TIME TO MEET AGAIN

[disharmonizes]

[So, for a change of things, it's not Salieri gathering people together in the cafeteria this time, but... Discord? Discord, organizing? Willingly? Oh, we are having a time here. There's enough tea and cucumber sandwiches for everyone, everything all set up.

Some of the sandwiches are floating. Don't worry about it.

There's whiteboards set up, as well, though right now they're mostly filled with a lot of random doodles of people here and in the land of the living. Some of them are nicer than others. There's more than a few rude ones of the SQUIP, because we're all super mature adults here. At least one of the boards is just a mess of abstract colors.

Everyone will be greeted by Discord and also the dulcet tones of Dancing Queen playing on the boombox he dragged over here. You're welcome.]

Ladies, gentlemen, others... Welcome to the meeting. We have a lot to go over, so! Let's get started.

( NAVIGATION )
BETA TEST RESULTS ✹ OPERATION A.S.S. ✹ OPERATION GLITTER BOMB ✹ INVESTIGATION SHARING ✹ MAYA...? ✹ CHATTER

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BETA TEST RESULTS

[disharmonizes]

First things first, let's discuss results. That was a dramatic finish there, but did it all actually work?

[Looking pointedly at the SQUIP, of course, but anyone who can share information about the dress rehearsal and its results is free to pipe up here. Looking at you too, narrator squad.]

[voicerights]

It did.

[The SQUIP may or may not have an ice pack on its head and/or be wearing an oversized fluffy blanket, even though it's not particularly cold in here. It definitely found a pack of peanuts and is slowly snacking on them, though it's nowhere near rude enough to eat and talk at the same time.

It also definitely still sounds exhausted.]

I was able to reach two other units. Both shared previous experience with the Wizard and 'Murdergames'.

[wanderlusttitania]

Two other...units?

...that's what the synchronization did, then.

[voicerights]

[A nod]

One of them - the one that had been directly manipulated in to assisting the Wizard? - had its memory partly corrupted. But it sent what it could of its interactions and observations. The other was a participant itself, if only by proxy through Jeremy.

[Before, it might have spat that name. Now, the Tiredness makes it as matter-of-fact as anything else.]

OPERATION A.S.S.

[disharmonizes]

Oh, yes, and we should probably explain what it is exactly that we're doing. Especially for our new arrivals. What better time for a little Q and A session?

[Saying that, he definitely intends to leave most of the A to the SQUIP, infodumping is not Discord's favorite pastime.]

[voicerights]

[oh boy. The SQUIP is...not coherent enough for this. But...it closes its eyes, eats another peanut, chews and swallows, and...]

...I will give a summary of Augmented Story Structure to start. We are creating on a performance that will impact the story. Last night was proving that it is possible to change such on a small scale; however, the end result will be designed with wresting some level of control from the Wizard himself.

[...a slow glance towards Elle.]

It's based on mixture of quantum principles applied to the Leading Player and the Balladeer's natural abilities, as well as exploiting the fact that we ourselves utilize performance, in a sense. And...no small amount of simple belief.

[violentenvies]

[heyooo Salieri is here, too, and he wasn't allowed to do anything today but say in bed and rest, so he doesn't look as hellish as he could lmao. But anyway:]

Indeed. Reality seems to be composed of both order and chaos, and the best vehicle of such seems to be music: the structure within it that also allows for improvisation and growth that can change on a whim.

Therefore, if we all work together and provide our own unique music and utilizing the abilities of both the Balladeer and Madame Leading Player, we should be able to have enough varied options of both structure and chaos to allow for any sort of improvisation necessary.

My duty within this is to do my utmost to coax this combined order-chaos into the direction we wish it to go.

[whatyouwant]

[Her eyebrow quirks at the glance.]

OPERATION GLITTER BOMB

[disharmonizes]

Now, moving on to more exciting matters! Our bomb tests so far have been going great, if I do say so myself. Varian and I are making for quite the team.

I suppose we should do one quick check around the area we're going to brute force, if we haven't done so already. But I really would like to just blow it up already, if there's nothing stopping us anymore.

Any clues in the costume room yet?

[Looking at you again, narrator gang. Find any secret doors or other vibes? Or can they start going wild.]

[whatyouwant]

Wait, more bombs?

[She remembers that execution!]

[disharmonizes]

More bombs.

Sometimes, you just need a little bit of brute force.

INVESTIGATION SHARING

[disharmonizes]

While we're all here... Sharing is caring. So let's all do a lot of caring and share what we've found, if anything. Any clues, hints, tips, signs, leads, pointers, or literally anything of interest around here?

Anything anyone's found at all could be helpful here.

[Time to share investigation results, gang.]

MAYA...?

[disharmonizes]

[And this topic is a little more... sensitive. Discord's a little more quiet, a moment, before going for it.]

...One more thing. If my understanding of things is correct, we're missing someone. Not that I'm eager to welcome more people here, but...

[But this is weird, right?]

No one has seen Maya, right? Is she really still alive? Because by the rules we've got, isn't that supposed to be impossible?

I'm not ruling out a very advanced game of hide and seek here.

[wanderlusttitania]

I've not seen her, no.

[tellthestory]

[The Balladeer's here with some coffee, looking rather run-down but like he’ll be fine with a bit more rest.]

If she's not dead, we must be near the end. That's the only time you could get away with something like that.

[themuseabandonsyou]

You… think she got away with it? [ Orpheus sounds sort of conflicted about the idea. It’s not that he wants anyone to die, but… he looks at Eurydice, frowning. ] Then was the Wizard bluffing, about killing everyone if they got it wrong? Or… did they go somewhere else?

[disharmonizes]

So... she's alive, then?

[maybe sounding a little worried and hopeful in equal measure there]

CHATTER

[disharmonizes]

[and finally, for all your general chatter needs. go wild. embrace chaos.]

[disharmonizes]

...So, not to immediately harass the newly dead, but...

Other than whatever this was about a sickness... how are things over with the living? Last you all saw them, anyway. Are things, ah...

[He trails off, there. Okay seems like a stretch and what else does he finish that sentence with?]

[violentenvies]

I'd like to know this as well. I understand the news is likely not good, however...I'd like to hear it.

[whatyouwant]

Maya, Peregrine, and Janis are still a thing, pretty sure Maya was making moves on Hester at the prom, so she might be included in that soon too. Peregrine wore this really pretty dress to the prom, she looked amazing. I mean, everyone looked amazing, but like she let me put her in a dress!

Cass and Elsa are still dancing around each other, but it's, like, only a matter of time before that becomes a thing.

Mr. Ben is doing his best as team dad since you and Antonio died, but the sickness hit him pretty hard.

Oh! I think Angus and I are engaged?

[voicerights]

[this particular chatter isn't spoken very loud, but if others happen to overhear the SQUIP leaning in towards Sissi, well?]

I have a favor to ask of you.

[wanderlusttitania]

Hm?

[She leans in.]

What do you need me to do?

[violentenvies]

[at some point, once the talking gets going, Salieri is just going to...maybe lean over a bit into Discord and rest a hand on his knee]

...thank you.

[disharmonizes]

[He pauses, looking over Salieri's way.]

...Yes, well. Someone had to stop you from being stubborn and overworking yourself.