IT'S CURTAINS TEST DRIVE

[stagemanagers]

1) CURTAINS UP
You’ve just woken up in a small dressing room, which is certainly not where you went to bed last night. Actually, do you even remember going to sleep…? Regardless, this isn't where you last were, and if you leave your room you’re going to find a lot of other people in the same state.

Go out and socialize! Most of these people may be strangers, but you’re gonna all have to get used to one another. And who knows? There may actually be a familiar face in the crowd.

2) THIS PETTY PACE
By now, you're acquainted with everybody here and you're sloooowlllyyyy growing bored. Bored enough to kill? Hopefully not. You'd better try to find something else to do. You can always go hang out with your castmates, or maybe try and whip something up in the kitchen! There’s also a music room to keep you busy! I sure hope you like music.

3) BREAK A LEG
Comedies are fun and all, but that’s not quite what we’re about here. You’ve all just been handed this week’s motive. What do you make of it? Is it one that might actually tempt you to kill, or did you get off lightly this time? Either way, maybe you’d better look around the room and see who else is having a rough time.

4) CURTAIN
It was bound to happen eventually. Someone is dead, and now it's time to go off and investigate. Were they close to you? Are you, perhaps, feeling guilty? Either way, it's probably best not to leave anyone alone right now.

5) CUE MUSIC
Feelings in a murder-opera can get pretty gosh darn intense. Sometimes you’ve just got to let it out. And hey, if you sing a song about whatever’s going on in your head, maybe someone will hear and come help you? Either way, this is a musical – there’s not really any reason not to sing.

[Mod Note: The song mechanic is meant to be fluid and simple. You do not have to produce your own song lyrics, nor are you required to use show tunes (although we do encourage it!). If you want to rewrite existing lyrics to fit the situation, go for it! Anything goes - if Mumford and Sons expresses your character’s current emotions, then break out the banjos. We want to keep the musical mechanic as fun and simple as we can to encourage our players to use it as much as they like.]

6) WILDCARD
Make up your own prompt!

Comments

[dechagny]

[Curtains Up]

[This is not the Opéra Populaire. It takes a few moments for Raoul to realize this, his mind hazy and his chest still burning, his neck still aching from the Punjab lasso - but once he does, he's up on his feet, half stumbling and half barging through his dressing room door. He grips the doorknob like it's the only thing keeping him upright, and looks wildly around.]

Chris - [His voice is hoarse, and he lets out a rattling cough, ducking his head out of polite habit. Let's try that again.] Christine!!

[This Petty Pace]

[Being a rich, pampered young man from the 1880's, it's safe to say that Raoul has not ever had to cook for himself beyond pouring something to drink. If you come into the kitchen, you'll briefly see him staring down the microwave before turning to look at you and quickly walking over.]

Excuse me. Would you happen to know how to operate the...metal box? [He promptly holds up a Hot Pocket, still in its wrapper.] I've been told this is food that can be cooked quickly, and I would like to eat it.

[Break A Leg]

[Okay what fresh hell is this. Raoul watches the video playing, an eyebrow raised, scoffing and gesturing in confusion.]

What is this - foolish thing? This would never happen. Nothing happening in these images could ever exist!

[He laughs, thinly and lightly. It's not clear if he really thinks the video is stupid or that he's trying very hard to convince himself it's fraud. Someone's gotta give him a good nudge back into reality.]

[Curtain]

[The victim wasn't someone Raoul particularly cared for, at least privately. You don't make that sort of thing public in tense situations, lest you want to be accused of murder - and let it be said that a Viscount did not stoop to such a low as to stab a person in the back in the dark. He was no Phantom with schemes and machinations, he had honor! Common decency!

He knew, however, that the victim had friends in their number. Friends who would be upset. If you knew this victim, there's a knock on your door. Will you answer?]

[Cue Music]

Give up on Christine...?

[Uh-oh. Hear that music swelling in the background, buddy? It means that you just suggested something to Raoul that has given him Feels to Sing About.]

Why, I could never! Not for all the time on earth - I would do absolutely anything for her! All she'd ask of me is to love her, but I'd scale mountains and topple tyrants! I...I would...

[He bows his head, and...]

Love of mine,
Someday she will die,
But I'll be close behind,
I'll follow her into the dark...

[Oh boy. Someone calm him down please - or sing along, if you know how that kind of love feels.]

curtains up

[littleingenue]

[Waking in a dressing room that wasn't hers... Christine wishes she could say that's the strangest occurrence she's been through, though that isn't the case by any means. Still, it's enough to shock and give her pause as she gathers her bearings.

She hears his voice, muffled through the walls, and pushes herself up and through the door to try and find him.]

Raoul?!

[As soon as she catches sight of him, she lifts the heavy skirts of her gown and rushes his way, all but throwing herself into his arms.]

[dechagny]

[As if by magic, the sound of Raoul's name in Christine's voice is enough to get him to stop mid-step, and he turns, and looks.]

- Christine!

[And he's hurrying right over to meet her embrace, holding her closely. God, he'd been so worried...and he still is. But so long as he knows Christine is safe, he feels like he could do anything.]

Are you alright? Is...are you hurt?

[littleingenue]

[It's amazing, she believes, how his embrace can seemingly fix so much. Whatever anxiety she'd felt upon waking up here, has dissolved with his touch. Christine wraps her arms around him, fingers grasping at his clothing.]

I'm okay- [Breathlessly as she pulls away just enough to look up at him.] I'm not hurt.

if i'm letting him get too handsy just let me know

[dechagny]

[He holds her with a tender strength, carefully reaching up to cup the side of her face. God, part of him hopes this is real, that at least for a moment the Phantom is nowhere near, stalking them in the shadows.]

Thank heavens...at least we are both unharmed. But - [He turns to look around them, properly getting an idea of his surroundings.] I wish I could say I knew where we now are.

<3 don't worry!

[littleingenue]

[The warmth from his hand on her cheek has her turning her head slightly to press closer to it as she brings one hand around to press over his. It's comforting, having him near. Being with him. In a situation so strange, at least there is a constant she can count on.

But as soon as he admits to not knowing where they are either, her fingers curl around his hand and gently remove it from her cheek, instead just holding it and intertwining their fingers.]

It's nowhere I've seen before. I was worried- [A pause and she let's the sentence drop. She was worried that the Phantom had enthralled her and kidnapped her again, but he would have made himself known by now had it been him.]

orz i always worry

[dechagny]

[He nods, once, and lets Christine intertwine their fingers, giving her hand a little squeeze as she does so.] As am I. But he has not appeared to gloat or - well. [Best leave that uncontinued.] Even if he did, we are together. I wouldn't let him come near.

they're pretty tactile, and I'm super easy. :D <3

[littleingenue]

[Her trembling calms at the squeeze from his hand. It is true, the Phantom would have gloated or prevented her from reuniting with Raoul had he been to blame for this... Or worse.

There are quite a few dropped sentences when speaking of him- of their past, however recent it may be. Emboldened by the assurance that he would keep her safe, Christine smiles and stands on the tips of her toes to press a kiss just at the corner of his lips: not quite his lips, not quite his cheek.]

We are safer together... I am safer with you. Thank you.

ddgjsbjhbs

[dechagny]

[His cheeks redden a bit, and a smile finds his way onto his face for the first time since he arrived. Her kiss is returned with one on the forehead, light, loving, and lets out a small sigh.]

I love you, Christine.

[It's all he can think of to say in return.]

:D

[littleingenue]

[That's quite alright, since it's the one thing that could possibly make her feel even more safe and assured. Christine is hyper aware of where his lips met her forehead, as though that would protect them both.

Her smile brightens as her cheeks redden, as though to match his. Long forgotten is the panic she had been feeling just before arriving... and then just after. Whatever this place was, it brought them together (how strange to think of it so sentient, and yet she could not think of it otherwise).]

And I love you, Raoul.

[It feels only right to remind him of the fact after he says it to her. She runs her thumb over his hand and pulls away (hand still holding onto his) just enough to be considered decent, should anyone happen upon them.]

This place.... have you looked around it any more than just the hall of dressing rooms here?

Break a leg

[swearonallmyspores]

[How about a gentle nudge of a vine? Does that do you, Raoul? Towey leans in as close at it can, peering at the screen. How does it even see without eyes?

It makes a soft, sad, tsking sound.]

Looks to me like the dying doll has got a real thing for the guy in the mask.

Break a leg

[dechagny]

[No it does not do him. Raoul grits his teeth and shoves the thing with the images into his pants pocket, determined to tune out the sound still playing. He...doesn't actually know how to turn it off.]

It's a farce - a deception! I won't watch any more of it.

[swearonallmyspores]

[That vine comes to rest on Roul's shoulder, almost commiserating. There, there. ]

Sure it is, pal. They're just tryin' to get into your head. Hit you where it hurts.

[dechagny]

Obviously. [And he will stubbornly not take any kind of needling that tries to convince him otherwise.] Now. How are you so calm? Surely your images show some sort of...death by pesticide?

[swearonallmyspores]

How's it working?

[It'll just needle some more. Its a trier. ]

That'd only work if I was a pest, Buddy, which I'm not. There ain't much on that tiny television that can rattle these branches.

[dechagny]

Perfectly.

[The word is forced, if only to push against the needling.]

Really now? Because you seem awfully gifted in pestering, but if I am mistaken, I do apologize.

[No not really.]

[swearonallmyspores]

[Rude, Raoul, RUDE. ]

What you call pestering, I just call being friendly. We got to stick together here, right? Can't get all bloodthirsty now.

[dechagny]

[He'll be as rude as he likes IT'S BEEN A VERY STRESSFUL TIME OKAY]

Bloodthirsty? Why, I don't know what you mean. Stating a fact and committing a certain act are two completely different things. I have no intent to harm.

[At least not physically.]

[swearonallmyspores]

[Audrey II is not deterred. It leans a little closer, almost conspiratorial, voice silk and honey. ]

Maybe you don't, but do they? There's a lot of folks around here that you don't know. Who's to say they won't be pushed over the edge and come looking for an easy target. Some poor fella upset over something he saw on the little televisions, for instance?

Curtain

[solomonjihad]

[Admittedly, Astarte takes some time before getting up and answering the door. But, she does, finally. Her eyes are tinted red - a sign that, no matter what she might want to insist, some tears had fallen. Given she had been among those first people to find the body, and her surprising connection to them...]

Oh, I...hello.

[She clearly hadn't expected anyone.]

[dechagny]

[Ah, Astarte. The poor dear. She had been close to the victim, he remembers, and bows his head.]

Hello. Do forgive me for the intrusion, but I wanted to offer my condolences to you, Miss Astarte, concerning what's transpired.

curtains up

[breakingbread]

[This certainly is a strange situation, and Valjean himself has someone he wishes to find. But this young man seems worse off than he - he's not injured as far as he can tell, and he's steady on his feet. He can certainly take a moment to offer a hand to a fellow captive.]

Monsieur, are you well?

[dechagny]

[A countryman! Immediately he has Raoul's respect.]

Am I - no, sir, I am not, and I cannot be until I am certain of Christine's safety!

[He says it in a rush, pausing here to take a breath, and...]

But, thank you for asking.

curtain

[onthebusagain]

[Before she opens the door, Heather can be heard shuffling and sniffling around inside her room. When she opens the door, her makeup has smudged, and her nose runny. And who can blame her? Her friends keep dropping dead. She's the worlds biggest jinx.]

Hi. [She musters a weak smile for him, at least.]

You probably shouldn't talk to me. Everyone I'm friends with dies.

[dechagny]

[Oh. Well. He really should have given her a bit more time to grieve, clearly.]

I'll take the risk, for propriety's sake. I wanted to offer my condolences, Miss Heather - I know that you and our...recently departed peer...were rather close, but I highly doubt you had anything to do with it.