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]

[D-ne has always been a rather blunt girl. She just dresses it up with a smile. Right now, she can't manage that embellishment, however.]

Dead. You...must have died.

[rockthistown]

[Hime can't do anything for a few seconds but gasp and sniffle, shaking her head numbly.

Then she runs forward and clings onto D-ne, wailing.]

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[Probably, anyone would be better to have here than D-ne. But, that would mean that anyone is dead too, and Hime wouldn't want that. So D-ne will have to do.

She stands frozen, registering Hime's grasp. She is being hugged. It's not for her own comfort, but because Hime needs it. She needs someone to...

A long moment later, her hands find Hime's back, and she returns the hug.]

...I'm sorry. [She sounds numb.]

[rockthistown]

[cries on] I-- I made a cake for the deadline of the motive so we could have a party for nobody dying and I kept your creepy book when I got it out of the booth and I tried to read it but I don't want to summon demons to try and kill me and I don't know why the bookmark was on that, and, and... D-neeeeeeee!

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[Wow okay there's a lot to dissect from that what the fuck uh-]

Wait- Hime-san slow down, you said you got what?!

[rockthistown]

Your book? It had your name in it. It was in my room, but now all my stuff is gone.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[D-ne goes cold. Her grip on Hime actually tightens.]

A...black book...and a cat bookmark?

[rockthistown]

Uh-huh. I didn't do any of the things in it, though, it was way too creepy! [She looks up at D-ne, worry starting to set.] What's wrong?

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[She places one hand on the back of Hime's head, cupping it and for a moment venturing a look at the other girl...and then she breaks away and shuts her eyes tight.]

I'm so sorry, it- you're dead because of me. That book i-is cursed.

[rockthistown]

What? [Hime blinks twice.] Even if you don't do what it tells you to?

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

That's how the Bookmark of Demise works. You get instructions...and have to complete what it says to do, or you die. Even touching it, Hime-s-san...

[She pulls Hime so she's right in her chest.]

[rockthistown]

[Hime gasps. She sniffles and hugs tightly in return.]


What? And it's-- it's just there now, for anyone?

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[....

She laughs. It's a wet sound.]

I really have...doomed all of you...haven't I? In more ways than one...

[rockthistown]

[Hime pulls back a bit and shakes her head, still holding tight onto D-ne.]

They might just leave it there. Everyone's been working so hard to get out. I know it's really scary, and I'm scared too, but we've gotten through so much already, right? Even things that look hopeless, we [hic] can hope they're going to be happy...

[Her shoulders slump.] I'm no good at this. Not like Megumi. I wanna go home.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[D-ne looks at her and very gently shakes her head.]

We can't...but blame me. Blame me, okay? [An electric melody starts up, but somehow it's sad. Maybe it's the ever-present smile on D-ne's face, or the awareness in her voice.]

I lead you down a dark path,
So I'm who to blame for the aftermath.
You're screaming out,
You've broken all down and I
Am left alone here to cry.
Someone can someone please someone blame me now?

I've charred my heart into ash.
I’ve become numb to the pain.
I've driven us all to crash,
So let me be the villain.

Now there's nowhere left to go
I'm bound to get what you deserve.
I'm holding out for karma,
I'm holding out until I burn.

[rockthistown]

[Hime shakes her head again, tearing up. She maintains her hold on the older girl.]

Shoot you down?
Of course not, you're just as trapped here.
We may have found
A reason to be in fear

We're both led down a dark path
But you blame yourself for the aftermath.
We're screaming out
The Opera broke us and I
Am here with you just to cry.
Someone, can someone, please someone stop this now?

That book being here isn't your fault! I've made big mistakes too! [Hime takes in a deep breath.] The management knew all about it, they tried to blackmail us with secrets and they knew... It's not just you.

Give what you take
Take what you give
That is what you say
I should not forgive?
Give what you take
Take what you give
I opened up that box
Of course I can forgive!

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[What...? Why? Hime's too good, too sweet, too...

Her hands tremble and she blinks to hold back tears. Secrets? The incentives... She's unsure, in the kind of story she's in...]

I've charred my heart into ash.
I'm not so numb to the pain.
Long ago I had to crash,
And become such a "villain."

I've never had any luck,
So isn't this what I deserve?
Should I hold out for karma?
Should I hold out until I burn?

[rockthistown]

Your heart is still more than ash
You've reached and been kind again
Even if our lives have crashed
In this nightmarish opera

I've used up all of my luck
My wish at home is out of reach
But still I have to tell you
That this is worse than you deserve
I don't think this is karma
I don't think you should have to burn

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

...

[Just like that.]

You were one of the ones I really didn't want to die, Hime-san.

[She pulls her close again, for both their comfort.]

[rockthistown]

[hugs!!!!!!!!]

Everyone in the Phantom Empire was only hurting people because they had their hearts broken. I can't hate you, D-ne. You're my friend. I missed you.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

You'd known me for just a week and a half. How can you think something like that?

[rockthistown]

People intimidate me, but with some help, I made a lot of friends. I did it because I heard having friends would be fun and convenient, but it really helped all of us. Why wouldn't I have thought you were my friend?

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

Because I acted first and would've knowingly killed every single one of you.

[rockthistown]

Maybe I'm still upset about that, but I don't hate you. People hated me once for things I didn't mean to do, and I have friends who tried to kill me already.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[What the heck.]

Upset but...? Your kindness is going to get you- ...ah... Well... I guess it may have already gotten you into trouble...hasn't it?