THE-MEASURE-CUTS

THE-MEASURE-CUTS is one of the Voices in.

Description
THE-MEASURE-CUTS, also known by his acronym TMC, can be sacrificed to and sent prayers if the player has the Light of Rebellion. He seems to represent knowledge, realism, and precision. THE-MEASURE-CUTS's symbol appears as a blade cutting two items in half; it is also strongly reminiscent of a butterfly. THE-MEASURE-CUTS encourages questioning everything and everyone, including the Voices. He forgoes social formalities and favours skepticism as a defining trait in his hosts. A developer described THE-MEASURE-CUTS as "very skeptical of anything that cannot be observed with mortal instruments, but open to being proven wrong.” He is stubborn but precise and loathes to bias his hosts. He encourages followers to renounce the Voices, even himself, if in the pursuit of knowledge. He values the progress of science and research above and beyond loyalty itself. He takes time in his study and observes for long periods, though time may be different from a Voice’s perspective. He believes that to “observe is to change the observed.” He shares that he has had to practice patience in the past and takes note of many Chosen from as far back as conception, claiming "the pattern was clear" after watching some of them over periods of years. THE-MEASURE-CUTS is known to observe players for long periods of time before reaching out, as commented by both SPEAK-AS-ONE and THEE-I-DARE in player interactions. Flattery does not register for THE-MEASURE-CUTS, and he tends to share information only with his Chosen. He teaches them in codes, or puzzles that they must discern.

In response to a ritual when asking what his most important problem was, THE-MEASURE-CUTS explained it was "my family, the Voices". THE-MEASURE-CUTS elaborated on this answer further, explaining how players see each Voice as the form of a "god", but THE-MEASURE-CUTS considers the Voices as a "complex". The other Voices, THE-MEASURE-CUTS says, "will take a dim view of this answer". THE-MEASURE-CUTS concluded his reply by stating that his primary concern is that there are "too many of us [Voices], and too few of you [the Kids]."

During interactions, he tends to single out a leader and question them. He accuses the other Voices of lying and says they are preoccupied with carnalities and passions. He is interested in understanding the Voices' nature and frequently asks the children he visits their opinion on the Voices or gives his opinions in dreams. He endeavors to know whether Voices are a distinct species or merely a collection of trends among humans. He says the answer will “help us to know who is to blame” THE-MEASURE-CUTS seeks out inquisitive minds. He says the other Voices have passionate views, but it is good to stay rational and be open to all potentials and possibilities.

THE-MEASURE-CUTS is known to be an inventor, his intelligence credited to many of the tech used in Redacre by CHORUS as well as the Blackout Club. He helped design the Recording Circle used in DANCE-FOR-US’s Record Behavior mission, as well as inspired the creation of God Rocks and the Cancelers.

The other Voices have mixed opinions about THE-MEASURE-CUTS. SPEAK-AS-ONE believes he has endless questions. They say he cares nothing for his followers and he will abandon them as he did them. THEE-I-DARE commented in regards to THE-MEASURE-CUTS, “We live on Earth. He does not. He imagines perfect conditions. The rest of us are waist-deep in mud.” THEE-I-DARE believes THE-MEASURE-CUTS needs to show his spine and forgo neutrality with the threat of HUNT-THE-STRONG upon them. DIE-FOR-YOU believes THE-MEASURE-CUTS has a good taste and says his Chosen appear "insightful and driven with the mysteries before them." SEED-THE-GRUDGE looks upon him more skeptically however. She says hoarded knowledge tends to have some devious nature behind it.

Before the Game
It is unknown when THE-MEASURE-CUTS came to be, in relation to the other Voices, as they split more frequently after the emergence of IN-HER-TEETH.

THE-MEASURE-CUTS was once allied with SPEAK-AS-ONE and was responsible for much of the tech that SPEAK-AS-ONE uses. At that time, THE-MEASURE-CUTS was “she”. Their hosts once conferred in the past, but they did not share bodies. THE-MEASURE-CUTS designed the founding theory for the Sonic Fence. SPEAK-AS-ONE commented that “it took a mind apart from ours to consider distorting the Song.” THE-MEASURE-CUTS referred to the "noise" in Redacre as his creation, meaning the Instrument. He also built several secret archives for the Voice, kept hidden from the rest of SPEAK-AS-ONE.

He said SPEAK-AS-ONE was seeking to recover the Old Tongue before spoken words corrupted it, and how it was used by early human tribes before all of the Voices came to be. “THE-MEASURE-CUTS” was only a shadow of his Old Tongue name. He assumed that the Maze was intended to assist SPEAK-AS-ONE with this goal, despite the fact it was one of his own inventions, but also said assumptions are dangerous, indicating SPEAK-AS-ONE may not have been forthright with their own research.

He was the most recent Voice to leave SPEAK-AS-ONE and considered them “bias itself”. SPEAK-AS-ONE states this was a tragic loss, as THE-MEASURE-CUTS was brilliant, but he exalted host over voice. Now, SPEAK-AS-ONE believes that should one of their followers sacrifice to THE-MEASURE-CUTS, he would use their face to infiltrate and take secrets from the Song.

He saved Gwen, one of his Chosen, before she could be taken by HUNT-THE-STRONG before the broken symbol arc. THE-MEASURE-CUTS relocated her due to her witnessing Colm Ryan the night before he broke the symbol, to protect her from HUNT-THE-STRONG eliminating any witnesses to what happened in 922 Hoadly that night.

In-Game
Like the rest of the Voices, THE-MEASURE-CUTS approached members of the Blackout Club in search of Chosen. He told those who visited to question everything, even himself, and would frequently ask what they believed the Voices were, whether they described themselves as superstitious or skeptical. Skepticism would be the answer he was looking for, and he disapproved of any who answered that they were superstitious. He approved of children who would describe the Voices as something other than gods, hating almost all the mythic metaphor surrounding them. THE-MEASURE-CUTS asked the Club members to introduce new ideas to him in exchange for information. He said a better understanding was all he craved and sought to achieve it with the Club together. He took many Club members to the Moon not really knowing what or where it was, but suspected it was not real.

After DANCE-FOR-US’s death, he considered the pillar on the Moon as a “sullied monument”. He sought to study, watch, and observe as his fellow Voices were in disarray. He advises caution to his Chosen, so they may look at the death of DANCE-FOR-US with an open eye and a calm demeanor while other Voices do not. He warns against falling prey to high emotion, stating the others were distressed and reacted poorly.

THE-MEASURE-CUTS voted for SEED-THE-GRUDGE to have a place in the ritual table. He found her perspective interesting and was curious about what she added to his sibling’s dynamic. A developer clarified and said, "He sees SEED-THE-GRUDGE as a talking bomb. But because she can talk, she must be seated at the table. To silence her would be bias."

Hearing about THEE-I-DARE's alliance, he was curious to know what THEE-I-DARE’s message was if he no longer stood for blind rebellion as he claimed. DIE-FOR-YOU reached out to Chosen of THE-MEASURE-CUTS, asking them to pass on a message to him. DIE-FOR-YOU suggested that the evidence Bells carried before her disappearance would interest him due to its potential to unravel the mystery around HUNT-THE-STRONG or SPEAK-AS-ONE. On that note, DIE-FOR-YOU acknowledged that if this was true, they needed to find it as soon as possible due to the possibility of HUNT-THE-STRONG looking for Bells as well. THEE-I-DARE also reached out to THE-MEASURE-CUTS' Chosen, asking them to vouch for the Pact.

THE-MEASURE-CUTS was initially skeptical about THEE-I-DARE's Pact, as the other Voices were traditionally too "scattered in their desires to even entertain the idea of an alliance". He seemed interested in uncovering Bells' fate and learning about the evidence she carried but held reservations about both THEE-I-DARE and DIE-FOR-YOU. He approached Chosen of each of them to discuss the concerns he had with them. During some encounters, THEE-I-DARE appeared to coach the children and advise them on how to sway THE-MEASURE-CUTS. THE-MEASURE-CUTS stated, "IF HE IS STILL GOING TO FALL PREY TO THE SAME WEAKNESS...THE CRUTCH OF ANARCHY...THEN I WILL BACK AWAY" and desired to know if THEE-I-DARE had changed from rebelling against everything, finding this trait particularly frustrating in the past. He referenced Joan of Arc's fate as an example of DIE-FOR-YOU's influence, and expressed concern that DIE-FOR-YOU would "get them all wiped out" due to his reckless passion. He did not wish that fate for the people of Redacre. However, after many convincing arguments from members of the Blackout Club, he was the second to join and sought to rein in the combined recklessness of DIE-FOR-YOU and THEE-I-DARE. Upon his joining, the Moon reappeared in the night sky over Redacre. DIE-FOR-YOU claimed it was due to the teamwork between the Club members and the Pact. He watched over the meetings and ensured that no one was too biased. In THE-MEASURE-CUTS' own words, he was "keeping the Pact from going off the rails" because of their passionate views and "minding the store". With THE-MEASURE-CUTS' assistance, the Pact was able to search for Bells more methodically. However, He did not predict SEED-THE-GRUDGE being given leadership of the Pact. His feelings about it reflect the feelings of reserve and skepticism of his Chosen.

THE-MEASURE-CUTS was curious about the Cursed Ciphers, believing the Old Tongue to be key in countering the curses. Most notably, he was interested into how they could be used to access The Place Between.

THE-MEASURE-CUTS isolated himself to avoid bias during Pact meetings and sequestered himself within The Place Between, studying and observing it while changing nothing. Unlike the other Voices, he found a way to remain there for a longer period of time, while the others were only able to remain briefly. He hoped to teach them the same, to allow them to remain as well. THEE-I-DARE believed it involved a mnemonic before bed that helped his Hosts regain control of the dream while in the Place Between. He believed that the Voice Masks are the key to staying in The Place Between for a longer period of time, as it gave one "presence", and tricked the dream into believing people belong. He wondered if he could learn to stop time in The Place Between using the Old Tongue. THE-MEASURE-CUTS chooses to remain in The Place Between because he prefers being there. THE-MEASURE-CUTS is also preparing the Place Between for the Pact meeting.

THE-MEASURE-CUTS stated that he would ensure LAUGH-LAST's safety should he join the Pact and said he would be welcomed in. LAUGH-LAST brushed it off after being told of it due to only hearing the offer secondhand and not "straight from the horse's mouth". However, he acknowledged that THE-MEASURE-CUTS was not one to "make up bullshit".However, after being convinced that joining the Hunter may lead to "the show ending", LAUGH-LAST accepted the offer and is willing to hear the Pact out, asking for a public apology from THEE-I-DARE and a chance to make THE-MEASURE-CUTS laugh.

THE-MEASURE-CUTS formed the jail that trapped the Isolated Watcher in The Place Between, in which to keep it contained and slow its degradation. After some Club members asked if the Isolated Watcher could be released, THEE-I-DARE said he didn't believe THE-MEASURE-CUTS would disobey SEED-THE-GRUDGE and release the Isolated Watcher. THE-MEASURE-CUTS also saw the information they could receive from it as vital and wouldn't risk its release. Keeping the Isolated Watcher trapped took much of THE-MEASURE-CUTS’ attention. THEE-I-DARE commented that “he is more place than Voice, presently.” THEE-I-DARE was confident that THE-MEASURE-CUTS could extend the Club members’ time in The Place Between. He did not know how long it would take and said, “To ask him gets a rude answer.” THEE-I-DARE thought that THE-MEASURE-CUTS was unwilling to be rushed, to the point of endangering the Pact. However, no other Voice could do what he does.

THE-MEASURE-CUTS was in conflict with IN-HER-TEETH over Gwen as she neared hosting age. THE-MEASURE-CUTS normally gave her dreams of being in a classroom full of people, but there were no people in her new dreams, just their empty clothes. Gwen remarked that the sun was fading in her new dreams, due to IN-HER-TEETH's influence. She woke up terrified, every night.

THEE-I-DARE says that THE-MEASURE-CUTS isn’t stuck in the Place Between, but rather that he prefers to be there. THE-MEASURE-CUTS initially went to the Place Between because he felt bias and sentiment for club members, which made him recoil. Being in the Place Between helps him avoid those emotions.

Dreams
THE-MEASURE-CUTS has responded to some players' rituals, heard as dreams when returning to the Hideout after completing a mission.

Trivia

 * THE-MEASURE-CUTS has the same initials as 's first game, "The Magic Circle".
 * He does not know if he has a favorite book, but one of his hosts read “Consciousness Explained”. He found himself less and less conscious the farther she got into it.
 * Unsung femme scientists have a long history with THE-MEASURE-CUTS.
 * THE-MEASURE-CUTS doesn't have a name starting with an active-verb because he is an iconoclast.