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]

[for a few moments, he silently watches in the bizarrely detached, distant way that he seems to regard almost everything with. eventually:]

"Nobody wants that person to suffer more than I do." It is a sentiment that we all shared. I left letters to those still alive in my group, who I cannot remember, asking for the same thing.

[notyetlost]

[Poland's voice is calm. The only thing betraying his anger seems to be how heavily accented his speech has become.]

The Princess Royal of the Autocratic Monarchy of Novoselic will explain her aggression against Rzeczpospolita Polska herself.

[souredsweet]

[his head cants to one side, both brows arching.]

...Well, you will surely get the chance to speak with her. It isn't as though there is anywhere else for any of us to go. I would suggest you not take up the same stance as Beat, though; it is tiresome, dealing with squabbles over deaths that were not even real.

[notyetlost]

[Poland can pretty much guess what happened prior to his arrival.]

On the contrary, I think Beat had every right to totally kick your ass.

[souredsweet]

[that earns Poland a sour look. he reaches up to tuck some hair behind his ear in a somewhat indignant gesture of agitation.]

If the punch he landed had satisfied him, fair enough, but he has been so dogged in his pursuit. If I had known he would be such a pain to deal with later, I would have targeted Alice instead.

[notyetlost]

He's pissed, what were you expecting? Not only did you get him killed, you used him.

[souredsweet]

I do not know what I was expecting, but May was not even harmed, nor was she ever going to be. Even if Gundam had not interfered, I would have killed Beat myself. What a nuisance... [gee that sure is a mystery isn't it, someone here has a great human capacity for empathy and understanding.]

It seems most everyone else has managed to get over their deaths, anyway.

[notyetlost]

It sucks that you had to kill, like. Seriously. That doesn't mean that it completely absolves you from responsibility though. His feelings count too.

If Ukraine's right and we all get to come back, then we'll see.

[souredsweet]

Ah, I would not think of not taking responsibility for my kill. There isn't a point in that since I have already been deemed guilty, yes? I just find it pointless to continue feeling agitated about it. Humans have died for less, and his participation might have given us the boost in ratings that we need to get out of this place.

[his expression falls back into something a little more somber at that, though.] If the ratings are high enough... The tape said as much, anyway, but who is to say if it can truly be trusted?

[notyetlost]

[Poland shrugs. He's never been one to ignore his emotions in favor of whatever seemed most pragmatic.]

The alternative is lame. What other reason do you need to believe it to be true?

[souredsweet]

["lame"... well, he can't disagree with that, even if he'd choose much stronger words.]

I would have preferred the information to come from someone who is not potentially the producer, for one... But I would certainly prefer it to be true.

[notyetlost]

[Welcome to Polish Optimism 101, Kaoru.]

So believe it and we'll work hard to make however many weeks remain as interesting to watch as possible to make it come true.

[souredsweet]

[he can't understand this "optimism" thing man Poland just gets a flat look... but his expression eventually eases into something (reluctantly) accepting.]

...I suppose that is the exact sort of thinking that has won you so much favor and endeared you to so many. Some people seemed to think you were dim despite that, you know, but we knew better. Your struggle was admirable. I will believe, then, in a conclusion that will not leave any soured.

[notyetlost]

[Poland smiles.]

You know.

I like you better like this. That butt kissing persona you put on doesn't really do you any justice.

[souredsweet]

[he actually looks genuinely surprised at that! probably because a grand total of zero people in his life have ever preferred his actual personality to the persona he displays.

surprise, his damaged self esteem is about the only thing he wasn't acting out.]

—Well, you are certainly in the minority, but... I cannot say I am surprised by it. You've a strangeness of opinion in you.

[notyetlost]

[Unsurprisingly, Poland has been told that before. Countless times.

And Poland can see a case of damaged self-esteem from a mile away, he's got your number Kaoru.]

Thanks. [He takes it as a compliment.]

[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?

[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.]

[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.

[notyetlost]

[That... Poland won't answer.]

...

[souredsweet]

[A FOR EFFORT POLAND... he laughs, and there's a harshness to it, but it's clear he means (mostly) well.]

Impressive! Surely you must be hungry by now.

[notyetlost]

I guess I haven't eaten in a week... [He has a delicate stomach.]

[souredsweet]

[poland...]

My, I'm surprised that you did not starve instead. Regardless, you may want to get that "popcorn" now.

[speakveryclearly]

[NODDING IN THE BACKGROUND. It's still there.]

[notyetlost]

Er... Kanaya got most of it on the floor.

[He panicked, don't judge.]