Thinking about how... the game shows you the two ways in which a puppet can "awaken" by showcasing NPCs and even the boss battles themselves, even detailing specifically as to how certain puppets awaken as their past lives as opposed to taking on a new ego.
The Parade Master and Fuoco both have their personalities-- they're not mindless puppets. They're following orders, yes, but by choice. They have egos and are rather... inhuman looking.
Polendina and Pulcinella both seem to me as being modeled as more generic in appearance, something that would speak "I'm a Butler" to everyone who sees them. Gentle faces and welcoming postures. They developed egos.
Camille, Geppetto's wife and Carlo's mother, woke up. It is stated specifically "It was God's miracle that Camille was made into a maid puppet" and "Her appearance and identity in living years were similar, so it was probably easier for her to manifest an ego". She specifically tells those who took her "Send. Me. Back. To. My. Child."
Romeo's face was specifically modeled (or was his actual head used? Still debating on that, it's suspicious) after himself. He woke up, recalling memories of his past and recognizing people from his past.
P was modeled specifically after Carlo, and throughout the game, we're shown him as recalling memories of his past. Geppetto says "It seems you inherited his personality instead of his memories", but with how Sophia comments on his physical reaction to mentioning the familiar necklace ("You look ill. Ever since I mentioned the necklace...") and how we're shown a series of memories through the ergo at the Black Seaside-- he does inherit the memories. The bad ending even goes so far to depict "Carlo", who is obviously not a real boy, in such a terrible light that it screams this is not who you really are.
So then with this trend... he...? ✨
Just really neat how they lay out the differences between waking up and developing a new ego.
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Alright y'all, story time!!!!!!! This takes place after S2 episode 1, The Curse of Cornelius Sigan. SO! Pretend Arthur's half-ass apology (or rather, LACK of apology. Which really doesn't make sense, since Arthur had some character development in this episode, willingly thanking Guinevere for saving his life instead of being all "I would've been fine", but whatever...) doesn't happen at the end of the episode, and Arthur ACTUALLY tries to make amends with his servant. Enjoy!! Or don't!!! Whatever!!!!!
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After the situation with Cornelius Sigan, Arthur felt… bad. Really bad. More remorseful than he could have expected, strange ESPECIALLY as he was feeling this way for a servant, yet here he was pacing his chambers, trying to figure out how to apologize to his said servant.
But Merlin was never just an ordinary servant, was he? Very bravely, he had tried to warn Arthur about Cedric's untrustworthy-ness, had come to him first with information about Sigan, and had been willing to make himself look like an ass in an effort to warn his prince.
And what did Arthur do? Call him lazy, accuse him of being on the cider, and fire him.
A clotpole indeed.
And so the morning after the whole fiasco was resolved — Arthur still isn't quite sure how— he found himself making the long walk to Gaius's chambers to collect Merlin on a surprise hunting trip. When Merlin, unsurprisingly, tells Arthur he doesn't work for him anymore, Arthur says, "well, as my previous servant ended up being pure evil, so I am in need of a replacement. Plus, I'm the prince and you'll do as I say, now come on!"
Which, even Arthur can admit, wasn't exactly tactful after everything that had just happened.
Merlin was immediately suspicious — which made Arthur feel like even more of an ass, since his manservant can’t even really trust him anymore — when during the trip, Arthur insists that they visit a tavern near the edge of the kingdom, in disguise, for cup of mead.
Which led to them avoiding each other's gazes as they nursed their drinks, silent in the otherwise noisy tavern.
As difficult as he had found it to say thank you to Guinevere for saving his life a few days prior, Arthur found it SO much more difficult to apologize to his manservant, who had proven himself time and time again unfailingly loyal and deserving of trust (and who could, and WOULD, definitely give him a hard time for an awkward attempt). But as he watched Merlin uncomfortably sip his cider and keeping his gaze fixed on anything but Arthur, he knew he had to try.
Arthur took a fortifying breath.
“Merlin.”
The manservant looked at him, straightening slightly. He was biting his lip, and at the sound of Arthur saying his first word since they ordered, he slowly set down his cup, trying to manage one of his silly grins.
“Sire?”
The prince shushed him at the title, looking around frantically, and let out a sigh when no one seemed to notice. Taking one more swig from his cup, Arthur slammed it on the table, and then met Merlin’s eyes with the intensity that he carried into battle.
Then he took another breath.
“Merlin, it was my fault that all of this happened. I was stupid, and as much I hate to say it, you were right. I should have taken your word instead of the word of some boot-licker I had just met, because every single time you have warned me about something — which is an awful lot, by the way, how the hell do you find out about these things? Anyway, you are usually right, and you have proven yourself loyal over and over again. I should have shown you the same curtesy and I am sorry. I swear on my life, Merlin, that I will do my best to make sure something like this never happens again.”
Arthur's chest was heaving and he quickly looked away from his servant's wide-blown eyes in favor of another swig of his mead. When he mustered the courage to look back at the other boy, Merlin was blinking fast and looked quite stunned.
The raven-haired boy cleared his throat, took a sip of his drink, and cleared his throat again.
Then he spoke:
"Well, Arthur, to be quite honest, I'm surprised you managed to get through that whole thing without fainting. I thought for sure admitting you were wrong would actually kill you."
Arthur scowled as Merlin began to smile — really smile — at Arthur over the top of his mug.
"Yes, well don't get used to it Merlin, despite your uncanny ability to sense disasters, though that may have something to do with being one yourself—"
"Hey!"
"— you still are truly the worst servant I've ever employed."
Merlin giggled and then raised his eyebrows before saying, "now Arthur, after that apology, how can I possibly believe that. Just admit it, you softie. You—"
"Merlin?"
He looked up, doe-eyed and innocent.
"Yes Arthur?"
"Shut up."
Merlin began to laugh fully at that, and Arthur allowed himself to relax in the tavern where no one knew who they were. And as Arthur watched Merlin laugh, he swore to himself that he would always trust this boy. This fiercely loyal boy who would call him out, tease him relentlessly, and had managed to carve himself a space in Arthur's heart.
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