The Monster's Room - Chapter 19
Marie had expected to be discovered, but surprisingly, the Foundation hadn’t noticed Spiegel’s presence.
It turned out Spiegel’s claim that there were no cameras or listening devices in the bathroom was true. Marie, astonished, gave a wry smile and watched as Spiegel wrote numbers on the mirror.
1, 2, 3.
The numbers were placed before Spiegel’s questions.
Marie suddenly remembered the rules she had established with Spiegel. Answering three questions granted her the right to ask one in return. This rule, solidified during their conversation yesterday, made Marie realize something surprising: SCP rules were not absolute.
While they followed most established rules, they were also prone to boldly ignore them and create new ones when it suited them, living up to their name as anomalous entities.
Moreover, Spiegel had mentioned that he would ask three questions only in the bathroom but four in the containment area. When Marie asked why, Spiegel simply said it would be more fun that way.
It was an incomprehensible sentiment to Marie.
– Marie?
“Oh, sorry.”
She had been lost in thought. Marie refocused and chose a question. She briefly recalled the information Kevin had shared but decided to ask something else before cross-checking it.
“How was the F-49 sector today?”
Even taking just one day off seemed to weigh heavily on her. Spiegel stared at her slowly written question and answered with a single word.
– Bloodbath.
“Ah.”
For her mental well-being, Marie decided not to press further. It was a quick exit.
* * *
“Hey.”
Splash.
“Hello?”
Splash.
The next day, Marie returned to find the jelly eraser floating in the bathtub as if protesting. Why did it seem like the transparent jelly had an upset expression?
“You’re not going to even say hello?”
When Marie reached to touch it, the jelly withdrew slightly. It seemed quite peeved. Marie found herself thinking, ‘How cute?’
“Are you not going to see me today?”
Splash.
“What about water?”
Splash.
The tentacles grabbed the water bottle near the door and poured it over itself. It was a clear sign of its intention not to engage with her.
Marie pondered briefly. Should she leave it as is, or try to appease it?
Since it had had its fill of water for the day, it was fine to leave it, but…
“I’m sorry I didn’t come out yesterday.”
Marie chose to soothe it.
She wasn’t sure how long she’d be with this creature, and it was better to have a good relationship if possible. Of course, there was a hint of genuine affection for the creature underlying that judgment.
“If I have to step out suddenly, I’ll be sure to let you know.”
Smack.
But was that not the right approach?
Marie looked down in bewilderment as the tentacles swatted her outstretched hand away. It seemed even more upset now.
As Marie blinked, she sighed deeply. If understanding human feelings was hard, how could she possibly grasp the feelings of a monster?
“Listen.”
Giving up on soothing it, Marie pushed herself into the bathtub. The startled jelly eraser squirmed and tried to escape, but it was futile. In the cramped bathtub, her body and the transparent jelly eraser became entangled.
“It was not my choice to not come yesterday.”
Splash.
“I have to follow whatever the Foundation tells me to do.”
Splash.
“I also felt bad for not coming yesterday too.”
The jelly eraser, which had been swirling around sharply, began to calm down little by little.
Marie sank deeply into the bathtub and closed her eyes. The touch of the jelly eraser, entangled without any se-ual connotation, was refreshing and cool. It relieved the tension in her stiff neck and shoulders.
“I missed you, J.”
Calling it by the nickname derived from its name, Marie felt the tentacles tightening around her body. It felt like a gentle embrace, making her smile.
“Ah…”
And it wasn’t long before that smile turned into a heated moan.
* * *
After having reconciliation s-x, Marie went to find the cotton doll.
As before, the cotton doll was standing by the door. Its button eyes looked a bit eerie, but it didn’t complain or show any malice; it cuddled up nicely.
Marie gently patted the soft, furry back of the doll and explained what had happened yesterday. After experiencing the jelly eraser, J, she had found that expressing her feelings honestly led to good responses.
“I was worried about you.”
She felt the cotton doll lift its head as she rested her cheek against its soft head.
“I’m sorry for disappearing without a word yesterday. Next time, if I need to take a break, I’ll let you know. Otherwise, I’ll explain why it happened.”
Eight days had passed since starting this job. Marie realized that she had been able to manage the monsters in the Foundation because she understood and applied their rules—and that the monsters could change those rules at will.
With this realization, she suddenly had a thought.
“Then, I’ll come hug you next time.”
Couldn’t she also set the rules on her side?
“How about it?”
She wasn’t trying to control the creatures like the Foundation did. What Marie wanted was a way to interact with them while setting and following mutual rules—a basic framework for living together, similar to societal norms.
To achieve that, she needed rules from both sides, not just one.
Together.
A minimum mutual agreement and understanding were necessary.
