What happens?
Hunter returns to the City under the stolen identity of the Son. He resolves to use this identity to become a stronger, better, and less flawed person, seeing opportunity to build himself with proper agency, without being hampered by his old baggage. He also decides not to return to Ms Leading, as he determines his feelings for her were rooted in trauma, hence, not real love, and merely part of that unhealthy ‘baggage’.
Hunter goes to the Son’s mother. She is overjoyed that her ‘Son’ has survived the war and accepts Hunter. Hunter spends several years being doted upon by her as he adjusts into this new persona. He grows more comfortable, and accustomed to feigning the ‘Son’, surprised at his own success.
Hunter goes out to town, where he is ‘kidnapped’ by the Son’s friends. Hunter did not know these friends existed, and they are curious why the Son has not spoken to them for so long. The group decides to reconcile by taking Hunter barhopping. But they soon notice something is off about Hunter. Hunter manipulates them into dropping the issue by pulling their attention back to the fun of barhopping, which works. The friends become too joyful and drunk to remember their suspicions towards Hunter.
It occurs to Hunter that he has become an immoral person, willing to lie and manipulate to sustain his Son persona. He resigns that this is simply his lot as he continues barhopping with the friends.
In the course of this barhopping, the group encounter Ms Leading, who is now working as a bartender. She is alarmed to see Hunter acting so out of character, and expresses her concern, but Hunter rebuffs her. Hunter passes out from heavy inebriation.
Hunter awakens hungover. In this odd state of mind, as he thinks about last night, he suffers a severe identity crisis. He assumed the Son identity to become a better person, but his behaviour last night was worse than how he would act as Hunter. Further, he has lost his agency in how he may shape this persona, as its behaviour is now dictated by the testimonies, expectations, and routines of the Son’s associates. This is frightening, and the point of this persona is becoming hazy to Hunter.
While Hunter struggles with these thoughts, the Son’s Fiance comes to confront him. She is angry about the years of radio silence, but is accustomed to such hijinks and softens upon seeing him hungover. The Son was quite a troubled person, needy but unwilling to marry or settle down before the war, which bothered the Fiance. She could not tell if the Son truly loved her and seeks an unambiguous answer from Hunter.
The Fiance soon realises Hunter is not the Son. Exasperated, but curious of this prospect’s potential, she offers that Hunter become the Son for her and they enter into a relationship. Aware that she has seen through him, but is not hostile towards him, Hunter accepts the offer. He hopes the relationship will give the persona purpose and distance him from his frustratingly persistent feelings towards Ms Leading.
The Fiance brings Hunter to church, as she and the Son are churchgoers. Hunter dislikes this environment, and especially dislikes the Priest, who he pegs as a conman. Hunter’s intuition is correct, as the Priest is secretly also the greedy Pimp who runs the Dime. The Dime, however, has been closed due to tightened legislations, and the Pimp must now rely on his Priest guise for his moneymaking schemes.
The Priest pressures the congregation to buy indulgences and make offertory donations. Hunter tries not to draw attention, but refuses to give the Priest money. The Priest notices his resistance and is concerned. He recognizes Hunter from his time with Ms Leading, and thinks he could become a problem, but also that he presents an opportunity.
The Priest invites Hunter to the confessional. By aggravating Hunter’s insecurities around not having done anything worthwhile with the Son persona, he manipulates Hunter into running for Mayor. Hunter is told he will be able to rout out the City’s corruption as Mayor and act as a force of good against evil. The prospect thrills him and fills him with purpose.
Hunter proves outrageously popular and wins the mayoral race. Elated that he has finally found a good use for himself, Hunter discards his old identity and commits fully to being the Son. Some months pass as he adjusts into his new role with wholehearted commitment, which includes more routine visits to church.
This heightened exposure to church forces him to reconsider himself morally. He realises that, overall, he has not been a good person, and that his attitude towards Ms Leading has been unjustified. He reconciles with her and takes her as a lover, even though he is now married to the Fiance. This failure to commit leaves him uneasy about his choices, and nervous about his future.
Hunter attends church. The Priest ushers him into the confessional, reveals he knows about Hunter’s identity theft, and reveals his own identity as the Pimp. Hunter is shocked and despairing as he realises he has been set up. The Pimp and The Priest threatens to publicly reveal Hunter’s true identity if Hunter does not do what he demands, securing control over him with this blackmail.
Hunter is crushed and defeated. As the Mayor of the City, he has not become a saviour, but a slave, trapped under the thumb of his enemy and twisted into an agent of corruption…
…with seemingly, no escape.
What is the purpose?
fake life big fat no running hunter
What’s in a name?
ay tone you ever notice this casey fella, he got a thing for circles?
Song Index
Rebirth
The Old Haunt
Waves
At The End Of The Earth
Remembered
A Night On The Town
Is There Anybody Here?
The Squeaky Wheel
The Bitter Suite IV & V: The Congregation/The Sermon in the Silt
The Bitter Suite VI: Abandon
King of Swords (Reversed)
If All Goes Well
The Line
Wait
Ouroboros
空劫罰 祟りネコ | JP -> ENG / TDH 