Blue
CAUTION! major spoilers ahead!
Blue is a young Miscellaneous who lives during the rule of the Provisional Government. The murder of Bartender spurs her to take drastic action, and she plants the bomb that destroys the Provisional Government.
Blue has a deep connection with Watcher, witnessing her story through communions, having been present as a silent observer since the start of the game. After making a final plan with Watcher and the old sisters to show everyone the truth of their history through a mass communion, Blue is eventually entrusted by Secretary to decide the fate of the clones and choose what to carry into the future.
Personality[edit | edit source]
Blue (initially called “Forty-Eight”) begins the story listless and unfulfilled. She longs to see the surface, but believes she has no talent or future to ascend. This jaded mindset demotivates her, so Blue frequently sleeps in and is late for the few duties and odd jobs she does have (like tending to flowers or helping Bartender).
Still, Blue has something of a rebellious streak deep down, as she is well-known throughout the city for having previously worked in Kris’s smuggling ring and is not afraid to be snarky to the heavily-armed Red Guard. After Bartender is killed, that rebellious side ignites, and Blue becomes a diligent revolutionary, acting as the catalyst that destroys the Provisional Government.
She names herself “Blue” after the Blue Communion that Bartender gave to her to save her years ago.
History[edit | edit source]
Forty-Eight was printed by the Provisional Government following the assassination of the ALLMOTHER. She struggled to find a skillset that would give her a function within the clone society, leaving her branded a "Miscellaneous" - A colourless shell confined to Old Town beneath the Orchard.
?????: I can't aim... Sisters flinch at my touch... I break everything I try to fix... I can't even remember what ingredients you asked me for. I'm... useless.
She did, however, find a home with Kris, a fellow Miscellaneous who ran an illicit network providing solid food to sisters. This was prohibited, both for safety concerns (as the sisters needed to constantly wear masks to protect them from the Occupant's disease) and sustainability within the strained and closed ecosystem of the Orchard. Operating from the rooftops, Fourty-Eight discovered a talent for cooking, and was considered to be the best cook Kris ever had. She had a partner named Jackie, a fellow Miscellaneous involved who aided with deliveries, and they developed a reputation amongst the residents of Old Town.
This all came crashing down when one day, the Red Guard caught Jackie. While details are not clear, Forty-Eight "looked the other way" and did not intervene or possibly fled. This led to Jackie's execution. Forty-Eight cut ties with the underground network after this, and was branded a traitor by Kris and Athena.
Forty-Eight blamed herself for Jackie's death, and during a depressive episode starved herself. She was found on the streets of Old Town, close to death, by Bartender, who revived her with a short-lived cocktail from the ALLMO's time - A Blue Communion. Bartender took Forty-Eight in as an apprentice.
She stayed in Old Town until 7AA, but made constant attempts to go up into the Orchard. Her constant attempts to evade the Red Guard blocking the escalators meant she was well-known to them. Her desire to leave Old Town created further tension between Forty-Eight and some of the Miscellaneous, who saw her aspirations as a betrayal. Despite wanting to 'make it' upstairs, Forty-Eight remained colourless and did not make any attempts to fit into any of the roles available to her.
In order to commemorate her old partner, Forty-Eight named a plant after Jackie, kept in Cocoa's care, although she struggled with taking care of it and watering it consistently.
Late for Work[edit | edit source]
In 7AA, on the eve of the anniversary of ALLMO's passing, Forty-Eight wakes up late (and possibly hungover). When she finally leaves her apartment, she is greeted by her friend Eighty-Six, who warns her that Bartender is in trouble and needs her help. Her sister also tells her she has decided a name for herself: Melody - but tells the apprentice to hurry over to the bar, and a reminder to not escalate.
Bartender's establishment is surrounded by Red Guards demanding to know why she has not opened yet. Bartender says she is waiting for supplies, however her assistant arrives empty handed, and does not even remember what ingredients Bartender had asked for. Being told to find something sweet, dirty, and flowery, Forty-Eight leaves to search Old Town for the materials.
She speaks with an Iris Fanatic named Candace, who preaches that all of the sisters are 'dirty' from the Ancient Sister's sin. Forty-Eight is inspired and asks for a hair from the Miscellaneous, and with her empathy, convinces Candace to relinquish the hair by offering to burn a part of her, although the Provisional Guard will not grant their wish of incineration. She speaks with Cocoa, and asking for 'something flowery' is given a Chrysanthemum.
For something sweet, Forty-Eight has no choice but to ask her old mentor, Kris. Athena gives her a frosty reception at the door, and refuses to let their former member meet with her. However, a deal is offered, and Kris agrees to meet with Forty-Eight if she can complete a delivery for them. Forty-Eight meets with a purple-type shell named Viyeca, an old sister from before the Provisional Government and warns her to make sure she has a sitter when eating to look after her.
On returning, the Bartender prepares a cocktail for the Red Guards, however she is reprimanded and made to discard her non-regulation ingredients. Forty-Eight and Bartender have a heart to heart and she apologises for being late with the ingredients. After she returns to her apartment, Melody checks in with her, and they spend time together. Forty-Eight awakens later in the night, alone, and notices a crowd gathering.
Forty-Eight follows the commotion and discovers Bartender is dead, shot in the back in front of the mural of Watcher. The scene is blocked off by the Red Guard, and the High Minister who tells the assistant Bartender's death is a suicide. Forty-Eight points out the obvious implausibility of the premise, but is forced to accept the High Minister's explanation.
Against the macabre backdrop, Forty-Eight's wish to earn upstairs privileges is granted by the Orchard's need for a new bartender. Forty-Eight stumbles away from the crime scene, and her surprise quickly turns to rage and a desire for vengeance. She resolves to kill the High Minister and destroy the Provisional Government. Lamenting her loss, she seeks out Athena and Kris. Despite Kris's earlier disparaging of Bartender, she immediately hugs Forty-Eight and comforts her, reminder her that "that old hag was one of us". Forty-Eight reveals that she can now go upstairs, and declares that it is "going to be their mistake."
???: I want you to help me hurt them. I need you...to help me make them pay.
Kris confirms the Misc's wish, and warns her that this would mean her death. Forty-Eight agrees without hesitation, and Kris accepts her resolve. She whispers that there is a sympathizer who will meet with her by the monument in the centre of the Orchard. Still in their embrace, the unnamed Miscellaneous announces she has decided on a name: "Blue".
As she heads towards the escalators, Melody sees her and repeats her warning: Don't escalate. Blue decides whether to share her true feelings before leaving. Meeting with the Worn Out Red who had blocked her progress, Blue bitterly recites "Gratitude to the provisional government" before taking the escalators out of the district she had spent her entire life.
Upstairs[edit | edit source]
With her biometrics updated, Blue heads upstairs into the Orchard for the first time. She is stopped by Capital Red, who warns Blue that she has attracted the High Minister's attention, and will be kept under close watch. On entering the Orchard, the Minister of Defence, Eileen greets her and apologises for the neglience which allowed Bartender to obtain a firearm.
Blue meets with the sympathizer, a Jiao-type named Candy who gives her a code phrase, "No worries", to pass on to the other Jiao clones around the Orchard to signal a start to their operation. She then meets with Toffee, stationed behind the waterfall; teaching passing clones about the Ancient Sisters. On the second floor, Blue meets with another Jiao-type named Cherry, who is giving away blank replicas of Jiao's diary to the Iris clones.
After exploring the Orchard, the new Bartender settles in for a shift, serving a variety of sisters from regular workers to Red Guards and Ministers. Throughout her shift, various sympathisers visit her to deliver explosives, a detonator, and a cardboard cake to hide the bomb in.
At the end of the night, Blue closes up the bar and heads down to join the audience for the play. Cherry stays with Blue to give her comfort in her final moments. The play, written by Principal provides a manipulated account of the original Iris's murder. As the play reaches its climax, Principal begins to go off-script. Blue presses the activator.
The blast kills most of the ministers and many sisters in the audience. Blue, however, manages to survive the blast; shielded by Cherry-Jiao who lies dead next to her. As this sinks in, Secretary appears to Blue and urges her to escape. Blue runs to the subway tunnels underneath the Orchard, and some Red Guards spot the fleeing Miscellaneous and follow her.
Down in the subway, there is a train which has arrived at the station. However, before Blue can get on, a Red Guard has followed her and apprehends her at gunpoint. Suddenly, the Red Guard is shot from behind, revealing the rogue sister Bang Bang Fire who orders Blue onto the train.
On the Run[edit | edit source]
Aboard the train are several sisters who are supposed to be dead: The matricidal Watcher and the Fixer, Healer from her time. Once on board, Watcher orders Blue to commune with her: Blue is shown the moment of Iris's death, before Watcher tells Blue she needs to see it from the beginning. Starting from the day Fixer left for the Other Side, Blue is shown Watcher's journey to revenge, and recounts her own path to terrorism in turn. Blue is memories from Iris's life, her parents, and Watcher's three years-long tortue at the hands of the High Minister.
Upon waking, Blue is disorientated and confused over her identity, her memories now combined with Watcher.
Fixer interrogates her on her motives and how she planned the attack. Blue reveals the help she got from the many factions within the Orchard, surprising Fixer. Fixer informs her that the resistance has called a meeting within 72 hours.
The train stops, and there is an announcement made by Knower over the loudspeaker. The sound of her voice triggers an episode in Watcher. The prolonged communions have taken their toll, and Healer is able to give Watcher some medication to make her lucid. On waking, Watcher asks for Blue, and Healer makes a final appeal for Fixer to talk to Watcher, however Blue is unable to convince her.
Healer sends Blue in to see Watcher, and warns her not to commune, as another would kill her. Bang Bang Fire tells Watcher to hide the fact that Watcher is dying from her, which would cause unnecessary pain in her final moments. When Blue enters, Watcher immediately orders her to commune. Although she tries to protest, Watcher commands Secretary and starts the communion against her will.
Blue chases Watcher through the communion, pleading with her to end it. Meanwhile, Watcher reveals her plan to Blue: By gathering the three Familiars, they could initiate a mass communion to reveal the truth about Principal and Iris to the clones, and summon an Occupant to overthrow the Provisional Government. When Blue tells Watcher she is dying, Watcher is in denial and accuses her of being a spy sent by Knower. When she explains the damage her extension communions have caused, and with a confirmation from Secretary, Watcher finally believes her. Blue chases her predecessor until she finally settles into Iris's childhood room, and passes away.
After the communion ends, Bang Bang Fire asks Blue if Watcher said anything for her sisters before she died. Shortly afterwards, Fixer arrives and tells them that the train is unrepairable. They therefore make the rest of the journey to the bridge of the Pacific 50 on foot.
At the bridge, Fixer tries to gain access to the ship's controls. To do this, Blue and Secretary have to examine the onboard CCTV footage to identify the body of the crewmember who had administrative privileges. Blue searches through the history of the Pacific 50, from first descent, creeping unrest, a failed mutiny, and finally the Occupant attack. She identifies the body of George The 50 and Healer is able to create a replica of his retinas.
As the resistance factions arrive at the station, Blue is sent downstairs to greet them and stall for Fixer. At the meeting, Blue explains the late Watcher's plan and gains the assent of all parties. With their plan for revolution set, Blue accompanies the surviving fugitive sisters to return to the Orchard.
Initiating The Mass Communion[edit | edit source]
After another long walk, Blue arrives on the glass ceiling that is the Orchard's inside sky. With Principal's office in site, Fixer prepares to make a small hole for Secretary to fit through. However, their discovery by Capital Red leads to Bang Bang Fire being shot, and Fixer sets off a bomb, breaking the sky.
In freefall, Secretary is able to reach the other Familiars and begin the mass communion. As the memories collected in them are shared with all the sisters, Blue has to navigate within the communion in time to complete the merge and take control of the Occupant when it appears.
(TK: Overview of her justifications for various endings)
After Secretary successfully merges with its source, he is able to give Blue a choice of who to bring into the future. After Blue has decided, Secretary, in the Occupant body, catches the three falling sisters and safely lowers them.
Epilogue[edit | edit source]
remains
Relationships[edit | edit source]
Bartender[edit | edit source]
BARTENDER: I've seen you work. The solids you've made... You've got imagination. Empathy. Not everyone can make something others find joy in.
Bartender is a mentor figure who saved Forty-Eight when she was at her lowest. She provided the Misc with a new trade to focus on, and encourages her to find a function and supports her ambition to make it upstairs. She tells Forty-Eight that "Miscellaneous are the future". She is open and accepting of Forty-Eight's past, and willing to share her secrets in turn; she teaches her the recipes for all of her cocktails, including mixes from ALLMO's era which aren't approved by the Provisional Government.
Blue names herself after the cocktail which Bartender gave her while she was starving. Bartender's murder is what incites Blue to take radical action against the Provisional Government.
Melody[edit | edit source]
MELODY: ...I know you get pulled back and forth a lot. By Kris. By Bartender. They care about you...we all do. But have you ever stopped to ask...what you want?
?????: ... I'm not...
?????: ...... Hmmmmmmmm. Maybe a song?
MELODY: What?
?????: I want you to sing me a song.
MELODY: Ahhh, uh, that's not what I meant.
?????: Come on. La la la la, something like this.
MELODY: Excuse me, I was trying to be serious.
?????: La la la la.
MELODY: Pffft. (laughs) La la la la la la. Okay?
?????: La la la la la la.
MELODY: You're getting greedy.
?????: La la la la la la la. (laughs)
MELODY: (laughs) Hey! What are you doing?? Get away from me!
Eighty-Six, newly christened Melody, is a fellow Miscelanneous and Blue's closest friend by the time of Chapter 6. She knows Blue well, and tries to temper Blue's defiant nature with a reminder: "Don't escalate". She is a more neutral presence in Blue's life, and does not appear to be aligned with any of the factions inside Old Town. Blue enjoys her singing, and the moments spent with Melody are the few moments of joy we see from Blue while she is in Old Town.
Kris and Athena[edit | edit source]
KRIS: Whenever they let you up - if they ever do - just remember who first made a place for you. And never asked for anything in return. (ch.6)
Kris is a Miscellaneous operating from the rooftops of Old Town and runs a network cooking and delivering solids in Old Town. She was a former mentor to Forty-Eight, and laments how her cook abandoned their organisation and cause. She disapproves of her sister's obsession with going upstairs.
Jackie[edit | edit source]
?????: Hey Jackie. I'm here...finally. Sorry I forgot to water you this morning. A simple job. And I still couldn't do it... It's hard to think these days... I don't mean to disappoint...it just happens, again and...again.
?????: ... I can't shake the feeling... That nothing turned out right. You know?
?????: ... Like...you're not supposed to be...a fucking flower...and I'm not supposed to be so...so...
?????: ...I don't know. I feel trapped. Like I need to go up for air...
?????: Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I'll remember. I promise, okay? I'll come by first thing in the morning...and try to focus more on what's in front of me...
?????: ...I don't want her to be disappointed in me. I'm going to do better...
?????: Thank you for being here...and listening... I'll see you, Jax...and keep your chin up! One of us has to...
?????: ... Oh shit, right, the water.
a fellow miscellaneous blue was once close to, who was killed while blue worked with solids. blue feels responsible for her death, and keeps a potted plant named after her in the Old Town communal garden
Cherry-Jiao[edit | edit source]
CHERRY-JIAO: Do you want to hold my hand?
CHERRY-JIAO: ...
CHERRY-JIAO: Kidding!! That would draw too much attention...
BLUE: I'm sorry.
CHERRY-JIAO: No worries, hahaha.
CHERRY-JIAO: I'm just nervous... It's not every day I...die, hahaha.
BLUE: Like you said. We'll do it together. Let's leave this cruel place behind.
CHERRY-JIAO: ...
CHERRY-JIAO: I'm glad we could be friends.
CHERRY-JIAO: ...if only for a little bit!
[...]
BLUE: Cherry... Why?
BLUE: We were supposed to go together... (ch. 6)
Cherry was the Jiao-type who was handing out replicas of Jiao's diary for Iris-types. She and blue were friendly towards each other. When Cherry decided to stay behind at the explosion site so nobody would get suspicious of the Jiaos, Blue offered to hold her hand in solidarity. Cherry denied on the grounds that it would be suspicious, but they stood beside each other, fully prepared to die in the explosion together.
Cherry-Jiao was the only one to die in the explosion, bringing Blue immense grief.
Watcher[edit | edit source]
BLUE (to Watcher): I don't know where you end and I begin.
Blue felt incredibly connected to Watcher, having lived through Watcher's life and story via communion without having ever actually met her. When they officially do meet, Watcher entrusted Blue with her memories and plans, having her final communion with Blue.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Blue
Blue, in the future of Epitaphs (Blue)
Blue waking up (ch. 6)![Blue quoting Marx – BLUE: From each according to [her] ability...(ch. 6)](/images/thumb/6/6a/Blue_from_each_according.png/120px-Blue_from_each_according.png?545368)
Blue quoting Marx – BLUE: From each according to [her] ability...(ch. 6)
Bartender and Blue (ch. 6)
Blue on her apartment balcony (ch. 6)
Blue's thoughts after Bartender was murdered
Blue's thoughts after Bartender was murdered
Blue looking at a taxidermy resembling Watcher (ch. 7)
Blue meeting The Jiaos (ch. 9)
BLUE: We need to let it play out amongst us. (ch. X)
![Blue quoting Marx – BLUE: From each according to [her] ability...(ch. 6)](/wiki/File:Blue_from_each_according.png)
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- Blue's text color is #B1F9FF
- Blue's number (48) is an extension of how 2047 is the year Hong Kong was set to be fully integrated into China, and how Blue exists in a time analogous to Hong Kong under Chinese state repression (after 2047, ie. 2048).[1]
