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

[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?

[robitussin]

Of course not. I mean, maybe it's stupid, but I want to think it all wasn't a lie. You seemed pretty decent.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

It wasn't. [She's quiet.] I... Outside of the club...and even then, you were...the first friend I made on my own.

[robitussin]

[She hesitates, unsure if she should even ask, but - she had been so angry before. She hadn't even wanted an answer then, but she's curious now.]

Then why did you... Did they just matter much more to you than anything else?

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[After a moment, she smiles, rather fragile.]

I...I meant what I said, when I told you I didn't...have any interests. These included people. The only- before here, the only times I felt alive were when I was with them. [She laughs quietly, to herself.] Even if I thought the boys were a nuisance. Much like ah...the lot of you, I didn't realize how important they were until I could lose them.

[robitussin]

[She listens and processes all of that. Now comes the harder question, but one that's necessary all the same.]

If we hadn't realized the thing with the contact lens... Would you have let us all die, or would you have said something?

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[It's a harder question and at the same time, it's a harder answer. She drops her eyes.]

I...

...I'm very far from a good person. But you, and Hime-san, and some of the others...you mattered to me very much. I think I wouldn't have been able to stay quiet. [And looks back up.] I hope I wouldn't have been able to.

[robitussin]

[Somehow, that answer means much more to her than 'of course I would have!' or something else similar. It strikes her as more honest, more open. It's not enough to forget; she never will, and truth be told, she doesn't think she'll ever really trust D-ne again. But they're both stuck here for god knows how long, and it really does feel like most of her anger and bitterness has faded away.]

...You know, more than anything, I'm really tired of being lied to. So - thanks for not doing that.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[Trust is something D-ne doesn't deserve. She knows that, very well, so if she was privy to that knowledge it wouldn't be an insult or a slap to the face, just an accepted reality. This, already, is more than she ever thought she'd get.]

A-ah- then you're...very welcome. I promise...utter brutal honesty, as long as we're here.

[robitussin]

Brutal, huh? Should I be worried?

[It's said much more lightly than everything else.]