“I had just broken up with my boyfriend when The End hit,” Ruby said, uncomfortably, “He wasn’t a good man. He liked to do bad things, he drank a lot, and he gambled.” She let out a little sob. Thesis rolled his eyes, but nobody noticed. Motif leaned in and put his chin into his hands. Duenna kept toying with her doll. Sequel continued to look blandly into the fire, never moving except to occasionally blink.

          “I finally worked up the courage to break up with him. And then The End came. And it was like it was all for nothing.” She said, her voice wilting. “I went to see if he was alive after, and I found his body. Even dead, he still smelled of cheap liquor and trouble.” She let a much larger sob than the first. Then after a pause she continued, “After The End, I’ve focused solely on looking for my brother.” At this Sequel’s head snapped up.

          “I used to have a brother!” He said suddenly, revealing a British accent, “An older Brother…” He trailed off, and Motif patted him on the back.

           “Oh,” Said ruby, “Did you lose him in The End?”

           “No.” Sequel said darkly, and went blank again, shifting his book from one arm to the other.