My Mind's Parable

Stanley was fully asleep now, what could he be dreaming about? He could be dreaming about another beach. What about a rainforest? Another country? It's nagging at Narrator, he just has to know! Maybe this time, he'll stay away from Stanley. 

Something different happens when Narrator checks into Stanley's dream this time, he doesn't notice, but I'm sure Stanley does. Narrator’s grip on the parable loosens, he doesn't let go, but his power is weakened. Narrator gripped onto Stanley's mind itself. Hopefully Narrator’s code won't cause any harm to Stanley. 

This time Narrator enters Stanley's dream, he is in a place full of trees. Many, many trees. Narrator doesn't think he's ever seen this many trees, let alone so close together like this. He realizes he's in his body again when he feels water splash onto him, but from where? The water fell down on him, but it's not like water can just fall from the sky right? If the laws of dreams apply to Narrator while he's in Stanley's dream, he should just be able to climb a tree and find where it's coming from right? Narrator thinks so. 

And with his newly created, definitely perfect plan, Narrator tries to climb the nearest tree. It works, but only because this is a dream. His technique isn't exactly.. Correct? It most certainly wouldn't work in real life, not like the parable abides by what defines ‘real life’ but still, it probably wouldn't work there either. At the top of the tree Narrator finds himself drenched in water, and covered in scraps that fell off of the tree onto him, if Stanley saw him like this he might as well hibernate for the rest of time. Sadly, his long voyage was obviously for nothing, because once again, he does not understand how the real world works. Maybe after he leaves Stanley's dream he should watch a first grade level video about the water cycle. 

Oh. the water must be coming from the sky then. Stupid Stanley.. None of this makes sense! 

[ What? ] 

Uh oh. Narrator must've spoken out loud. Or maybe..? No. There's no way he accidentally latched onto Stanley's mind right? He couldn’t’ve been in that much of a hurry right? 

[ I hear you. ] god that's creepy. Stop doing that Stanley. 

[ Where are you? I know you're not just my imagination right now. ] 

“No, no. I'm definitely your imagination right now, and you should absolutely go about whatever you were doing before.” 

[ Now I'm sure you're not my imagination. What are you doing here? Was that you in my dream last time? Why are you snooping around in my dreams? ] 

“I'm here because.. This version of me that is definitely not me is here because.. You miss me?”

[ Of course. ]

Narrator assumes Stanley walked off, and Narrator also knew for sure that he latched his mind onto Stanleys, but why did it feel so right? It felt like one piece of a puzzle fitting perfectly into another. What if their faces fit perfectly like that too? What. Narrator needs to get out of this tree. 

Narrator did not know how to climb off of a tree, so he just fell. Someone should make sure he doesn't try to do this again in the parable. Because he is in a dream, he is perfectly fine after falling out of the tree. He looks down at his hands to wipe off any dirt and.. He doesn't have hands? Paws? It seems that Stanley's dreams have put him in a random body instead of just picking the one he hates most or.. What if it's going off of the last one he used? He detached from the parable while running over to Curator so he must've been in that form then. Well if he's in this body then why shouldn't he go and find Stanley? It's not like Stanleys ever seen it, he just has to make sure he only thinks things at Stanley and doesn't speak them, otherwise Stanley will see his mouth move and he'll get caught. 

Narrator's legs hit the ground like rocks, each one creating a quite audible thump. He could just walk around, but this forest is huge to him, so Narrator thinks it's better to run around on the path until he finds Stanley. 

Where are you?

‘Why are you asking me?’

I'm coming to find you?

‘So you admit this isn't my imagination?’

Yes, yes! Whatever. What even is this?

‘A rainforest? Have you never seen one?’

Stanley, I haven't been to earth since I was asleep for the entirety of humans coming into existence and dominating your planet.

‘You've been to earth?? You can sleep???’ 

Yes Stanley. Just because you don't understand how I work doesn't mean you get to shame me for it.

‘I’m not shaming you, you've just never told me about that.’

I never told you? Maybe when you wake up I'll tell you.

‘Tell me now!’

Tell me where you are and maybe I will!

‘How am I supposed to tell you where I am if I'm in a place where there aren't any signs to follow?’

Why didn't you tell me that before? I would have stopped asking you where you are. Just stop walking, take a seat or whatever so I can find you. 

‘Are you always this clingy?’

Ugh. Says you.

‘Says me? When have I ever been clingy?’

You didn't input the code when I told you to get the freedom ending because you wanted to hear me say it!

‘And how does that make me clingy?’

“You've heard me say it a hundred times!!” 

‘Ok, you win. Come find me quicker, I'm getting bored.’

Yes sire, as you command. 

Narrator realizes that the ‘rainforest’ as Stanley called it, wasn't just big to Narrator because he had never been in it before, it was just genuinely huge. Stanley said himself that he couldn't point the Narrator to himself, so it must be very large. Narrator can't scent track because he isn't sure if scent tracking even works in a dream, and he has actually never smelt Stanley. Not like he would want to anyway, Stanley is probably very sweaty from all the walking he does. 

Every painting on that wall was a different dream right? And when Narrator spoke the dream contorted into a broken version of the parable right?

Stanley?

‘Yeah?’

Were you expecting me?

‘..Yes?’ 

Oh. Narrator must've ruined Stanley's dream pretty badly if Stanley was expecting him to come back a second time.

‘You didn't ruin it? I just wasn't expecting your voice and it made me think of the parable. I was expecting to hear your voice this time, so I was able to keep dreaming about the rainforest.’

The rain was quite heavy, Narrator noticed. When he first entered Stanley's dream he couldn't tell how much rain was falling due to all of the trees and leaves around him. Now that he's on a path, hopefully leading to Stanley, the rain is directly hitting Narrators coat, and it's making him uncomfortable. 

‘Are you running?’

Of course I'm running? 

‘I think I hear your.. Footsteps?’ 

Narrator quickly sped around a tree a little too close to the path, and he may have slightly miscalculated his steps. Narrator had run right into Stanley, and knocked him over. 

[ Did you like the trees? ] 

Yes? Why are you asking? 

[ If you stay here any longer I'm probably going to wake up. ] 

Oh. Sorry Stanley. 

Narrator felt a little bad for intruding on Stanley's dream again, but he listened to Stanley and left his dream. He let go of Stanley's mind, hoping he hadn't put too much pressure on it. 

Does he really have to get to working now? How boring. Narrator pulled up one of the monitors from the office and turned it on. He opened a new tab, after waiting 30 years for the thing to start up and for him to guess the password. He opened a new tab and searched up..

Free computer models|

Some of the models that came up costed money, obviously if he just stole them nobody would actually be able to do something about it but just to be safe, he only took free models. All Narrator needed was a mouse, keyboard, computer, and monitor. That couldn't be so hard to find right?

Turns out, a lot of people like making models of all the things Narrator needed, just on another desk. And, Narrator isn't too sure if he would be able to get all of the pieces working separately if they were all interconnected like that. Eventually, he gave up on only using free things because they either didn't fit what he needed or they were just too ugly for his liking. He knows how to recolor things, but he can't remodel them, otherwise he might lag out the game with whatever smoothing tool he uses. 

Narrator found a..

Monitor

https://free3d.com/3d-model/simple-monitor

Computer

https://free3d.com/3d-model/pc-case-computer-case

Mouse

https://free3d.com/3d-model/3d-mouse

And keyboard

https://free3d.com/3d-model/razer-deathstalker-gaming-keyboard

Stanley will like these right? Well first he has to get rid of some things and paint over others, these models would look very out of place in an office. Narrator paints the clear part of the computer black so Stanley wouldn't be able to see inside of the casing. Wherever anything was glowing, Narrator found that specific part of the model and deleted it. If everything was merged together and he couldn't delete it separately, he would just paint over it with black. Stanley's computer, mouse, keyboard, and monitor would be black, the rest of the office would have white monitors and computers, while the other two items would be black. 

Narrator got bored of putting all of the models together, because he knew afterwards he would have to complete the coding for Stanleys computer and implement it and yada yada yada… he's already bawling his eyes out thinking about it. 

Stanley was blissfully unaware as he slept in his bed for the second time.. Today? Yesterday? Tomorrow?? Maybe he'll just say for the second time. 

What to do.. He could just stare at Stanley for a few more hours. But alas, he could not. For Stanley would be far too enraged to hear that his dear Narrator had only gotten one thing done whilst he was away, then once again, merciful Stanley would fall back asleep, and the Narrator would be left alone with his work once more. 

Maybe he could steal more models for making his own? Maybe.. He could just let go of the parable and show Stanley a visual representation of what he actually is.. No. That's a horrible idea! Stanley would hate everything about it! Ok, finding more models to steal it is! 

Even after hours of searching, Narrator couldn't find any suitable models. Hundreds of websites, thousands of links, only a few models made the cut, but only to observe how they worked. Most of the models he took were of organs so he could update Stanley's model. 

A heart to beat, lungs to breath, a stomach to eat. How does one think without a brain? How does one love without a heart? How do you create when you have not been created? 

What can he do now? Curator said she would help him make a model but.. Narrator doesn't want to leave Stanley's side. Well, metaphorical side, he isn't down there with him yet. What would happen if he started to update Stanley's model? He would have to take him out of the files, but would that affect Stanley's conscience? Stanley didn't come with the model that harbors him, it isn't very easy to tell. 

Nothing too terrible could happen right? Before Narrator took Stanley's model out of the parable, he implemented some simpler foods, like fruits and vegetables. They'd be good for Stanley too since he read that they're healthy. 

He double clicked the only file on the desktop of this monitor, even after he updates the computers, he doesn't believe he'll update this one. The file opened with two more files inside it, one led to the coding and sorts, the other led to models. Into the file holding models it showcased multiple folders containing a single model in each. The one holding Stanley's model still had a scrapped version inside it. Maybe he could use that for himself? Hastily he threw the organ models into Stanley's folder, he'll deal with merging them later. Narrator made another folder and put all of the food models inside it. 

Narrator moved out of the models folder and into Stanley's model specifically, he opened the modeling tool he usually uses and pulled the organ models inside the program he was using. The organ models he picked out weren't just molded to be looked at from the outside, inside of the models they looked like real organs too because of that, he shouldn't have to do any work there. 

The main issue was, even though Stanley may have felt like he was wearing clothes, he technically isn't. Stanley's clothes are part of his model. What about that scrapped model in Stanleys folder? Narrator dragged that model into the program too and what would you know! It looked just like Stanley! And it had no clothes. That's a good thing in this case but Narrator feels like he's intruding on something he shouldn't. Narrator grabs the body from the scrapped model and places it under Stanley's clothed model, he removes the head of the scrapped one, and places the organs inside the mashed together models. 

Something Narrator was hoping he wouldn't have to do is look up what the inside of a human actually looks like so he can model it properly, sadly, he couldn't find a proper working human model, so he has to make it correct himself. 

So much work for a single Narrator. Oh, why does he have to do this? To appease his protagonist of course! The one who should be listening to him.. Continuing, Narrator saw so much he wished he didn't see, yes he is an all knowing being, but is it impossible to think he may have blocked some knowledge out!? 

Stanley's model is done. He may have used a model of a certain.. Appendage. Narrator didn't feel comfortable modeling one for Stanley, but he didn't exactly feel right just slapping a premade model on there either. One was certainly a whole lot easier than the other so he chose that option instead of the other. 

Ok. Stanley's model is done! Now he needs to code it and make sure the body works properly. Where should he start? He has to make sure Stanley can eat, but he needs to make sure Stanley doesn't need to use the bathroom. He also should make sure Stanley doesn't drop dead on the spot because his heart isn't beating properly or because his lungs won't inflate. 

Couldn't he just steal some other peoples code like he did with the models? Well obviously he could, there's nothing he can't do. 

A few more hours of Narrator stealing and modifying the code of other people's works, he got Stanley's model running completely fine. Or, as fine as he believes. He can't actually know for sure if Stanley's model is working until Stanley can try it out for himself. Speaking of Stanley, where did the man go? It doesn't look like he's in his bed, or the whole of the apartment.. Or the entirety of the parable. Narrator didn't feel his presence leave into curators half of the parable either. Oh dear, where is Stanley?

‘Hey!’

What? Hello? 

‘What did you do?’

What do you mean ‘what did i do?’ I didn't do anything! Where is Stanley? Where are you? What are you? 

‘What? What did you do with my body? I'm like the exact definition of a ghost right now!’

Stanley?

‘Yes, it's me!? Who else would be speaking to you telepathically right now!?’

Yes, right. Only Stanley can do that. Oh lord, Stanley, be a dear and stay… wherever you are, ok? I was working on.. Another surprise for you and I guess it must've taken you out of your model.

‘A surprise that has something to do with my body?’

Yes. Now shush dear i need to finish this so you don't dissipate or whatever may happen. 

‘I'm still on the bed if you need to know.’

Thank you, but I'm not sure I needed to know that. 

‘How long will this take?’

I'm not quite sure, however, I would like to warn you that I may have to reset the parable in order for you to have access to your body again. 

‘Will I stay here or will I go back to my office.’

I'm.. not sure. If you do end up back in your office I think that would be better than you staying here but under the circumstance that you stay inside of your apartment I would need you to backtrack into your office as I am unable to move you around when you're outside of your body. 

Narrator imported Stanley's model back into the parable and it looked as if Stanley was sleeping peacefully in his bed once again. Stanley wasn't breathing, or atleast, whatever Stanley was doing before he had lungs. 

Stanley?

‘Yes?’

I wanted to make sure you were still here. Can you get back into your body?

‘I’m not sure. How would I even try to do that?’

Do you really think I would know?

‘No.’

Stanley didn't really have any other option but to try and get back into his body. Why did Narrator take him out of the body anyway? It seems quite unnecessary and it certainly wasn't Narrators original surprise. Something looks different about his body too.. Stanley doesn't really care enough to try and figure out what may be slightly off with his body.

Can he touch himself? No! Not like that. Can he hold his own hand and things like that. That's what he meant. Turns out, he can! Stanley can lift his arms up and.. his sleeve moved like it normally would under gravity. Did his clothes usually do that? He's sure they didn't before Narrator did… whatever he did. 

Maybe he should just.. Get back in his body? There's no good way to explain it without making himself cringe, so maybe he just won't. Stanley laid in the exact position of his body to see if he could just.. Realign with himself? Either way it didn't work. 

‘Narrator?’

Yes dear?

‘I can't get back into my body.’

Well don't fear! I can reset the game and things should be back to normal! Along with that, I should be able to update the computer monitors at the same time. 

‘Oh? So you actually did your work while I was asleep this time?’

If you're just going to be rude about something that was most certainly out of my control I'll make sure you never get back into your body.

‘Maybe you should take a nap.’

Pardon me?

‘I said nothing.’

Sure you didn't.

While Stanley and Narrator were bickering, Narrator had replaced all of the computer models with the new ones and replaced Stanley's with the special one he made just for him, fully taking the old models out of the game and adding them into the back up models folder.

Stanley?

‘What?’

If you don't come back to the office with the reset you're going to have to walk your way back, I don't have access to your conscience in the code. 

‘I've been through the parable thousands of times, walking the other way through it won't instantly kill me.’

Narrator reset the game because he was tired of arguing like a child with Stanley, and he wanted to make sure that his new computer models worked the way he intended them to. 

The end is never the end is never the end is never the end is loading the end is never the end is never the end..

For just a few moments, Narrator was sure that Stanley had reset into his body in tip top shape, but only a few moments after, Stanley's mind had a few words to say, and Stanley's body had slumped over in his office chair. 

‘Did everything work out right?’

“Well, the computers updated perfectly fine, but you.. Are you in your body? If so, I don't understand how a position like that could be comfortable.”

‘No, I'm not! Narrate me walking back to my office.’

“What! How on earth could I do that!? I can't even see you for heaven's sake!”

‘Just do the best you can! I haven't heard the sweet sound of you Narrating me in ages!’

“It's been one reset since I was Narrating you!”

‘I'm walking out of the apartment now. Don't you need to teleport me?’

“Yes right, Stanley knew he needed to get back to work as soon as possible, it didn't matter to him that he didn't see any of his coworkers coming out of their apartments with him, Stanley was only working this job for the money.”

“Stanley? Did the teleport work?”

‘Uhh. no.’

“What!? How on earth am I supposed to get you back to the office now!?’

‘Don't you have some way you can leave the office? Like when you go and have those meetings with Curator?’

“Yes of course i can bring you back that way, but- i- you've never seen me that way! How am I supposed to know that you won't make fun of me for how I look!? Not only that! I don't know my way around the parable like you do! How can I be sure that you would direct me properly!

Stanley did not respond at first. That alone sent Narrator into another frenzied panic. But Stanley, Stanley had never heard Narrator be that vulnerable with him. Stanley had been kept in the dark about how scared Narrator was about this entire process, and now that everythings gone wrong, Stanley not teleporting was just the straw that broke the camel's back. 

Why would Narrator believe that Stanley would make fun of him for how he looks, there's no way he could look worse than Stanley, he’s the most average guy on earth! 

‘Narrator?’

“What!? What input could you possibly have?! I've been rambling on and off at you and you've just been.. I don't know! I can't see you and when you aren't thinking at me I can't hear you either! It feels like you're not even here!” 

‘Narrator. I cannot imagine why you would come to the conclusion that I wouldn't like how you look. I don't understand why you wouldn't know your way around the parable since you created this place. Narrator, we may have had some bad experiences in the past, and we may have fought a whole lot when we first met, but i like to believe that we aren't in that state anymore. I like to believe that the two of us have changed and grown since then, but if you aren't willing to believe that I can be kind to you, then we won't progress. We can't change and become “better people” if you wont let yourself think i can be better.’ 

“Sta-nley.. “ Narrator sounded like he was crying now. Did Stanley just make the situation worse? Maybe he shouldn't try to say heartfelt things. 

“I- I don't.. Why? Why do you think I can be better? No- no I'm sorry. I'll come get you. Would you be so ever kind as to tell me where you are?”

‘Uh- yeah of course. I'm right by the door I spawn in front of during the normal apartment ending.’

“I.. I should've guessed that. I don't believe I'll be able to speak to you while doing this.”

‘Why?’

“I feel like I've had to do this before. Like I needed to.. Get someone. I don't remember who and I don't remember talking during the ordeal.”

‘Can you atleast try to speak to me during it?’

“If you insist.” 

Narrator tries hard to remember things, even to the point where he will save his memory in intervals on a hard drive. However, hundreds of eons ago, Narrator did not practice saving himself. Narrator had his memory inside his own incomprehensible being and that was it. Most memories from before Stanley have been lost because of his feelings towards them. Narrator’s being relies on emotions, yet he is unable to understand them. In turn, he is reckless. Recklessness leads to consequence, and Narrator’s consequence is losing important memories. 

When he lets go of the parable, the idea of himself forms into a tiger shaped creature, I’m sure you already know that though. Imagine trying to speak through a wall to someone, that is what Narrator and Stanley wish to accomplish while Narrator brings him back to his body. 

Narrators voice becomes something else when he is not a part of the parable. Everything about him becomes something else if you put some thought into it. Narrator is aware he is something else, Stanley is not. 

drawing(s) here yayaya (  later when i have the time sorry :'(    )

Stanley writhes in the grip of Narrator's teeth. To Stanley, this is something horrifying, to Narrator, he believes he is helping Stanley in the quickest way possible. 

Stanley is not something comprehensible at this moment, and he is very aware of that. He realizes, Narrator isn't something normal either, so why should he try to help his situation with normal methods? Stanley rips at his very-not-real shirt until it is in such disarray Narrator couldn't have a great grip on him, he grabs at anything his hands could latch onto as fast as possible, Narrator had taken notice by now and in an animalistic fashion, started to swing his head around to shake Stanley off. 

Stanley did not stop to apologize for kicking Narrator in the mouth a few times, and climbed completely over Narrator's head and onto his back. Stanley's false shirt was wrapped around his Narrator's neck and face in a similar fashion to what most people use to guide a horse, Stanley took notice and used it to his advantage. Instead of Stanley guiding Narrator back to his office with his thoughts, Stanley rode Narrator back to his office as if he were a horse. 

Narrator was extremely unpleased, his mouth let out a symphony ranging to that of a piano and an organ, to a violin and cello. Narrator sounded like every instrument being used at once and Narrator was very aware of it. He hated how he sounded and how he was acting, what would Stanley think of him in such a state?

Stanley and Narrator made it to the main parable, Stanley didn't recognize where they were at first but Narrator saw it almost immediately as the insanity ending. Narrator couldn't tell Stanley that they shouldn't be here with words, so he just shook Stanley around until he got the message. 

Stanley had never been out of bounds like this before. He's fallen out of the map a few times before, but in those situations he only got to see inside the map from below it. Having the Narrator bring him around like this lets him see what he assumes the Narrator sees all the time, obviously he is very wrong because when Narrator is inhabiting the building that's all he can see. 

Narrator feels like crying but he knows if he does Stanley would basically be swimming in himself, so he'll wait just a little while to cry out into the nothingness around his parable. Why did he let himself do this? Why on earth would he let Stanley see himself in such a state? If Narrator looks and acts like an animal simply because of a form he takes on, how will Stanley treat him now? Narrator isn't some pet to be owned. 

Timekeeper lurks around the corners of the parable. Stanley does not take notice of the purple amalgamation zipping by the two of them and Narrator certainly doesn't notice either, for he was too busy fighting with himself over what Stanley might think of him. Narrator does feel the presence of Timekeeper, but he brushes it off. He will not listen to himself until it is too late to listen. 

It hunts Narrator down because it feels an attachment to it. Timekeeper knows Narrator has something to do with why he is so glitched out, they know he is the reason why his model will never load properly. Just like Narrator and Curator, Timekeeper has a form for when they aren't attached to the parable, and one for when they are. 

Timekeeper never got their own sector of the parable, it is very aware of that. To its knowledge, it was never supposed to have its own area. They can remember running through the parable of both siblings, they remember having a model of their own, they remember when they first woke up in the void glowing purple and magenta, and they remember the first time they saw Narrator again. 

Narrator runs through one of the walls and into the parable, right around the corner is Stanley's office. Stanley hops off of Narrator and pets his head out of instinct. Why did he do that? Stanley doesn't remember ever having a cat. It seems alright, Narrator doesn't look like he minds, it actually looked quite enjoyable for the voice. 

Now that Stanley can get a better look at his Narrator, he doesn't look like a tiger, he looks more like a lion with a very well kept mane. Stanley had originally assumed Narrator was some sort of tiger due to the stripes lining him, but they looked more like rays from the sun. Is that what Narrator represents? The sun? He has yellows and oranges painted all over the parable, but the colors emanate from Narrator himself too. 

Narrator looks like he's getting bored. Before Stanley tries to control his body like any normal person again, he has to think about the fact Narrator is floating. It looks like there's less gravity affecting Narrator right now. Can Stanley fly when he's like this too? There's no time for questions though, Narrator is nudging him into his office even though the door is shut. 

Stanley's body was limp in his office chair. It looked like he died, Stanley wasn't sure if he was going to be like a walking zombie after getting back into it. Hopefully when Narrator turned off a whole lot of bodily functions he turned off decaying too. 

Narrator could see Stanley through the walls of the parable. From the complete outside of it you can see everything, but from inside, even in this form, Narrator can see Stanley through the walls of the office. It's quite odd actually, he's never been able to see someone through the walls like that before. At least he will be able to see if Stanley gets back into his model. 

Why can't he just put his body back on like a full body jumpsuit? He saw before that he could move his own body around while being some sort of ghost spirit, so that should work right? Stanley thinks so. 

He lifted up the body first, of course it didn't stay up-right, so he opted to lie it on the floor instead. His office chair was kicked towards the door to give him some extra room while doing this. Stanley planned to put his body back on like a footed onesie, the kind that toddlers wear. One foot, then the other. Right arm, and then the left. Instead of zipping up the onesie he gently pulled his head over his ghost one and he was back in his body. That.. was a lot easier than Stanley was anticipating. 

While Stanley was putting his body back on, Narrator had re-attached himself to the parable. The walls grew ever more beige, the fluorescent lights hummed a little louder in satisfaction, and the always out of sight air conditioners blew cool air just the slightest harder. 

‘Narrator?’

“Are you fixed? Did it work?” Narrator was extremely anxious. When Stanley had first left his body, he put on a false confidence for himself just to make sure everything would go right, but after he wasn't able to teleport Stanley, everything felt like it was going wrong. At this point, Narrator was sure Stanley's body rapidly decayed and now there was nothing left of his hard work and he would never see Stanley again. 

Narrator made sure to turn on every camera that could see Stanley's body at this moment, it was only one right now, but he planned on playing out the story after Stanley fixed himself. 

[ Yes, I was able to get back into my body. What did you do to it? ] 

“Pardon me? I went through all the trouble of getting you back here and you immediately accuse me of doing something to you?” arguing with Stanley after you were just crying is certainly a way to go. 

[ First don't get pissy with me, we just had a heart to heart a few moments ago. Second, i know you did something because my sleeves are actually moving. ] 

“Alright Stanley, I'll explain in great detail what I did to your body since you're so interested. I'll explain what I did for so long and so well that it'll be all you think about for the rest of your pathetic existence. After you complained that I didn't do any work while you were asleep I put extreme amounts of effort into finding the most perfect models for my sacred parable. I spent countless hours making sure every single model was filled with meticulous detail and I made sure every single missing piece of your model was implemented and formed into absolute perfection.” Narrator continued his speech, but Stanley wasn't listening anymore. To be quite honest, Narrator wasn't listening to the words coming out of his mouth either. 

Why did Narrator start to deflect his questions again? What could have warranted such a reaction like that? Stanley thought the two of them had a better understanding of each other after that, or at least Narrator wouldn't be as scared to see Stanley in person anymore. It Was nice to know he could actually see Narrator, but he knows he can't touch him anymore. Stanley certainly isn't able to walk through walls now that he's back inside his body, and since Narrator can walk through walls like that, Stanley's hopes of ever getting to hold someone dwindle ever smaller. 

Narrator not paying attention to his words is something he normally does when reciting the script, it's how he inflicts the same tone over and over again, but to try and give a long winded speech while not paying attention to the words you're speaking isn't exactly the smartest thing to do. 

“-and you know why I did that? I did it because I desire something other than a hatred between us! Because I care for god's sake! Because I care and I can never tell if you care too! You always act as if nothing is good enough for you here, so how am i supposed to know if the things i do are right for you!?” Narrator speech had turned into a ramble very quickly, and very quickly that ramble turned into Narrator sobbing into his non-existent hands. Stanley certainly wouldn't want to stay with him after this, he should really pay attention more. 

Narrator also comes to realize that even after comprehending the words he was speaking, he still spoke more words after that, more words he did not hear himself say, more words he isn't sure if they will ruin the very fragile relationship between him and Stanley. Their relationship wasn't as fragile as Narrator believed it was, but when you push feelings away to the point where you have to re-learn what you were born from, it gets just slightly harder to understand the feelings of others around you. 

He holds his own tongue in his mouth. Every word he speaks works against him at some point. Maybe he should just stop speaking. Why can't he just keep his own mouth shut? 

“I need some time alone.”

[ What!? Narrator please, wait! ] but Stanley was too late. Narrator had already left the parable once again. Where would Narrator go? Stanley had no idea. Stanley didn't have any ideas, this was the first time Narrator had up and left like this since.. The skip button. 

Oh god. The skip button ending. Narrator had promised he would never leave Stanley's side after that. After Stanley had done that to him. It was horrible to just keep hearing Narrator say the same words over, and over, and over again. All he could do was press that button and it just kept making things worse until.. Until Narrator was gone. Hundreds of button presses after and he never came back. Sometimes Stanley thinks Narrator never really came back and the game had just hard reset the both of them. Maybe his original Narrator is still somewhere, forever alone, waiting on someone who isn't even there anymore. 

Narrator knew what he was doing was very irresponsible. He just couldn't take it anymore. Stanley was angry with him? Was Stanley not? Narrator can't tell anymore. All he needs to do is get to Curator and he'll be able to understand everything and he'll live happily ever after playing out the story with Stanley. He never even picked a back up if Stanley ever wanted to leave, that's how sure he was that he could make this a good experience for Stanley. That's how much he wanted this to work between the two of them. This was his last human he actually wanted. 

He's not good enough. He needs to speed up so he won't leave Stanley alone for too long. What would happen if Stanley found out he could leave? Would he still choose to leave knowing Narrator couldn't be there with him? 

Narrator might have been running faster than he was when bringing Stanley back to his office, but Timekeeper was faster. They saw that Stanley had been left in his office, and now that there were no witnesses, he pounced. Timekeeper was much smaller than Narrator, but eventually they could wear him down. Narrator screeched and thrashed around to get Timekeeper off, and he did get them off, but it wouldn't stop. Over and over again Timekeeper ran around Narrator, tripping him and slowing him down. Narrator knew that Timekeeper wouldn't dare walk into the parable, let alone Curator’s part of the parable, so he ran. He ran as fast as he possibly could no matter what tricks Timekeeper was pulling on him, and he made it. 

Narrator ran straight into Curator’s side of the parable and immediately curled up into himself. He lied on the ground and hoped Curator would come and help him soon. 

“Narrator? What are you doing back here so soon? Did something happen between you and Stanley? I'm sure whatever it was is just something yo-”

“No! I did something bad and I don't know how to fix it!”

Curator let go of her parable and came down to comfort her brother. 

“Tell me what your issues are and I'll help you the best I can, alright?”

Narrator was crying again, every sentence he tried to pull from his throat came out mangled and broken.

“I keep deflecting his questions and I don't know why.. I- i swear i don't mean to. I don't know why I keep doing it.. I started rambling at him over something I could have just easily answered and- i just left HIM! I left him alone! And when I was saying things to him- I said things I didn't mean to.. And Timekeeper was attacking me. While I was trying to get here.”

“Oh dear.. I cannot help you with this, but I know it is important for you to remember that once you have another human body, you won't be able to run to me for help anymore. If you leave Stanley alone for a few minutes and he gets scared from that, what do you think would happen if you just collapsed because you needed to ask me something? He would think you fainted!”

“What's fainting?”

“Narrator,” Curator chuckled a bit. A very long time ago the both of them had no idea about these human problems, but Narrator never learned like Curator did. “I'll teach you about fainting another time.”

“What am I supposed to do..?”

“You need to go and apologize. You need to tell him you're sorry for leaving unprompted like that and that you didn't mean to start arguing with him.” 

“What if he doesn't accept my apology? That's what I'm always worrying about! I can't do it if I don't know what the outcome will be!”

“That's what being human is Narrator. You'll never know what's going to happen after you say things.” Curator hoped Narrator would actually apologize to Stanley, previous times she's asked him to do that he would always back out at the last minute. 

Narrator didn't have anything else to vent to Curator about so he starts to run back to Stanley. Timekeeper overheard their conversation and left Narrator alone for now, next time it finds him out in the void they'll make sure Narrator doesn’t get away. 

Narrator runs back across the void. It's a little embarrassing to go and seek out your sister for advice just for her to tell you that all you need to do is say sorry.

“Stanley?”

[ What do you want? Are you here to argue with me again? ] 

“No i.. Um- I came to apologize.” 

[ Apologize? ]  Stanley chuckled despite being unable to make any sound. It didn't look like a nice laugh. [ When have you ever given me a real apology? What makes you think you'll be able to give me a proper apology? ] 

“Nothing makes me think I can properly apologize to you. I'm sorry for arguing with you.”

[ Is that it? ]

“Stanley, I don't know how to apologize to you. Tell me what could make you happy, please? I'm sincerely sorry.”

[ There's nothing you can do to make me happy! I'm stuck down here with nobody and you.. I have no way of knowing if you're real! ] 

“Of course I'm real! What more proof could you need?! I speak to you every minute of your waking hours!” 

[ I can't.. ] Stanley dropped his hands back to his sides. He looked very angry but.. He was crying? Why was he crying? Narrator thought he was angry at him.

“Stanley, wait! Please don't go!”

But Stanley didn't listen. Stanley stormed off to the broom closet and slammed the door. Narrator cannot see Stanley from inside the broom closet, that's why he hates it so much. After the skip button ending, Narrator hated the broom closet even more. 

“Stanley? I know you can hear me, and I know you won't respond. I really do mean it, I'm terribly sorry for leaving you, and for avoiding answering why your body feels different.”

Stanley still didn't budge. The door didn't crack open just the slightest, Stanley's thoughts were still being held from Narrator, and Narrator still didn't take the time to just fix the broom closet room itself. Instead, he continued trying his best to apologize. 

“While you were sleeping I didn't just update the computer models, while yes, they did take a significant amount of time to do all of the important things to fix and make work, I spent most of my time on something else. For about 63% of the hours you were asleep I took the time to update your model. For the past 12 years you've been inhabiting a model that.. Is not very good, I'd like to say. The model had the clothes physically binded to your skin basically meaning that if i had let you continue to have bodily functions it wouldn't have exactly gone well.”

Stanley, whether consciously or subconsciously, let Narrator start to hear some of his thoughts, just in case Stanley didn't want Narrator to hear them, he ignored them for now. 

“During the hours you were asleep I found models of organs, and I had a spare version of your model without the clothes. N-not that I knew of, of course! But still, I used it to update your model and I just took the clothes from your original one. I.. I don't know why that was so hard for me to just tell you. I'm sorry.”

‘You really did all that?’

“Did all that? That was hardly any work for me! Well, it was a lot of work.. But I did it because I thought you would like it. Do you.. Not? Was it a bad idea for me to update it?”

‘No it's.. It's fine I guess? I don't really notice a difference. I'm just glad I got to see you.’ 

“Oh. u-uhm, thank you? I wasn't really.. Planning on showing you that version of me. Or any version I currently have for that matter.”

‘You have more versions of yourself?’

“Well of course I do! Your loyal Narrator has been around for eons before your time, doesn't it make sense I would have tried my hand at making a model before?”

‘I don't like to think about how old you might actually be.’

“If it makes you feel better I'm not sure how old I am either.” 

‘I think that makes it worse.’

Stanley still hasn't opened the door. Maybe Narrator could convince him to come out?

“When you're ready to come out of the broom closet you could play test your computer for me.”

‘What is there to play test?’ Narrator heard Stanley huff at him. What? That's.. Odd. 

“It's a computer Stanley. I can't physically interact with something if I'm not physical.”

Stanley creaked the broom closet door open just slightly. Stanley peaked through the door just like he always does before leaving. Narrator isn't sure why he does that, is he looking for someone else? Maybe it's just a natural reflex. Stanley was sitting on the floor of the broom closet again, Narrator would reprimand him like he usually does but after apologizing to Stanley for the first time it just doesn't feel right. 

“Onward Stanley! Back to your office.”

“Preferably quickly.”

[ I'm gonna walk as slow as i possibly can just because you said that. ]

“Don't ever say that to me again or I'll take back my apology.”

[ Yes, I hear you. Is it an actual working computer or can I only access websites you coded in? ] 

“I believe it should work just like any other average computer.”

Stanley walked from the broom closet, through the hallways, and back to his office. The two of them bantered lightly over the whole way. When Stanley had gotten back to his office, he had but one question to ask.

[ What if the computer doesn't work? ] 

Oh. 

“ Well… I hadn't thought about a possibility like that .. I suppose I would just check the code..? It took me quite a while to make sure the computer would work on its own so if it doesn't.. It would take me quite a while to figure out why it doesn't work and how to fix it.” So much for being confident.

“If in the case the computer doesn't work, I could just bring you to the zending and re-work it while you're in there.” Narrator wanted to act confident so Stanley would trust him, but nervousness wracked his metaphorical body.

[ Don't talk about having to fix it too much or you'll jinx it. ] Before Narrator could ask Stanley what a jinx was, Stanley was already sitting at his computer trying to figure out how to turn it on.

An off monitor with a black exterior was settled on Stanley's desk, a matching mouse and keyboard were settled on the desk in front of the monitor. The keyboard, mouse, and monitor were all wired and hooked up to what Stanley assumes is the computer. Stanley runs his fingers over the computer a few times, but can't find the button, so he kicks it a few times until it turns on. 

“Stanley! Don't kick it! Do you want it to break?” 

[ I couldn't find the on button! ] 

“You could've asked me where it was!”

[ oh yeah. ] 

“You should have access to any website you wish to visit, all the while I'll be watching to see if any web pages are unnecessarily bugged out or if something causes your computer to crash.” Hearing that he could crash his computer with a simple webpage really made Stanley want to crash his computer until it broke for good but he knows what he wants out of this computer and  he can do that later. With really no consequence since Narrator most likely has a back up. 

spotify.com|

While Stanley set up his spotify account, with many troubles due to whatever going on with the bugs Narrator was working out in real time, he was also disturbed and hindered by Narrators incessant questioning with every step of setting up the account. 

“Are you very sure you're on a safe website? There's so many bugs here.”

[ Yes im sure this is a safe website, it's one of the most highly used music apps on earth. ] 

“But it's requiring you to download the computer app just to use it? That doesn't sound very ‘safe’ to me.”

[ Just give me a few more minutes and you'll see. ] 

“If you get a virus, I'm not going to fix the computer for you!”

Stanley was partially in the wrong for telling Narrator that the website he was on was perfectly safe, since he was setting up a pirated version of spotify so he could enjoy songs without ads. 

If you think about it, their game has been on steam for 12 years now, who's to say nothing would come up if you searched about it? Stanley typed their games name into the spotify search bar. 

The Stanley Parable|

It's interesting to know that other, very real people, are aware of them and the game they live in. 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4AwuoL6lts7W3Hjrv3rIk9

(when i find the time i will figure out how to get this playlist on other apps)

[ Do you wanna listen to the music with me? or do i need headphones so you can focus. ] Stanley felt the need to question his Narrator on this, since they've been having.. Not the best relationship over the past few parable days. 

“I think it would be wonderful if you would allow me to listen to the music with you, but I cannot hear things from the parable very well. That's why I didn't notice you trying to make that wretched breakfast for yourself.” Narrator thought Stanley would have realized that by now, but you can't really attack Stanley for not noticing, he is just your average office worker after all. 

“Come on Stanley, get up! You need to get to the zen room quickly!”

[ But I just got here? Can’t I enjoy my computer for a little while longer? ] 

“I can just copy the model and coding of the computer and put it into the zen room, Stanley.” How would he use the computer if it isn't plugged in? “An outlet isn't an issue because we're in the parable and if I don't want it to matter it wont.”

Stanley still isn't very pleased with Narrators decision, now he has to lie on concrete for however many weeks, for all he knows, it might be what they consider weeks in the parable!

“You won't be in there for weeks Stanley, don't be so dramatic.” Narrator is extremely rude to Stanley for no reason, and a hypocrite. “Excuse you! I am not. And when you get down to the zending, I believe you will be pleasantly surprised.”

Hopefully Stanley will be happy about the change too, instead of just surprised.

Stanley walked out of his office like the last time, and the time before that, and the 100 times before that too. But unlike most of those times leaving, he felt a sense of security, and like he was needed here. He knew he was needed in the parable, but it was something he never wanted to be a part of. Not until now, that is. 

Stanley got himself down to the zending and was met with something much more pleasant than a concrete floor. His computer was duplicated and sat in the middle of the floor, and the floor had been completely changed for the comfort of Stanley. Instead of the floor being purely made out of concrete, a fluffy pink carpet was settled on top of the hard floor. Pillows from what looked like the lounge room were strewn across the area, their textures changed out of their horridly rough ones. A few blankets were neatly folded next to the computer too. A pair of gold and black wired headphones were sitting neatly in front of the computer. 

“I'm not quite sure if the headphones will work, I had to work quite quickly as you didn't waste any time getting here like I thought you would. If they break, don't hesitate to ask me if I could fix them, just make sure you actually have my attention first so you dont think I'm ignoring you.” 

[ Thank you Narrator. I'm not as great with words as you are, but i really mean it. ] Stanley may not be best with the words he chooses to say, but all of his flurrying thoughts certainly make up for it.

Stanley was perfectly content with listening to a playlist made just for them, and Narrator was busy looking for more models to steal from people. The two of them felt that there would never be a time where they were at ease with each other this much again.