[meeting] Me Duce Tutus Eris

[heathencall]

[After a night fun in the Graveyard dies down and gives way to a new day, Mephisto gets to work compiling what they've put together over the past few days. He'll be scratching down notes between accepting cat names and all that, so it's about early evening by the time he's got things together and decides to present it to the class.

And by that, we mean thundering up and down the opera house halls demanding everyone's presence in the dining hall in the next 30 minutes.

That means you too, Jeremy.

Given the hasty nature of the meeting, there isn't the usual array of snacks set out. Mephisto does at least put out his more recent haul of pies at least? Anyone else who wanted to use that 30 minutes more productively than yelling at people is welcome to bring something though.

He's starting to understand why Riley was so stressed out about these things. But someone has to carry her torch. Someone has to be the heart and the flame.]

Comments

[heathencall]

[Once everyone has entered, Mephisto doesn't waste time jumping into the important parts.]

Christine and I found... something? Someone? In the cemetery. I believe it may have been something like what you experienced, Nana but Christine can tell you more about that.

I think there may be ghosts among us. Our ghosts.

[37773972]

...I agree. Sigyn...

[He glances towards Anne, briefly]

...I was by Sigyn's grave, and something came over me. I don't know how to describe it, but- my arms stopped hurting, while it was happening. And I wrote something, in the dirt.

[heathencall]

[Oh. Oh no....]

What did she say?

[37773972]

'STILL HERE'. With an 'S' signature.

[A moment of quiet.]

And then, 'J WAS MOVED'.

[madgiganticfeelings]

It... was two people. I know it was. And it was Riley and King Richard. Riley hugged me, using my own arms, and wrote her initials on my hand, and King Richard made a heart by flattening grass on the ground, and ruffled my hair.

It seems like they're here with us, but they can only do a few things before they lose their connection with us.

[She hugs herself again, the way Riley had that night, as she looks to where Steven is.]

Steven and I... we found recordings in the studio that said there were ghosts here as well. I just... don't know why they only started communicating with us now.

PUTS THIS BACK

[37773972]

[He's quiet for a long moment, digesting this. And after clearing his throat-]

If we go off that we can trust what the Phantom says...then I can believe in ghosts. Because apparently, he can bring back the dead. Which makes me wonder what the hell all this is for in the first place.

[madgiganticfeelings]

I don't know why you wouldn't. They... I definitely felt them. And I know I'm just a kid, but I know it wasn't just my imagination.

[She traces the spot on her hand Riley had touched, shivering for a moment.]

[holyspit]

It sounded like the people in the recordings were going through the same thing. This weird game or play or whatever. They'd lost people they loved.

[madgiganticfeelings]

Yeah... they were. But they, um, they sounded happier than we did? I guess we only heard part of the story, though.

[garbageface]

[ Santana listens to Christine’s story, uncharacteristically quiet — no snarky comments, no eye rolling, nothing. She’d been at Riley’s grave too, but felt nothing. She probably shouldn’t take it personally. But this is Santana we’re talking about. She’s going to take it a little personally.

She’ll do her best to focus on the second part, instead. ]

We could always just ask a ghost.

[ you know, he-who-must-not-be-named-three-times. ]

[heathencall]

I think it would be unwise to deliberately summon any ghosts, considering the rule our host implemented.

[likemypicture]

Guys. Guys, guys. [Anne's dramatic as always, but she's been dying to get this info out to someone who will give her her desired reaction.]

the Wizard Angus was always yelling about. Is. Real. And he's the Phantom's.... [Only friend? Boss? Benefactor?] He's who he was talking to!

[37773972]

'The Wizard'?

[-of Oz? No, that's a little too much.]

[likemypicture]

That's what he said.

He also said... [Her voice gets a little weepy, and she rubs at her eyes like she's wiping away tears] That... he's the only one that ever treated him like everyone else. Isn't that like, super tragic??? [And-- seconds later, she rolls her eyes, back to her normal voice] At least, that's what I would have said, like, 4 weeks ago.

[madgiganticfeelings]

Wait, he talked to you about his 'patron' too? He did when I met with him!

[Christine blurts that out, and then... instantly looks sheepish. She. Probably shouldn't have said that.]

[likemypicture]

Oh, I asked. When I was using my.... [She tilts her head to the side dramatically, and when she speaks, it's in a super cool voice.] .... royal decorum.

[likemypicture]

[wait.]

HE GRANTED YOU AN AUDIENCE?

[heathencall]

Met... With him?

[holyspit]

...you're not still trying to date him, right?

[holyspit]

I tried asking the Phantom what this is actually about, again. He said- he's trying to fix "everything". That what happened to- him, it didn't have to. I'm not sure, I think he might be trying to change the past somehow?

[37773972]

[To that...Stephen nods.]

That matches what he told me. Whatever he's doing, he's convinced this is the only way to do it.

[holyspit]

If he is, we should probably stop him even if it could work? That. That kind of thing tends to end badly. Probably.

[Sorry Nana.]

Catherd 1/????

[heathencall]

[This is going well. This is going great. Mephisto's going to step back a moment to clear his head.]

If any of you would like to help, here -- [He glances up at the ceiling, not sure who he's talking to? Maybe some leadership skills from Richard? Who knows.]

It would sorely be appreciated.

Catherd 2/3

[stagemanagers]

[Very suddenly Mephisto's entire body stiffens. He straightens his posture and slaps on a wide, one might say perky grin before speaking again-]

3/3

[isawallflower]

Hello, everyone~!

[ BOY that must be weird coming out of Mephisto's mouth! It's his voice? But it sounds, in intonation, like someone all of you saw die. ]

Listen up, do not argue, and do not ask questions because oh my God, if another thing goes wrong at this meeting, I will possess each and every one of you and make you do fifty squats.

[ Hi, guys. Riley's here.. ]