02x05 - A Midnight Meeting of Peers

[bunniefuu]

Huh?

What?

You...

We're so sorry!

We didn't know this belonged
to the research team!

Olly...

Huh?

Super living doll, secured!

You handled Oliver's invention
wonderfully well, didn't you?

You have so much power concealed
within such a small frame!

Right, Olly!

Give her a thorough examination, will you?

Yes, Professor Oliver!

Shaun!

First, raise your arms up.

Make sure Emilico isn't having
any strange experiments run...

Slowly stretch your back, and then...

One, two! One, two!

He's gone.

Shaun...

Hey!

John is trying to apologize.

Will you please listen?

Are you guests here?

Huh?

He's not listening!

Anna! Nancy! Please make some black tea.

Anna isn't so sure about this!

What kind of black tea?

In the face of sadness, we shall smile

To live is to be a marionette

Once your heart gets into the swing...

Would you like a coffee?





I can't seem to dance very well

Pain and resentment, and sadness, too...

Mix them, knead them...

And then a good night kiss

Shall we Dance? We shall dance

Despair and desire. This is the life!

Shadow Life!

Don't puzzle over things unnecessarily

Let's become one

How nice [How nice] How nice [How nice]

Humans... Being human... It's so nice

A Midnight Meeting of Peers

We didn't have many tea leaves left,

but we managed to make enough for everyone.

It's so weak!

Anna, Nancy, thank you.

Is this feeding time?!

This is one way that Oliver
shows affection, you see.

It's bizarre!

Quit all the screeching, brats.

I'll slit your throats.

She's scary!

Lydia and Liddy have
a slightly rough way of speaking.

As a noble, that level
of roughness is absurd!

And that pair!

How are they able to sleep
through all of this?

Jeremiah and Jeremy don't like others
intruding on their world.

John has no idea what that means!

Does everyone here lack an
awareness of common sense?

John has awareness of common sense?

Well, we've only just
moved the laboratory here.

Why here?

Our previous lab was in the
basement of the main house,

but it was just too cramped.

This place is old and dirty,

but it's connected to the house,
and it's big, which is useful.

The outer doors were rusted and wouldn't open,

so we had planned
to do repairs later, but...

It's so much easier to get
outside through the front now!

It's quite convenient!

He certainly has a positive mindset.

Kate has been investigating that recent matter,
and the boy beside her is...

Murmur, murmur, murmur...

Oh! They're in that sort of
relationship, are they?

Just how far has the story spread?

Now, let's remove your portrait, shall we?

Emilico is capable of
changing her own clothes!

I smell something nice!

The pair that was sleeping
woke up without us noticing!

Well, that area certainly looks fancy!

He's a living doll...
but he gets to eat meat?

It's a privilege for those
associated with Star Bearers.

They get more extravagant food
than other living dolls!

And they're exempted from great cleanings.

That's quite a lot of exceptions.

And the shadows work, too.

It isn't work.

The first-aid team performs
philanthropic actions,

and the research team explores knowledge.
That is their purpose.

The first-aid team and research team...

The members of these teams may
be future Star Bearer candidates.

So, what is the research team making?

Something like the soot remover?

That was created previously,
and Oliver and the others maintain it.

That mobile soot collector
is something Oliver made!

Incredible.

Kate likes things like that.

You do?

Just what one would expect
of the super living doll's master!

Kate hopes you will show her everything!

One hundred!

One hundred one, one hundred two,
one hundred three,

Incredible!

She shows no sign of dropping them!

one hundred four, one hundred five,
one hundred six...

You can do it, Emilico!

This is a model of
a lightweight soot collector.

After the Oliver Mark II's success,
we are proceeding to rave reviews!

This one has wheels attached.

Based on the size, could these be... shoes?

Exactly! They're shoe-shaped cycles!

There's no opportunity for John
to join the conversation!

Kate, you are impressive!

And you produce soot stalactites.
You're quite exceptional.

Soot stalactites?

Do you mean those things
that form on the ceiling when Kate is angry?

Uh-oh.

Um, this is a secret, but...

It's a trait peculiar to those
who have a high soot volume.

In the children's wing,
there are only a handful of such cases.

According to Susanna...

Barbara, Benjamin, Gilbert, Kate, John.

And, based on the volume
of soot collected from the rooms,

some say that Douglas and Sarah
might be able to create stalactites, too.

He's giving Kate quite a lot of information.

Oliver, regarding the phantom incident,

who do you find suspicious?

Oliver doesn't know anything
about that sort of thing.

But he does think
that it's likely to be a man.

Why is that?

This is a secret,

but the scorches that became the phantom
escaped from the soot pipes.

And the door to
the soot pipes is very heavy.

Unless there were two girls
working together, like the twins,

it would be difficult to open.

Your balance is stupendous!

Shaun...

Master Robe is tall, correct?

Yes.

Based on its height,
we can't be sure that it's a child.

That's what Barbie said.

Really...

Say, Oliver.

Adults don't come
to the children's wing, do they?

That's correct, according to the rules.

All management is entrusted
to the Star Bearers.

Master Robe appears secretly late at night.

Is the reason it's avoiding attention...

because it's an adult?

And it's someone who is very familiar
with the inside of the children's wing.

Could Master Robe...

be a former Star Bearer?

Christopher?

Oliver! Christopher—

Please stop! Not that!

It will make everyone angry, truly.

He was just too exceptional.

Yes, that's most likely impossible.

Christopher and Anthony are the only
topics Oliver can't tell you about.

Anthony?

These things really are secret. Really.

Who is that?

Another former Star Bearer?

Apologies.

Oliver can answer any
other questions, but...

Um, then...

Oliver, do you not have rooms
in the Star Bearers' residential wing?

Oliver does,

but they're far from the lab,
so he doesn't return to them often.

What? Then when do you bathe?

A very good point!

That's why Oliver had this idea!

Deodorizing perfume!

But when do you bathe?

However, even though it
worked well for Oliver,

in Benjamin's case,
it resulted in a horrible stench.

We discovered that it produces different
results depending on who uses it!

Okay, but when do you bathe...?

Mistress Kate,

when I ran into Master Robe,
I smelled perfume.

It may have been using
one of the perfumes from here.

That seems a reasonable possibility.

Could we smell your perfumes?

Of course.

Lydia is the one who oversees them.

You have quite a few.

At the moment, we are supplying
the children's wing with ten varieties.

Are you wanting to change your perfume?

What? Perfumes can be changed?

After debuting, things
like clothes, furniture,

and even wallpaper can be
changed, if you so desire.

Really?

Then perhaps John will take this perfume.

You can't.

The full amount is already reserved.

So now it can't be changed?!

Those who contribute and those
who are older are given priority, of course!

Don't go thinking we'll pander
to the whims of every brat who asks!

And what do you mean, you'll just "take" it?

Each person only gets one, you greedy brat!

John is sorry.

What do you think?

I think these three are closest.

Is there a list of the shadows
who use this one?

Thank you.

And are there any shadows who recently
changed their perfume for a brief time?

No, there aren't.

Don't tell us you're trying
to identify a particular individual.

What?

Ha!

That's clearly impossible!

Once a perfume is on the skin,

it's difficult for even a professional
to discern which it is!

As it is part of a noble's accoutrements,

everyone is supplied with it from the start!

And everyone has a specific personal odor

which can change daily depending
on their physical condition.

Even a little time passing after application

can make it smell like a completely
different scent in some cases!

The speed of evaporation changes depending
on the essential oil and age of the wearer!

And adults wear perfume
from a different wing!

There you have it, Mistress.

Hmph!

Thank you for letting us
examine so many things.

It's so sweet!

It's already time for the evening meal.

And there is so much more
Kate had hoped to ask.

What? You're leaving already?

Then...

This is a secret, but...

Oliver will give you a key.

It's a key to the living doll's rooms.

You can use it to come to this
lab at any time, even at night.

The super living doll
is always most welcome!

Most welcome!

Most welcome! Most welcome! Most welcome!

Most welcome! Most welcome! Most welcome!

Here.

Huh?

You're giving one to John and Shaun, too?

Yes. You two...

will fix the wall.

And here John was hoping they'd
let the whole wall thing slide.

They seem likely to use us for odd jobs.

We obtained quite a lot of information.

We even received a key.

Kate would not have been able to
take these actions alone.

It was nerve-wracking,

but John, this was all thanks to you.

The two pairs who helped us
during the incident with Edward...

Louise.

She lacks a spirit of cooperation,

but she works hard to achieve her own goals.

There's no malice to her.

And there's no hidden side of her, either.

Patrick.

He's arrogant, but he's also
possessed of a strong sense of duty.

In the garden, he pulled out
a pair of scissors and helped Kate.

If nothing else,

today's investigation showed
that those recently come of age

could not possibly have
committed this crime.

If we go through my room,

we should be able to leave
while avoiding the guards.

Yes.

The next rejoicing party is in six days.

Though we have so little time...

we will solve the mystery
of the phantom disturbance...

and discover the identity of Master Robe.

To make these things possible,

we will once again hold a meeting of peers!

Professor Oliver gave me this!

A long-distance key extender stick!

Set the key in the tip!

Escape successful!

I'm so sorry!

I keep doing discourteous things.

It's all right.

For some reason, this feels fun.

Will you really be all right alone?

Kate will be fine.

We'll attract attention
if there are too many of us,

so it will just be us shadows.

That was what we promised.

The scattered positions of the veiled dolls
are the same as during the day.

It's a good thing we made notes
while we wandered around.

There is a path which
will avoid their notice.

During the evening meal,
I spoke to Louise...

John spoke to Patrick...

and we each made arrangements to meet.

We are to assemble at midnight.

She's here!

Kate, look at this table!

It looks like it was put
here just for us, doesn't it?

John has been thinking this
for a while, Patrick.

You wanted to ask us all
here again, didn't you?

You silly little...

Stop blithering! Don't touch Patrick!

You're more adorable than one might imagine!

You're always so haughty.

I-It isn't like that at all!

But in truth, you were just lonely?

Come now...

How amusing!

All of you,

don't get above yourselves just
because you've had those special lessons.

So, what is this?

A midnight gathering of hooligans
without their faces.

Patrick will report you all
to the Star Bearers, understand?

John, do you know what to do?

Of course!

What was that?

John won't say that this is Kate
and himself trying to start a revolt.

We're simply using the resolution
of the phantom incidents

to establish a bond of trust
with our fellows.

The phantom disturbance incidents
haven't been resolved?

That is correct.

The real culprit lies elsewhere.

The twins are merely scapegoats.

For a brief time, Kate was
almost blamed as the culprit.

Kate convinced the Star Bearers to forgive her
if she caught the real mastermind.

But the Star Bearers won't wait for long.

Personally, Kate would like
to produce results within a week.

To do that, she will need your help.

That's why she asked you to gather here.

Hold on.

The risk of drawing the Star Bearers'
attention for this is too high.

This isn't funny.

Just because Patrick helped you once,
don't assume that he will help again.

H-Hey!

Normally, anyone would grant
Kate's requests, wouldn't they?

That's just you!

Why would Patrick want
to keep causing problems?

But if we resolve this,

the Star Bearers will think
more highly of all of us.

Say, Kate.

This conversation is incredibly boring.

Talk about something else.
Something amusing.

Th-This isn't about being boring or amusing!

You've all noticed, haven't you?

There's a rule that someone
must always be held responsible.

During our debut,
Edward tried to make Kate fail.

Because he failed in that,
and because of the kidnapping incident,

even now he still resents Kate
and is making her his target!

Think about the moment
when all of that could fall on you!

Louise doesn't like Edward,
so she doesn't want to get involved.

Just so.

If one doesn't get involved
in the first place, nothing will happen.

You're all just...

Kate, all you're talking about
is what you want us to do for you.

It's incredibly egotistical of you!

You always do that
when you speak to us, Kate.

It isn't the re-indoctrination that's
making this conversation break down...

Last time, too, you...

It's me.

Emilico isn't self-centered,

and she's good at drawing people in.

It's because she finds
joy in being with others.

That sincere innocence
creates allies for her.

Am I capable of finding a way
for everyone to have fun?

This is it!

Kate's broken down under the
weight of everyone's criticism!

Huh?

What?

No, wait...

Kneading John's soot like that...
He's starting to feel embarrassed.

What is wrong with you?

Look, it's a sootman!

Kate is sorry for only
speaking of difficult things.

Since we're all here together,
let's enjoy ourselves.

See?

You make these when
you're bored, right?

What?

Is it only Kate?

Yes.

Um...

And yet, you don't seem very good at it.

No, usually they're a little rounder.

It turned out like this
because John's soot is so stiff.

It's John's fault?!

What? Soot has different textures?

Maybe Louise will try making one, too!

How inane.

This is exactly why Patrick doesn't
want to involve himself with all of you.

This is fun!

Oh, is this how it works?

When you use the base of
your thumb, it spreads quite well.

Kate often does it that way.

Oh! You're right!

Louise, your soot feels
incredibly pleasant to touch.

John, that's creepy.

You don't have speak so harshly.

It's finished!

What is this? Some unsightly insect?

It's Kate!

Kate is a little cuter than that.

What?

John...

You have zero creative sense.

This from someone who hasn't even tried it?

Idiot.

Patrick is quite skilled with his hands.

He will show you!

It doesn't even hold together!

Perhaps the particles are too fine?

Blast it!

Someone please give Patrick some soot!

Why don't we mix it with Louise's?

We might as well mix everyone's!

Whoa!

Mixed together, they make a soot clay
that's incredibly easy to work with!

Really?

Behold! A skull!

It's really good, but why did you make that?

Huh? It's stylish, don't you think?

A scorch!

What?

Don't do that!

It's actually possible
that it could start moving!

Hey, now!

There's a way to make sure it won't move.

What?

Baking them into something
like porcelain ornaments!

Being able to spend time
with everyone like this...

It's been fun.

Hey.

You can come to Patrick's
room again if you'd like.

It can't be...

Have you fallen in love with Kate?

What? Of course Patrick...

Huh?

You were about to say,
"Of course Patrick hasn't," then you stopped!

You can't be serious! That's just too...

That isn't what we're
discussing here, is it?

All of Louise's fellow
debutants are such odd ducks.

To think that no one has
fallen in love with her!

To put it simply, it's because
you have a terrible personality!

Really?

But Kate's manner
is so prim, don't you think?

And Louise has the better looks.

Prim?

Is that what's wrong with Kate?

It's the best part of her!

It's been bothering me since earlier...

But you sound a little
like Lydia, don't you think?

Hm?

Kate made two things?

One for Shirley, huh?

John and Shirley's living doll...

During the debut...

It was only for a little while,
but we worked together.

She was...

She was really amazing, you know?

Yes.

All we are told about shadows
who fail is that they are dealt with.

But if...

If we were ever able to see her again...

Kate will keep this safe for that day.

Let's do this again sometime!

Kate will return to her rooms for today.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Patrick and Louise shouldn't be forced
to get involved in the phantom business.

Just growing closer like this is enough.

And I've managed to discover
a little something to look forward to.

Wait.

What should we accomplish
before the next time we meet?

Regarding the phantom mystery.

Kate is more fun than Louise thought,

so Louise will go along with it, too.

Patrick's pride will not allow him
to receive things without giving in turn.

Patrick will assist you.

And we will discover the true culprit!

We swear it on our bonds as peers!

Traveling through a jumbled labyrinth...

Over and over

This lonely utopia...

I have no more need of it

A vanished smile

Promises are lies, too

Everything is pointless,
isn't it? And yet...

Even misshapen as I am, I keep searching...

For shadows of recollection

Roses whose love has rotted...

Lock their feelings away

That silhouette from back then...

I've kept on chasing it...

Even if pale, frozen thorns

Pierce my heart over and over

Until I can take that hand

Again and again

I'll wish on a star

Next time,

Next Time

Night Sky

"Night Sky."