(You're Starting To Think Something Is Wrong With Loop.)

(You're starting to think something is wrong with Loop.)

(It was little things at first. An odd movement, or stilted words. You thought it was just your fried timeloop brain so you chose to ignore it.)

(But it's been getting more and more obvious.)

(First, they stopped talking with their hands. Maybe they're just tired, you thought.)

(Loop doesn't breathe anymore either.)

(You always wondered why a star would even need to breathe. Apparently they don't, considering Loop just... stopped doing it all together.)

(Maybe it was just something they did to make you more comfortable, you assumed.)

(But then they stopped blinking too.)

(It's so unnerving. Their eyes never water or falter. They just stare at you.)

(To be honest, you'd started avoiding the favor tree when you could. Not always, but enough to give yourself some space.)

(Being around the star had started to make you feel like bugs were crawling on your skin.)

(And then you forgot the rock trap again.)

(You wake with a slight start before cursing under your breath and clenching your fists. You wait for the pain to pass.)

(Your muscles slowly stop screaming in agony and you take a deep breath.)

[Stardust.]

(You flinch at the sudden voice in your mind. You didn't think you'd ever get used to them doing that.)

[Teehee, sorry! Just thought I'd pop in. It's been a few loops, you know? Why don't you stop by? Poor Loop gets lonely too!]

(Suddenly your mouth feels dry. Has it really been long enough for Loop to notice? You feel a little bad...)

(After talking with Mira and Isa you make your way to the tree.)

(Ducking under the leaves into the dark. Loop... isn't looking at you. They're staring off into the woodlands behind the tree.)

"Um... Loop?"

"Siffrin."

(You pause. They... don't call you that. You think they may have called you that once or twice at the start. But that was all. Your name sounds so alien from them.)

(They're... still not looking at you.)

"Siffrin, you've been ignoring me."

(You continue to stand there, completely unsure how to proceed. Were they mad? They didn't sound... mad. That wasn't anger. You actually couldn't really place their tone other than something negative.)

"I-I... I haven't meant to? Just... busy with the loops, y'know?"

(You swallow nervously.)

(They don't respond.)

(They still don't look at you.)

(You realize just how quiet it is. None of the nearby birds 'piou'.)

"Loo-"

(Before you can, they cut you off.)

"You're really bad at lying."

(You frown and tuck into your cloak.)

"I'm not-"

"Siffrin."

(You bite your tongue.)

(They still don't look at you.)

"... Sorry."

(They hum in acknowledgement, but they don't accept the apology.)

(Then something on a sudden breeze catches your nose. Your face screws up. It smells... kinda sweet but pungent at the same time. Like- . . .)

(You feeling yourself start to sweat and Loop finally turns to face you.)