and I know things now, many valuable things

[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 you're still trapped here.

When you open your eyes it might take you a minute to recognize your surroundings. It's your dressing room, that much is certain, but nothing is where you remember it. It's like everything has been picked up and moved to the other side of the room. The entire room has been perfectly mirrored from what it used to be and, upon leaving, it seems the rest of the opera house is just the same. If you remember one room being in the east wing, it's now in the west. If it was in the west, it's now in the east.

Welcome back to the Opera House, friends, you're not out of the woods yet.]





[ooc: Welcome to deadland, darlings! It's a perfectly mirrored version of the Opera House and each week, as new people die after new floors have been revealed, the stairwell doors will unlock and allow you to reach them. For example, week 3 victims will unlock floor 2 and so on and so forth. Also, all dead characters will wake up at their actual canon point.

Have fun because we have some fun things planned for you.]

Comments

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[How is this happening...? D-ne takes a step forward, and she's speaking forcefully, not stammering or stuttering one bit. How strange.]

Everyone saw what you couldn't about yourself, and that includes me. Everyone saw you were important- they saw you were important, Natalie-san- tell me about this last week, about how you're the only one to show up here. About how before you, it was a psychopathic alter-ego and not the actual sweet girl who struck. Did the crew kill you because you did something wrong, or did they kill you because it was the only way to get a murder out? Which do you think is more likely?

[robitussin]

That doesn't...

[She pauses, frowns.]

That doesn't make sense. If they were doing it for a trial and not because of a rule, that's - there's no right answer there, there's no way to vote.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

I think...it should be obvious that they don't care about what's fair. They care about a "good show." And if there was no murder, according to them, it's not a "good show." They want a tragedy. [She...smiles, for a moment.] But you didn't want to give them that. I think...maybe more than anyone here, even knowing what would happen, you kept going. That's the most terrifying thing the writer of a tragedy can go up against.

[robitussin]

...Not more than anyone else. I mean, I don't - I'm not strong. I didn't have a choice. The last thing I said was that I was scared.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

You did have a choice. You could have killed to try and get out...or completely closed up. It doesn't matter that you were scared. ...The most amazing people get scared. You stayed amazing.

[robitussin]

That's not... Just existing without hurting anyone isn't enough in a place like this.

[When she was younger, she used to dream that one day she would do something important, something good enough that it would make her... Well, worthwhile. Then people would see her. Then others would care. Now they do, but there's a strange guilt in not fulfilling what she sees as the 'something important' part of that dream. She doesn't feel as though she earned their caring or trust, especially after this.]

I should have been - better, I don't know.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

You should have been perfect?

[robitussin]

[Yes.]

No, just... I don't know.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[She sighs.] In stories like these...just fighting against what everyone else expects from you is a victory. Trust- well, I can't really ask that but... ah, don't be so hard on yourself.

[robitussin]

This isn't a story. There's no winning in this situation, not anymore.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

...never say never. I thought... When limbo's involved, it's always more complicated than it appears.

[robitussin]

...Even if the rest of them live and get out of here, we didn't win.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

You really don't get it, ah... Death isn't really the end. And I don't mean that in a pretentious "next journey" kind of thing. I mean...well, this isn't the first time I've been. [She smiles.]

[robitussin]

No, that's not - they already got us to do what they wanted, they already got their little show. They won.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

Hm... I suppose... I can understand that point of view. Ah... Sorry, Natalie-san. I can only look on the bright side for so long.

[robitussin]

I don't want you to, I just want...

[Someone to listen to her vent, probably, which D-ne's provided. She doesn't seem calm, but she does seem slightly more at ease.]

I don't know. It just sucks. All of it sucks.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[That's almost a relief to hear. Was she trying to be like Hime? ...Yikes that's a thought.]

It does. This whole thing is...ah, close to the worst possible experience. The management deserves hell for what they've done.

[robitussin]

If we find a way to reach them, I'll fucking tear them apart myself.

[The people who decided to bring them all there, her, her friends, her family... The person who shot her. All of them.]

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

I hope you leave a little for the rest of us. I'd like to make them hurt.

[At least despite everything they can be in agreement on this.]

[robitussin]

Maybe we can get one each or something.

[Somehow she can't be mad at D-ne when they're talking about beating the shit out of management and the crew? Amazing.]

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[It almost reminds her of that time they joked about who would be the most hilarious drunk. Good times, much better times.]

It's only a pity there probably aren't enough to divide between all of us. ...Well, most of us.

[robitussin]

As long as I get the bitch who shot me, I'll live.

[Pause.]

In a manner of speaking.

[haha isn't she funny]

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[D-ne smiles and it looks a bit less fake than her usual ones, heck]

Ah, I've missed your wit... If I happen to see her, I'll direct you right to her. Swear.

[like take the good where you can is basically her way of looking at this, and the good is natalie's even speaking to her]

[robitussin]

[This, somehow more than anything else, seems more casual and friendly than anything else. She doesn't know how to feel about that or address it. She opens her mouth, hesitates, then speaks.]

...Don't get me wrong, I'm still really pissed. But... I never wanted you to get killed, either.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[From the expression on D-ne's face, Natalie might as well have said she wants to get best friend married and paint each other's toenails, oh boy.]

You...really?