The clock strikes twelve. The gong of the grandfather clock in the foyer tolls out the time in slightly unnecessarily obnoxious loud noises. The ambiance of this old mansion demands respect, care, awe --
Okay, no, wait, why are you even in this stupid dusty house?
No reasons are forthcoming, because everyone knows that people just end up in places like this sometimes. That's just how the narrative device works. The hows and the whys don't matter -- all that matters is that you're all here, so you'd better get cracking and start exploring, because it's not like you can leave yet.
Or ever, maybe.
 Good day, sirs and madams. Might I interest you in a nice glass of blood...y mary?
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PHASE I [ 02 15 ] All you see is white. The crash of thunder hits your ears next, punctuated by the piercing pitch of white noise in the background. After a few blinks, your vision comes back to you. Oh good, glad that you’ve joined us in the land of the living. Unlike the nondescript corpse at your feet – it looks like… a butler? Oh dear. You’ve already killed Murder Suspect Number One in most situations. How terribly ironic.
After all, who could’ve killed him but you? You might not remember, but there is definitely a murder weapon in your hand. It’s probably a knife or a poisoned glass of wine or-
Wait, is that a toaster? A full on toaster? Or maybe it’s a taser. Maybe you bludgeoned this poor guy with an entire encyclopedia. Either way, it looks like your murder weapon is a little unconventional, whether it’s a stranger’s pair of underwear or a hair curler. Are you really supposed to believe you committed a murder with these? (Yes.)
That said in the next second the double doors will be opening up. It’s pretty clear you’re not alone. Think quick!
PHASE II [ 0600 ] Exploring more around the compound, you’ll find plenty of those tall, oil portraits of people hung around the walls. When you start walking, they’re all strangers. However by the time that you feel like you’re wandering around for an hour, two hours, they might start looking a little bit more… familiar? Mom? Is that you?
You don’t have time to think about that, though. You were clearly framed! You don't’ have a motive for killing some random NPC –
“Or do you?” a portrait will ask.
Oh. Holy shit. Well it’d just be rude to leave, right? Whether you stick around for conversation or not, you’ll find that was just the beginning. The portraits are going to start grilling you. Welcome to CERES Central’s Roast of You. What was your motive? Don’t you know you should respect the servants? How would you feel if you were caught like that? Careful turning your back on them though, because if you ignore them for too long, the subjects in the portraits may just reach out and snatch you to join them in their portrait world.
At that point, the only way to get out is to swap places with some other poor, unsuspecting soul wandering around.
PHASE III [ 1045 ] You know what makes me hungry? Murder.
What’s the point of making a mansion this big anyway? Who’s even here? Either way, whether you’re looking for the kitchen to make a fine post-homicide sandwich or just trying to escape, you’ll eventually make it to a stairwell. The most finicky stairwell ever. Is that a trail of bloody footprints leading up the steps? What? No. Stop it, just climb.
Or well – don’t climb too quickly now. The staircases apparently have a mind of their own, swapping from one doorway to another. You definitely haven’t seen this before. It would seem that these stairs might even be interested in keeping you in a circle forever, no concern for whether or not you’re hungry or, god forbid, need to use the restroom.
However the portraits in the stairwell will provide a little tip: “The stairs are gossips, you know. Why don’t you tell us a little something about yourself? Make it good!”
Weirdly enough, sound advice – that is, if you’re interested in shouting out your most embarrassing secrets into the void so a mansion can keep talking shit about you. Oh well. Your alternative is just being a stair golem. There are worse fates.
PHASE IV [ 1430 ] This hall is oddly quiet.
Well, until you hear it – the soft sniffles coming from down the hall, the broken sobs. It sounds like someone’s crying. For one reason or another, your footsteps take you forward – there’s really no point in going back now after all, right? Yet as you continue to walk… walk… walk… the crying becomes louder and louder. More desperate, more despaired. In time, it’s clear that this person is wailing, screaming, “How could this happen?!”
Within the span of a breath, all the lights in the hallway go out, leaving you in pitch black.
It occurs to you then that you hear a second set of steps. When did you stop walking? A cold chill runs down your spine and you find yourself running then, despite the fact that it feels like this pitch black hallway goes on forever. The other footsteps pick up, remind you that you’re not alone. No, certainly not.
Best hope that you find some assistance soon – otherwise it looks like the Butler Association is going to ignite some righteous vigilante justice on your ass.
BONUS [ why o'clock ] You’re in the grand ballroom now, ready to present your case. Armed with a cob pipe (don’t smoke inside, it’s rude), a detective hat, and a single spotlight aimed right at you, you now have to explain how you came to the conclusion about the True Killer that is Obviously Not You. Rather, it’ll just be the character of whoever tags into this prompt – yes, you are suddenly so very sure that they’re the ones who are the ultimate mastermind of this entire game and… you’re just going to have to bullshit the reason why even if you know virtually nothing about them. It’s a dog eat dog world out there, you know?
Sorry about that.
Should you actually provide enough of a compelling case or they take pity on you, having a villainous breakdown for the sake of the plot, you’ll be awarded with a coupon that’ll give you three free scoops at your local ice cream parlor! (Note: you must buy the first two scoops in order to qualify.) Of course, if you’re not able to nail them down as the killer, you are obviously the killer yourself (citation needed).
From there, you’ll be dragged off to face your punishment: for six grueling hours you will be tickled mercilessly.
[ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with sensitive or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ] |
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Seras Victoria | Hellsing
It was bright, way too bright, Seras had to shut her eyes to keep from being blinded. Though before she even opened them the smell of blood gave her an idea that something had happened. Peeking a single eye open she looked forward to make sure she wasn't going to be blinded by that light again. After a moment she blinked before looking down to where the smell came from, her gloves were covered in crimson dripping with blood and holding a fork. At her feet was a butler who had obviously been on the wrong end of the utensil.
"W-wait what happened?"
Had she blacked out and lost control? But why a fork? She could have tore through him with her bare hands if she had wanted to. Before she could answer anything though she whirled around at the sound of someone coming in.
"It's not what it looks like."
Phase II:
Huh, there was a lot of art. It was almost like the place was a museum or something. At least it seemed that way with all the portraits, though as they became a bit more recognizable she slowed a bit.
"Sir Integra?"
Before she could inspect it any closer though the voice came out accusing her of having a motive, causing the draculina to jump backwards and throw her arms up in front of her.
"It talked, the painting just talked."
Sure vampires and werewolves were kind of something she had gotten used to, even Nazi Vampires seemed kind of novel. But talking paintings.
"It's just another one of those weird dreams. It's gotta be."
Phase IV:
"Really, it wasn't me. I didn't do anything wrong. I don't want to hurt any of you."
Seras was surprise at just how fast the others pursuing her were, even running it seemed like they were actually catching up to her. Though she really wasn't sure just who they were or how many of them there were. The appearance of another figure in the hallway though, mixed with the sound of the sobbing drew her to a halt as she slid for several feet stopping just in front of the other figure, crimson eyes peering through the darkness one hand behind her as she glanced back to access the situation.
"Please, stop this before something bad happens."
I
"Then put that thing down and leave. More people are going to see you and think the wrong thing if you just stand there."
She sped up her typically easy pace in heading for another door out of the room. Many other rooms in the house she'd meandered through possessed similar traits: many had two doors to go to another room or hall, and some even had three if they led outside. The outside doors, however, she could never pry open, even with her vectors.
"Come on."
no subject
Seras dropped the fork, though she still focused on her bloody hand for a moment as the shadows of her other arm swirled for a moment and her eyes seemed to focus on the tempting treat that stained the glove. It had been just for a moment until she looked back to the other woman and watched what she was doing. At the invitation though Seras quickly fell in step behind her.
"Where are you going?"
no subject
Making them, well, that's just a thing that happens. But lingering around them was never her style. Too messy, too many misunderstandings, and overall unpleasantness. As she walked, she kept an easy stride, though she might very well have left Seras behind if a corner came up or many different doors appeared.
"There's no misunderstanding if you just go somewhere else."
no subject
Even if she was a vampire now she had at one point been a police girl, and there was a part of her that she still clung to that cared about small things like that. She felt that it was important to hold onto as long as she could, even if that last little part of her that was human had seemed to die.
"Whoever did it might still be here too."
no subject
"It's either an illusion, or the killer's nearby. In the case of the latter..." She paused to look over her shoulder at her. "Just kill him if you find him."
no subject
She could smell the blood, and it was just as vivid as the images that Zorin had put in her head. But she had been able to see through those with her vampire senses, maybe she should have tried back there. As Lucy glanced back though Seras nodded.
"I suppose that would be better than letting him hurt someone else. Though it might be better to catch him so that he can be turned over to the authorities. Unless he's some kind of monster and can't be stopped any other way."
no subject
She still didn't look too concerned about it, and her tone sounded more as if she was talking about the weather than a murderer being on the loose. Or a monster. Nothing she couldn't handle, in any case.
no subject
Chances were she would be the one labled monster and then there would be even more trouble between her master and Iscariot.
"You seem to know an awful lot about this place. Have you been here for a long time?"
no subject
"I know a month's worth, since that's about how long I've been here."
She didn't consider it all that much to know, however. She was suspicious of it all, true, but so far, CERES didn't throw anything at her she couldn't handle and let her have a normal-ish life the rest of the time.
i
So when he pushed the door open and found a murder scene (and it was very clearly a murder scene), Varric wasn't terribly surprised. In fact, he was almost a little relieved. So this was what the system cooked up this time? More murder, sure, but less murder than some of the other times he'd been dropped in.
"Uhhh huh."
He drawled his skepticism, looking up and down with a raised eyebrow. Now. This? Looks like a story.
"Then, tell me, what exactly is it? Because it looks like you murdered the butler. What, did he not butter your bread nicely enough?"
no subject
Seras dropped the fork regardless and looked down at the man that was on the ground. His eyes were completely gone and a puddle had formed around his head.
"I don't know what happened. There was a bright light, and when I could see again I was here. I didn't do anything wrong. I don't even know where I am right now."
It was actually a bit frustrating and the shadows that formed her missing arm seemed to reach out a little as she glanced from the body to the man who had just walked in, her crimson eyes studying each but at the same time seeming somewhat lost and scared.
Phase II!
Needless to say that when she hears her own voice, as well as Seras's, she's already more than suspicious: )
Who's there?
( In that instant, she's reaching towards her side, more than ready to unsheathe her sword. )
no subject
(Was there another portrait? She hadn't seen any other duplicates but as she backed away from the first, Seras actually managed to catch a glimpse of Integra. The draculina quickly rushed over to Integra overjoyed to actually see her. Though after just a second she paused for a moment.
It looked just like Sir Integra or rather how she had looked a long time ago. For a moment Seras just stared, frozen where she was slightly slack jawed.)
Your wrinkles are gone, and your hair, it's blonde again. When did you get younger?
no subject
She's able to relax her shoulders at least, knowing this was, in fact, Seras. )
This might not make sense at first to you Seras, but this is not our world-- nor are we from the same point in time.
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(. . . For a few moment Seras seemed to be trying to puzzle it all together. Well it hadn't seemed very much like home and there was the really bright light and now this younger Integra.)
W-wait, we've been abducted by time traveling aliens? What do they plan to do us? I won't let them probe you, no matter what. I'll beat all of them away and take their ship and get us back home safe.
no subject
I'm afraid you're too late for that. We're all equipped with ocular implants upon arrival.
( Unfortunately, Integra is painfully technical, thus saying nothing to ease Seras's fears. )
Did you sit through a presentation, by chance?
( Why does she bother asking when she already knows the answer? )
no subject
[Seras nods her head rather matter-of-factly about the matter, though just how she would do such a thing was unclear given they were already framing her for murder.]
Huh, you mean all of that was real? I kind of dozed off and didn't pay much mind since I thought it was a bunch of crazy talk.
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Unfortunately, I've been trapped here for some time now. Actually-- this wouldn't even be the first world of its nature.
( Not counting her two years in Ruby City, a headache for another time. )
no subject
[Really Seras never remembered her being gone for any period of time let alone something that would be considered a long time, or even enough to travel to two different worlds. When the conversation seemed to start getting drowned out from the sound of the paintings, Seras looked around again.]
Umm, maybe we should find a way out of here first.