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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[inforapenny]

[If the writing pad is empty, then it's time to look at the two books.

...otherwise a brief detour to read anything written in the notepad first.]

[tellthestory]

[At first glance, the pad is covered in a lot of musical notations.

On second glance, there's some words scattered around - two pages are labeled D-ne and Gabe, and are covered in scribbles and half-formed lyrics, thick dark markings that seem to have become calmer and more coherent about halfway down the page. The end results aren't present, but this seems to be where the structures for the execution songs were formed.

The second one seems to have given him more trouble. Large chunks of Gabe's song were crossed out and replaced with a longer description of the murder, which was then crossed out itself and replaced with the original lyrics again. Billy will recognize the part in question; it was at the end, when he was expressing a desire to see the cast go home.]

[inforapenny]

[...Well that was.

That sure is a thing. Billy feels a twinge of guilt for snooping, now. But he's never thought that the Balladeer was a bad guy. Just working for them.

Making a mental note of that, now what are those books?]

[tellthestory]

[The larger book is a cookbook that seems to feature largely simple recipes. The smaller is a copy of Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman.

There's a page dogeared on the latter. It's When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d.]

[inforapenny]

[Does this happen to be the same cookbook that says to pair apple cider with "fall treats" because if it is then he can disregard it since it was a present from one of them.]

[tellthestory]

[It sure is!]

[inforapenny]

[Aite cool, is the dog-ear the only mark in the Whitman's Poetry Sampler? Nothing highlighted or underlined or otherwise marked for emphasis, in that big ol poem?]

[tellthestory]

[There is a note on the top of the page, above the title of the poem.

You'll like this one.]

[inforapenny]

[...is it the same "artist's" handwriting as on the writing pad?]

[tellthestory]

[It is not.]

[inforapenny]

[Hoo boy. Anything else noticeable about it? Is it neat? Scratchy? The handwriting version of the Chiller font? Written in what looks suspiciously like dried blood?]

[tellthestory]

[The penmanship is quite elegant, and done in black ink. It definitely does not resemble blood, gosh.]

[inforapenny]

[Still Suspicious.

Putting those books carefully back and sliding the drawer shut. Let's take a peek in the last drawer?]

[tellthestory]

[There is a stack of manila folders.]

[inforapenny]

[No better way to figure out what these are than to start rifling through them. Are there names or anything on the outside, first of all?]

[tellthestory]

[Well, the top one is labeled Captain James Hook.]

[inforapenny]

[OH SHIT SON alright what's the scoop on Jas. Hook?]

[tellthestory]

[The top sheet is just a copy of his profile. Someone has drawn a crocodile eating his picture. There's also a note scribbled across it:

Seems to think I'm Billy? Even though we've all been in the same room?

Request a loud clock for the office

Meanwhile, how long do you think it takes to heat up apple cider, buddy? Sounds like someone is coming to this room.]

[inforapenny]

[Awww he heated it up that's adorable- OH SHIT

Billy shuts the drawer as quietly as he can and scoots back around from behind the desk, trying to look casual as he appears to innocently check out the vase of lilies.]

[tellthestory]

[bruh it's hot beverage time

The Balladeer enters with two mugs, and seems more focused on getting successfully through the door with them than whatever Billy's doing.]

Okay, heeeeere we go. Careful, it's hot. [He hands one over, and takes his seat with the other.] Just came out of a carton, so at least you don't need to trust my cooking skills!

[inforapenny]

[Billy smiles sheepishly, taking his mug in both hands and sitting back down in the chair he was originally in.]

Smells like home, at least. Fall doesn't always get, um, cold enough for cider in California, b-but, uh, it's nice. In the winter.

What, uh. So, do you just read cookbooks for fun? [He sips the cider carefully.] Mm, th-thank you. This is great.

[tellthestory]

Well, I never cooked before I came here. So I've been trying to learn! I can't just eat instant noodles all the time when there's such good food here.

[He sips his own cider and smiles.]

You're welcome! Glad you feel better.

[inforapenny]

I mean, instant noodles can be good too if you can, um, dress them up a little. I, uh, I used to eat a lot of them, too.

...yeah. So, uh, so you know a lot about us. Can I ask a couple things about you?

[tellthestory]

Yeah, sure. There's not too much to tell, but I don't mind.

[inforapenny]

Okay, uh... Where are you from?