Self-aware OFF.. thinks deeply...
2 lamps, one npc elsen.
Surely you'd been through this corridor before, all that's changed is the position of the npc. Moving in less and less of a robotic manner. Certainly strange how this denizen knew of your name, and of the Batter's too, as your chosen vessel.
You figured words spread through elsen quick, as your days as a puppeteer meant that the Batter had told a few of your name.
They didn't seem to be particularly 'gossipy' but you could've been mistaken, who knows what they talk about.
You'd sparsely given them even a glance anyway. Minus the necessary few cutscene interactions you'd had with them. They were cute, for sure, but not awfully interesting. All looking the same...
Back to the obvious loop you'd found yourself in - too stubborn to search the internet for any sort of solution to your situation. Did you traverse the mines wrong? So that you were stuck passing this same elsen, this same corridor, until you fixed it? Is this some sort of secret?
You scowl at the computer. Maybe the answer lies in whatever the npc has to say? With some reluctance, you guide the Batter to finally talk to them. Convinced this was no better than using a guide and admitting your defeat.
'So sorry, so sorry... I don't mean to anger your puppeteer...'
That's strange. They usually don't address by your title, moreover the title of your vessel.
What's worse, is that the sprite for this elsen seems a little different. It's harder to tell because it's so pixelated, but they appear to be blushing slightly.
The Batter doesn't reply. You can't tell if he simply has nothing to say, or chooses not to speak to them. It doesn't seem to stop the dialogue, however.
'You're in the wrong side of the mines, you see...'
So you did take a wrong turn?
'I know this part very well.. very well... I can lead you out... please...'
The Batter still says nothing - did sprites change in this game? His scowl seems to deepen on his sprite. Now he looks less than comfortable.
You follow the resident anyway - convinced it's nothing to worry about, until you arrive at a more familiar part of the mines. To which they stop leading you, and start following. It's not long until the recognizable chatbox appears on the screen again, this time dialogue from the Batter:
'It appears that they will not leave us alone.'
Inspo from this post . I'm just testing the waters with this one.