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

[mightiswright]

What he did... was the right thing to do. To expose the wolf hiding among the sheep. It was always going to come out, one way or another... The truth has a way of doing that. But it put all of you in danger. A danger that made itself a reality today.

[ When all four of them were nearly killed.

Normally, he'd be all about exposing the truth but that's in a place where there's protection and laws against people taking things into their own hands. This? Is not that kind of environment. ]

[derepressed]

...yes. I suppose we - can't deny that it got dangerous.

[She lowers her gaze to the ground and folds her hands in front of her. The expression on her face is one that Phoenix has likely seen on others many a time - guilt.]

I'm sorry... I wasn't able to protect Feferi-san. I tried, but - we were both taken down...

[mightiswright]

[ He just shakes his head, because it's misplaced guilt he's seeing on her face. ]

You have nothing to apologize to me for. [ As far as he knows, anyway. His tone softens. ] What happened?

[derepressed]

We were in the reading room, and—

[She furrows her brow, seemingly trying to recall.]

...it all... happened so quickly. Someone was there. We fought back. But we weren't able to... stop them. I don't remember— I can't remember their face.

[mightiswright]

[ Of course... that would be too easy. ]

It was just one person then? And they fought both of you at the same time? [ Who could fight both of them and come out the winner? And then also have time to get Nanami and Kuzuryuu? ]

[derepressed]

I'm... not sure. It might have been one. Or maybe two. It all happened so fast. [She shudders and wraps her arms around herself.] It might have - I don't know...

[mightiswright]

[ Ah. He got too caught up in finding out what happened. Phoenix eases off the questions and gives her arm a gentle squeeze. ]

... Nevermind. Let's not worry about that here. [ It'll be the living people who'll have the means more than they do, after all. ]

[derepressed]

We'll— we'll know for sure at the end of the... trial.

[They'll catch the person who did it. ...right? She looks a little anxious and glances at the screen, before trying to smile at Phoenix. It comes out looking forced and a little awkward.]

I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

[mightiswright]

Chizuru... stop apologizing. [ Especially for her own death.

It's not so much a command as a chiding because he's clearly giving her a reassuring smile. ] They'll figure things out. They have so far. [ Discounting week two at least. ] We'll just cheer them on from here.

[derepressed]

...yes.

[She tries to smile again; this time it comes out a little less awkwardly.]

Um, thank you. They'll do it, they definitely will.

[mightiswright]

[ That's slightly better.

But it's clearly time for a topic change, so Phoenix takes a look around the theatre. Memories... can wait until she's a little more settled in. ]

... Do you have popcorn where you're from? [ She's from the same time period as Kaoru, right ]

[derepressed]

[She shakes her head slowly.]

No... I've never had it before. [The concession stand gets a slightly dubious glance!] ...is it very good?

[mightiswright]

[ He'll grab a little bag of it from the stand and hold it out to her. ]

Only way to find out is to give it a try.