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

[souredsweet]

She has been exceedingly confident for the entire game that she would not have to kill, nor that she would die... One can only hold onto such strong delusions for so long, and yet, she has lived for the entire game so far. [his nose wrinkles in disdain.]

Honestly, between those still living, I would say that Rapture and Lithuania seem the most suspicious as of right now.

[speakveryclearly]

It's a good thing I have two shoes, then. Nudge me when he gets another emotional closeup.

[souredsweet]

Of course. There ought to be plenty of moments to choose from, at the very least.

[speakveryclearly]

[She laughs, reaching for her shoe to have it ready as this part is playing. After a minute or two they get to the part where Lithuania thinks Well, there goes his evening--]

Aha!

[AND THERE GOES HER SHOE.]

[souredsweet]

[and some impressed, polite clapping will immediately follow as the shoe makes contact with Lithuania's giant stressed face.]

Excellent aim! My, both were quite satisfying. If it turns out that neither of them are the producer, it would still be acceptable.

[speakveryclearly]

[The momentary relief Kanaya felt with that act of violence pretty much evaporates when she realizes she almost definitely just shoed at least one innocent person.]

Maybe they're in cahoots. Cahoots, I say.

[souredsweet]

They might be by technicality. One of them could be another killer, after all.

[and even though he remembers feeling mostly benevolent toward whoever is left, that doesn't mean a good shoe to the projected face could hurt any!]

[speakveryclearly]

Oh yeah.... but in that case I would have been assaulting one of my friends.

See, it's like we were saying before - the entire game stacked against us from the start.

[souredsweet]

If they've made it this far when we haven't, I'm certain they wouldn't mind the sacrifice. [HO HUM. he does look quite displeased by that, though.]

Naturally. I even pointed that out to the producer and they made it sound as though they were offended that I considered the stipulations a death sentence. Only two have been able to get away with their crimes at all, let alone having to return for repeat performances.

[speakveryclearly]

I don't understand how anyone would be expected to volunteer for repeat performance in any other circumstance! You see the degree of scrutiny applied to Annie, and Spain. [She realizes something odd about what she said and then backtracks.] Well, I guess Spain didn't entirely feel like retiring.

[souredsweet]

And you can be certain with the talk of others in the house that he would be lynched the second he was a suspect again, whether or not he actually committed the crime. [his own expression becomes vaguely perplexed for a second, but he moves on with a wave of the hand.]

Anyway, it gives us a good look at how impossible it is for a successful murderer to kill twice. Even if Annie had not confessed to her own crime, she was the second highest in suspicion after Ukraine. Spain's trial left no one else but him as a suspect. It is simply not feasible for one person to commit two kills and get away with it.

[speakveryclearly]

I still feel bad for Latvia - after all that ranting about how we should have trusted Ukraine more... Nothing to be done for it now, though.

You know, that's another strange aspect of the possibility Lithuania is the mastermind. That he would bring in his friends and lover... it's odd. I don't know what's going on in the Mastermind's mind in any case. Hmmmm. How do you think that compares to Rapture's raving about Riot? Which one is more likely to be sinister?

[souredsweet]

[for some strange reason he looks vaguely amused by that but winds up waving it off, too.]

It surely did some to boost the ratings, if nothing else. [and then, thoughtfully:] At this rate, I cannot say which of the two would be more likely... With "sadism without remorse" on her card, Rapture does seem like an obvious candidate that we have simply overlooked because she is so obvious.

[herpreciousrival]

She certainly is a magnificent performer, if nothing else.

[Hey Kaoru, sup. Would you like some sudako from this delicious bento box?]

[souredsweet]

[oh hey it's the world-destroying alien sup!! he will gladly accept some sudako from that delicious bento box because he has no moral qualms with associating with world-destroying aliens.]

I believe that could be said of quite a few of us, to varying definitions of the word "performer"... But the twist would be much more shocking for most if it were Lithuania or another understated player.

[herpreciousrival]

[Siren changes her mind. She mildly regrets not getting to know Kaoru better whilst she was around. He's much more enjoyable company.]

Perhaps. But somehow I think it seems a little too easy to believe that he's the Mastermind. You would think he would have put himself in the suspect pool at least once. There were cases where suspects were ruled out immediately with substantial evidence. He would have benefited from something like that far more than never being a suspect at all.

[souredsweet]

[he will take that mild regret okay, the more homicidal members of the dead have to stick together.]

Perhaps it was simply a risk that he did not wish to take. The trials can become unpredictable in some cases, after all. Annie's, for example, whose last trial day still saw three viable suspects... [he crosses his arms, peering at the screen with some measure of irritation.]

...But Rapture is certainly more suspicious looking at it that way. She takes large risks with her alibi though. I had actually intended to frame her during my trial; "I was asleep for the whole duration of the murder" could have easily gotten her lynched.

[herpreciousrival]

He does come across as an over cautious individual. Maybe that's why Mr. Poland had to die, despite not being deadweight or dispensable. Maybe Mr. Poland managed to penetrate something with their rivalry and it put Mr. Lithuania at considerable risk to continue the relationship.

[She says rivalry, but to her the word means something more along the lines of friendship or lovers.]

I certainly didn't see it coming at least, but then again Mr. Poland was not exactly quiet about his intentions to unearth the Mastermind. Maybe he forced Mr. Lithuania's hand. [Actually Mr. Poland wasn't really that quiet about much after that second trial, was he.]

[Siren offers a sympathetic look.] ...Perhaps much like myself you simply chose the wrong person to frame.

[souredsweet]

[Kaoru definitely arches a brow at the term but he's heard so many weird things throughout his stay that it barely gets a second of thought before he's just like yeah okay sure.]

That would make sense. I do find Poland an incredibly strange target... But I also recall arguing with the producer for the rights to target someone not on the lower two lists about a week before it was my turn. Why Poland, I do not know. [it is kind of disappointing for the exact reasons Siren's laid out! gosh Poland he leaves you with one task one task and this is what happens.]

I suppose that we will find out soon enough, whenever he arrives. [and then, with a soured look:] My problem was Gundam. To be honest, yours likely would have worked if people were not so hung up on character testimonials so early in the game.

[speakveryclearly]

Yeah... I keep wondering how heavy a trail of crumbs the Mastermind has left in his or her wake. Given the information cards and other mechanics ensuring every case can be solved, there has to be something concrete we can perceive, however subtle. On the other hand, nobody is publicly acting like the mastermind, that's sort of the point of the conceit - everyone in the game has had some emotional reaction the mastermind would have to fake, whether it's Rapture and the autopsy or Lithuania now.

[souredsweet]

I believe that we all know by now how possible it is to fake just about any reaction. Rapture would be quite the talented actress indeed if her performance is the staged one, but I suppose that is exactly what the audience is looking for.

[speakveryclearly]

You are an expert on that, aren't you?

[souredsweet]

I may have a little knowledge on the subject, yes.

[speakveryclearly]

[She affectionately nudges him.]

It's kind of funny. If we didn't have our group affinity I don't know how I would have felt about your deception.

[souredsweet]

Upset, perhaps... That seems to be a common reaction. [which is a prospect he doesn't seem all that bothered by, though there's a mild, playful sort of affection in his return shoulder bump.]

You were not a bad partner to have, regardless, so I am glad things did not come to that. I can only hope the same will hold true for our mysterious last two members.