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]

[Oh, good, small victories, huh? No, this is still awful, the amount of new people here's staggering.]

Mm. I wont. ...Did you also wake up her unexpectedly?

[robitussin]

Yeah. Starting to think that's a trend here.

[She sighs.]

You got a name?

tfw you don't realize autocorrect does you wrong, phone tags

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

It's D-ne. [She bows her head a little.] Hello, ah...I don't know your name either.

i understand this pain well

[robitussin]

Oh, right. It's Natalie.

[A sigh.]

So, judging by the whole waking up unexpectedly thing, I'm guessing you don't have any idea why we're here either. Figures.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[She shakes her head regretfully.]

I wish I did. So far no one I've talked to has been able to answer any questions. You neither?

[robitussin]

[She shakes her head as well.]

Nope. No idea, and I haven't found the exit, either.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[A mournful sigh.]

We seem to be in quite the horrible situation here. I don't blame you for...being worried.

[robitussin]

Honestly, at this point I'm more concerned about the people who don't seem worried.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

You think they could be planning something?

[robitussin]

No, I just think they have some serious denial issues going on.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

Ah... Mm. [She nods.] I know a boy like that... I understand what you mean, that would just lead to more pain and... Th-then I'm glad you have, ah...a firm grasp of the danger of our situation?

[....she's trying]

[robitussin]

I... feel like I agree with what you're saying.

[If she understood that correctly.]

Yeah. So you get it too, then? Given how freaked out you seem.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

I...already have, uh, trouble enough interacting with strangers, so...yes, this is far from any kind of ideal.

[robitussin]

Really? Because you seemed really calm and collected to me.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[Nervous...laugh... Is she being sarcastic.]

I-if I may say so, ah, your honest attitude is...refreshing. Even in a place like this.

[robitussin]

[a soft noise of amusement]

I'm going to assume I should take that as a compliment.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

Oh, it is, it is! G-genuinely, I mean nothing bad by it!

[robitussin]

It's cool, seriously.

[she's under no illusions that some people might find her bluntness offputting]

So, are you just really shy, or...?

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[She nods, a little flustered.]

I've never been good at making friends. I've, ah, gotten better spending time with my club, but it's a work in progress.

[robitussin]

I mean, you seem nice enough, I guess.

[this is high praise from her tbh]

What club are you in?

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[aw thanks she's honored c: ]

The Occult Research Club.

[......yeah]

[robitussin]

...Huh. Didn't think you were that type.

What kind of stuff did you research?

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

Looks can be deceiving, so the saying goes! Mostly rumors, and urban legends. Like the slit-moused woman, or the human-faced dog.

[robitussin]

Uh, can't say I've heard of either of those.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

I think they're exclusive to Japan... The dog is harmless enough, but the woman is a grisly tale.