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]

Well, it's at least better than not telling them anything, I guess.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

True, but among them, who would want me to approach them and actually speak? Momentary discomfort, I suppose that's how I'll look at it.

...You know...whatever I tell them, it won't change how they think.

[robitussin]

...No, it won't. That's not the point. The point is that telling them you're sorry for killing someone a lot of them cared about is kind of literally the least you can do.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

Mm... I didn't think of it from that perspective. [She smiles apologetically.] I guess I really don't understand how people work outside my...closed circle.

...Thank you. This must be basic decency to you, but to me...

[robitussin]

[She pauses.]

You're welcome, I guess, but - it's for everyone else, too, not just you.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

I know. You're a good person, Natalie-san.

[robitussin]

For telling you that an apology might be a good idea after murdering someone?

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

For caring so much about the others. For...caring period, after what this place has put you through.

[robitussin]

...They cared about me. It's only right, or whatever, I guess.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

...Is that so? You aren't required to care about someone back, because they care about you.

[robitussin]

Yeah, but—

[Feelings are hard.]

I haven't really had a lot of that? So, it mattered that a lot of them seemed like they did.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

Ah... Yes, I... That much I can understand.

[robitussin]

...Really?

[It's not accusatory, just - curious.]

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[She smiles.]

I think I fell in love with B-ko because she was the first person to show me...a real kind smile. The first person to look at me with affection not out of obligation. Not because she had to, not because she pitied me and would soon leave, but because she's just that sweet.

[robitussin]

I guess I know how that feels, yeah.

[A pause.]

You know, some of them are ridiculously forgiving. I bet if they knew you really regretted it, they wouldn't completely hate you anymore.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[For a moment, she looks interested, almost...hopeful.]

Yes, ah- I know. Pirate King-san, I would imagine. He was...a kind soul. And some of the others, but...the more I think... How does it work, wouldn't it be..."kinder" to let them hate?

I'm never going to see any of you again, after all.

[robitussin]

Kinder to let them - why? Do you know how much it sucked to be as pissed as you as I was?

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[using the past tense you're going to make her cry]

A-ah-- well... ...if I do, they can't know what I'm going back to. I already regret telling you and Hime-san.

[robitussin]

Why?

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

Because seeing someone you don't completely hate off to a fate like that can't inspire any good feelings. I imagine, with how good some of them are, it would be...troubling, to know the circumstances.

[robitussin]

Yeah, but at least they would know the truth. Maybe they could help.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[She looks confused.]

Help? But...there's no way to.

[robitussin]

You don't know that for, like, 100% sure, do you?

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

The story was paused, for...no foreseeable reason...a-and there were missing pieces, things we couldn't figure out no matter how hard we tried.

[...that's not a yes]

[robitussin]

So maybe someone here could help you figure it out.

...Look, I'm no good at optimism either, but it can't hurt, right?