first investigation

[stagemanagers]

Your second Friday in the gilded cage that is the Opera House feels very much like the one before. The only real exception is that today is the deadline for the Phantom’s offer, to erase a single person from existence in exchange for one of their lives. The morning is quiet as you all filter out of your rooms with no immediate signs that anyone’s taken your house manager up on his offer.

That is, except for the very small, dark stains on the carpet of the dressing room hallway but that’s probably unrelated.

Comments

[isawallflower]

No, I- you're right. I was just. [ Breathes out. ] Thinking like we were in a normal, actual situation, not crazyland.

[ A beat. ]

Wait. What was that? He just. Had a knife, under his pillow?

[garbageface]

Yeah, well, he was kind of a lunatic, wasn't he?

[ santana, it's not nice to speak ill of the dead! she thrusts the clean kitchen knife (handle-first, this time) in riley's general direction. ]

Here, take it. I'm gonna check something else.

[isawallflower]

[ Aww, she's...learning. And giving Riley a knife, this is a normal thing between cheerleaders. She takes it after a moment's hesitation. ]

Okay. Um- I- sorry I yelled at you, before, everything was kind of- everything's still a lot.

[garbageface]

Dude, why apologize? [ Santana shrugs. ] I'd have yelled at me too, you know. Although I probably also would've called me a name, you should try that next time. It's whatever. You should stick up for yourself more.

[ and now that Riley has a knife, she can! ]

[isawallflower]

I don't want to antagonize anyone... [ But this is a grumble, kind of annoyed, and she sighs, turning the knife over in one hand. Just a few days ago she was using one like this to peel an apple, and now... It's eerie. ] I'll stick up for myself, but...only when it's necessary. Tensions are high right now. We shouldn't be fighting each other.