It's Curtains Act 3 Test Drive

[stagemanagers]

1) CURTAINS UP

You’ve just woken up in some kind of dorm 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 worse still - there's other people waking up in the same room with you, in the same state.

Talk to your roommates! Go out and meet everyone from the other rooms! 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 slowly 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 even a band 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) I LOVE PLAY REHEARSAL

It's Club Day! What's Club Day, you ask? Come to the classroom on the poster to find out! It looks like this week's club is Bread Club. Be wary, when you enter the classroom you'll face a shower of various bread slices but be rewarded with a surprisingly fancy layout of spreads and jams to go with them. Don't mind the oddly threatening poster on the far wall. He's just here to supervise.

5) 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.

6) CUE MUSIC

Feelings in a murder-school 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!

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Questions, comments, concerned? Reach the mods on plurk at slothbless (Lynny) and lluosogrwydd (Lu) and at our public mod plurk stagemanagers. Our official Act 3 FAQ can also be found here!

Comments

[violentenvies]

[Salieri watches him rush out, immediately debating whether he should just leave before things really do fly off the handle as they often end up doing when Discord is involved.

And yet...

Well, it seems his curiosity might be his downfall in this instance.

He stays, finishing off his croissant and waiting]

[disharmonizes]

[And he returns, soon enough, brandishing a piece of... chalk?]

Visual storytelling is such an underused artform. Show, don't tell, hm?

[Smirking a bit as he leans down to the floor and starts drawing

an outline.

An outline of a body, of course.]

[violentenvies]

[. . . .

Of course it's the outline of a body. Of course it is.

Why are you like this???]

I think you could do with a little less of both.

[Salieri is just going to use a hand to rub at his temples because really]

[disharmonizes]

Hey, now, be a little respectful.

[As he just throws that pot of jam, which shatters on the floor, leaving strawberry jam and glass shards everywhere.]

This is a crime scene, after all.

[violentenvies]

[Discord pls. He definitely can't help but flinch a touch when the glass shatters, and he folds his arms over his chest just, y'know...casually.

He gives the work of..."art"...a very dry look]

...yes, well. Alas for that jar of jam. Tragic, certainly.

[disharmonizes]

[Noticing that flinch. Noting it. But, more important matters.] That's the murder weapon, Toni, let's not be crass.

[violentenvies]

[that name again. Salieri's lips press into a line, eyes narrowing at Discord. It will do hardly any good to protest--he's learned that lesson well at this point. However, it doesn't stop that twinge of annoyance that he can't quite help]

The jam or the jar containing it. Really, you've made it quite unclear. [DEADPAN AGAIN]

[disharmonizes]

The jar, of course. Both? I suppose the jam is more a stand in for the bodily fluids in this case, but... Damn it, Toni, I'm a doctor, not a crime scene investigator! [wh where did he get the white coat from-- was he always wearing that?] No, best leave the investigating to the professionals.

[violentenvies]

[Salieri's hand clenches into a fist at that nickname, before it relaxes again as he forces himself to unclench his jaw]

Oh? You never mentioned before that you were a doctor. I'll keep it in mind if I ever get a tickle in my throat. [no he won't.]

[disharmonizes]

What can I say? I contain multitudes. And some of them have earned doctorates!

[violentenvies]

None of those multitudes have any experience in crime scene investigation. I see. [he does not see, but with Discord, he often finds himself just rolling with it.]

[disharmonizes]

Not in these conditions. I don't even have a pair of sunglasses. What's the point? Here, look. [And he'll stand over the crime scene, giving it a serious look.] Looks like this crime... is jam packed. [This line hangs in the air for a moment, before Discord huffs and holds out his arms in a SEE?! gesture.] Oh, see, what is the point!

[violentenvies]

[arching an eyebrow]

I'm afraid I have to claim ignorance in this case. What exactly is supposed to be happening?

[disharmonizes]

I'm supposed to have a pair of sunglasses, for one. And there needs to be a booming voice and-- oh, never mind, you won't get any of this! You're still stuck in the stone age.

[violentenvies]

[Yep. He's gone full incomprehensible again.]

I'm sure I am. [DRY]

[disharmonizes]

Anyway! [He idly tosses a jar of marmelade over his shoulder.] The point is, this is somewhat of a performance piece. Don't you know anything about art? Interpretation is not my job, but the audience's!

[violentenvies]

[....]

I have seen many performances in my lifetime, Monsieur Discorde, but I would not classify this as such.

However... [he looks a bit amused] I suppose I could actually agree that the interpretation of art falls to the audience.

[disharmonizes]

See, you do get it! A couple of artistes like us ought to stick together. [there goes another jar]

[violentenvies]

[....no. Just...no.]

I don't think you've given me much of a choice in the matter.

[disharmonizes]

I'm so glad you're starting to understand.

[violentenvies]

Once again, you've given me little choice in the matter. [DRY] At some point one must recognize a futile effort when they see one. [like trying to destroy mozart amirite haha what who would do that]

[disharmonizes]

Worn down, hm? That's the spirit!

[violentenvies]

What can I say, Monsieur Discorde? [Salieri waves a hand, tone drawling into sarcastic] I can't imagine anyone you couldn't wear down eventually through your sheer tenacity.

[he pauses, then, considering, studying Discord for a moment]

It's almost an admirable tenacity, in the face of so much opposition. One has to wonder, what drives you to it?

[disharmonizes]

Almost admirable! Why, if I didn't know any better, I'd say that's almost a compliment. Oh, if only I could immortalize this moment!

But really now, what drives anybody? I am chaos incarnate. It'd be far too predictable and orderly to just let things go.

[violentenvies]

And yet, any actions become predictable with repetition do they not, do they not?