OVERTURE

[stagemanagers]

You wake up, and realize you don’t remember how you got here.

This bed is soft and warm, but it’s certainly not yours. And the room is unfamiliar - unless perhaps you’re an actor, seeing as it looks almost exactly like every dressing room in the world. It's not quite large enough to fit the bed and trunk comfortably alongside the vanity, but it what it lacks in open space, it makes up for in coziness. This could be something you’ve seen in a movie, or dreamed about experiencing one day. But whatever the case, you aren’t supposed to be here.

There’s a silver key resting on your vanity, along with a thin program booklet. The cover - where the name of the show would usually be - is blank, but if you flip through it, you’ll find some startlingly familiar information. Maybe a few familiar faces as well…

The hallway outside is narrow and poorly-lit, lined with star-studded doors. But if you make your way past them and out into the lobby, you’ll find something entirely different: an elegant, refined opera house. Crystal chandeliers glitter overhead, and the red carpet is perfect for putting on a show. A large clock on the northern wall marks the time, though with the windows shuttered and locked it's difficult to tell whether it's morning or night. There’s also some framed information pinned up that you might find helpful. If you explore further into the adjoining wings, in fact, you'll see there's an identical copy in every room.

There’s also two sets of double-doors in the lobby: one leading back the way you came, deeper into the Opera House, and one leading out. For the moment, neither of them will open.

It looks like you’re stuck. But hey - at least you aren’t alone.

Comments

[dontfeedplants]

[Hey Anna, here's a guy who couldn't help but notice you crumbling up your booklet.]

S... shouldn't you be more worried about why they know so much about us?

[He had not looked at Anna's profile in detail but the fact that this booklet knows about their life and personality kind of creeps him out.]

[sunshineprincess]

Hm? [Anna thinks it over before shaking her head.]

Not really. I'm a princess so of course people are going to know about me. Isn't it like that for everyone?

[dontfeedplants]

A princess? [Oh gee that's someone famous. Luckily he is worried enough that he is able to ignore being flustered over the fact she might be meeting royalty.

There was a small chance she could be lying anyway.]

No, I'm just a florist! I mean, I discovered a plant that a lot of people seem to like, but that's not enough for someone to be able to write up this much about me

[sunshineprincess]

Yes! I'm Princess Anna of Arendelle. Though I guess my sister would be a lot more well known. [Which she isn't bitter about. Her sister is the first born after all.]

Florist? That sounds more like a botanist to me.

[dontfeedplants]

... Arendelle? Sorry, I don't think I've ever heard of that country. [Evidence that this woman is lying about the princess thing: 1.]

Actually, botanists study plants, I just help sell them.

[Okay the selling part was kind of a new development but still.]

[sunshineprincess]

You haven't? Oh, well, there was a young man by the name of Gabe who comes from a place called Pennsylvania. I'd never heard about that in any of my geography lessons.

[So either her teacher is sloppy, or Arendelle hasn't opened up any trade with them.]

That actually sounds like it would be fun! I'd love to be surrounded by flowers all day.

[dontfeedplants]

Maybe that place isn't well known in America?

[To be fair, that is America for you.]

The plants are nice, but we've barely had any customers until recently. It's hard to get business in Skid Row.

[sunshineprincess]

America?

[All these places she's never heard of.]

I'm not surprised with a name like Skid Row.

[dontfeedplants]

You've never heard of America?

[Geez where is she from?]

Yeah, I've been wanting to move out all my life but I'm too broke to even think about doing that.

[And Seymour just kind of wistfully stares off into the distance.]

[sunshineprincess]

No. That's not on any maps I've studied.

[Arendelle. Probably somewhere in the magical land of Norway.

She can't imagine being broke.]

Maybe you need a benefactor? Or a trade partner?

[dontfeedplants]

... When are you from?

[It felt weird saying that, but this woman was just acting really weird.]

Besides, we probably can't afford trade partners.

[And who from another are would want flowers specifically from Skid Row without the strange and interesting plant?]

[sunshineprincess]

... when? What is that supposed to mean?

[Her timeline is after Joan of Arc and the same time as Tangled... who knows what years those are.]

Then maybe an investor? Those exist where you're from, right?

[dontfeedplants]

You're from a country I've never heard of, have somehow never heard of America, and you're suggesting having a trade partner for a flower shop. I-I know time travel doesn't exist but I don't think I get you.

[Sorry Anna.]

Also... uh sorry, but I think you still need money to get an investor

[sunshineprincess]

[He does make some good points. Hmm...]

We don't have electricity where I'm from, so maybe... way early in the past?

[When was electricity invented?]

You don't even have money for an investor?

[dontfeedplants]

That seems really early in the past...

[Like super early.]

We've had maybe one good day of business in my life?

... Actually, I'm not even sure if investors would want to go anywhere near a business in Skid Row.

[sunshineprincess]

Is that good or bad?

[That sounds sad...]

Do you get very many customers?

[dontfeedplants]

Neither? I just don't think I've ever met anyone from the past.

[His life is sad Anna.]

Not... really, we were lucky to get any customers some days. [Suddenly he perks up.] But yesterday was really busy, probably the busiest it's ever been.

[sunshineprincess]

... what's the future like?

[Is it all as sad as your life?]

Oh! That's great! You must have sold so many flowers! Like roses, or peonies, or daisies... they all sound so nice right now.

[dontfeedplants]

Well, there's electricity, and refrigerators?

[Sweats.]

It was great. [Sighs.] I wish we had some plants here. If we're staying here I don't know what else I can do with my time.

[sunshineprincess]

I know about the electricity... but what's a refrigerator?

[Plants would be nice.]

I know we haven't been here long... but I miss being able to look outside already.

[dontfeedplants]

You know, it keeps food cold. There's also a kind that keeps flowers cool.

[Seymour you said yourself that she probably didn't know what refrigerators are.]

Me too. They... they can't block us from the outside forever, can they?

[sunshineprincess]

That sounds really convenient! So we wouldn't need ice!

[She sighs softly.]

I hope not. I'll go crazy without sunlight.

[dontfeedplants]

I think people don't do well without sunlight.

[Like plants.]

Surely the person behind this would have some way to let light in?

[sunshineprincess]

They better. Everyone will get all grumpy and mean, like in winter...

[Sads and all.]

[dontfeedplants]

I mostly just get more depressed in the winter, but I don't think that's much better.

[Thinks on it.]

I'm sure whoever brought us here wouldn't mind having some natural lights in here. This place is too beautiful that they wouldn't want us uncomfortable?