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 nods. He can't say he knows what the Management is planning either, but The Balladeer's worries are as founded as his own. Who knows what they'll do. ]

That's... very possible.

[ He sighs. ]

Not that I would. [ Really! ] I mean, I promise, I've been trying to get them off your back as much as I can.

[ Does the Balladeer even believe him? Would Hans believe himself, if he were in his shoes? ]

But you have no reason to believe me... Maybe the Management is banking on me lying myself into a corner.

[tellthestory]

You didn't have to tell me any of this.

[He sounds thoughtful. Of course, it's still possible this is some kind of manipulation technique - earn his trust with this truth, and abuse it in less obvious ways. But really - since when is he misanthropic enough to think that?]

But yeah. If they don't trust me, I doubt they really trust you. Heh, I guess they're right not to trust me now, but before...I was all with them before the killing started.

[trettende]

[ He really didn't. His whole reason is his song. Which I will loop back into this thread if it kills me (or maybe a Thursday night "pls don't die let's sing" thread, who knows.) ]

I haven't lied to them, but I haven't told them the whole truth, either. Honestly, I just want to make it out of this alive at this point. And you too.

[ And maybe Seymour? And Billy Flynn, he's pretty ok. ]

From what I've seen, I think they... don't like people doing anything outside their control. So the moment you guys started disagreeing, they probably stopped trusting you.

[tellthestory]

I wouldn't leave without the rest of you. All of you.

[jesus hans at least pretend like you value human life in general]

Not that I've got anywhere else to take you. You're right, they do like being in control of things...they're not likely to let anyone exit without their say-so.

[trettende]

Right, everyone else too.

[ I mean I guesssss ]

Exactly. I just can't picture them letting us "win." Or the fact that you're more on our side than theirs. They won't be okay with that.

[tellthestory]

I still haven't openly done anything. This is all under the cover of something they allowed. So...I want to help you all, but I don't think it'd be useful to do anything out in the open. Not now.

[trettende]

I understand that. That's kind of where I'm at right now, too.

[ But... helping people. Is hard. Hans would rather just help himself... ]

This was a lot easier when I didn't care about anyone besides myself.

[tellthestory]

It was a lot easier for me when everyone I worked with was terrible. At least you know where you stand with people like that, you know?

...but I'm still glad I got to make some actual friends. Even if I wish it hadn't happened like this.

[trettende]

Yeah, you can predict people like that.

[ People like you, Hans. ]

I know I might not be everyone's friend, but I'm glad you're here too, Balladeer.

[tellthestory]

[kinda, yeah....the Balladeer smiles]

Thanks. I guess. It's hard to say if some good came out of this until it's all over.

I'M DOING IT YOU CAN'T STOP ME

[trettende]

That well may be but...

[ Hold on, I got cut off last time so I'm doing this this time. He's gotta get this song out. ]

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives
For a reason,
Bringing something we must learn.
And we are lead
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them,
And we help them in return.

[ Hans scoffs at his own words. Even he doesn't quite believe that part, yet here he is. ]

Well I don't know if I believe that's true.
But I know I'm here right now, today,
because I knew you.

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun,
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood...
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good.

[tellthestory]

[Ah, there it is again. The Balladeer shifts, straightening from where he'd half-slouched against one wall of the little booth.]

It well may be
That we will lose it all some day
Before this show ends,
So let me say before we part -

[And he has to pause for a moment to gather the words. This isn't anybody else's song.]

So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me,
Like a handprint on my heart

And now whatever way your stories end
It's almost like I had my own
In being your friend...

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you,
Because I knew you
I have been changed for good.

[trettende]

[ Hans is... actually touched. From the start, talking to the Balladeer got him started with all this. Feelings. Regrets. Ugh, it's awful and he wouldn't admit it outside a song, but the words just flow. ]

And just to clear the air,
I ask forgiveness,
For the things I've done since being the mole

[tellthestory]

[The Balladeer snorts a little.]

But then, I guess we know there's blame to share
I share the same damn boss, if not their goal

[trettende]

[ Hey, he can ask for forgiveness and not get it (or mean it,) that's a thing. Hans smirks. ]

Like the chances of food poisoning
From a cake by Raoul,
Like how each week I survive here--
(I wasn't sure we would)
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you...

[tellthestory]

[Forgiveness is implied in sharing the blame between them, you dolt]

Because I knew you...
I have been changed...

[trettende]

[ Aw, you're sweet on him, Balladeer. Feel free to join in the last line. ]

...For good.

[ Has Hans moved closer at all? I mean this office is small. Just. Just sayin. ]

[tellthestory]

[Has he? The Balladeer (whose experiences with romance largely consist of being creeped out by John Hinckley Jr. and an actual Manson cultist) is completely oblivious!

Nonetheless, he harmonizes with Hans on the final line, before trailing with him into quiet. He's not quite sure what goes here.]

[trettende]

[ You're killing me, Balladeer. Just. Killing me. Hans sighs when the song is done, feeling... very strange, as far as Disney Villains go. He feels hopeful. And worried. And lighter than he's felt since he started this Mole mess. These are not the feelings he should be feeling.

He'd be a lot more something (the word he's looking for is romantic, or perhaps emotional, or perhaps regretful) if he didn't need time to sort out why he's feeling this and whether or not the Management can be stopped in any way. But those are thoughts for another day. There's a long pause while Hans sorts out his thoughts before he finally clears his throat. ]

Anyway, I... Thanks for listening like always, Bal.

[ Hans will take his water bottle and leave the sandwich because now it's too damn awkward to just eat the sandwich. ]

Oh, is it okay if I call you Bal?

[tellthestory]

[It is a long pause, and one the Balladeer isn't sure how to fill. Maybe not every silence needs to be filled. He's rarely ever gotten to just sit quietly like this - even during his first friendship, if that's what it was, with Management, they were never just together. There was always chatter, or song, or some reason.]

Oh...yeah, sure. No one else calls me that. [He's been getting more nicknames lately, but not that. It's fine, though, he sort of likes it. He doesn't rise to see him out, if only because it seems pointless when they're both sitting on the floor in a dumb box, but he props his head up on a hand and smiles.] Stick that in your pocket or something, Hans. You've gotta eat sometime, and I can't be up here all night.

[trettende]

[ Well, he's definitely going to call you that now. He also manages to not be surprised at the Balladeer's concern. He's always looking out for everyone, isn't he?

It's almost like I had my own
In being your friend...

That song was just for him, though. He can be sure of that. ]

Okay, I will. [ He nods and grabs the sandwich out of the container, stuffing it in his jacket. Wow, he doesn't even care that it's going to mess up the linen. ]

Thanks for looking out for me. You're the first... the first person who's ever done that for me.

[tellthestory]

...of course, Hans.

[His brow's furrowed; he already knew that Hans's home life was, quite frankly, shit, but that doesn't mean he enjoys hearing about it.]

But take care of yourself too, okay? I don't think anyone's going to do anything this week - if anything, they're all worried about the mole. But it's still...

[Well. This place.]

[trettende]

I'll try.

[ No promises since they really only have the bar for entertainment on his floor, but yaknow. He's glad he can count on the Balladeer to keep his secret, for one thing. Having that off his chest feels... really good. ]

And yeah, I understand. The Management is starting to act kind of desperate. You should be careful, too.

[tellthestory]

I don't know why. Seems like this whole thing's been going exactly how they planned it. Maybe we're just starting to run too long.

[trettende]

It could be. I just... Their last letter to me seemed kind of mad. They seem to be really bearing down on this "Everyone has to play their role" rule.