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

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

Good morning.

[So here's something fun. D-ne has that Bohemian scarf around her neck! It's big on her, and she's holding the end of it, all balled up, so it won't...

Oh, never mind, she has the damn Monkey's Paw in it. She only takes it out when the door is closed.]

I have a question to ask you, Balladeer-san, and it has to do with the motive from yesterday and with this.

[tellthestory]

[Welllllllllll, that's disgusting]

Please don't put that on my desk.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

It's alright, I'll hold on to it.

[Why isn't she weirded out by the goddamn mummified hand??]

Can I ask for clarification on the nature of the...wishes we could get granted?

[tellthestory]

...why?

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

Because I know from this [the hand] that wishing for anything isn't always without a price and being able to evaluate the situation fully is something I'd like to do.

[Her voice is low and serious.]

Aside from the...conditions to get out of here. Do these wishes your management promises come with something like that? Can they create 1 from 0? Do they unleash karma upon you for each wish?

[tellthestory]

You're gonna get a ton of karma if you get caught killing someone.

[fuck off, he knows why you ask]

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[alright so we're doing it this way then]

I know that much, Balladeer-san. I just want to know if the wishes are real or if they have to take something to give it.

[tellthestory]

Like nineteen lives?

[yeah we're 100% doing this the hard way]

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[That gives her pause.]

...You did say, only if the culprit is caught is everyone else safe...

[She grinds her teeth for a moment.]

Why...are you trying to keep me from considering this? Why do you work for this...place, if you so strongly push back?

[tellthestory]

[He bristles.]

Just because you can murder people here doesn't mean you should. You can murder people for gain practically anywhere! And yet, lots of people don't ever kill anybody!

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

Most people aren't put in a situation like this, Balladeer-san, and that's not what I- why are you saying this, why- a-are you just another captive, the opera house's puppet? Why would they use someone opposed as their mouthpiece?

[tellthestory]

I think you're all being tempted enough without me dancing around playing devil's advocate! I'm not -

[Whatever he was about to say, he cuts it off, looking frustrated.]

I'm not supposed to interfere with any murder attempts. But that doesn't mean I can't give you my opinion.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[She is sillent for a long moment. Her fingers run down the clenched knuckles of the Money's Paw.]

I misjudged your position here, sir, and for that I apologize. [She turns away, facing the door.] I, ah, can see p-pressing this won't do either of us any g-good.

[tellthestory]

I'm not gonna help you with pros and cons, no. The only way I'll get involved is to oversee the execution, if you do it and get caught.

[Is that a threat? It's not like he hasn't made a convicted killer's fate clear already.]

There's nothing waiting for you that's worth this.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[...]

I think, maybe, your role in this little play is even more cruel than ours.

[tellthestory]

This...isn't about me.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

I know. It's about me...and everyone else here. I'm not blind enough to forget that. [She sighs] Thank you for your words, Balladeer-san. I have...much to consider.

[tellthestory]

I guess you do.

[Maybe if he could say something to change her mind...but he doesn't know what that would be. Isn't the nineteen other people out there the best reason?]