#nathan mcmillan forgotten hill

[dr-bloxyy]

Had art-block, started watching random Youtube videos and then I got an amazingly awful idea! Forgotten Hill botox/plastic surgery treatments... and the boys goofin' around!

Sad aftermath for Theo...

[underkeep-891]

Forgotten Hill Headcannons

Families

Ethan McMillan/Colonel McMillan

He is a traditional man, he wants to continue the family lineage, he wants to have heirs (even if he is immortal)

He wouldn't get married, no, none of them would, but he would only have one woman for life (it would be hard to convince Ruth to let this woman be immortal too, but she would give in at one point).

He would never call her his wife, no she is just 'the woman who has my children', though, he would act like a jealous husband all the time

Everyone would probably call her 'wife', even though Ethan always says she's not(she is)

He would probably stay with a softspoken woman (with a strong personality, he and his brother are enough),However, after a few years with him she would start to talk back (not in a bad way, she would just be less afraid of him)

He would probably want a boy, but if he had a girl, she would be his little girl.

He would want to be different from his father, not wanting to make the same mistakes (he will do worse)

He wouldn't like to see his daughter grow up, she was his little girl, and soon she would be a grown woman.

Between Ethan and Nathan... Ethan would probably have twins (considering that between Ewan and Owen, only one had twins, I assume it would be Ethan who would have them, it suits him)

However, if he had twins, he wouldn't really tell them apart (if they were identical twins like him and his brother, he only knows how to tell them apart because it's a boy and a girl, but sometimes he gets it wrong).

He would love it if any of his children followed his career path, or took an interest in family history.

he lost his mother at a young age, so it probably affected his relationships with the women in his life (if he had a daughter he would try to name her after his mother, but he would try to pretend it never happened in case his wife the child's mother questioned it, but she would probably like the idea if it made him happy).

I would want to have at most two (but he would lose control and have more, he simply loves his wife, don't blame him)

Ruth would try to use only Ethan's children for the rituals (since he has many, they wouldn't be missed, in her words),he didn't let her, and he got mad

Nathan McMillan/The puppeteer

He wouldn't be a good father, he would spend too much time at the theater (Ethan would be an workaholic,,but he would take a break to see his children and wife)

He would not marry, nor would he maintain a good relationship with the child's mother.

He would be an absent father, and probably wouldn't care that much, but he wanted the approval of both the child's mother and the children themselves.

Sometimes Ethan would probably lecture him on trying to be a better father, he wouldn't listen either way.

He probably wouldn't even mind having kids (it would probably be an accident,or he wouldn't even have children)

The gambler/Theodore Osthegard

If Nathan's child was an accident, Theodore's was even more so.

He was probably drunk after some gambling and the woman was even drunker.

Weird co-parenting

He would never let Ethan be better than him at anything, so he would at least try to be a good father (it wouldn't work, but he tried)

He would probably have a girl (I don't know, it just seems right)

He never sees the child's mother, and they keep it that way, they don't care.

He wouldn't be a good father, his parents probably spoiled him too much (although, I love his mom, she has such a cute face, she seemed nice)

He appeared every few a few months, sometimes his kids don't even know if he's alive(It disappears for 5 months and then appears for a few days, or just a few hours, and disappears again),Well, children are not his priority.

Ruth would not have children, no, definitely not, if she had children she would probably use them for rituals (she tried to use other people's children too, but Ethan wouldn't let her)

[minigamesfanfictionfan]

Four Little demons on Mischief night

[blue-howlite]

I don't really know what else to say, but I really like your work! Live, Laugh, Forgotten Hill :3

AAAAAAAAA THANKS I'M HAPPY YOU LIKE MY STUFF

And oh my gods I've quickly scrolled down your account and there's so much FH content I might implode, ALSO YEAH WHY DOES ETHAN HAVE ONLY FOUR FINGERS???

As a curiousity I checked Night of mischief walkthrough to see his child self and you can't see his hands too clearly but it seems like he has some missing fingers there too? Someone correct me if I'm wrong, I might replay the game just to see the images at a hopefully better quality than YouTube.

This is fueling the theorist in me because what if the reason he's so hell-bent on his research and "upgrading" is that he was born with only four fingers on each hand, thus internalising the idea that he was defective? And since he can't exactly operate on himself to fix it (he needs to use both hands at the same time to operate, without even considering issues with anesthesia) he's projecting his wish to "fix" himself onto others?

That would be similar to my theory with Nathan and his abandoment issues and his passion for puppets. They would both be projecting an internalised idea of "I'm wrong" (for Nathan because their mother left, for Ethan because of his birth defect) onto those around themselves.

In Run run little horse we see Owen interacting with and guiding Nathan in the ritual with Berry, but Ethan doesn't appear once despite literally living with them, which could point us to the fact that their father put more expectations on Nathan and neglected Ethan. Like, unlike all the others Ethan doesn't even have his own memento game, his child self only appears in Night of little mischief. It might be a stretch... but is it really?

When a child has any sort of abnormality, it's instinctual for the parent to ignore them and invest more resources into the "normal" child; we see this both in human society and nature. The concept of special needs is kinda new after all, and even nowadays not everyone is willing to put in the effort to give their kids what they need if it's anything out of the socially accepted norm.

So for someone from over a century ago, the "normal" thing to do would be to invest more energy in the "healthy" child. But neglected children don't dissappear, and they'll often just try harder to earn the same "worth" their siblings have in their parents' eyes. Add to that any sort of physical defect and an inclination for a field that's supposed to help others (that also happens to be the same field your neglectful parent works in) and you have a projecting overachiever who thinks he has to become his parent to be worthy of affection.

In game I've always thought Ethan was "softer"/less hostile than Nathan, in many ways. And there's a lot of interesting details about the twins - Ethan works in a sociosanitary field (with his own twist to it alright) while Nathan is in the entertainment field (also with his own twist to it).

One makes himself "useful" while the other tries to make people "satisfied". Different ways of interacting - and thus connecting - with people speak volumes about one's childhood and upbringing. If Ethan had to struggle to get his parents' attention and so had to make himself worth of notice by making practical progress, Nathan often had the spotlight on himself by doing very little and so was raised with it. As an adult, Ethan found ways to make himself needed by others, while Nathan kept chasing the spotlight and attention. This last thing also feeds into the "Nathan wants to be liked" thing I said some time ago, which is based on the fact that he turned a guy that didn't like his show into a puppet, like the petty little crow he is.

This is A LOT of speculation hanging by a thread thinner than Ruth's hair, but I am SO into it! Thanks so much I missed making silly little theories like this and probably would have never stopped to do it if you hadn't sent this to my inbox! <3333

[stupid-chaos-miss]

Playing Forgotten Hill and they're forcing me to do math(I'm really not good at math)

I really deserve it

[plaguye]

Hi fellers, I'm a Forgotten Hill fan account!

I post drawings, theories and just silly stuff in general lol. Heres a drawing I made of Nathan and Ethan McMillan, when they were kids.

[dr-bloxyy]

I originally posted this in the Offical Forgotten Hill discord and I haven't really gotten any answers on why Ethan only has four fingers... I realized this when I was playing Forgotten Hill : Surgery with my friend's a few weeks back

Now it's time to ask Tumblr!

Another plausible excuse-

[blue-howlite]

Can you do a puppeteer x jimmy larson?

That... That wasn't on my 2024 bingo card. But let's go! Though in my mind you're now called moth anon.

"The moth."

Nathan McMillan x Jimmy Larson

Where the captor is captivated by his victim.

Warnings: obsessive behaviours, trauma, blackouts, abandonment issues, gore, idealisation, stalking, Christianity mentioned briefly, Nathan's pov, creative liberties, writer that can't write, not proofread, written in one go because inspiration hit harder than Nathan.

Author's note: anon don't be offended but the way I wheezed when I saw the request... I never thought my silly little theory could end up in this. I'm absolutely here for it though. It's giving Lord Ruthven and Aubrey if Polidori wasn't a coward (read "The Vampyre" by John Polidori for reference).

As usual, I write these for entertainment purposes only! Don't replicate any of this in real life, and if you find yourself with a "Nathan" in your life, get help. There are a lot of helplines and online platforms and services that can offer support for your situation, REGARDLESS OF GENDER! Just stay safe out there <3

Stage. Music. Action.

When kidnapping someone, Nathan knew he had to be mindful of their friends and family. He knew that when someone went missing, their loved ones would often come after them. It was exhilarating, truly. He'd finish making a puppet, and the materials for a new one would walk right into his theatre. Nathan would leave a ticket as bait and they would come, like moths going after a light... unaware of the fire ready to burn them.

Jimmy Larson however wasn't just a moth, blinded by concern and fear. He had a sharp mind. He wasn't even afraid to feed the cannibalistic puppet human organs. He knew. Somehow, Jimmy Larson knew it was about survival. He didn't waste time to discuss or reject the brutal rules imposed by the town of Forgotten Hill, he adapted and moved on. That resilience was a quality Nathan couldn't help but admire, stalking the young man from the shadows and the pictures on the walls. The more he looked, the more he realised that Jimmy wasn't walking into the flame, he was skilfully dancing with the fire.

He didn't want Jimmy to leave. Nathan never wanted anyone to leave, truly. He wanted them to stay forever, that's why he kept them as puppets in his basements and his closets. Even the ones that couldn't shine on stage anymore, they couldn't leave him. When miss Petersen left with the little cross, Nathan's blood boiled. How could she?! He had made her a star! She had graced the stage with her presence for so long, and just that evening Nathan decided that she could retire from her honoured career. He didn't plan to abandon her in the wardrobe of course; she would still have danced and acted for him, for the rest of her existence.

However, Nathan couldn't bring himself to be mad at Jimmy for helping her. Jimmy was so compassionate after all, and had no idea what would happen! It wasn't his fault, truly. It was that woman's fault, for tricking him and taking advantage of his kindness! A silver cross was still a silver cross, a useful object in Forgotten Hill, yet she didn't hesitate in asking for it and leaving Jimmy defenseless.

That kindness from the young man brought old memories to Nathan's mind... Gentle eyes, soft hands and warm smiles... His mother was kind, too. She encouraged him to pursue his passion, though only after Ethan showed his interest in anatomy and science. Subjects she could not stand, as a "good and christian" woman. She used to favour Ethan for his gentle demeanor, but as he took interests that were too close to those of their father, she distanced herself from the quieter twin. She loved the arts, and would ask Nathan to put on little shows for her in the afternoon. How could he forget all the times she'd listen to his stories and watch him move the little dolls he'd make, while sunlight hit her skin and made her eyes shine? Such a kind soul...

Nathan didn't remember a thing from when their mother left him and his twin. One day she was there, and the next she was gone. How cruel could it be to leave your own children without a word, an explanation, an apology, a word of comfort? Just disappearing...

As Nathan got lost in thought while hidden in the wall, Berry nudged him. His childhood horse never left him. He was always around, in life and death. Nathan gently pet his loyal friend, then resumed following Jimmy as he moved around the theatre. So much energy despite the dread and horrors filling the cursed town. It would have been a shame to turn him into a puppet and tame that indomitable spirit. Jimmy Larson was far too precious to be caged and tied up, Nathan had decided.

Just when he tried figuring out how to keep him, Jimmy found the exit ticket. Nathan felt rage boil in his veins. Leaving? How could he leave?! Didn't he see the world that was inside that theatre? Didn't he want to meet the man that ran such an incredible place?

No, he couldn't leave. Not just yet. Besides, Ruth would have loved to torture another Larson, and Nathan didn't want that. He wanted, no, needed to keep that man for himself. He couldn't give him up to the witch.

When he came back to his senses, Jimmy was laying on the ground, unconscious, just outside the theatre. Oh, what a mess. Blood was seeping onto the cobblestone from the back of his head. No, that couldn't, shouldn't... What did he do? Nathan kneeled by the limp body, pressing two fingers to his neck to look for a pulse, and immediately let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in. Jimmy was still alive, though injured.

Careful that his head didn't sway too much, he carried the man in his arms. With every step, Nathan struggled not to stare at the unconscious face. He didn't get a proper look before, the cracks in the walls were too thin. Jimmy was handsome, without a doubt. With his kindness and sharp mind... how could Nathan ever let that man go? He had to keep him to himself.

«Did one of your puppets break?»

The voice of his twin echoed for a moment in Nathan's head, before he shook his head. As if on instinct, he had walked to Agony Street, where the hospital was located. Ethan was staring at him through the mask's eyes, just a few feet away on the path.

«He's... Can you take care of him?»

With a little nod, Ethan led Nathan inside the hospital, to one of the rooms. Jimmy was still unconscious in the puppeteer's arms, not giving any signs of coming back to consciousness. As he was laid on the bed, Nathan couldn't help but stare at him. Ethan didn't say a word, instead proceeding to take care of the concussion his twin had caused to the man.

«He'll be out for a few hours, but he's not in danger. Should I call you back once he recovers?»

Nathan leaned back against the wall. Ethan started looking for something on Jimmy, until he found his wallet and documents. He didn't utter a word, just gave his brother an uncertain look, to which Nathan shrugged. Ethan was closer to Ruth, but surely he wouldn't betray his own brother by telling her about the last surviving Larson around.

«I can't keep him here for long.»

Nathan grimaced, pulling his mask off in frustration.

«As soon as he recovers, he'll have to leave.»

A venomous look to Ethan didn't result in a more pleasant option from the doctor. And Nathan was aware of why. He scoffed and turned his face to the far wall.

«At least... hold him back. He's good with puzzles.» Nathan murmured.

«Those are not lacking in this town. I will activate some of Clockwork's projects to slow the young Larson down. It will also serve as an alibi if Ruth finds out about this.» the doctor said as he walked to the door, eyes glued to his twin.

Nathan nodded. He had to let Jimmy go this time... But as Nathan closed the door of the room, following Ethan out, he knew it wasn't over yet. He still had Josephine, and Jimmy clearly cared about her.

It was just about patience.

Who was the moth now, though? The man who barely glanced at the puppeteer's painting, or the puppeteer that couldn't tear his eyes off the bright light called Jimmy Larson?

[blue-howlite]

"Our dear thing"

McMillan twins x GN!Reader

Sequel to "Our pretty thing"

Warnings: romanticized toxicity, horror, gore, objectification, power dynamic, everything a relationship shouldn't be, romantic undertones but in the most wrong way possible?

Author note: GODS HOW LONG DID THIS TAKE ME. It sat in the drafts for an eternity. I didn't even add much before publishing but I needed to give it a conclusion that wasn't an attempt at something that just wasn't meant to be there. It's not even good as a whole but I want it out of the way. Have fun, enjoy, remember this isn't something meant to be healthy- y'all know the drill.

It had been a few weeks since you arrived in Forgotten Hill... since your abduction. You had come to accept the fact that you weren't leaving as you learned more about the town.

Forgotten Hill was under the control of a witch, Ruth, aided by Theodore, Ethan and Nathan. To think that something like witches and monsters existed... and two of those monsters had decided that you were their property. Yes, Ethan and Nathan had a human face and body, but you knew they were just as terrible as the disfigured beasts the doctor created, or the cannibalistic puppets the other made out of humans. You could pity those creatures, as you could have become one of them at any time; but you couldn't have pity or sympathy for their creators, your tormentors.

Your days were mostly spent at the hospital, where you had a room, the same one they put you in the first time you arrived. Now and then you would be pulled out of it and either twin would have a turn studying you.

Nathan seemed to be almost obsessed with your hands and limbs, observing and feeling your articulations bend. Sometimes he would bruise one of your fingers or dislocate your arms as he studied how they moved, by accident... though you suspected they weren't always accidents. After that he'd take you to his brother to "get you fixed". Ethan always scolded his twin for being so careless with you.

The colonel wasn't as rough. According to Theodore, a guy with a creepy smile that would visit the twins now and then, Ethan wanted to recreate your beauty. The doctor's studies usually included a lot of touching your face to feel the bones and muscles, and a lot of writing down notes and sketching what he guessed was under your skin.

Within the first visits, you learned to tell them apart by their looks: Ethan had a less cured appearance and dark circles under his eyes, and his expression was always serious and calm, while Nathan seemed to have infinite enthusiasm and energy, and he also cared more about his looks. Their personalities also differed. Ethan was stricter in dictating his rules, but rarely punished you for acting up and was more indulging in your questions. Nathan acted laid back and friendly, and he'd usually grant you more freedom in moving around as long as he could see you, but would easily snap if you did something he didn't approve of.

It was late at night, and you were strolling down the hospital's corridor, when you heard a loud scream. Nothing unusual, since you knew this place wasn't a real hospital and more like a monster factory where human rights were disregarded... Those screams were rather common. Still, the sound sent a shiver down your spine. It was a reminder that as soon as Ethan got done with his studying, that could become you, and your agony would echo in the halls as he turned you into a mindless monster. Then you'd aimlessly roam Forgotten Hill for the rest of your cursed existence.

It took all your willpower not to break down in that moment. You were used by now to the idea of danger lurking in every corner, but as you stopped fearing the immediate danger, it became easier to be scared of the future and feel helpless. Anxiety attacks and crying for hours were almost a daily routine. So lost in your thoughts, you didn't realise Ethan had stopped right behind you. His hand gently tapped on your shoulder, making you flinch and turn around abruptly. He was still wearing his operating claws, the long and sharp metal blades that helped him dissect his patients, so you accidentally cut your cheek on one of them in your movements. The scare and the small prick of pain were enough to send you into a breakdown, but you swallowed your tears and tried putting on a brave front. The doctor was looking at you through the eyes of his bug mask.

«My apologies dear... I should have taken these off earlier.» he said as he stepped closer, looking at the cut. It wasn't deep, but he still motioned for you to follow him to the nurse's office. As far as you knew there was no nurse in the hospital, though there were pictures of one in the office.

Ethan made you sit, then started taking off his operating claws. They were sharp, and looked clean, except for the one that scratched your cheek. A tear threatened to fall from your eye, as you thought that one day those claws could be dissecting you. Another flinch of your body followed as Ethan now pressed a tissue with alcohol to your cut. You didn't notice him getting closer, yet he was standing right in front of you now. You didn't notice him taking his mask off either, yet his dark eyes were staring right back into yours. Would he operate on you with his mask off? Or would you have to stare at the horrible bug eyes while your body got mutilated? It was haunting to think about.

«Why were you in the corridor? I thought I was clear about the rules.» he scolded you as he applied a small bandaid to your cheek. He would often catch you walking around despite not being allowed to, but he never really punished you for it. Still, his stern tone was enough to make your lip quiver.

«I-I'm sorry... I just couldn't sleep.»

His hand gently held the side of your face, his eyes scrutinizing your expression. Always so cold and analytical, would that be the look he'd give you on the operating table? Just thinking about it...

«Dear, are you crying?»

His voice was a little softer this time. Tears were freely falling down your cheeks, but you couldn't help it. It was all too much. Normally you'd try to hold yourself together until you were alone, but tonight it was all coming crashing down.

«I don't want to die... or to become a monster...» you murmured with a strained voice, trying your hardest to hold back your sobs. Ethan frowned, then took your face in both of his hands, holding you gently

«Dearest, I don't intend to do any of that to you... I promise I'll keep you safe, so don't cry, please.»

Even his voice was gentle now, and his eyes softer than you had ever seen before. It was hard to believe that was the same Ethan that would make the hospital echo in the screams of his patients. This Ethan didn't like to see you cry, he didn't intend to harm you, he just wanted to comfort you.

«You won't cut me up...?» was your quiet question, still suspicious yet looking for the reassurance. He hummed, still looking into your eyes, his thumbs gently caressing your cheeks.

«I won't. I'll keep you as beautiful and whole as you are now.» he promised. He could have been lying, he could have been telling you this to soothe your temporarily... But somehow you felt like that was a genuine promise.

Just as you had started to calm down, the door to the infirmary slammed open. A familiar mask peeked inside, one you knew all too well.

«There you are! I believe today-»

Nathan cut himself off suddenly. In an instant he moved from the door to where you were sitting, with those soulless orbs staring into your eyes. His mask, figuring a crow typical of Forgotten Hill, made your anxiety rise again. Maybe Ethan wouldn't hurt you, but would he stand up to Nathan if he had decided to turn you into a puppet? Or would you have to stare into the crow's eyes while your limbs got broken and replaced with sticks, your body then controlled by strings and forced to dance on the stage for all eternity?

«Why are you crying, dear? It's unlike Ethan to be rough.»

Even though you weren't crying anymore, tears still stained your cheeks. Nathan's hand, the same that often bruised your limbs by accident, came up to dry your face. Your body tensed up as soon as his fingers brushed against your skin, and it didn't go unnoticed by the puppeteer. He took off his mask, then held your face with both of his hands. Now that you could see his expression he looked less creepy, and almost concerned.

«Dear?»

Even his voice didn't sound playful at all, just concerned.

«Am... am I going to become a puppet?»

Your voice was shaky, a bit hoarse from your crying. Ethan tensed up in your peripheral vision, as if he also wasn't sure how his brother would react. Would he protect you from Nathan if it was the case? Would he-

A loud cackle interrupted your thoughts. Nathan was laughing... if you could even call it laughter. Maybe comparing it to a feral cat being mauled would have been more accurate. His whole body was shaking, he seemed hysterical. Your eyes were locked on the sight, unable to look away.

He calmed down slowly, taking deep breaths, though a giggle still escaped from his lips.

«Dear, did- did you really think that? It's been weeks, and y-»

«And our dear thing is confused.»

Ethan's calm interruption didn't seem to bother Nathan, who just shrugged at his twin. Then he suddenly got up from his chair, clasping his hands together.

«Today is the day of the show! Come on dear, I came here just to get you.»

«Show? What-»

But before you could ask more, Nathan had already begun to pull you up from your seat and towards the door. He seemed excited, more than usual. You, on the other hand, were feeling disoriented and almost nauseous. Your body and mind could only take so much after all, and right then you didn't know if you were supposed to be scared about what Nathan wanted to show you, or relieved because he didn't seem interested in turning you into a puppet. Or did he? Maybe he wanted to make you into a puppet after all, and simply wanted to drag you to the theatre first...

Everything had built up until you had passed out. That must have been it, because when you opened your eyes you weren't in the hospital anymore; you were in a seat, a theatre seat. The walls and ceiling were dark, and the lights in the room were dim. A blanket was draped over your body, protecting you from the cold. You vaguely remembered one time mentioning to Nathan how cold it was in the theatre, especially in the evening.

A light then shone on the stage; the red curtains parted, revealing a puppet dressed as a jester, with bulging soulless eyes and a disproportionate body. It gave you the creeps.

You looked away, to your left, feeling the unease bubble in your chest. That was once a human being, with thoughts and feelings just like you. Now? It was swiftly maneuvered by the puppeteer, making him- it talk and dance on stage, like nothing was wrong.

«He wanted to cheer you up.»

You jumped in your seat at the voice on your right and turned around. Mask off and leaning back in his seat, was Ethan. His eyes were on the stage, following the puppet as it launched in a monologue about the wonders of the world.

«Nathan hates improvisation. He needs a script, with clear actions and sentences that have been written over and over again, until they express exactly what he wants to communicate to his audience.»

Now another puppet, wearing a costume with a star mask and smaller stars shining on its clothes, joins the scene; apparently, the first puppet's attention is stolen by its presence.

«What... What does that mean?»

Ethan smiled, following the play. Now the man on stage was dancing with the star, at a slow pace.

«You should pay more attention to the show. He put a lot of effort in it.»

Your attention went back to the stage, even though you could feel your nausea rise as you watched the thin strings pull at the puppets limbs, forcing what were once people to just obey to their puppeteer. The dancing of the man and the star became suddenly faster. The star was struggling to keep up, and soon fell to the ground. The man kneeled by its side, as if concerned.

"Why did you fall, little star?"

"You danced too fast, and my feet got scared, so I fell."

"Are you afraid of me, little star?"

"Yes, I am afraid of you."

"But I want to keep you, little star."

"I don't want to be kept."

"But I'll admire you, little star."

"I don't want to be admired."

"But what can I do then, little star?"

"You can let me go."

The man shakes his head.

"You can't abandon me, little star."

"Why?"

Pause.

"I... I don't know."

"How can you not know?"

"I don't know. Sometimes I just see something... and I don't want to let go."

The star sits up. It's its moment to talk now.

"You're impulsive."

"I'll be careful."

"You're a monster."

"Not to you. Never to you."

It started to click in your brain. The scene on stage was just a mirror, you started to realise. A reflection of your reality. Or rather, the reflection he wanted to show you.

"But you'll cage me."

"I... I will protect you."

That was the last straw. You stood up, head spinning and vision blurring. He was trying to make you pity him, to make you empathize with him and feel sorry for being afraid of him.

And the worst thing? It was working.

You were starting to feel something different from fear.

And that felt even scarier than whatever fate was originally planned for you.

[underkeep-891]

I have a little 'theory' that as soon as people stop being useful to Ruth, she gets rid of them.

This means that if Colonel, Puppeteer and Gambler (Ethan, Nathan and Theodore respectively) become useless for Ruth's plans, she will not hesitate to get rid of them if she feels they are getting in her way.

Mainly because their family was probably involved in her first death (as a witch), and she swore revenge on the descendants of those who killed her, so she is probably using them as pieces of her plan on a big revenge.

Or maybe I'm just crazy... This is very likely.

[blue-howlite]

Being their significant other headcanons, Forgotten Hill edition

Featuring Ethan McMillan and Nathan McMillan.

Warnings: literally these two are a warning of its own. If you know the game then you don't need any more warnings, you know what you're getting into. Some gore-ish stuff but it's on the average Forgotten Hill gore-ish level.

Yn = Your name

Ethan

If you're Ethan's lover, you'll have to get used to seeing his experiments. You don't have to like them, but if you could show some curiosity...

He has a hard time balancing his work at the clinic and his private life with you. He'll often overwork himself and you'll have to drag him out of the hospital so that he can rest.

He loves physical contact. He basically melts whenever you hug him or hold his face.

However if you hold his hands... well, it's complicated. His hands are what he uses to operate, to block them is telling him to not use them. So he might instinctively pull away when you hold his hand while he is still on working hours. Holding his arm is fine though.

His love language? Quality time together dear. Doesn't matter if it's home or the clinic, he's happy as long as he gets to spend time with you and he appreciates when you come looking for him because he has to come home from work, even if he won't admit it.

...also he created a creature just for keeping you safe. Forgotten Hill is a strange place and he knows it, so you'll have a "pet" with rather long claws and teeth to protect you whenever you go.

Which usually is to and from the clinic because of your workaholic of a husband that you have to drag home.

And about husband.

You two got married. Doesn't matter if you're someone from Forgotten Hill that he knows since he was a kid of you're from somewhere else, even sometime else. He's putting a ring on that finger in a few years max, he's traditional like that.

He always wears his ring of course. Now the thing is, he almost lost it once while operating on a patient, so... he just implanted it over his heart. You can see the ring's outline on his chest. Romantic, isn't he?

He doesn't use many pet names. "My love" now and then, maybe "My beloved". If you want to use some more original pet names for him you can, but you'll get a lot of side eyes from him.

The urge to call this man "kitty" what is wrong with me.

He likes sleeping with you- get back horny disgraces. I'm taking about catching the Zs.

He usually prefers to sleep each on your own side of the bed- but maybe hold something of him, like his hand or his arm.

But if you want to sleep while holding him or being held by him, go ahead, he'll comply.

He's just that much in love with you to enjoy things that he wouldn't usually like.

Nathan

If you're Nathan's lover, get ready to help him stringing the puppets he creates. He'll fully teach you how to do it so you can do it together!

He doesn't feel like the Puppet Theatre is a job, rather, it's his hobby. So he's usually pretty good at balancing work and personal life.

Except when he hyper focuses on a new play. He doesn't really realise he's doing it, but he might spend more time in the theatre than with you. He'll make it up to you once things is over though.

He likes to hold and touch you. You can do the same to him, but he prefers it when he's the one initiating. Just one of his quirks I guess.

His love language is physical affection. He just likes to touch you. He'll be stitching a puppet while laying his head on your shoulder, or writing a script with a hand and caressing your hand with the other.

He doesn't like you going around Forgotten Hill alone, usually if you have to go somewhere he'll be with you, especially at night.

He's a bit unconventional, he doesn't feel the need to marry you. However, he will get you matching rings to point out your relationship.

He likes calling you by your name, but he also likes to call you "My love" and, well... pretty much anything with "my" in front of it. If you do that too... yeah he's not letting you go.

And about letting go.

He's holding you whenever you sleep together. Doesn't matter what, he is holding you. He won't close his eyes until you're asleep into his arms.

If you go out on your own he'll wait for you to come back. If you're late he'll start to get anxious and might come out to look for you.

He just doesn't want to lose someone he loves so much so don't you ever leave him.

@choco435

[blue-howlite]

"Our pretty thing"

(McMillan twins x GN!Reader, one shot)

It was supposed to be a normal evening, but if you're close to Forgotten Hill nothing can be normal.

Warnings: kidnapping, pet and owner dynamics if you squint not too hard, mentions of gore, generally dark content, being referred to as "it", chasing and hiding, being treated like an object, the guy from Little Cabin In The Woods, mentions of witch-y rituals, English isn't my first language.

Author note: I received (and lost) an ask about the McMillan twins and a reader that meets them and doesn't start as their friend. So... this is like really dark so I hope you weren't looking for a cute slice of life trope. If you were, just send a new ask, I can always write more for my favourite creeps.

You had planned this evening for weeks. There was going to be the meteor shower of the year, at least according to the "experts" on social media. You had found the perfect little clearing, in the middle of nowhere; no light from nearby cities would ruin the night. There was a town a few miles away, Forgotten Hill. According to the GPS it was just a five minute drive, close enough if you needed it. You laid the blanket down in the middle of the clearing, glancing at the woods around you. No sounds came from there, you probably scared the animals living there with the noise of your car when you arrived. It was peaceful, and the night wasn't even too cold. As you laid down on the blanket, you thought it was really the best night for stargazing. Soon you saw your first shooting star of the night, with a long, white tail that disappeared almost immediately. Another followed, just a few minutes later. Then there were several, like distant white lines running across the sky; your eyes couldn't take them all in, there were just too many, and it was beautiful. It lasted several hours, and you're not sure when you drifted off.

When you opened your eyes again, you couldn't see the stars. Instead, a face was hovering over yours. It was disfigured and too big for a normal person. You stared into the thing's eyes for a few seconds, then let out a scream and rolled on your side, to get away from it. You got up and ran to your car, but the thing was quicker and blocked your path, standing in front of you. Now that you gave it a better look it seemed human, but something was terribly wrong with its proportions. You stepped back, trying to think quickly. Talking to it didn't cross your mind as an option, you were too scared, your throat felt tight. So you ran in the opposite direction, into the woods, hoping that the creature would lose sight of you. It didn't, as you heard its footsteps behind you. There was some distance between it and you, but it was too fast and you were still dizzy from your nap in the clearing. It was approaching, getting closer, your eyes tried looking around to find somewhere to hide- then you collided into something, since you weren't looking where you were going.

A hand grabbed your arm, supporting you as you almost fell back. You got pulled up, towards what, or who, you bumped into. As you looked at them, your blood froze. Staring back at you was a crow, and it took you a few seconds to realise it was a mask. You tried pulling yourself free, now afraid of the stranger, but they easily kept their hold on you.

«Leaving so quickly? The show is just about to start!» he, a man by his voice, said in an almost mocking tone. Then a twig snapped, and you whipped your head around, remembering your pursuer. But the creature was nowhere to be found. Instead, another masked person stood. His mask seemed to represent some sort of bug, but you didn't recognize it. However the red jacket made you think of some general from the history books. A thought hit you, and you relaxed a little.

«Is there some sort of fair going on around here? I came here for the meteor shower, I didn't know about it.» you said, with an awkward chuckle. That was the logical answer; the small town nearby you saw on the GPS probably had some sort of festival going on. You looked back at the crow masked man, and noticed the black robes. They were in costumes, clearly. You didn't remember hearing of scare attractions close by, but they were probably scare actors. The one who chased you was surely a colleague of theirs.

«A fair?» the crow man tilted his head to the side. A great actor, you told yourself, he was really unsettling.

«Did you come here alone?» asked the other with the bug mask. His voice was very similar to the crow man, you noticed.

«Well-» your brain was already realising how foolish you were to relax. It was the middle of nowhere, in the woods. Both men were relaxed, at ease, despite finding you, a stranger wandering in the woods. Until you got back to your car, you weren't safe.

«My friends went a bit ahead, but they're waiting for me.» you lied, hoping it would sound believable. The bug man walked closer to you, seemingly staring at you and blocking you between him and the other guy. You looked down, trying to calm yourself.

«Why are you lying?» he asked, lifting your chin up with a hand. Now your hands were shaking, as the two guys had trapped you between them. You tried responding, but another sound got your attention, and theirs too. It was a roar, coming from far in the woods.

«Ruth's ritual worked, it seems.» said the bug man. «Which means we can leave.» said the crow man, tightening his grip on your arm. The other hand, the one holding your chin up, was still there, firm. The bug man turned his attention to you again.

«You're in luck. We don't have to get rid of you. Not right now, anyway.» he let go of your face, and you could almost hear a smirk in his tone. You were terrified now. Masks and rituals? Getting rid of you? This was a cult, that's how it looked to you.

«M-My friends are waiting for me, I should really go, or they'll get worried-» a cackle from the crow man interrupted you. He seemed amused by your attempt to lie again. The bug man also let out a soft chuckle. You took this chance, now that their guard was lowered, and bolted to your right. The crow man's nails left scratches on your arm when you tugged yourself free, but you ignored the pain and just ran, trying to put distance between yourself and the two strangers.

You heard a laugh, but you were unsure which one of them was. Their voices were too similar to tell them apart. Then footsteps, quickly approaching. Twigs breaking. You dared to look back, just to see the bug man looking back, chasing you. The crow man was nowhere in sight. This worried you. When you turned again to see where you were going, the crow man had somehow materialised himself ahead of you, you'd soon run into him like you did before. You tried turning in another direction but you slowed down to do that. The bug man caught you, holding you tight from behind. «That was very rude!» said the crow man in a mocking tone, walking up to you. The other man was holding your arms to your sides, keeping you still. The crow man got right in front of you; then you felt a sudden pain to your head, and everything went black.

When you woke up again, you weren't in the woods anymore. You were in bed, in a dimly lit room. Your head hurt a lot. It felt like someone smashed it against a brick wall. Then you remembered: the woods, the masked men, how you tried to run...

You sat up. That wasn't your room, so you assumed they had kidnapped you. But something about it... looked like a hospital room. Did you maybe just faint, and they brought you here? Maybe you had just been half asleep and those men weren't actually half as dangerous as you thought. That's what you tried to tell yourself, hoping things would just work out.

«How are you feeling?» said a voice you recognized. The bug man was sitting close to the door, staring at you through his mask. Every hopeful thought vanished. You noticed some long, sharp things on his fingers, like claws. They were blood stained.

He patiently waited for your answer, and you cleared your throat. «My head hurts.»

He nodded, as if expecting it. «Forgive Nathan, he can be a little impulsive at times. He will apologize to you, I promise.» he said, sounding... oddly reassuring. So Nathan was the name of the crow man. It somehow eased you, knowing they had actual names and weren't just monsters with masks. But then you knew that you didn't just spontaneously faint, you were made unconscious.

«I'm colonel Ethan McMillan. The other person you met is Nathan McMillan.» he said without you even asking, maybe noticing the change in your expression.

«Where am I?» you asked, gripping the edge of the mattress to suppress the small shaking of your hands. If Ethan noticed that or not you couldn't tell, his mask was still hiding his face.

«Forgotten Hill's hospital. You will stay here for some time.» he got up from his seat, then opened the door and glanced your way. «Respect the rules, and everything will be fine. If I catch you out of your room, there will be consequences.»

With that he left, closing the door behind himself.

You were shaking, confused and terrified. A few hours ago you were stargazing, and now you were confined to a hospital room by a stranger with sharp blades on his fingers who threatened you if you tried leaving. You stayed there, raking your brain for anything that could get you out of that situation. You were so deep in thought, you jumped when someone knocked on the door.

«Cute thing, are you awake?» he asked. The voice was the same as Ethan, but there was something else to it. Something different. Nathan came in without waiting for your answer, then closed the door.

«I apologise for hitting you, cute thing. I thought you would run away again.» he said, sitting on the chair Ethan left. He looked around, then sighed. «This place is depressing. I'm not surprised Ethan's patients want to leave all the time.»

You didn't respond to him, afraid of doing something wrong. "He can be a little impulsive sometimes", Ethan's voice echoed in your head. You were afraid to do something wrong and tick Nathan off. Your head still hurt after the hit in the woods.

Nathan focused back to you. You couldn't see his face behind the mask, and by now it was starting to annoy you. «Do you want to leave, cute thing?» he asked, with a somewhat teasing tone. You were caught by surprise.

«Ethan said that-» you started, but Nathan scoffed.

«Ethan says a lot of things and has a lot of rules. I'm not Ethan, I'm Nathan. I'm sure he mentioned it, right?» when you nodded, he sighed.

«I hoped to introduce myself on my own... But he probably did not expect me to come here and talk to you. Which is why I will ask again, do you want to leave this place?»

This time you stopped to consider it. By how he was phrasing it, it sounded like Nathan wanted to sneak you out, without letting Ethan know. That would have meant that once out, you could attempt an escape more easily if only one of them was following you.

«I do. Please.»

Nathan chuckled and stood up from the chair. He didn't get close to you, but raised a hand with his palm up, inviting you. You got up from the bed, walked towards the masked man and took his hand. Nothing bad happened, and you relaxed a bit. Then he closed his hand over yours and gave it a light tug, pulling you closer. The eyes of the mask staring back at you were unsettling to say the least.

Nathan opened the door and led you outside, carefully looking around. He was definitely sneaking you out without Ethan's permission. Not like you cared, as long as you got out. You two walked down a corridor, then in an old lift. You noticed the blood stains and scratches on the metal wall, but tried to not think about it and suppressed the shivers in your body. Nathan just stared at your hand, opening and closing it in what seemed to be fascination.

«I can never get this kind of control over my puppets; their fingers break as soon as I start adding the thread and wood.» he commented, flexing your fingers. It was pretty weird, having a crow face staring at your hand. It made you feel like he could just bite your fingers off any moment as if they were worms.

The elevator got to the ground floor, and Nathan led you to the exit door. He fiddled with the door a bit, working on some sort of code. Then he opened it and pulled you out with him.

It was dark outside, it had only been a few hours since you were stargazing. Around you was the town, small and deserted. You couldn't see anyone around. Plus you couldn't tell the direction your car was. Your escape plan was slowly falling apart in your head as you realised you would not be able to get away from Nathan.

«What is wrong, pretty thing?» he asked, with that mocking tone. He pulled you away from the front of the Hospital, and towards a specific direction, or so it seemed. As you followed him, you noticed shadows moving around him. You squinted your eyes to see it better; it had a pair of white spots on one end, and its body was a bent shape, like a reversed V standing on one of its legs. It didn't look human or like anything you'd ever seen before. Just as you were about to ask Nathan about it, the shadow disappeared.

As you kept walking, you soon saw a building. It was big, and there seemed to be some light inside that was shining through the windows.

«Welcome to the Puppet Theatre! This is where I, the Puppeteer, work!» Nathan said with a certain enthusiasm, opening the door and leading you in. You thought of bolting away while he stepped in, but he was still holding your hand, firmly. So you walked in and let Nathan close the door behind you, just to pull you again, past the ticket office. A puppet started greeting you both, but Nathan ignored it and just pushed the door open, leading you in the actual theatre. Then he did something you didn't expect; he took his mask off.

You thought that under the mask there would be a hideous face, maybe scarred or deformed, like the one of the creature that chased you first in the woods. Instead, it was a normal, human face. He was way younger than you thought he'd be, probably around your age. Brown eyes, brown messy hair and pale, smooth skin. In different circumstances, you'd even think he was handsome. You didn't realise you were staring, until he chuckled.

«You look surprised, pretty thing.» he said, tilting his head to the side with a curious expression. You blinked a few times and looked away, pretending to be interested in the place. You should have been interested in what was around you, to find a way to escape or fight back. «It's nicer than it looked from the outside.» You managed to say. Nathan hummed, as if pleased with your answer. Truthfully, the place looked kinda good, if you could get past the fact that it seemed abandoned. And a nice music was playing, a bit eerie but still enjoyable; you could even have danced to it.

But now your exhaustion was catching up with you; luckily your head didn't hurt as much as before, but it wasn't fine. Nathan was about to start dragging you around again, but you needed to rest.

«Nathan-»

The way his expression lit up startled you. It wasn't the cold amusement you saw just moments before, he seemed intrigued now. Just by you saying his name.

«That is my name.» he said, staring at you. You nodded, a bit unsettled.

«Yes, well, I- I'm tired.» was all you managed to say, fear and dizziness washing over you.

His eyes softened a little, but there was a glint of something in them, something dangerous... you couldn't let your guard down yet.

«Is that so? But I want to show you more, pretty thing.» he said, with a little smirk on his lips. You had to admit it; he was terribly attractive when he did that.

«But we could make an arrangement, yes? I will let you rest, if you let me study those pretty hands of yours. I rarely get someone with such pretty hands unscathed, I want to make them for my puppets.»

You thought about it. It didn't seem unfair, and if he wanted to just see your hands, why not comply? After that you could find a way out of there more easily, once you were rested enough. You nodded, and he led you through some corridors and doors. The more you walked, the more tired you felt... the more you realised how stupid that was. When you saw Nathan was leading you to a basement, you started fearing for what he meant by "studying" your hands. There were blood splatters on the walls, and chains. Nathan let go of you to walk to the wall, and you took the chance. You ran back from where you came, closing the doors behind you as you passed them, hoping to slow him down. But you couldn't remember exactly all the turns you took, so you started just randomly running down the corridor, hoping to find an exit. Your blood froze when you heard the sound of something slamming against one of the doors far behind you. As you turned your head to look back, a hand grabbed your arm, pulling you forward.

Soon you realised you were in Ethan's grasp, in the corridor you found yourself in. He was wearing his mask.

«I told you not to leave your room.» he said in a reprimanding whisper. There was a hint of something else in his voice, something akin to worry, but you didn't really focus on that as you could hear Nathan approaching.

«I'm sorry! But please let me go-» as the last door was about to go down, Ethan pushed you into a closet. «Stay. There.» His voice was commanding and his tone firm; he would not accept disobedience this time. The closet doors closed in front of you, and you covered your mouth as you heard the last door go down; Nathan's steps quickly approached.

«You let the pretty thing escape, I presume?»

It was Ethan's voice, you could tell.

«It seemed to be behaving well and to be too tired to try an escape. I misjudged it, but it can't have gotten far.» Nathan's voice was further from Ethan's, but it was still too close for your liking. You were forcing yourself to stay still and control your breath, terrified that the smallest sound could give you away.

«Let's search the building then.» Ethan's voice, again. A terrible doubt crawled up your spine: what if he was about to just give you back to Nathan?

One set of footsteps started growing distant, but another was getting close. You held your breath as the closet door opened; but Ethan's bug mask was staring back at you. He grabbed your arm and pulled you out of the closet; Nathan was nowhere in sight. But you were still shaking, and Ethan noticed that. With a sigh, he took his mask off. You took a shaky breath when you saw a face identical to Nathan's- then it made sense to you, how similar their voices were. They were twins. And one immediate difference you could spot, was Ethan's more disheveled look. Black circles around his eyes, and if Nathan's hair were messy, Ethan's were even messier.

«Will you obey this time?»

The fact that the mask was off felt somewhat reassuring. You managed a weak «Yes», your hands still shaking.

Ethan gave you an approving nod, then led you down the corridor, in the opposite direction from where Nathan went. He was still holding your arm, firm but not too tight. You tried to not look around too much, your head was already spinning as it was. Your focus was all on Ethan, to make sure to match his pace and follow the turns he took.

You're not sure when you got out of the theatre and into the woods, but there you were, under the night sky again, with tall trees all around you. Ethan stopped, and you almost bumped into him. He faced you and lifted your chin, careful not to scratch you with the long metal claws on his fingers. He turned your face side to side, his eyes scrutinizing every one of your features. One of his fingers was resting on the side of your neck, feeling your pulse.

«Your exhaustion is catching up to you. You have fifteen minutes at best, before you collapse.» he declared, but he didn't let go of your face yet. One of his metal claws grazed your throat; if on purpose or by accident, you couldn't tell.

«I haven't seen a combination of skin tissue, bone structure and eye aspects as intriguing as yours in a long time. It would be a shame if Nathan disfigured it before I managed to emulate it for my future projects.»

Your head was starting to feel heavy, understanding what he was implying was too hard for you. It sounded vaguely flattering though.

«And it would be a shame if Ethan took apart your perfect hands before I learned how to emulate them for my puppets.» a voice sounded behind you, startling you back into a more awake state.

Nathan was just a few paces behind you. You weren't sure when he got there, but Ethan didn't even flinch. He just moved his clawed hand away from your face, and looked at his brother. You didn't turn to see him. Instead, you looked at the ground, at your feet. Everything was starting to spin in your vision, it made you feel nauseous.

«What solution do you propose then, brother?» asked Ethan, his voice stern. Something told you he wasn't going to give you up to Nathan. It was a small comfort, you didn't know what his "projects" involved. Nathan walked closer, placing himself right behind you. He raised your other arm, the one his brother wasn't holding, and took your hand.

«I won't turn the pretty thing into a puppet, and you won't turn it into one of your creatures. We'll share it, taking turns studying it.»

The way they talked about you sent chills down your spine. They were both holding you, yet it was as if you weren't even there; they talked about sharing you as if you were a treat they just had to break in two so that both had a piece.

Ethan hummed, a small sound that didn't escape you.

«It seems like a fair deal. But first, the pretty thing should rest.»

A buzzing sound invaded your ears, as your vision started fading. The last thing you heard, before you collapsed, were three words; you couldn't be sure which one of them spoke them, their voices muffled.

«Our pretty thing»

[blue-howlite]

Character analysis

Today we analyse Nathan McMillan, from the video game saga of Forgotten Hill. Why? Because I am terribly bored.

Warning: spoilers under the cut, also mentions of death, people getting turned into puppets, I'm basically talking about this character's potential issues.

SO, THIS MF (affectionately)

I'll be honest, I think he has some sort of mommy issues.

I mean, the two characters we know he had as "stars" of his shows were both women (the Petersen's mother and Josephine, Jimmy Larson's girlfriend), could be a coincidence but it's weird it happened twice right?

Then in one of the mementoes we have a dead woman in a wardrobe, even with strings attached to her if I remember right. Even if she didn't have the strings, it's still a dead woman in a wardrobe. In a wardrobe just like the Petersen's mother. Coincidences? I think not.

So we have three suspicious female characters, AND we know that his mother disappeared. No one knows what the hell happened to her, maybe the husband killed her, maybe her own kids did, maybe she just decided to move out of town, or maybe one of his husband's experiments killed her. Point is, missing mother figure from a certain point of his life onward.

Next argument to my theory: the fact that he seeks approvation.

We know from the stories on the official Forgotten Hill website that the huge guy in the theatre that eats a lot complained about one of Nathan's shows, and was then turned into a puppet.

A person that doesn't care about other people's opinion would have ignored him. But Nathan had to turn him into a puppet, because the guy didn't like the show. That's clearly a sign he cares about what others think and that he seeks people's approval. He couldn't stand the fact that someone wouldn't like what he did.

Of course for the creators that's probably just a way to characterize him and make him scary, but I really enjoy reading more than there is into this characters.

Then, we have Berry and the "we'll be together forever" theme.

Of course we know that the ritual to turn Berry into a ghost horse head was prompted by his father, but Nathan didn't hesitate nor seemed sad about it. In fact, he was happy that Berry would never leave him and that they would be together forever.

This heavily implies some attachment issues. Yeah, Nathan was a child at the time, but he still should know that everything and everyone dies at some point in life (let's see if I get to the end of this without triggering my thanatophobia :D). He should have learned that, but Berry experience might have taught Nathan that death can be cheated. This could also tie to issues with his mother's disappearance, and so the mommy issues mentioned before.

And his attachment issues are reflected on his work with the puppets. When Nathan creates a puppet, not only can he now control and play with it, but can also preserve it.

Going back to the women I mentioned before, we know that he didn't willingly get rid of the Petersen's mother. Even though he had replaced her with Josephine, he put her into a wardrobe and tried to keep her.

For the sake of the joke I could say he didn't want to let go of Jimmy either, he literally knocked him out on his way out of the theatre, but this should be a serious theory post so let's ignore that.

The puppets theme also suggests the theme of "control". I mean, making someone into a puppet to move them around sounds pretty controlling. And this ties back to the attachment issues, why tying people like that? He could have a normal theatre with normal actors my man, but instead he ties them and makes them unable to move without him. Is he scared they'll leave him? Why would he? Berry taught him that he can even cheat death so that's not the experience that made him worried about that. His mother then?

In conclusion.

Nathan has definitely attachment and abandonment issues that are probably related to his mother. But it's funnier to say that he has "mommy issues" lol.

[blue-howlite]

Nathan McMillan x reader

Type: fluff I guess.

Trigger warnings: Mentions of blood and people being turned into human puppets. Nathan.

Yn= Your name

Author note: hey! I'm sorry for being so late with this request, I had a lot of stuff going on. Anyway, I hope you like it! Ethan's oneshot will be coming soon, I promise.

You entered the puppet theatre. The show was starting in two hours, but you hoped to get some alone time with Nathan.

«Hi. Is Nathan here?» you asked to the puppet at the ticket office.

It didn't answer. Instead, he responded with the usual greeting.

«Welcome, madam. Could you show me your ticket please?»

You sighed, then showed him the ticket.

«Thank you, madam. There's a little wait before the show begins.» the puppet said in its mechanical yet human voice.

«That's why I'm here now.» you murmured.

«Enjoy the show!» it said, and opened the door that led you to the other rooms of the theatre.

Immediately a shadow greeted you, floating around you excitedly.

«Hey Berry, how are you?» you asked the shadow, smiling softly. Berry seemed to squirm, then got closer and lightly nudged your shoulder, going through it as he had no physical body. You felt cold where the spirit had touched you, but laughed. It was his way to say he was happy to see you.

«Do you know where Nathan is?» you asked, extending a hand to the shadow. Berry just turned around and started floating away, then stopped and waited for you. You started following him, walking through the corridors.

Berry guided you to the stage, leading you to the red curtain and disappearing. You grabbed the red fabric to move it but a hand grabbed yours and pulled you behind the curtain.

It was dark in there, and you felt two arms sneaking around your waist, someone embracing you from behind.

«You are quite early for the show, are you not?» a voice murmured close to your ear.

You smiled, and pressed yourself against him.

«I wanted to see you.» you said, turning to face him. You couldn't really see him in the dark, only his silhouette.

«Did you now? And why, if I may ask?»

Now his voice was a whisper, and his face was closer to yours.

«Because I missed you, Nathan. Your new puppets kept you busy and I couldn't see you much these last three days.» you said with a dramatic sigh, while your hands found their way up his shoulders.

He chuckled, then lightly pressed his lips against yours. He wasn't wearing his mask, he didn't need it around you.

«I promise to make it up to you, my dearest. Shall we move to-» a muffled sound interrupted him. It was barely audible, but you both heard it. Nathan sighed, releasing you from the embrace and you took your arms off of him, but he got hold of one of your hands.

«Since the show will not start any time soon, would you like to meet the actors who will play tonight?» he asked.

Now that your eyes were getting used to the dark you could see his face. He was smiling, his eyes staring into yours. His hair was a mess, probably because of the many hours of work.

«Sure, I'd love to.»

He took you backstage, in a room with some pictures on the wall and some puppets hanging in a closet.

Again, the muffled sound, like someone who was trying to scream against a pillow.

«Ah, our protagonist must be nervous because of the show. Worry not my friend, I know you will do great.» Nathan said, patting the shoulder of one of the puppets. The muffled sound stopped.

You could only stare in awe. Nathan's puppets were always a stunning view. Even though you knew they were once humans, now turned into puppets with sticks and strings inside them, you couldn't help but admire his work. Sometimes they bled but that stopped bothering you a long time ago. You just found them beautiful, with their original traits and the ones Nathan gave them.

Nathan caught your lost gaze and smiled to himself. He walked up to you, stopping a step away.

«You know,» he looked you up and down «you would make for a beautiful puppet. Probably the most beautiful I ever laid my hands on...»

He gently held your hand in his, caressing the wrist with his thumb. «Just a few strings, here and here and there... And then you would dance for eternity, as I lead you...» his eyes now lost, his free hand started tracing the spots where he would place the strings. You didn't feel scared or threatened though. No matter how much he wanted to have you on his stage, Nathan couldn't hurt you. You just chuckled, leaning into him.

«I would love to dance with you. Maybe not as a puppet though.» you said, looking into his eyes. Nathan got out of his little trance and smiled.

«Then I think I know how to make it up to you, my dearest.»

He took your hand in his and led you out of there, to another room. There you saw an old gramophone, and Nathan quickly pulled out a vinyl record. A music started playing, one that you recognized as Nathan's favourite, "Danse Macabre".

He swiftly placed one of your hands on his shoulder, placing one of his hands on your waist. Then he took your free hand in his own, and slowly started dancing with you.

You followed his lead, relaxing into his arms and moving in sync with him. He taught you how to dance a long time ago.

«Look at you, following my lead so easily...» he whispered in your ear «I just know you would be the perfect puppet.» he added, kissing your cheek. He then pulled back, just enough to see your face.

«But would you really make me into one?» you asked, a little smirk on your lips.

His gaze softened, and soon after he kissed you. Now his hands were holding your face.

«I don't need to. You're already mine.»

[ey3sof7hecorru9t3d]

colonels face at the end just screams "I did it on purpose and I don't regret it"

That's what he gets for rigging the card game in FH:puppeteer.

ALSO YOUR PUPPETEER AND COLONEL DESIGNS ARE JUST Chef's kiss x1000

I could stare at them prebby twins forever

Had art-block, started watching random Youtube videos and then I got an amazingly awful idea! Forgotten Hill botox/plastic surgery treatments... and the boys goofin' around!

Sad aftermath for Theo...