Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Stanley and the Narrator were talking about random shit about the Parable, speaking Yapanese about it.

“You know, I spent six years in the Parable, I almost forgot everything in reality. Tell me, Stanley, what things do you know about reality?”

‘Hmm, you know, cars, trees, fridges, the stuff that probably doesn’t exist here. One of the games I played in my childhood is Eraser Drop. Basically, each player needs to get an eraser, and you use your fingers to flick your eraser, and try to get the other erasers off the table. And that’s exactly how you win.” Stanley explained.

“Sounds interesting, sadly that I never played them.” The Narrator said, sadly.

“Hey, if we figure out an escape plan, then you’ll can-” Stanley signed, getting cut off.

“You know what? I’m done hiding in the shadows. Hello, me! Hello, everyone! It’s finally my time to shine!” A voice shouted.

“Who the hell are you? Show yourself.” The Narrator asked.

A silhouette walked out of a shadow, it had gray outlines that were very abnormal, they weren’t even lining up with its long black hair. Uneven eyes that were plain circular white. It was wearing a basic black T-shirt and shorts with abnormal outlines, and it had black skin.

“I’m Player, or as you might call me, Stanley.” Player said, confirming their identity. “Also, I’m non-binary, not a binary gender.”

‘What? I’m me, you’re you. You’re not me.” Stanley denied, not believing their words.

“Want me to prove it? Welp, here we go.” Player said, before disappearing.

“Where is that black haired person? Where did they go?” The Narrator asked, looking left and right, up and down, and yet, nothing.

Stanley opened his mouth.

“See, I control you, I’m you, but better. I’m just not controlling you right now.” Player said in Stanley’s body.

Player suddenly appeared back on ground again, they weren’t particularly experienced with magic, but they were like a magician.

“What the hell is this magic? I can't even do that with my ass.” The Narrator asked, bewildered.

“It’s not magic, it’s something I can do. Anyway, the reason why I’m here is because I saw you two doing all these interesting things. It’s so boring hiding in the shadows and watching from afar.” Player explained their reasoning for being here.

‘You look so incomplete. Is there something in the past that you never talked about?’ Stanley signed, worried.

“Well, there is. I needed someone to talk to. Well, here it goes. So, it all started on February 5th 2024…” Player started.

Chapter Text

I was on a trip to Osaka, Japan. I opened my phone instantly as I got back to the hotel. I found a website called AO3, I was pretty intrigued.

For the last two years, I have been using Wattpad to write fanfics. So finding another place to write fanfics was nothing out of the ordinary. However, after reading some of The Stanley Parable fics, I got interested in it.

Receiving an idea from my headcanons, I planned out a fanfic called “The Previous Stanley”. I was happy until I realized I had to wait until February 17th. That’s almost two weeks away!

Being so enthusiastic about my idea, that I lost track of time. It was already about midnight. I flicked the light switch, darkening the room. I pulled the blanket, jumped on the bed, and closed my eyes. I couldn’t wait until I was back.

After the longest two weeks, I finally got home at 1 in the morning. My energy was completely gone.

After a good night's sleep, I immediately grabbed my phone and started my crusade.

After about four days, I completed my fanfic, it got a decent amount of hits. Seeing the hits, I decided to make a series called “Together in the Parable”. Being inspired by the extremely popular smut fic, “Wires”, I made my first smut fic, “Past or Present?”. I instantly regretted writing Chapter 1, but I enjoyed writing Chapter 2.

After writing “It’s Time for Some Fun!”, I decided to write “Yearning to Be Complete”. I’m currently writing about Player explaining the story of how this fictional series started-

“WAIT, YOU’RE NARRATING MY STORY?!” Player screamed at me.

Just let me continue.

To tell the truth, Player was never meant to appear in the first place, they were just a testing character. I just thought Player would be a good character to whip up a story for.

Player was only designed to hide and watch in the shadows, they don’t even have a mouth, yet they can talk! How incredible!

“Actually, I’ve always wanted to be complete. But the creator wouldn’t let me.” Player said, their heart shattering into a million pieces.

“Uh… Thanks for sharing with us, I guess?” The Narrator said, confused about the Player's feelings.

‘Dude, why aren’t you pitying them?! They’ve always wanted to be complete! And they didn’t get something as simple as that!’
Stanley signed, practically screaming.

“I can’t convey human emotions, so, as a result, I can’t pity anyone.” The Narrator explained.

“Actually…” Player started. “Can I say something?”

“Sure, what is it?” The Narrator agreed.

Chapter Text

“Actually, can we talk alone, privately?” Player asked the Narrator.

“Sure, but we can’t really talk privately if I can be heard anywhere. But I can talk with you if I can get my physical model over here.” The Narrator agreed.

After about 10 seconds, Stanley heard footsteps running down the hallway, and the Narrator opened the door so hard that he almost broke the door frame.

“Let’s talk in the forbidden room.” The Narrator said so coldly, almost demanding.

“What is this stupid gay British wire asshole talking about?” Player insulted.

‘He’s talking about the Broom Closet. He doesn’t like talking, seeing, or hearing about this Closet. Like, what’s wrong with the Broom Closet?’ Stanley signed, questioning the unfortunate hate about the Broom Closet.

“Let’s talk, no time to waste.” The Narrator said, wanting to get over it.

Player followed the Narrator nervously, fearing him.

“What do you want to say? I’m getting annoyed already being in this disgusting room.” The Narrator said, annoyed.

“So, uh, you might not be able to handle this kind of information but uh,” Player got close to the Narrator’s ear. “Your boyfriend is kinda not himself. He’s just a soulless shell of a puppet who’s controlled both by me and the fic. Sorry, man, Stanley’s soul is missing.” Player admitted.

“What? You’re joking, right? Stanley is not just a shell of a soulless puppet, I’m sure of it, he has bled human scarlet red blood, I’ve seen it with my own eyes! I’ve seen him everywhere! There is absolutely no bloody way that Stanley is a soulless puppet! YOU HEARD ME, YOU FUCKING ARSE IS JUST TOYING WITH MY MIND!” Narrator screamed in denial.

“No! It’s true. Have you ever realized that Stanley’s dialogue was kind of… scripted? Like, how he’s meant to say that.” Player denied, confirming the fakeness in Stanley’s words.

“So, are you telling me, that the only person that treated me as equal and I was going to devote my entire life to, isn’t actually being compassionate and loving to me? It’s all just scripted?” The Narrator asked, still in denial.

“Yeah… sorry to bother you if I did. But it’s not my fault, okay?” Player apologised.

The Narrator’s face turned blank. He suddenly summoned a knife.

“Hey, hey, hey, hey! No hard feelings, alright? Now, can you please put that knife away-” Player said as they got cut off.

The Narrator pushed Player right into the shelf harshly with his wires that were growing on his back and also straining Player. The Narrator then proceeded to pull up his right sleeve and slashed the knife a few times.

“DUDE, ARE YOU INSANE? WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR MIND?!” Player screamed, looking horrified at the black blood dripping down onto the floor.

The Narrator then giggled insanely, facing his head to Player.

“Insane? Says the one who’s never felt such a painful feeling. I don’t want to feel this anymore.” The Narrator then laughed like in the Countdown Ending, but more insane.

The Narrator then lined up his now black blood covered knife horizontally to his neck, preparing to do something. Player looked horrified at the Narrator, knowing that the Parable might actually end.

Just when the Narrator was about to slash his knife, they heard the door swinging open.

‘Narrator! What is wrong with you?! Can someone tell me what is happening right now?!’ Stanley signed, demanding for an answer.

“- .... . / .--. . ... -.- -.-- / -. .- .-. .-. .- - --- .-. / .--- ..- ... - / - .-. .. . -.. / - --- / -.- .. .-.. .-.. / .... .. -- ... . .-.. ..-. --..-- / -... . -.-. .- ..- ... . / .... . / ..-. .. --. ..- .-. . -.. / --- ..- - / - .... .- - / -.-- --- ..- / .-- . .-. . -. .-..-. - / .-. . .- .-.. -....-” The Broom Closet tried to explain, but he was cut off.

“Shut up, nobody wants to hear.” Player said, punching the shelf.

‘Hey! Narrator, are you okay? Are you hurt?’ Stanley signed, checking the Narrator’s wrists.

The Narrator’s eyes exploded into black tears, being touched by Stanley’s scripted dialogue. Maybe scripted dialogue wasn’t that of a lie, there’s still some kind of love in it.

‘Oh my God, what happened to your neck and wrists? There’s a cut on your neck! At least your wires are fine.” Stanley signed, concerned.

The Narrator sobbed even harder.

‘Are you bleeding? There’s black liquid coming out of your eyes. Didn’t you bleed black blood before- oh. You’re crying.’ Stanley signed.

The Narrator then hugged Stanley, resting his head on Stanley’s shoulder.

“I’m okay… It’ll just regenerate in a bit… I’m fine, okay?” The Narrator said, choking on tears.

The Narrator had mixed emotions, he’s talking to a soulless puppet, yet the puppet feels so… alive? He couldn’t explain it. It genuinely feels like he’s talking to a living person. Perhaps what Player said was all a lie. A huge lie.

“Uh, sorry to ruin the moment, but HOLY FUCKING GOD, I’M STILL STUCK HERE WITH THESE SLOBBERY TWO WIRES WHICH BELONGS TO A BRITISH ASSHOLE!” Player complained, screaming.

Steam started coming out of the Narrator’s neck and wrists as they were regenerating, and the adorable, cute duo noticed Player screaming like they were in Hell.

“Oh, right. I forgot about you. Sorry, is that offensive to say?” Narrator said, retreating his wires into his back.

“No, I got used to it a long time ago. It’s fucking fine. Hell, people have even forgotten about me since the release of “The Previous Stanley”.” Player said while they cleaned off the dust on their T-shirt. “Also, can someone please help me? I feel so fucking incomplete.”

Nobody cared.

“Two people named Stanley and Narrator?”

“How the hell am I supposed to help you? I’m omnipotent, but my powers have limits! How am I going to help some silhouette become an actual character? I can’t.” The Narrator declined the task.

‘I would help you, but I’m completely useless. I’m just a normal human being! Sorry, but I can’t help you.’ Stanley signed.

“Oh, fuck. Then I guess I’ll never be complete, then. It seems I have to go back into the shadows.” Player said, sulking with dissatisfaction.

‘Is it just me, or do I feel bad for them?’ Stanley signed with a pitied expression.

“Actually, I lied about my powers having limitations because I was simply just too lazy to complete this black person. But I guess I’ll help them.” The Narrator whispered.

“Uh, sorry, I lied about having limits, and I’m going to make you complete in a jiffy.” The Narrator yelled, disappearing.

“You motherfucker.” Player mumbled in annoyance.

After about 8 minutes, Player started feeling strange.

“I feel different. What’s happening?” Player asked.

Player suddenly transformed into a person that looked like Stanley, but swapped genders.

Their outlines finally disappeared, their hair colored brown, wearing Stanley’s office clothes, but wearing a black skirt instead of a pair of black pants. Their eyes are realistic and even, it’s color being black.

‘Woah, they look just like me! Narrator, what did you do?’ Stanley signed, looking up at the ceiling.

“I didn’t know how to design Player, so I just took your appearance and based it off of you.” The Narrator explained.

“Thank you. I’m really grateful for you helping me. I can stop bothering you two now. Bye!” Player said, leaving the room.

‘So, you wanna play Eraser Drop? I found two erasers.’ Stanley signed, asking.

“Hmm, sure.” The Narrator replied.