itscurtains | week 5

[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. ))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Aw damn.]

If you feel it's helping then -- [A quick nod.]

[ She nods back. It actually kinda is! She's not hearing that stupid giraffe right now so hey! She continues and hey, it's song time! ]

With the aid of song, the two arrive at the Tower to grasp the Star.

If you catch a small star,
You will seize a small bit of happiness.
If you catch a large star,
You will seize a large fortune.
If you gather them both,
You will seize an eternal wish.

Grasping the Star means forgiveness for your sins,
Grasping the Star is the miracle of the night...

[ She sang a bit of this song to Riley when they were still getting to know one another, so singing it to Mephisto is... nostalgic and brings a brief smile to her face. ]

However, in their way... were six sinful goddesses, confined to this tower 500 years earlier, sleeping and near death.
Fury.
Escape
Arrogance.
Curse.
Jealousy.
Despair.

Why were they imprisoned there? What crimes had they committed? Such time had passed that even the goddesses themselves had forgotten...

[ She pauses. ]

...It just occurred to me that it's a little bit funny talking about "sinful goddesses" to a fallen angel.

[Mephisto seems to be amused as well. He'd already begun to relax at the singing -- what kind of tragedy could occur with song. At the mention of sin, though, a wry smile springs to his face. He's polite enough to muffle his chuckle until the end.]

Perhaps we're related. Except I have the great fortune of remembering what sin I caught up in. [Still smiling, he nods for her to continue.]

Were they able to pass the goddesses?

[ She nods. ]

Even as the dark emotions of the goddesses cut and tore at them, the two headed to the top of the Tower.

"Please take this... the star you have wished for!"

But...

[ And then she frowns because haha... she hates this part. ]

The star... it returned Claire's memories but... Flora, whose eyes had been scorched by the shine of the Star, fell from the Tower and Claire, left alone at the top, was imprisoned with the other goddesses. They were separated for the rest of eternity...

[ She takes a deep breath and says Claire's final line: ]

"I'm sorry Flora... our dream will not come to be."

And overhead, the stars continued twinkling forever...

[ She goes quiet after that. ]

[Maybe he should have anticipated this. But considering the praise that Nana had heaped on the performance, he'd gotten the wrong idea along the way. It doesn't sit right with him, being punished for completing a journey. He can't quite put his finger on why.]

And you performed this again and again? It seems rather... bleak, doesn't it?

[ She smiles weakly. ]

You're right. The truth is...

...I hate Starlight. It's beautiful and touching... until it gets to the end. And then it's awful.

But it's... not the story that I loved. It was making the absolute best friends in the world, working on this together with them for a whole year, holding hands as we took our bows.

I have always enjoyed theatre but... that was my first time not going on stage alone. It felt amazing being with them...

I didn't... want anything to change. I didn't want them to leave me... I just wanted to be together with them forever.

Suffering for something you loved. It's certainly poetic.

[He falls silent, studying Nana. It's a bit of an intense stare, Mephisto's brow drawing together the longer it goes on.]

I've known a few like you -- afraid of change. Desperate to stay in one place. And I've dealt with their souls accordingly.

I find it interesting that I feel no such compulsion to do so here. [A beat.] Perhaps we're both learning.

Heheh, I suppose so... I appreciate you not trying to take my soul at le—-

[ And then she pauses and looks behind her. ]

...Can I ask you something without being laughed at?

There’s no... animals in here... right?

[Mephisto doesn't have time to agree or disagree, so he doesn't feel bad that he snorts once before -- realizing that Nana is very much serious. He bites back whatever quip he may have about his own status and turns his head to look over his shoulder.]

No. Nothing.

[Not even octokitten! Kitchens aren't safe for cat monstrosities, after all!]

Okay... thank you.

[ She sighs with relief, looking back over at the pot. ]

I’m sorry for just... asking that out of the blue. [ It kinda ruined the moment they were having! ] But he won’t... leave me alone.

[Mephisto considers Nana for a moment. In any other circumstance, he'd wave it off, hide his own troubles under the skin. Given the situation they both find themselves in, the compulsion churning within his mind.]

I'm followed by my own ghosts as well.

[ She's quiet for a moment, also considering him, then decides to ask: ]

Would you like... to talk about it?

[ In case maybe it'll help. ]

It is... A long story. [But if he's learned anything from what happened to Riley, anyone could find themselves overburdened with secrets at a moments notice. It wouldn't do either of them good to keep their mouths shut.]

How much were you told about Ariel and myself? About our deal?

Not too much. But there's some things I've sort of... inferred a little. Just from what you are and how you've talked.

...I also know the story of "Faust" where your name appears- though I imagine that isn't the exact same.

Edited 2020-08-02 23:19 (UTC)

It's enough, at least. The only important part is that there was a deal for a deal. By the word of God, should I succeed in tempting Ariel's soul, God's most beloved child, I could have my place in heaven back.

I don't quite remember the deal we struck. But it had to do with the answers Ariel always sought. On Sunday, I remembered --

[He remembers the words by heart now, can sing them exactly as Ariel had.]

Love. Love is the only truth.
Pure as the well of youth,
Until it breaks your heart.

[He shivers, shakes his head, and then continues.]

If he had learned that, then our deal would have been complete. I should have been restored. But -- [He motions to his damaged, sickly wing.]

I keep seeing him. In Heaven. Saved despite everything. And it angers me so.

week 5

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