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?
|
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. ] |
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
[The clothing said 'butler' but the rest of the man wasn't very descriptive.]
no subject
no subject
CERES? I take it that's some sort of group around here?
no subject
Yes. They run everything. Think of them like the church, only far more corrupt.
no subject
I suppose there always has to be some sort of group like that no matter where you go. Still it doesn't make much sense, does it? To just set up a house like this and drop people into it? There doesn't seem to be much about aside from talkative pictures.
[Well and finally the end of the room itself. They've come to a doorway leading into a hallway. An extremely long and dusty hallway.]
no subject
This is known as the ViViD. It's a type of game that CERES makes us play and we can't get out until the ViViD is completed unfortunately. This isn't part of the actual city, that's outside of this place.
no subject
[Kind of? Maybe. Not that a weird manor was outside the realms of reality considering where the pair hailed from.]
There doesn't seem to be a very clear goal though. Do we just have to take a chance and hope for the best?
no subject
[He doesn't like when the odds are stacked against him, but that seems to be case with this particular ViViD.]
By the way, I meant to ask. What is the last memory you have?
no subject
[Tucking a few fingers against her chin, she runs through the events of her latest travels.]
Yangus and I were called out for a bit of help by Empyrea actually. We ended up traveling to a completely different world where humans and monsters actually got along before everything went sour.
[She nods a little to herself and then begins down the hallway to check doors. One of these has to lead to a front room or a foyer or anywhere for that matter. She speaks in a very no nonsense and matter of fact tone.]
There was a whole different sort of darkness there. It just goes to show you though that no matter where you go, there will always be some darkness looking to do what it can to win.
no subject
Wait a second. You and Yangus? Don't you mean us? We just did that and helped twin siblings become the rightful heirs to their country after destroying the King of Hell. Or did I hit my head and not experience that?
no subject
I'm not sure about that but I am very sure it was Yangus and myself. He ended up being very attached to a healslime named Healix.
no subject
When did this happen? You never told me about that nor did Yangus.
no subject
[She waves a hand at him slightly as she shuts the door now.]
Believe me, it isn't like I would keep it a secret or anything like that.
no subject
[Which is really weird to say, but he keeps walking alongside her.]
no subject
[Then again considering everything else in the past, it's not the strangest thing that's ever happened to her. She ends up shrugging in the end then, offering him a smile after.]
You still seem the same as ever so I suppose it doesn't matter much what time you are or aren't from.
no subject
I suppose that's true, I may be older but I'm also wiser and more handsome. [He then smugly grins.] By the way, you owe me a birthday gift.
no subject
A birthday present? I don't think right now is the proper time to start getting greedy for gifts! In case you haven't noticed, we're still stuck in this place.
no subject
I'm well aware of what's going on and I meant you could repay me later, but now I'm glad you took it otherwise. Your reaction is too hilarious.
no subject
I should have known better.
[Her voice takes on a singsong sarcastic tone for a brief moment as she continues walking without waiting for him.]
Yes, yes, Your Majesty, of course I'll repay you. If you keep needling reactions out of me though, you may get one you don't like so well.
no subject
I've seen the worse from you, I doubt you can top that.
no subject
no subject
no subject
[That does bring up a point she's wondered about now and then. She pauses in her steps, looking over to him curiously.]
Though that does make me wonder some. Angelo, would you say you're the sort of man to continually run into an impenetrable barrier? Or perhaps a wall? Or maybe that you're just hardheaded?
no subject
Running into a barrier or wall repeatedly sounds like something Yangus would do, not me. I personally would jump over or find a way to climb it, or even perhaps go around it. So I'm just hardheaded.
no subject
[She ponders it aloud as she continues.]
Yangus and a man named Kiryl were discussing the same thing when he and I were on our little journey. Both of them seemed to be in agreement that sometimes you simply have to hound after the object of your affections.
[They come around a doorway finally as she mutters to herself.]
Seems like a waste of time if you ask me.
[Popping through the doorway reveals a grand foyer. Made of many, many staircases. It's rather like an Escher painting. Jessica's shoulders sag.]
Oh good grief, what is this.
(no subject)