and after the party it's the AFTER PARTY

[likemypicture]

[Tradition is Tradition.

Anne figures it's best to keep everyone busy in the aftermath of the trial, so she wrangles together a team of Mephisto, Santana, and Stephen to help her set up. Mephisto writes the notes and slides them under the door for Nana, Steven, and Christine, letting them know there's food and people in the dining room. The handwriting's not too great. Christine's note contains a 'P.S. If you don't feel up to it, I'll bring some food by later.' from Anne and a little doodle of Tad Cooper.


Thankfully, Anne has help setting up, so the weirdest of her food experiments don't make their way out of the kitchen. However, her platter of sandwiches does contain some interesting surprises--- you may find cheese and jelly, or peanut butter and chicken. There are normal things there too, though! And Biscuits, courtesy of Mephisto.

Their resident therapy dragon is on duty, too. Anne's made him a tiny crown for the event, and a regal little cape. He sits on a pillow in the middle of the dining room table, reigning proudly. ]

Comments

[musacal]

[ hey Steven do you wanna talk about girls while we wait-- oh wait there's the reply. ]

It's ok.
Well it's not but
It's not your fault.
Steven wanted to ask some stuff though.

[ She looks up from the phone then and to Steven. She's willing to hand the phone back or type for him, which ever he prefers. ]

What would you like to ask again? If they know anything to help us?

[holyspit]

[He would love nothing more than to gush about Connie and all the Gems, honestly, but maybe another time.]

Yeah. Anything about the Phantom. I don't think he's human, or not completely, but Christine and the squid both said he's- kind of supposed to be? Or was, in the story that got told.

[musacal]

Okay.

[ She adds to the message. ]

Like if you know anything about the Phantom.
We have a feeling he might not be human anymore even though he's supposed to be. (._. );
Or just anything else that might help us.

[stagemanagers]

uh
I mean you've got the wrong guy here but I know someone who would

[..........]

ok so
his name's erik
he's a genius with music and shit but also a bunch of other stuff I guess?
and I guess he was in persia for a while and that's why he strangles people???
and there was this novel a lot of people use for his backstory but idk if that's canon
and also a really bad sequel
definitely sounds human tho

why do we think he's maybe not human????

[holyspit]

...should we tell them the Phantom got stabbed really bad and just kind of kept going? That might be kind of a lot to start with.

[musacal]

[ Hmmm... so a lot of stuff she already knew-- except that sequel part. what. ]

...Yeah, I'll... tell them that.

Well um
One of our friends, before she died...
She stabbed him twice. And one of those times was in the gut.
But he was fine afterwards, like nbd??? (?_?)
I'm pretty sure gut wounds kill most people?
People should die when they're killed?

[stagemanagers]

uh yeah usually
maybe this version's like
an actual ghost

[musacal]

[ Oh that's an idea. She quickly turns to Steven. ]

Hey actually... have any of us touched him before?

[holyspit]

Oh- hm. ...I definitely haven't? But we've seen him interacting with stuff, he has to be solid, right?

[Crud, who all has met the Phantom face to face? This suddenly seems important.]

[musacal]

[ :|a ]

Maybe?
We've seen him touching and interacting with stuff but I'm not sure any of us has actually touched him or seen how he gets around.

Btw who's the person you mentioned earlier? The one who you said might know?
Is that the lady that saved you before?

cw: proposed self-harm attempt

[stagemanagers]

I guess you might be able to tell a ghost is a ghost if you see it get stabbed?
idk depends what horror movie rules you're on

lol no just a friend
i still haven't seen HER since




god
if ppl are dying there maybe i rly will try to summon her by walking into traffic

[musacal]

[ OH... ]

d
sorry i pressed send too soon
dont do that

[stagemanagers]

ok
idk how else to get her tho

she seemed like she maybe knew something was up??? idk she's mysterious

[musacal]

[ ... :|a ]

Does she really show up EVERY time you're in danger?
Idk I just know I don't want you to get hurt either. (;_;)
But that almost sounds like um... What do people call it?
"Guardian Angel"?

[stagemanagers]

well no
idk
it's not like i'm in danger all the time or anything

[.....]

she only really started showing up when this stuff with this guy started
with the texts, and then trying to hurt me
i mean i dont know for SURE that it was all the same as this phantom dude but i think that makes sense?

[holyspit]

Oh jeez, yeah, please don't actually get hurt, that's what we're trying to have not happen.

[Steven knows Chewie can't hear him, but jeez. Can we not have more people hurt or worse today.]

Okay, so. How would we tell if Chewie's badguy is the same as our badguy? ...He's seen him, right? The texty hurty guy, ask if Chewie's gotten a good look at him ever.

[musacal]

Hmm...

I'll try asking about that. Maybe looking back through the old messages will help too.

[ In the mean time though she replies: ]

Huh... that's weird ('_')
Maybe the two of them are connected somehow...
By trying to hurt you though, you mean it was more than just the text threats?
Did you ever get a look at him before?

[ While waiting on a reply she'll start looking through the old threats sent. Anything popping out in particular? ]

[stagemanagers]

not really
like one time i got kinda shoved into the road?
and almost down some stairs
it was always stuff where i never saw who did it
i mightve just thought it was all accidents if she wasnt always there to grab me

[The old messages aren't anything terribly special! The Phantom sure seems to have a low opinion of Chewie, though; a lot of these aren't threats as much as just general insults.]

[holyspit]

[Do the threats and insults seem like the types of things the Phantom would actually say? He's kind of distinctly Dramatic and generally Like That.]

Huh. I would've figured he would have just done magic stuff or whatever to kill someone.

[musacal]

Maybe he only has powers like that in this place? The original Phantom... isn't magical at all, even if they call his lasso that.

That's really scary! (O_O)
I'm glad she was there to help you at least.

[ She's starting to think that they're not going to find anything else out unless this lady shows up again. Hmm... ]

And there really isn't another way to get her to show up, huh?

[stagemanagers]

idk
not like i have her number or anything
doesnt seem like the kind of person you just text anyway???

[They're not actually incredibly dramatic? But insulting and blunt, so.]

i'll keep an eye out tho

[musacal]

[ Hmmm... ]

Well if you do see her again somehow, please let us know.
But take care of yourself too, idk how any of us would live with ourselves if someone outside helping us out also got hurt.

[ ....... ]

And I'm really sorry that you've been dragged into this too.

[stagemanagers]

im like barely helping you out but ok

keep in touch so i know you aren't all dead???