the theatre

[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 mansion, 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.

There are no other doors in the hall save for the one leading back into the theatre room. There are also no windows; it is impossible to tell where you are and what is going on in the outside world. Any attempts to break out will fail. So in the meantime, why not sit back and enjoy the show?

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

[coca_cola]

Won't ever be able to agree with you on that one, I'm afraid. If he ever shows up here, I'm going to beat his fuckin' face in. Just for peace of mind.

[ But!! His delicate feelings aside, there are more important things here. ]

We had a mansion full of actors and actresses, right? You'd be one of them too, since I wouldn't have guessed a beautiful woman like you would be up to dismemberin' someone. I was honest about that part, at least.

[aozaki]

Have you ever been kidnapped and have your memories altered before? Or remember how the incentives were distributed each week, they know way too much about us than they should ever had the power to find out. The condition of 'murder' set aside, this place was off from the very first morning of our arrival. Plus, I doubt many of us have ever come across a stage like this before, so you have to keep an open mind.

Well, regardless of my personal reservations, they did tell us from the start that this was reality TV, as callous as it was to put actual lives on the line. But looks like they haven't after all, and here in the theater is where previously eliminated contestants get to watch and wait, while life continues for the remaining players over there.

[She cants her head towards the screen, which is currently displaying post-trial events after Spain's reveal.]

[aozaki]

He's still a nation, I suggest you watch your step.

[and SNORTING...]

Isn't beauty usually a measure to danger, not goodness and innocence?

[coca_cola]

[ yeah ignoring that first part!! his pride is wounded okay!! But he does laugh too. ]

Oh, you're probably right about that. Every beautiful woman I've met has been trouble in one way or another, but there's a big difference between the kind of trouble I'm used to versus dismemberment.

[aozaki]

How often do you meet them in manors hosting murder games, though?

[clyde

clyde pls]

[motheringnation]

Not all the time. But I've made a few blankets at this point. It's nice to have something soft if you want to nap here.

Do you have any colour preferences? I'm working on Latva's now.

[balzams]

I've been kidnapped before... I'm not sure about having my memories altered but I'm sure someone must have tried to brainwash me before.

But I guess you're right. You'd thing by now I'd be used to strange things occurring like this but apparently not. But is that all we get to do? Honestly after being in that house for so long I kind of want a break...

[He looks back up at the screen and sighs]

And I thought he was so nice too... I kind of regret writing him that letter now.

[speakveryclearly]

Yeah. [She nods.] As a group we're not exactly...



...



Lively.

[herpreciousrival]

[She nods, she understands all too well. Although prison sounded like it must have been a fun place to pick up even worse habits than petty theft.]

An insincere effort at politeness should still be appreciated. Even from those deemed less than scrupulous!

[aozaki]

You can find a comfortable and isolated spot here, then take a nap. There are headphones to shut the noises out too, it's certainly achievable if you'd like to shut everything murder related out for however long the rest of this game lasts. There's the projector room upstairs, too. [She tilts her head upwards towards the back, before glancing back at the screen once and looking back at Lativa.]

Spain? Right, I always thought he was passionate but not very bright. Simplicity can be surprising through, and he's certainly proven himself to be a commendable actor.

[a beat.]

Did you ever figure out his motive, though? The rest of the cast seem too agitated to think, but hopefully, that'll abate soon.

[balzams]

I guess that's nice enough to do something like that... Or maybe a walk outside would do me some good.

[At Spain's name he lets out a quiet sound of disgust and looks away]

Guess it just goes to show that everyone who's nice just turns out to be terrible people. I wouldn't be surprised if Miss Nagumo and Mr. Lithuania are awful too.

[He really hopes they're not but right now he's fairly disillusioned]

I don't know... Miss Rapture seemed to suggest he was very superstitious. Maybe he took those nightmares too seriously...

[aozaki]

I don't know about outside... But you can take your time here, yes.

[...]

That depends on how you define terrible, but things are much easier to see on a black and white scale. I won't convince you of otherwise, but given how stressful everything must've been, you could just tune out the entire display until this game's end. Why not go grab your bag, explore around, then strap on a pair of noise-cancelling headphones? Ignoring that manor for some time should do you some good, I think.

[quirking a brow!] Do you really think so? It's alright if you don't care, we could pick up the subject later, once you calm down for a bit and start getting bored.

[balzams]

What do you mean you don't know about outside? Isn't there a balcony or a patio or something?

I don't know... I mean I thought you were kind and patient and then you...

[He shakes his head and tries to move onto something else]

Now that I know I can go home I just want to go already. I'm sure my secretary is probably worried about me, and after all the stress of being in that house I want to be somewhere comfortable and familiar.

WEEK SEVEN TRIAL POPCORN

[speakveryclearly]

[Kanaya has been watching events unfold with a slight degree of distress - she's not shedding tears, but both Beat and May had somewhat endeared themselves to her. At least one event can make her crack a broken grin.]

Of course good old dear sweet precious Felicia can't vote for anyone innocent. Her philosophy finally comes to its logical conclusion.

Assuming, of course, that her complete disregard for the psychological goes entirely unchecked and nobody points out the obvious flaws in that version of events.

[agentx13]

Hey, I didn't vote for an innocent. I was on the verge of voting for you, you know.

[ And she hadn't, only for Kanaya to end up here anyway. Just her luck, really. But hey, she's dead anyway, so what does she mind? She digs into a fresh bag of popcorn. ]

So what are you leaning toward? May's covering for someone else, or she's lying about Beat attacking her first? They don't seem to have asked much about Beat's motivation. Or did I miss it? [ She won't point out that they're fortunate. They can't vote for someone in the theatre twice, and both Beat and May have won things before. There are so few players left as it is. ]

And it looks like Gundam is stepping up to heroically take the hit. They don't want to vote for May, they might as well vote for someone who hid a gun from them.

[ In a way, Sharon is relieved. She likes Kaoru and hadn't wanted to see her killed. Still, she has to wonder how much of what May says is a ploy. It'll be interesting to see if the girl can actually get away with murder by using everyone's empathy. ]

[speakveryclearly]

I definitely don't believe the sequence of events as May has narrated them. Not only does she black out, after fewer wounds than Beat received, and do nothing involving a gun - I'd like to see the state of her "kunai".

Beyond that, the circumstances of the murder itself make absolutely no sense. Neither Beat nor May frequently visited the chapel, so the only explanation for them going there is one inviting the other for a premeditated murder without witnesses. And Beat deciding to murder May in advance... it's inexplicable as a pragmatic decision, when she was merely dispensable. He has been driven this entire game by the desire to rescue his younger sister, that's been his interpretation of every motive.

A third party either engineered Beat's enraged expression - maybe made him believe May was actually some sort of little demon - or was the true person at fault here.

[agentx13]

[ Sharon's smile grows. ]

And with May's disposition, she would perhaps assume it was her fault and would act accordingly. They would remove two pieces from the board and simultaneously get away with it. It's... brilliant.

With the way Gundam is drawing attention to himself and making people hate him, I doubt he's the one responsible. Phoebe doesn't sound like she could. I'd say the same for Kaoru, but she's definitely smart enough.

If she can get away with it.

[speakveryclearly]

I would pick Kaoru over Rapture at this point if only because I believe Rapture would have gone for an entirely bloodless or at least long-distance method.

I did... spend time alone with Kaoru and definitely wouldn't dismiss her out of hand as incapable of setting up this.

[motheringnation]

My guess is Kaoru.

[Also watching the trial.]

This seems like the makings of a popular trial at least though.

[speakveryclearly]

That's for sure. It reminds me of mine, I'm pretty sure the logic will similarly be linear. Whoever is responsible, the exit interview will be phenomenal.

[agentx13]

If they keep going at this rate, they stand a good chance of figuring out what really happened. They've got to realize the same things we have.

[speakveryclearly]

Not only that, Sonia's sure to unleash some psychological profiling - if she did it to defend Touko's competition, she'll do it to defend her matesprit. There are only four suspects, it's a matter of narrowing down.

At the same time I would like Kaoru to live... that's just my selfishness speaking.

[motheringnation]

I really wish they would give us more information about the ratings.

There's not really much we can do in here.

[speakveryclearly]

It's true, the most we know is that comment from the Hostess about the strip show.

[motheringnation]

I wonder who ...is watching us...er them now I mean. Do you think we'll find out at the end?