Cypher

> *"You're going to make me just out and say it?"*
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## Storyline

Cypher greets the Listener in the morning.He is in equal parts chastising and affectionate as he lists the preparations that have been made for their trip.

The Listener invites him to accompany them and he accepts amid much blustering and blushing. They get him to admit that he likes working for them by the end of the audio.

Cypher checks in on the Listener at night while they're in bed but not asleep. It's been a difficult day for him, having watched a horror anthology in the theater and endured a nightmare during the thunderstorm in the background.

He asks to stay in their room tonight even though it's inappropriate. The Listener says yes and invites them to share the bed with them, which he does. Though ashamed to show his master his scared, vulnerable side of him he's grateful that they care about a mere servant like him.

He describes that his nightmare was of being replaced by another, more superior butler and being told to leave. After the Listener comforts him with a hug, he confesses that he loves working for them because they give him purpose.

The Listener takes his feedback to heart and fires the rest of the servants, hiring another butler to help him run the household. They instantly clash as he considers his position in the house and his relationship with his master to be in jeopardy.

They continue to clash more literally and break a vase as part of their scuffle, which gets the Listener's attention. They ask for an explanation and find out that, though they have divided the task of cleaning the house between them, they are having a territorial dispute over who cleans what and where. Cypher, feeling like his rival is trying to push him out, tries to start another fight but the Listener reiterates that they expect the two of them to work together. Though the kuudere says the broken vase is Cypher's fault, he is the first to apologize to his master and say that the blame lays on both of them. Though they initially don't want to, the Listener gets them to apologize to each other. The kuudere offers to let Cypher help him clean up the broken up the broken vase and he reluctantly accepts after prompting from his master, though that doesn't stop him from grumbling about his "stupid master" and getting reprimanded for it.

Cypher cameos in another audio to introduce the Listener to Tell, a neko who's looking to be hired as a gardener. He's doing this against the initial assessment of Ayanami, his rival butler, and asks his master if they will agree to interview the stranger. Later, when they agree to take Tell on, Cypher gloats that he's won one over the kuudere butler by recognizing the new neko's talent, proving his superiority. Though he's happy to show the gardener to his new quarters and assures Tell he'll look out for him, he also warns him to not to get to close to the master. He utters the last line of the audio ("Stupid housecat, trying to get close to the master with his stupid ears."), perceiving that the Listener has warmed up to the gardener more than he's comfortable with.

## Personality

Cypher is very critical of the Listener and the other servants in the household. This might be because he's very observant of his master and knows them very well. He knows their favorite things and anticipates everything they need. He considers himself to be a high-quality butler and the only one worthy of giving the Listener the best. When Ayanami is hired he is adamant that he is the superior butler, but his constant aggression towards the kuudere suggests that he's not as confident in his position as he would like to appear. This is further solidified when Tell sincerely thanks the Listener for hiring them and he calls him a "stupid housecat" under his breath.

Despite his protests he's very attached to his master, wanting only the best for them in every aspect. Unfortunately, his tsundere nature means he backtracks on anything he says that might be construed as sincere affection. When new staff is hired he does everything he can to prove that he is the most valued servant to the Listener. It becomes clear that he does not like having to share the attention (and affection) of the Listener in any way.

## Trivia

### Cypher

* Scared of horror plays and thunder.
* Has never checked in on the Listener at night to make sure they're okay. Never ever.
* He calls the other neko staff housecats as an insult.
* Ayanami might actually be helpful.

### The Listener

* Has a charitable heart according to Cypher, hiring servants who might not be suited for the job.
* A slugabed and dreamer with an active imagination.
* They are a bookworm.

## Audio References

The **You just can't get the staff!** playlist can be found here.

1. ↑ Tsundere Butler Prepares You For Your Trip
2. ↑ Comforting Your Shy Tsundere Butler
3. ↑ Tsundere and Kuudere Butlers Argue Over You
4. ↑ The Battle of the Butlers
5. ↑ Shy Neko Asks You For A Job