Stripes of Passion: Epilogue

A Word with the Efficient Commissioner

The Efficient Commissioner is an impeccable professional, the person who handles all the Tragedy Procedures, and the most trusted retainer of the entire Bazaar. Ostensibly, she works under Mr. Pages, but she is good enough at her job that every single Master has used her services at one point or another - yourself very much included. She was instrumental in handling the situation with the Creditor, and she is ultimately the most reliable worker under the Bazaar's payroll.

She was also the person who told the Banded Sleuth that you are Mr. Cards; entirely against your will, and despite knowing that this is supposed to be a secret. You need to have a word. Perhaps several.

Approach her as yourself
This was ultimately about your human life, so you will deal with her as a human.

Approach her as Mr. Cards
Maybe if you don the cloak, she will take you more seriously.

Always working

You find the Commissioner sitting on a wooden chair next to the outer walls of the Bazaar. Two neddy men surround her, though she is more interested in the stack of papers she has in her hands - a file on her lap as she reviews her documents. When you approach, both of the neddy men take a step in your direction, and it only takes her a moment to turn her head. "Ah, it's you." she lets out, and waves you over.

"It's not often you seek me out, what do you need?" she does not turn to you, and her tone is completely neutral. You make a motion within her line of sight, and she stops looking at her papers for only a moment, "Take ten, boys." she speaks, and the neddies immediately disperse, the pace in their step suggesting that they're glad to be away from her.

She crosses her arms and looks at you. "What do you need, m'lord?"

You are having some words with the Efficient Commissioner.

A Word with the Efficient Commissioner

The Commissioner sits with her arms crossed, waiting for you to start.

Ask her directly
No point in beating around the bush.

Accuse her
You already know what she did, and you need her to know that you are very cross with her.

The one rule

You ask her simply: Why did you reveal the identity of Mr. Cards to the Banded Sleuth?

"Oh, my." she lets out, her façade fully breaking as she grins. "He finally proposed then? Goodness, that took a while." she rises from her chair as she looks you in the eye. "You must be a happy couple indeed." a snort, "I mean, matching necklaces? Really? Couldn't be more obvious if you tried."

She did not answer your question.

"You already know the answer, m'lord." she respond, and turns to the Bazaar. You follow her gaze, to see a burning sigil that wasn't there before; "An Ill-Advised Yet Incandescent Love".

"Whether tragedies or triumphs, there is only one rule to keep in mind." she turns back to you, "In matters of the Bazaar..."

...look to love, always.

A Word with the Efficient Commissioner

The Efficient Commissioner broke your trust, your privacy, and one of the Masters' secrets, in order to etch a new love story into the Bazaar's skin. "Oh I did much more than that." she continues, "The Sleuth may be good at his job, but it was obvious he was avoiding the obvious solution. Who do you think let slip the information about your orphanage?"

Thank her
You are happy with the Sleuth, and none of this might've happened if she didn't tell him. All's well that ends well.

She was out of line
Whether she likes you or not, at the very least, you didn't expect her to break the rules of the Masters.

She will regret it
For more reasons than one.

A trodden path

You say it simply: She will regret doing this. At that, she scoffs: "With all due respect, m'lord. Your threats do not scare me; never have, never will."

You shake your head. You are not going to do anything to her; you couldn't even if you want to. Any move you make against her would be met by fierce opposition from the other Masters. Even pulling the resources of Mr. Cards, you doubt you could do it cleanly, much less easily.

But breaking such an important rule of the Masters means that she is no longer working for them, but for the Bazaar itself. She now believes in the Bazaar's mission, and wants to help it succeed. Whether she realizes it or not, she is taking the exact same path that Penstock and Lilac did, and will end in the exact same way.

And so, you repeat. She will regret this. It was not a threat; just a straightforward prediction.

The Efficient Commissioner stays silent as you leave her behind, mere inches away from the Bazaar's obsidian skin.

Not a threat, but a promise.