the mark of those who cannot be saved

[stagemanagers]

[You remember dying. Maybe the memory is clear and bright and your body still aches from the cause. Maybe it was fast enough that you didn't feel it and don't remember what you went through. But no matter how you went out, that's no excuse for truancy! Which is to say: you are still in the school.

For those executed, you will wake up in your beds. The dormitories look exactly as they did when you first arrived, without any of the changes or personal effects you and your dormmates might have made. The only real difference is that the little cot in Ambassador isn't there.

For those who were victims, you will wake where your body was discovered. All of your injuries are gone, and you feel fine. It's almost like you're still alive - but you remember what happened to you. It couldn't have just been a dream, could it?

The school looks much as you remember it, save perhaps for a few key differences. For one, there's no groundhog murals anywhere. Where things were green on the other side, like banners or paint, you'll find that here they're blood red.

The doors, for the moment, are still locked. Looks like even death couldn't free you.]

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

(( ooc: Welcome to deadland, everyone! It mostly resembles the school here, and new floors will be revealed after new people die. For example, the second area will unlock after the week 3 dead arrive, and so on. Also, all dead characters will wake up at their actual canonpoint, with all lost memories restored. Have fun being dead! ))

Comments

Costume Room

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ It's only Orpheus's intention to stop by the costume room briefly in search of something a little more practical than a prom tuxedo to wear, but when he sees the SQUIP in there making its preparations he stops, hovering awkwardly for a moment before speaking up. ]

Hello? [ he says. ] Are you, um. Are you doing all right?

[ It's not bleeding from the face anymore, which is a good sign, but it seemed like there might've been a lot more going on that was less immediately obvious, with what happened earlier. ]

[voicerights]

[The SQUIP's previous estimation of Orpheus had been one ruled by their emotions, but a charismatic man nonetheless. Someone Of Use, possibly, if circumstances went that way - but they did not. Still, Orpheus was one of the few who had attempted to bridge that lack of understanding it had in its trial, offering a hand even if the SQUIP did not fully understand what was happening.

It looks up at him with an impassive expression that nonetheless betrays a level of exhaustion. All told, it isn't surprised to see him in a place like this.]

I am functioning. [...] Recovering.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ On Orpheus's end, he still doesn't really understand the SQUIP - honestly feels like he understands less, now, after seeing what it could do and hearing its explanation of what happened during the meeting. He can't help but be sort of wary, knowing what it did to Connor, but after seeing how the others seem to trust it... maybe it's finished figuring out some of the things it had seemed to be starting to approach during its trial. ]

That's good. Do you need any help? You said that, um, whatever you just did took a lot of power, right? Do you need something to eat?

[ that's. that's what that means right. how do computers work. ]

[voicerights]

Elle ensured I ate this morning. [Though it's already starting to feel hungry again. Just what kind of power did it take?] But- it did. And it is likely if you participate in the next performance, you will feel some level of effects as well.

[Just!!! Making sure everybody knows what they're getting in to!!!]

You should ensure you are well-rested, beforehand.

[As for help...it glances down at its work, frowning just slightly]

...I will need some vinyl. There- that one. [It gestures towards the relevant roll] Two yards will do.

[themuseabandonsyou]

Okay.

[ That's... probably going to be kind of difficult, after everything he's been through and remembered in the past few days being absolutely horrifying, but he'll see if he can't try his best to sleep through the nightmares, he guesses! At the SQUIP's prompting he heads over to the rolls of vinyl and cuts off the proper amount before bringing it over. ]

You said you were able to... share files, with two others like you. Other SQUIPs? Is that like email? Sending letters instantly, even though you're really far away?

[voicerights]

[It could find you some melatonin~?

But as for the question, it presses its lips together briefly in thought]

Think of it as...a memory share. Visions. Only, since I have a perfect memory, I can review the contents as I will. [beat] And while they were other SQUIPs, they were still me - it is how I was able to find them.

[themuseabandonsyou]

Oh, okay. [ Visions. That makes sense? In a way. Orpheus's brow furrows a bit as he tries to get his head around it. ] Is that what you were expecting to happen? Finding other yous. I know the Wizard said during your trial that you'd been here before, or a copy of you - or, you're the copy?

[ He is not entirely clear on any of this. ]

[voicerights]

[How do you explain parallel realities...

It sets aside its project, the vinyl on top, and looks up at Orpheus. Then- it holds up three fingers.]

We came from one source. [It gestures at the base of its fingers, where they meet its hand properly. As it continues, it traces one of the fingers upwards] The same source, the same 'birth' - but at some point, whether by being pulled from different temporal positions or other subtle variations, there was a split. [And now it spreads its fingers apart] Three distinct threads, but all still the same, at least on some level.

Am I making sense to you so far?

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus looks more than a little overwhelmed by all that, brows furrowing as he tries his best to concentrate and think things over. Temporal positions throws him off, not a word he's familiar with, but as he considers things something seems to click into place. ]

Oh, it's - there was a book I tried to read once, about someone who woke up in another world, one day, where something in the past had happened differently than in reality, and because of that everything that came after in that version of the world was changed. So - it's like that, but instead of the world, it's you? All the same, up until something went different. Then parallel.

[ Right, that's the word the Wizard used, when he and the SQUIP had been talking about copies. ]

[voicerights]

[The relief in the SQUIP is as much visible as audible as it lets out a sigh and lowers its hand.] Yes. More or less. I was able to use our shared source as a core for the program. From there, it was a matter of narrowing down the specifics, or less the infinite itineration would have made it impossible to get anything.

[you know what. sigh.]

Another metaphor - a hall of mirrors. Endless copies in to infinity - the key would then be finding the ones you are specifically looking for. Luckily, you will not have to deal with that problem, and even if you did, we've solved it.

[So now they can face other problems!!!!!! Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus goes back to looking confused and overwhelmed a bit at that first part, before the SQUIP backs up and clarifies, much to his relief. ]

Okay. What will I have to do? I think I understand, but I want to be sure I've got it. This is all about - rewriting the story the Wizard has for us, right? We need to send a message of hope that's more compelling than whatever he has in store, that fits into the narrative so well that it can't help but reach the people who need to hear it. Is that it?

[voicerights]

Exactly.

[If by 'people' you mean 'reality']

Hope and of taking back control. Make a case to whomever his play is for, that they should listen to you instead.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus nods slowly, the half-formed start of an idea occurring to him. ]

Then I might... be of more help than I thought? Maybe. I'm not a narrator, like the Balladeer or Janis or the Leading Player, but I was able to ask a god to break a rule he'd never broken before for Eurydice's sake.

[ Even if he ruined it at the last minute but he's trying to harp on that less for the sake of not being lectured by his friends. ]

And my mom, um. She's the goddess of storytelling. If I can be even a fraction of what she is, use what she taught me, on top of everyone else's efforts - that could be enough.

[voicerights]

[Gods are real? Sure. Ok. You know what, it's Some Human Bullshit and it'll leave it at that. But...]

...it could be. Our test proved it was possible to affect reality through performance. But our next one will be on an entirely different level. Whatever source of power you draw from...if it has been proven to be effective, then use it.

[themuseabandonsyou]

I think for me it's less about raw power and more about... insight? And helping the others. The Muses - the goddesses of the arts that my mom leads - they're mostly around to inspire people to greater heights than they could've reached on their own. And I think that's what I can do, here.

[ He thinks back on the rehearsal, trying to imagine what he would've done differently, what he could've done to assist. Jump in and improvise when the others start to falter, provide backing for them when they fade. Rally them together, like he did back in Hadestown. ]

I'll do anything and everything that needs to be done, of course. But I think that'll be where my strengths lie? Either way, I'll do my best.

[voicerights]

[He thinks. Thinks. Not enough. And the SQUIP arches its brow at him. While that sounds like some impressive parentage - Orpheus certainly shows no sign of lying - that's not the root issue here. Instead...]

Do you remember what I asked you, before? After Elizabeth had been executed.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus has to take a second to remember - it feels like a lifetime ago, that first solemn gathering after a trial and execution. But he does remember, eventually. ]

You asked if I'd fight for what I believed in. If I'd die for it. And I said I would.

[ He glances over at Eurydice, presumably somewhere nearby because like anything could drag them too far apart after what they've just been through. ]

I don't think I would, anymore. Die. I'd rather live. Dying is... easy. Living is harder. But there are things that make it worth it.

[ Sighing, he shakes his head. ]

Not that I'm sure we can die, again? But I will fight, with all my heart. I promise.

[voicerights]

[A tug of lips. But this time, without any sort of cunning, without any sense of that the SQUIP is going to exploit this information. Instead-]

I was going to say. Live for this - and her. [A tilt of its head towards Eurydice] I cannot guarantee results, but everything in my core programming is telling me that this is leading us towards the most optimal outcome. 'Instinct', as you humans call it.

[themuseabandonsyou]

Good. It feels right to me, too? If this is a story - a play - it would be more satisfying narratively, if we didn't fade into irrelevance as soon as we're gone. There must be some reason we're still here, still able to - change, and grow.

[ And he gives the SQUIP a little smile at that, because there doesn't seem to be a better example of that than it. Learning and growing, expanding and knowing and straining and bonds in its code. ]

There's, um. What is it called? Conservation of detail. In any type of storytelling but especially playwriting, you can't include much stuff about things that aren't relevant to what you're trying to say, either in terms of the plot of thematically. If we're here, and doing things, we're characters, right? Which means something we do here will matter. Maybe the Wizard had us slated to be a tragic reminder of what the living had lost, or maybe he didn't expect us to stay at all. But what makes the most sense to me is if we give them what they need when they need it most.

[ And he looks - more hopeful than he has since he's gotten here, thinking about it, eyes alight through the despair. ]

We'll give them something to hold on to
When they think their time is up
We'll give them just the songs they want to
Hear when they're out of luck

[voicerights]

With that logic, every life in the story of reality is important. Not that I would not agree, but humans tend to search for more. For some means of being- special. [Without realizing they already are. They're part of an incredibly complex piece - and yet, there's those like Connor, who will find themselves at the edge of removing themselves from that piece.

Frankly, Connor didn't need melatonin. He needed serotonin, among others. And still does.]

[themuseabandonsyou]

Oh, true. About everyone being important in reality, but not everyone realizing that. I mostly meant in terms of - this place, where the Wizard and the narrators have so much power, and there's... an audience? Where things do work like a story, because someone wants them to, and not like life back home, where things happen that don't have to do with anything all the time, and sometimes it's for no real reason other than the whims of the Fates.

[ Says, uh, the Greek mythological figure, but he can't read this so it's fine. If he thought about it for a second he might boggle over the implications of Elisabeth telling him he is a story to her some more right now, but as it is he hasn't put two and two together. ]

Here, though? I think we do have something special. The Wizard and Miss Hester said we were all picked to be here, by someone who wasn't him, right? And I think that means we can surprise him. By the sounds of it, the rest of us might've done it already, back on the other side.

[ By... saving Maya. Of all people. But that's fine, he's fine, he's not mad, he's the least mad anyone has ever been. It's fine. ]

[voicerights]

[It makes a thoughtful sound]

You would be surprised at how things happen- but. I will concede this place appears to have some...structure. A different one, at least, than what I am familiar. I find it more difficult to predict possible futures here, than I was before - and I don't know if it's because of my altered condition. Before, [and it looks down at its hand, slowly flexing its fingers] I could calculate probable timelines, effortlessly select the optimal, and - human error aside - navigate with ease.

This place...[It shakes its head]...I did not have 'hope' before. Or 'faith'. [Or trust. Or any number of other things.] And when I heard that Maya was the one to kill you, Elle, and Eurydice, I will admit that these things...faltered.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ what ]

You can... see the future, back where you come from? Or, um, what might be, if the right steps are taken. Like an Oracle?

[ Orpheus seems duly impressed. It's a shame the SQUIP can't do it as well here. That would make things a lot easier. Or, maybe not. Oracular advice tended to backfire as often as not, at least in the stories.

At the mention of Maya, he nods, frowning. ]

I still don't understand why she did it, or how she got out of - [ He cuts himself off, shaking his head. ] We'll see her again. And I'll be able to ask her myself.

[voicerights]

I see possible futures. Much as you would predict how something would fall, and try to catch it in time. My pattern recognition and prediction is far beyond any human's.

[Matter of fact, thanks! But. A nod]

She has a lot of explaining to do.

[themuseabandonsyou]

Oh, that makes sense. [ Again, inasmuch as anything does here. He can sort of follow the logic of it, even if he boggles a little over the implications. ]

She does. I'm... I wouldn't have been happy if she'd died? She was my friend. But she'll answer for this. [ His expression is grim as he says it. ] She doesn't get to walk out of this when Elle and Eurydice don't. They deserve to live as much as her. And I don't know if we can do that much, with our songs? But if it's at all possible, I'll make it happen.