ALL OF THIS IS REAL?!

[Part 1] They Meet the Player in Person

Ft. Hank, Deimos, Sanford & 2BDamned (+ The Employers)

While the Employers were all overjoyed to have you with them, it eventually became clear that you wouldn't stay with them forever.

Player never seen them as frantic as they were the day they decided to leave. The Conductor and the Deliberator tried to distract player, one pulling you away from the entryway while the other started discussing what they'd plan to do with them that day. They already spent as much time around player as possible, but maybe they'd been neglecting them without meaning to? If player wanted more attention, they'd be happy to give it, just don't go.

Stygain would try to do away with their aloof attitude, as much as it pained them. They didn't like talking about their feelings, but perhaps if they knew how special player's presence was to them, they wouldn't make this choice? (It was uncomfortable, to have them come out of nowhere and just tell player everything they liked about them. It was clearly heartfelt, but the way they tried to insist that player had clearly expressed they're desires to stay with them too was just wrong. Have they ever told them something like that? Player couldn't remember.)

The Auditor was the worst by far though. If player thought he was touchy before, now he was smothering. He'd have a hand on them at all times, gently guiding player back to him when they tried to slink away to reach the door.

Player played along for a couple of hours but soon got sick of their behavior. Seriously, they had been in Nevada for a while now and hadn't even been outside. Player had no idea where you were specifically, but they knew enough about the game to know that the Science Tower was a good enough reference point. Was it so bad to want a break from the Employers and some time to themselves?

They certainly thought so. But, try as they might, they couldn't ever force you to stay.

The Auditor relaxed slightly at the feeling of player strings fixing themselves to his limbs, only for his eyes to widen in shock when they tore themselves from his arms, pulling him between them and the other Employers. He couldn't stop himself from summoning a pair of guns (ones he would ironically recognize as player's favorites), aiming them at the others as they bristled and tried to get around him to reach them. Player just sighed wearily, keeping him between themselves and them as player finally walked to the door. They had enough trust in their abilities to stop them.

The four entities reasoning with player. Telling player of how bad an idea it was, to leave them and try their hand at the carnage in Nevada. Player were safest when they were with them, away from the constant chaos and unpredictable violence that came with grunts. Surely player understood that, right?

While they tried to talk some sense into player, the Auditor was trying his best to fight off their influence. His hands trembled as he strained to move against the directions player strings pulled him, but he couldn't even budge. His attempts to teleport and morph himself into another shape were only met with more of player's strings converging on him, tightening uncomfortably as a warning to obey their will.

"I know I can't hurt you permanently," Player started as they reached out to the doorknob, turning to give them a cold look. "But that doesn't mean I can't stop you from coming after me. I'm leaving, whether you like it or not. And I might've considered coming back if your behavior hadn't been so awful today."

They shrunk into themselves at that. They hated the thought of disappointing player. They proceeded without interruption, turning on their heel and swiftly leaving the base. Uncaring of the guilt left festering within the Employers as they stared in silence at the door. It's not like they could go after player either, the Auditor unwillingly standing guard, their strings lingering on his form.