Remember what I told you.

[Voice identified: Rose.]

Sp: Don't play it loud. I know.

R: Yeah, we're close to where Ruby was last so y'know.

[Sparrow sighs, turning off the music box and dropping it in the wagon with a thunk. Rose stops the wagon.]

R: What?

Sp: Why are you worried? We've lived this long. Correct?

R: You and I both know anything can happen.

[A loud, metallic scraping noise can be heard distantly.]

R: W- What… Ok Sparrow come on.

[Rose tries to move, her arm grabbed by Sparrow. Bandages visible through the holes in the child's blue sweater. The scraping noise continues.]

R: WHAT?

Sp: I need… Water.

R: [Whispered.] WELL I DON'T WANT TO DIE

Sp: You have. A gun.

R: I… Good point!

[Rose drops the handle of the wagon and pulls a gun out of her pocket, Putting it very close to her head.]

Sp: Is that. Smart?

R: I have one fucking eye dude!

[The scraping grows even louder, as the source of the sound draws closer. A figure appears from behind the corner, a large metal object in one hand. They seem to have been using it to walk.]

R: STAY BACK OR I'LL SHOOT! I- I- what…

[The camera moves, Sparrow propping the camera against what is seemingly their legs. Both figures now properly in frame.]

[The first figure freezes, the metal object clatters to the ground.]

R: No no no no no, you’re dead, I saw you die. TWICE! I HELD YOU AS YOU BLED OUT THE FIRST FUCKING TIME! SPARROW PLEASE TELL ME I'M JUST LOSING IT.

Sp: No. Well… You pointed a gun at someone. So maybe.

?: … Hi.

[Voice identified: Edgar.]

R: Did I take my pills today? Sparrow, did I take them?

Sp: Yes. Yes you did. Hi mystery person.

R: [Whispered.] Am I dead? No, because Sparrow isn't dead. Can I see ghosts? No, why would I be able to see ghosts?

[Rose begins walking back and forth in front of the wagon, popping in and out of frame.]

[After a few seconds of watching, Edgar takes a step forward, almost immediately falling over.]

Sp: Are you ok? Rose quit freaking out. Help the mystery person.

[No response besides the same now jumbled whispers.]

Sp: I swear. Anyway. Are you good?

E: Yeah! I’m, uh. I’m fine. Just… yeah.

R: Quit talking to the dead guy Sparrow.

Sp: Eh? He looks alive to me. Are you alive?

[The man sits up, his features now visible. He appears to be covered in blood, his clothes look as if they’d been ripped up by a paper shredder, but he gives the two a thumbs up, smiling as if nothing was wrong.]

Sp: Rose quit being stubb-

[Rose turns around to face the child, tears falling from her one visible eye, a look of distraught on her face.]

R: I WATCHED HIM SHOOT HIMSELF IN THE CHEST SPARROW! I HELD HIM AS HE DIED! THEN JUST WHEN I THOUGHT I GOT HIM BACK HE GOT SHOT IN THE FUCKING FACE ON LIVE TV!

E: Um… surprise?

Sp: Hug him.

R: What?

Sp: Hug him. If he's dead you won't be able to right?

[Rose sighs, slowly inching towards Edgar.]

R: You sound like your birth mom bloody hell.

[Rose stops right next to the figure, her hands slowly tapping on her hips.]

R: Soooooooo. Um. Can I hug you? Ghost man?

E: Please.

[Rose falls to the ground and hugs Edgar, after a few seconds she begins sobbing.]

R: I- It’s… R- Really you?

E: [Sounding as if he’s holding back tears.] Yeah. Yeah, it’s me.

R: I thought… I. Y- you…

[Rose continues the hug, now sobbing on the man's bloody shoulder.]

E: No, I’ve– it was faked. For the show. I– I–

[Edgar finally begins crying, unable to finish his sentence.]

R: I… [Muffled.] Please never do that again… Please talk to me next time.

E: I won’t. I promise I won’t ever do that again. I’m sorry.

R: I was scared… I… God I don't know how long I just… Spent in a tree. After that I…

Sp: According to Ness and Henry 3 days.

R: I um… I'm sorry I didn't try and help, I missed you so fucking much.

E: Same here. I– don’t blame yourself for that. Please. I– it wasn’t. It was my fault. Not yours.

R: IT WASN'T YOUR FUCKING FAULT! Can people quit saying that!

Sp: Isn't that hypocritical?

R: [Muffled.] I don't practice what I say sparrow. [Unmuffled.] But my point stands! Not your fault!

E: I’m– I’m sorry, I can’t fully believe that. I… I can’t.

Sp: Mystery man. I was told to blame everything on showfall or Mai. So why do you blame yourself?

[Edgar looks up, tears streaming down his face.]

E: I had a choice to not pull the trigger, kid. And yet…

R: STOP! Quit fucking saying it was your fault you pain in my ass!

E: Rose, if it’s not my fault, then who’s fault is it?

R: You wouldn't have felt like that if not for Showfall correct?

E: … there were other factors.

R: Like what…

E: I’d… rather not say. Not yet.

R: I'm here no matter what, I promise. I'm not leaving… [Whispered.] I can't lose my family again.

E: Thank you.

[Edgar continues to sob, showing no sign of stopping soon.]

Sp: May I ask. Who is this mystery man? I zoned out except to correct you.

R: Wha-

E: Oh. Right. They’ve never…

R: Don't you have a pic- Nevermind that probably isn't very accurate now huh?

E: Uh… alright. [Clears throat.] Hello, Sparrow. My name is Edgar, nice to meet you.

Sp: You don't look. Like how I imagined.

[Rose looks over her shoulder, presumably toward Sparrow. A look of shock mixed with annoyance on her face.]

R: What?

[Edgar laughs, coughing a few times after.]

E: What did you think I looked like?

Sp: I drew. A picture.

[Fabric shuffling behind the camera, An arm pops in at the top of the frame pointing towards Rose. Who begrudgingly stands up and walks over to the wagon, paper ripping is heard and moments later Rose returns to Edgar with a piece of paper.]

R: Here.

[Edgar looks at the paper, and bursts out laughing.]

E: I– honestly, if I didn’t know what I looked like, this is what I’d think of, too.

Sp: I see. Also because it has become tradition. And you hurt me.

[Metal and fabric shuffling, after 5 seconds. Sparrow throws an empty metal soup can into frame, pelting Edgar in the head.]

Sp: That's for what you did in the forest.

[The man smiles, holding a metal arm to where the soup can hit.]

E: Yeah… I deserved that. Sorry, kiddo.

R: Oh. Hi adam- WAIT ADAM WHAT THE FUCK?

[Rose removes the hood over their head, long curly brunette hair falling out and covering a bandaged part of her head. As well as some of the patch on her back.]

E: Oh, yeah, um. Adam kinda just… showed up. After I… um. Yeah. Say hi, Adam.

[The robotic arm unlatches from Edgar’s arm, landing on the floor with a quiet clank. He uses the mechanical tendrils in the back part of the arm area to wave at Rose, before scuttling over to Sparrow.]

Sp: H- Hi?

[Sparrow's voice changes, for once not the monotone or sad it normally sounds. This time having a tone of joy.]

?: Hello. Sparrow. I have something. For you.

[Voice identified: Adam.]

[A series of mechanical whirs, before Adam hands Sparrow a lollipop.]

Sp: Wh- THANK YOU!

R: Hooooly shit I don't think I've ever seen the kid that happy.

A: I have had that. For many days. I felt now would be a good time to. Give it to you.

R: As long as you don't try and teach them arson I'm fine with this. You two being friends.

[Adam turns to look(?) at Rose, before producing a lighter from… god knows where.]

A: You are. Lame.

R: They are thirteen, no teaching them to burn shit down.

Sp: Ness did that, does that make her the cool aunt?

R: NESS DID FUCKING WHAT NOW?

A: Two. Things. One, I am under one year. Old. Age does not matter in the case of. Fire. And two. Ness burnt down a… ‘Night Club.’ With Ophelia. And the rest of the ‘Public Relations’ Department.

R: Oh right… I forgot.

[Rose mumbles something under her breath.]

Sp: Do not talk about. Wanting to sleep with the cool aunt.

[Fabric shuffling as if Sparrow was pointing at someone.]

Sp: He's under a year old.

A: I am but. A mere infant.

R: How the hell did you hear me?

Sp: I have good hearing. Please do not talk about wanting to be tie-

[Rose hops up and cuts Sparrow off.]

R: OK ANYWAY NEW SUBJECT! ADAM HOW IS UH… Everyone I can't really check in from here.

A: They are. Worried. For you. And happy that. Edgar is not dead. I do not pick up on emotions easily. That is all I have to say. Unfortunately.

R: They don't have to worry… I'll be fine.

Sp: You had us directly across from “Hetch's” office.

A: I must say. That is a less than ideal hiding spot.

E: You fucking what.

R: IN MY DEFENSE! I DIDN'T FUCKING KNOW THAT UNTIL MANAGER TRIED TO KILL ME THE OTHER DAY!

E: HE WHAT.

R: IT'S A REALLY LONG STORY THAT I DON'T FEEL LIKE GETTING INTO! JUST KNOW, MANAGER TRIED TO KILL ME, I SHOT MANAGER, I PUSHED A SHELF ON MANAGER, WE RAN.

E: Ugh, seems like we both had our own little run-ins with that prick. He runs fast, good on you for pushing a shelf onto them.

R: Running fast isn't an achievement when I ran through the mall with a plant on my back once.

E: Yeah, I’m just lucky I can run faster than him. They described what would’ve happened if I didn’t. So I guess that was some good motivation.

R: What? They just told me I'd be ‘fired’ even though I technically quit.

E: Oh, so you weren’t threatened to be… what did he say… ah! Right. ‘Strung from the wall on the first floor’? Lucky.

R: At least I don't think I was…

Sp: We should. Really plan to get out of here. That does not sound. nice.

E: Yeah. And honestly, even though he’s a little… er… incompetent at times. I do think Manager is going to be a large issue.

R: So what? We could be fucked?

E: No, not entirely. I’m just saying… if you see a red light approaching you, don’t wait around to find out what it is.

Sp: So red and green lights are bad?

R: Yep.

Sp: Hm. I see.

E: Merry Christmas, by the way. Sorry, the combination of colors reminded me that it’s almost December.

A: What’s. This?

Sp: A box.

A: Why.

Sp: I don't actually know. Rose answer that one.

R: Ok! Storytime I guess, y'all know how I was in here… A while?

E: Yeah?

R: Well, before Ruby escaped that one time, we had a hideout in an empty spot of the ventilation shaft. After she escaped I never got the chance to go back… I guess Ruby did when she came back because, I found that in said hideout.

A: … Neat.

R: I uh… Haven't actually opened it, there was a note that said I couldn't open it until on or after my birthday in 2010… Or 2011… Or 2012… Or. You get the point.

E: Hm…

R: Yeah? What's up?

E: Oh, um. It’s nothing.

R: I… If it's not nothing and you're lying. Will you talk to me about it?

E: … Fine. It’s… I was just wondering if anyone ever tried to help me during those 24 years I worked here.

R: I… Maybe? I know Ruby tried to help people… Dunno who all she tried to help honestly.

E: Huh… Well, I guess we’ll never really know, huh?

R: I… About that, do you think… Somewhere in there she's there? Like I was?

[Edgar pauses, staring at Rose, his expression changes several times, first from confusion, to deep thought, then to guilt.]

E: No. No, I don’t think so. Nothing salvageable, at least. I’m sorry.

R: I… [Whispered.] Why is everyone saying that…

E: There’s… something I’d actually like to tell you. It’s important. And fairly on topic, I feel.

R: What? What is it?

E: You’re familiar with… S.V2, right?

R: The… Thing in the tunnels? Right?

E: Yeah. I… have reason to believe. That it’s not just… one entity.

R: Wait like there's more than one or?

E: No, no. I think it’s… not just one consciousness.

R: I… What are you getting at here dude?

E: When it was chasing after me, both times. It looked to be fighting against itself, trying not to hurt me. There are still people in that fucking thing.

R: I… Do you think we can help them?

E: And… that's the reason I’m telling you this. We can’t. I know we can’t. Rose, I need you to listen to me. Okay? Just listen to me for a moment.

R: …

E: Even if there’s something left of Ruby in there. We can’t get her back. She’s too far gone. I’m really sorry, Rose. But we can’t hold onto hope for something like that. It’ll end terribly.

R: I… Edgar… I… Please…

E: If it were up to me, she’d be alive and here with us, but nobody can reverse what’s been done to her.

R: THE… THE REVIVAL THINGY! SHOWFALL CAN BRING PEOPLE BACK! YOU'VE SEEN IT! HELL I'VE FELT IT TWENTY-SEVEN FUCKING TIMES!

[Rose begins laughing, not out of joy or sadness. But her own delusion.]

E: Rose.

R: She's… We can… Please…

[Rose's laughing slows, she begins sobbing again.]

E: I’m sorry, Rose. I really wish things could be different. I really do.

R: I shouldn't be here… It should be Ruby in my place… She had a kid, a husband, a life… I'm just a dumb fucking kid.

E: Hey, you’re my dumb fucking kid. You have a life too, you know. You’ve got Ness, you’ve got Kath, you’ve got me. You deserve to be here just as much as the rest of us. Got it?

R: I just want my big sister… I can't do this… I can't…

E: You can. It’ll be hard, but you’re going to make it through.

R: I want her back… I would do anything…

E: I know, I know… we should… probably get moving, huh?

Sp: Yes. My back is hurting.

R: Yeah… I um… Yeah.

A: My back is also. Hurting.

E: Adam. You don’t– ugh, never mind. Could you go grab the crowbar? I was… using that to move.

[Adam scuttles over and grabs the crowbar, reattaching to Edgar’s arm, he begins to slowly stand up.]

R: There’s room in the wagon. Y'know that right?

E: I can walk.

R: Can you?

E: Well, I made it over here, didn’t I?

R: Edgar.

E: Rose, I need to use my legs, I’ve barely moved for the past… however long. I need to walk.

R: Fine, but if you need it. It's there. Uh Sparrow?

Sp: We forgot water.

R: I will get you your water.

E: Uh, so… are you two planning on going anywhere? Or do you want to follow me to where I’ve been?

R: Uh… Refill the water containers, go back to our hideout… That’s about it.

E: … the hideout across from Hetch’s office?

R: No, we changed location. Uh… This one should be fine?

E: Oh, alright. I… need to go back to Mari’s hideout. They might get worried if I just… don’t come back, y’know?

R: Oh… Mari…

[Rose clears her throat, then whispers something into Edgar's ear not heard by the camera.]

E: Rose, they… I’ve been told how rough of a choice that was. Don’t be too hard on them.

R: They shot her, not just in front of me but in front of the kid. I had to drag Sarah's cold dead body into a fucking plant pot.

Sp: Hm.

E: … At least it was painless…?

R: … I… Let's just get going.

E: Yeah, yeah. I’ll um… I���ll go.

R: No. I haven’t seen you in over a fucking month. Can we… Walk and talk?

E: Oh, uh. Sure. Yeah!

Sp: I have not… Gotten to actually speak to him at all. In person at least.

E: Mhm. It’s nice to finally see you in person, Sparrow. Your hair looks nice.

Sp: Thank you.

R: They uh… They remind me a lot of Ruby when we were kids.

E: Oh, did you cut their hair? Nice work, if so.

R: No uh… Ophelia from PR did.

E: Oh.

R: Listen I… I still don't trust them but… Ophelia is nice to the kid and Ness so.

E: Jeez, I’ve missed… a lot. Haven’t I? Ugh.

R: Emi and Eden um.

Sp: They slept together.

[Rose bolts around to face Sparrow.]

R: SPARROW!

E: They keep bragging about it in my inbox. I already know.

R: She wants to remask Sparrow.

Sp: Yeah um…

E: Jesus fucking Christ. Where’s a damn pack of cigarettes when you need one…

R: Remember how you had a pack on you… In the forest.

[Edgar pauses.]

E: … yes?

R: Sparrow!

Sp: Catch.

[Sparrow throws an object into frame, a cigarette pack. Rose catches it and hands the pack to Edgar.]

R: Sorry there's um… Only seven…

E: Wh– Rose… Have you been smoking?

R: Want the truth or the one that will make you less upset?

E: Neither, hand over the lighter. I’m confiscating it.

R: I've been stressed ok! [Muffled between her legs.] You try taking care of Sparrow.

E: Lighter. Now.

[Sparrow throws another thing into frame, a lighter. Hitting Rose in the right arm, followed by throwing a full soup can at her head. It hits with a thud.]

R: OW WHAT THE FUCK?

E: Hey. Knock it off. This family does not need more head trauma.

Sp: That is for the. Comment. Also. What is up with your limbs? Mr Edgar. We are. Almost matching.

E: [Quickly.] It’s nothing, don't worry about it, let's change the subject!

R: Dad. Don't.

Sp: You were eating yourself in there. Weren't you?

E: Sparrow. You’re being ridiculous, why would I ev–

[One of the pieces of fabric tied around his arm slides, revealing a deep bite wound.]

R: Dad…

[Rose hops up and walks to the wagon.]

R: Remove the fabric.

E: Rose, please. I’d rather not.

R: I'm going to doctor your fucking injuries properly. Remove the fabric so I can do that please.

E: You don’t need to, it’s fi–

R: Edgar.

E: Fine. But I get to put it all back over top of the wounds after.

R: Fine, it can be like your armor in a video game.

[Edgar walks over to the wagon, leaning heavily on the crowbar for support, he nearly collapses when he reaches it.]

R: CAREFUL! Oh my fucking god I'm turning into Ruby… Um. Not careful! I guess.

[The camera slightly shifts as Sparrow seemingly moves closer to Edgar.]

E: Um, just a warning. It’s… pretty gross.

R: I've seen… Whatever the fuck you want to classify those task managers as. I think I'll be fine.

Sp: If you show your wounds I'll show mine.

[Edgar carefully takes the pieces of fabric off of his limbs, revealing many bite wounds. Edgar does not look at either person who is nearby.]

R: Wait a fucking minute… Noona. Said you were alive, and you've been in a corpse room since the show.

[Edgar looks at the floor, not wanting to make eye contact.]

R: I… I'm sorry.

E: Mhm.

[Rose begins wrapping the bandages around his arms, she is seemingly humming a song. Though it cannot be identified.]

E: Er… my finger is also… broken. Um.

R: How.

[He mutters something under his breath, before clearing his throat.]

R: What? Ok you know what. Can we both make a promise?

E: … okay, what?

R: No more secrets. Please? Let's talk about this shit.

E: … Fine.

R: What did you mumble?

E: I… I broke it myself. Out of boredom. I’m sorry.

R: Don't apologize, I did something like that once. It's how I learned I have a secret talent… Well how I got it too

E: Well, nothing like that happened for me. I was just in a closet full of corpses with a broken bone.

R: I um… Christ… Should I share something in return? A secret?

E: Only if you want to.

R: First, I'm done.

[Rose snatches a small pocket knife from the wagon, cutting the roll of bandages, Edgar subtly flinches away, but regains his composure. Rose throws both objects into the wagon.]

R: Second. Why did you flinch? I… I'm not going to hurt you.

E: … I don’t want to talk about it.

R: I'm not going to hurt you, I uh… Think my heart would fucking explode if I tried.

E: I know, it’s just… I don’t want to talk about that right now.

R: Well then… Time for uh… Me to stop running from this huh.

[Rose sighs, seemingly out of sadness.]

E: Yeah?

R: Has Emi told you… Which part of my family she's on?

E: No…?

R: Great… Um… Has she at least said she's my half sister? I know she's told others…

E: I believe so…? Even if she hasn’t, you just did, so…

R: Ok! So… You know how I uh… I've stuttered kinda when talking about my mom?

[Edgar nods.]

R: Ok… I can't really keep dodging it, when I was five my birth mom… hooked up with another man, it was I think less than a month after my birth dad died.

E: Oh, uh. That’s… hm.

R: A week later, she got pregnant… Kicked me and Ruby out of the house, Ruby took care of me for 4 days before our aunt found us.

E: That’s… really awful, Rose. I’m sorry she did that to you.

R: Yeah, I uh… I call my aunt my mom because even though she was really strict… I know why she was. I was the ‘weird’ kid in school, I got bullied because I asked a girl out one time… Part of why my birth mom kicked… Me out

E: Fucking hell…

R: Yeah… It's why it hurts so much Ruby's gone… If it weren't for her I probably would've died under a bridge or something…

Sp: Can I ask a question? Perhaps to lighten the mood?

R: Sure kid… Go ahead.

Sp: Edgar does Rose know you slept with two separate men in high school.

R: Sparrow what the fuck?

E: OF ALL THE FUCKING QUESTIONS YOU COULD’VE ASKED, WHY THAT ONE.

Sp: I thought it was the funniest one.

[Edgar places his head in his hands, laughing.]

Sp: Rose. have you done things like Edgar?

R: Beat people with a crowbar or the other one.

Sp: You know.

R: Then no comment.

E: What I did in high school is none of your business, Sparrow.

Sp: But it's the business of tumblr dot com anons?

E: That’s the only thing I had in there! It was either answer that, or go crazy.

R: [Muffled.] I feel like I'm going crazy.

Sp: You don't get to talk, you no commented a question.

R: Dad help.

E: I can’t help you here, Rose. They got me good.

R: Fine want an answer?

Sp: You said no more secrets. Correct Edgar?

E: I don’t think it can apply to stuff like this!

R: [Extremely Muffled.] no. now leave me the fuck alone about it.

E: God, Sparrow. I was saving that story for… many years down the line.

Sp: You are both. Incredibly sad. So I picked the funniest thing.

E: You sure did. At least Rose didn’t hear it from Leooo… [Trailing off.] I mean. Um. Nobody.

R: You fucked Leon, congrats want a award?

E: I do not want a sex award, no.

Sp: Isn't Leon the guy in the apartment with your girlfriend and ex girlfriend. And Rose's girlfriend, and Mari's sister.

A: Don’t forget. Liam.

Sp: Yeah, Liam.

R: Can we not mention Ness at the same time as your asking dumb questions?

Sp: This is why she's the cool aunt. She wouldn't call my questions dumb.

E: Let’s move away from this topic. We should probably get going, huh?

R: I'm just glad to fucking see you, genuinely…

E: Yeah… I’ve… really, really missed you

R: Same… Um, can we come with you to Mari’s hideout? Just to visit?

E: Well, I don’t see why not.

R: Cool let me just.

[Rose walks over to the wagon, finally noticing the camera and Sighing for 5 seconds.]

E: It recorded all of that, didn’t it.

R: Y'know what! Fuck it! Record all you want because that was a happy thing you son of a BIT-

[End transcript.]