Chapter Text
[It’s becoming a weekly addition to the show.] Braun says with all of his usual enthusiasm as he lifts up his cup.
Roe Deer is certain that the liquid inside must go somewhere, given it disappears, but he’s never quite figured out what Braun does with it besides the idea of the word ‘drink.’ He’s fairly sure that he does nothing at all, just putting on the live performance of sipping the beverage – perception is an easy thing to twist into reality, especially for an Entertainment Ghost Story.
[Each Tuesday Quiz Show, contestants come with animal masks. Lovely quality, too! The first time they arrived, I even thought the producers had provided them and had kept me in the dark about the show’s theme as a surprise!]
[By the third time, I was wondering if I was witnessing a live version of a rerun!]
[I would hate to sound as though I’m complaining, of course! It’s only natural that a legendary Entertainer can make an excellent performance even if the other cast members are D-list actors with no potential and whose only talents lie in the ability to memorize lines.]
“Even so, it must be frustrating,” Roe Deer replies as his fingers catch on his own cup of green tea. A figure with protruding horns stares back at him in the reflection. “I would be frustrated, anyway,” he tacks on after a few moments because he knows that Braun would dislike being attributed to any qualities that would make him sound anything less than the perfect Host.
It was possible he didn’t truly feel things like frustration either, but if it came to his Show? Roe Deer was certain he did.
Still, it didn’t change his nature.
“All of the effort you and your crew put into the show, and people just keep showing up with the answers? Why haven’t the writers made new questions yet? If they all have matching masks and outfits, then it’s fairly obvious that they’re sharing with each other… This can’t be good for the ratings.”
Braun waves his hand as if to shoo the issue away.
[Haha, there’s no need to worry, Friend! But I do appreciate the concern! I can still keep the audience engaged – no Show could fail with this Braun as the Host!]
“That’s true,” Roe Deer agrees, and the emoticon on Braun’s screen gets a bit brighter. “But still, your passion shouldn’t have to be wasted on a show that the Producers don’t care enough about to do the bare minimum for.”
[Oh, does it sound like my Friend is suggesting some better ideas for the Show?] Braun asks, the screen instantly morphing into an ear emoticon. For all the theatrics, Roe Deer knows the offer is genuine. The Host has been trying to persuade him to join the Show since they met. That’s why the snort that comes from Roe Deer is genuine as well.
“Maybe,” Roe Deer says, as noncommittal as it is. Besides the fact that he’s tending to other things, he’s always been somewhat nervous that his ideas wouldn’t live up to what Braun thought, but, “If they aren’t even trying, then I’m certain I could write better than them, at least.”
[Oh my, Friend! Those are some bold words!] Braun laughs, his emoticon returning to a bright smile. It usually is, really, when he’s speaking with Roe Deer. [However, you can’t hide your real feelings from this Friend!]
Roe Deer suddenly looks up at the Host, face twisted in a confusion that Braun obviously relishes in – having his Friend at the edge of his seat.
[I’ve seen that sparkle in your eyes since I told you about them.] Braun goes on, emoticons of animal masks appearing on his screen to visualize the point. [You’re curious about them! Those Humans!]
Roe Deer carefully does not react, or at least he barely does, but it does nothing to stop Braun’s screen from suddenly flashing lights with the words “WINNER!” on full display. Though, that proves to be enough to earn Braun a glare from the other Ghost Story.
Braun isn’t deterred though, laughing in delight.
“Why wouldn’t I be a little bit interested in them?” Roe Deer asks, taking a sip from his drink and considering the pros and cons of spitting it at Braun’s screen. He doesn’t though, and just swallows. “They use masks to conceal themselves, so they know they could be in danger-”
[My Show is hardly dangerous! It’s all for the Entertainment of the Audience!]
“Didn’t you say you incinerated one of them?”
[The only reasonable recourse! Anyone with any respect for the Broadcast, the Audience, or for basic manners would know not to yawn uncovered as soon as you’re asked the next trivia question!]
There’s a few, long moments of silence as Braun and Roe Deer stare at each other. Finally, Roe Deer opens his mouth to continue.
“So they know they could be in danger,” he ignores the three red exclamation points that appear on Braun’s screen and the pouting face that follows. “But they return every week, and they’ve collected all the answers. They obviously intend to keep returning. What do they have to gain?”
[Well, the MVP does win a fabulous grand prize! Hmm, I suppose they try to fill all the slots to be certain that one of them wins it!]
It was difficult to believe that anyone would enter Braun’s Tuesday Quiz Show just to employ the same strategies that he’s seen players use for attractions at Yongyong’s Amusement Park.
Of course, it wasn’t like Roe Deer could make that comparison out loud. Then Braun might be tempted to incinerate him next.
Besides, Braun already has pixelated confetti falling across his screen to celebrate the success of figuring out the answer, so Roe Deer really doesn’t have the heart to tell him that he doubts his grand prize is what they want.
“That might be part of it,” Roe Deer concedes because it really could be. A small part, mayhaps. But a part. “But I don’t think your Show is the only place they’re entering… I’ve never thought much of it, but I’m certain I’ve heard others mention similar people appearing.”
[Hmm?] Braun’s screen morphs to a large question mark, but soon a few smaller ones scatter across the screen as well.
“Yongyong’s mentioned it before, but I thought it might be some people who wore masks for fun before entering the theme park,” Roe Deer explains – it makes sense to him, anyway. That is the appeal of Theme Parks as a whole. Plenty of people come to buy little toys or accessories that match the theme. Yongyong even sells antlered-headbands, so the idea of people already arriving with animal theme masks to do similar isn’t entirely farfetched.
(Especially when – and he would never tell Yongyong this – some of the accessories were a bit… overpriced.)
“I’ll have to ask around some about them…”
[Ah, so my Friend wants to track them down!] Braun’s screen flashes. [I suppose even D-list actors can end up with stalkers every once in a while!]
“Braun!”
[Haha, I jest. But since you’re interested in them, knowing my Friend, you’ll surely want to learn all about them.]
It takes Roe Deer a moment, but he reluctantly nods.
He’s always been like that – just as it’s in Braun’s Nature to be the perfect Host and Entertainer, it’s in Roe Deer’s to never let a story go incomplete. If he finds the traces, the hint of a synopsis of a good Story, then he has to follow it. To read through and to witness.
“But their masks – if they’re entering Ghost Stories regularly and taking precautions, then it’s safe to assume that they don’t just cover their faces. It hides their identities altogether, doesn’t it?” His brow furrows as he reaches for the cup of his long cold drink.
[That goes without saying. But of course, are things all really as they appear?]
Roe Deer looks up. The image on his screen of three masked competitors standing at colorful podiums – a scene that Roe Deer is familiar with.
The three figures' colors flatten, shapes shifting and stretching to three solid rectangles. The pieces come together to form one large one, turning to an off-white. Details of writing and a stamp slowly start to emerge on it.
A postcard.
[Of course, to ensure the safety of our most precious Audience, each contestant who comes onto the Tuesday Quiz Show is properly vetted!]
“So you…”
[Know who they are? Why, of course! They always collect the postcards that are sent out for the Quiz Show applications, and what sort of Host would I be if I didn’t know where those priceless papers ended up?]
“And you said I was a stalker…”
[Friend!!]
Roe Deer stifles a laugh, though it doesn’t take long for his gaze to fall contemplative.
[So, what will my good Friend do? Ah, the suspense! Will his Curiosity win?]
[Or…]
[Will his Fear of Humans?]
Roe Deer’s mouth sets in a firm line as he stares at the screen, it’s blank now, only his reflection in it shining back.
It isn’t like his Fear is a secret, though it isn’t an openly advertised fact either.
Hearing about them is fine, and to an extent, seeing them. He needs to if he’s to fully Witness their Story. But that doesn’t mean that he enjoys experiencing it!
If there’s a Human at Yongyong’s Park, the Mascot immediately lets him know so he can hide away in a membership-only area and avoid them for the rest of his trip!
If a Human wanders into the Moonlight Tattoo Shop, then his cousin shoves him away before anyone even gets the chance to notice someone else was there!
Braun’s Show is fine, for the most part, he doesn’t mind sitting in the audience or behind the scenes and watching the Humans on stage, but if any of them tried to talk to him or look at him–
The thought alone gives him goosebumps.
But in order to figure out the Story that exists behind the animal masks, to figure out why they enter Ghost Stories, he’ll need to talk to them for himself.
Of course Braun knows that, that’s why he’s staring at him so intently right now.
He watches the reflection in the screen’s eyes narrow with something that looks to be determination, which is odd, because he certainly feels more like he’s going to throw up than anything else.
“I need to talk to them.”
[Haha, very well then, Friend! This Braun will give you the information you seek, free of charge of course! A favor for a Friend!]
Humans are the ones who are scared to enter Ghost Stories, who barely manage to get out alive, Roe Deer reminds himself. As a Ghost Story himself, there isn’t anything to be scared of.
Right.
He just needed to hear their Stories, satisfy his curiosity, and leave.
How hard could this be?