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[secretingredients]

[ come here for all your screened ic threads! who doesn't want to take the highway to the danger zone? ]

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You used to get things under the tree, the way we do now?

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Yeah, exactly. It's been a while though, so we mostly lost track of that stuff.

[ He sighs. ]

I hadn't thought about my son in a long time. I hope he's doing okay.

[transparentanswer]

...Sorry.

. . .

[Pats him on the back again...]

I miss my family too.

How long has it been since you've seen him?

[secretingredients]

[ He shakes his head. ]

I don't know. I really don't. We've been here for so long...

[transparentanswer]

[. . .]

So long...

Long enough that you don't age anymore, right?

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Oh, yeah. Obviously.

[ He pauses. ]

Actually, it's probably because time doesn't really pass in here. If you go home, you'll show up at the same time as you vanished.

[transparentanswer]

If!?

[Shintaro's whole composture changes, grabbing Thug's shoulders.]

The people from before...they were able to go back?

[secretingredients]

Uh... yeah. [ Calm down, dude. ] We told you guys, remember? Once the storm passes and your time here is over, you can go home.

What, did you think we were lying?

[transparentanswer]

N-No, I just...

[He'll let you go, Thug. Sorry about that buddy.]

Is that how it worked before? The murders stopped, and people got to go home?

[ . . . ]

Brasco and the Princess already told me.

[secretingredients]

Basically, yeah.

[ It's cool, kid, he's mostly just a little surprised. ]

We never said you were gonna be stuck here forever.

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It's just...the storm kept you here all this time.

I would figure...we'd all either die, or...

[secretingredients]

Oh, well, we live here. Someone has to take care of the house.

But you guys are just guests, you can leave no problem. Once your stay is over, anyway.

[transparentanswer]

Brasco said you couldn't leave because of the storm.

You're not allowed to leave because you have to take care of the house?

[secretingredients]

[ Somewhere Brasco is probably sneezing. Dammit, Thug! ]

I mean, the storm is keeping us from leaving. It's just, uh, a little more complicated than that....

[transparentanswer]

Does it have to do with Eric Hale?

[secretingredients]

Eric Who?

[transparentanswer]

[he really wants a cool "gotcha" moment like in those tv detective shows. Let him live.]

The cult leader.

No?

[secretingredients]

[ Your attempts are admirable, Shintaro.

Give him a minute, he's trying to remember.... ]

Ohhhhh, yeah! The cult leader. That guy.

[ He's heard of him, at least. ]

Wow, it's been a while since I heard that name.

[transparentanswer]

[WHY COULDNT HE HAVE REMEMBERED IT THE FIRST TIME??]

Know what his deal was?

Did he...fucking...I don't know, summon the Krampus, or something?

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[ Well, it's like if you heard Thug Dangerzone's real name, you would be like "Who?" ]

I don't... actually know what he did. But I think he succeeded.

[transparentanswer]

[i bet its lame]

...Ominous.

Do you think he had a connection to this place? Guzma found a..recruitment flyer, or something.

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[ You would not be wrong. ]

Yeah. That's probably how I would put it. He has a connection to this place.

Uh, I think.

[transparentanswer]

And a love of various holidays, apparently?

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[ He shrugs. ]

Apparently.

[transparentanswer]

There's no way that like...

He became, like...

The house itself, right?