graveyard

[productions]

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.

Comments

[roadroller]

[and she finally notices how he looks. It's absurd enough that it sticks, though she's not laughing yet.]

What's with the hair...?

[onethirdthesoul]

[He doesn't even care about his shirt right now. Rin could blow her nose on it for all he cared, because hearing her cry like that was heart wrenching. He knew what it felt like to lose a loved one suddenly, he knew what it felt like to lose them violently. There was no peaceful death for Amane and his Mother, and there wasn't one for Len... Or Rin.

Ryou lets her pull back, taking a seat beside her so he doesn't have to keep standing. He might be here a while, and he flips the armrest up so it won't get in the way.]

...Kanaya-san thought you might find it funny. [At least it...distracted her? Ryou doesn't really express any emotion as he says it. He's thinking about other things, really.]

I missed you, Rin-chan... But I'm sorry we had to meet again like this.

[roadroller]

Who? [Rin blinks. Alas, the memory loss still in effect. But, well:] It is, kind of.

[she's just not really in the mood to laugh. But forced grins, she can do for a second.]

I'm glad you're here.

[but it fades back into its heartbroken expression soon enough.]

....Maybe you can teach me how to live without Len.

[onethirdthesoul]

... [It was worth a try, but he didn't think it would have worked. Ryou fidgets a bit, tugging his hair loose before he reaches for Rin's shaking hand, holding it tightly in both of his own. His bottom lip is quivering, but he's trying his best to keep it together for her sake.]

I-it's hard, but... [He sniffles, blinking back tears.]

You learn to cope with it. It n-never really goes away, but it shouldn't. You accept it, and... You do what you can to honor their memory.

[His hands tighten a little, his voice softening into a whisper.] Whether it's writing letters...or praying, or leaving flowers at their grave...

[roadroller]

[It's comforting, having a hand to hold. Rin looks pretty blank throughout most of the suggestions though.]

...but I can't...

[She mumbles quietly; these things sound truly impossible to her right now. And robots don't have graves. At least, she doesn't think.]

[onethirdthesoul]

Right now, no. [He'll just keep holding her hand.]

But you will. I... I promise. [He hesitates, because that was a heavy promise to make.]

[roadroller]

[Rin falls silent. Maybe he can promise, but... she's not sure she can promise back. Instead, she just squeezes his hand tighter. It may even be painfully so.]

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou ignores any pain. That wasn't important right now.]

Can I do anything for you right now?

[roadroller]

[She looks over after thinking for a moment.]

... I don't know. I don't even know where we are, other than I feel like I've been here before. ♪

[onethirdthesoul]

Oh, that... It's hard to explain. I think Kanaya-san could do a better job than me, but basically... We're dead, but we're not dead. Right now, we're still a part of this show.

[He glances towards the back of the theatre.]

There's something else, too.

[roadroller]

[Somehow, the news doesn't surprise her. Though, Rin isn't sure why - it was just kind of in the back of her mind, the fact that she wasn't really dead yet.

But she still has no idea what he means, when she turns to follow his vision.]

...Like what? ♪

[onethirdthesoul]

...Here, follow me.

[Ryou gets to his feet, still holding her hand in one of his own as he tugs it a little, willing her to her feet.]

[roadroller]

...

[Rin makes a bit of a face, but she gets up a bit listlessly and allows him to pull her over. At least there's that.

Though when they enter the concession stand, there's that face again.]

You wanted popcorn? ♪

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou will just grip her hand the entire way there, out of some strange fear that she might suddenly start crying again or just...disappear. When they come to a stop he barely manages to pull his hand away. He looks down and shakes his head at her question.]

No. I'm full. [Really, he just doesn't have an appetite. Ryou lifts his head and gestures towards the bags.]

There should be one with your name on it. It'll have some of your things in it, and... Any memories you lost.

1/2

[roadroller]

... Okay. ♪

[Stuff sounds good. Maybe. But memories she lost? As far as she knew, it was only her songs. There's still trepidation since how could anyone really remember they'd forgotten something, but she's at least half expecting nothing when she grabs it up. ]

[roadroller]

[...Sure enough, though, memories do come flooding back. Of the most unexpected kind. Her hands grip the corners of the bag, creating huge crinkles in its sides.]

N-No way... ♪

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou watches her anxiously as she opens, and he's not sure what to make of that reaction.]

Are you ok?

[roadroller]

[Rin shakes her head, still gripping the bag. Her shoulders are shaking, but she doesn't cry.]

Don't know... I don't know...

[After a moment of silence, she quickly turns to walk out with the bag back into the theater and take a good look around.]

... and Kanaya's here too... [what's this? A MINUTE AGO SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHO THAT WAS]

It wasn't deja vu. I've done this before. But why? ♪

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou trails worriedly after her.]

Kanaya-san? I thought you didn't... [He trails off, his eyes growing wide when Rin says she's done this before.]

Yuyuko-san remembered a place like this too... She said a lot of the people here were at that place!

[roadroller]

... Huh?

[that seems to distract her from her almost daze.]

No, Yuyuko-san wasn't there... [how to explain.] The pictures in the hallway, Ryou-kun - you remember those? ♪

[onethirdthesoul]

Yeah... [He knits his brow.] Kanaya-san, Rapture-san, and that other lady were on them.

[roadroller]

[Rin nods, though she doesn't know exactly who he means by "that other lady."]

They're what I just remembered.

I'm... a past contestant on this show... ♪

[her free hand reaches to grab the tie on her shirt and wring it anxiously.]

[onethirdthesoul]

...Oh, Rin-chan. [Ryou looks frightened, both of this "game", and for her.]

I'm so sorry...

[roadroller]

["Sorry." That's all she's been hearing out of everyone. She understands why, but... she wishes there was something anyone could do.

Though if nothing else, the new memories seem to have given her an increase in bitter apathy. She isn't crying anymore - she's gone beyond it.]

I was a victim, you know. And they didn't bring me back at the end... because they thought they could just fix me.

[she doesn't really remember how that turned out, after Alice took her back to her world. But somehow, Rin was put back in the game. So who knows. She just shrugs sadly.]

... Well, no one will think that this time. ♪

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou continues to stare at her in shock, rendered utterly speechless. He wants to do something, to say something... But it's just more apologies. More promises he might not be able to keep, more false hope.

Finally, he manages the strength to speak.]

T-that's horrible...

[His lips twist, both with an effort to keep composed and with anger.]

You may be a robot, Rin-chan... But you have a soul. That's not something somebody can just fix.