𝓁ℴ𝓋ℯ 𝒴ℴ𝓊 𝒯𝓌𝒾𝒸ℯ ✾ 𝐘𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐱 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

✿𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄✿

"I wonder what you see
When you see someone like me
Do you see her?
Won't you rather touch marble instead of limestone
All I wish to be is someone deserving
Of the comfort that you bring"

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After what felt like an eternity of poring over the files, I finally set them aside, their neatly stacked forms now holding the sum of hours spent in relentless analysis. The sheer volume of information had been daunting, but I had absorbed enough—at least for now.

Exhaustion settled upon my shoulders like a heavy cloak, its presence undeniable yet not entirely unwelcome. A weary sigh escaped me as I pushed myself up from the chair, my body protesting the sudden movement after being confined in one position for so long.

Stretching my limbs, I attempted to dispel the stiffness that had crept in during my prolonged study session. Each slow, deliberate motion was a reminder of the toll this work took, both mentally and physically. And yet, despite the fatigue, a quiet sense of accomplishment stirred within me.

As I reached for my phone to check the time, a sense of urgency washed over me. "It's time," I muttered to myself, my gaze flickering across the device's screen. The hours had slipped away unnoticed, consumed by my relentless study of the files, but now there was no more time to spare. Ego's office awaited my presence, and though I doubted the man had patience for tardiness, my punctuality wasn't just a courtesy—it was a statement. A reminder that I wasn't merely another piece on his board.

Before moving toward the door, my gaze drifted to the corner of the room, where the remote-controlled puppet lay motionless. Its artificial features were frozen in eerie stillness, devoid of life, yet brimming with unspoken potential.

For a brief moment, I simply stared at it, my fingers hovering over the control. It was an absurd creation, a tool of manipulation and spectacle—but wasn't that exactly what this entire project was? A stage for control, for testing the limits of human ambition and destruction?
With a flicker of determination, I retrieved the remote, its familiar weight grounding me. This would be useful.

Pressing the red button, I watched as the puppet's eyes flickered to life, their artificial glow cutting through the dim room like distant stars. A silent acknowledgment of its activation. It remained motionless for a brief moment, as if waiting for further instruction, its lifeless form now imbued with a semblance of purpose.

"Go check in with Ego and report back to me," I commanded, my voice firm yet tinged with a weariness I could not quite shake. The weight of the night's work still clung to me, but efficiency was key—I had neither the time nor the patience for unnecessary conversations.

The puppet stirred, its mechanical limbs adjusting as it processed my words. Then, without hesitation, it turned sharply on its heel and strode toward the door, its movements eerily precise, an uncanny imitation of human grace.

I leaned back against my desk, watching it disappear into the corridor. A tool, nothing more. Yet, as the door clicked shut behind it, I couldn't help but wonder—what would Ego make of this?

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎

"What do you wa-"

Interrupted mid-sentence by the puppet's abrupt entrance, Ego's expression flickered from irritation to mild surprise. His sharp eyes scrutinized her small frame, taking in the uncanny familiarity woven into her design—her posture, her presence, even the smug air of superiority she carried. It was unmistakable.

"Tch." His lips curled into something between amusement and disdain. "So that's what you've been up to."
The puppet, undeterred by his reaction, folded her arms and lifted her chin, exuding a level of confidence that would have been laughable—if it weren't so eerily intentional.

"You must feel privileged to be in my presence," she declared, her voice laced with mock arrogance. Though small in stature, her words carried a weight that made it clear she believed every syllable.
Ego blinked before a slow smirk spread across his face. "Privileged? You certainly take after your creator." He steepled his fingers, watching her with open intrigue. "Tell me, does this little act of yours serve a purpose, or is it purely for my entertainment?"

The puppet tilted her head ever so slightly, her mechanical precision making the gesture almost unnerving. "My master requests an update," she stated plainly, her voice carrying an unsettling mixture of monotony and mockery.

Ego leaned back in his chair, a slow smirk tugging at his lips. "Your master, huh?" he huffed, "How amusing. I assume this means she couldn't be bothered to show up herself?"
The puppet's artificial eyes flickered, as if processing his words. "Efficiency is key. You of all people should understand that."
Ego let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Tch. Typical." He gestured lazily toward a nearby monitor, pulling up a live feed of the training facility. "Tell your 'master' that everything is proceeding as planned. Whether they'll find it ludicrous or not—well, that remains to be seen."

With a nod of understanding, the puppet remained motionless, awaiting further instruction from her creator. Though her expression remained unchanged, an unmistakable sense of ennui settled over her, a growing impatience gnawing at the edges of her composure.
How long was she expected to stand here?
The weight of idle waiting pressed against her, an unbearable monotony that threatened to suffocate her very purpose. For all the genius behind her creation, was she truly meant to be nothing more than a messenger?
A sigh, almost too human, slipped past her lips. "How tedious," she muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with a faint exasperation.
She stifled a yawn—a mere affectation, of course, but one that conveyed her growing discontent.

Ego watched the puppet turn off or rather fall asleep, the smirk still lingering on his face. "Interesting," he murmured to himself. "Let's see just how long you can keep yourself entertained, then."

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