graveyard pt ii

[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

[psychup]

That's what they were told, at least.

[It's not clear whether she believes that.]

[onethirdthesoul]

They want to end the game on their terms, and that sounds like a "season finale" to me. [Ryou sounds pretty bitter towards the end there.]

[psychup]

A season finale...

[It's weird to think her death would be so watchable.]

Well. I trust them. I trust them all to figure out what has to be done to get home. I just never knew my little pajama party would cause such a stir.

[She's joking.]

[onethirdthesoul]

So do I. [Ryou nods to himself, but then...he cracks a small smile at the joke.]

I think we were all jealous of your pajama party, Athena-san. Here we all have to wear whatever we already have.

[Ryou, for one, is wearing a tacky sweater.]

[psychup]

[Well, great. She's dressed for dinner, in a formal dress.]

You mean I'm not ever going to be able to change out of this bra for all of eternity?

[onethirdthesoul]

...!! [He flusters and looks away, even though she's not...showing anything?? It's clearly the thought that counts.]

Um, there might be something in your bag...? That's where I got my clothes. I guess I have a spare set of clothes if you really need it.

[They're lame 90s clothes though. They aren't flattering at all.]

[psychup]

[You've seen her outfits right she would rather wear lame 90s clothes than some dumb fancy dress.

Anyway, the bag...]

A bag? What's in those things? If it's from the show, I don't really know what to think.

[onethirdthesoul]

[Then Ryou has some good news for you... Because he happens to wear pretty comfy lame 90s clothes, at least.]

Mine had some stuff from back home and my memories in it. [He shrugs the backpack on his shoulder since that came out of it too.] You'll want to brace yourself though...

[psychup]

The memories, you mean?

[She looks a little nervous at that.]

I mean, if we're really dead, maybe it's best to let some things stay forgotten.

[onethirdthesoul]

[He nods to her first question, and then smiles sympathetically at her nervous expression that follows.]

Do you think so? I guess it depends on what you have hidden in there, and there's really no way to find out before you open it... I'm glad I opened mine because it had happy memories, but I know some other people were upset...

It's really up to you.

[psychup]

It's stupid, but I'm a little scared of remembering some things.

[onethirdthesoul]

It's not stupid... Our memories can hold some pretty scary things. [He shifts, pulling his bag off his shoulder.] Why don't you take some time to think on it? It's not like we don't have plenty of it. You don't have to do anything you don't want to.

[Ryou shoots her an encouraging smile and unzips his bag, pulling out a set of spare clothes.] And just so you don't feel pressured to open it just for some new clothes, I insist you borrow these. Hopefully they're not too big...

[They were already baggy on him, but he's a beanpole.]

[psychup]

Thank you, Ryou. I really appreciate it. I'll get the guts to open my bag soon...!

[For now, though, she's just going to deck change into these clothes. Pulling that top on and sliding off her bra. Feel awkward.]

[onethirdthesoul]

Don't mention-- [Ryou stops and stares. What is she doing? That's his first thought before he notices the bra and instantly jumps to bring his bag in front of his face.]

A-athena-san, we have a back room you know, you don't have to change right here!

[Or at least you could warn him first so he knows to look away.]

[psychup]

It's fine! It's really easy!

[You aren't going to see anything. She's already got those baggy clothes on.]

[onethirdthesoul]

It's not about how easy it is!

[He's still covering her face after she's finished.] Are you done...?