01x10 - The Final Pair

[bunniefuu]

"The Final Pair"

"The Final Pair"

Mistress Kate!

Give me your hand!

It seems I was born with a sturdy body!

She cleared a large area of thorn trees

so we'd have somewhere to land,

then placed her pushcart full of

flowers and leaves there as a cushion.

Did she plan this from the start in case

she couldn't operate the crane?

Is there anything she doesn't think of?

Emilico, you're bleeding!

I've scratched my face!

Forgive me, Mistress Kate!

There's a river nearby.

Let's go wash it and get you patched up.

It's just a little cut on your head.

It's not very deep.

I really am a sturdy doll!

But what about you,

Mistress Kate? You're not hurt?

Kate is just fine.

I'm so glad! We're both safe now,

and we can still pass the test!

Only ten minutes left.

They still have a long road ahead.

The bleeding stopped.

Then let's go!

Mistress Kate?

Don't tell me it's already too late.

Mistress Kate

You've been true to who you are.

It's apparent from the way Patrick acted.

That's all Kate needs to be content.

It's over!

Not everything went as planned,

but I succeeded in the end.

This debut marks a major step for me.

I had that incident in the hall.

And the living dolls were

tougher than I thought.

I did foresee the

blossoming of John's power.

Ricky was nearly flattened,

but that, too, was a needless concern.

A bit hasty, perhaps?

The sootglass has not run out yet.

It would take me over ten minutes

from that point, and I know the way!

It's physically impossible

no matter how fast they run!

The writing is on the wall.

You kids need but do as I say.

Now keep your mouths shut!

Then do as you please.

What's that sound?

"Check the upper level"?

What's Allie talking about?

It's going as planned.

It's going as planned!

Come what may,

it must all fall into place.

I have the whole ending planned!

And this one? I'm not sure.

Seeing this again, they seem so ordinary,

yet the information is flawless.

It's as if they know

they're being watched.

Don't tell me

What did I overlook?!

Stopping by the river was a good idea!

I wonder where this river

comes from and where it goes.

We're on a hill, so perhaps it connects

to a waterway that supplies the house.

It's just like you thought!

Yes, but converting the pushcart into

a boat was a fabulous idea, Emilico!

Very impressive.

You really do never give up.

But this wouldn't have worked

without you, Mistress Kate!

Careful! There's a sharp turn.

Kate! She can

She can control soot!

Why has she not done so till now?

Did her power just awaken?

No! She was hiding it.

She was always capable of it.

Damn it! Why didn't I notice?

Her clothes!

Your clothes didn't get dirty.

You were so anxious

and emitting lots of soot,

but you controlled it

so you wouldn't get dirty.

You never gave up, Mistress Kate,

so there was no way I would, either!

You're always carefully

watching Kate, aren't you?

This is dangerous! Let's get off!

Stay the course!

Emilico, do you know why I named you that?

It's true that living dolls are usually

given names that resemble their master's.

Shadows aren't supposed to care

what their living dolls are named.

But I wanted you to be a unique

individual separate from Kate.

So, I gave you a unique name.

Emilico, there's so much I wish

to tell you once the debut is over.

I'll tell you all my secrets.

Jump out!

Mistress Kate has arrived!

Apologies. Kate's not very strong.

I felt so happy cradled in your arms!

This way, please.

The others who passed

have already filed into the hall.

You were the last to arrive.

If she could control soot

before the debut test,

why did she hide it?

What are you up to, Kate?

Why is Master Ryan clapping?

Oh

Did it finally happen?

Rum?

Rum.

Mistress Shirley! You remembered my name.

Forgive me for choosing my own name.

The name Rum is all right with you?

I'm so glad.

I thought we'd make it to the exit.

I was sure there was time.

But Mistress Shirley started slowing down.

Though we had no hope

of making it in time,

I continued to hold her hand.

And her gentle voice saying my name

remained ever in my mind.

Happiness was right before me

if only I had opened my heart sooner.

I would have been able to

kiss her good night now.

I finally became your face, Mistress Kate!

When living dolls wear a portrait,

they refrain from speaking and

express only their master's emotions.

Kate, you are free to mingle

with the other shadows.

However, you must not speak of

your soot powers with them.

That is between the Star Bearers and

those in which such power has awakened.

Understood.

Any questions?

No. One need but obey the rules.

How infuriating!

Let's go.

Congratulations to Kate,

the final candidate to pass.

Everyone from the

children's wing is gathered here.

Would you like a cup?

Thank you.

What is it? It's so dark.

It's a drink served only

to shadows with faces,

in other words,

those who are deemed adults.

It's so bitter!

Once you get used to it,

you won't be able to get enough.

Drink, and your worries shall vanish.

It's probably a drink called coffee.

It was mentioned in a book.

But Kate doesn't care for it.

She prefers tea.

It seems such a waste. Allow me!

But you didn't seem

to care for it, either.

It's so bitter!

Kate, congratulations!

I am Maryrose! Our faces

are already well acquainted.

Rosemary's shadow master!

O most beauteous Kate,

our faces are on the same team,

so you shall become

quite close to Maryrose.

Should you have any questions,

let Maryrose guide you!

Now be at ease.

It was a pleasure meeting you!

She's a lady, right?

It's just, she seems so gallant.

Maryrose!

Don't spoil the children.

Sarah.

Congratulations, Kate. Well done.

Sarah thought you a failure, but even

the lowest ranked shadow passed.

One gets shivers up the spine

with each visit here.

For it's not every day one gets

to visit Lord Grandfather's wing.

But there will come a day when

Sarah shall be summoned here.

Of course, this is but the first floor.

It may seem strange after

entering from the garden,

but this is the ground level.

As the lowest ranked,

you must work hard to move up.

For starters, you may use Louise

as an excellent example.

Louise is at the top.

Here are the four pairs

that have grown up today.

Please give a hand to the newest

members of the children's wing.

Congratulations! Well done!

Four pairs?

Oh

Emilico, you must be sad.

Four of five pairs passed this time,

a most impressive feat.

And the single incompetent pair

that failed will be

discarded!

Oh, what a joy to bask in this glory.

Louise is so beautiful that anyone

would want to be like her.

How can they be so delighted

in the failure of their own kind?

What happens to shadows who fail?

How should Patrick even feel, Ricky?

No, one must learn on one's own.

Be confident, Patrick!

So it was Rum.

She seemed to be doing well,

but she'll be discarded?

No! One cannot question

Shadows House's rules.

Isn't that right, Shaun?

Let us adjourn to the garden!

It is time to be received in audience.

Kate.

Now for an encounter

you shall never forget.

Presenting the noblest of personages.

Lord Grandfather waved to me!

Such a glorious sight!

So he's the root of all this evil.

That dark drink they gave us

Don't tell me--

Forgive my intrusion.

Let us see your faces.

Lord Grandfather

here are the results.

Louise receives passing marks for

facial compatibility and soot volume.

John's soot volume surpasses expectations,

but his personality

is ill fit for his face.

Patrick is compatible with his face,

but his soot volume is poor.

As you saw, my lord, Shirley

had yet to acquire a personality--

a fundamental flaw.

I foresaw such outcomes based

on their pre debut information.

The living doll, Rum,

is inadequate as a face.

It's believed that she never

gave her master a kiss good night.

Edward, let us test your knowledge.

What is a shadow, and what is its purpose?

A shadow is a form of morph, a parasitic

fairy skilled in mimicry and imitation.

We all once took this form.

Lord Grandfather devised the process

by which morphs acquire

personalities and become shadows.

In stage one, morphs

are shown living dolls

so they may recognize

and mimic the human form.

In stage two, a personality is acquired

by interacting with a living doll.

And in stage three, soot powers awaken

and unification takes place.

In short, a face is acquired by

taking over the doll's body,

creating a perfect being possessing soot

powers and transcending humankind.

But if the shadow fails to

acquire a personality in stage two,

we may infer that its

morph's life force was too weak.

Shirley certainly fits that pattern.

No wonder she withered on the vine.

But to perish like soot

in the wind was a first.

It was hilarious,

but one can't help but wonder.

Edward! Did you foresee that happening?

N-No, not like that!

I wished to entertain

you third floor lords.

And I tried to save the

trouble of discarding her

by having her in the debut.

A slight error on my part led to Shirley

bonding with her doll during the debut,

and even though she was doomed to die,

her personality began to develop.

That is why these

unforeseen events occurred,

or so I believe.

Perhaps I went too far in staging

a shadow's death as some sort of show.

It is only natural that

the failures be culled.

We need but those who

prove useful to Lord Grandfather.

The manner in which the debut

was held is another concern.

It led the faces to fret

over trivial matters.

Faces with ideas of their own may

cast doubt upon Shadows House.

Of course, we can have them

drink Lord Grandfather's soot coffee

to alter their thinking.

That swiftly erases their memory,

filling them with

loyalty toward Grandfather.

But what of shadows influenced

by the doubts of their faces?

Grandfather's soot has

no effect on shadows.

Indeed, the greatest risk lies in shadows

being influenced by a doll's defiance.

But if we use the coffee to make

faces loyal to Lord Grandfather,

that will influence their shadows,

so you needn't be concerned.

I've had Shirley's living doll, Rum,

drink the coffee to reset her memory.

She'll be repurposed as a veiled doll.

I take great care that

malcontents do not take root in--

You think Ryan is worried

about such matters?!

No one would dare defy us!

Forgive me. I shall take

more care from now on.

Enough about that.

Now then, Kate, the lowest ranked of all,

was quite amusing.

Her power awakened,

a laudable achievement.

Edward.

By using this debut as a proving ground

for the Shadows family's potential,

you hastened a shadow's

awakening and more.

From this day forth, we place

the children's wing in your care.

Let us see how you do.

However!

As judge, you failed but one pair,

and they were already goners.

Such meager results will

never get you to the third floor.

Understood. I shall redouble my efforts.

It's a shame we won't rise

to the third floor just yet.

The debut was not to their satisfaction.

We must be of greater service

to Lord Grandfather.

Ryan! That arrogant buffoon had the

nerve to interrupt Lord Grandfather.

Why does Lord Grandfather

have such frivolous fools by his side?

I should be the one serving him.

Those malcontents

Once I expose them,

Lord Grandfather will understand.

Those third floor wastrels

are out to destroy him!

In that case, I must catch her in the act.

That malcontent

Kate!

I've become quite efficient at cleaning.

All that's left is to clean the bathroom.

Wasn't it a shock what happened to Rum?

You were close, weren't you?

Yes.

That was unfortunate.

But living dolls no longer of service

to Shadows House must be discarded.

That's the way it is.

Next episode, "The Dark Drink."