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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[tellthestory]

[The Balladeer is prompt to answer the knock! He's dressed similarly to before (evidently the showrunner gets the privilege of having more than one outfit), and he seems more mellow today.]

Good morning! Yeah, c'mon in.

[dechagny]

[Interesting how he trusts them enough to just...let them in. Not that Raoul has malicious intentions, but still man, you'd think some kind of barrier or...not being let directly into your little hub of Balladeering would be part of the deal.

Also, screw you and your wardrobe privilege.

Raoul comes in, making an effort to straighten out his clothes.] I...do not know if you can answer my question, seeing as you are simply in charge of us in this...area. [He makes a little circular motion with his hands.] But I did want to inquire about the state of our arrivals. A few others have told me they woke up here not how they remembered themselves to be, and I...found something disturbing upon my person that I know for certain was not there before I arrived here. Has your "upper management"...have they deemed it fit to cause us harm before arriving?

[tellthestory]

[The box office is, actually, fairly sparse. There's a desk with a few papers and a mug sitting on it, and a little collection of instrument stands along one wall - the guitar from before, a banjo, some other stringed things. The space behind the desk is almost entirely taken up with a shelf of little cubby-holes, where tickets might once have been placed for will-call, but they're all empty now. Aside from that, there's nothing on the walls, and nothing like personal decorations.]

You're talking about Winslow? [He leans back against the desk.] 'Cause that definitely wasn't us. They didn't hurt any of you - you're all pretty much the way they found you - but that is just sick.

[dechagny]

[Still, it's...interesting. Raoul quietly takes note of what he sees, because those words are not at all comforting.]

I'm talking about all of us, but yes, Mister Winslow comes to mind immediately - and so does this.

[Raoul pulls the collar of his shirt down a bit to reveal the bruises around his neck. They're a couple of days old at least, definitely left by some sort of rope, but they're still not too happy-looking.]

Can you say with certainty, sir, that your employers have done nothing to us other than bring us here and subject us to their idea of a show?

[tellthestory]

[The Balladeer sucks a sympathetic breath in between his teeth, craning his neck to get a better look.]

Thaaaat looks nasty. No, they didn't do that - they don't just run around attacking people for no reason.

[dechagny]

[The thing is, he really doesn't want to believe the Balladeer. He doesn't, either, because in Raoul's mind there is literally no other explanation for this. But if this is the only answer he's going to get...]

I...see. So however and whenever each of us was found, we were all as we woke up in our rooms - do I have it correct, sir?

[tellthestory]

That's the long and short of it. [He frowns.] There's some first-aid kits in the storage closet, you know. Pretty basic stuff, but...

[He shrugs. You know, better than nothing.]

Oh, that reminds me, what year are you from again?

[dechagny]

1881. I am aware that not everyone else is from the same time. [A pause.] I have also inspected the electric icebox, as you suggested.

[tellthestory]

Really? [He smiles a little.] That's funny. What month was it?

[dechagny]

[gdit I wish I knew specifically]

It was nearing autumn, I believe. The exact date escapes me. Why exactly do you find that funny?

[tellthestory]

[I'm sorry, you touched the Really Specific Historical Event button]

It's not funny-funny, it's just...coincidental. I knew a guy from that year once.

[He looks thoughtful for a moment, before shaking his head.]

Anyway, I guess my point is, what do you know about germs? I think European doctors moved faster on that than American ones.

[dechagny]

[Is it also a really specific hint button?]

Really? I don't take you for the...what, time-travelling kind?

[As for germs? Uh. Well. He did figure out the shower, and he's going to have to ask someone about cleaning clothes, and cooking food properly, but he doesn't feel sick now...]

What exactly must I know about germs? I do take care to keep myself in good health.

[tellthestory]

[Eh.]

More or less, yeah. [He flaps a hand dismissively.] I don't do any of that anymore.

On the most basic level, just don't...if someone's injured, for the love of god, wash whatever you put on it first. And don't touch people's wounds with your disgusting dirty hands! [This seems to be a topic he feels strongly about, but somewhere in his morass of disgust he realizes how that sounds and stops, holding up a placating hand towards Raoul.] Not you specifically, I mean. No one should be doing that.

[dechagny]

[Giving you the flattest look right now. He knows how soap works, thank you very much.]

I shall keep that in mind.

[tellthestory]

[Have you met any American doctors from your time period friend]

I'm serious. If anyone dies of infection here, I am going to lose my mind.

[dechagny]

[Not yet]

Well, surely it will not spread to you if you are in here?

[tellthestory]

What?

No, figuratively. That's a terrible way to die, and I don't want it happening again.

[dechagny]

[...Hm. Again?]

No doubt it is a horrible form of death. Though, I have not known someone to come back from such a fate and...live to tell the tale.

[tellthestory]

...nooooo, they usually don't.

[?????]

[dechagny]

[Look bro you hinted something here]

But...mm. Well, perhaps there's nothing to wonder about when it comes to that. I shall be very cleanly.

[tellthestory]

[He seems to have zero idea what you might be implying.]

Right. [.....] Anyway. You should really ice that.

[dechagny]

If I find some ice, I shall.

[He's pretty sure it'll be in the electric ice box.]

[tellthestory]

Should be some in the fridge.

[yes dear thank you]