A Story Finally Finished || The Stanley Parable

[3] - The Curator's Task

The Curator was a lot stronger than Narrator, or Stanley. She could erase the game, Narrator could only reset it. Although, little did Stanley know this. He believed they were the same, just varying between 'Female Narrator' and 'Male Narrator'. But, there was something more powerful than the both of them out there.. Something scarier. Something that takes up a lot of other people's time..

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"First thing I need you two to do," The Curator began, "is take these boxes of pens. And I want you to take them up to Stanley's co-worker, 430's, office. Whilst you're there, complete the pointless "5 clicks on door 430" achievement.
There's achievements? Stanley thought, making a scrunched confused face.
"Yes," The Narrator answered, "They really are pointless, but they're little fun things to do sometimes."

Why not tell me about this before? We could have had a lot more fun! Stanley sighed, and the Narrator made a grunting noise, indicating he didn't know. After another moment of silence, Curator spoke up, "Well? Get going!" Unbeknownst to Stanley, she flicked her wrist, and a door appeared in the middle of the platform.
Stanley shrugged, picked up the two boxes of pens, and walked out the door. Narrator followed, whispering another 'Thank You' to The Curator as he left.

Stanley and the Narrator arrived back in the office, and Stanley placed the boxes of pens on the floor in front of the door. He then took his index finger, and pushed it against the door in front of him, tapping it 5 times. This caused something to trigger inside Narrator. "Oh please," he began, "Are you really just doing this for the achievement? Click a door 5 times? Is that all you think an achievement is worth? No, no, no! I can't just give away merits for such little efforts.. A measly five clicks.."

A pause, "Now, say you were to click that door 20 times, I would say that is the kind of effort that warrants recognition!" Stanley sighed, before clicking on the door twenty times, and waiting for a response. The Narrator continued, "Hmm.. I have to say, I'm still not feeling the satisfaction of witnessing true effort for a noble cause.. Perhaps fifty clicks would do it?"
Stanley clicked the door 50 times, his finger beginning to ache.

"No, no, I'm still not feeling it.. I want this achievement to have meant something. I want to see some hustle, Stanley! Why don't you go put twenty clicks on door 417?" The Narrator rambled. Stanley began to walk around the office, slowly filling with adrenaline. When Stanley reached door 417, and pressed his index finger against it 20 times, his heart began to beat faster as Narrator got excited. "Great! Now go put a few clicks on door 437!"

Stanley walked towards door 437, and clicked it thrice, and listened for the next prompt, which came quickly after, "Excellent. I think we're getting somewhere. Now, door 415, lets give it 10 taps or so!" The Narrator exclaimed, and Stanley jogged towards the door, tapping it ten times. "Now back to 437!"
Stanley jogged back, and tapped it once. "Now, how about you tap the copy machine?" The Narrator suggested, and Stanley walked over to where the machine sat.

After a tap, Narrator clapped once, "Alright, back to 417! We're getting somewhere!" Stanley ran to door 417, enjoying Narrators excitement. He tapped on the door a few times, and Narrator spoke up again, "Now, go stand on employee 419's desk!" This confused Stanley, but still listened, and clambered onto his co-worker's desk.

"Yes! This is great!" As the Narrator continued, Stanley could feel his adrenaline levels heightening, "You're putting it all on the line, I like that! Let's keep it up, go give me a few clicks on door 416!" Stanley jumped from the desk, bolting to the door, and tapping it thrice again, listening to The Narrator's excitement. The said man put on a stronger British accent, "We've almost got it!" Back to normal, "Now the copy machine, do that one again!"

Stanley ran back to the cope machine, and tapped it a couple of times. "Finish it off Stanley! Five taps on door 430!" The Narrator cried, excitement rushing through him. Stanley listened, and ran back to the original door, almost stepping on the boxes of pens. He pressed his finger onto the door five times and smiled in content as Narrator celebrated.
"YESSS!!! We did it! Haha!"

Stanley stood there, catching his breath, chuckling as Narrator clapped and laughed. Never before had Stanley heard Narrator so excited. He was normally reserved, and quiet, Narrating away.. But this was different. They were happy..

The 'festivities' came to an end not long later, as the pair returned to the Curator through the same door. "Ah, you're back. Did you enjoy that?" She queried, chuckling slightly. Stanley nodded, but Narrator tried to defend himself, "Wh- No! It was quite boring if I say so myself. Stanley got overexcited for no particular reason." Stanley chuckled, shaking his head. So did you, Narry. He thought.

This shut The Narrator up. Narry? Had Stanley just given him a nickname? It seemed so. Narrator felt his face heat up, but he pushed the strange fluttery feeling down, ignoring it. "Oh hush, Stanley." Stanley shrugged, and sat down on the white floor, playing with the sleeve of his shirt. He had discarded his tie many resets ago. Curator looked at the men before her, and cleared her throat, catching their attention.

"Well, that saved me doing stuff. Thank you, gentlemen." She began, "I should be able to help you leave now, but there is one more thing in the way of you two leaving. The Timekeeper.." Stanley scrunched his eyebrows together, but Narrator felt his heart drop. Oh no.. He thought to himself. What's so bad about the Timekeeper? Stanley asked.
"The Timekeeper," Curator began, "Is a lot more powerful than any of us put together. They are the main controller of your resets. They are harder to convince than I am."

And that's bad.. Stanley thought. He was confident before that he and Narrator could go free. But now, he wasn't so sure..

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