week 5

[stagemanagers]

[That was...an absolute shitshow. More beloved friends are dead in a mess of a trial that's left Angus half the man he was, Riley in a free fall and the Phantom...somehow still standing despite taking two stabs to the torso.

When you wake on Sunday, you'll find that you've recovered another one of those memories - or had another dream, if you still wanna be in denial about it. The door blocking the stairwell on the second floor has been unsealed. You can now venture up to the third floor! You have so much space now, it's just a shame it's all come at the cost of eight lives.

But despite the tragedy you have made progress! The trip into the Phantom's lair yielded some hints to the past of the Opera House, your house manager's apparently grim hobby and the possibility of an ally outside the Opera House. Who knows what this week will bring?]

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday


(( Welcome to Week 5! Please remember to submit your AC and your memory regains, as well as your coins! You can also still contact the Phantom. ))

Comments

[37773972]

...so you get his soul?

[heathencall]

His soul, and my return to Heaven.

[37773972]

[The latter...doesn't make sense, all told, but. A bet's a bet, he guesses. Stephen considers this for a long moment, then;]

What are you going to do with it? Since you got what you wanted.

[heathencall]

I don't know.

[He kicks at a loose patch of dirt.]

There were conditions to our deal, but I was never sure what they were. I... have not recalled that piece. But I think I can put the pieces together. He wanted help. If I could bring him sublime satisfaction, give him the answer to the question of life, I would win.

He found that answer.

[37773972]

[He's quiet for another moment. It's a lot to think about, all right?]

Do you remember what it was?

[heathencall]

I do.

[He... isn't coming out with it, though. It keeps wedging in his throat every time he tries.]

I thought it weak at the time, I'm sure. Mocked him. But I understand, now.

[37773972]

[He looks at Mephisto, arching his brow...then...looking back at Riley, and letting out a breath.]

...at least you remembered something nice.

[heathencall]

[The huff Mephisto lets out is a bitter one.]

Sure. Nice.

[A glance toward Stephen.]

What about you, then?

[37773972]

[Stephen...is silent again. This is a much longer pause than before, where he's just staring ahead at Riley's stone, for all the world lost in thought.

Memory.

What the fuck was going on?

Gregor at a laptop. Dana wearing some kind of helmet, head shaved. VISUAL/VISUALIZATION. A haunting, dreamlike flow- ghosts of images.

His breath has quickened without realizing it, and he closes his eyes, a slight headache forming at his temples. He reaches for them, bandaged hands bumping against them- and he looks down at them, confused, before remembering what happened.

Right. Injuries. Mephisto asking him what he remembered. His tongue wets lips he hadn't realized had gone dry.]

...I'm still trying to understand it.

[heathencall]

Stephen?

[That's.... There's no masking his concern. He places his good hand on Stephen's shoulder, thumb rubbing in. He doesn't push, don't attempt to shake him out of his daze.]

[37773972]

[It's probably no surprise that Stephen startles a little bit at the touch- not flinching away, but looking back sharply, as if he'd forgotten Mephisto was there. He blinks a few times, pulled out nonetheless.]

I'm okay.

[It's the only thing he can think to say.]

[heathencall]

[He won't hold Stephen's hands outright but... He does brush his hand over them.]

Don't fall apart on me now.

[37773972]

[A glance down at their hands...and another breath. This one, to steady himself.]

...it was Dana and Gregor. He was...doing something to her, I think. I don't know how to explain it.

[heathencall]

Dana your... friend? [Is that hint of -- No, no, it's fine.]

And Gregor, the dead but not dead scientist?

[37773972]

[Luckily for Mephisto, Stephen's a little too scattered at the moment to make any comment about that tone. He just nods, and, so softly;] I have to get her out of there.

[heathencall]

We will. One step at a time.

[And... maybe it might help if...]

That's even if she needs our help. Perhaps you've already saved her, if our spotty memories are any evidence

[37773972]

[He hadn't thought of that, and it shows. But it does make him relax, even if he still seems...bothered.]

Maybe...and maybe there's a reason Gregor was in that picture, after all.

[heathencall]

If there is, then I look forward to giving this Gregor a piece of my mind.

[37773972]

...let me get some answers from him before you do anything. Alright? I think - and I'm just guessing, here - that he has something to do with my missing memories.

[beat]

The ones I was missing before.

[heathencall]

[Grumbling...]

No promises.

[37773972]

I mean it.

[Bandaged hand to touch Meph's face? Bandaged hand to touch Meph's face. Look at him.]

His letter's what led me to finding the Transmission- the one about trying to change the future. The one that had those blueprints in it, the whole reason we were in the cafe to begin with. [Trying to synthesize what they didn't have readily available] I need to know...

[...he needs to know if he is a pawn.]

[heathencall]

[Mephisto hesitates for a moment, before leaning into Stephen's hand.]

You get whatever you need from him. And then I'll toss him out of a window.

[37773972]

[That's...that'll have to be fine. He nods, bowing his head until their foreheads touch. Nevermind the four-inch height difference.]

...if he's actually hurting her...or...[me]...I won't stop you.

[heathencall]

You're damn right you won't.

[Sorry, you have an over-protective angel following you around now.]

[37773972]

[And that...makes him smile again]

Guess I was right, that nobody'd hurt me with you around.

[Another reason he justified making that Deal. What with...people willing to kill Gregor over it.

His smile fades. Or not. Just...just how much is real, in his memories? And how much is something else?]