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Puppet-Master 8- Typical Threat
"We need to talk, Andrew Lapis," said the Wanderer, his voice carrying a weight that Andrew couldn't ignore. The sensation of dread washed over him, making his chest tighten painfully. Four men surrounded him, each one pointing a pistol at his vulnerable body, prepared to unleash a hail of bullets at any moment."What… What are you people?" Andrew questioned, his breaths a cacophony of pain, his eyes wider than ever as it felt like he could never break eye contact with the enigmatic Wanderer. "What is it that you want from me?""Your brain," replied the Wanderer calmly, his tone carrying a chilling certainty, while the other three men remained ominously silent. "We're interested in using your brain. So, we simply need you to cooperate with us. Understood?""Not really," Andrew added skeptically, reverting back to his usual apathetic self, his hands supporting his weight as he remained seated on the ground. "I mean, if someone you barely knew comes to you and says, 'I want your brain,'
Puppet-Master 9- Typical Deal
"I'm Andrew Lapis," Andrew whispered to himself, his trembling legs barely supporting him. He struggled to maintain composure as the three figures continued pointing their guns at him, while the Wanderer savored the taste of satisfaction. "I thought I'd be one of those typically typical dudes, but it appears that's about to change."In the recesses of his mind, he continued his silent contemplation, careful not to make any sudden moves. "I used to harbor a simple dream. Finish college with ordinary grades, leaving a negligible impact on others. Then, secure a typically ordinary job—neither excessively lucrative nor inadequately paying. Find a young woman, not strikingly beautiful nor unattractive, just an ordinary one. Have a son and a daughter, leading a life that is extraordinarily ordinary. That was my dream.""But now..." Andrew sighed, finally lowering his hands to his sides. The room seemed to darken and grow colder with each passing moment. "It seems that I'll need to exert a b
Puppet-Master 1- Typical Morning
The piercing sound of the clock's alarm reverberated through the veil of silence, shattering the tranquility of the dimly lit room. Reluctantly, the young boy stirred from his slumber, his mind clinging to the remnants of sleep. With each passing second, the relentless ringtone bore deeper into his ears, leaving him no choice but to succumb to the inevitable truth: the time for rest has come to an end.A weary sigh escaped his lips as he reluctantly lifted his body from the embrace of the bed. His delicate fingers delicately traversed the length of his flowing black hair. The boy mused, his voice but a whisper, "How I long to surrender to the solace of eternal slumber, untouched by the disturbances that plague my tranquility."In the midst of a languid yawn, his satisfaction undeniable, the boy stretched his weary limbs, feeling the comforting pull of his muscles awakening from their nocturnal repose. Casting a glance towards the alarm clock that obstinately continued its monotonous d
Puppet-Master 2- Typical Student
"I am Andrew Lapis," Andrew thought to himself, arriving at the university, his mind racing as he tried to avoid any unnecessary interactions with fellow students. "I attend this ALANTICANA university thing. What branch am I studying? No clue... What do I want to do after I take care of this license? No clue... What about after graduation? If I stumble upon something that might somehow suit me, it would be an honor to give it a shot..."He ascended a flight of stairs, exhaling an exasperated sigh, counting each step without conscious effort. "One... Two... Three... Four..." Andrew continued to mutter the numbers as he ascended, lost in his thoughts."41... And finally, 42." Reaching his desired floor, Andrew continued to move slowly but determinedly down the hallway, his eyes half-lidded with exhaustion, dark bags beneath them. He muttered again, almost to himself, "Now, all I need to do is find the P7 classroom..."With just one 3 meters left between him and the classroom door, a voi
Puppet-Master 3- Typical Shopping
"The name's Andrew Lapis," Andrew thought to himself, eyes closed in a lazy yawn as he stood in line to return his plate. Oblivious to the line's movement, he inadvertently blocked those behind him. Alex, positioned right behind Andrew, wasted no time and gave the sleepy boy a gentle push, nearly toppling him."Tsk..." Andrew let out a dissatisfied sound, his half-opened eyes narrowing as he turned to shoot an irritated stare at the three friends behind him. "And, as you can see, I'm a poor man who needs to cling to his anger to maintain as peaceful a life as possible," he mused. Continuing his train of thought, he returned his plate, then made his way out of the cafeteria. "Yes, my life is peaceful because yesterday was the same as the day before, and the day before that, and the day before that, and so will be the days to come... except for this one peculiar day...""Eye Bags!" Alex shouted as he exited the cafeteria along with the rest of the group, and Ray put his right arm around
Puppet-Master 4- Typical Dinner
Andrew sighed, sinking into the familiar embrace of his beloved bed, relishing the softness of the sheets and the gentle caress of the pillow against his tired head. "What's up, boys..." he whispered to himself, his voice carrying the weariness of the day, "It's your boy, Andrew Lapis. And, I finally defeated today's foe, so I can enjoy the calm after the storm..."His moment of tranquility was shattered by Lesli's piercing scream from the floor below, a sound that seemed to pierce through his very soul. "Andrew!" she bellowed, her voice echoing through the house. "Andrew, you need to come down. Dinner is ready!" The urgency in her tone forced Andrew to reluctantly peel himself away from his sanctuary."Or maybe..." Andrew muttered, irritation evident in his half-opened eyes, "just maybe, the storm didn't really pass..." He covered his face with his hands, feeling the weight of exhaustion and frustration settling upon him. "God... Please, I just want to rest...""Andrew, get down here
Puppet-Master 5- Typical Night
"Finally," Andrew muttered wearily as he stepped into the coffee shop, his demeanor still carrying the weight of exhaustion and apathy. His words were laced with a hint of sarcasm, "The 12 minutes and 27 seconds of continuous walking are at last over!""Yes, just like I said, guys," Andrew mumbled to himself once more, acknowledging the warm greetings from everyone in the coffee shop with a casual wave of his hand. He continued his slow march toward his desired destination. "I am Andrew Lapis. Sadly, I'm a poor guy who needs to run quite a marathon just to satisfy his human desires.""What are those human desires, you ask?" Andrew continued, his voice taking on a tone of mock seriousness. "Well, it's that urge to play those tacitical games: card games, chess, and reversi… nothing grand, to be honest...""Oh, Eye Bags!" Alex exclaimed loudly as he noticed Andrew taking a seat at the table, his arrival completing the group of five. "You arrived earlier than usual this time. Why?""Ah...
Puppet-Master 6- Typical Unexpectation
"My name is Andrew Lapis, everyone," Andrew muttered, raising the collars of his dark grey coat to shield his neck from the chilly evening wind as he strolled away from the coffee shop. He fumbled for his smartphone in his pocket, eyes focused on the time: 1:18, etched in the device's center. "As you can clearly see, the fun is over. And a great voyage is awaiting me to get back to my hometown." A lengthy yawn escaped him, his eyes struggling to stay open as he forced his legs to keep moving. "Well, I hope I don’t fall asleep before finishing this long road."To his surprise, he noticed a suspicious figure standing alone in the dimly lit neighborhood. As he drew closer, a spark of recognition lit up Andrew's mind. "Isn’t that… The wanderer?" he thought, puzzled to find the man here. "I came a little later than usual, so I didn’t expect to encounter him on my way back."Despite his thoughts racing, Andrew didn't hesitate to remove the coat; he needed to return it to its owner, after al