Appraisal and Emotion

 

 Siffrin's emotions are critical to the story of In Stars and Time, from his love for his friends to their critical/negative self-thoughts to their growing depression and despair with the seemingly never-ending nature of the loops. He is undoubtedly at his most emotionally healthy when the story starts, but he is clearly avoiding touchy subjects like his past before meeting their party (where are they from, what were there parents like?). Siffrin seems to be coping the best he can given the circumstances but they still have not opened up to their friends about it, instead giving an air of "coolness" and nonchalance to not worry his friends. When his friends do inquire about his past, like who made his signature cloak and hat (clearly a labor of love), his response is to either brush it off or (as the loops continue and his mental health declines) Siffrin shuts down and becomes somewhat despondent before the conversation moves on.

Siffrin panicking

Odile (she/her) discovering the time loop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the more significant events that occur throughout the game is their friends becoming concerned or suspicious at Siffrin's behaviors as his increasingly high power level and knowledge of the House and The King gained by each subsequent loop becomes strange and surprising. During some circumstances when confronted by his friends (such as Odile at the end of one loop later in the game), Siffrin loses their composure, sweating profusely and hyperventilating, and displaying fear and high levels of anxiety. These events cause him to rewind either to the beginning of the loop or to before the incident occurs. (Siffrin has a similarly visceral emotional reaction whenever they try to remember where they come from.) Using the "Two-System" framework to understand the causes for Siffrin's emotions, he fits more with cognitive emotion system, as his reactions stem from his past experiences and self-perception than their biological needs. With each new loop, Siffrin is theoretically as refreshed and fed as that first day so their biological needs seem to be met. (Mentally is another story.) In that circumstance, Siffrin's elevated heart rate and the appraisal he would lose his friends if they learned he was keeping secrets from the party led to them experiencing tremendous fear.

How they can directly control their personal timeline is a mystery for most of the game, as Siffrin's control of the loops only seems to extend to when he is in extreme emotional distress, when he dies, or when he is frozen in time by a Sadness (one of the corrupted citizens of Vaugarde under The King's control). They lack conscious control of the loops, dismissing the mysterious Loop's (a star-shaped "stranger", who appears after Siffrin's first loop, claiming to have chosen to come help him escape the time loop) questioning and prodding him to consider why they have such control over their looping. Loop has a very whimsical demeanor, rarely taking Siffrin (or anyone seriously), sometimes even insulting Siffrin to his face. Loop contacts Siffrin from the Favor Tree through the use of a "calling" hand sign (thumb by their ear and pinky near their mouth), giving advice while the party traverses the House, loop after loop after loop. Some conversations are too important for the calling hand sign, necessitating Siffrin speak to Loop in person. It's with their help and Siffrin's gained experience from the loops that the party reaches The King...only to be party-wiped right away. So the King is really strong. No bother! The day always loops back to the beginning and only Siffrin remembers their defeat, so it's okay right? 

Following their first defeat, Siffrin takes to using their loops to make his party stronger and after more than a few (maybe a dozen, but who's keeping track though? The game itself has a loop a counter) that they defeat The King in a display of teamwork and catharsis! The party makes their way to the top of the House and meet Mirabelle's mentor the Head Housemaiden, who congratulates the party on their achievement and perseverance. It's over! Except...Siffrin notices something is wrong. The world...is wrong. It's warping and cracking all around them, and the Head Housemaiden cries to Siffrin that something is wrong; something she didn't see. Before Siffrin realizes what's happening, they feel a tug in their stomach (the sign that he's going to loop) and wake up in the field. It's not over...if it's not The King...then who? Heart stammering from the horror he just saw, stomach churning and appraisal that he's still stuck and maybe never going to get out...Siffrin spirals, unable to breathe, unable to cope with starting over agian. Their normal coping mechanism is literally taking deep breathes and now they can't. Until a very concerned Mirabelle snaps them out of it. Siffrin almost tells her what's been going on with them, but instead makes a joke having a nightmare, crying from making an onion quiche. This disarms her and deflects Mirabelle's attention while Siffrin pretends to smile, dropping their smile when she walks away to wait in the village. They need to talk to Loop.