#roleswap au

[angstydays]

I wonder if Phillip occasionally returns to Angelique as he gathers more evidence? Perhaps trying to make sense of what he's found in his search for Howard. I wonder if he hesitates showing the journal though!

I can see that 👀 having a second opinion on the evidence he gathers can help Phillip in understanding what he's found and maybe even help in him shedding his admiration for the Moroses. Angelique's suspicions have made her less comfortable around Samantha and Thomas though without 100% confirmation she can still be around them but her suspicions also allow her to view the evidence with a bit more understanding if that makes sense.

Oh Phillip would absolutely hesitate in showing Angelique the journal. How would she react when she finds out that her mother figure has been trying to mold her friend into the perfect son via conditioning and brainwashing? Phillip already felt sick when reading through the journal, what would Angelique's reaction be as she's closer to Samantha?

Perhaps going back to Angelique can even act as the save system in this au since the Save Flowers wouldn't exist as Samantha is alive. It can be like Angelique asks if Phillip wants to write down his progress here to save the game.

[angstydays]

I was thinking it would just be a matter of timing. Like, get to Howard fast enough and you'll find him in the box. The skill part could probably entail very little moments of getting lost trying to figure out the puzzles.

Though imagine the implication! Howard being actively tortured all while Phillip had finally come to find him!

Rhyming Anon

I see 👀 makes sense and I can see that being the case :)

I do imagine the box scene to be more of a special thing for players to find on replays as I imagine Howard in the nursery to be about a few days or so after the box incident and that I still imagine the whole game to take place in one night. Basically treat the box scene as an alternate scenario/timeline for this au if that makes sense. Doesn't mean I don't love the idea of the box scene being something players can achieve themselves though just wanted to throw some musings here :)

I love the implication very much Rhyming Anon >:) it's very evil and sad and I love it >:)

[angstydays]

I've been thinking of how Phillip would have to probably drag Howard around in the bittersweet route(s). Poor thing would probably be trying to call out for his "mother." Howard found in the nursery would definitely be calling for Samantha, but the Howard in the box would be on the cusp but confused about which mom.

Silly side note: Perhaps the alternate box scenario can be a really hard-to-get scene for casual speed runners (still needs skill, but anyone can attain it with practice).

Rhyming Anon

Yeahhhh I can see that too :( Phillip would be absolutely horrified to learn that he had been too late when Howard refuses to come with him and starts calling for his 'mother'. I like the difference between the two scenarios of how Howard would call for his 'mother' :) of course the nursery one would have him call out for Samantha but the box one where he's on the verge of calling for Samantha but the momentary confusion on which mother is so sad :(

I can see that in the bittersweet routes Phillip will even have to sedate Howard to get him to safety and it hurts him so much to have to do it, at least in the nursery scenario. I can see if happening when Phillip presents the telescope to Howard and while he's looking at it Phillip sedated him while offering apology over apology for doing this to Howard before having to carry him out of the manor.

Oooohhh I can see that 👀 wonder how exactly players can go about getting this though 🤔 But also I have the funny image of a casual player accidentally getting this scene without even trying and when sharing their experiences people start to freak out and the player just wonders what is so special about that scene they got until they realize how it needs skill to get.

[angstydays]

I’m just imagining Samantha Lives!Howard meeting the Howards from your other aus and feeling a bit jealous that they didn’t go through what he did then feeling guilty because they went through terrible terrible things

And the other Howards feeling jealous that this Howard didn’t get horrifically physically tortured like them then feeling guilty because the poor guy’s identity has been all but snatched away for good

Sorry if this is out of character, silly, stupid, and/or incoherent it is late and the part of Hamilton that’s like “HOW DO YOU WRITE EVERY SECOND YOU’RE ALIVE” is playing in my head

Nahhhh it's fine lol, I can see this happening in a silly little au meet up or something :)

The amount of guilt they would all feel for being jealous of the others for not experiencing what they did is a lot lol.

[angstydays]

For the sake of some quick spur of the momemt prose, how do you think that box divergence would go for a brief scene? Would Howard recognize Phillip as a threat or a friend?

Hmmmmmmm (not exactly sure what you mean by spur of the moment prose but hope whatever I write here is great regardless :) and also if this means you wanna try and write it yourself then go ahead :) )

I imagine the scene would play out like the original box scene you wrote a while back except when Phillip bangs on the box to see if Howard is in there, he hears a dull thud from the inside of the box, shortly followed by what sounds like someone crying. The box wasn't really designed for soundproofing it seems.

Phillip is simultaneously horrified and hopeful at the confirmation that at least someone (Howard, it has to be Howard) was in the box. Horrified because oh god how...how long has this gone on for? Just what would his state be when he opens the box? Hopeful because it has to be Howard inside of it. He's found him, it has to be him inside.

When Phillip unlocks the lock and flips the lid open, his eyes went wide at the sight of who was in the box.

It really is Howard.

Oh God...he looks...awful.

His body was all but pinned by the compact walls of the box, leaving only enough room for him to twist his body from side to side but not enough for him to get out on his own. His knees were pulled up to his chest to make room for him and his hands were clasped together in a praying motion. His eyes were red rimmed, remnants of tear tracks clear on his face.

The sudden light from lid being opened up stung Howard's eyes as he shut them tight almost immediately. Phillip feels a pang in his heart at the sight.

"Howie! Howie, it's- it's me it's Phillip- you're- oh God- you're going to be okay! I'm here now!"

How...how long has Howard been in this box? That disgusting observation note he found stated that it started after dinner but there was no follow up note after that to explain how much time has passed and...

...Phillip doesn't know if he wants to know.

When Howard opens his eyes again to look at Phillip, they became as wide as pinpricks and a look of...fear settles over his face.

"No- no- no-" Howard coughs, interrupting himself. His voice hoarse and barely audible.

He must have screamed until he physically can't anymore. Just how long did that take? And- and-

"Howie, it's okay." Phillip whispers, trying to be reassuring as he reaches into the box to try and lift Howard out of it. "It's just me-"

"NO!"

It barely hurt. It barely hurt when Howard reached out to slap at Phillip's hands. Still, the motion was enough that it got Phillip to stop momentarily.

"Howard?" Phillip feels a lump in his throat as he remembers what that observation note on the box said.

How it was meant to act as a final 'gentle reminder' to get Howard to learn his place.

A new sense of horror flooded through his entire body.

Had it succeeded? Had he been...too late?

Howard shakes his head as best he could. He almost seems...conflicted on whether he wants to get out of the box or whether he wants to get Phillip to leave him alone.

It...it makes him sick.

Regardless though, Howard needs to get out of this box. Maybe, maybe if Phillip does that then maybe it won't be too late after all.

So, Phillip reaches down again, this time ignoring the cries of his best friend no matter how much it hurts to do so, lifting him out of the box.

He seems so...fragile in his hold, his attempts to swat at Phillip were barely effective.

He hopes he can get out of here now as soon as he could, so Howard can be somewhere safe to recover from this experience.

[angstydays]

Silly thoughts: I imagine Phillip would use a fake name while hiding amongst the scientists, but wouldn't it be funny if he caught himself sort of on time and too late? Like he starts with "Phillip," chokes on his mistake, and his mind is reeling for some cover because he can't take it back now while the others are perplexed.

Like a dingus he goes with "Grace" because the panic got too much and it was the next thing he thought of that had to be unrelated to him at the time (Lou might hit too close to home). At least it sounds enough like a last name.

But the Moroses get suspicious when other scientists speak of a Phillip Grace.

Rhyming Anon

EUJFJSJCUCHSKKCNXNXJX I love this I love this a lot XD it is indeed extremely funny Rhyming Anon and I approve of this.

I can imagine when Angelique pulls him aside the first thing she says to him is something along the lines of 'you are so lucky that happens to be a group of scientists who didn't listen to Howard rambling too much about you and that they never heard that his mother's name was Grace, Phillip Maude, because WHAT IS THAT FAKE NAME???'

Plus this comedic moment also acts as a thing that gets the Moroses suspicious of there being someone on the island who is trying to sabotage them as you've said so it's also a connected moment on top of being funny :)

[angstydays]

The box being open is an interesting one! Perhaps after Samantha's fight with Thomas, she decides to go reminiscing alone for a while about that moment when Howard called her "Mom" after she let him out, only to find it open and the lock carelessly tossed aside.

Someone's been meddling.

And when she goes to go let Thomas know, she passes by those scientists and hears their gossip about it.

I can see her pulling aside Angelique ("Angelique, my darling! A moment, please?") and asking her if she's seen anyone strange around here.

(Much as I wish I could write court proceedings beyond the scene concepting method (and with proper prose), I haven't had practice and fear they would be terribly dry as a result. Though scenes before and after the proceedings do make for some interesting character moments! It could be a stronger character development moment for Howard to be there for the proceedings in-person.

I can see an especially strong one being when he goes up to give his statement, and he starts with an affirmation of his name.

"My name is Howard-" He swallows, steeling himself. "Howard Plunkett."

One small thing is that I do think Phil would go (he's a key witness after all), but that he would be quite frightened himself (given the circumstances of his broken leg). He would still feel that this would be important to do, though. For Howard.

I do like that scene idea with Howard trying to find a similar outfit for Phil too! I can see him and Angelique doing it together to give to Phillip before he starts working at Angelique's lab!

Oh, that bittersweet one is sad! I can see Howard, terrified, crying out for Phillip to get away from him- please, just go away!)

Ooohhh I can see that >:) the domino effect of leaving the box open leading to the discovery >:) though the gossip of the scientists might still be enough to get the Moroses on the scent but not that soon I figure.

Angelique of course doesn't give away that she saw anyone suspicious, using the excuse of that she was too focused on her work to notice anything, but after Samantha leaves and thankfully she's convinced that Angelique hasn't seen anything, she knew she has to warn Phillip that Samantha is onto him and Thomas will be too soon.

(Kind of a side note but now I imagine a bit of divergence where Phillip does find Howard in that box, either he's been locked in there for a lot longer than a day or Phillip came to the island earlier to search for Howard. Either way a lot of emotions and feelings inbound)

That's fair TwT only experience I had with court proceedings is Ace Attorney and I love the series but they do not have an accurate depiction of court proceedings. So the next best thing is scenes before and after the proceedings and just a glimpse at what is going on during witness testimony :) yessss I love that and I can see that too :) Howard is certainly still afraid and uneasy about it and the thought of being in the same room as the people who did horrible things to him and tried to brainwash him makes him queasy, and he's assured that he doesn't have to go as the mountain of evidence against the Moroses will do the talking for him, but perhaps if he shows them that their influence won't stop him from living his old life again, then maybe it'll make them understand. Isn't the best kind of revenge to live a good life with your loved ones in spite of the pain your tormentors put you through?

The reaffirmation of his own name is such a good moment >:) I can imagine Howard feeling the stares of Samantha and Thomas from the witness stand, as if they were expecting him to attach their last name to his first name, to see their influence still shine through. Affirming that his name is Howard Plunkett proves them wrong.

Still, Howard has to mentally remind himself that his full name is Howard Plunkett the whole way through his testimony, and there are several times when he nearly breaks down from certain aspects like the dark room and the box if the court decides he should bring them up, especially the box though, that was a kind of awful that really messed him up.

Awwwww I can see that :) maybe Phillip even tells Howard that he can present his testimony through him even when the idea of being in the same room as the people who broke his leg and tried getting him vivisected for a lot longer than he wants to be does not sit well with him, just so Howard wouldn't have to be in the same room as the Moroses. Howard doesn't want Phillip to put himself through that though.

Thank you :D and awwwww yessss i can see that too :) maybe also the knight in shining (blank) joke can come back again here as a little treat :)

Thank you >:) awwwwww I can see that too :( doesn't really matter what Phillip tries to do to show to Howard that he isn't a threat and that he would never hurt him, Howard can't bring himself to believe it.

(Bit of a side note but I can see the only way for Howard to be the least bit receptive towards Phillip in the bittersweet ending is when Angelique is present. Samantha must have told him that she would be his sister and that she hoped to get them to bond properly one day as siblings. Having someone Howard perceives as 'family' around would help but only slightly as he's so confused on why Angelique would still let Phillip be here, didn't she know what he did to him? Didn't Mom and Father tell her what he did?

There is hope for Howard's real self to shine through again, but it would take a lot of patience and care to make sure progress is smooth. With the Moroses behind bars, there is more than enough time)

[angstydays]

What do you think tips off the Moroses that Phillip is in the manor? Before he breaks into the nursery and helps Howard get out?

(Also, do you have any other scenes in mind for this au?)

The box lid still being open is one such thing I can think of 🤔 I don't think Phillip could bring himself to close it again after opening it, as he probably pictures Howard being in there for a moment and he just- can't bring himself to do it. Guess he'll have to find Howard and get out of here as quickly as possible then. The other scientists talking about that one scientist who keeps asking about Howard can be another clue, as the Moroses might overhear a group's conversation about that.

(As for other scenes, I can imagine that court proceedings are going to be something they would have to deal with. As the Moroses are both alive in this au and have gotten arrested, a trial would be held for the both of them. Angelique might come as a witness as she knows what happened on the island better than the other scientists, as might Phillip as he was the one who collected the evidence against the Moroses and also had his leg broken by one of them. Not sure about Howard, he might want to stay out of it and just have a statement from him be presented by the prosecution.

I can also see a scene where Howard tries finding a lab coat and slacks similar to the ones Phillip used as a disguise while on the island to gift it to him, since he did tell him he liked the outfit. It's another one of the small gestures he makes for Phillip as thanks for everything he did for him.

For other scenes, I can think of one for the bittersweet ending where everything else goes well except that Howard hasn't had the conditioning undone and it's too deep in his mind. Phillip visits him in wherever he's been transferred to as he tried to run away when back on the mainland and had to be detained, and tries to talk to him, get him to understand that he's so sorry for not coming sooner but he has to understand that he's safe now. The Moroses aren't his parents, Grace Plunkett is his mother, and that he had a life here on the mainland with Phillip. Howard isn't too receptive though.)