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

[notyetlost]

[Poland doesn't even bother looking over to acknowledge her. Apparently she prefers staying out of his range of sight.]

[aozaki]

[water is for the weak

oh yeah here's a glass too (although she does think that if it was her, she'd drink straight out of the bottle--)]

It was very dramatic and heartrending, actually. I wouldn't be surprised if your trial scored the highest ratings to date! And if the necessary funding is acquired, they can bring everyone back and send them home.

...According to the Producer, at least. We should all still owe them and possibly whoever they're aligned with a little something, in my opinion, for toying with your maiden feelings. That's the worst offense they can commit, you know?

[teenspirit]

[ She does not need that glass. Bottle it is. ]

How awful it would be to think that all of this suffering has been for naught but entertainment. Yet... Somehow... I am not surprised.

[teenspirit]

[ And so she moves towards him... But not from behind; she stays near the wall until she's taken the long way around, and circled towards him.

She stands there. And waits. It's not like she has the right to speak first. ]

[souredsweet]

[his posture seems to remain tense even after she pulls away, but there's a soft sort of surprise on his face by then.]

Truly? [a beat and his shoulders slope just a little.] ...Then it was not in vain as I had thought. If your clues are as good as you think - and it must be so, I cannot see you making a pointless sacrifice of two - then... it may be over sooner than we had assumed. [his lips purse briefly, recalling first his execution and then her own, and the ones that had come before them both.]

I can only hope for a conclusion in which we do not look back and think; "this was all for naught".

[notyetlost]

[Poland's eyes flick open, appraising her for a long moment before he finally addresses her.]

I hear you've been busy.

[souredsweet]

[that just gets a sort of exasperated sigh... Poland is still too Poland for him in the end.]

This is precisely what I mean, but the world would be dull without such things. [and then because his SCARY FACE RUINED EVERYTHING EARLIER:] Have you looked through the concession area yet?

[teenspirit]

[ The troubling part is that, of course, she cannot remember the mastermind whom she loathes so much... When she thinks of them, no name, no face, no voice, nothing come to mind. Only the reminder that she hates them, and that Poland was selected for a very specific reason... She just does not know what. It is frustrating, and somewhat frightening. ]

Yes. When I read your words... I did not have to feel so afraid any more. I had... forgotten... that I was not alone. That... we were never alone in our burden.

[teenspirit]

Were it not necessary to put myself to trial, I would have ended my life beside you.

[ The way she says this is so flat, so truthful, and so very dead inside. ]

[souredsweet]

[that seems to be what breaks the delicate air around him. with a sigh that almost sounds like a scoff, his shoulders rise and fall and he leans against the arm of the seat.]

A shared burden is a strange thing to me, but that does seem to be the way it turned out in the end. Unified in hatred for one person... It's suiting.

[notyetlost]

Mm... yeah. [Poland's nails have suddenly become way more interesting than Sonia.]

I totally don't care.

[teenspirit]

...

I want to explain... But I...

[ The most terrible thing of all... is that she cannot. Where there used to be a significant amount of information relating to the reasons for Poland's death in her head... there is now a black hole. ]

I cannot remember.

[ And the only logical conclusion to draw from that is... It must have everything to do with the mastermind. ]

[notyetlost]

If you mean, ran up and down the hallway the concession area is in looking for a way to get out of here?

Then yes I have.

[Somehow that's probably not what Kaoru means.]

[teenspirit]

I... tried. Everything I could do... I tried. And yet... I cannot even remember who it was I tried to leave clues about...

1/2

[notyetlost]

[Poland can feel himself getting angry, but tries to stifle it.]

You know what sucks?

I never liked you. I had no idea why. There was just something about you that made me uncomfortable.

Everyone else seemed to adore you though, I must have been crazy.

[aozaki]

[...

atta girl]

Everyone's skin got harder after 8 weeks in here, whether we like it or not. [she does seem to give a small shrug.] All of us are also quite unanimous in wanting to give the people who set this whole thing up a piece of our mind, despite the show of powers they've already displayed. They've likely messed with your memories as well, but you've definitely left clues that should lead the remaining players to the Mastermind with your exit. They know what to focus on now, at least, you've worked the hardest out of all of us to ensure that. You should be proud; the rest of the designated killers are, I can confidently say that much.

2/2

[notyetlost]

So naturally it would be you who killed me.

[teenspirit]

[ Sonia stares blankly. Really...? Well, she can't blame him, but to make such a grand, sweeping judgment of her character seems to indignify her. ]

If you are making an implication that I chose to target you based on the fact that you were so utterly mean to me for no reason, without provocation, and only showed me kindness when I had something you wanted...

[ She looks troubled; sad, even. ]

No. That was not the reason. I am not so petty as that. Although I cannot remember how, I just know that it was your death which held the highest probability of leading the others to the truth. That is... the only reason why. I cannot say if it was right, but it was all that I could do. And... it makes perfect sense... if the mastermind is who I believe it to be, if I trust my own actions...

[souredsweet]

[the look that Kaoru gives him likely says 'that is not what I mean'.]

You were gone for a while, as well... Were you running all of that time? No one could fault you for a lack of determination.

[souredsweet]

It is one of many annoyances you will face now that you're here. [his expression abruptly drops into something scathing and hateful.]

If that person's identity could be recalled by even a single one of us, they would surely, surely be dead.

[teenspirit]

Well, I... I acted based on my own judgment... So... if I trust myself... I suppose I can figure out who it was I meant to point at. Yes...?

[teenspirit]

[ She looks touched... although significantly guilty, still. ]

Thank you. I wish it did not have to be in the manner that it happened... And I hope that if there is a return for any of us... Our victims... My victim... Will receive it first.

1/2

[notyetlost]

[Poland laughs. Although the humor in it seems non-existent.] If you want to see me be mean, I can totally oblige. I hardly call teasing you and avoiding you after threatening me with water boarding "mean."

And no. I don't think you're that petty as to target me like that. Don't insult me.

[souredsweet]

[he's quiet for a second, and then:]

...If your judgment is to be trusted, one of the people your clue may point to is one of two that Kanaya and I were discussing while your trial proceeded.

[teenspirit]

. . . Lithuania, yes?