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Episode 34 : The Mario Cliche

Family Matters | ft. Locker, Magnet, Caramel, and Battery
"Just tell me the god-damn truth."

May 10th, 2026



Dedicated to Lee
Montag is sitting on the couch with a blanket talking to Esme. She sits down next to him as he says "I just wish I could figure out what he meant. 'I'm not here for you?' 'I'd never leave her with...' what? With you?" Esme looks away nervously.
Esme signs "Well you never really know! Maybe I'm one of them!" Montag sarcastically responds "Ha ha real funny. Don't even joke like that Esme..."
Esme signs "I understand. Forgive my lack of attentiveness but... who was that guy? You know, to the Sora Foundation." Montag answers "They don't like talking about it but he isn't exactly a small fish." Esme responds "Well that tracks doesn't it? They know who I am that I work a lot that I wouldn't be a good parent." Montag sighs "Yeah that makes sense. You're real smart. It makes me wonder why I'm the lawyer and you're not."
From the other room Keiji repeatedly shouts "Dad! Dad!" Montag cries "KEIJI?!" He runs over and opens the door to her room shouting, "KEIJI! WHAT'S..."
Montag stares as Keiji continues to call out "Dad!" while being held by Peter. Montag and Peter both stare in shock.
Peter says "Wait don't-" as Esme pulls Keiji away who cries. Montag approaches Peter.
Montag punches Peter in the face and he falls to his knees. Montag shouts, "Where have you BEEN?! Get up!"
Peter mumbles "Auugh... What's- what's wrong with you?!" Montag sternly says "Answer me." Peter replies "You know I was at work! Fuck! They keep me late!" Montag shouts "It has been WEEKS!"
Peter remarks "God if only you knew who I worked for!" Montag replies "Right because I'M the one who never wanted to talk about it. Who's even still in business right now, huh?" Montag thinks...`.
Montag stares in silence as realization hits him.
Montag mutters "No..." Peter stammers "I... I couldn't tell you." Montag repeats "No..." Peter hands Montag a card.
The card Peter is holding up reads "Sora Palace Entry Card." Montag grabs the card and yanks it away.
Montag rips the card in half before grabbing Peter and screaming "YOU'VE BEEN ONE OF THEM THIS ENTIRE TIME! BEHIND MY BACK!" Montag grasps Peter suffocating him. Peter gasps for air and his eyes bulge.
Peter lets out a breath of air. Montag looks in shock and gets closer to Peter as if checking for breathing.
Montag kneels in front of Peter. Cut to black.
Peter slowly comes to. He gets up and shouts "AAH! IT'S DARK AND I CAN'T MOVE! HELP!" Esme sits next to Peter with a tired expression.
Peter falls to the ground and mutters "Oww... still sore." He turns around and says "E...Esme?" Esme, with an angered face, signs "Stupid, stupid, STUPID. You should have NEVER RETURNED. He believes you to be DEAD."
Peter answers "Maybe that's for the better?" Esme signs "What." Peter continues "I have other places to be, other people to talk to. I'd rather he think I'm dead... than think hopelessly that someday I'll be back."
Peter continues "If, y'know, that makes any sense? Six months. I'll be back in six months."
Esme's hand can be seen holding Myla's over a pink background. Myla says, "Esme..." Esme's hand can be seen shaking Madeline's over a gray background. Madeline says, "Esme."

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