itscurtains | once more with feeling [act 3]

Entry tags:

act 3,
week 1

once more with feeling [act 3]

You awake in an unfamiliar bed.

It’s comfortable enough, sure, but it’s certainly not yours. The room, too, is unfamiliar, especially in such heavy darkness. There seems to have been a great effort put into making it a livable space, with fuzzy rugs laid over linoleum, beds arranged as best to fit (and one bunk bed per dorm, rip whoever has the bottom bunk), and a single desk. You've also got individually labelled trunks; if you look inside yours, you'll find a yearbook with mostly blank pages, as well as a few with some interesting information. But even with all these changes it’s clear this room started it’s life as a classroom, every window hidden behind heavy dark green curtains.

To add to the strangeness of it all, your clothes have been swapped for some kind of uniform. It, though fitting your body perfectly, might feel a bit odd to some of you, as the body you have isn’t quite the same as it was before you mysteriously fell unconscious. The other important thing to note is the people in the other beds around you, all wearing the same color-coded uniform.

The hallway outside the dorms is narrow but well-lit, with fresh white walls and some scattered posters advertising some kind of midweek club meeting. The hallway goes on until, for the more contemporary of you, the pieces start to fall together as to your location: a school. Once you leave your rooms you’re free to wander as you wish but pinned up on a corkboard just outside the cafeteria there’s framed information that you might find helpful. If you explore further into the other rooms, in fact, you'll see there's an identical copy outside all of them.

In the lobby there are linoleum floors and fluorescent lighting, and a pair of glass doors that appear to lead outside. You can see out of both of them that the sun is shining brightly and there’s definitely more to see in the distance but the glass is unbreakable; you can't get out that way right now. A rolling metal sheet blocks off the hallway to the west. For the moment, both doors leading outside are locked.

It looks like you’re stuck. But hey - at least you aren’t alone.

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Mm. No, I imagine it won't. That's the one with the information about us in, isn't it? I'm afraid I'm at a bit of a disadvantage, I haven't had the time to sit down with it and read it yet.

[He takes a meditative sip of his tea.]

It's unsettling, though, isn't it? Just... I don't remember sitting for a photograph like that, is all.

I can't say I remember such a thing, either. Not to mention our method of transport here, whatever that was...or these clothes. [the last part is said rather dryly. Why did it have to be white?]

[He 'tsk's half a laugh (his throat a little sore, still, even with the tea) and smiles wryly at the remark about the clothes.]

Dreadful, aren't they? Designed for children, no doubt, and scaled up to fit.

I fear dreadful might be too kind a word. [the corner of Salieri's mouth quirks in dry amusement.] If I had any talent for sewing, I would be rather tempted to give that costume room a closer inspection and see if I could create something more...appropriate. [he sighs a bit, taking a sip of his tea] Alas, that my talents do not lend to such a thing.

My own sewing abilities begin and end at sewing buttons back on. Not a bad start, but certainly not enough to salvage this mess.

[He takes a sip of his own tea.]

Still though, might not hurt to take a closer look. I'd sacrifice a tailored fit to not look like a dancing monkey.

[that will, despite the situation, win a startled chuckle out of Salieri. He manages to pull his tea away in time before he chokes on it and there's a crinkle of mirth to the corner of his eyes]

At this point, so would I. Better a little baggy but more refined than wearing the dress of someone half my age.

[Day one attempted murder

Benjamin finishes swallowing the bite of sandwich he'd taken, and takes a sip of tea to wash it down.]

Been more than half my age since I wore a uniform like this. I didn't have the privilege of a private school upbringing, myself. Learned my letters and then started learning my trade.

But- of course, where are my manners? Benjamin Barker, at your service, sir.

[Salieri sets his tea aside, listening as Benjamin explains--before he does manage something of a smile, despite the situation]

Maestro Antonio Salieri, at yours. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Monsieur Barker, despite the odd circumstance.

[he looks amused still, because this is a rather pleasant conversation which is honestly a relief to have after the complete madness of the day insofar] I can't say that I've ever worn such a uniform either. I learned my letters by a tutor, and then by the monks.

If I might ask, what is your trade, then?

[Benjamin's eyebrows arch up, as he sets his own tea aside. A barber serves many men above his station as well as below, but he's never had the honor of serving a Maestro.]

Oh, no doubt the pleasure is mine, sir.

[He inclines his head respectfully.]

I'm a barber. Not a glamorous trade, but certainly a necessary one.

A trade hardly need glamour to be both respectable and admirable, I should think. After all, I do know more than several of my acquaintance who would simply perish without their barber.

[He cracks a smile, at that.]

Well, us barbers of course would be nothing without such loyal patrons. I find it a job that's rewarding in its own way, even if it never makes me rich.

I'm glad to hear that. [Salieri smirks a bit in return, the corner of his mouth curling upwards] Depending on how long we're stuck here, might I prevail upon you for your services?

Of course, sir, it'd be my honor.

I'll have to get suitable instruments for the job, first; I'm afraid mine weren't brought with me. Shouldn't be hard - if we're expected to stay here any length of time, there should be something provided for personal grooming.

[he frowns a bit, at that] It's a pity that you have been robbed of the tools of your art. In most cases, I would say that I expect them to provide you with replacements, however...considering that we know virtually nothing of our hosts and I do not trust really anyone who has decided kidnapping a viable past time, I cannot say my hopes are high.

I was on holiday with my wife, before I woke here this morning. I'm afraid most of my tools are back in London, even if my whole trunk was brought here with me.

Although given the places we here hail from, I should think fetching them from London would hardly be taxing.

You were torn away from your holiday with your wife? [Salieri's mouth twists into a scowl, affront in every feature] To tear you away from such a thing--and here I wasn't sure if my opinion of whomever brought us here could get any lower!

I'm terribly sorry, Monsieur Barker, that you've had to suffer such an indignity.

[More than just a holiday - but Salieri may break down the wall himself if he finds out Benjamin was interrupted on his honeymoon.

Benjamin shakes his head, his gaze falling to the table as he runs his fingers through the whiskers on his chin with a frown.]

Indignity, indeed, sir. I know my Lucy will be worried sick about me, which is why I hope we find a way out of here, and soon.

I hope so as well, for both yours and your Lucy's sake. [he huffs, managing to pull the small amount of composure lost back together, taking another sip of his tea. Though the affront still lingers, mildly, in the thinness off his lips as he presses them together, setting down his tea again]

Though there's nothing to be done at the moment, I suppose. We are a bit stuck in some sort of limbo until we can figure out who brought us here in the first place.

Edited 2021-06-05 01:39 (UTC)

I suppose that's true.

[That there's nothing they can do right now, that is.]

Will they reveal themselves in due time, do you think, or will we have to flush them out first?

[He polishes off the last bite of his sandwich, then takes a sip of tea.]

[at that question, he sighs, mild annoyance replacing the affront]

To be honest, I haven't the slightest idea. Though I would suspect that they will, eventually, reveal themselves, if for nothing more than to try and ensure we're following the rules.

[his expression darkens at that]

Edited 2021-06-05 11:43 (UTC)

[His own expression darkens a little as well, as he takes another sip of his tea.]

A shame they've already put a rule in place to keep us from letting them know what we really think of this whole idea.

[That being "rule 4."]

[there's some of that affront that comes back into Salieri's face at that, his upper lip curling a bit in disgust]

Indeed. The sheer cowardice...they're trying to force us to turn any of our frustrations on each other, rather than them.

Well, it's not going to work. We may not know one another well yet, but we know we have a common enemy.

Exactly. [he nods, once] And common enemy will certainly well unite us against them, no matter what they try to do.

Well said.

[Benjamin nods decisively himself.]

It was a pleasure to meet you, sir. Thank you for letting me interrupt your tea.

[He extricates himself from the cafeteria tables (which are a little awkward for a grown-ass man), and then extends a hand to shake.]

You'll be the first to know, if I find suitable tools to work my trade.

(no subject)

violentenvies - 2021-06-08 09:51 (UTC) - Expand

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