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graveyard

the theatre

You awaken in a darkened theatre.

In front of you is an enormous cinema screen. On it plays everything that's currently happening in the castle, accompanied by appropriate sound effects and background instrumentals when fitting. The seat you're sitting on is large and plush, and while there's many of them, there's enough room in the theatre for you to fully recline the seat into a comfortable bed if you wish. Under each seat is a sleeping mask and noise-cancelling headphones, in case you'd like to take a break from watching the show.

Follow the stairs up and you'll reach what should be the projection room. There are no projectors in here, however; it is simply a large and well-lit room above the main seating area, and a good place to hang out with your fellow eliminated contestants if shouting at each other across the aisles proves too much to handle.

If you leave the theatre through the door in the back, you'll find yourself in a hall. On one end is a concession stand. It's stocked with standard movie snacks - popcorn, candy and the like - but if you're feeling the urge for something else, you'll be able to find it stocked somewhere in the back. On the other end is a table with thirty wrapped bags and a placard reading 'A star for our stars! Please accept these lovely giftbags as a token of appreciation for your hard work, sponsored by [illegible smudge]'. Each bag has a tag bearing the name of someone in the mansion; you will only be able to open the bag with your name on it. As soon as you open it, any memories that have been taken from you, including those of the other people in the mansion that you may have forgotten, will be returned in their entirety. Within the bag are also objects from your home that you may want for your stay here, though you will find no weapons.

Past the hall is another door, this one wooden and seemingly decayed. If you go inside, you'll find a fairly simple, wooden room, that is empty except for a very large machine. It is difficult to tell what the machine is for; it has a touch screen that appears to be a control panel, as well as a large open space that seems to be part of the machine, but the machine is dead and won't turn on no matter what you do.

Still, at least you aren't alone here. You have your fellow players, as well as a few guests to keep you company.

Oh, and one more thing. At midnight following each execution, once all those who've died that week have woken up, a video will begin to play on screen.

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[ THANKS RYOU...

Phoenix gives Ryou a blank smile. ]

'No. It wasn't worth it at all. I shouldn't have done it and I regret everything I did.' ... Is that what you were hoping to hear? [ It's all just a mess now. Apollo's here, but he was also at home. But if he dies here, then what does that mean for the situation at home? Then there's also what seems to be some time traveling going on and. Yeah. It's all just a mess.

The smile disappears. ]

The truth is, I don't know anymore. I'm sorry I did what I did to Yuyuko, and I won't deny it makes me a murderer. But nothing here is as black and white as that - not for me, not for you, not for anyone. Regret, worth, guilt... it's all a blur when everyone is just trying to protect the ones they love, or get home. [ Coming from a former lawyer, that's pretty bold, but so much has happened in the past couple of weeks. He's had to re-think his philosophy considerably. ]

[Always here to be a pal, except right now apparently where he's taking out his own problems on Phoenix. Ryou's eyes are boring into Phoenix, eerily blank, but he doesn't seem surprised by the answer.]

...You got what you wanted, that's why you don't regret it, right? But if you failed, you'd feel differently. I'm sure if I had been able to bring Amane back, I'd feel differently too.

But at least Mei-chan gets to bring her sister back. [And then Ryou smiles the most bitter, almost spiteful smile he's ever worn. At least he looks more alive.]

I think I'm starting to finally understand how this place works. They give us sympathetic motives, so we feel bad for the murderers too. That's why nothing's black and white.

They do it on purpose.

Edited (added more) 2014-07-13 01:55 (UTC)

[ Ryou is such a great pal gosh WELL GUESS WHAT Phoenix is unbothered. Or at least he appears to be. ]

Yep... it's fortunate for Mei that things worked out in her favour. [ He does mean it since he feels terrible for using her to get to Yuyuko. And... poisoning her too I guess.... ]

It's more dramatic that way. When they see us suffering whether we catch the true killer or not. It's rigged so we can't win.

[Ryou just looks suddenly stricken by guilt when Phoenix agrees with him and doesn't even acknowledge what was a pretty passive-aggressive conversation on Ryou's end.]

Sorry... I shouldn't be taking this all out on you. [Some of it, though. But moving on... At least Phoenix said he was sorry.]

They really do like to watch us suffer. It's bad enough we keep killing each other, but they have to taunt us too with these promises and threats... And you can't even win without killing at least two people!

But what are we supposed to do? It's just like you said. Everybody just wants to protect someone they love... I want to hate the people who've killed others, but I can't.

I wish we could have all just been friends, instead of playing this twisted "game".

Edited 2014-07-13 04:25 (UTC)

[ Given he seems to be the oldest out of everyone here, and has a pretty tough skin, he's willing to shoulder the burden of being the emotional punching bag.

It's a nice thought... but it's just that. A thought. ]

There's nothing we can do about the murders each week, I can say that for a fact. But if we're here, we have an advantage they don't. We know there's something beyond being murdered or executed. [ He looks around the theatre they're in and turns on his lawyer brain. ] Has this area been checked out?

[Ryou could punch and emotional hole in Phoenix if he wanted to!! Maybe...]

But if everybody just stopped, and didn't hurt anybody for one week... The show would stop too, right? It's been five weeks, and we still keep falling into the same trap.

[He sighs, and then answers Phoenix's question.]

There's not much, just another room with a big machine in it.

[ Just try him Ryou, he's probably had worse.

The prospect of a room with a machine in it gets his attention, but not as much as Ryou's proposition. ]

... I told you, right? This show was rigged from the beginning so we can't win. There will never be a week that goes by without a murder.

...I thought that was your incentive for the week?

[Ryou seems a little lost. How does that qualify as "rigged". It's just what they always get...]

My incentive for this week was a man I've been friends with since grade school.

[ He was telling the truth about that much at least. ] I spent half my life chasing after him, but he would never forgive me if I took a life in exchange for his.

So they gave you two incentives?! [The pieces are starting to click together.]

So if one didn't work, then the other... [Ryou looks away, his voice dropping to a whisper.] That's horrible... We were all doomed from the start, weren't we?

They certainly wanted it to be that way. [ He's not sure he wants to say 'doomed' though... In the end, they're the ones who had and still have the choice. ]

But who knows... maybe someone will do something to surprise them. [ And then Apollo blew up the smoking room... ]

It's been this long, and we're still playing by their rules.

[He shakes his head.] The more people die, the more people are going to believe it'll keep happening... And then it will. That's what happens when you lose hope.

Then we can't lose hope. [ Way easier said than done, but... he'll start. ]

I believe they can do it... find a way around this game. They've already managed to use something they've been given to murder, to their advantage instead.

Edited (CHANGED IT..) 2014-07-20 04:57 (UTC)

[Ryou nods, and he seems willing to try at least.]

R-right. We have to believe in the people who are left... Even if it's unlikely. Losing hope isn't going to help anybody.

[Also yeah, that smoking room bomb sure was a thing... Ryou glances over at the screen.]

You'd be surprised at how many unlikely situations end up being turned around. Unlikely doesn't mean impossible, because nothing is impossible.

[ Not even dead people coming back to life! Maybe.

Phoenix will also turn to the screen. ]

Like that, for example. A few hours ago, how unlikely was it that Apollo would decide to use his grenade to blow up the game parlour?

I guess that's true... It was really unlikely that I would have been able to help friends' back home when I was possessed, but I managed. Somehow.

[Wait, Ryou, you can't just say that without any explanation. At least it sounds like Phoenix has convinced him, once he related it to that.]

It looks like Apollo-san might have found something important... But Feferi-chan's reaction is worrying. [She hasn't jumped out the window yet, okay.]

[ That line about being possessed was so casual it nearly escaped Phoenix's radar, but Ryou just gets a sidelong look at that. Spirit... medium...?

But the mention of Feferi brings him back to the screen. He doesn't say anything for a while though, just watching in silence, until it's starting to look like she's about to jump. He tenses up noticeably at that. ]

What are they...?

[Don't worry, he was only acting as a spirit medium for his canon's incarnation of the ultimate evil, it's no biggie.]

F...feferi-chan!! [Ryou yelps and covers his mouth in shock when she suddenly jumps out the window.] Oh no--!

[He's kind of not even paying attention to Phoenix now, since he's lept out of his seat and is leaning over the chair in front of him.]

[ Feferi-

Phoenix's reaction isn't nearly as extreme but he's totally freaking out on the inside... Outwardly, his grip on the seat armrests is so tight his knuckles are going white.

When he sees that she gets right back up after hitting the ground, he lets up slightly but holy shit what the hell is wrong with you Apollo. Making a frustrated noise. ]

He needs to cool it down.

T-there's...

[He covers his mouth, looking a little ill.

Feferi had glass stuck all over her, and it looked really painful.]

[ And then she runs into the lake...

Phoenix's voice is quiet as he speaks but he's looking directly at the screen. ]

... She's terrified. She really thinks they're going to kill her.

[Ryou falls back into his chair, slumping over with his face in his hands. Suddenly, it hit him really hard, just how bad he felt about trying to frame Feferi. If he hadn't brought her up in his trial...maybe this wouldn't be happening. Maybe that information would have stayed secret.]

I can't watch...

[ Yeah Ryou god

He might not be able to watch, but Phoenix's eyes are glued to the screen until Athena shows up to talk Feferi down. Only then does he look away, at Ryou. ]

Athena's talking to her now. She'll be able to calm her down. [ But what happens next... ] After confirming whether she was behind week two, what was your group planning to do?

[Once the coast is clear he looks up again, but Ryou's still trying to avoid the screen and he keeps his eyes on Phoenix instead. He's a little slow to answer, but he sounds earnest.]

...I wasn't really a part of any group. I just knew. Kaoru-san told so I would be wary of Feferi-chan, and that's why I told Rin-chan too. He told me he'd help me stay safe... I knew they were trying to spread the information so Feferi-chan wouldn't find out, but other than that...

I don't know what they planned to do, and I... I don't want to think about it. I feel bad enough already.

Edited 2014-07-27 00:13 (UTC)

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graveyard

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SORRY EDITS lmao I shouldn't tag when I'm tired

IT'S FINE o7

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