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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"Time is...weird here." To say the least. That much, Usagi will easily admit, and that hopefully takes care of Makoto's initial confusion. Let alone that this could well be another case of Usagi not recalling nearly so much as her senshi. She's more prepared for that potential case now, more than she was when she first got here at least.
"But we're not sure how the Nexus Code works exactly, to help bring them back ourselves, or send them back home. Not yet anyway. But I guess you could say it's like they're saved or something? They aren't here with us, in the ViVid or Cerealia, but they aren't home either? Someone else would probably explain this stuff better than I can, you know I'm not that good with technology to help that much with something like this. Even if I might ask Hiro-kun about it."
She probably should have paid more attention when Ami tried helping and explaining on technology and all that, but it's never exactly been Usagi's strong point, gaming aside, really. She can barely figure managing a computer, let alone all of this.
"But Ami-chan and Minako-chan were here. When I first arrived. We were all staying together, and you were the only one we were waiting for, but now you are here...."
Oh. There's the waterworks Makoto's probably been expecting since she heard Usagi's voice.
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"There's a lot of strange things about this place, I'm gathering. But it's all technology-based? I wish Ami-chan were here. She probably understood it all."
Makoto doesn't blame the other girl at all. If what Usagi's said is true, she can ask Rei and get the run down in terms she can understand to go forward.
"Sorry, I'm the late one this time." She's trying to joke, but it's not a very funny situation. "Hey, Usagi-chan, don't cry. We'll figure something out, right? We always do."
no subject
But she's gone now. Until she comes back, or unless they help get her and others back home, they've no way to know what more she might have achieved. Usagi only knows some barely basics on such things though. As much as she wants to help and is determined to figure something to help her friends.
"It's...It's not your fault, Mako-chan. None of us have any control over this." Which is the upsetting and frustrating thing in all of this, really. "I just wish I could help more. But you're right. Now you're here, we have that much better a chance to figure this, together!"
She clumsily wipes at her face with her sleeve, attempting a smile in spite of the messy trails lingering from her tears.
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If she asks about someone else, Usagi might be a little less sad. Until Makoto knows exactly what's going on, she's just going to make sure that Usagi's safe and that they find Rei. All she knows is that Minako and Ami were here and now they aren't. So, that leaves a lot of the work for her and Rei.
"That's the spirit. Crying won't get us off these stairs, right?" She pats her smaller friend's head, trying to find a way to get out of this creepy house. "Okay, so which way should we go?"
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She tries to explain, though she isn't sure if she's the best one to do so when there is so much here that she still doesn't quite understand, exactly. But Makoto's presence is a relief, a joy, in spite of her recent upsets. And it grounds her, even as she gives something of a small pout amid her sniff when the taller teen pets her head, bringing her attention back to their surroundings.
"I'm not sure....I guess if we try the opposite to the way we came?"
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The code stuff's still really confusing, so she's just going to save that until later. Much later.
She takes a look down the hall of the landing their on and frowns. "There's just some doors that way, but nothing to show that that's the right way. I don't really want to take any chances after what happened when I ended up here."
Let's not talk about the dead body, okay?
no subject
At least somewhat. Because, well. It's hard to befriend any of the senshi without hearing at least a little about the others. Regardless of how secret they were trying to keep their senshi identity or not.
"Are you sure you're okay, Mako-chan? Maybe the other way then...."
Just going to instinctively reach for the taller girl's hand and start leading the way. Of course she's nervous, scared. But she has been here in Cerealia and dealt with the ViVid more, for longer, in comparison to Makoto.