THE BOX OFFICE

[tellthestory]

This is where you can meet privately with the Balladeer! The Balladeer is almost always around during the day; just knock.

(Secretly, the door's usually not locked if he's inside. But you wouldn't want to be rude, would you?)

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[trettende]

[ Hans arrives today with a bottle of wine and two glasses: to share, obviously. If the Balladeer isn't allowed to leave, then he'll bring the drinks to him.

Plus after that last trial, he could probably use it. ]

Balladeer? How are you doing?

[ He's just coming in now, sorry. ]

[tellthestory]

[Oh, so this is how we're doing things now? The Balladeer was leaning forward on his desk, head resting on his folded arms, but he shoots upright as the door opens.]

Hans! Ha, you...startled me.

[trettende]

[ You wouldn't answer my texts, Balladeer, how else was I gonna get you out on a date. ]

Yikes. Are you alright? [ Like, seriously, Hans is concerned. And setting down the drinks on the table while he steps closer. ] Have you been getting enough sleep?

[tellthestory]

I'm fine. [He does seem worn, though, as he glances over the drinks.] What's all this for?

[trettende]

Are you sure? I heard from the others that things weren't getting easier for you.

[ Hans sits down, ignoring the drinks for right now. ]

I wanted to talk to you. And to see how you were doing, honest.

[ """""Honest""""" ]

[tellthestory]

Of course they're not getting easier. Why would they?

[...yeah, wow, he sounds pretty darn downtrodden right now]

But I'm fine. I just...

[trettende]

"Just"...? Is something wrong?

[ He kind of brought the wine over just to break the ice but now he's wondering if the Balladeer might not need a drink for himself. ]

Here, let me pour you a drink. You look exhausted.

[ He gonna. ]

[tellthestory]

I just helped execute an innocent person, Hans.

[what the fuck do you think is wrong]

[trettende]

Oh.

[ Right. ]

I guess I... focused on Cain for most of this. He's the real bad guy here.

[ And went straight to the bar, so that's fair. He's gonna go ahead and pour them each a glass. ]

You definitely need this more than me.

[tellthestory]

I guess he was pretty easy to focus on.

[fucking showboat]

Oh, I don't really...drink much...

[trettende]

Yeah, having a biblical character show up was pretty surprising.

[ To say the least. ]

Not even one glass? [ Look, Hans will take a sip from his. ] I didn't poison it, if that's what you're worried about.

[tellthestory]

Someone would've stopped you bringing it in here if you did, I'm sure. Rules and all.

[He watches Hans for a moment, before shrugging and taking his own glass.]

Sure, okay. It's not some teetotaler thing, honestly, I've just never done it much.

[trettende]

Yes, exactly. Rules are rules.

[ And you're all about following the rules, aren't you, Balladeer? ]

Sounds like you've been missing out on quite a lot, before showing up here.

[tellthestory]

It's the nature of the beast. [He shrugs.] I never minded it that much. When you've never had something to begin with, you don't miss it the same.

[trettende]

I know what you mean.

[ He takes a long drink of wine. He's going to talk about his family. Always a touchy subject, but one he brings up relentlessly. ]

Besides my time in the Navy, I hadn't ever spent this much time away from home-- or at least not on some mission on my family's behalf.

[tellthestory]

...well, it'd be stupid to ask if you're enjoying it. [Given the situation.] But...are you homesick, I guess?

[trettende]

[ Yeah, the murder makes it hard to enjoy. ]

Is it bad for me to say 'not even a little?'

I mean, I miss things making sense, but I already know my plan with Anna is a bust. The only thing waiting for me at home is jail time and ridicule from my family.

[ Hans takes another sip of his wine. ]

I don't enjoy the murders and having to watch people die, but I wouldn't mind being stuck here till the end, I suppose.

[tellthestory]

I'd be a hypocrite if I said it were.

[The Balladeer doesn't drink yet, swirling the wine thoughtfully.]

You know, I already told Seymour this - I don't think you'd have to go back to your own story - world, whatever - after this if you don't want to. Management would have to agree to let you go back with someone else, but at that point they probably won't care what happens.

[trettende]

[ Hans shrugs. He'd heard some of this. ]

Really? That would be pretty nice. [ I mean, it's way better than going back to Arendelle... ] Maybe Billy, the lawyer's world... he and I seem pretty similar.

[ Maybe that's why Hans doesn't talk to him much, it's like looking in a mirror. Only he's a mirror, so it's like staring into the void. ]

Speaking of endings, how does this one end? You said after a month, but it's been a bit longer than that now.

[tellthestory]

That was if no murder ever happened. No one wants to watch a bunch of people just hang out in a big house forever.

[But, well, see how that worked out.]

I don't know how it ends now. Seems like there might be a plan, but... [He shrugs.]

[trettende]

[ Oh. Well, that's troubling. Hans swirls his wine to hide how that... unnerves him because he was really hoping time was on their side here!! Time to deflect those worries. ]

The Management hasn't told you?

[tellthestory]

No. Maybe they don't know themselves yet!

[He allows himself a moment of denial, before admitting:]

...that wouldn't really be like them, though. They're the kind who's always got some kind of grand vision of how everything's going to work out. Sort of like me, I guess...

[Except, well, they can make it happen]</small.

[trettende]

[ Yeah, Hans kind of gets that feeling since he's been interacting with the Management through their letters Gosh, being the Mole is great!!

But no, Hans is still only concerned for the Balladeer here. They are friends, even if Hans hasn't told him everything. ]

Really? Did you have some kind of vision planned for how all this was going to go, before...?

[tellthestory]

Sure. I thought you could all just...make friends? Whatever normal people do when they're in a group of strangers? Maybe not everyone, some of you are terrible.

[tbf maybe should've used past tense, he's largely thinking of hook]

But I thought you could at least not start killing each other.

[trettende]

That would have been my plan ideally. Murder's more of a last resort for me.

[ Not As Bad As Hook can be his new cast descriptor. ]

This is going to sound a bit strange, but is it possible something could be forcing people to murder? Like is it something in the water?