Cuckoo Clock

**BACK TO CHARACTERS INDEX**

**"Cuckoo Clock"** is a minor character in ***Ascent: Trials of Vore***. She is a seemingly robotic woman of unknown origin who's history before the 2nd Floor of the Tower is a mystery unclear beyond her association with Michelle L'Instar.

She first appeared in *Floor 2 - Mirror/Mirror*, in which she was an unknown, sideline observer for most the events taking place.

She last appeared on the 2nd Floor.

## Profile

### Appearance

**True Form:** Autonomous mannequin made of silver, with gold filigreed limbs & joints made of gears. Stomach is glass, with visible pendulum in constant motion, making constant ticking. Glimmering, golden eyes with appearance of clocks, hands randomly spinning & moving position to direction eyes looking. Moves in starts & jerks of puppet - as automaton - despite having some rhythm to motions. Head can shift position at disturbing speed when something has her attention, enough free movement to spin full circle. Wears hooded cloak - over or as part of body - made of gold feathers, pinned to body by bird's head clasp, giving bird-like aesthetic.

**Disguises:** Via abilities, has potentially limitless disguises. Discounting other characters, has demonstrated three major disguises. As bunny-eared train conductress, sports bunny-ears, whistle, small flag & comically large pocket watch. As Chessboard guard, wears white armor covered in stylized red hearts. Not much known of innkeeper disguise's look beyond it existing.

### Personality

Lacks much emotion outside disguise, at least on surface, tone cold & empty. While seems empty of any feeling, has been shown to - at minimum - be capable of curiosity & strong hunger. Emotion aside, has two verbal tics - "Tick-tock, tick-tock" & "Cuckoo" - ingrained enough that they stay in disguise, no matter persona. When disguised, can put on false personas. Bunny-eared conductress was panicked & hurried with shrill voice, while Chessboard guard & innkeeper were both awkward, if friendly.

## History

### Background

* Actions Pre-2nd Floor of Tower unclear, but at some point made alliance with Michelle L'Instar. ***(Floor 2 - Mirror/Mirror)***
* Would at least once find Michelle to be late for a meeting. ***(Floor 2 - Mirror/Mirror)***

### ***Ascent: Trials of Vore***

#### 2nd Floor

* First sighted when Ashley Gray & Syl board train to Chessboard on 2nd Floor, disguised as overworked **bunny-eared conductor** obsessed with being on time, hustling two aboard. Appears again on arrival, irately forcing two off train for loitering.
* Appears to Ashley & Syl again moments later as Chessboard guard, giving new arrivals ID cards. On approach of Ashley & Syl, provides them with same before moving them along.
* Next encounters unknowing Ashley & Syl when spend night at inn. Inn nearly full, disguises as innkeeper & tells pair they have to share room with irate blonde - Alice Little. Suggests they get good night's sleep pre-trial, but almost blows cover when verbal tic - "Cuckoo" - slips out. Excuses self from room before Ashley can question.
* 3 nights after, present at Queen Mirror's trial at Morning Wood. Though seems to keep distance - form taken not shown - shouts at climber, a tanuki, to hurry up while they are readying self for test of strength before trial.
* On hill outside Chessboard after 2nd Floor trial, meets with Michelle L'Instar. Notes Michelle's lateness, demon apologizing, evasive when asked for detail. Sees through it, asking if she found someone tasty, form shifting between Ashley, Syl & Alice. Saw what went on in forest.
* Asks why Michelle spared Ashley & Syl, Michelle’s answer - finding Ashley interesting - unhelpful, not understanding all words Michelle uses. Asked by Michelle what found in own "game". Is also evasive, shifting through forms taken in recent days.
* States hunger, looking down at city. Called greedy by Michelle - but will find meal with time. Admits having abundance of time. ***(Floor 2 - Mirror/Mirror)***

#### Later Mentions

* On 4th Floor, is mentioned by Esther Fuega, the floor's Overseer, when seeing off Ashley's group. Asks Ashley to tell "alarm clock-looking bitch" to "kiss the underside of my shoe" for stealing her bit, if Ashley runs into her. ***(Floor 4 - Out Of Time)***

## Abilities

* **Illusory Shape-shifting:** Ability - likely inbuilt in artificial physiology - to perfectly mimic others' appearance & seemingly fake voices - though retains verbal tics, as hard to suppress. While unconfirmed, seems disguises formed via illusion, as joint gears spin on activation - audibly whirring - & body shimmers/flickers into mirror of target. Does same shifting between forms or back to normal. Able to shift rapidly, both when idle & when having to rapidly switch personas. Unclear if mimicking personality requires "replacing" existing persons, or if personas used in trailing Ashley & Syl fabricated.

## Relationships

### Friends

* **Michelle L'Instar:** Exacts of partnership unclear, but with implication of both being powerful preds, would seem to be alliance of mutual benefit or convenience of neither having advantage over other, being better to ally than not. Can be said Michelle views "friend" as amusement - mimicking one of verbal tics - unclear how sees Michelle in turn.

### Others

* **Ashley Gray & Syl:** Views Ashley & Syl as curiosities, trailing through Chessboard in various disguises, & later having curiosity piqued more by Michelle's own interest in Ashley.