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?)

Comments are screened for privacy!

Comments

[trettende]

Is that so? Considering we're all from different times and places, I can imagine.

What is it like outside? Is there even an outside at all?

[tellthestory]

I don't know. If there is one, I've never seen it.

[trettende]

Can you not go outside? Or have you just... never tried it?

[tellthestory]

Both? It's been like this since I've been here - with the windows boarded up and everything. And I mean, it's totally possible there's nothing out there anyway.

[trettende]

How would that be possible?

[tellthestory]

Well, the setting for this show is just the Opera. If no one ever goes anywhere else, there's no reason for it to be there.

[trettende]

Is that really how things work here?

[ I mean, the Balladeer really is called "The Balladeer" so is he that surprised? ]

How does the management pull all this off?

[tellthestory]

That part isn't so different from my first show. I think that's just how these things work.

[trettende]

[ Fair enough. Hans nods, knowing the Balladeer can't really explain much more. Now it's time for him to ask what he actually came here for. ]

Do they ever get any help from the cast?

[tellthestory]

Management? Can't imagine they would.

[trettende]

Why not? They don't like to talk to people? Are they shy?

[tellthestory]

Why on earth would any of you help them to begin with?

[trettende]

I don't know. I'm just asking if it's possible.

[ No reason, duh. ]

Their priority is to the show, right? To stir up drama. Why not ask one of us? Or, well, not you since you're working with them. Unless...

[ Huh, now there's a thought. ]

Would the Management not tell you if they did something like that?

[tellthestory]

I -

- yeah, of course. Why wouldn't they? We're working on this together.

[trettende]

So you'd know. If that were the case.

[ Hook, line and sinker? I'm so sorry, Balladeer....... ]

I guess it's a good thing it's not, then.

[tellthestory]

Yeah, yeah, no.

[He chuckles, a nervous sound.]

That'd be awful.

[trettende]

[ Aw, are you nervous Balladeer? It's ok, Hans is here. He's just a curious guy spouting ideas, is all. ]

How so? I mean, they'd be helping you, wouldn't they?

[tellthestory]

I don't...want anyone else getting hurt.

[trettende]

But the Management doesn't, do they? They don't care who gets hurt.

[ Yeah, yikes... siding with the Management would be pretty bad. ]

[tellthestory]

They said they just wanted a good show. I don't think good shows always have to involve people getting hurt...

[but. yeah he can't quite deny it out loud.]

[trettende]

Apparently this one does.

[ Not that Hans agrees, necessarily. ]

Is there nothing you can do to stop them? Fight back, as it were?

[tellthestory]

...like what?

[trettende]

I don't know. You're kind and charismatic, I don't see why you couldn't be in charge of the show over this... creepy Management, whoever they are.

[tellthestory]

...I mean, I did just get here.

[But he quiets, before adding:]

They used to be more hands-on, you know. This is the first show they've done here like this, but I think it's also the first time in a while they weren't so closely involved.

[trettende]

[ Hans nods. It seems almost crazy to imagine whoever's behind all this somehow being the Balladeer. Only not. ]

You mean in the last show, they were doing your job? Do you think they might miss getting to be hands-on?