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Post by Kachu on Jun 11, 2023 3:23:51 GMT
The employees who have passed on find themselves waking up on the floor of a familiar looking room. Wait, no, that's not right... This is a movie theater!
Along with some cool, theater staples like a popcorn machine, and strange crust on the carpet, there's a big screen on the northern wall. Displayed in all of its glory is the Information Department! It seems like what's going on back in the realm of the living is being shown off for the dead to see!
Sitting comfortably in the VERY front row, like some kind of nutcase, is Saber, staring at the screen and silently munching on some freshly popped popcorn.
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Post by JoyTheBard (Slezak) on Jun 11, 2023 4:08:43 GMT
*CrackSHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!!!*
" . . . "
One moment, Josephine is searching the break room for clues. The next, her vision blacks out and a terrible ear-piercing screech overwhelms her.
"Ĭ©îţÃäéŰÑűĘĄĸõ¹ÝŤóì·ţıŊĩŤōŲ޺ìÁĢâťĦ¢ñ?"
Her senses slowly return to her. Well, most of them. She feels a carpeted floor pressed against her back, the shockwaves of a pounding headache causing her vision to pulsate as it fades in to reveal light coming from her periphery. Still, she makes it to her feet with surprisingly little effort.
"WheŹeţ. .ĒŞûam I?" She can't make sense of anything happening around her. Not even her own words seem to be making sense. She attempts to take a deep breath, only to find no air coming in.
"Where . . . am I?" She tries again. Good; things seem to have subsided enough for her to think. Taking a look around, she notices the familiar sights. "A cinema?" Gah, the screen is still too bright. She turned away, willing her feet to take a step. What actually happened though, felt more like sliding.
When she finally arrived at the front row of seats, she finally noticed another person. Was that-
"Saber!?" Josephine's voice cracked. She was so happy to see him alive again! Wait, hold on. She looked around the seats of the theater and noticed that nobody else was there. "Why am I . . . in here with him?" She turned her attention back to the screen, her eyes having adjusted enough to make out the images. It was the Information department of Lunares, a place Josephine was all too familiar with. But then why-
*THUD* A jump cut to the fridge in the break room being opened. The realization hit her as soon as her body in the movie hit the floor. Her vision blurred and the voices of the Abnormality and the AI became indistinct. Josephine had died. So then, what was this? Was she brought back? And why were she and Saber in this room, watching the events of the Lost Prophet incident happening? She made her way over to where Saber was sitting, taking a chair next to him.
"Hey, um . . . " Josephine began, her senses having cleared once again, "What's . . . all this?"
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Post by Kachu on Jun 11, 2023 14:47:50 GMT
"Oh! Hello there!" Saber smiles wide and munches on more popcorn, seemingly unaware of her entrance. "Just watching a movie, yeah? You want some popcorn?"
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Post by JoyTheBard (Slezak) on Jun 11, 2023 15:22:12 GMT
"I think I'll get my own, thanks," Josephine replied, deciding playing along might be the better idea for now, "So what do you think of it so far?" She made herself as comfortable as she could, still unable to ignore the scene of everyone talking around the spot her body was found.
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Post by Kachu on Jun 11, 2023 15:34:40 GMT
"I dunno, the acting on that guy who looked like me was kinda terrible. And what a waste! Killing off a good character like that, what were they thinking!?"
Saber shouts and chucks a handful of popcorn at the big screen in front of him.
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Post by JoyTheBard (Slezak) on Jun 11, 2023 15:56:39 GMT
"Right? Not a promising start for sure. Let's hope it picks up soon," Josephine agreed, "Good thing we didn't have to pay to see this." Except they did have to pay, with their lives. But Josephine didn't know the true nature of this place yet.
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Post by Kachu on Jun 12, 2023 3:23:36 GMT
"Yeah! Free entertainment is free, I guess." Saber grumbles, continuing to stare at the giant screen. It's a little concerning.
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Post by dootdoot on Jun 12, 2023 3:41:40 GMT
Perhaps for once in her life, Fran was still. She had been silently deposited into a reclined seat when nobody was looking, peacefully sleeping away without even seeing the movie theater. Perhaps it was best not to bother her.
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Post by JoyTheBard (Slezak) on Jun 12, 2023 4:02:30 GMT
"Yeah, because watching my colleagues getting systematically picked off one by one is supposed to be entertaining," Josephine mumbled, "I guess I shouldn't be too harsh on it though; it is just the start, after all."
Josephine continued to watch as more and more votes racked up for Fran. She had to turn away when the execution scene started. Moments later, the gunshot rang out over the theater's speakers, only partially muffled by Josephine having covered her ears. Unable to look at the screen, Josephine decided to sweep her gaze around the seats behind her once again. She caught a glimpse of someone far away fast asleep in one of the reclining chairs. That's strange; Josephine could swear there wasn't anyone else here. Josephine rose from her seat and made her way toward the new entity to have a closer look.
Is that . . . Fran? The one who sacrificed herself moments ago in the movie? Had Josephine simply not noticed her before, or . . . ? In any case, the poor doormatoverburdened employee looked so peaceful like that. It was kinda cute, actually--no! Now is not the time to be having thoughts like that. Josephine held onto the thought that at least she and Saber would get to see Fran like this, rather than . . . how everyone else in the movie was seeing her. She continued past the row Fran was in, moving toward the back of the theater.
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Post by Planetbox on Jun 13, 2023 16:51:58 GMT
"Such delicate composition!" Osborne nodded as he stared at his own dead body. "The curvature of my body emerging from the toilet reminds me of a Fibonacci smile. That golden ratio at the heart of so much natural and man-made art. And the entire set-up seems clearly inspired by the work of Marcel Duchamp. Clearly our opponent is an artist of the finest caliber."
"You are of course familiar with the work of Duchamp, Josephine?" He turned to the counselor and stared silently at her, awaiting a response.
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Post by JoyTheBard (Slezak) on Jun 13, 2023 17:54:56 GMT
"Wah!" Josephine was startled by another voice. "Osborne? When did you get--oh . . . ." She had finally made the connection. Questions started streaming through Josephine's brain, but then she remembered that Osborne had asked her a question.
"I, um . . . Duchamp, Duchamp," Josephine muttered, "S-Sorry, I'm not familiar with his work." She cast a shameful glance toward a particularly soda-stained portion of the carpet near her flats, which were of course also green. "I'm . . . glad you're happy with the scene, though . . . ? Beats being simply stuffed in a fridge, that's for sure." A cold chuckle followed.
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Post by dootdoot on Jun 13, 2023 18:34:33 GMT
"Marcel Duchamp is the artist who created Fountain in 1917." helpfully said.
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Post by Planetbox on Jun 13, 2023 19:52:49 GMT
“Exactly!” Osborne nodded at the artist formerly known as Fran. “Such an inspiring statement on the commodification of genius that clearly resonates even now, if our killer’s effort is any indication. I do feel that Lunares used me far too often as a marketing trip, but I’m not one to complain about publicity!”
He turned back to Fran. “Now that I think about it, something about you seems different. Did you change your hair? You look excellent!”
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Post by dootdoot on Jun 13, 2023 20:36:04 GMT
"Shh." shushed. "Keep it down. You'll wake her up. Let her rest."
Fran was still sleeping soundly on the reclined chair.
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Post by JoyTheBard (Slezak) on Jun 13, 2023 20:48:26 GMT
"Oh, right-Ah!" Josephine looked up just in time to see a mask-wearing entity in front of her. "I didn't--what?" The scene was too much for her. Josephine shook her head and moved on with what she intended to do.
Josephine procured a tablet that she'd had the entire time and began typing on it. Before long, a hologram of Duchamp's Fountain emanated from the tablet, slowly rotating. She then scrolled through several other pieces: Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2, The Large Glass, His Twine, Duchamp's unwinnable chess problem, et cetera. And then she saw Étant donnés, flinching slightly at the work before looking back up at the movie screen. Osborne's body was already in the process of being cleaned up, but the way he was positioned had been burned into her mind already.
"I see it now . . . ," Josephine remarked. "Forgive me, Osborne, for still having much to learn. That said, it looks like we'll have plenty of time." She then remembered Osborne mentioning Vermeer earlier, and began scrolling through a few of his pieces, allowing herself to become more artfully-enlightened. Soon, she deactivated the hologram feature and stowed away the tablet.
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Post by satan on Jun 16, 2023 3:12:42 GMT
"Well, that was uncouth of Legion," the new arrival griped at the screen. "Here I was, prepared with a knife, bucket, and body bag to make my death as clean as possible, and I just get shot in the head? Splattering the walls with my gray matter and blood staining everything! Gah! If Legion ever shows up in this theater, I will have words!"
The bullet wound on Scott's forehead had yet to close, so it provided a very neat and incredibly disorienting view right through his skull. Though the wriggling flesh around the wound may close it soon enough.
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Post by Planetbox on Jun 16, 2023 13:31:00 GMT
"You're quite right, Scott," Osborne replied. "Some people here are lacking concern for the aesthetic side of things. If we're going to be killing each other, we should at least take their concerns into account. Legion's lack of creativity or consideration is rather disappointing."
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Post by JoyTheBard (Slezak) on Jun 16, 2023 14:26:53 GMT
"I agree . . . ?" This was still not a type of conversation Josephine was used to having. Still, she attempted to play along. "It appears Legion is taking a Jackson Pollock approach when it comes to art-by-murder. Such disrespect to the subject of the piece . . . ." Josephine tried her best to get into the art critic mindset and tone, but her sentence trailed off as she gazed at said subject's form, the bullet hole having been retained.
"Okay, assuming we all get revived after this whole mess, I sure have my work cut out for me," Josephine remarked plainly, "But until then . . . let's focus on the here and now. Has anyone made any headway on figuring out who the apostles could be? I know it's futile discussion because we're stuck here, but does anyone have any thoughts?"
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Post by satan on Jun 16, 2023 19:42:19 GMT
"Nope. I just think Monty and Andrea are suspicious. Especially Monty. Something's up with that man, and I want to prove it."
The wound had already half-closed, the window through his skull rapidly shrinking.
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Post by satan on Jun 17, 2023 2:19:48 GMT
"Hey, finally. A clean kill. I can at least appreciate that. Gives us cleaning folk less to do."
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Post by JoyTheBard (Slezak) on Jun 17, 2023 6:58:04 GMT
"Andrea and Monty, huh? Yeah, I get Monty being suspicious, but Andrea . . . Maybe I'm just biased because I've been helping her deal with her social issues, but . . . how well do I really know my colleagues?" Josephine explained, musing over Scott's answer.
And then Finn ended up dead. "Jeez . . . ." Was Josephine starting to get used to the deaths, too? Not likely. She slumped in a nearby chair, starting to reach her breaking point. "Aw, Greg . . . Tangie . . . And then there's Delta, matter-of-fact as always."
. . .
"It's looking hopeless, isn't it?" Josephine finally asked, her resolve having all but gone from her. "All we have is guesses, don't we? There's no actual info on who's causing each of the murders, and we had a voluntary sacrifice for the first execution, and someone who I don't even think was that suspicious was voted for the second. We can only hope that the Keyholder remains out there, steadfast, and alive. Or are you already here . . . ?" Josephine looked around at her dead colleagues, before quickly adding, "Don't answer that, if you are. I need something to hold onto."
Josephine looked up and muttered at the open air, "What is with this place . . . ? This isn't anything like the afterlife I . . . ." She trailed off.
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Post by satan on Jun 17, 2023 7:23:18 GMT
"Hm. Somehow, I have a feeling we'll have more information soon enough." Scott thought about it for a moment, watching the show. "You have the skills for it. Just gotta put that study of people to good use. I bet you could figure out who all the Apostles are if you really put your mind to it."
A rare compliment, but one that he did not hand out lightly. After all, those who studied people were often the best at seeing through those who had secrets to keep.
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Post by JoyTheBard (Slezak) on Jun 17, 2023 17:01:27 GMT
Josephine sniffled. The smoldering embers had been stoked just a bit. And that was enough. Scott's words had filled her with determination.
"I know, Scott, I know I can do this," her tone soft, but much less shaky, "Still, thank you. I feel this many deaths in rapid succession must be tough even on grizzled members of the Cleaning and Disciplinary teams, even if it's 'just another week at L-Corp.'"
She pounded her chest where her heart would be as if it would do anything; there was no blood to get flowing.
"They must've gone for me first because they saw me as a threat. Well, perhaps it's time I started living up to that expectation . . . okay, 'living' was a poor word choice there. But there is the revival process . . . ." Josephine needed some time to collect her thoughts.
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Post by satan on Jun 18, 2023 3:46:09 GMT
Scott considered the screen, eyes narrowed.
"... I thought that Monty was suspicious. This is only making him seem even more so. Don't you think it's odd, that we're all dancing to his whims? We can hide behind the fact that we agreed to his propositions, but still. Why did we? For that matter, he's voted for every single person that's gotten lynched so far by the group at large. It's his plan. It's his actions. And even now, he's being suspicious. I don't like it one bit."
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Post by JoyTheBard (Slezak) on Jun 18, 2023 6:30:52 GMT
"Mm . . . ," Josephine mulled over Scott's words, "Yeah. A group of us started a weekly board game night awhile back, and sometimes we'd play Werewolf. The term 'Town Leader' comes to mind for Monty."
Josephine had procured the ducky pen and was twirling it in her hand as she continued.
"We know we're directionless, so if someone steps in and makes a plan, and a couple of the Apostles follow, it becomes a lot easier for mob mentality to take hold. I . . . admit I was guilty of falling for that tactic my fair share of times while I was inexperienced with the game.
I'm also wary of the fact Monty has led from pretty much the beginning, and yet he's still alive."
She considered something for a moment, the twirling pausing as she contemplated.
"Oh, but I shouldn't merely agree with you, so I've been thinking about some of the quieter ones: Alune, Carbon, and the late Finn. They're almost complete wildcards. Though I shouldn't rule out those who have said a lot but not really contributed to the discussion . . . but I need to keep searching my memory to gather up who those people are. That's kinda most of them though, honestly . . . ."
Then, something struck her.
"Wait, HOLD IT! Right, I've been keeping track, and I hadn't recorded a vote from Monty for the first lynch. I don't think he even cast a vote!"
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Post by satan on Jun 18, 2023 7:23:14 GMT
Scott thought it over, his own thoughts racing.
"... You're right," he eventually said. "During the second round of lynching, he had claimed he was too busy. But that's been his excuse this entire time. What is he so incredibly busy with that it leads him to act like this? He's hiding something, I'm almost sure of it."
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Post by JoyTheBard (Slezak) on Jun 18, 2023 7:50:15 GMT
"Wh-! Will you people stop putting yourselves up for sacrifice!?" Josephine did her best disappointed mother impression.
"So here's what else I have: Alune hasn't voted for a lynch or a work party in either round, and neither Finn nor 'Legion'--I swear I used to have her real name in my notes; must be an Abnormality's doing--voted for a lynch or a work party in the second round.
My current impression of Vincent is positive. He seems to have contributed meaningfully to discussions. Bonus to you, he's voted Monty in both lynch rounds.
As for suspicious people, I guess anyone who voted you out, Scott, is a good place to start examining. Perhaps along with anyone who was on the Franwagon . . . but I'm not picking up strong feelings from anyone there, necessarily.
Greg though . . . he's the only one who had both of the people he voted for be lynched. I guess we'll see if he makes it three-for-three."
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Post by satan on Jun 18, 2023 9:03:11 GMT
"If I had to say... my main suspicions still lie with Monty. That being said, a few others are suspicious for reasons of their own. Greg, for one. His happiness is either a well-constructed façade or the man is actively insane. I'm not sure I'd like either answer.
"Enid's been rather quiet too. But she feels like the sort to avoid confrontation rather than actively engender it. I wish I could say the same for Andrea, though. She seems to know more about the Apostles than she lets on.
"The rest seem rather fine. Of course, Carbon is always under suspicion due to being an Abnormality, but they've been helpful rather than hurtful. We'll have to see how the numbers work out, though; maybe there's something I'm just not seeing."
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Post by JoyTheBard (Slezak) on Jun 19, 2023 4:53:48 GMT
"I just wish some people were taking this situation more seriously," Josephine huffed, "Seven people have died at the hands of the Lost Prophet and its apostles. There's a time for coping, yes, but now isn't that time. The entire Information department is about to be jettisoned, or incinerated, or whatever L-Corp does to departments in uncontrollable situations . . . ." Josephine started to become jittery, so tried in vain to take another deep breath.
"What I'm saying is, 'Legion' and Monty need to stop messing around. It seems to finally be hitting Greg since Finn died, though that could just be a façade . . . Everyone on your suspects list still seems to be alive. It really is a shame I have nothing more to offer than behavioral analysis. I can only hope that it's been of some help." She had begun twirling the pen in her hand again.
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Post by satan on Jun 19, 2023 21:32:01 GMT
"It has. I feel like I understand more than I did before. Thank you."
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