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Episode 19 : Fragile Wings

Family Matters | ft. Locker, Magnet, Caramel, and Urn
"Piercing the veil."

October 19th, 2025



Esme sits down at a table holding a tray with a burger and fries. As she looks at her food Anton sneers "Tchhh. Waiting for something to happen Esme?" An object with a puzzle cube head looks at him.
Esme stares and blushes as an urn object with a lamb spider hybrid theriantype sits at the table sweating and says "Hi! Esme!" Anton asks "You have an appointment? With a guy from forensics? At lunch? When do you take a break?" The urn object stares at Esme adoringly and says "Oh actually I'm her wife."
The urn object looks in embarrassment and says "NO SHE'S MY WIFE. I'M her husband..." Esme wipes his mouth as he says this. Cut to black.
Peter stares blankly as he stands next to Blaire and Pepper whose faces cannot be seen. He has the same expression while standing next to Keiji and Montag though he has mechanical limbs.
An empty messy kitchen can be seen as Montag says "Hey Esme. Y'know I've been keeping track and uh. We're just about out on the whole food and water situation." As Esme puts on pieces of clothing Montag continues "At this point we're kind of leaning into desperation territory."
Montag continues "So I think we should. What the fuck are you wearing." Caramel's outfit a dark cloak fingerless gloves a spiked choker and socks can be seen. As Montag thinks to himself "Kids these days" Caramel signs "How dreadful. You are right to believe it is imperative we source an alternative."
Montag says "Well as soon as this whole thing went off, boom, I was surrounded like I was the main event because I didn't want to throw any hits. So when they come back around, and they will, I'm thinking for once in my life I'll give Sora Corporation what it wants kind of and play into their game." As Keiji sits next to Esme Esme signs "Goodness. While I've never been one much for killing if you believe it is necessary I would not be so opposed." Montag shouts "I DIDN'T MEAN KILLING!!"
Montag continues "I'm no KILLER! I just y'know. As a lawyer I know a thing or two about aggravated assault." Keiji says, "Food and water..." The thought of her starving crosses his mind and he puts his hands to his head and yells "I... I think... I THINK I'M HAVING A MORAL PANIC." Esme signs "You? Morality concerns?"
Keiji says in Peter's voice "Food and water. Are you hungry? I got you candy." Montag panicked shouts "FUCK, YOU SOUND JUST LIKE HIM."
Peter can be seen calmly sitting in front of him. Peter, in Montag's mind, or perhaps Keiji mimicking him, says, "After my ex, I always wanted a daughter." Montag shouts, "THEN WHERE ARE YOU, PETER?"
Montag stares forward, despondent. Keiji cries "STOP IIIT. YOU'RE BEING BAAAD. YOU KNOW BETTER." Esme stares at him furious. Keiji in therian form flies towards him.
Keiji mutters "I want a hug..." Later Esme signs "Montag Worley if you ever so much as raise your voice at her EVER again I SWEAR ON EVERYONE I-" Montag mutters "I know." She signs "MONTAG," to which he looks away and says agan 'I know.'
Esme signs "EYES UP WORLEY. LOOK AT ME," and Montag yelps in surprise. "Tomorrow. You'll go out there tomorrow and do whatever it is you need to do to find her food. Tomorrow." Montag mutters "Yes Esme." The next day Montag is putting Keiji inside his compartment. He says "Here's my phone. Play a game or something just please stay quiet so nobody hears you."
As Esme and Montag walk down the street he tells her "Look I would've LIKED to get stuff there but the yarn ball was clear with me okay? No trespassers. As for the other stores in the area I have no idea." They walk past the commotion of others fighting and see two people talking a package object and a lightbulb object. Montag points out the package object and says "Hey Esme, that tall one kinda looks like Dad if he were rectangular huh..." However Montag sees the orange the lightbulb is holding and hears the lightbulb tell the box "Who knew stealing was so lucrative, Package? Oh yeah everyone."
Esme and Montag stand side by side. He looks at her and asks "You signed 'anything it takes to feed her,' right?"
Package says to his buddy "Just a little sensitive is all-" The lightbulb cuts them off with a "HEY." Esme looms over them and Package stares in fear. She signs "Best of evenings you two." The lightbulb responds "It's noon!"
Esme grabs Package, and Lightbulb says "Hey! That's our stolen stuff!" Esme signs "Stolen? My my my. So that is from where you derive this sizable fortune. How ironically unfortunate this will be for you then." Package runs and shouts "Take it take it all! I'm sorry! I didn't want to steal! I'm sorry! I don't want to die! Waaaah!" As Package drops a bunch of food the lightbulb says "COWARD! GODDAMNIT! I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU TWO!"
The lightbulb stares maniacally and shouts in an intentionally corny way "YOU DON'T KNOW WHO YOU JUST FUCKED WITH! IT'S ALL OVER FOR YOU TWO NOW! HHAHAHEHEH! SAY GOODBYE!" Keiji suddenly bursts out of the front of Montag and shouts "I'LL PROTECT YOU!!"
Keiji makes a loud squak as she flies towards the object.
Lightbulb, in anger, punches Keiji.
Lightbulb, now in therian form and lit up yells "I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE EIGHT YEARS OLD OR EIGHTY! OUTTA MY WAY! HAHAHAHA!" Montag stares blankly.
From behind the object, Montag changes into his bestial form. He approaches the lightbulb as they mutter "Now about you two."
Montag grabs the object by their head and crushes it between his hands killing them.
Later Montag and Keiji are asleep in bed. Esme traces a finger over a framed picture of Peter and Montag on a table.
Esme signs to herself "If only you knew who he really was..."
She signs "I'M TALKING TO YOU, TOO" facing towards the viewer with a smile on her face.
Esme is surprised by her phone ringing. She pulls out her phone to see a call from the number "0 4 2 2 0 7." As she picks up her heart begins to beat and she hears her name being called from around her.
Something wraps around Esme's soul as a voice calls her name. Her vision goes black.
Esme appears to be underwater illuminated by a blue glow.
The Harbinger of Fate, a shadowy, winged figure with a singular white eye with a line through it, stares at Esme. They begin "Oh, Esme, forgive me for that deliciously wicked little phone call that proved... fatal. A tragedy, yes, but you must understand. I simply needed you out of the way for juuust a second. Now, shall we chat like civilized schemers before I go and ring up Madeline? My, my. It's been a while since I last laid eyes upon you here in the Afterlife, Esme. Don't fret, darling. Once we've finished our little tête-à-tête, I'll tuck you back into that mortal shell of yours as if nothing ever happened.
They show two eyes and a mouth now as they continue "Well well well... I take it you've been busy, hm? Really rolling up those sleeves and getting to work down there, aren't'cha girl?
"Well well; by that, I mean you've gone and shattered the ONE rule I set for you. Bravo; what a spectacularly audacious bit of theater. Now do indulge me, what is it about Fate that has you so utterly hopelessly enamored?"
"Awh hawh. Cat got your tongue, have we? Only a tease, darling; you're as speechless as the very first time we crossed paths. But do tell, where, pray, did you acquire that ravishing coat? It flatters you scandalously well."
"Why naturally- in fact, I declare I must have one of my very own. Aaaaanyway... where were we, hm? What exactly was it we were meant to be talking about again?"
"Oooh yes, right... your little act of... shall we say, DISOBEDIENCE. Here now, darling; if you insist on continuing your ways like a bad girl, I'm going to have to keep laying down the law with every flourish." The Harbinger of Fate puts a claw around Esme's neck and laughs as she struggles for air. "Ah-ah-ah... shhh sweetie, I'm the one speaking."
"Around the neck so you can't chatter, tied behind your back so you can't speak in hands... Mute or not, procedure is procedure, and I, my dear, am a stickler for my own rules. Transgress my rules again, and, mark me well- I'll take your family first..." Montag and Keiji can be seen. "Then your partner..." Esme and Urn can be seen. "Then your friends..." Anton and some other objects can be seen. The Harbinger of Fate pulls a scythe
"For the nonce, I shall condescend to leave you that trifling thing... oh, how do you say... your life, intact. What I desire and covet with a hunger most refined... are your eyes." Esme now eyeless yells in pain. They continue "If you ache to see, and who wouldn't, we shall negotiate: you relinquish those replaceable oculars, and I, in turn, am spared the bother of squinting through shadows to keep you ever in my spotlight... I watched your little performance in the city today and how it spectacularly fell apart. Take your old blade, and keep on breathing until I say so, or I can't send you back." Esme with purple eyes and an ornate blade stares up at them.
"Ah, my quaint little insect, le rideau tombe. That is the full extent of the time I'll afford your groveling. Now scuttle off, be a proper, obedient pet, and see my commands fulfilled. Rest well, little lady." As Esme sits in front of them they conclude "We'll resume the entertainment anon."
Esme is face down on the ground, her blade and a pair of feet in front of her.

NOTICE

Caramel's Journal is now available to read.
Battery's entry has been added to the cast page.
Harbinger of Fate's entry has been added to the cast page.

ART

Episode 19 - Fragile Wings (Family Matters) - Teaser Art Episode 19 - Fragile Wings (Family Matters) - Release Art