ADR - Episode 648: The Earl's Imposter

[00:00:05] Oh, hello and welcome to Al Dente Rigamortis. I'm Review Cultist. I'm Mikey, the East-Town Threeville. And I'm the Gamer in Yellow. And we're here to discuss those internet stories, most creepy and most pasta, and be critically silly doing it. And tonight we have The Earl's Imposter.

[00:00:36] So yeah, this is another Creep Pasta by Tawawi. So you can check it out at Creep Pasta Wiki or creeppasta.fandom.com slash wiki, along with all of Tawawi's other Creep Pastas as well. But for The Earls Imposter, I suppose we should give our initial recommendations before we dive too far into this. I'm going to recommend it. I'm not going to recommend it.

[00:01:06] I'm going to recommend it, but I'm curious as to why Cultist was like apprehensive about saying that he recommended it. Like you weren't sure. It teetered. It was teetering. There's... I had a little bit of... Like there was a... I had... There was some struggle and a bit of a journey I had to go on for this one. So... But... I'll dive more into that in my notes. But before we go to that, let's dive into the rundown for the story.

[00:01:33] So when Nair, because no name given, was 16, his life changed forever. And it started when he got dared to stay in the Eglinton Centre Mall overnight on Halloween. Him and his friends were stoner delinquents and the mall was said to be haunted. Perfect combination. Yep. According to urban legends, the mall was built on the remains of a manor occupied by the Scottish Earl of Eglinton.

[00:01:58] Only it wasn't really the Earl, but someone posing as him. The Earl's imposter, if you will. Credits. Of course. It turned out, in the legend, that this false Earl would throw crazy parties, but that some of the youths who were invited would go missing. And so eventually a mob formed and burned down the estate.

[00:02:24] No body of either the fake Earl or his victims were ever found. And the rest is history. So Nair sneaks into the mall after dark. And within an hour, things start getting weird. Visual and audible hallucinations. Halls stretching out. And a strange eldritch figure blocking him the exit. Then it's revealed by one of his friends who pops up in the mall with him.

[00:02:51] That their other friend slipped Nair drugs to trip him out in the mall. So all the weirdness can be explained as a drug trip. But then things get weirder. Nair begins experiencing slips in reality as the mall changes from its modern structures to the antiquated estate of old. And there is a creepy Halloween ball going on amongst it.

[00:03:18] Nair goes through this Victorian funhouse for a while, trying to find the exit. And eventually goes for where the theater in the mall should be. But instead, there's simply a door to a dark drug den where the Earl's imposter, Credits, is waiting. It's here the imposter reveals that he intends to escape this limbo-like state by taking possession of Nair's body. And it's lights out for Nair.

[00:03:46] The story ends with Nair coming back to control of his body and its Halloween night some year later. Nair is trying to figure, trying to write down the events of the story and get help. But he is ultimately pushed back by the imposter's presence. And as he fades back into the background of his own mind and body, Nair is forced to bear witness to the imposter using, to the imposter using his body for vile intent. Finn.

[00:04:16] Yeah, that was the Earl's imposter. I suppose we'll move on to... Everyone tolerance the grammar inquisitions! At this point, I've got one. I texted Will. So... Will doesn't have a capital on W. Will doesn't have a capital on W. Oh, okay. I'm pretty sure it's the person... It's the guy's friend. So it should be... I texted Will with a capital there. Yes. Absolutely.

[00:04:47] But that's the only grammar inquisition that I saw that merited a note. So... Mikey, the East Dance for Evil, what do you have? I have... I have... It was the night before Halloween that the challenge was issued. So it was supposed to have an apostrophe. Oh, okay. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, actually... Is it T-postrophe was?

[00:05:16] No, it's apostrophe T-was. Oh, okay. Yeah. Also, actually, I just realized I do have another grammar inquisition, but I threw it into actual thoughts. But now that I'm thinking about it, it should probably be grammar. All right. Okay. I've had it. Sorry. Hang on. Where is it? I got to pull it up in my actual thoughts. Found it. Okay. Well over an hour has passed now. My heart stopped racing from the running and the crowded food court scare. Welcome to my tense talk.

[00:05:46] This story mingles back and forth in spots with present and past tense. And I feel like it should stick with one specifically maybe past tense since a lot of this is being like, um, kind of remembered by Nair. Yes. So, but yeah, there's a couple instances where I caught where it's like, it goes into present tense right off the hop. And I was like, Oh no, why? It's like a vampire. I'm like a vampire. And like my Bane is his past and present tense getting mingled. Mm hmm.

[00:06:13] For me, when you were reading that quote, it was like, well, over an hour has passed. Now my heart stopped racing from like I shot him a glance. Oh, oh, oh dear. Oh dear. Yeah. Uh, sorry, Mikey, you can continue. I have a conjunction junction. Of course you do. Uh, and next stop conjunction junction. Doot doot. It was a cool crisp fall.

[00:06:42] It seemed noble at the time, but reflecting back on it, it was naive and outright dangerous sometimes. It always came back to some half truth legend about a gruesome Halloween. It was built and named in honor of the Earl's of England, of Scotland, much like the street.

[00:07:10] But to the surprise of everyone involved, the Earl showed up to Toronto, then known as York with every intent of staying there. That is such a run on sentence. Like I'm looking at it and there's so many commas. Like every other word. Sorry. Continue. That's another one for your list of grammar issues.

[00:07:41] Cheers. And miss out on the Halloween festivities. It was completely indistinguishable. It felt excessive, like I had binged at the Chinese buffet in the mall right before racing to the toilet. It was easy to see outside. It was now 1210.

[00:08:10] So, I don't want you to be concerned, but Will and some of the other guys thought it would be funnier if you were tripping for this. It was quite foul. It was obscured by the strange vernacular he used. It no longer sounded like Kyle either.

[00:08:35] It was cold now, as if we weren't protected from the elements outside either. It was dark, but the layout seemed familiar, like it mirrored the food court. It seemed like my best chance. It stopped. It was the tendril-faced creature from before.

[00:09:02] It was hard to tell if this eerie, dim ballroom was less creepy without the guests or more. It contrasted the dim haunt of the ballroom starkly. It was less overstated than the other decor. It was scalding hot. That's it. That's it?

[00:09:31] He's just trapped there, continually, in that acid trip, apparently. Yeah. Or in that drug trip. I mean, that might be actually what happened, too, for all we know. That's true, yeah. Yeah, honestly, like I'm surprised how, like, because I was following along, as I was, like, as you were going through that, like, pulling through the story. And I was finding myself, like, going through like, large swaths of the story don't have much of a conjunction junction. So I was actually kind of quite pleased with that.

[00:09:58] Yeah, there's big sections where the story doesn't start with words that they probably shouldn't like its ends or butts because there's generally better words to use. Yeah. Which is why Mikey grabs all the sentences throughout the story that start with those words. Because it sometimes creates hilarious results when all string together into a story. Less so this time, but sometimes it does. Yeah. And I mean, it did also help point out that, again, like that one run on sentence that just kept going. Yeah. No. Yeah.

[00:10:27] Also, clearly, the dialogue ones don't need to be changed, but we do them all for the bit. Yeah, exactly. So, Gamer, what do you have for Grammar in Yellow? I got one. Wow, the story is kind of on fire right now for a lack of issues. Right. What do you want with me? I don't know. What do you want? I'm trying to read the quote. Oh, sorry. What do you want with me?

[00:10:56] I croaked, barely able to speak through the choking hold of the hands. So that exclamation has no question mark, even though it's a question, as well as an exclamation. So it should have both. Yeah. It needs both. Also, when you read it again, I had like a knee-jerk reaction to respond again. Just keep doing that for like five minutes straight. I legitimately had to like mentally stop myself from replying. Yeah.

[00:11:26] That's the only one I got. All right. Well, then, I suppose we'll move on to actual thoughts. And I'd like to start at the image. Okay. So I get that it's probably supposed to be a photo of the Earl's former estate, like before it was burned down and then like demolished and the mall took its spot and such. Okay. But as a local Ontarian, that's straight up Casaloma. Oh, you know exactly where that is?

[00:11:53] Like right off the hop, I pegged it as Toronto's castle. It's inverted. Like it's got like that kind of like, what was it? Like almost like that photo negative kind of look to it. Yeah, it's a negative, yeah. But like that's just Casaloma. And the logo. And then like when you open it, like when you expand out the image, the file name is the Earl's imposter Casaloma. Oh, okay. Okay.

[00:12:20] So I'm sure people not from the region or even like from like who have ventured to Toronto. Like I grew up in like near Toronto and I went down to Toronto and we like went to Casaloma a lot. So like I know it off by heart pretty well. Like I instantly knew it was like, oh, that's that castle in Toronto. But people like online who aren't from the region or aren't from Ontario reading this story may not catch it.

[00:12:48] And that's fine because it's just a an image of like an old manor looking kind of like a state property. Yes. I was just sad that this story had no had nothing to do with Casaloma, even though I was expecting it because the photo for me was clearly Casaloma. Yeah. So you think like it should have been just some image of a random castle? Or like, yeah, or like some other like, like random, like kind of manor like building or estate. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:13:18] This one's it's pretty famous in Toronto. Like and like to Huawei, like a lot of their stories seem to be set in Toronto. So it's like, like I was honestly surprised when like reading this, it was actually of like a different location in Toronto that he was kind of drawing inspiration from. It seemed and not the one that's a photo right at the start of the story. I mean, you don't know that the Earl didn't just like completely like steal the designs for Casaloma. You're right. You are right.

[00:13:48] And that's why they ripped it down. Casaloma people was like, dude, that was not cool. They built the castle for the Earl and it sank into the swamp and it burned down. So they built another one and that one sank into the swamp. And then they built it a third time and it called it Casaloma. Yes. Yes. But also. No, not at all. Actually, I'm curious. Casaloma, is it on Eglinton Street? Eglinton Avenue? It is not.

[00:14:18] It's on Austin Terrace. Davin. It hugs Austin Terrace, Walmer Road and Davenport Road. It is it is not on Eglinton. But yeah, so again, I'm kind of making a funny here because I'm a local and like I immediately pegged that that that that image as the castle. But I'm sure a little bit for you, though, a little bit, but like not a whole lot. Like, because it's just like, oh, like I thought this was going to be about Casaloma and it was about Eglinton Center.

[00:14:50] And again, I get why it was used because it looks it's an old timey looking like extravagant estate property. But yeah. I'll move on. OK. So I'll start with this thing here. There were some stupid stories, mainly bullshit that every other kid in our high school would make up about the mall being haunted. It always came back to some half truth legend about a gruesome Halloween.

[00:15:18] According to the legend, the mall named the Eglinton Center was not named for quite the same reason as the busy midtown Toronto street it was adjacent to. Story has it that the former site of the mall was a large manor. And it goes on about like the Earl of Eglinton moving into the manor and throwing parties, youths going missing and a mob burning down the manor. And like with the Earl in it and such like that.

[00:15:45] And the mall being built on that land decades later. Yada, yada, yada. And I was like, wait, is this based on a real world urban legend from Toronto? Because Toronto's got some weird urban legends. Oh, good point. I probably should have looked that up. Did you? I did. I did some digging. And as far as I can tell, this is purely fabricated for the creepypasta. Like it's purely an original creepypasta about the mall.

[00:16:14] Mm-hmm. I did find also that there is a young Eglinton Center, sometimes referred to as Eglinton Center, but not on official signage, on Eglinton Avenue West and Yonge Street. Later in the story, the characters do say like that they're standing on Eglinton Avenue West before they sneak before Nair sneaks into around back to the mall.

[00:16:39] So we kind of have like a location and a likely suspect of what the mall is in real life. Yeah, for sure. So yeah, the story does seem to borrow yet again from reality for its Toronto setting here. Like previous Towaway stories, we had like the TTC stuff. Just like as like a kind of like a grounding element for the story. And this time it seems to be like the Eglinton Center. Eglinton Center.

[00:17:08] And this is the main grounded focal point for this story, which I think is fun. It helps helps grind the story or helps grind the story. Right. It helps ground the story to reality a little bit. It adds that extra level of immersion. Also kind of funny because. The story can focus on something specific. So it stays like it stays on path. It doesn't diverge too much because it has a focal point. Yeah.

[00:17:35] Also kind of just like fun to have like this like urban legend made up for the store over for the mall about like, oh, it was built. Oh, well, it was probably built on an Indian burial ground because most of North America was. But it was it was built on a on the ruins of this like estate and like this this creepy guy who like this creepy rich guy like was killing people and then they burned down the property and then they built the mall over it. So it's now haunted.

[00:18:01] I kind of you hear that kind of like urban legend like all the time on like high school on school on school playgrounds and such about certain locations and such. So it's like very that too is kind of adds a level of familiarity of like situational familiarity of like how how these kind of urban legends and folklore kind of start. I like how the story went with it, too. Yeah. And yeah, again, like the story like goes like uses that and then just like but what

[00:18:31] if it actually was like haunted or or or what if like what let's let's just continue to double down on that. But so, yeah, just just something that I had to look around, look up like I mean, it was like, all right, is there an Eglinton Center? It's like, well, there's an Eglinton Square on Eglinton East Avenue and then there's there's the young Eglinton Center on on Eglinton Avenue West. So it's like I think it's probably that one. And then like later on the story, like they're on Eglinton Avenue West.

[00:18:59] It's like, OK, I know it's definitely the one on Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue West. And then I got to round to like I got to actually like, you know, Google Street Map or Street View and go around the building and see like, how did they break? How do they get like where's the back alley? Are you casing the place? No, I should also point out it does also like the real world setter does also have a theater like connected to it and such. So it's like it's actually like, again, the author is borrowing from reality.

[00:19:28] So like there's there's a sense of familiarity, there's a sense of realism in that regard to the setting before like the weird stuff starts happening, which is cool. Exactly. Yeah, I was like I just it's just the kind of thing like when when I see when I hear about a location in a story, I want to look it up. Yeah. And see if it's real. And then when if it is real, if there is an actual location, I want to like explore it a little bit, whether that be on Google Street View or like going to West Virginia to see

[00:19:55] the location of where Icker Falls is whenever you go to the mall, you're going to be thinking about this story now. Legitimately, I might. If I ever go to the the young Eglinton Center, I might legitimately like think about this story. Yeah. But every time you go to those specific bathrooms, it's like, oh, that's where they are puked or go to the food court. Oh, yeah. Okay, I get to the theater. Oh, no, there's a wicker. There's a wicker door. I'm fucked.

[00:20:27] But yeah, so again, that was really cool. Just like I like that part. I like that aspect of to always writing when they incorporate something locally realistic. Like, again, in some previous ones, like they referenced that they were near a town that we know, like Bracebridge. And then like there's the one where it's their comment. It's the story was a commentary on the TTC, like with the average butts. So it's like, yeah, it's just it's it's relatable.

[00:20:57] So it's fun for like locals. Yeah, those previous ones were like stories to vent. I don't feel like this one was a venting story. No, this one. This one just is straight up a Halloween, like creepy, like haunting story. So. Yeah. Which is fine. Yes. But I'll continue on my notes here. In an affair reminiscent of the burning windmill version of the Frankenstein monster's demise, a mob torched the manor with him atop the roof on Halloween night, no less.

[00:21:27] His remains were never found. And not long after and not long after the true Earl of Eglinton, ignorant of the malady to Toronto that he had supposedly caused, sent word to the town council of his pleasure regarding the estate being named after him all the way from Scotland. But who was Earl? Sorry. But then who was phone? But like could have just stopped there. Yeah, exactly.

[00:21:55] That would have been like, no, I actually, I actually really liked this premise that like some charlatan hoodwinked the city regarding. Hoodwink? Yeah. He hoodwinked the city. Like he. I don't hear that word. It's an old timey word. Oh, I know. And I love it. Yeah. Like he hoodwinked the city council into like making them think that he was actually the Earl of Scotland or the Earl of Eglinton. And so I got to move into this house and then like throw these crazy parties and like start sacrificing youths.

[00:22:24] Like it's a very. You got to the sacrificing youth part. It was basically like Axel Foley. Like he shows up in Beverly Hills is like, yeah, I'm this guy. I own this house. Get the fuck out. There, there is a movie also with like Steve Martin and, and, and Michael Caine were in a movie called dirty rotten scoundrels where they play con men who just like impersonate the, like the things like impersonate people and like get into schmoozy places and stuff with that and like rip people off.

[00:22:53] And that's kind of what I'm thinking for the, for the Earl here, except way more devilish, obviously. Like he's definitely a villain, but like you got to love a villain that has like, um, a charisma score of 20 to cite a D and D stat. Like, yeah, he's got like a very, like you got to love a, a whimsical, charming, like demon creature. Um, so you love to hate him.

[00:23:23] Yeah, exactly. Um, yeah. So I just, I really liked that. Like, that, like the ugly, the Earl of the real Earl of like sends a message about like, uh, he's his pleasure of like the estate being named in his honor. And it's like, wait, but we burned that down. We burned that down with him in it. And this is from Scotland. But who was Earl? We've been hoodwinked. I really want to start using old timey words like that more often because there's so much more fun.

[00:23:51] So there's a quick tabletop talk, table talk. Um, there's a, there's a power by the apocalypse setting that I have acquired called, uh, absurdia where you build like a strange, like gravity falls esque, like town. Um, and you, you have like weird shenanigans like in it. And one of the stats are like one of the moves that you have, like a general move is hoodwink. It's basically for like lying and like conniving and stuff like that.

[00:24:20] So it's like, yeah, that's actually like, I guess it's more of connective tissues. Cause like I recently acquired that. And then I read the stories and hoodwinked is in it. So yeah. Anyway, I'll move on to the next thing I have. Okay. Um, no one truly knows what happened to the Earl's imposter credits or to any of the missing youth as no remains were found that that's, that's, that's it. I just wanted to do the credits thing in the actual story. Oh, okay.

[00:24:50] Moving on. My friend Jack kept going on about how cool it would be to break into the mall on Halloween and spend the whole night there to see if there was any truth to all the rumors of the Earl's imposter credits. Sorry, I'll stop. Maybe. Stalking the halls for young blood. And at this point I'm like reading this as like, oh, like the Earl's imposter, like uh, stalking the malls for young blood.

[00:25:16] I was like, wait, is this whole missing youth thing in this story? Because the Eglinton center sits on Eglinton Avenue West and young street. Is, is that why? Yes. Cause if it is, I kind of love that.

[00:25:42] Like that's where the idea of it being a get for targeting youth is because it's on young street. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Like, I mean, maybe I kind of love that. If that is the case, regardless, honestly, I love that. Just like, even if that's just a happy accident, but like, if that's intentional, even more so. Cause like, that's what it clicked. I was like, wait, cause I, at that point, at this point in the story, I'd been reading, I'd also like check to see like where it was in the real world, like where it was in Toronto.

[00:26:11] And then I was like, wait, young street, young blood. It's the, the youths are being taken. Oh, you, you clever, clever shrew. Tell the Huawei. Awesome. Maybe. Definitely. Maybe. Maybe. All right. I'll move on to the next thing. I'll throw in a six pack of beer too. Will added successfully sweetening the deal. Fine. I'll do it. I caved, but not that creepy auspicious ale.

[00:26:40] You, you, you get your brother to buy you. I want decent beer. We all laughed before hashing out the terms of the deal. I gotta love a callback from another story or another connection to the, to another story. Cause like, as we discovered auspicious ale is a, again, a fictional beer that the creator used in another story. And the fact that it's being, there's a callback to that in this story is really fun. Yeah, I did like that.

[00:27:05] So that also confirms that like, this is all in a shared universe. Well, potentially at the very least it's an Easter egg to anybody who reads any of their other stories. Like not every, not, don't worry. Don't get me wrong. I love shared universe stuff. God, do I love shared universe? Multi, multi-universe. We're in the Tuawei tales. Yeah. But yeah, no, I do, I do love me a shared universe, but I also do just get a kick out

[00:27:35] of like just having some Easter eggs from previous, uh, from previous stories or previous, uh, writings and such. So, um, but yeah, I'll move on to the next thing. This one is where like, there's a little, I have a little bit of an issue, but we'll walked up to him, slipped him a small spliff and put his hand on my shoulder. Then offered the final thing I'd remember clearly. Some excellent wisdom. You heard the man get in there.

[00:28:05] Really? That's, that's the excellent wisdom. It's really not. Like, yeah. I'm sure it's sarcastic. I guess, but it was just like, it was just like, it was because it seemed like it was about to be like really profound. And then it was like, get in there. It was kind of funny. I, you know what, maybe it is. It was done for laughs. Like maybe it was done like sardonically. So yeah, absolutely. That's how I took it. Okay. Yeah. Cause originally I was just like, what the, what? All right.

[00:28:35] I'll move on to the next thing. I peeked my head up and saw something that made me immediately dive back under the counter. The food court was packed, absolutely filled with people, people at tables, people lined up at the restaurant stalls busier than I'd ever seen, but it was still silent. As I stayed below the counter, I rationalized. There's no fucking way. I muttered softly. I slowly inched up again, empty as expected.

[00:29:06] Must've been a trick of my mind. Okay. That would actually be really fucked up. If you just like, like look up, like look up from like where you're hiding or like, or just like walking into like a, um, into like a food court at a mall, like from like a hallway and you just see like a completely packed, like, um, food court. That's a not supposed to be packed. Cause it's 1130 in the evening. Be completely quiet except for just like, you're just seeing a visual like representation.

[00:29:34] You're not getting any audio like at all. Yeah. Uh, and it's just like, yeah, no, I can see. And then like you back up and then you try to look back or you blink or you like rub your eyes and suddenly everybody's gone. It's like, yeah, that would fuck me up. I'd be like, I'm done. Peace. Like get out of here. That would be my, my, uh, that would where I would draw the line. I was like, I'm, I'm too high for this shit. And just walk away. Ironically. You're not even aware you was high. I know. Yeah.

[00:30:04] Uh, and then here, uh, so move on to the next thing I have here. Um, this one is similar to the, uh, excellent wisdom bit. The, where I didn't quite get it. So maybe you guys can help me on this one as well. As I entered the hallway with the adjacent bathrooms, I started feeling something really strange. Happy to be there. Nonetheless, as I looked down the hallway, it started to elongate and distort.

[00:30:32] I felt nauseated as the fun house corridor ahead of me contorted and twisted. Wait, what? So I know the happy to be there nonetheless is an italics. So it's probably an errant thought in his mind. Maybe you have something going on with that, but how does that connect with the strange feeling? What, what does it have to do with like connect with the stretching hallways right now?

[00:31:00] Like, is it just like, there's two weird things popping up? Like both the weird thoughts in his mind and the, the hallway stretching. Like I'm a tad confused as to like why that happy to be there. Nonetheless, like where's the connection with that? Like, what's that got to do with it? I don't know. So yeah, I know later on in the story, like, I think he starts getting like manipulated. Like we start here, we start seeing more italicized like thoughts that keep like kind of intruding into him and he starts getting gaslit.

[00:31:29] It's like, yeah, you know what? Let's, I'm going to stay here kind of thing. Like, um, but in this instance, I was left a little confused. Like I was like, what, what is this? Is this like maybe like now that I've read the story, like maybe it was supposed to be like kind of like a hint that something's going on with his mind. But well, like you said, there's, there's thoughts that get sent into his mind later in the story that are basically reassuring him that like, this is fine.

[00:31:57] So this could just be an early one where like, we don't have the context of that. So it's just a thought being like, yeah, this is fine. Yeah. But at the time, like I was, I was left confused as to like what its connection was. And then like, yeah, I guess now that I've, now that we've had this discussion, it kind of makes a little bit more sense as like a precursor or like a, like sort of like a lead up to the, the ones that come later. But I will say that the wording of it could be a little clearer.

[00:32:25] It could be something like, um, this is like the thought could be, this is weird. But I'm okay with that. Yeah. Or like, this is weird, but like, I, I'm not scared or something, you know? Or like, welcome to the fun house. You're going to have a great time or something like that. I don't know. Well, that's if it's someone talking to him because it's supposed to be his own thoughts thinking like, I, I should be scared, but I'm not is what it should be saying. Yeah, that's true.

[00:32:56] But yeah, uh, it's just, it was odd when I read it. It was like, what? Worth noting. So, yes. And then my next thing here. So this is when like, again, after he's tried to escape and then he encounters that eldritch thing with the tentacles in the, in his face and then it's just running. And then he bumps into Kyle who has this lion face with like kind of frilly, like, like bits of paper and stuff on it. Now you saw the truth. Yeah. Hang on. We're getting there. And then Kyle explains.

[00:33:26] So I, I don't want you to be concerned, but we'll, and some of the other guys thought it would be funnier if you were tripping off of this. You came to bring me drugs. What the hell, man? I'm not getting high here. Will said you'd chicken out. He slipped something. He slipped you something earlier. I didn't think it was right. Leaving you here alone, not knowing you were dosed seemed kind of fucked up to me.

[00:33:51] Well, that suddenly explains all the weird stuff we he's been experiencing though. It also kind of ruins the story for me a little bit, making it all mundane. Like we're not even halfway through the moon. We're not even halfway through the movie. We're not even halfway through the story yet. What the fuck? Like, is there an addendum to that note though later? There is an addendum. It's like, all right, let's see if this tries to counter this mundanity and then like update.

[00:34:20] So, so basically the story does a bit of gaslighting to poor Nair and even to us, the reader, a little bit till the end. Like, oh, whether or not it's, it's, it's a drug trip or if it's actually supernatural bullshit. And then by the end, it's kind of clarified that it is supernatural bullshit. Yeah. Which kind of brings it back for me a little bit, but like there was a moment at the very big halfway through the story. It was like, I don't want to read anymore. Oh, really? I was just like, oh, okay.

[00:34:49] You've, you've, they've pulled the mask off the Scooby-Doo villain too early. But then, yeah, but then I can't, but I, you know what? I stayed true. I like, I was like, you know what? We have a show. I'm going to keep reading. Yeah. But you would have stopped reading if we were doing a show? I might have. Ouch. I was, I was really angry. I don't, I don't want to like sugarcoat it. I was kind of pissed. Like I was like, all right, fuck it.

[00:35:19] I'll, I'll read the story. And then like, I did get some payoff, like by continuing to read. So like, I was proven wrong to not to, to think that I should stop because it did have a decent payout at the end for me personally. But it was like halfway through, like you almost lost my story. Yeah. So that was, that was my first note too. Like basically regarding Nair and his friends themselves being stoners and like me reading through the stuff that happens even before he goes into the, the mall, like unless the

[00:35:47] story explicitly states that the character isn't high, they might be, which might explain the way any supernatural stuff that would happen. Then it shows up with him saying the other guys would be funnier if you thought it'd be funnier if you're tripping for this. So that was like, ah, there it is. He's high. Everything's ruined. Yeah, exactly. And I also had the same thought. Yeah. It's just not as, not as like, all right, I'm done. And like, and, and here's, here's the thing. Like I did also like what kind of kept me propelled me to keep going.

[00:36:15] I was like, well, I've also seen like, I know this is, this could end up being like, oh, it was all a dream. And like, we all know how our feelings are about that. Cause most of the time, like it does kind of ruin that the story for, for some of us. Um, but to me, I was like, well, it might end up pulling like a, a, a 1408 where like it's all hallucinations or something like that. And like, it's all in the guy's head. And then the very last minute, there's like a piece of evidence that kind of like, maybe it was it.

[00:36:43] And those are, I like it when they do that because it's, it's like a reverse asylum, uh, narrative where like, I, I'm, I'm kind of getting tired of, of the asylum narrative where like, oh shit, supernatural bullshit's happening to the guy, to the person, blah, blah, blah. And then by the end it reveals that they, they were in an asylum the whole time and they were just like, it was all in their head. And they were just like, oh, time to take your, uh, take your medicine, Mr. blah, blah, blah. Yeah.

[00:37:08] Um, and, but like, I do, I do like the reverse of that where it's like you, it's a psychological horror where like, you're not sure what, what's real. Like, is this, is this drugs? It kind of leaning toward that. It's all in his head because of some kind of drug he took, or there's some kind of like mold in the air or something. But then at the very end, it's kind of, there is a reveal of something supernatural. I was like, yes, it's just that supernatural safety bank blanket. Like, I think it's what it is. It's like, I've got that, I get that wrapped around me with some cocoa at the very end of

[00:37:38] the story. And I'm like, everything's going to be okay. Cause it's supernatural. It's not a real world mundane, like can actually happen to people fucked up thing where like your mind breaks and betrays you. I mean, it can be, it can be, but like, I'm not. And like, again, that is horror. And that is, that is a creepy, a creepy theme and to, to tackle with, with horror stories. And I know there, but like, that's not my cup of tea when it comes to horror.

[00:38:09] I prefer a cup of cocoa with, with a supernatural safety blanket on. Fair. But yeah, to what you said, like, you could view this whole story as like, he just went through this creepy night and like, he knows everything about the, uh, the imposter and everything and the whole lore behind it. And he builds this all up in his head and maybe he actually was drugged. So it made it even worse. And then he just snapped.

[00:38:36] Then he like basically got like schizophrenia because of that with this like insane, um, uh, alter ego of himself that like takes over his body. Like literally like mundanely quote unquote. Sort of like the, the fake version of, of, or the, the, the, the miss misinterpretation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Where like, so apparently the misinterpretation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is that it is a separate identity that is like that vies for control of Mr. Hyde.

[00:39:06] And apparently that's not actually like how you should be interpreting Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde from what I've heard. I, I need to like reread that book. Cause like, it's been a hot minute, but from what I've heard the sort of like the theory that people like actually, uh, the, the sort of the messenger, this theory that people have about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the story is that the, the formula wasn't creating a new alter ego. It was allowing Dr. Jekyll to do all the heinous shit that was in his subconscious that he wanted

[00:39:35] to do as Mr. Hyde. Like it was allowing him to hide behind Mr. Hyde. So it was basically allowing this guy to be a jackass and an asshole and like this, like weirdo while he was also like, uh, well, well, well keeping his, his, his identity as Dr. Jekyll a secret. So basically it's a potion that lets the intrusive thoughts win. Exactly. Yeah. Hmm. But again, I'd have to, I'd have to reread it.

[00:40:04] Cause again, I was like 12 or something. That was last time I, last time I read Dr. Jekyll in a hot minute. It's been a, it's been a couple of decades. So yeah, I'd have to, I'd have to look at that again to see if that's actually like more, if that's a more accurate interpretation. Um, but regardless for this story, yeah, I kind of like that. Like that, uh, they, the, the, that could also be an interesting thing is like the ending,

[00:40:30] like this whole pay a creature, this fake, um, like fabricated creature, like the, the earl imposter steals or like, like is, is created in, in Nair's mind because of all the weird shit that he's experiencing as a result of a drug trip. And that his mind just creates this, this, uh, identity. And then it occasionally takes, uh, it predominantly takes control of his body and his, uh, and his life.

[00:40:56] So it'd also be like an interesting take on like, again, demonic possession and stuff with that too. So, cause that's kind of what happens by the end. Yeah. Um, and again, like the, I will say like, I, as I kept reading, I did enjoy the, um, the kind of shifting environment he was dealing with in the mall estate, uh, building. It's very liminal, very like Alice in Wonderland almost, um, like a dark twisted version of, of Alice in Wonderland.

[00:41:24] So, um, but I'll, I'll continue on with the notes I have. Otherwise we're never going to get done. Yep. Yep. Um, so this quote here, no one was dancing. All the guests were now standing still facing me. Not a sound could be heard with my mind racing and my heart pounding.

[00:41:47] I fought against a paralyzing fear and continued walking back toward the food court and continued walking back toward the food court. Looking back over my shoulder, I could see every party goer turning slightly, never breaking their line of sight with every step I took. God, I love this creepy, like instance in media and stories.

[00:42:14] Like when like an entire group of people just like hive minds, stop what they're doing and just stare at the, at the, at the person and like follow them or like take every step the, the person takes, they take a step and like, it's sort of like, like there's an anticipation of like at any moment they could like just start breaking into a run and start hunting or chasing the, uh, the, the person. Yeah. It's always a bad time. Yeah.

[00:42:39] It's, it's such a, I think it's like, it's like, it's like a, like a predatory uncanny valley behavior. I think that is what makes it so creepy. I was just going to say that just less eloquently. Yeah. Cause like you see things like in the movie in smile too, there's a movie, there's a, there's a scene where like a bunch of dancer things are like creeping into her apartment and like following her just constantly. Everyone's just staring at her and like trying to get at her. And it's so well choreographied and it's so fucking creepy.

[00:43:08] And then there's a similar scene in a movie. I'm not sure what the title is, but like guys just like in the woods and then he like sees a bonfire going on and like a bunch of like a huge mass of people just going around it. And he like decides, he's like, okay, I'm not going to fuck with that. I'm just going to go back. He's just heading back into the woods. And then he sees, he hears that it's stopped. Like all the moving, all the movement from the bonfire stopped. And he looks, turns around and sees that they're all there watching him. They've all stopped. And they're watching him all in like this huge pile, like dozens of dozens of people.

[00:43:39] And then the lights go out and then they start moving down toward the river where he like that, like kind of separates the farm property to him. And he like, he just like takes us one step back and then all of them in unison take a step forward. And he's like, nah, I'm done. And he runs. And then they start chasing him through, through the forest. Yeah. That's a problem. Like that again, in this instance, it's definitely hard. This, this instance in this story is hearkening back to that, that creepy feeling of like a

[00:44:08] group of people just like behaving a rat, like behaving in unison, but erratically like that. Like being a bunny rabbit and you like stumble upon a pack of wolves. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. It's like, I'm leaving now. And then they're like, are you run? You'll, you'll activate our, our, our, our chase, uh, our chase behavior. Um, yeah, no, 100%. It's very much like that.

[00:44:36] Um, but move on to the next thing I have. I stopped to think the movie theater has several exits. At least I know if I can get back to the, to the mall, I can escape through there. If the monster blocks one exit, I'll just take another one. I like that Nair. So this is, I, I'm quoting this because it's an example of how Nair does try to

[00:45:02] rationalize and formulate an escape plan from this hellish mall space. Yeah. Like whether it, whether it be a drug trip or an actual supernatural event, like he's, he, his only real dirt blandishness stems from the inciting dare of going into the mall. And which is again, a grounded thing, given his delinquency and his like friend choices and such like, Oh, for sure.

[00:45:31] Like, yeah, exactly. Yeah. Um, but once he's inside and even being influenced by whatever is behind all this, he isn't being super dirt blandish at all. Like he's not being super derpy and like, Oh, where's this guy from Durplin? Like, like he's actually being like intelligent, um, about his circumstances, which I actually really liked. Cause again, we too often we, uh, these stories fall into like the, the character doing something

[00:45:59] that's like very horror movie tropey. Like let's split up gang. Yeah. A lot of the times stories, they have characters do things not because it's smart, not because it's what someone would actually do because you quote unquote have to do that to progress the plot where you don't, you could have the character be the smartest character in the world and do everything right and still get screwed over by the supernatural entity because the supernatural entity is that supernatural. Exactly.

[00:46:29] Like it doesn't matter how smart you are. It doesn't matter how much planning you, you do, how strong you are. X, Y, Z reasons you could still get screwed. Yeah. The supernatural trumps the mundane intelligence. Yeah. Basically. Or the mundane intellect. Like, yeah. Like, like, Oh, like as smart as like a mundane person can be, the supernatural is smarter or just more powerful. Yeah. Like, you're just not going to be able to outpace it. Like there's a limit. So, yeah.

[00:47:01] Yeah, no, exactly. So like doing a call of the Cthulhu game is like, can I have a minigun? Sure. Great. That means I'm dead. Well, wait, can I get a rocket pod? Have three. Oh, can I just have a can't just have a revolver with one bullet to end yourself? Yeah. Yeah. When the only winning move is not to play. Oh, yeah.

[00:47:29] Pretty sure there's literally a demotivator, a demotivator poster for call of Cthulhu. Like we're just like a, an investigator with a gun to his head as like tentacles are coming at him in like this library environment. And it's like call of Cthulhu where you save one bullet for yourself because it's the only way to win the game. It kind of is. Also, that whole thing just reminds me of team America. It's like if they capture you that you may need to take your own life here. Take this. Hands of my hammer.

[00:48:00] Like fuck. Yeah. Holy crap. That's damn. Oh, wow. All right. Moving on to the next thing I have. I couldn't help but know that deep down, this is the way. This is the way. Yeah. Sorry. I had to get the Mandalorian thing out of my head. As soon as this is the way happens, it's like immediately just like in chorus in my mind. It was like, this is the way.

[00:48:30] Yeah. Moving on to the next thing. I'll have to be more careful in the future. Looks like we're getting some bright ideas of how to end our little relationship. I hear the words in my voice as I walk toward a door and open it. We have a good thing going here. My mind begins to fog as I approach a bound person, barely squirming on the bed. Let's not spoil it. Okay. Okay.

[00:49:00] I dig this ending. Not for the circumstances that are happening in the story, but like the turn of events that have happened between like what happened with the mall and then like him getting possessed. And then it's years later and his mind is like resurfaced from and taking control of the body to try and like get this out or try to find some way to have help or even like to try and end it. And I was like, I really like that.

[00:49:29] Like the spirit of the imposter taking control of Nair's physical body and life. Nair's original soul taking a back seat. And then every once a year, every Halloween, he's able to like maybe get back control and like try and do something. And I, I love that, especially with the layers of gaslighting earlier on whether or not the things going on were drug fueled or actually supernatural. And then to have the story double down, I was like, no, it was supernatural. Yeah. It's just really fun.

[00:49:58] Like I didn't take the thing that you brought up earlier, uh, gamer with the, um, like, oh, like maybe it's, it is still mundane. It's just like he's, his mind is snapped and created this false, like I, this, this new identity as a result of, like, he's the role now. So yeah, I, you could take that, but I do like, I immediately went for this story with like, oh no, they're doubling down. It's, it's supernatural. Like we're, we're fully clarifying. This is supernatural. Yeah, for sure. On reading it.

[00:50:24] I also believed that I only thought about the other option when we started talking about this. So yeah. And, and honestly, this ending and like a bit of like what happened, like, as I kept reading, it's like, this is kind of what saved the story for me. Like this is what saved it between like being a recommendation and not recommendation is the fact that like, yeah, like we get that like middle ground, like that kind of like midway point where it's like, oh, like he's on drugs. And that's why he's experiencing all this.

[00:50:50] But then as it keeps going, it's like, oh, like this is still kind of fun and like horrifying in the psychological way. And then supernatural stuff happens at the end. It's like, okay, all right. All right. You brought it back. You brought my attention back. Like you, you, you, you've given me the safety blanket. Thank you. It was a rollercoaster ride for you, wasn't it? A little bit. Yeah. I was very scared. I was scared. There was going to be something like too real. Like, and then, no, you never go full Baratska. No, no.

[00:51:21] Oh man. Mikey, he said the B word. You have to prove. But yeah, no, like that's, yeah. I, I, I, I really dug the ending, um, for the, uh, the kind of the, the plot twist. So, um, it's sort of like a, a counter plot twist. Cause like halfway through we get a plot twist and then there's like, was that a plot twist?

[00:51:49] Like there's a twist twist. Yeah. Re-twist. Twist, twist. You're just doing the twist. That's the dance that was going on during that, uh, that Halloween ball. It's just the twist. Is it bad that like, when I think of that song, I think of the Flintstones movie? Dude. Legitally what I was saying, like twist, twist, twist. It was, it was, it was, uh, Barney. Yeah. Yeah. Whatever.

[00:52:18] And to clarify for the youngins listening, uh, we're talking about the, the, the first live action Flintstones movie from like the, John Goodman. Yeah. John Goodman. And, uh, one of the Baldwin's as Barney. Oh, was it? Yeah. It was one of the, one of the, uh, no, no, I'm sorry. I'm thinking of one of the sequel where they had Barney as the Baldwin. No, the first one, it was Rick Moranis. I was going to say, I don't remember. No, yeah, you're right. You're right. You're right. Yeah. It was Rick Moranis as, as Barney. Yeah.

[00:52:48] Who nailed it. Honestly. Honestly. Yeah, he did. Like all the casting in that movie was great. God, it was so good. Anyway, moving on. Not talking about the Flintstones movie anymore though. Next time on Al Dente Real Talk. Yeah. Yeah. If it's a horror movie now. We can brainstorm it. We could, we could, uh, we could, uh, we can find a way to, to make that a horrifying. I don't know, man.

[00:53:11] Again, there's that, that, that dark theory that the Flintstones is actually just the surface of the planet in the future of the Jetsons. Yeah. Which is sick. Yeah. It's such a cool, cool, like theory, honestly, but not this story. It's not at all. Um, Tanger, please. Are going to be at my door. Yep. Mikey save us from ourselves. Your go. All right.

[00:53:39] Uh, so, yeah, I'm, I'm first going to parrot some of the stuff that cultists have said, like the whole drug scenario. Um, just didn't, uh, float well with me. Um, and then, uh, the character's friends are really not his friend. No, no.

[00:54:06] Oh, like, but well, like they're, they're not his friends in that, like they're assholes, like get new friends, but also like the Kyle in the mall is not actually Kyle. Yeah. Or is he? Yeah. But I mean, like the, they know that there's a Halloween party that they're all going to, but then they say, Hey, why don't you stick around at this mall and see if it's haunted? Well, we're partying. Yeah.

[00:54:36] Like any more of a, of a dick move and like that selfie that the one guy takes and like sends to, to Nair where he's like macking on some girl. That girl is the, is the girl that, that Nair really wanted to get with. Yeah. Like that's the, like, that's like the extra like level that you could have gone with for like how, how much of a dick these, these, these friends are. Absolutely. Yeah. I did have like some feelings about that, but I, I kept it out of my notes cause it was like, I mean, they're delinquents. That's what you expect. Like they're not.

[00:55:06] Yeah. And then the whole, Oh, uh, the, your, uh, the one friend slipped you some drugs type thing. Yeah. And it's like, uh, and he doesn't outright freak out. Well, she's like, Oh, damn it. Like, I hate like, damn it. So until you always do these things. Yeah. Yeah. Here's the thing though.

[00:55:34] Like this, this story is kind of like established. Like this was a turning point for him. So at this point I was like, well, maybe this is the turning point for his life. He's like, he got so scared. He, he, this is like a real extreme dare program by the SNTF. Wow. Uh, to get people to get kids off drugs. Uh, they just scared the shit out of them with like gaslighting. Absolutely.

[00:55:56] For those unaware of the SNTF is our stupid headcanon, uh, all encompassing foundation that takes supernatural creatures and uses their abilities for the greater good of mankind. Supernatural task force. And, and for those of you that aren't aware of the dare program, uh, in Canada, uh, dare D A R E is the drug abuse resistance education program in Canada.

[00:56:19] Uh, and it is a school based education initiative delivered by uniformed law officers, uh, to teach children how to resist peer pressure, drugs, and alcohol from the nineties. Uh, from the nineties on, I think basically like, uh, I don't know. It's not important. Do not look it up. No, I'm not. I already had to look up program. I love it, but it's not important for this recording session.

[00:56:44] We're doing, but it might be important because that means that there didn't, uh, pay attention to the police officer. That's true. Yeah. Also there more like dare. Uh, really, really nothing. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I kind of saw it coming a mile away, so it wasn't a surprise. Yeah. We just, we just said dare like 15 times. That's true.

[00:57:15] Yeah. So unfortunately because, uh, I didn't really care for Nair and his friends. Um, the ending while creepy didn't really, um, um, like, like, like I didn't really care. It's like, well, you got what you got because I mean, you listen to your stupid friends. Yeah. Yeah. No, 100%. It's, it's really just a moral tale. Yeah. Also, also dare, uh, no, try the supernatural task force.

[00:57:45] Uh, uh, program is Nair. Normal abuse resistance education. Normal abuse. Normal abuse. Like, like, like normal as in like, like, like people who are normal being abused by the supernatural. Oh, okay. I thought that was like different from like supernatural abuse. Yeah. May I had to work on their acronyms a little bit. Anyway, sorry. I had to get that. That was the thing. It would be what? It'd be natural abuse if that was the case.

[00:58:15] Yeah. Natural abuse. Yeah. Yeah. Normals abuse. Abuse to normals. We should move on. Yes, please. Yes. Save us from ourselves. Anyway, that's my main note. So. All right. Uh, then gamer. Okay. Um, so I got to, uh, this line pretty early on. Uh, as the entirety of our group stood on, uh, Angleton Avenue. We West clad in wide array of costumes.

[00:58:44] We stared down the narrow alley, et cetera, et cetera. Um, I kind of want to know what the costumes were. Honestly, like it doesn't mean anything at all. No, but it would be nice to visualize it because all I see for Nair and his, uh, his friends are just cardboard cutouts or not even sorry. Silhouettes. Cause yeah, I don't know. They're just like, like they're, they're, they're like slightly hazy, like, or slightly like blurry, like in the background. Like, cause the story, cause the camera's just focusing on Nair. Yeah.

[00:59:14] And even then we don't even know what he dressed up as. He didn't dress up as anything. He didn't even dress up as anything. Yeah. No, he just wore normal clothes. Yeah. Um, yeah. So like, yeah. I like, honestly, we don't know. We get, we get, um, the, we get information. We had a costume information from the girls they're macking on at the party in those, uh, in those messages that they're sending Nair. Like they're all in like, kind of like slutty devil outfits. Well, the one, the one. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:59:42] And, um, the, the not Kyle was a lion. Yes. Yeah. The not one was the not Kyle was a lion and then was a, a masquerade ball sort of character from like the, uh, from the, when the estate was still a thing. So, which I assume actual Kyle was also a lion. Otherwise he wouldn't have bought that. Yeah, that's true. Yeah. Hmm. Not that that's a revelation. Not really. Who cares? Yeah, exactly. Yeah.

[01:00:11] But it basically, it'd be nice just to have that slight visual, you know? Hmm. No, for sure. And then we get to this part where, um, he finds a door that's a jar. It's actually a door that's open though. But regardless, um, he says he pulled out his phone and used the light to guide me, but a voice greeted me from within. No need for such infertile creations. A bold and complicated word that I don't want to say. Noted. Hang on. What is it? What is it? It's ostentation.

[01:00:41] Yeah. Yeah. I saw a big complicated word. I just didn't even try, but yeah, I got it. They noted that we prefer to keep our ambience relaxed. I walked into the darkness, able to see a faint light ahead as my eyes adjusted. So I assume he chose to obey the voice and not use the flashlight.

[01:01:00] Um, whether it's because the voice like is controlling him or he just decided that, but I wish it said one way or another because like, hell, this could be some supernatural shenanigans going on. You're sure. But like, even if he did use the light, this could be supernatural darkness in the doorway, making the flashlight do nothing. And doing so would have actually heightened the scene a bit. I think if he turns a flashlight on the dark room and he can't see in there. Oh, that would be good.

[01:01:30] Oh yeah. Cause it'd be like, cause at one point like there's, there's like, oh yeah, I'll do that. Flashlight. Just flare. And just like, like, ah, the, and the monster is just like comes at him. And like, then we could add like a chase through the mall, like through the, through the not mall. Um, the doll. I was about to say that. It's like, you were going to say, oh, that's too dumb. Why would I say that? And then I just say it. Yeah. Yeah. That's true. Yeah. Yeah.

[01:01:57] Um, or yeah, again, like you, like you said, it's like, uh, like he's like, how about now? And they flash is like, oh, I was like, like I said, you don't know. You don't need that infernal contraption. Get in here. But like, I do know he's being like coerced and doing things at this point, but like, I wish there was like a motion of him lowering the phone or something like showing that he wasn't going to do it because like, it doesn't say that he does or doesn't use the light, you know? Yeah.

[01:02:25] He just said he hears these words in his head and he goes in. Yep. Then my last one is just basically like the ending transition between. Nair having all of his faculties and then waking up again after not having them for a year. It's like such a smooth transition. I like almost missed it happening, honestly. Um, but that's also kind of how it probably seemed for Nair, honestly.

[01:02:52] Like the thing, what did you scream in his face or he screamed when it grabbed him? Uh, yeah, I had, uh, I, as I summoned the last bit of strength, I had to scream dot, dot, dot, dot. Yeah. So like that happened, he blacked out, woke up a year later and continues with the story. Yeah. And we get to see the, um, the carnage that happened in that year when he was passed out. Mm-hmm. For sure.

[01:03:21] Um, like, yeah, like to, on your point, to your point of this, like when I was reading, it's like, like I had like a strength to, I had to left to scream and then dot, dot, dot. I woke with a startling fright to my alarm, 11 50 PM, October 31st. And at that point I was like, wait, was this all a fucking dream? Oh geez. And then I kept reading, I was like, oh no, it's not a dream. It's been a year. Yeah. So like, oh shit.

[01:03:49] Like it's, it's just the next year and he's coming to again. So like, but again, there was a moment again, I was just a roller coaster of like, oh God, what's going on? First it's all a drug trip. And then it's a dream of a drug trip. Next thing you're going to tell me it's aliens. No, it's sleep paralysis. Clearly. Oh yeah. Sleep paralysis. Right. Of course. Yeah. Man, that is an old, that's an old, uh, in joke, but it checks out.

[01:04:17] But yeah, no, that I, it is pretty, it is pretty like smooth transition to the, to the one year later sort of scene. So yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I'm glad it doesn't just say like, I'm glad it doesn't keep track of years. And it just says like one year later, or it gives you the actual year to tell the reader that's a year later, because we're experiencing this the same way that Nair is. We just wakes up. It's like, what the fuck's happening? What?

[01:04:46] It's the 31st. Wait, what year is this? You know, what year is it? Yeah. So yeah, I really dug the end. It was cool. Yeah. And that's the end of my notes. Cause I just talked about the end. There's not much else to talk about after that. Well, that seems like a good, uh, segue to a final thoughts then. So yeah, like I said earlier, uh, I will recommend it. Um, it almost lost me. Twice.

[01:05:16] It almost did. Twice. But I stuck with it to see where it would go. And personally, I like the comeback. The story did with the ending. Um, a lot of good little lakes and, and not just that, not just the ending. Like there were a lot of good little set pieces. Um, the urban legend is fun. The Halloween dare, the liminal mall space. That's like kind of transitioning between a mall and like a modern mall and this like Victorian era manner. It was really fun.

[01:05:45] I don't think we really talked enough about that. Like that is cool. Um, the psychological horror to supernatural horror, like kind of that was going in. Like, despite like the, like the part that I was getting gaslit is like, is it what's going on? Is this a dream sequence? Is it a drug trip? Cause there's definitely some symptoms like where he's like in the food court with Kyle and he just goes on a walk, like on a, like after, after he realizes he's on drugs and it definitely feels like he's just going to like pass out and start hallucinating. And then like the whole story has basically been like Alice in Wonderland where she wakes

[01:06:13] up at the end of the, at the end of the store, at the end of the movie. And she's been like sleeping underneath a tree the entire time. Like spoilers, spoilers for the 1951 Alice in Wonderland by Disney. Yeah. Um, uh, yeah. So it was, yeah, like I, I really dug, I really dug it. Like it, like it, there was a moment where I was like, I hate this, but let's see where it goes.

[01:06:41] Let's see if it can redeem itself from that. And, and yeah, the, between the ending and even like, as I kept reading, like the journey was, was also pretty fun. Like despite me thinking it was going to be a drug trip the entire time, the drug trip was kind of like Alice in Wonderland and just like, in terms of like, uh, Nair experiencing this weird fucked up shit in this like drug haze. Like that can be also, and like the story kind of proves that this, that can be just as, as

[01:07:08] jarring and creepy with the knowledge that it might be a drug, uh, influenced, uh, like sequence, um, as if it was like supernatural or like reality. So. Mm-hmm. So would you say that despite all your rage, he's just like, uh, a kid in a maze? Oh, that's yeah, I guess. Yeah. Um, but yeah, uh, brass tacks, I will recommend it.

[01:07:37] Um, it's worth, if you're like me and you, you go, oh, drug trip, like that's, it's all explained like halfway through. It's like, keep, keep reading. Like it's, it gets better. Um, so yeah. Mikey, these stands for evil. Um, well, I'm gonna sort of tell the opposite because, uh, I read this and it lost me and then it didn't do enough to get me back. Um, when did it lose you?

[01:08:07] Um, well, uh, after the drug scenario, and then the bathroom scenario. You were personally taking? No. Oh, okay. Those were irrelevant. No, like there's also the, the bathroom scenario where when he first goes to the mall, he checks

[01:08:32] the bathroom doors in the, um, food court. Yes. Cause he wants to hide in the bathrooms and then he ends up in a bagel stand and the doors are locked for the bathrooms. And then he takes a bagel, which makes me think that he eats the bagel. Yeah. Yeah. He straight up like was, was playing on like robbing that bagel stand. Yeah. Um, so like he lost points there.

[01:09:00] Um, but then he has to throw up and then he runs to the bathroom and suddenly it's unlocked. And I mean, the story does mention like, I was going to say it was locked earlier. Yeah. I will say if the story had, I was also like, I was like, why is that open? You better address it. And then like a few lines later, like it is like, wait, I realized the door was, was, was locked. Previously. It's like, okay, you're, you're on thin ice story. That wasn't, that was, that was an almost indiscrepancy. Yeah. I do remember that.

[01:09:30] Cause I was about to like, I was literally about to leave a note before I kept reading where it's like, uh, don't you think, uh, you mean like he, he ran to the bathroom door and then just vomited all over the door. Yeah. Sorry, Mikey continue. Yes. He lays on the ground and puts his lips against the crack to like get the vomiting in the bathroom. Ew. Do you have to get underneath the door? How about?

[01:10:01] Yeah. Uh, so yeah, but basically I didn't care for the protagonist or his friends that really weren't his friends. Yeah. Um, because like, I don't know. That was cool. Well, well, it wasn't, it wasn't actually Kyle though. Actual Kyle was cool. Actual Jacques was cool. Will was the asshole. That, that is true. Yeah. He has one bad friend.

[01:10:31] Well, technically they're all bad friends for letting him do this. And just seeing them off. Kyle kept trying over and over and over again to tell him to not do it though. First off, Mikey, you don't know their fictional home lives. Like they're dumb, like 16 year old drug kid, like druggy kids. Like they probably might have a rough, like a kind of a rough life, like, like at home in this fictional version of Toronto.

[01:10:56] Like, yeah, it's just, it didn't resonate with me. Characters. Sorry. No, that's, that's fair. If you, if you, if it didn't, if it didn't gel with you, it's fine. Yeah. So, so I mean, yeah. It's the ending is interesting because he ends up being possessed, but I had to get

[01:11:23] through so much stuff that I didn't care for to get to that, that I'm not going to recommend this. Okay. That's fair. Yeah. And a gamer, your final verdict. Well, I'm mine's kind of the opposite of what Mikey said, cause I liked it. While at first I was worried because of the heavy drug use of the characters. So their minds like not being reliable and such. Um, the fact was first confirmed and then quickly dashed as like the reality of his body

[01:11:53] being possessed takes place. Um, and I liked that. Um, the story did a good job describing like the shifting liminal feeling of them all switching between modern day and back in the Victorian era and stuff. Um, and like, there were multiple like creepy scenes, like what you said with like just a whole bunch of people in the food court, all like not making noise.

[01:12:19] And then like all the party goers, like all staring at him and stuff like that. Um, and then the tentacle face thing, which do we ever get a pure visual of that? Well, so it's like, it's like a kind of darkened front because like the light from outside is like silhouetting him, but he does see like these dark tentacles coming off of its face, almost like, uh, uh, like some kind of like Lovecraftian cultist. Mm. Hmm. Or it's a mind flayer. Yeah. Oh yeah. Like a mind flayer. Yeah. I don't know.

[01:12:46] I kind of pictured it as just like his entire face was just tentacles. Oh, like coming up out of the stump. Yeah. Or, or no, no, no, not the stump. Like it's just like, he has no eyes. He has no mouth. He must. And yet he must scream. No, uh, he, he has, he has no mouth, eyes or nose or like no facial features except for tentacles. Like it's just the, from like the, from the, from the forehead to the chin tentacles. Oh, okay.

[01:13:12] That it was explained to him by fake Kyle, by file. Yeah. Um, that it was just a, uh, a decoration, but it was probably actually the creature the first time too. And then he just assumed the Kyle form. Exactly. Yeah. It's just the, it was the lion's mane basically is what he was, what he, what was kind of like giving him that, that, um, perception of tentacles. But then, yeah, like you said, it could have, it could either be like, yeah, he was just

[01:13:40] hallucinating that or again, it's just, again, like the, the main on the lion mask versus like tentacles. Like that can be like morphed interchangeably if you have that kind of gaslighting ability. So also the creature was lying to him. Fuck lion. Oh my God. He's a lion. He's a lion to Nair. He's a lion to Nair. Holy shit. It's layers upon layers. Right. See Mikey, how can you not like this? He's allowed to be. I know. He's allowed to, he's allowed to not like it. Yeah.

[01:14:09] Cause like, honestly, I get it. I honestly get it because I get what both of you are saying where the downsides of the story, because they actually are like, you go into a story with like these characters that are, are, are, um, are stoners. Like it's hard to believe what they see unless he has someone in there with him who is not stoned to corroborate the story, which I thought was going to happen when Kyle showed up. Um, because he seems like the most straight laced out of all of them, but it actually wasn't him.

[01:14:39] Unfortunately. Honestly, I, I doubt I kind of liked it when like, um, uh, they went back to the food court and then like, they were just kind of like letting the drugs to like take further hit on, on, on them. And then he started talking to Kyle and Kyle was just like, kind of like bobbing there is like, Oh, that's not Kyle. He like, I have expected like Kyle to turn around with like the tentacle face. Like I'm not Kyle. Yeah. I mean, he'd be showing his cards a little too early by doing that, but yes. But there was, I don't know, there was something about like him just like silent, like not

[01:15:07] responding and just bobbing back and forth on the stool there. I was like, Hmm, something's happening here. If this was a movie, some, some like some creepy music might start like kind of like very subtly start pouring into the scene. Yeah. I feel like whatever was puppeting that like, um, the, the Kyle had to like jump out of its host for a minute to go like focus on something else real quick before coming back. That's why he was just sort of like in an idle pose. Yeah, for sure. I don't know.

[01:15:36] Cause why else would he like not answer him and just do that? You know? Yeah. But either way, uh, I thought it was good that while there were problems along the way for sure. And I was fully prepared to hate this because of those problems, especially with the wake up scene too. Yeah. No, it's like two layers of possible annoyance, but yeah, I cannot express how angry I almost was. Yeah.

[01:16:06] But the ending of it, like locked it in pretty damn good for me. It's like, yeah, it's worth it. I would probably to your, your credit called us. Like if I'm going to recommend it to someone, I will, I would say like stick through it till the end. Yeah. It's fine. You got this. The story is going to almost piss you off twice. But that's fine. You got to keep, you got to power through it because there is a payoff. The story fucks with you the amount of times that it also fucks with Nair.

[01:16:36] Yeah. Mm-hmm. But I like that. So I am still going to recommend it. All right. So yeah, that's, uh, two recommendations and one non-recommendation. Um, a lot of gaslighting. Yes, absolutely. There's a lot of gaslighting in this horror story, but that's fine. Um, so take it with what you will or don't like, um, and, uh, that'll do it for tonight. So if you like what you heard, or if you didn't leave a comment in the comment section

[01:17:03] below where this gets posted, some of us are on blue sky. Mikey is at Eastands for evil. And I'm at review cultist. You can also send us emails at al dentebrigamortis at gmail.com. That's a L D N T E R I G A M O R T I S at gmail.com. Where you can also leave your suggestions for other creep pastas, SCPs, spooky things. You creep it. We'll peep it. Yeah. And if you'd like to help support our show financially, you can go to Patreon.

[01:17:34] We have special episodes, early access and extra content. To all our patrons helping support the show. Thank you immensely. You're helping keep those hosting bills at bay. And as always, we very much appreciate that. And to our listeners and the authors of these stories, thank you immensely. Because without your listenership, it'd be like screaming into the void. And without your authorship, writing and posting these stories on the internet, we really wouldn't have much of a show because we'd have nothing to talk about. So thank you.

[01:18:02] Now's a good time to mention that we are part of a podcast network, Crit in the Night. An actual play and creepypasta podcast network. We're there alongside our sister podcast, One Less Die, and our cousin podcast, The Role Playing Exchange. For things that go crit in the night. Until next time, I have been your host, Review Cultist. I'm Mikey. The East Ends of Evil. And I'm the Gamer in Yellow. And this has been Al Dente Rigamortis. Sleep well.

[01:19:16] Yeah, spoilers for the Disney interpretation of Alice in Wonderland from the... Actually, was that the 80s? I don't even know. I can't remember. But that wasn't the 70s. That was the 80s, right? That movie came out? Probably. I don't know. Disney's Alice in Wonderland. Keyboard's too far away to look it up. Oh, wow. I was totally off. It's 1951. Okay, that makes a little bit more sense, I guess.