Week Four

[stagemanagers]

[Last week, Gershwin High School Academy University saw its very first intentional murder! What a milestone! And right after Spongebob's No Murder party, too - that doesn't seem like it bodes very well for anybody's future.

You all wake up this morning with yet another new memory returned to you. You'll also find that the school's external doors have now unlocked. Congratulations! You're free! Unfortunately, you also seem to be entirely in the middle of nowhere. So maybe it's more of a symbolic victory.

Still, you should look around and do some investigation! Maybe you'll find a fun surprise.]

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

(( Be sure to submit your memory regains and your AC for this week! Hester's office hours and the merch booth also remain available! ))

Comments

[mcfife]

There are no rules against scaling the wall. Now, do you think we can fashion some sort of hook and use that instead? I can't find anything attached above that I could grab.

[mayavericks]

Perhaps some pieces off the car in the garage? You would have to ask Varian, of course -- he might be unwilling to part with pieces of his project.

[mcfife]

I'll ask!

[It's a plan, at least.]

But I can see some of my theory is correct. There are more floors above ours. The Wizard must be up there.

[mayavericks]

A wizard atop of a tower? [She shakes her head, almost amused.]

It's a cliche, and a terrible one at that.

[mcfife]

[A head tilt. Where do you think he comes from?]

It's not a cliche if it's true. Wizards love high places.

1/2

[mayavericks]

2/2

[mayavericks]

But of course. You would know, wouldn't you?

[She actually laughs this time.]

You'll tell me when you actually attempt to climb, right? You will need someone to spot you.

[mcfife]

Got it. But don't worry, I have climbed worse.

[...But she can't leave just yet.]

There's something I must tell you. I remembered something this morning...and I worry what it means for both of us.

[mayavericks]

[She's just turning to leave when Angus speaks again. She tilts her head, just a little.]

What is it, McFife-san?

[mcfife]

I have seen the name Claudine Saijo before.

[He also knows Nana, but he can't confirm they are from the same school. It's a likely coincidence, but Nana doesn't pose a danger.]

While chasing Zargothrax, I was kidnapped by someone else, along with sixteen others. One of them was Claudine. [He reaches into his pocket, pulling out a half-mask that Maya would recognize from famous theater performances.] A man calling himself "The Phantom" brought us together, and this is the mask he wore.

...I don't remember any of them. I don't remember that detour. None of it! And yet...we all must have escaped.

[mayavericks]

[Maya absolutely recognizes the mask. She reaches out to take it all the same, though. Her fingers stroke against the surface, distracting herself from the sudden roaring in her ears. She swears she can taste her own heartbeat in her throat.]

Saijo-san? [Kidnapped? She tries to think if she's seen Claudine ever disappear, but. No. As far back as her memories go, Claudine has been there.]

Were there any other young women there? [And perhaps, more importantly?] Did this -- Phantom say what he wanted?

[mcfife]

Nothing. Just that we were trapped, and were party of a play he was running. There were...rules. Similar to The Wizard's.

[Maybe they didn't kill each other. How else would he and Claudine be alive?]

There were younger people. Older men. This cape - it belonged to a young girl I met. [He holds out the red riding hood.] There were...others who I did not recognize. Another Takarazuka actress.

[Guess he has to bring it up anyway.] Do you know a Nana Daiba?

[mayavericks]

Nana --

[The roaring in her ears gets louder. No one deserved to be in a game like this. But Daiba Nana, of all people?]

I know her.

[Sorry, Angus, she's stepping a few feet away and leaning against the building. She has her head in her hands.]

Saijo-san -- Claudine never mentioned anything like this. Neither did Nana.

[mcfife]

...Could our memories been wiped?

[He looks down at his hand, as if the proof could just materialize right there.]

I remember nothing. If I did, I would have done something about it when I escaped and saved Fife. Yet...[It all worked out in the end?] We were trapped there for some time. The week before, I remembered speaking with a king among us. If we were friends, then the assassin would think that I would be familiar with Claudine and-

[He looks up.] Have I been recaptured by The Wizard as punishment? Does he know me from The Phantom?!

[mayavericks]

I don't know.

[Her heart is racing. It's 100 times worse than the first time she stepped onto the stage.

But if this has happened before, what keeps it from happening again? Or after that?

[One thing she does know? Is that she has to speak to Hester. Like, now.]

I need to go.

[mcfife]

...Right.

I have to ask around a bit more. [He reaches out for the mask.] Can I have that back?

[mayavericks]

[She had almost forgotten the fact that she was holding it, actually. With a slow nod, she hands it up to Angus, then pushes up to her feet.]

I want to speak with you about this further, later. But for now --

[She turns as quick as she can to leave.]