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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Tuesday morning because guess who knows something is going down

[trettende]

Balladeer?

[ Fuck it, Hans is going to knock even if it's early. He knows the Management is up to something. Something to stop the sleepover and something to pin the truth on someone else.

Maybe this is his last chance to talk to the Balladeer before it happens... someone could kill him because they suspect him, anyway. ]

I have a question for you, if that's okay.

[tellthestory]

Of course.

[He seems...well, not cheery, but not as depressed as last time; he's sitting at his desk brewing a mug of tea.]

[trettende]

You don't tell the Management about whatever we tell you, do you?

[ Don't worry, it's way too early for wine today, too. Hans sits down. ]

Have you gotten in trouble for that?

[tellthestory]

N..o?

[He sounds a little uncertain.]

I don't know if they're happy with me right now, but I don't think it's because of that. [He sighs.] I miss the way things used to be with us.

[trettende]

You're not sure?

[ Look, this is important Balladeer. You've clearly gotten in trouble, Hans can feel it. ]

It must be hard losing a friend, I... I never had any to begin with, so this has been pretty new to me.

[tellthestory]

They were the first one I ever had. But...maybe you just shouldn't work with friends?

[Sure, that's got to be it. The professional relationship just muddied it all up; it's not that they weren't friends to begin with.]

[trettende]

Maybe you weren't as close as you thought you were.

[ The Management sure doesn't sound like they appreciate the Balladeer at all. Which is totally where he and Hans disagree. ]

Balladeer, I-- You have to keep our secrets, right? If I told you something... you wouldn't tell anyone, would you?

[tellthestory]

Maybe...

[He sounds like he doesn't really want to think about that too closely, so the change of subject is something he jumps on.]

Yeah, it's part of my rules. I wouldn't anyway, though - I think you all deserve at least one safe space for whatever. [Remembering, mostly.]

[trettende]

[ Sorry your bff Management is a huge tool, Balladeer. ]

Even if it's something bad? As in... if it was something that's against the rules?

[tellthestory]

[He sobers a little, glancing over his shoulder.]

Well...there's no cameras in here. So if I didn't, there's no reason anyone would know.

[trettende]

Okay, I-- I mean. We're friends, right?

[ He's not going to kid himself. ]

I know you're friends with Anna, and you think I'm awful, but you've been nice to me from the start, even knowing everything I did. And I... don't want to see you get hurt, so I've been doing what I can... And, well.

[ What better way to express this than with song. You know the one. ]

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives
For a reason...

[ YEP I'M DOING IT, now would be an awful time to get interrupted, huh? ]

[tellthestory]

Sure, we're friends.

[He's friends with Anna too, which seems incongruous, but he suspects he might have been friends with Hans first. Anyway, if no one's friends with him, what good will that do?

The Balladeer cants his head slightly, listening to the song - until there's a rapping sound, apparently from the wall behind him. He immediately goes rigid, and hisses between his teeth:]

That's them. You have to get out.

[trettende]

[ Hans clears his throat at the interruption, cutting his song short. Wow, it's almost like the Management is working against him here. Hans has a feeling he knows what that means. ]

Right, um. I'll tell you later, then.

[ Right now Hans has a place to be, Management's orders. Same as the Balladeer, really. He stands up and makes his way to the door. ]

Stay safe, Bal.

[ Is that okay?? Is it not??? Too bad Hans is gone ENJOY YOUR NICKNAME, BALLADEER. ]

[tellthestory]

[The Balladeer follows him to the door, wincing apologetically and whispering:]

Sorry.

[It goes against the grain to interrupt a song. That was probably something important; it usually is, music like that. But it's Management. There's no other option.

Maybe they can continue this later.]