SHOWMASTER HEART GAME (SUNDAY)(MORNING)

[showmaster]

A familiar voice can be heard above you, you're not sure if they're talking to you or not but it does feel like you're part of this conversation:

"What a Wonderful Story that you have. I've read it many times when I was feeling sad. You know, I wanted to keep it in my personal collection, but it doesn't seem that's going to be possible. To grant my wish, I'd have to sacrifice what it means to be a reader ... to become the story. That's The End that I'm looking for.

...

...

...

...

..."

Comments

[ticketmaster]

Yes and yes.

[:)]

[taking_pains]

I... see.

[He does not,]

Is it something that we're likely to find here?

[ticketmaster]

You'll be able to find the location. This is but a dream world, but there is one place where the item I need to burn can be found.

[taking_pains]

I see.

And what will happen, if the item is burned?

[ticketmaster]

Well . . . my story will be burned and I will likely disappear. But that's just a partial answer. If you want a complete answer, you'll have to test your luck or guess.

[taking_pains]

That does not exactly encourage me to cooperate, you realize.

[ticketmaster]

I do realize. And I accept that choice as well. You may do as you please and that, too, has value.

[taking_pains]

Is there a reaosn that you cannot tell me the other consequences?

[ticketmaster]

Because I do not know them.

I can theorize what they are. It might erase all of us and this world completely. Or maybe it will just erase our history and humans can live peacefully. Maybe you will go back to your worlds, maybe you will become words in a page, or maybe you'll continue to live in this world.

But I have no idea what it will do. But also, I do not care.

[taking_pains]

...ah.

Well. Thank you for being straightforward.

[He pauses, hesitant]

May I have my ticket, now?

[ticketmaster]

[She holds out "TICKETMASTER" to him.]

You can have this one or choose one of the others if you feel like it.

[taking_pains]

What is the difference between them?

[ticketmaster]

Where you are now is a physical representation of the Showmaster's psyche and memories. Each path goes down a different "part" of her. Pain, Regrets, Goals, Love, Family, Stories, all of that belongs to her.

[taking_pains]

And this one?

[He reaches out, carefully, to accept the ticket]

[ticketmaster]

It is the part about me. Well, there's two different lines but you won't know which one you'll end up on. There's the "story" version and perhaps the "human" version.

[taking_pains]

I see.

[He turns the ticket over in his hand]

...and you are not bothered, that someone will see it?

[ticketmaster]

At this point . . . maybe it doesn't matter what we want. We, as in, myself and the Showmaster.

Mysteries won't solve anything.

[taking_pains]

But you think that this might.

[A pause, as he considers]

Very well, then. I will see what I can find.

[showmaster]

You will find something, I'm sure.

[But before he can say anything else, the ticketmaster pushes him through the subway train door.]