OVERTURE

[stagemanagers]

You wake up, and realize you don’t remember how you got here.

This bed is soft and warm, but it’s certainly not yours. And the room is unfamiliar - unless perhaps you’re an actor, seeing as it looks almost exactly like every dressing room in the world. It's not quite large enough to fit the bed and trunk comfortably alongside the vanity, but it what it lacks in open space, it makes up for in coziness. This could be something you’ve seen in a movie, or dreamed about experiencing one day. But whatever the case, you aren’t supposed to be here.

There’s a silver key resting on your vanity, along with a thin program booklet. The cover - where the name of the show would usually be - is blank, but if you flip through it, you’ll find some startlingly familiar information. Maybe a few familiar faces as well…

The hallway outside is narrow and poorly-lit, lined with star-studded doors. But if you make your way past them and out into the lobby, you’ll find something entirely different: an elegant, refined opera house. Crystal chandeliers glitter overhead, and the red carpet is perfect for putting on a show. A large clock on the northern wall marks the time, though with the windows shuttered and locked it's difficult to tell whether it's morning or night. There’s also some framed information pinned up that you might find helpful. If you explore further into the adjoining wings, in fact, you'll see there's an identical copy in every room.

There’s also two sets of double-doors in the lobby: one leading back the way you came, deeper into the Opera House, and one leading out. For the moment, neither of them will open.

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

Comments

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[How... Entirely bizarre. D-ne for a moment, in her disorientation, fears she made a wish without realizing, but that thought lasts but a few seconds, overturned by a few others after she dismisses it as silly. Where's the paw? The ribbon, she certainly had it in her hair last she remembers. Hadn't she just left in those cute shoes?

D-ne has to figure out what's going on here. This wasn't part of her instructions from Kokkuri-san.

The booklet clutched in her hands - what was that, like she's a part to be played - D-ne first walks up and down the dressing room corridor, to see who else's names are written on these doors. ...To see if, maybe, a certain name, despite not being in the booklet... With every door she reaches, she looks more and more disappointed, like a pouting kitten or a kicked puppy.

In her efforts to explore thoroughly, it's only natural that D-ne comes across the rules. She reads them over once, and then a second time. At this, her jaw tightens. Awful.] Another stringent set of rules. Isn't one enough...?

[She keeps her composure, and clicks her tongue.]

I don't recall any rumors about such a theater, though. [A little taut smile. As if this was just a bout of inconvenience.

It's another troubling facet of the day. She'll continue her examinations, exploring the west wing as much as she can and lingering around the storage closet in particular, the toolkits catching her eye.]

rules

[aflatouttahell]

[WHAT UP D-NE IT'S YA GIRL SATAN SATAN'S DAUGHTER]

I haven't heard anything about a place like this either, if it's any consolation.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[EYYYY SUP GIRL LET'S PARTY

No, not really, D-ne is beyond surprised to see a girl with horns and colored skin! Even though she saw that picture in the booklet, it's still startling! She reacts to this as anyone would to severe shock, by raising a hand to her mouth.]

O-oh- oh my god!

[....maybe could do with a bigger reaction there but oh well]

[aflatouttahell]

[... You know what? She's gonna have a little fun with it this time.]

No, I live with the other guy.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

With the...?

[oh! well D-ne laughs, though it may be, again, in surprise]

Of course, that would make much more sense? [a demon is teasing her]

[aflatouttahell]

Sorry, I'm just getting that a lot today. My name's Jezebel.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

No no, apologies aren't necessary... Jezebel-san, then, I'm sorry for my surprise, I've just never seen something like you before. [Like really are you actually a demon girl, that's really weird, you know that, right?

Smile.] I'm D-ne.

[aflatouttahell]

Yeah, well... you're probably not supposed to see anything like me yet, honestly. [NO REALLY WHO TOOK HER OUT OF HELL] Nice to meet you, D-ne.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[but that devil back where she came from or so help me]

I don't think nice is the right word? Considering our circumstances. But still. [She bows her head a little.] A "pleasure" all the same.

[aflatouttahell]

Despite the circumstances.

[She bows her head simiarly in return.]

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

Careful not to bump anyone like that, Jezebel-san. [the horns] There might be an unfortunate accident.

[D-NE CAN YOU NOT]

[aflatouttahell]

[EXCUSE?]

I'll be careful. These are actually pretty small for horns.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[Beam!]

Oh, I can imagine! It puts my worries at ease, though, to hear you say so.

dressing rooms

[rockthistown]

[Hime's been convinced to stop hiding, anyway, and she's moving her garment rack back into her room when she notices D-ne. She startles, shakes her head, and waves.]

Um... hello?

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[It's not too surprising that when looking at the other rooms she actually runs into one of the people inhabiting them.]

Excuse me, ah... Hime-san, is it? [She's read the booklet, she's going to remember the only other Japanese name.] I didn't mean to intrude.

[rockthistown]

Th-that's me! [bow] I am Himelda Window Cure Queen of the Blue Sky! Though I go by Shirayuki Hime because nobody can remember it.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[wha.....t is this]

Hime...lda-san. I don't blame you. I know for sure I won't be able to remember it. [How blunt! But her kind smile and gentle tone offset any rudeness.]

[rockthistown]

You can call me Hime if it's too long. Even my best friend never remembers it. Who are you?

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

D-ne. [because that's a normal name right] I would say it's a pleasure to meet you, but...

[rockthistown]

But we've been kidnapped and it's not a pleasure at all! [She finishes, wailing.] The doors out won't even work or anything!

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

That is the problem, yes. [Sigh.] Is that so? There's no exit, at all?

[rockthistown]

There are locked doors and shuttered windows, but nothing that actually lets us leave.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[She wrings her hands but doesn't look openly upset.]

Ah, that's... It'd still be productive to look around, but that doesn't bode well.

[rockthistown]

They've got our stuff hidden somewhere too, I'm sure! Anything we could use to get out if we had it!

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

Yes, there are...a few things I'd like back. [She narrows her eyes, smile not leaving.] If we can locate them, I can fix the situation.