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]

Yeah. I don't...

[He pauses, then sounds like he's picking his words carefully.] There's some things I would've handled different, if it were me. But they must have their reasons. If they just...they've helped me so much. If they were just plain bad people, they wouldn't have bothered. They probably just didn't really think the incentive would work either.

[irreprochable]

Or, they've found your incentive just as they've seen ours. They're playing you, too.

[tellthestory]

[The Balladeer folds his arms.]

Well, I don't think that's true. They did ask if I wanted to do this - if I hadnt, they probably would've just gotten someone else.

[irreprochable]

And left you to die? That doesn't sound quite as helpful as you make them sound, either.

[tellthestory]

I mean, I was already here when they offered me this show in particular. They wouldn't have kicked me out over something like that.

[...they wouldn't, right? Yeah, totally.]

[irreprochable]

And if you morally objected now?

[tellthestory]

[The question seems to catch him on the back foot a little.]

I...did commit to an entire show.

[irreprochable]

Surely, if they would not have kicked you out over something like that...if they are as good as you say they are, they would understand that this business doesn't sit well with you. You seem like an upstanding gentleman, [i mean not really but hes trying here ok cut him some slack] they could understand not wanting to aid and abet murder.

[tellthestory]

I haven't aided in any murder! [Ah, there it is.] If you people want to run around killing each other, there's not much I can do about it.

[But, after a moment, he does have to admit:]

...the incentives weren't part of the original plan, though. That's...really excessive.

[irreprochable]

Did they decide to add them to ensure we did it?

[tellthestory]

It was an added layer of temptation, I guess.

[irreprochable]

Are they concerned about our...commitment to the show?

[tellthestory]

[He gives a little lopsided shrug.]

Possible. Maybe they just...wanted something dramatic to happen.

[irreprochable]

They have certainly accomplished that. [he's quiet for a moment] If we get it wrong, what happens to you?

[tellthestory]

I don't know. We haven't talked about that. Just another show, I guess.

[He falls silent himself for a moment, before adding:]

Maybe they'd give me a different kind.

[irreprochable]

What kind of show would you do, if you could?

[tellthestory]

Something without murder? I've never...done anything like that before. I thought maybe this could be it, but...

[but OBVIOUSLY NOT]

[irreprochable]

But it didn't work out that way.

[pause]

It's not too late.

[tellthestory]

No. It doesn't have to happen again.

...but I can't guess how long they'd be willing to wait, now. After this, it all feels so much more possible.

[irreprochable]

The murders, you mean? There has to be a way to stop them, though. Short of physically tying up all of our castmates. Although I'm not above it.

[tellthestory]

I doubt Management would care for that.

When it started, I thought if I just made sure you were all happy here, you'd be okay. I got everyone everything they asked for! But I guess...this place seems so great to me, I didn't expect everyone would be so upset about being here.

[irreprochable]

If we all worked together, maybe they wouldn't have a choice. People want to go home. And, perhaps most importantly, they don't want to end up dead, which seems the only route. Kill or be killed.

[tellthestory]

Sure, that's true. It's not like they'd keep this running forever. I just thought a real timeframe would make it easier on people.

[irreprochable]

It would also make it easier on people to push them in the right direction to solving this mystery.

[tellthestory]

What mystery?