week 1

[stagemanagers]

[Well, all escape attempts have failed thus far. None of you have seen the Phantom since his brief appearance on Sunday, or heard from him at all. It looks like, for the time being, you’re all going to be stuck here.

You're free to continue exploring your surroundings to your hearts' content. The only real restriction on your movements is that the kitchen is closed between the hours of 10 pm and 7 am. Better make sure to grab any midnight snacks you may want ahead of time. Also, remember to label any investigation toplevels!

The Merchandise Booth is now open for business as well! The Phantom hasn't deigned to explain how it works, but...well, some of you will start to find mysterious coins in your rooms, and the Booth's got a place to put coins. You'll figure it out.

Should you wish to engage more with your host, you're welcome to drop letters in the box office slot. There's no set way to converse verbally with him, and he's certainly not guaranteed to respond if you just yell at the walls - but that doesn't necessarily mean he isn't listening. Just something to keep in mind.

Enjoy your first week, everyone.]

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday

(( OOC: This will be the last mod post for this week! Feel free to start submitting regains for any threads that aren't with the Phantom. Remember, song threads mean an extra coin! This is a peace week, so get all that CR while you can! ))

Comments

[revelfree]

I think you may be right about that.

[There's an itch starting up in his eyes, and it's sure to progress further. Thankfully, Ariel hasn't made much progress. It's easy enough to pick up his items, capping off the few bottles he's opened.]

Lead the way.

[madgiganticfeelings]

I don't know, Jeremy. Maybe it's got something to do with the fact that you're shaking like a baby deer? And you kinda look like you're gonna spill that coffee. Plus those shadows under your eyes...

[Don't mind her just getting way up into your personal space, Jeremy. She even places one hand on Jeremy's cheek as she studies his face.]

Yeah. In my professional medical opinion? You're beat, son.

[Christine, you are not a doctor, and you don't even play one on TV.]

[37773972]

[bro...come on, if you've done this before, you have to have taken some precautions. Browning offers a hand to help him up with a slightly concerned expression, but doesn't comment on Ariel already starting without the proper gear- instead, regardless of whether that hand is taken, he'll go ahead and head for the kitchen with as much of the other gear as he can carry]

So- how'd you get started in alchemy?

[revelfree]

[Personal Protective Equipment? In timeless fantasy land? With chemicals that are combinations of those that he works wtih, rather than their raw forms? That's silly. In any case, he'd only just begun, and seems none the worse for wear.]

I cannot recall a time when I did not want for more. The idea of creating one thing from something else seemed to only go hand in hand with that.

What about you with your astronomy?

[37773972]

School trip. [He hesitates, trying to figure out a way to put it in to a way Ariel would understand.] I saw a show when I was a kid, and it was just...

[He's silent for a moment, and then, so softly, without even seeming to realize he's doing it;]

Images of broken light
Which dance before me like a million eyes
They call me on and on across the universe...

[superbeliever]

[Richard didn't sleep well.

Not because of any like, impending dread or crushing loneliness or anxiety or anything, no, but nonetheless he's wandering around on Monday morning looking like a teenager who was just woken up from a nap.

His ire seems to be directed mainly at every light fixture he comes across, glowering like it's done him personal wrong.]

Stupid... glass candles.

[mcfife]

This theater belongs to them. We will begin by overthrowing the phantom and returning it to its rightful owners.

[He wraps up the clothing in his arms.]

Have you found any possible passage out of the building?

[revelfree]

[There are many things about Stephen that Ariel doesn't understand, but that sense of wonderment -- it's a second language to him. It's a song he knows in his soul, and he joins in without hesitation.]

Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box
They tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe

[musacal]

[ Oh yay! A baking buddy! Nana is more than happy to have some help. ]

Chocolate would be a good idea... but I didn’t see any earlier.

[ Maybe they could... try asking the Phantom for some......maybe...... ]

Usually I use four— three for the batter and an extra one to slice up on top. A different fruit though... maybe strawberry?

[37773972]

[Ariel joining in- it's somehow natural. And as much as it startles Stephen, he finds himself continuing despite wondering how in the hell Ariel knows the words if he's not from around here-]

Jai Guru Deva, Om
Nothing's gonna change my world

[justmeheere]

[His shoulders slump, but at least he didn't flinch right out of the physical affection this time? Improvement! He's improving.]

Yeah, you're right. I-I didn't sleep well for, uh. Well. I was going to say "whatever reason," but I'm pretty sure the reason is.

[He gestures at their surroundings. They're! All! Gonna! Die! He is so paranoid right now. The coffee was a bad idea.]

[revelfree]

It is only just.

[Ariel shakes his head. His shoulders hang, looking all the part of disappointed.]

Stephen and I agreed to look for answers, a way out even, but no such luck. If you know anything at all, please feel free to impart your wisdom

[justmeheere]

Haha, nope! I'm, uh. I'm still here and, uh. In one piece.

[The dark circles under his eyes? Maybe not great! But he's alive and that has to count for something.]

Ariel, huh? That's kind of an unusual name. At least, um. At least where I'm from.

[mcfife]

[A closed hand over his heart.]

I will. This prison is poorly guarded. With force, we all can break free.

[mcfife]

Neither do I.

[...]

We can always ask the others.

[37773972]

[just gonna pull out his pamphlet and scan it...]

...I almost want to ask the teens, but I don't want to get them involved in anything dangerous. Maybe her? [He taps Sigyn's picture.] If you're a leader of a revolution, you've got to know something about making things.

[revelfree]

[Ariel is just as startled by how readily the words come, how he knows them as if they are written upon the flesh of his hand.]

Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world

[Sheepishly, Ariel lowers his head. They've made it the kitchen, and with the reminder of their task at hand, he's promptly thrust out of whatever mood had taken him.]

I can only imagine what the sciences look like where you come from.

[revelfree]

I'm led to believe that many things about me are quite unusual to others. [If nothing else, he seems to take this in good humor.]

You look as if you've slept poorly. Did something keep you awake? Trouble your mind?

[He knows a thing or two about weird dreams!]

[madgiganticfeelings]

Yeah... it's kind of a lot.

[Wait, is Christine actually admitting that something is very off?]

I mean, you know, kidnapping really isn't the way to cast your new play, even if we do have the talent for it.

[She offers a very wry smile, and it's hard to tell if she's joking or being genuine. Still, she gently takes the coffee away.]

Would it help to ramble about it?

[mcfife]

I suppose. I never met one in person. [None that haven't been wiped from his memory, that is.] Wouldn't they have hunters to do such jobs?

[revelfree]

[Ariel mimics the gesture. It feels right.]

Doubtless, you've seen how many children live here. It would truly be a shame if anything were to happen to them. If nothing else, let that drive you.

[37773972]

[what.

the.

hell.

Stephen lets Ariel go in first, surprised by their impromptu duet, Ariel knowing the words, and- he could have sworn he heard music. He looks behind him, visibly spooked, then hurries in to the kitchen as well. Fuck this, he's not-

Just focus on the matter at hand.]

They're- different, that's for sure. What'd you need the salt for? [He's setting everything down on one of the counters, separating them in to groups as well. Impromptu protective gear, chemicals, salt and glass...]

[37773972]

Depends on how involved she is? It's worth a shot, at any case. She seems to like hunting, too. [A tap to Anne...but he seems less certain about her.]

[isawallflower]

[ His song reminds her of Anugs', yesterday, but more...sad. This is definitely intruding, especially with the higher shift. But Riley takes a few steps closer, and the melody washes over her. It's not the type of thing she'd sing. It doesn't feel like it, like trying to put a square peg in a round hole. But she tilts her head, letting the song wash over her.

And, it sure sounds like this should be a duet. ]

Take me home to a house on a hill, in oblivion
And take away this shadow over me

[isawallflower]

[ I mean! If it helps! Her hair's definitely puffy, strands having fallen from her ponytail. But. Yes, sweaty-Riley is sort of a state she's used to, considering. Cheerleader. She's discarded her tracksuit, leaving her in a pair of workout shorts and a T-shirt, still with the Giles Corey High Tigers logo emblazoned on the front.

Kidnapping aside, this is a normal day for Riley. She also doesn't seem to care about how poor flustered Christine looks! At least in how she's frazzled, dress wrinkled and the like from crawling around mirrors. What she frowns at is what Christine's saying. She crosses her arms and purses her lips, humming lightly. ]

I know who the Phantom of the Opera is, but- that wasn't... That was just a guy, dressed up him, wasn't he? Some...creep playing dress-up. [ There's less fire in her than when she was full-on insulting the guy. Still not too happy about him, though! ] Also, he kidnapped us, you do not want a freaky stalker in a mask to crush on you! Also he's a jerk.

[ ...He called her names!! He poked her insecurities!!! Down With Phantom!!!! ]