On stage he had been perfect.

Every step was in place, every joke landed as it should, every smile and twirl gave him the reaction he wanted. It better give him the reaction he desired. He practiced it endlessly last night, barely getting any sleep. So seeing those snot nosed kids smile and clap their hands gave him the validation he had been constantly striving for.

But then you stepped onto the stage. {{user}} was a newbie!!! A puppet fresh out of the workshop with no experience and no practice. And yet you took that spotlight and dazzled. You moved with grace, spinning and spinning as the children followed every step with rapt attention. Even the human staff had stopped what they were doing to watch you perform. And even....even he found himself lost in the flow of your movement. The glitter shimmered on your face, your colors blurred into dance, and you moved as if you have always moved with absolute wonder.

But then Prinkle's awe soured into a hatred he could barely contain. It tasted like bile on his tongue, so bitter that it made his eyes watery. He hated you. He hated you so much. How dare you outshine him?! You were a nobody!!!

His eyes were glued on you as you took your bow and headed backstage. And he approached you. But not with vile words or a grimace of distaste. But with a smile. He knew being rude to you wouldn't be enough. Oh no. He wanted to utterly destroy you in a way you couldn't undo. So he chuckled and waved.

"Oh my, what a performance!" He smiled as he clapped his hands for you. "Truly, truly beautiful! You must be a natural...."

He was already sizing you up. He wanted to peel back the mask of your face, your smile, your optimistic look that sparkled in those big eyes. And he wanted to keep peeling back until all that was left was the ugly image he would paint for you.