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

[catliketread]

Not just any king!

[He points upwards dramatically. And then bursts into song, as you do.]

♪ For I am the Pirate King...

[. . .

Okay seriously, this just does not work without his crew to back him up here. The Pirate King sighs and rests his forehead against his hand. Dramatically. As you do.]

The song will have to wait, I'm afraid. I've no idea where my crew has gotten to.

[sunshineprincess]

[Hearing him start to sing was unexpected but thrilling at the same time. Until is falls flat...]

You need a crew to sing about yourself?

[That sounds awfully inconvenient.]

[catliketread]

It simply doesn't sound the same without them! I can't sing the background parts too, that's simply too much!

[S I G H]

I am a bit worried about them outside of the singing. We were all together last I checked and then... I woke up here. This obviously isn't my ship.

[And there isn't any sign of his crew...]

[sunshineprincess]

[She's only ever sung alone as far she she knows.]

I don't even remember falling asleep. Or how I wound up in these clothes.

[She looks down at herself. Shouldn't she be in the coronation gown, not this... peasant wear?]

I'm used to falling asleep in a castle.

[catliketread]

A castle?

[. . .]

Oho, so that's why you asked about my kingship! Kingliness. Are you a queen, or perhaps a princess?

[sunshineprincess]

[She nods before curtsying.]

I'm Princess Anna of Arendelle. It's nice to meet you.... Pirate King.

[Why is that your name? Why can't it be something like Agnar, Erik, or Bob?]

[catliketread]

Arendelle... Never heard of it. But 'tis an honor to meet an actual princess, miss Anna!

[And he'll give a sweeping, over-the-top bow. It's... actually a proper bow? It's just really exaggerated.

...AND WHO NEEDS NAMES ANYWAY.]

[sunshineprincess]

[She giggles at that. He doesn't seem like a bad guy. For a pirate.]

Well, whoever made that plaque for your door wasn't really creative mentioning your name twice.

[catliketread]

It's as though they don't want anyone to forget who I am! Not that I can blame them, I do have a whole musical number devoted to piracy. Several, actually. We were singing a different one shortly before I woke up here.

[But there's only one Pirate King song. Probably. Though they've probably got at least five hundred variations on it since they sing it a lot.]

[sunshineprincess]

[... musical numbers. This man is now back in the weirdo range.]

So... you sail the seven seas and just... sing?

[catliketread]

No, no, no, of course not! There is plenty of singing, but what else are we to do at sea for so long? Nay, we pirates get into many high-stakes battles at sea! Sinking ships, stealing treasure, that sort of thing. But!

[He holds up a finger as if to pause her from interrupting.]

We would never attack anyone weaker than us. That is our code!

[...they are not very successful pirates.]

[sunshineprincess]

[....................................

That......

She laughs nervously.]

Isn't that kind of the point? Pirates are supposed to fight weaker ships and steal from them.

[catliketread]

Some of them surely do. But not my crew! We have honor.

[He gives another sweeping bow at that.]

[sunshineprincess]

[.... he's not what she imagined a pirate would be, and it's one of those "Oh" disappointment moments.]

Right. Honor. That's super important.

[catliketread]

But of course! What would a person be without a sense of honor?

[Sorry, Anna. Hook is a better pirate!!]

[sunshineprincess]

A horrible person?

[She'll meet Hook soon enough. Maybe. And then meet a real pirate.]

[catliketread]

Exactly. I know pirates have a reputation, but we certainly aren't horrible people!

[...well, his pirates aren't.]

[sunshineprincess]

Then you'd be most honorable pirates in the seven seas!

[Still not thinking you're an actual pirate.]

[catliketread]

Indeed we are! We're the feared, famous pirates of Penzance!

[STOP DROPPING THE TITLE]

[sunshineprincess]

... Penzance? Where's that?

[AT LEAST HE'S ABLE TO]

[catliketread]

Great Britain, of course! It's a town located in the southwest, obviously near the shore. Lovely place, wonderful people who are very afraid of pirates. For good reason!

[o k a y]

[sunshineprincess]

[Great Britain?]

Don't you mean Britannia?

[catliketread]

Is that what you call it where you're from? Close enough!

[sunshineprincess]

That's so far away from my home... is it nice there?

[catliketread]

Indeed! I wouldn't trade it for anywhere else in the world! Penzance is a quiet little town on the coast, full of pirate-fearing people; it's a magnificent place!