[PLAYBACK: IV v V - MARINN vs ELISE]

[ The feed flickers on. MARINN is on one of his very few trips out of his room- he was always a bit of a shut in, especially once put into his first game, and now he’s just resorting back to old habits. However, as he sits in the lobby, looking out the windows into the vastness of the space they inhabit, someone approaches him.]

[ELISE]: Hey. Puppet boy.

[MARINN sighs. He’s desperately been trying to avoid her the most out of everyone. Reminds him of some people from his school.]

[MARINN]: H-hello, Elise.

[She walks up to him. Not making eye contact, not even looking at him. Just slightly adjacent.]

[ELISE]: You know, when I first saw you, I thought your whole thing was like, you were trying to be creepy. That was your thing, or whatever.

[ELISE]: I mean, why else would you carry that horrific little thing everywhere?

[MARINN looks down at his puppet, who he’s been puppeteering absentmindedly. The puppet looks over at ELISE.]

[ELISE]: Ugh. Yeah.

[ELISE]: But, it really turns out that you’re not even trying. You’re just like this. Which, honestly? Is even more sad.

[MARINN]: …Please just, go away.

[ELISE]: Look, I don’t usually do this. Interacting with people like you, helping them… yeah. Usually that’s all beneath me. But I feel generous today. How about I help you out, hm?

[MARINN]: I don’t need your help, Elise.

[ELISE]: Yeah, yeah. But… I’m sure you’ll thank me when it’s gone.

[MARINN]: …Wha-?

[Within seconds, ELISE managed to pull out and flourish a selfie stick, and slaps it against MARINN’s hand- the one holding his puppet’s controls.]

[MARINN]: OW!

[ELISE then manages to grab the controls with the stick in another flourish, pulling the puppet towards her.]

[ELISE]: Look, I don’t even wanna touch the thing… but it’s for your own good, puppet boy. It’ll help you get a personality, y’know?

[She laughs as she takes off with the puppet, pulling it along the ground by its strings.]

[MARINN]: Hey. HEY! Do-don’t DO that! You’re gonna ruin her paint! Her strings are delicate, too! Just- STOP!

[MARINN runs after her, straight into the open doors of the Simulation Room. As soon as he enters, the door shuts behind him, leaving him in complete darkness. Almost no light sources in the whole thing, except for- a harsh red glow off in the distance.]

[MARINN]: Nonononono…

[He rushes over, where ELISE is currently setting up her phone on a Tripod, MARINN’s puppet dangling haphazardly from her arm. A fire crackles in front of them, it's simulated flames glowing an ominous red.]

[ELISE]: I just HAVE to see the look on his face when his little friend goes up in flames…

[She poses in front of the camera for a few moments, trying to get some good lighting- not too obscured, but still a little, to fit the mood. However, from just over her shoulder, a certain puppeteer has just caught up. He stares at the scene in front of him, and for once in his time on the ship, his sadness and worry has turned to anger.]

[MARINN]: …Get away from her.

[End Segment]

[Right as he speaks up, he brandishes some sort of blunt wooden object, attempting to hit her shoulder and knock his puppet free. However, as soon as he starts the swing, ELISE grabs him and throws him over her shoulder. He lands on his back, just a few feet away from the simulated fire.]

[ELISE]: Yes, YES! This is what I’ve been waiting for! C’mon, you puppet freak! Give me a good fight! Or are you just going to give up after one measly- uh...

[She stops goading MARINN momentarily, as she feels the floor beneath her shake. Then, the cubes making up the floor all split apart, causing all three of them, counting the puppet, to fall.]

[However, they don’t simply fall into a separate floor, or anything like that. Instead, they seem to be falling in an endless, open void, only separated by flashes of light every now and then.]

[ELISE]: Oh my god, really? Did you, like, plan this? I can’t freaking fight you when we’re falling, that’s… that just doesn't work!

[MARINN is attempting to swim over to his puppet, who’s lighter frame is causing it to fall slightly away from them.]

[MARINN]: Well, maybe this is a good thing for you. Gives you a c-chance to think about your actions.

[ELISE rolls her eyes.]

[ELISE]: Oh, right, sure. Like I’m supposed to feel bad for trying to win at a competition.

[MARINN]: Y-you can be competitive, or whatever, I d-don’t really care. But you don’t have to make everyone else’s lives miserable. Tormenting me, or… Cali, or… Dorothy… you’re just… You’re just like everyone at the school. Especially the ones running the place...

[ELISE]: Right, right, your super cool school where only the talented people get in. Please. I’d love to work there, if I’m surrounded by the best of the best. You keep acting like it's the worst thing to happen to you... honestly, maybe it's because you shouldn't even be there.

[ELISE]: I don't care what doctor said so, playing with dolls isn't a talent. If your school wanted real talent, they should have picked me.

[MARINN sneers and mumbles under his breath.]

[MARINN]: Yeah, I wish they picked you too.

[ELISE]: …Why did you say it like that?

[The duo continue to fall, but as they do… it seems like the end is rapidly approaching.]

[End Segment]