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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no subject
Before he could even say anything, that's when the Digimon spoke up!]
We could but I wonder if I could fly you over there instead. I think that would be a lot easier! [Even if the stairs were starting to move a little bit faster than before]
no subject
You're right, it should be. What's your name? [ Looking between Takeru and Patamon, she clarifies who she's asking: both of them. ] Both of your names, I mean. I'm Chihiro.
[ And they get a shallow bow, more of a bob of her head as she juggles some degree of politeness with the situation at hand. Easier to have each other's names be known if they're going to be working together, or if anyone will be flying anyone else around!
... Presuming that Patamon is either very strong, or much more than what Patamon seems. ]
no subject
However, it was a good thing that the situation made him quickly regain his words!]
My name is Takeru and this is Patamon! [He said before pointing to said flying creature above the both of them.] It's really nice to meet you, Chihiro-chan!
[...Was it Chihiro-chan or Chihiro-san? She didn't look that much older than him but he really hoped he didn't get his honorifics wrong though!]
no subject
It's nice to meet you, Takeru-kun, Patamon-kun.
[ #honourific-living-on-the-edge from kid to kid. ]
How are you going to fly us over? One at a time?
[ Looking from Patamon to the door, their staircase gently moving. ]
no subject
No, I'm going to have Patamon evolve into Angemon. But it's been 3 years since I came back here so I'm not sure if it will work or not.
[Pause] But if it doesn't, we're going to have to think of something else.
no subject
Evolve like Pokemon? Digimon? Like characters from an anime or manga?She nods, though she can admit it's a little confusing. Time differences? Ah - but perhaps that's not so confusing as she thinks. ]Into Angemon? ... Okay. [ Another small nod. ] You were here three years ago?
[ She knows they'll figure things out as far as getting to that door goes. They'll get it handled! ]
no subject
Chihiro, what are you doing? Don't break the fourth wall!Although, as soon as Takeru got his DigiVice, he couldn't help but give his new friend a nervous smile]I was but...I'm afraid it's a little complicated. Let's just say that once you come here, there's always a chance you can come back!
[Wether he likes it or not but that's for another time. Right now, as soon as the blond looked back at Patamon, a certain song starts playing up as there happened to be light surrounding said flying potato!
From there, Chihiro might happen to see a certain angel once the light dims down!]
no subject
[ Look she didn't understand most that powerpoint presentation, she doesn't understand. Not that she lingers in that lack of understanding for long before she's hearing music and Patamon is engulfed in light. His transformation is dramatic, not the quieter melting away she came to understand with Haku.
Thus while she's thrown up an arm to shield her eyes, blinking around her limb as the light dims, she's also taken by mild surprise. ]
Pata...
[ Her arm falls back to her side while she looks between the angel like being and Takeru. ]
Angemon?
no subject
If Cerealia wants you to. Although, that depends on what they feel like doing. I know I was here for 4 months when I was 7 but I don't know why they want me back.
[While he could make a quip about how much Cerealia likes him, this probably wasn't the time or place. Not when Chihiro was in danger and he needed her to get out of the ViViD and fast.
Although, the moment that she saw Angemon? He couldn't help but give off a proud smile. Humble or not, it never got old to see people's reaction to the angelic digimon]
Mhmm, that's right! He looks pretty cool doesn't he? [/Trollkeru]
no subject
[ MIGHT NOT... SOUND AS COOL AS COOL, but she means it, regardless? Angemon is strikingly different, and between the lights and the wings and his presence at this point, it's all surprising. (Hence, also, the -san.) ]
Four months? But how can you go back? I mean, there's somewhere to go back that's not all... [ She waves her hands, mimicking waves at sea. ] ... corrupted?
[ That's important, just like getting off these stairs and out of here is. She shifts her weight from foot to foot, antsy, but waiting on what Takeru and Angemon have planned. Carrying them both across? One at a time? She focuses on Takeru, since he seems to be the one making requests and plans at the moment. ]
That can wait until we're out of here, though.
[ Wherever here really was. ]