trust you've got a game plan

[isawallflower]

[ At noon on Wednesday, Riley's standing ready in the dining hall, with a clipboard and a big smile to anyone who shows up. She's set blank stacks of paper on the table, but we'll get to that. As promised, there's some basic snacks as well as some tasty banana bread. Snacks for everyone! ]

Welcome everyoooone~! Thank you so much for showing up. This is a new and confusing experience for all of us, but I'm sure if we strive to stick together and cooperate, it'll help us foster the most productive environment that we can. [ Bright, bright smile. ] So! I've gathered all of you so we can share any discoveries and compare basic information that might give us any idea of why we've been brought here. Good? Okaaaay!

[ That smile never leaves her face. She sets something down from her clipboard and starts passing out that blank paper. ]

Sooo, following my example, if you could fill this out, that...can be a good starting discussion!

[ Her example is essentially a survey. Wonderful penmanship, again. ]

Comments

[revelfree]

[Ariel has a question! He waits until some of the murmuring dies down.]

Perhaps this is related to Stephen's question but... Does anyone feel as if the Phantom, or perhaps even this place on the whole, knows more than it should? Of secrets closely guarded, or dreams ne'er spoken of?

[etincelledefierte]

That’s a pretty common interpretation of the Phantom, yes. There’s a whole song in the musical about him getting inside the heroine’s head. That said, I do think there’s something to what you’re saying.

[revelfree]

Ah, of course. I forget that some of you are more familiar with his legend than myself.

How intimate is his knowledge though -- is it simply knowing her well enough to foretell her actions, or is there a true psychic link in play?

[etincelledefierte]

It's more knowing her well enough to foretell her actions. He was in love with her and watched her enough to know just how she'd think.

[revelfree]

[He makes a face.]

Unless he's deeply in love with me, or perhaps all of us -- [He hopes Christine didn't hear that.] I don't think that explains how he knows some of our secrets.

[etincelledefierte]

No, it doesn't. It's possible we were being watched at home before we were brought here, though that still doesn't explain everything.

[revelfree]

That is.... an even more unnerving prospect. That this was entirely premeditated, carefully planned and surveyed.

[And he hadn't noticed a damn thing. He suppresses the urge to shudder.]

[etincelledefierte]

I don’t like it, not one bit. I can’t think of another plausible explanation, though, much as I hate the idea of having been watched.

[She shudders.]

[revelfree]

That then raises the question -- how have we been watched? It seems incredibly unlikely that he could watch so many of us without being spotted at least once. And to consider our temporal differences...

It's unnerving, to think of what power he may have.

[etincelledefierte]

That’s a good point. I -

[Give her a second. A lightbulb just went off in her head.]

...you know the mirror room? The one Angus mentioned just now. What if there’s more to it.

[revelfree]

[Ariel leans in. His curiosity is piqued!]

How do you mean?

[etincelledefierte]

I mean, what if he’s been using the mirrors to watch us. It wouldn’t necessarily be hard to - what’s the word I’m looking for? Enchant isn’t quite right, but it’s close enough - in order to keep an eye on us. A mirror is a common enough thing that I’d imagine we would all have one.

[revelfree]

[He's quiet. He needs to ponder this.]

It is no more outlandish than the concept of being whisked away from another world or place in time. And you are correct, the object is innocuous enough that one wouldn't think to be suspicious over.

[All told... he looks uncomfortable.]

[reassuranceandrevolution]

Yes, I've gotten that feeling as well.

Perhaps it would be best to get our secrets out into the open so they can't be used against us in the future.

[revelfree]

Secrets. But of course.

I'm afraid I have nothing to hide. The only concern I have is with the phantom knowing of a recurring dream.

[reassuranceandrevolution]

Would you mind sharing what happens in the dream?

cw: drugs

[revelfree]

[A shrug. He glances to the side.]

Nothing that makes any sort of sense. It simply... recurs. Night after night.

[Usually after a hit of opium but...... no one needs to know that.]

[reassuranceandrevolution]

[She frowns]

And you've told no one of these dreams?

[revelfree]

Nary a soul. They are... not something to be so easily believed.

[reassuranceandrevolution]

All the more concerning that he knows...

I've no secrets so deep. The revolution has secrets, but if they already know them, they'd have no use for keeping me here.

[revelfree]

Information is a valuable tool, but you're right. If they are capable of picking apart our minds for dreams, they can surely seek out information.

So it's someting else that they want, then.

[reassuranceandrevolution]

Our skills then? Even with knowledge, skills and talents can be hard to replicate. Perhaps they need us to do something?

[revelfree]

You may be on to something. It might be wise to document what our respective skills and abilities are. Perhaps with some studying, we can determine what unites us all.

[reassuranceandrevolution]

Riley seems good at organizing. We can ask her to do another survey, perhaps?

[isawallflower]

[ Pops up, here she is!! ]

I am fantastic at organizing. Should we- oh, not...right now, since Jeremy and Christine aren't here, but! I can definitely take care of that.