week 0

[productions]

murder manor week zero



friday

[You wake in an unfamiliar bedroom, with no memory of how you came to be there and a sensation that something you once had is gone. The room you're in is luxurious and comfortable, but there is a musty feeling of disuse and decay in the air. Still, you've provided with new wardrobe perfectly tailored for you, a key ring that will unlock your bedroom door, so surely you're welcome to explore the manor?

Have a look around and make yourselves at home. You'll soon find you're not alone, but if any among you knows the secrets of this place, they aren't speaking.]

This is an open mingle log for arrival at the manor. Please put your character's name, location, and the time in the header of their comments. Characters are welcome to explore the manor and get to know one another; nothing else will be revealed to them today.

Setting
Cast

Comments

[inthebones]

Perhaps prison isn't the most appropriate term.

[Susan, on the other hand, is unfamiliar with recording devices of any sort and has been thinking along a different tact. She agrees with the general gist of his words, though.]

But an illusion of freedom is likewise meaningless. They certainly want something out of us - and I doubt we'll attain much leverage without satisfying their desires.

[reunified]

What would you call it, then?

[ His tone is flat, but under that he's honestly curious. This seems pretty clear-cut to him. ]

We won't find out what they want until they reveal themselves somehow. For now we're stuck.

[inthebones]

...A closed space.

[The words emerge slowly, as if speaking them to herself.]

No one enters, no one leaves. An artificial construction of a familiar environment that rings false... A stage.

[Susan, apparently, could be poetic when she wanted to be.]

I wonder what act they'll have us play.

[reunified]

[ Altman stares at her, his gaze inward but alert. ]

Sounds like the kind of prisons I'm used to.

[ He looks over at the fence again. ]

Whatever they want out of us, leaving through the fence isn't involved. Even if we get over, I'm sure they'll have some way of hunting us down.

[inthebones]

Perhaps we ought to be obedient for the moment, then. I suspect there will be plenty of time for us to make escape plans. We'll be here quite a while - at least long enough to warrant keys.

[reunified]

[ Altman rubs his unharmed hand over his face, sighing. ]

Yeah. Yeah, you're right. Running without a solid plan doesn't work out well. They just find you and drag you back and then they're pissed and nothing works out well for anyone...

[inthebones]

I see you have experience with this sort of thing.

Perhaps you care to share some tips as we meander back to the house?

[reunified]

Unfortunately.

[ He pauses, then nods. ]

Yeah, sure. I-- I'm Altman, for the record. Michael Altman.

[inthebones]

Susan Sto Helit. ...I don't usually go by my surname - you prefer the use of your?

[reunified]

Ah... I don't care either way. Michael is fine. We just tended to go by our surnames at work. Guess it's a force of habit to introduce myself that way.

Nice to meet you, Susan. Situation aside, anyways.

[inthebones]

The situation being the only reason we're meeting each other in the first place, I shouldn't say it's very nice at all. I would much rather have never met you, all things considered.

[Susan manages to sound perfectly amiable while saying this.]

But since it's already happened, perhaps we can make the most of it.

[reunified]

[ He'd be offended, but what she says makes sense. He'd trade meeting her if it meant not being here at all. ]

I suppose that's all we can do.

[ He starts trudging slowly back toward the building, still squeezing his arms close to his chest. ]

Did you arrive here alone?

[inthebones]

I did. ...I think most of us did, save those with pets.

[A slight frown.]

I don't see how small animals could possibly enhance any situation that involves extradimensional kidnap, but I suppose I'm not very imaginative.

[reunified]

[ He looks at her, eyebrows knitting together. ]

Extradimensional?

[inthebones]

Extradimensional.

[A brief silence before Susan expounds.]

As in, from outside this dimension.

[Yes thank you Susan very helpful.]

I've found that most people here aren't from the Disc - quite a lot of you live on a spherical planet, I hear?

[She says this the way one would say 'square egg'.]