Meeting Time!

[hotpaprika]

[On Wednesday morning, all the suites will find another note slid under their door. It seems much less formal this time, but the handwriting is still very distinct.]

I am holding another meeting today, at 5 o'clock. I am terribly sorry for the the location this time, but it will be in the dressing rooms at the department store, as that is one of the few places I could find that we would not be watched.

I ask, however, that you don't all come in at once, because I fear that otherwise, it could catch Fontaine's attention and may add further security measures.

I will be providing refreshments, although I welcome any additional help.

J. Harker

[The dressing rooms are, obviously, a very not ideal place to hold a meeting, but Jonathan had somewhat set things up so that they could at least talk to each other, with all the curtains pulled back and one stall reserved for some cakes and sandwiches. He politely greets everyone who enters but it's clear that he's somewhat wary from the motive.

When everyone arrives, he once again addresses the group.]

Good evening. I am sure last week was an icy shock to everyone that Fontaine is not content to let us live about in harmony. However, it is vital that we do not give up hope that we can find a way out of here, because when we do, Fontaine will have already won.

[He's trying to convince himself this as much as he's trying to convince everyone else.]

[ INFORMATION IDEAS GENERAL CHATTER ]

Comments

General Chatter

[hotpaprika]

[And everything else! Have at it!]

Pre-meeting bonus

[hotpaprika]

[If you show up at the Department Store before 5, you will see Jonathan setting up. More importantly, you will see that he brought his radio with him that he sometimes finds himself just... staring at as he listens to the broadcast.

It starts off quietly, with gentle footsteps, followed by heavier footsteps and the sound of chain rattling. Then, a large door creaks open and two men begin talking to each other. It's clear that one voice belongs to Jonathan, but the other man's voice is... strange. He's speaking perfect English, but something just seems off about it.]

Welcome to my house! Enter freely and of your own will!

[A pause.]

Welcome to my house. Come freely. Go safely; and leave something of the happiness you bring!

Count Dracula?

I am Dracula; and I bid you welcome, Mr. Harker, to my house. Come in; the night air is chill, and you must need to eat and rest.

Oh, thank you kindly, but I really shouldn't impose-

Nay, sir, you are my guest. It is late, and my people are not available. Let me see to your comfort myself.

[The footsteps continue as light chatter is made, but Jonathan stares at the radio in complete sorrow, almost mesmerized in despair.]

[giddyundertaker]

[ The Undertaker decided to arrive a bit early to help with the set up, but it was the recorded voices that caught his attention...

He already had an idea of what mistake Jonathan was listening to... So he walks over to speak to him. ]

You didn't have to bring this thing with you. It's only going to worsen your mood.

[ He'll attempt to take the radio away... ]

[hotpaprika]

[He raises a hand out in objection, but makes no real effort to stop The Undertaker.]

I know I didn't have to, but I suppose it's a reminder to not be so foolish again. To be smarter than I was in the past.

[There is a tint of sadness in his voice.]

[giddyundertaker]

[ And so the Undertaker has obtained a personal radio that is not his. He doesn't plan on keeping it to himself, at least... ]

And such a bitter reminder it is, by the looks of you... But you didn't know much about vampires before you met Count Dracula, did you?

[visiblepattern]

[...You know, after everything Jonathan has mentioned so far, he can actually get the implication behind this one. Good lord.]

I understand wanting to listen to it; my own is still in the back room where I left it. But do try not to dwell on it too much.

[hotpaprika]

[He gives Forrest a forced smile.]

I am not, I promise. If I did not kill to save my Mina, I would certainly not kill to get myself out of a situation I am already free from.

[Although "free" is a loose term here.]

I am simply... using this as a reminder, I suppose.

[visiblepattern]

Just try not to let it get into your head. Mine is...less aggressive a reminder than yours, but it's still highly unpleasant after long periods of time.

I don't think you'll kill anyone, however; I still want to think the best of everyone here. I just worry about everyone's mental state.

[fuckingguy]

[ Nandor walks in carrying, like, eight overcoats at once... then stops in his tracks to listen to this radio exchange. ]

This is what you were talking about earlier?

[hotpaprika]

Uh? Oh! Oh yes, this is what I was referring to. I thought what he said was so queer when we first met, but...

[He shifts awkwardly, before eyeing Nandor's coats.]

Are the coats your cover?

[fuckingguy]

I just thought, you know, if this space is for changing clothes, it would be suspicious to come in here without any. Even though the basic purpose is nullified by my lack of reflection. But, at any rate...

[ Dracula really sounds so much more suave in that recording than he does now! Or at any other time, let's be honest! ]

... Think I get it now.

[ There is a certain innocence to the shitty recording of Jonathan's voice that, intensely naive though he may still be, has vanished from the Jonathan Harker he knows here and now. What happened between those two points?

A silly question, honestly.* Nandor has heard thousands of voices like that during the course of his life. The only real difference is that he kills the people those voices belong to, as any self-respecting vampire would. ]

That is not necessary for vampires, by the way. We just say "come in" like a normal person.



*OH, THIS TIME HE REALIZES IT

"i tried it so you don't have to" ama

[allatonce]

[Joy's perched on top of one of dressing room dividers. Don't ask how she got up there.]

Not to be like "this motive is just psychological manipulation and I'm going to be really disappointed in whoever falls for it," but it is something I have experience with so let's do a little AMA. [A beat.] That means "ask me anything." Just realized only like four of you probably have Reddit.

[sixthnonsense]

[Hagakure isn't someone who's been too affected by the motive, but this is still really interesting.]

You've actually done it? How?

[allatonce]

So here's the thing: the multiverse is infinite.

[Joy pulls a loop of string from her pocket and makes a Jacob's ladder.]

The choices you've made have ended up here, right? But.

[She dismantles the entire thing and quickly makes a different figure.]

Making different choices creates an entirely different you, even if some of the steps are the same. So, in theory, all Fontaine has to do is drop someone in a slightly to the left version of wherever they're from, where maybe the only difference is you said "no" or you saved that kid or whatever it is you're bent up about. Here's the thing, though: you'll still be you. And the whoooole time you'll be noticing what's better or what you've totally fucked up by making a different choice.

mabel voice i'm hilarious

[hotpaprika]

...

Only four people have read what?

[specialyellthing]

It.

[giddyundertaker]

Sounds like some sort of advice column in the papers to me.

[fuckingguy]

... I know this one! It is where you go to find incels.

[buriedstar]

Reddit? Do you mean Readit?

[ Hi from the universe where Google is Goodgle. ]

[allatonce]

...... Yeah, probably. It goes by, like, forty different, similar-sounding names. [Under her breath:] Or we all use Bing and it's the darkest timeline.

[bootyhunter]

I've got a few questions, for sure! Gah...

[Oh! He is sweating at the collar now. Don't worry, they actually are relevant to the topic at hand.]

They might be a too little personal for a crowd like this, though, baby.

[He means her words about her hostage trying to kill her, but feel free to misinterpret away, folks!]

[specialyellthing]

You gonna let him get away with callin' you baby, sis? [eyeing joy up there--]

[sastruga]

...What did you change, Joy-san?

[allatonce]

You ever chase someone's approval so badly you nearly kill yourself in the process? Anyway, first thing I did when I got back up was find somewhere that... somewhere I didn't care that much.

[prompocalypse]

Is Reddit different from Fantasy Reddit?