[mingle, backdated to Wednesday] What always ends in bloodshed begins as just a game

[madgiganticfeelings]

[So that certainly was a little afternoon adventure, wasn't it? Those hanging around the ballroom might have noticed two absolutely drenched teen girls just... appear out of the floor, shivering and shell shocked. Christine, once they get on solid ground, pretty much falls to her knees to just... stare into space for a minute.

What is this week, honestly?

But as crazy as this all is, Christine knows they have to talk about this with everyone, as soon as possible. So once she helps Nana find some dry clothes and has a little destressing session with The Dads (TM), she's pinning up a note in the hallway.]

Time for another meeting! Nana and I will meet you all in the ballroom around 7. A lot happened these last few days that we need to discuss. Refreshments will be provided, but bring something if you like!

[Christine will be in the ballroom in her Juliet dress (sadly, her cloak is still in the dryer), holding her binder and a weird old flip phone. Hopefully, this goes at least a little more smoothly than past gatherings!]

((Feel free to make prompts before or during the meeting, depending on if you're unlucky enough to see the gals ascending from the trapdoor. I'll be making a few comments myself to cover all the conversation topics. Have fun!))

Comments

Phantom Hideout!

[madgiganticfeelings]

So, uh, this afternoon, Nana and I ended up in the Phantom's hide out. Not sure how, but something took control of her legs and took her to Room 5.

The passage behind the mirror was a full stairwell then, but I'm not sure if it's been covered up again. There were a couple things there on his desk, I uh, I think song lyrics for a motive? A bunch of words were crossed out and redone, though. And... there was a model. Of the "punishment" he made Red go through.

[Her hands curl into fists at the memory.]

He found us eventually, and he wasn't wearing his mask, but we didn't get a good look before he threw us out and we crawled back up into the ballroom.

[Secret passages, man.]

I'm starting to believe this isn't the real Phantom though... if he was all scarred up, he wouldn't have gone anywhere without his mask.

[37773972]

...figures he'd plan everything ahead of time.

[What. He's not sour or anything. Honest.]

[musacal]

[ Nana’s in an adorable frog onesie now, and she kinda.... sinks a little as Christine describes what happened to them. ]

I don’t know about that... it looks like he was sleeping, so maybe it’s not too comfortable to wear the mask in bed...

[ She looks down. ]

I feel a little bad about seeing him like that...

[isawallflower]

He dumped you in a well! You have nothing to feel bad about.

[ Riley’s here, stressed as usual. It was almost one day where nothing distressing happened... ]

[musacal]

Well, we were in his room...

[ Nana please ]

[heathencall]

You two went into his hideout. Alone.

[Christine you are going to make him go gray. He's supposed to be immortal and beautiful and you do this to him!]

[madgiganticfeelings]

It wasn't like we had a choice! Nana couldn't stop moving. I couldn't just let her go in by herself, and there wasn't time to grab anyone.

[Demon dad, chill. She's fine! She's alive at least!]

[herwiggles]

Is losing control of your legs.... normal, for humans?

[musacal]

In fairness, we didn’t know it would lead to his hide out...?

[ Actually she had a pretty good hunch where it was gonna go and Christine might have had that same idea BUT HEY.... PLAYING INNOCENT. ]

[heathencall]

[Grumbling:]

You should have told one of us.

[holyspit]

Okay. Two things. First, you're both okay, right? Two, maybe we could try going back, as a larger group? ...Wi-i-i-th adult supervision?

[Cause this sounds really dangerous but also the best lead towards anything they've had so far?]

[...also there is a large pink lion loafing next to Steven like a housecat, that's probably fine.]

[37773972]

Agreed with adult supervision.

[Just. Ignoring the lion for the moment. It's Not The Weirdest Thing, But It's Close]

[garbageface]

And with weapons.

[ going in unarmed sounds like a bad idea! ]

[holyspit]

Are there any weapons you know how to use?

[He didn't take you for the combat training type, Santana.]</smalli

[isawallflower]

[ you know what. the week has only gotten worse. will lion let riley just kind of. pet his fur. ]

[holyspit]

[Lion kind of looks up and studies Riley for a second, then just rolls over for tummy rubs.]

[musacal]

I can control my legs again, so that’s nice!

[ lifts one up and wiggles her foot for good measure ]

[holyspit]

Do you think it was- the stripey ghost demon guy you guys summoned?

[madgiganticfeelings]

...sorry, I know this is kind of off topic, but I have to know what the lion is all about.

[holyspit]

Oh, I figured since he's here now, he deserved to know what's going on too. Don'tcha, buddy?

[Lion just yawns and scratches at his snout a couple times.]

[herwiggles]

[Sliiiiiinks up to Lion

and tries to boop his nose.]

[etincelledefierte]

What were you thinking, not getting someone else - your voices both carry enough that someone would have heard you, why didn't -

[Claudine's voice cracks, despite her efforts to keep it even, and she just stops and shakes her head. Yelling isn't going to solve anything.]

I'm sorry. I just - you both could have died down there. That's all.

[musacal]

[ Ah... seeing Claudine upset hits really hard and she feels even guiltier ]

I’m sorry Clau-chan... but it felt like something needed me there...

...And if I’m honest I was a bit too... freaked out to think too straight...

[herwiggles]

Wait, so there's other phantoms?

[Spinel is also here!]

Kinda weird that he put together that punishment, right? Do you think he must've... put it together after that trial?

[madgiganticfeelings]

No, I don't think so. I think he... decides on these things, the moment someone gets killed. To make us even more upset.