week 3

[stagemanagers]

[Two weeks in this place, and two of your number have finally fallen to the machinations of the Phantom. Jonny D’ville and Sigyn are both gone now, and those who survive have been shaken by a number of revelations. Can you go back to the peace you had before?

Though some of you may have corresponded with him, there have been no appearances or announcements from the Phantom since the execution. Nonetheless, things are different on Sunday. For one, you wake up with memories you didn’t possess before. Were they dreams? Were they real? Only you can say.

For another, well…the locked front doors in the lobby have creaked open. You may now venture out onto the grounds. Will you find an escape there? Or is it simply going to be more of the same? Only time will tell.]

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday


(( Welcome to Week 3! Please remember to submit your AC and your memory regains, as well as your coins! These will now be rolled on Sunday and Wednesday. The Phantom’s inbox remains open as well. ))

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TUESDAY

[stagemanagers]

MOTIVE: HOPES AND DREAMS

[inside_yourmind]

[This week, your summons is rather curt. Wherever you are, the Phantom's voice echoes through the Opera House; even if you happen to be outside, he's somehow clearly audible, his speech seeming to come out of one of the mausoleums, or perhaps the barn:]

Your presence is required in the lobby.

[When you arrive, he'll already be there, waiting smack dab in the middle of the lobby. Nonetheless, he won't be allowing you time to engage. This is Song Time now.]

Don't you want your own place somewhere?
Far away from all of your cares?
Or funds enough to spare
Oh - wouldn't that be lovely?

[We can confirm that he is absolutely not doing the accent at all. You know, like a coward!

With a swirl of his cape, he vanishes before your eyes. You hear him before you see him again, his voice echoing down from above; he’s perched on the edge of the chandelier, seemingly at his ease despite how precarious his position is.]

Or perhaps you aim higher still?
Somewhere you could impose your will?
Fortune, fame, and any thrill
Oh - wouldn't it be lovely?

Oh, imagine what you could
Achieve with this guarantee
Yes, a single wish to be
Granted, immediately

Kill someone this week, and I will grant you one wish. You know how much is in my power to give. There are some stipulations, of course - you cannot ask for infinite wishes. But I’m sure you can manage to achieve quite a bit with just one, if you’re clever. Your fondest hopes...your wildest dreams...

That girl will finally be star-crossed

[Is he grinning down at Jeremy and Steven specifically? He must be, right, it’s not like all you girls are gay as hell or anything]

You can go win that fight you lost

[Okay, but that one seems really pointed at Angus.]

And at such a low cost
Oh, wouldn't it be lovely?
Lovely, lovely, lovely, lovely

[And, in a flash of light that refracts brightly off the crystals of the chandelier, he vanishes.]

[heathencall]

[Yaaaaaawns and. oh god he's singing --]

Anything you can do I can do better
I can do anything better than you

[And only for your soul, not everyone else's! He looks so smug, even in spite of the random burst of lyrics.]

[inside_yourmind]

You couldn't even go a full month without bending to the whims of some random teenagers.

[Some fallen angel you turned out to be!]

[garbageface]

Oh, really?

[ color santana interested. ]

Prove it.

[bloodycape]

[...she suddenly feels mighty foolish for speaking to him of wishes. She grips her hands in front of her, rising to anger-- yelling, though he's no longer there. She trusts that he will hear her wherever he's hiding now.]

How can you say that... anyone's life is far too great a cost!

[justmeheere]

[Good news: it's Jeremy hours! Bad news: he is already dealing with the wild after effects of DOING EXACTLY THIS WEEK'S MOTIVE. Don't put a supercomputer that can grant your wishes in your brain! Don't accept wishes from the Phantom!]

I already know what it’s like to
Have it all
I should find out what it’s like to
just be the loser, or the geek, or the whatever

[inside_yourmind]

[okay but that's literally your title right now my guy]

[madgiganticfeelings]

...Cute. You know, that wasn't nearly as thought out as the last one. You're losing your flair, Phantom!

[She's teasing, but she may be trying not to glance at Jeremy. She definitely heard that line and that's... definitely a little bit awkward.

But almost immediately, she runs up in front of the gathered crowd and claps her hands, projecting her voice as much as she can.]

Excuse me, everyone! I want you all to know, the real Phantom doesn't have the power to do anything like what he's promising! He's just trying to use slight of hand and stage tricks to fool us. It's not worth even considering, okay?

[holyspit]

[Opens mouth to say something re: magic powers the Phantom may or may not possess.]

[Has a blessed moment of consideration for the actual situation.]

[Closes mouth.]

[inside_yourmind]

Oh? Have none of you told Miss Canigula what I am capable of? What an interesting display of the trust you all share.

[holyspit]

[Why is he being singled out here his relationship with Connie is perfectly fine in whatever vaguely nebulous kids' show space it exists in.]

My only wish right now is for you to not be so awful!

[Dot dot dot.]

And that's not the kind of wish that takes magic, just some frank self-examination and reflection!

[isawallflower]

[ She shows up with a scowl and a roll of her eyes. But. There’s almost a spark in Riley’s eye as she listens. She looks...far away. ]

[ ♫ ] Do you wanna settle?
Do you wanna sit back, and watch life go by?
Do you wanna settle, or...

[ She shakes her head, go away, lyrics. ]

No. No, no~! No. Shut up.

[etincelledefierte]

[Claudine came into the ballroom already angry, but the urge she had to yell - you liar, you made that girl disappear even without me hurting anyone - dies on her lips when she hears that motive.]

I don't need your wish.

[And she starts to sing, only changing one line:]

Only the stage knows where it will lead us
The binding thread of our promise is about to be cut off

Everyone's radiance will change this history
Let us keep moving forward as the passion that had welled up overflows

The wind was blowing bitterly because we wavered
As if trying to test us

Do not lose, Star Divine
Do not give up on your future
Rise anew, Star Divine
However many times you are hurt
We are reborn on the stage!

[mcfife]

[Oh, he feels sick to his stomach. There's many ways this could be used, and knowing the this isn't a wild fantasy gets his angrier than he should be.

He bites back his worst impulse to break something right there, to rush after the Phantom. But not after remember what had transpired in Dunkeld. He couldn't risk his life like that again.]

No. You won't win over us.

[Give him a moment, he has to sit down.]

[musacal]

[ Nana is oddly quiet over this one.

One wish......

Just one wish huh... ]

[herwiggles]

Ohh.

[Spinel frowns.]

Ohhh....

[She gets it now.]

TROMBONE SQUADRON'S SUPER SECRET STAKEOUT

[37773972]

[It's close to 10 when Stephen hunts down both Angus and Mephisto. After a brief stopover in his room to grab a couple trombones, the group heads for the kitchen- It's Time To Find Answers, squad!]

[heathencall]

[He's just along for the ride here. Gonna perch himself on a counter and eat... whatever he can get his hands on.]

So. What is the plan?

[mcfife]

[Angus is dressed in all-black. Thankfully, the merchandise booth gave him stagehand clothes that are silent and unseen. A cloak of invisibility compared to his usual fare. He has taken apart his trombone to have one light weapon and one heavy bludgeoning tool.]

Wait. See what this person does to the kitchen. Then take him prisoner. [He looks around the room.] It would work better if we waited in a corner.

Some hours later --

[heathencall]

[That was a nightmare. Mephisto isn't sure who invented weaponized cleaning discs but he intends to find them and make them pay.

Later.

Eventually after things settle down, Mephisto clambers down and hunkers up with the rest of the group. He figures they're both asleep right now, so he doesn't mind muttering to himself. About other people. As you do.]

For an intelligent man, you're quite the fool. No wonder you were so fond of Ariel.

[37773972]

[After unsuccessfully trying to open the door, Stephen more-or-less found a place to settle and wait out this...disaster. Arm pillowing his head, he's tried to find some sort of comfortable position but has only had so much luck. Say what you want, at least the beds here are cushy.

It's no surprise he's having trouble falling asleep. Mind, he's found a position he can stay in for a while, but...Mephisto's words ring loud and clear in his ears.

He snorts lightly.]

What can I say. You're a good actor.

[isawallflower]

[ After the Phantom’s new temptation, Riley vanishes for awhile. It’s not long, however, as there are soon flyers posted around the Opera House. ]

Meeting tomorrow! No surveys this time, but I think it’s important to get everyone on the same page with what we know! Come to the dining room around noon. Snacks and drinks will be provided!
~Riley

[ Feel free to catch her posting one of these, as she’s made...just an abysmal number of copies.

And for the rest of the day she’ll be blowing off some steam in the costume shop, because apparently punching a mannequin is what she does now. ]

Posting

[holyspit]

Great idea! What kind of snacks are you planning, I can help make them.

[isawallflower]

[ She's posting one up in the ballroom right now. ]

Some cookies, like the ones I made for the dinner party! Some sandwiches, too, for something a little more substantial.