Passages contains graphic and explicit sexual content.

Listener discretion is advised.

Welcome, Oh yeah, welcome to Passages.

Passages.

Indulge me now if you will hang cobwebs and shadows in your mind, think darkness and danger too.

Entails from another time.

Travel with me, please, into the darkened recesses of other people's minds, to a world of wood and cloth and stream.

This season of Passages is a Harlequin intrigue again Puppet's Bobby.

Passages, Puppets.

I'm mad at Robbie, Amanda's mad at me because okay, honestly valid, Valid because you were so excited to watch that.

Movie Andrew show it to you because it's so cute.

I heard a new word somebody was you sent it to us?

Yeah, I was pitching like a new word, like like.

It's like us or something.

It's a vicarious us enjoyment something.

Yeah, but versus it's anyway.

It's because because you know how there's there are so many things in English that are like, oh, I wish there was a word for that, like schadenfreude in German takes like three hours.

Is a word for that, just not an English because the English like that.

That's what I'm saying is there's a lot of expressiveness work like terms that just aren't in English, like, for example, we use words from French German, you know, things like this, like.

We make up our own words.

Wow on fleek is not really what I'm talking about.

I'm not either.

I'm talking about how you and I will random ship.

That's really more capturing a vibe of what we're feeling than making any sense.

Yeah, like like like twins raised together form like bizarre we speak.

Amanda and I have have lots of those.

Most of them are like guttural like hoots and gagging sounds.

We said.

The three of us sat here years ago laughing so hard that we were almost kissing our pants because we made a joke, made create our own joke social media platform called upwts, and we were all begging each other ship.

You get enough clips if I don't get enough up wets ship, And it is that where please came from?

My ship?

I think it is.

I think that's where please comes from.

My fucking hell.

That's amazing.

Up wet uplight my ships on Spleeaker Spleeaker UPLI my ship.

Which we were saying Spleeaker long before Speaker, the lovely podcast hosting platform ever existed, totally unrelated, so they stole it from us.

Concurrent development possibly, but yeah, up let my ships on Sqleeaker.

Anyway, it's super despert because you don't have enough up wet.

What we're even talking about?

Korean?

Oh, Demon Hunters, Yeah, Korean masterpiece.

I love it.

I don't know if they are if it is a Korean product it is, but it captures, from what I understand, captures the vibe and fandom.

Yeah.

I mean it's a collaborative film, but it is tons of people on the production team and like the writing team are Korean people, and the voice acting is like and the singing is like yeah, like I.

S incredible, Like behind the scenes footage of them like listening to each other saying and the like just joy is very infections.

I know very little about K pop culture and like the scene.

My nieces are into it.

They had me watch it when I was on vacation with them, and I fucking loved it, and then totally like everyone I know that I loved it, and I was like, oh my god, you guys have to watch it.

I was stoked for you guys to see it.

And then I came over and we watched it.

And what did you do, Robert.

Okay, Okay, what I did is I drank half of a THHD drink.

That's what I did.

And then about forty five minutes into the movie, I went.

And could not compute, could not follow the very simple, very straightforward, very No.

I mean I could follow it, I just didn't understand it.

I like knew where the characters were going, I just didn't know what they were doing or saying, and I couldn't follow why they were all upset near the end.

And then I got scared watch it again.

So I was like, that big pink thing is so sinister.

Its voice is so good.

It's like smooth and.

Like oh calm, but like just a little off.

Yeah, it's one of It's honestly right up there.

I mean maybe not quite at the peak of like Skextas from Ferngully and Ursula.

From It feels very inspired, though.

I like, ten years from now we can have this conversation about like does that spooky demon demon voice rank?

It's good because it's damn good.

Watched the movie.

Yeah, and so as that big pink thing got bigger.

I was like sinking into my chair, like trying to hide and hope no one noticed that I hadn't said anything like fifty minutes, which is very unusual for me.

Uh, I'm sorry, I screwed up your veriao.

My very special movie moment.

I'm gonna come back and figure out what that word is because someone was pitching this new word that encapsulates wanting to share something you like with another person, to enjoy it again, to see it through fresh eyes, to like relive it specifically something you like sharing it with someone else, to re get it, to reget the juice.

And it has there's a word now, someone was pitching, and I'm like, on one hundred percent on board that needs a term because I live on it and you live.

On it, I know, and I do rarely present you.

Usually it's me trapping you into a bad movie that I love so much because it's a.

Really bad, really horrific series of cascading events in like a reality show.

Yes I will, I'll lock you into that and be like, no, you have to see this, Yes, a scan of all or.

What were they have a fucking recording of him?

Yes, when Jackson was.

Looking anymore, I'm not attracted to her.

And then they played it.

At their own housewarming.

All the friends and all the women were sitting there listening to it, shooting fucking daggers across the room and all the men, just all the men, they were like, yeah, damage, Dick, we hate you.

And they sat in a big circle and she, oh man, that was like, it's incredible, scary and weird.

So this is why I love forcing things on you that initially he might not be into.

But I'm gonna try to pick the best of the best.

But you ruined it, deeply problematic, sent ruined it.

I started forcing things on you because you might like it.

Yeah, exactly, I would know.

I know you better than you know yourself.

So anyway, all that to say, Puppets Poppy, it's important, oh man, and everyone should watch K pop.

Deven Hunters honestly find things that get you through friends like Puppets.

So you read one chapter plus three pages last week pages.

I just stole a little cliffhangary thing.

And that's just fine from yours.

And we got the legend of Jubi.

That it required its own episode.

Yes it was, and it is and it's it seems to remain fairly irrelevant to the next chapter.

It is I love that laughing hurts.

By the way, because I did eight sit ups stomach roller things.

I used the stomach roller.

Oh, I'm going to only do eight, so I'm not really sore and I'm really sorry.

I did my first boxing class last week and I got there and they were like, you're here for the beginner's class, and I was like, yep, but he goes all right, go run around the block twice.

I was like, I'm sorry, run.

And then you kicked him in the throat.

So I did it, but it hurt, and I walked a lot of it, and then I almost threw up during the class because it was super awesome and intense.

But I actually really enjoyed it and I probably go back.

Can totally see you and I have very good natural posture and a very good left hook.

I do, so I'll beat the fuck o my god fucking dirty.

All right, So there we go.

If we reach what what what Patreon like thing should we reached.

For one thousand dollars a month from one single donor.

So ask your guy and you have to donate person.

You have to done it for one year, so twelve thousand dollars total.

We will we will fight each other.

If you get twelve k from one person, we will host will box a foxy boxing I will wear whatever cute little outfit you pick.

For twelve thousand dollars, I'll totally box you.

It will be absurd.

I think it will be one of the biggest mistakes we ever making.

Our fucking lie.

We're a myriad of reasons so wrong, but uh, you know, we live in a capitalist hellscape, so many.

Please I'm just gonna kick you in the nuts and then end it immediately.

It's not gonna be like regulation.

That's the thirteenth time, the last time I'm taking them off.

After that, I can't live with that.

Thirteenth reasons, thirteenth reasons.

Throw them in the cash, these things?

Hey, all right, all right?

So yeah, what else is there?

Anything?

Story got the incredible myth where we learned that like warlocks and wizards and fucking.

Oh yeah, we're hoping that Jean is Giovanni and he's a puppet person who is Giovanni Ribisi.

Incredibly, we get the reveal that the Italian merchant from the myth was himself an animated puppet.

Yeah, holding a weird grudge like Lucifer morning Star against humans with their free will that.

All make all humans puppets and all puppets human.

I'm gonna now swap you.

So now we've got this amazing Oh my god, there are these golden threads that can swap stuff.

Yes, we got the possibility that magic is real in this universe.

Yes, which has been reinforced by Caddie being like having the magic in.

Her and by the fact that in this world puppets are a big fucking deal.

It's like, oh God, I love in fantasy.

The trope of you think you're in a fantasy world.

And then they pan across the like Statue of Liberty covered in moss, like in Terry Brooks, like Shannara series.

They drop halfway through this like Lord of the ringsy kind of fantasy series, that it's actually on Earth and it's actually way way in the future.

Our future.

The future society has already collapsed.

It's rebuilding again.

Our civilization is the ancient world.

And so they're going through like the ruins of the ancient world and it's like malls and houses, but they don't understand them the way we do.

It was such an amazing weird I want to read that.

It's a great it's it's it's it's a lighter read.

It's I read it as a like a middle school high school kid.

I'm not sure if it's technically ya, but it's definitely like lighter fantasy, so it'd be a nice snappy read.

I'm not sure how much they really get into that as it's I think it's just kind of a background dust school though.

And then when they did the show, I didn't really watch the show.

I don't think anybody unfortunately, but I've never even heard of in the art, like in the background you'd see collapse skyscrapers and so like they're traveling across the lends of fantasy and there's the space needle in the background.

Space wouldn't be there.

I could sneak that in for a second, but yeah, there'd be like some modern infrastructure thing in the background.

But anyways, that's this book is actually far future.

Dude, where we've looped around again and.

Come back to when puppets are amazing deal.

Well, puppets are amazing when they were a big deal, correct, But so so we learned that this this could be well be a more fantastical series of events than we even realize.

I hope so bad.

I hope puppet man.

I want him to be an immoral puppet man so bad I will.

I want that ship myself so much I need it.

But then tell us because I pick up on like page three of chapters.

Sorry, so the the end, the thing I stole from your chapter is caught Katerina after meeting this ghost in the cellar and seeing the predicament that they're in, and she confronts Louise Louise Louise.

And is like, I know that, you know I.

Want to help solve this problem.

I can't do that if I'm being kept in the dark.

I won't be kept in the dark anymore.

And then they're like, all right, let's sneak to somewhere out of earshot because this shit is dangerous.

And that's where we begin our journey.

In chapter twelve, I literally wrote, so they're kikying under a bridge.

Key under the bridge.

He stabbed Claudia.

How many times?

Katerina asked, in a small voice, upward of a dozen rows, says there was a shudder of revulsion in Louise's response, not a pretty sight, I suspect.

For my money, this person, Raoul calls the puppet master is a raving lunatic, rotten to the couh.

Okay, so they're under a bridge by the sin shirt smells and it's eighteen.

And it's eighteen eighty or nineteen eighty.

We have no idea, couldn't be sure.

This wasn't the Paris of painters and poets.

Lovers didn't stroll here for tonight.

Puppets moved their wings right.

Freaked out because she saw one of the little angel puppets had moved its wings.

Yeah, she lost her mind, that's right, putting her in grave danger because she just had a freak out in front of her narrative.

Well, oh well, we'll get to her grave danger.

And the clouds look bruised to Katerina.

Seeing them brought to mind thoughts of butchers and thieves and death of a missing woman and a black cat with blood.

On its paw, with paw of blood.

He's going to try to sneak into the party tonight, isn't he, Raoul?

Not as far as I know why?

Okay, So Katerina asks, Yes, Louise, that because he's looking for the puppet Master, and very likely that's where he figures he'll find him.

He already knows about Babet and Ian and the other people whose names you mentioned a minute ago that I'm not going to repeat because I don't feel like writing it.

Apparently, thanks it shall not be named.

Are only puppets human tools being used by the person who's in charge of this.

She ran a budget for more characters.

She truly, I can't afford any more characters in my book.

This this she grew up for a suitable word, which Louise definitely supplied, blood bath, and I agree.

Rows after the top puppet so to speak.

Yes, yes, everyone's.

I call top puppet.

Ah, I always get bottom puppet, bottom.

Puppet, I call bottom puppet.

No, fine, I have to be the omega.

Puppet, your verse puppet.

No, then I'm just in the middle.

No, Ina Rolls after the top puppet so to speak.

Buddy in the middle.

I want to teach you, this says Rolls after the top puppet.

Yes, yes, rabouls after the top puppet.

The top is in red.

Oh, oh my god, oh I forgot what I was.

I'm so yeah, I was saying after I went to boxing and it kicked my You're.

Dropping back like an hour.

I know, but I had I had a reason to connect that thought.

I was sore for a week.

I took like five ebbs assault baths, so I'm saying, I feel your pain of it having according.

To last oh my god, we finally cycled back to that thing.

Gatta Rida bitter lit feeling guilty.

He knows how I told him.

Oh well, so much for blessed ignorance, because okay, Louise is like, he's not gonna come to the party.

He probably doesn't even know about it.

And Kennedy is like, I can't stop telling him things.

Dude, or right, she just tells him everything.

I know.

She trusted him immediately ten minutes he didn't do.

The pretty privileged h oh well, so much for blessed ignorance.

What do we do?

Then?

There's no disguise that will work for tonight.

The Shin digs strictly by owner invitation, so like Pierre Francois, well know every single person who is there personally by name, face, everything.

There's no way you can what he could do.

Hid the bell of her dress and she wears a really long dress.

Man, I wish, but no, that's not what happens.

It dress Calarina.

Katerina dresses up as him.

No, no, she just goes and reports back.

Correct.

Fuck said the worst one.

It's the worst one.

Uh, the owners being Francois and Pierre.

Katerina stared at the river sidetracked.

I wonder, oh god, please, don't, at least not about Pierre.

He's asked me to go with him to the Louis Saint des Mant party next week in Versailles.

I refuse to believe that I've accepted a fate, a date with a fiend.

Wonder all you want about Francois, but for my sake, stopped there.

So Francois asked like Louise to be his beard.

I guess he's like, come to this party.

Well done, well done, man, and.

She's like, Katerina, Please don't speculate that they might be the in on this, because like, I just want to go on the state to this party and knock it.

A second character that's like willful ignorance is the name of the game.

I know.

Well here she is, Louise.

Okay, I'll stop there for both our sakes.

Katerina shoved her hands up and down her arms.

She's cold, blah blah blah.

Even by even covered by a leather jacket, her skin felt like ice.

We've got to get a message to Rowl, tell him he can't come that at this particular party.

We can do all the things he couldn't possibly do.

Oh, but it's already six forty five.

We barely have time to make it back to the theater and in a wardrobe and makeup.

We'll never have enough time to get into the vaults.

Unless could we get him a message, Smart Lady Louise said with a grin.

Yes, I read that.

Smart Lady Louise said with a gun.

No.

Yes, we do have a drop spot.

As a matter of fact, Raoul always checks it before he goes out of the vaults.

I'll leave the note.

Oh, that's actually super smart.

My cues fifteen minutes after yours.

I can get down there and back again.

No problem.

If we ever live hiding in vaults and then we have a drop spot to send messages, it's like hey, too hot up here, don't come up tonight, or they're down in the vaults looking for you.

So you check the drop spot on your way back in too.

We're gonna have three code words for they're down in the vaults.

Don't go in the vaults.

They're in there looking for you.

Bottom puppet, bottom puppet for they're up here here looking for you.

Don't come here here, top top puppet for all clear, it's cool.

Do whatever in them pup middle, Poppet.

In the middle means good to go in the middle.

Puppet in the middle, puppet.

Oh god, all right, smart lady, Louis said, with a gun.

Oh right, I'm reading it, not you, okay, no, not really.

Gun.

So they have a drop spot, She's like that, then I'll take care of it.

And then Katherine is like, do you feel something?

And then they start fucking each other under the bridge and it's.

Like, oh, holy shit, nos, yeah, I feel it.

To Louis, that's what I wanted, but it's not what it was.

And Louis says, like we're being watched.

I've been feeling it ever since you told me about Francoise Cat and your suspicions about Genevieve blah blah blah, blood on a cat's pod, death in the air, and now paranoia on the brain.

This feels exceptionally bad to me.

You know what, this makes me want to watch like an old black and white like or like a house on Haunted Hill, or yeah, that's this.

I think that's just as a compliment to this book.

It's like giving me that like, ooh, history this but not super high stakes.

I'm not old timey.

I'm not reading it well because I can barely read right now.

But when I read this with a clearhead, very cinematic, I could really picture them.

It's a it's a dark and rainy night.

Everything is like misty, the whities beautiful.

I'm I'm into it, Okay.

Then in a true cinematic fashion, it pov cuts and now.

We're up the camera cranes up to.

And it's up on the bridge and the poppet masters stood on the pond du Change beside Ian, watching as the two women climbed into a DEXI.

He's got like one of those big cones in his ear for like to listen at long distance.

They know more than they should, I think, he said to Ian, who pulled his sopping raincoat tighter and nodded, you must watch them now too.

Catarina most of all, it is to her that Bebett talks most freely.

She hasn't said anything of importance, said Ian, you think it is not important that she speaks of Claudia and a puppet ghost and now of Genevieve.

You're right.

This has banger liones like I.

It was so good.

You think it is not important that she speaks of Paudia and a puppet ghost and now of Genevieve.

It's incredible, incredible, incredible lines.

Uh, Bebet was overwrought today.

I'll speak to her again before the Luis Son de man Gala.

I will surely cut her up long before that.

Oh shit, at least I will if she makes even one more small slip.

I can wait for that moment.

I think it will come soon enough.

Holy shit, Jesus psychopia.

So this has got to be such a turning moment.

Oh, he's excited to have an excuse.

And then he just keeps going.

Was a disappointment.

I could not do her properly.

Ah, but Genevieve I was able to take my time.

And what is best is that she knew who did it to her.

Do you know what it is like, Ian to hold in your hand the power of life and death.

You who are afraid even of your mother?

Tell me?

Does she still telephone to criticize you every day?

Poor Ianjee?

Louise, Oh so hey, ian, now's the time to like turn this guy in because he's completely Have.

You ever slept with babbett Ian?

Oh?

Shit, I think you like her a little.

I prefer the ones with hair of gold.

Katerina, she is pretty, but I like the wildcats.

I have arena blonde.

No.

Yeah, I'm also drawn to the women with fire in their blood and in their hair.

Louise is such a woman.

Ah, but then the fire is not for one like you.

Holy shit, He's getting cooked like and freaked out, and.

So he says, I'll watch Katerina.

Because what the fuck else do you say?

Cool?

Then it's back to the vaults, are back to the theater, and Katerina is in the puppet museum.

She went back to the theater.

She entered the chateau through the puppet museum.

Louise had gone straight to the underground passageway.

So I guess didn't use the note drop, just went down there.

I don't know, Or maybe she's going down there to the drop spot.

I don't know.

Dead silence reigned in the museum.

Light from the chandeliers made eerie patterns on the floor.

Don't come to the party, she murmured out loud, then noticed the displaced shadow and snatched her head around.

Her eyes probed the darkness.

There was nothing.

Then she heard a whisper.

Sorry, Katerina, not a puppet, but raoul, sexy, dark eyed dweller of the vaults.

Not a puppet.

Was she expecting it to be a puppet?

I think she kind of wants it to be a puppet, and here's why.

Okay, he are black pants, boots, belt, and shirt.

His long dark hair fell over his collar, with more curls than usual in it thanks to the rain.

He stood in front of Nicolai's display case, staring at her as the puppet did.

For a moment, Katerina was struck by the resemblance.

I'm just picturing him and a little puppet.

Tiny pupping him over his shouldering, over his shoulder.

I think we also believe these puppets to be very small, But if you're actually a lot bigger than we are, I.

Like to imagine them as like muppet little Yeah, like little puppets, which makes it so funny, Like have you ever seen like you can go on some website or whatever and send a picture of yourself and they'll build you a muppet, like a sesame Street character that looks just like you.

I'm picturing them all like that versions of the characters from the Sucking Story.

No, I'm picturing them like intricately carved, beautiful made out of wood.

But they're just little merrant like.

So this puppet theater is like full of these tiny puppets the.

Entire Besides, it's like crunched her on the tiniest little stage.

Oh dude, we got you know what.

That's what I've been imagining since pretty much this moment.

But I was like, oh, I wonder if the puppets are like way bigger than I thought.

Yes, Nikolay is like Overaller's shoulder, and she's shocked by the resemblance.

Amazing Nikolay, the beautiful, sad puppet fashioned in Giovanni's likeness, yet it could have been round upon whom his face had been modeled.

He reached her in three long strides, but there was nothing ghostly in the hands that encircled her.

Wist the man who pulled her with him behind a large stone column was warm and solid and entirely real.

So was the mouth that came down urgently on hers real, She protested, when she could manage your breath, you shouldn't he kissed her geen, but she finished with determination that was a no small part fear be here.

This is very dangerous.

I know.

His hands moved her face, his thumbs caressed her cheekbones, and again he set his mouth on hers, his tongue mouth, His tongue probed deep inside, sliding over her lips and teeth with deliberate slowness.

He knew how to quiet her questions.

But did he also know that she wanted to pull him down with her onto the floor, to forget stages and parties and make love to him right here on the puppet museum, A.

Hundred little puppet eyes would watch as a better form of magic then her imagination could ever conjure.

Unfolded before them her fantasy.

Oh my god, she's so sick.

It's some fuck.

Rowl in the puppet buy all the puppets.

But wow, like a hundred little puppet eyes watching magic grand than you could ever imagine.

Because he just pumps away in the puppet hundred tiny wooden cocks jerking in the hands of a hundred puppets, watching and cooking in the corner.

There's only a hundred eyes, but there are also a hundred tiny cocks.

Explain that I don't know what those lumbers don't add up?

Are there two hundred eyes and one hundred.

Pup I'm scared.

Why do the puppets all have cocks?

I don't know.

I thought they all did row.

I really don't think we should be.

His teeth cut lower lip, drying it into his mouth, changed the position of his head, deepening the kiss.

Doing this were the last words she could get out.

I tried that on a guy once.

It didn't go well.

He threw up.

I tried to bite his lip, but I sucked you r and he threw up in my mouth.

And it was during a game of truth Dare when everyone it was a bunch of people.

He didn't throw up on me, but he didn't go badly.

He's like, how fuck am I bleeding?

And I was like, oh, loops.

That we didn't.

But I can't but I can't even get ahead on me.

It was a token protest She let it go, moaning slightly as his hand shifted to her hips, pulling her lower body forward to meet his very hard one.

Whoa she wore white, dnmg, oh Jesus.

And the blood so dread.

I that is such a disaster waiting to happen.

Damp from the rain and humidity and humidity.

Every sensation seemed infinitely more intense because of the jeans.

I don't know why we meant jeans, but okay, random humidity.

Every sensation seemed more, infinitely more intense.

So because of the damp jeans hold on Amanda, she absorbed it all.

So that's what actually is said.

Next the heat, Yes, she absorbed the heat from Raoul's body, the demands of his mouth and tongue, even her fingers that were tangled in his hair pubes, and would keep his lips on her should his reason suddenly reassert itself.

But it wasn't Raoul's reason or hers that had any part in the start of surprise that ran through her.

Went A voice somewhere close by said softly, there is danger in this action.

You must stop.

She sensed the immediate change, and Raoul's body he went limp in his touch He stopped all right, as the voice instructed, and so did she, although she was reluctant to move too far away just yet.

His head came up.

Did you hear something?

Yes?

And if the lie tempted, it was only for a second.

She nodded, someone's here.

He put her away from him, carefully saying nothing, just making a thorough sweep of the cases with his eyes.

Check the puppets.

The puppets.

Katerina did the same, Also check the puppets row, but there was no one in sight and not a sound to be heard except for the soft splash of rain on the stained glass windows.

And then jeered it, wait windows, I thought they were underground.

No, they're in the museum.

Jesus Christ.

They should not be.

Oh my god, I know that's what I want to fucking right here in the museum, in front of hundreds of.

Puppets, puppets in there, hundreds of cocks.

So she hears a click and she's like, uh, fact, Femini's coming into the museum.

Oh shit, they're gonna get He needs to start hanging out.

They are way out and with each other.

Yes, it was Francois in a great black cape with a hood.

Oh lord, he shook the moisture.

I'm not beating the vampire allegations this guy.

Oh, we'll get to it.

He shook the moisture from a dripping umbrella as he crossed the floor, or rather as he glided across.

Katrina thought in amazement.

His movements, movements were fluid, as if none of the bones in his body had joints.

Jesus, I'm just picturing dragging.

I'm picturing Jim Carrey like doing some Hammy bit awesome.

Uh So they're watching him and he just kind of walks through the theater or the museum.

Towards us, as if he was being pulled out of skateboard.

I also, I really think they're trying to make us think that he is the puppet master.

But I also could buy that he's the puppet master.

Could be it?

I mean, it's like we have nothing to I don't know.

Maybe it's Louise.

This book is well written enough that I believe that he's a red herring, but it is also has enough, like weird miscalculations and its presentation that are kind of bizarre.

That we could be totally wrong.

That would be totally wrong.

Uh, and I would, and that he's just just the obvious suspect, is the puppet master like I have honestly not, I have no idea what to expect because I don't know where the like compet the like awareness level or competency level is, So I don't know what to expect.

I love that about this book.

Yeah, it makes it really fun.

To it's really really shocking.

So once there, Once she feels confident that he's gone, she turns back around to Raul.

Louis told me everything.

She's in the vaults now, leaving a message for you.

Ro.

You can't sneak into the party tonight.

Francois, Pierre and Ian they know all the guests by name and face.

Did I say I would come to this party?

Well no, but you tend to emit a lot of details when we talk.

I do that for your own good, Cherie, and don't yell at me with your beautiful eyes.

I knew you would learn the truth in time.

I simply didn't want to be the one to tell it to you.

Why, Because I'm guilty of getting you involved in this to begin with.

I hoped I would get my answers before you got to Louise, which I should tell you isn't an easy thing to do.

Louise and I have been good friends for many, many years.

She doesn't betray secrets.

How good is good?

She told her immediately?

Right wait, wait, wait?

Is she fucking jealous?

Katterie is like, did you fuck it?

Ah?

Have you been in sand?

Have been inside louise mouth?

But which part his thumb brushed slightly across her chin?

Very good.

When we were young and her family came to Barcelona for some vacations, we used to sand crabs together.

So many gross euphemisms.

Only sand crabs rawl measles once.

I gave them to her because I wouldn't say in bed as I was told, some things never change, Raoul.

You're watering around here giving out measles.

Don't be jealous, Caddie.

Louise didn't enjoy the gift of red spots and fever that I gave her.

She let her cat loose in my room when she was better.

You don't like cats.

All euphemisms, everything measles, sand crabs cat loose.

I like them very much, but I'm allergic to them.

It wasn't much of a punishment, but I never told her that you should go now before I do more than I'll regret.

What about the party?

Please, we'll promise me won't come.

It's no big deal really, except to Frizois and Pierre.

Anyway, Louise and I could watch everyone there without attracting any attention at all.

Consider it is and off.

Listen to Bolero, drink wine with Sophia and Jean.

Well, do you believe in a reincarnation?

Go hang out with your goblin friend and your demon ghost friends?

Also, do you believe in reincarnation?

Wait?

Wait, wait we go back, go back a consider it as a night off.

Listen to Bolero, drink wine with Sophia and Jean.

A thought occurred to her and she stopped.

She said to me, a curious look, roll, do you believe in reincarnation?

That's a fucking wild cheft.

I haven't given it much thought.

Why, no reason, just a crazy idea I had, because she's fucking clocking, she said, sliding her gaze to Nikolay.

In the puppet case, she's a freak.

She's such a weird.

Freage, she's a looney tune.

I'm just really hoping that you're this puppet.

I want to fuck.

Somebody commented on one of our social media posts that wait, fans are so fucking fun, Like she's like Raoul discovering the Katerina's a Disney adult.

Yeah, that's what's happening.

She's slowly this is.

So much, deeply worse than a Disney adult that I can't even describe it.

Yeah, No, honestly, she's a mess.

Many Disney adults are very charming creatures.

Lovely people.

They're for sure people, No, of course they are.

But I mean it just like any any like over obsession, it's it is kind of jarring, but like, this one's pretty fucked up.

This like bizarre legend, and it's also it's just do.

You believe in reincarnation?

Because if it turns out that magic is you and that Jean is a warlock, I'm gonna find some golden strings and I'm gonna kill you and then turn you and a Nikola and the puppet, and then we're gonna turn myself and to me, and then we're gonna live.

Because the rest of time.

Like Edward and Beler, there's nothing wrong with liking a fandom.

There's along with liking puppets.

But she has made it her entire personality.

She works in it, she grew up with it.

She works in a museum where she gives tours about the puppets.

She performs as the puppets.

She's fighting to get the lead puppet role because she's not well, but she is.

She's not, but if it were offered to her, I think she would tell.

Of course she would.

And she spends all of her time thinking about puppets, human puppets, being horny for puppets.

I mean, this is thank god Rao looks like that puppet.

Yeah.

Just making your whole identity about one thing is always unhinged.

Chapter thirteen, Wait what else?

Yeah?

What?

Yeah?

So we're back in Rawl's POV and he's thinking about what they heard whispered in the puppet museum.

There is danger in this action.

You must stop.

Hmmm.

So he's thinking about it, and he's walking back down to his sweet in the vault, and Sofia is just sitting on his bed, nice, eating his food.

I didn't do it, she said, then pulled two more puppets from her sweater pocket, Vignette and Verona.

Oh hee, how big are they if she can pull them out of her podcast, So they can't do that big there's all my god, they are little marionettes.

Well, no wonder they have humans do most of the EU.

I was fucking right the whole time.

No wonder they do most of have humans do most of the performance because they're big ass auditorium.

They couldn't fucking be seen from the back of the theater.

Where do you find these Sofia far away from me, in a deeper place.

I do not know if I will find anymore.

The legend contains so many puppets, ral murmured and secrets.

She's like, yeah, you listen to her to tell the story.

She's pretty good at it, but she's not like quite spot on, unlike me, I know the correct story.

Oh shit, So so her version of the legend is just like the.

Little She's like, it's scattering, is the best of everyone I've heard tell it, But it's still not.

So there's like details aren't like missing?

Interesting?

Well, that's kind of fucking important.

Cat Well, Kat doesn't know that.

Sophia knows that, so Rawle asked, and what is it that you were told?

I do not know much that is different about the legend than the pretty young one, But mostly I do not believe that Giovanni was mad a romantic.

Yes, I tell myself that Giovanni waits for his Mignon, but I do not know if she will ever come back to him.

You believe in Mignon, certainly, she is a real puppet person, Jesus Christ.

Katerina believes in her.

Why are you always so skeptical?

Oh wow, more as possible than what you can see and touch.

But I think I waste my time with this talk.

Do you have any new food?

Hear something?

So she's digging through his shit.

I am just picturing her being cast as the little trash woman from Labyrinth.

Yes, absolutely.

She's wearing babettes like stockings that she stole, and she's like, look how cute they are.

He's got like three different wigs, and.

She's like that pitch has been going nuts since I started stealing her stuff and moving pupp is healing with her.

Also, someone's gonna kill.

Her, uh huh uh huh.

So Sophia comments that there's a draft, and then Raoul is feeling like itchy, and he's like, oh, there's a cat down here, what the fuck?

Because he's allergic to cats.

And sure enough she turns around and she sees a cat.

E sorry.

It sat on the half wall that separated this level from those below.

Typical feline pose, tail wrapped around its paws, its amber eyes on a face that didn't blink.

What a pretty bundle of black fair Sophia located a bottle of soda.

She gave it to Raoul to twist off the top.

You did not bring such a pretty bundle down here with you?

Who does this creature own?

I love that?

Who does this creature own not?

Who owns this creature?

I mean anybody who spent significant time with it?

The cat as perfect Francois Lupier.

That cat's name is Amadeus.

What is that?

Amadas brings you a present?

I think a skinny rat or a fat minnow.

From the sin beside him.

Amadeus let out an insistent mew, and again Raoul looked over with its paw.

The cat took a swipe at its catch it.

He's a grasshopper, Sophia announced with certainty.

But she was absorbed in a breaking open a fresh bag.

Yet she didn't see what Raoul suddenly did.

His muscles tightened in revulsion.

This couldn't be his eyes were playing tricks on him.

He moved cautiously closer.

The cat's stare was unflinching.

It's paul rested on the thing.

Raoul's stomach gave a violent lurch.

The breath hissed out of him.

He felt dizzy, disbelieving it wasn't possible that he could be seeing this ghastly thing.

What is it?

What do you?

Sarah Sophia demanded, but Raoul didn't answer.

He couldn't think, did not want to consider the macabre implications of this, or look at the cat who stared at his ashen face.

This was no slimy object from the river.

This thing was perhaps six centimeters in length, jointed and with a neatly manicured nail at one end.

It was part of a woman's hand.

Jesus, cru it's a beard, dude.

Well like part of her hair, So like a chunk of her finger and part of her hand.

Yeah, holy shit, cat.

So the cat had blood on its paw before.

So wherever this poor woman is stashed or parts of her are stashed, the cat is finding its way into it.

And Francois and Pierre we're talking about how the cat can get through to different places that we can't read, and that there are there are secret passages that like they don't know about, which probably means there are secret passages all over the place that not everyone knows about.

Oh my god, so she's stuffed in like the walls or some shit drop spot.

Oh my good lord.

The puppet Master has his own drop spot.

Gruesome.

Okay, so then it smash cuts to the fancy party.

I just say how funny it is that I think that the first line of the party is this is really boring.

Yeah, Louis, we.

Just got a smash cut from a severed like metacarpal.

Yeah, but yeah, I love that too.

So Louisa's bored.

They're at this Madals.

Madame sat Clumsy, Saint Desmond.

Madame Louis him on some rich party, blah blah blah blah blah.

Philip ham Hambleton is the Hambler, and Louise and Katerina are like keeping it on everyone, and they keep noticing.

Ian is like fluttering from group to group, and you're going.

To catch I.

They're gonna catch you in not the Puppetmaster, or they're gonna think.

They already know that Ian's in on it.

That Ian and Bebbat are in cots because Louise knew about that.

If they could catch him doing some sort of crime, they could blackmail it.

He's just a wiggly little squig worm.

Anyway, Philip is there.

Everybody's dressed to the nines.

He introduces Katarina to his mother, who again, this is like a puppet party.

Philip nodded, Uh, come, come and say a load of the folks.

Philip nodded through the backstage crush at his mother in her gown of Green's oaken lace.

Her emeralds shimmered in the dusky light.

The puppet master must be drook.

Good evening, My dear Francine Hambleton.

Green Hambleton, fran Hambleton, My name is fran ham N.

She was a lovely woman, nothing like her husband.

You were charming tonight on stage.

Do you wish to play Mignoon someday?

Only if I choose to leave.

No one could mistake Babbet's superior tones, though it was not quite so easy to see her.

Did everyone in Paris smoke?

So it's like so smoky and hot mass The windows are open.

Awesome, It was hot, often depicted as just being a smoking like that's amazing on cinema, like amazing on camera.

Katerina eased the bodice of her peasant blouse away from her heated skin and wish someone would open a window.

It is a good party.

Babbet glued herself to Francine's side, smiling at Philip Katerine His gaze left Bebette to travel about the room.

She sees Philip uh talking to Missieur, Louis Sondeman, and Pierre, but it was a dull conversation.

She found it more interesting to watch the gaggle of patrons that were huddled next to the buffet table.

Madame's Louis Sandeman was there, she noticed, and standing a discrete distance behind her, Ian making quick entries in a small, blown brown notebook.

So he's being like, not discreet at all.

He literally has a little journal that he whips out and he's taking his little notes all over the party.

I wonder if he's drawing conclusions, drawing smut of all the women there activity.

So she tries to get Louise's attention to be like, Ian's being fucking weird, go look, But then she overhears Bebett saying, uh, security systems that a trained monkey couldn't penetrate.

She's like, what do you mean?

What are you talking about?

Security systems?

So she switches to focus on Babbett and heads over that way.

Of course, we'll be there.

Armand Philip was saying in Katerina's ear, delighted to attend your annual gala?

Who is Armand A gentle press of Philip's hand on Katerina's waist got her attention and she turned Armand Luis Dumont was a toothy little man who reminded Katerina of a weasel.

She must have nodded or something in answer to what h in answer to what?

She wasn't sure, but she sends she just agreed to accompany Philip to the Louis sat de Malt spring ball in Versailles, the one that Louise was saying, Oh, I want to get in.

I'm getting invited to this.

I'm going with Pierre.

I hope here's not a fucking murderer, because I really want to go.

I want to go to this party.

Yeah, I sure, hope I don't get stabbed to death.

Must be a fuck of a party.

Yeah.

So actually Katerina is like kind of pumped because she's like, oh, Louise is also going to that party.

I'm chill with going.

So she but but buh.

She and Philip wander around a little bit, and then she breaks off and finally catches back up with Louise.

They're discussing a new security beam, Louise told her later when she and.

Nineteen eighty yep, and they have things like security.

Beams to the wings, some new contraption for the home in business in Harold's case.

I suspect he's talking home.

Katerina motioned at Babet.

She was talking about security a while ago too.

I heard her.

Do you suppose that's how it's done?

What she looked at Ian.

He's been making notes all evening, wandering around, not getting involved in any deep discussions, just strolling from circle to circle, listening, jotting things down.

Sometimes he starts a conversation, then he sets back and starts making notes again.

Maybe he's responsible for all the security system talk.

I mean, it isn't your normal party chatter.

Oh interesting guiding.

You're trying to guide the conversation into like yo, So anybody here have a security system in their house, and then he looks around and writes down, who.

Does Oh my god, I mean, okay.

I suppose if everyone's drunk and rich as ship, so they don't they think they're untouchable.

Yeah, you know, we've had a recent break in here at the theater.

You could definitely do it naturally.

Yeah, we're we're looking into new security measures.

Of you know, like, what do you guys use would you have any recommendations or what would you use for your business?

I'd love to hear what you have.

Good that totally tracks Yeah, that I fucking that wouldn't stand out as weird at all.

Now we don't specifically specifically.

That he is US.

We don't specifically that he is him say those things, but he is definitely SUS with his little fucking notebook.

So she's Katerina is like, oh, I wonder if this is what he's doing, But we don't know that for sure.

But to answer the question of it's not your normal party chatter, Louise says, not, as a rule, have you seen Francoise tonight?

He was here earlier.

I noticed him over by the flower cart, and since then I haven't seen him for about an hour.

Oh wager, you didn't even see him when you saw him.

You never do, Pierre commented, dryly, coming up behind Katerina.

So these queens are just like floating around.

Pierre specifically, is like floating from conversation to Steves, dropping and just jumping in, which.

I like to like on like some sort of a like Pulley system.

They're just like it happens.

It happens like two more times.

I literally wrote, these these old queens floating around and hearing everything these people are saying.

Like Batman, he looked like a wealthy poet tonight.

His rich brown hair was pulled back at a ponytail, and he wore an exquisitely cut taxedo.

Half the women there flirted with him.

Funny, she hadn't noticed that till now.

Peer side, it is night.

Francois should be out, but possibly he requires sssdence that he cannot get from the prisman.

You, Luise grinned like Dracula.

For certain he is close.

An unexpectedly charming smile across Pierre's lips, and he held out his arm to her.

Come lovely, Verona, I will find you a glass of our finest Champagne.

So he leads her away once again.

Well, technically, if it's not from.

If it's not from frans Sylvana, just sparkling.

Puppets, so sparkling I'm not doing well.

If it's not from Fransylvania, it's just sparkling puppet wong you no listen.

I mean like we're way far away from doing like a like a unique booze release.

Like sparpling puppet water.

Release.

We need like a local distillery to do a collaboration with us on sparpling puppet water.

We can do it with like a brewery and just make like a Seltzer thhd Seltzer called sparpling.

Someone has connections sparpling puppet water.

Can you sparky?

It's got like a weird little puppet.

Oh my, this is our retirement trademark trademark.

That's how your trademark things.

You say it trademark copyright, trademark trademark trademark trademark.

I didn't say it, I declared it.

I declared it.

Sparkling puppet water.

Coming soon, do a distillery near you.

Okay.

So as she's wandering off with Philip, she catches the eye of ba Bet mmmm, and be Bet is looking like a bitch, but with like a layered.

Fire, like a scared bitch.

Like a scared bitch.

And I think Katerina kind of makes the decision of like I'm going to confront her and I'm going to support her.

I'm going to help her, which I appreciate.

This is like women.

Yeah, girls supporting girls.

It's like women supporting emen.

Can I just say though, like, no matter how much you hate somebody, you shouldn't really want him to get stabbed up.

Save that for special occasions.

Yeah, so yeah, save it for the real people.

She connects with Babett and beb Bet, who like, as we know, who has a crush on Philip, who also really wants to go to the Louis Soldomal Gala and knows that knows that Katerina got invited by Philip's parents to and so she's jealous.

So you will go to the Little Walls haul the all Gallah.

The Hambleton's also throw their own ball a week after the Walls, So she goes, oh, so you're gonna go to the Little Walls sal Demong Galla and to the Hambleton ball on Phillip's.

Can you imagine the hamble the all.

The Louise, all them all Gala and the Hambleton.

Ball, Lord Hampilton, Why are you so scared, Babbett, Katerina asked point blank.

Babbet's wineglass splintered as it hit the polished wood floor.

No one appeared to notice, so Katerina continued, Are you afraid something's going to kill you the way or someone's going to kill you the way he did?

Claudia Babbett's cheeks, who bite?

Her voice was nothing short of a hiss?

What are you saying?

She leaned closer.

There was pure terror in her eyes.

But do you know do you talk to Giovanni's ghost?

Oh, she's she's cracking.

Ghosts don't kill people, Katerina said, and with no knowledge of whether they did or not.

Oh my god, right, because she totally believes in phantoms.

Anyway, you told me the architect did it.

Now suddenly you're blaming a ghost.

Next you'll say it was a puppet, a.

Puppet because she thinks they're moving around.

Nope, Suaw's voice came from the shadow of a walnut post, and Katerina controlled a start of surprise.

That wasn't Babbet, that was Oh my god, these old queens.

Uh it is nothing, Babbett denied quickly.

She Oh, this is amazing.

What happens?

Yes, she looked a little green.

Now we're playing a game, that's all I see.

Katerina wished she could see France Will's face.

That is, his hair look nice, thick and quite long.

He also had a widow's peak, which wasn't terribly pronounced, a lot like Dracula's.

That's the second time they they're just second time they've blatantly just called attracted him in like three pages infinite time, they've painted him as a literal vampire.

Okay, follow up a sparkling, sparkling vampire water.

Yeah, vampire.

What is it that you guess about Babet?

He inquired.

His voice was has had a silky texture to it Giovanni's legend, or maybe it matters more bloody than this.

Katerine took a step back.

Uh, Babet immediately in front of her would have knocked her over.

Otherwise, Oh okay, So Babet is like looking out, Katerine is like getting out of the way.

I do not understand what you were saying.

Babbet insisted her heel came down hard on Katerina's foot.

I do not think of ghosts or blood or robbery.

Oh, shouldn't nobody say anything about robbery.

You can't drink that much sparkling puppet water.

It's very strong, had friends wam mentioned robbery.

Payne shot up Katerina's leg, catching Babbitt's arm.

She drew the woman away, and she said, with a smile, or.

Robbery involved in robbery?

Oh my god, Amanda, that you're fucking real.

Said that blatantly to someone that we are at least supposed to suspect.

Absolutely the puppet master she has and she has a dark I know.

Who the puppet master is.

No, he could easily be him.

At worst, she just said it to the puppetmaster.

At best, she just said it to her boss.

Yes, I'm not involved in robbery.

I know nothing of puppets or blood or ghosts or robbery or any robberies that have taken place or might be unfolding right.

Here and friends, or blackmail or the disappearance of the costumes.

Or people in the vaults or the vaults or the cat with the blood or anyway.

She just lifts up all her crimes.

She lifts up all her crimes in a panic.

Everything jump scared her from fucking the wings.

I'll tell you everything.

When I was twelve, I killed a squirrel.

Okay, she thinks that France was following them, but he's.

Not gliding after them.

What do you mean you know nothing of robbery?

That's how it happened.

She fucking just boofs it right there.

Babbet's breathing slowed.

I don't understand.

Franz Woan never used the word robbery.

Babet, you're mistaken, I heard him.

Should I ask him?

No?

Babet's hands shot out, her fingers cripped Catarita's wrist.

Please, I know that we do not get along, but you must not ask him questions, and you must not ask me why not?

Because because what are you in trouble?

The robbery, because of the murders and.

The robberies, because what are you in trouble?

She will be if she does not begin to mingle with the guests.

Pierre remarks Serenity, Oh.

My god, this woman is in fucking honor, terror for her life, and she keeps getting caught in the middle of incriminating sentences, and then a queenie Frenchman goes jumps out at her from the fucking and she's like, ah, they try to give her a fucking life attack.

Whippy remarks, yeah, just float away.

If I were involved in a series of robberies and wouldn't to talk about the party.

I want to watch the movie version of this so bad.

These scenes are cinema.

I have not wanted a movie version of Puppets until this sequence the secret because the fucking queen's leaping out at her, scaring the shit out of bed Bet three times in her eye.

I imagine it like it's a tight frame on bed Bet and Katerina talking in close quarters.

Yeah, and then suddenly it's a little wider and one of these is gliding behind doing the drive.

By a flat camera, like a flat static shot, and he just glides by and she does a huge jump scare she.

Will be if she does not begin to mingle with the guests.

So even Katerina is like, what the fuck?

The shock went through Katerina's body.

She hadn't even seen him move so close to them.

I must being Babet said the knuckles of her fists were white.

Where is Ian do you see him Solier Haverian whatever, blah blah blah blah blah.

Katerina is like, okay.

So Katerina takes her by the arm, puts a chocolate covered strawberry in her hand, and goes, we'll mingle together and maybe rescue Philip from his father.

So like we're sticking together at this point.

Yeah, also stop screaming about robberies.

Yeah, okay, and murder and blood and death.

Then it jump smashes cuts to now it's after the party.

Katerina has gone back to the puppet theater to go back down into the vaults to find Roll and tell him everything that happen.

Right, what are you paying for your apartment?

Sewer?

And just let's stay down there.

Sophia, what are you doing here?

In a swish of petticoats, Katerina raced in Dorell's oh wait, oh my god, I missed something that I have to read you.

Oh my god.

Okay, So when when Fran Hambleton invites her to the Hambleton Ball.

Oh wow, wow, it just great.

Katerina accepts the invitation, say is of course I'll be their friend?

Scene is it period?

Like the dress code and she's Then Philip's dad storms up Harold Hambleton and goes puppet old girl puppet in honor of Philip's fascination.

Don't you know?

So it's a puppet themed masquerade ball?

Why the fuck wouldn't it be?

Everything's pop bam up pet dude, everything's coming pop best.

Sorry, sorry, it's too good.

I'm gonna throw a puppet ball because my my weird little kitty's son is into puppets, because he's a weird little I get.

I get a vibe.

That's kind of what's going on.

That's interesting.

Okay, so sorry smash cut back.

Katarina's in the balls.

Sophia is down there.

Where's Raul?

Have you seen him?

I have to talk to him?

Tucking her spindly legs beneath her, Sophia sat up.

He took the bundle of black fair and left.

I do not know where he went.

You bundle of it, you sacrifice for this, oh the cat?

He called it on a dais.

The bundle brought him a present, but he wouldn't show it to me.

Why not?

I thought it was a big grasshopper, but now I think it wasn't such a nice present he took.

He took it with it when he went.

I don't suppose he told you when he'd be back.

He said nothing, but he like some soda.

No thanks, Oh you found Vignette and Verona, she exclaimed, in delight.

She saw the puppets.

They're lovely.

I brought them here today.

Shall I tell you which one is evil?

You know?

Of course I'm old.

I know many things.

I do not know how to find your money, though my friends who live by the river are too frightened to help me look.

And my friend with the dark sexy eyes will not admit that the ghosts even exist.

You believe, But you do not live in the vaults.

Your life is above.

Yes, you are not one of the morlocks.

I suppose so, she agreed.

Sometimes I think living down here would be easier one if he asked her, if she would answer yes before he got we'll wait for Mignol together.

She's got to like like one of those wheelly suitcases like in the hallways, as easier.

How don't you like people?

Of course I do.

But people die, Sophia, even in the puppet theater.

They're dying, even in the puppet theater.

A magical place free from harm and death.

The greatest place in the world is this one location.

Oh my god, she's so obsessed.

Even in Disneyland, people will.

Die and they screw them out of the parks.

Quick, quick, hide the BodyCount.

For the deaths.

Uh okay, first Cloudy and now I think a second woman.

And if the answers to all of this really do lie in the legend, I certainly don't see them answers in the legend.

What does that mean?

It's nothing?

Tell me the secrets is amazing.

Do you know any men named Jean?

I know fourteen Jean's specify.

Ha, right, it's fucking France.

Well, I think he lives down here in the vaults.

Six go on, six fucking Johns in the mall, just in the vaults.

This particular Jean is young, thirty.

Maybe he has dark hair, long and beautiful dark eyes.

He sounds like another young man I know.

Yes, well, actually he does sort of resemble well, and he knows you or about you anyway?

Does that sound like one of your six?

It sounds like two of them.

The name you give is very common in France.

Why do you ask me these questions?

I met a Jean down here several nights ago.

He told me he lived in another part of the vaults, but he knew about Raoul.

Doesn't that seem strange to you?

I know nothing of strange.

I know only that I have not been able to contact Ghovanni so that I might ask him to torment by bet frighten her into making a loud confession of her crimes.

But I will keep working on this problem.

I'm definitely picturing her trying to contact him, like a Wuiji board or something, my Ouiji barn Blanchet.

No, she knows he's a puppet man.

She believes puppet people are real, and she's trying to find him.

If Ghovanni resides in these old vaults, I will find him, and he will help both of you and my sexy young friend with the dark eyes.

You think so so, You think he's a benevolent spirit.

He is a gentle soul.

Oh, and surely not so mad as the legend tells.

What if Sophia is Mignon in disguise?

No, I oh, she could be really old because she's been human.

All this time.

She's small.

No, no, no, come on, this is that's that's crazy.

You're crazy, girl.

She's been looking for him, and he's been looking for her in the vault.

This is century, This is nonsense.

This is nonsense, And Charlene not so mad as the legend tells.

Kind souls with power from beyond might be deceived by evil once, but never two times.

The butcher who likes.

To carve up women with knives must be caught.

This creature is all evil.

He and his wicked knife must be put in a cage of pads and steel, and never must he leave the cave.

The end.

All right, we got fucking Sophia and a ghost and Raoul and Louise.

Uh In Katerina, that's fucking screaming confessions at a party.

She's definitely been caught.

She's one hundred percent gonna be targeted for death now, oh.

Yeah, screaming the word robbery at the fucking when no one brought up said anything about robbery.

Is the only cover she has is they Ian was planting that, like talking about uh security systems and stuff.

So maybe, but there's no way this guy's looking.

Yeah, this guy's looking for any excuse to knife her up, because apparently he is not just doing it to cover his crimes.

He's doing it like out of pleasure.

Oh yeah, looking for so so he's like at that cusp of the serial killer thing where he's like looking for want.

Yes, he wants to kill her.

Eventually he will graduate to just doing it for the pleasure.

I mean he literally told Ian, Oh, I'm going to kill her, but I can just wait until she sucks up again because she's going to anyway.

Yeah, so I can still be reasonable, but I'll still get to kill her because there's no way she won't fuck up, which is something I want to do, not have to do.

That's so interesting because it has Like during when we learned of the first murder, I was like, oh, it's criminals covering up criminal enterprise, and the and the excessiveness of the stabbing was exactly to frame it on, which is one hundred percent.

I thought all those things.

But now we learn no, no, no, this guy is a sicko's he's he's one of those people who's who is in the criminal world because he's a psychopath, but is not a psycho.

It does not behave like a psychopath because he's in the criminal world.

There's two kinds, two kinds of people in the underworld.

You've got the guy who goes down there because he fucking likes it and then gets caught up in crime and stuff, or the person who behaves crazy because they're caught up in crime and like I have to shut people up and I have to the babettes, yeah.

Versus or even like the Ians versus the puppet mass.

Everything that they do is motivating.

It seems a little too coucky to like.

Not be pawn.

Yeah, Like I think Ian got over his head all self preservation, got caught up in something that he did not understand, the philoscope because because like this guy's escalating his behavior, yeah, and is now like all you though he was a sadist killer to start with.

That scene between the two of them at the bridge, is that that's really creepy.

It was creepy the.

Way he completely overlooks how danger and crazy and upsetting what he's saying sounds to Ian.

The way he just completely belittles him, yep.

And it's it's got that like you know, you're in too deep, I know, Yeah, you can't do anything about this.

Also, something I'm really excited for because the Hambleton's are throwing a masquerade.

You know who's gonna go to the maskarade?

No, yeah, Roll is super gonna be there.

Everyone's gonna be there.

I'll be shocked if Sophia is not there in like a Jojo mask, fucking Jojo the Dancing Bear or whatever, Jojoes puppet, Jester Puppet's like a little Jojo outfit.

We revolt.

It's me.

You might have to do Sophia voice for the rest of the book.

Yeah, it hurts bad, scab.

Yeah, let's I'll jump in if she shows up again during one of your chapters.

Thank god.

But yeah, I uh, I'm very excited.

He too.

I'm just are we're past that.

I love that we are mixing a relatively grounded uh but you know, like decently interesting.

It's interesting mystery.

It's fascinating that it can remain so grounded when it's.

So on him, so silly, so crazy, top puppet, top puppet, bottom puppet.

Yeah.

So, but then we've also got the supernatural element sort of tantalizingly dangling in here now, so I will be I'm really I'm very curious to see how much of the supernatural stuff is all kind of just Red Herring and set dressing and how grounded the story'll be, or if it'll be one of those like like, are we gonna get a Scooby Doo like mask pull it was old Uncle Johnson all along?

Or are we gonna get like a mysterious like end of Pan's Labyrinth.

It's what you believe.

I could have been a puppet that did it.

We don't know, you know, like, how how much up to our our imagination is it going to be?

How much are they going to actually give it?

Will there be a warlock duel or a puppet a puppet fight, puppet wrestling at any point, animated puppets fighting each other over a gun or something, you know, like, how how like ludicrous is it going to get if we don't get Raoul turned into a puppet fighting the at Pierre, who's actually the Italian merchant as a human, and they're like fighting, and we've got little puppet Raoul with his tiny little puppet arms like battering at Raoul, and Raoul's like and they fall, they fall into the seen.

We'll have to find out next week on Passages Puppets.

Thank you for listening to Passages.

Passages.

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