Forget all your troubles

[grimgrinningghosts]

[You wake up and instantly realize something is wrong.

There is a vague feeling of dread hanging in the air and, as comfortable as this bed is, there’s just something off about everything, even before you open your eyes. The dread only grows when you open your eyes and realize that you are in a completely unfamiliar room. One that has clearly seen better days at that.

As you explore your room, you will soon find a bedroom key resting on the dresser along with a note]

Welcome, esteemed guest, to our humble abode. We hope that you enjoy your stay in this Phantom Manor, as we expect you to stay with us for a very long time.

Feel free to make yourself at home as you enjoy what this manor has to offer, whether it’s the library, our projection room, or our famous wax museum. We’re sure you will find great joy

However, before you can get too comfortable, we ask you to please come to the portrait gallery at noon so we can discuss your stay here.

We eagerly await to meet you.

-Your Host

[The uncomfortable feeling doesn’t let up as you leave the safety of your bedroom. The manor seems old and decrepit, almost like it would fall over at the slightest breeze. Despite that, anyone who tries to escape will soon realize that the walls are unusually sturdy, and there are no doors that would seemingly lead to the outside world.

Still, at least you’re not alone in this scenario, if the other bedroom doors are any indications. Maybe there are a few more people coming out of their bedrooms too, so you have someone to talk toif you want to try to figure out what's going on. But if the 30 bios in the foyer hall are any indication, whoever has you here did not do this on accident. Whatever you’re here for, it seems like you’re here for a reason.

But hey, what’s the use of being pessimistic about this? Maybe it’s all an innocent situation… right?]

Comments

[bestchefinparis]

[Once again Rémy is glad he knows how to read. Waking up in a completely unknown place is not a fun experience, but reading the note on the dresser kind of calms him down a little. There better be a good explanation -- although frankly he's more worried about Linguini and Colette than about himself right now. They're going to panic a bit Rémy is missing.

Still...better explore this place and find a way out. Good thing he's a rat and therefore he has an advantage regarding escaping places.

It doesn't take him long to realize there's a lot of people here. You may feel someone observing you, but looking around shows no one. Maybe if you're attentive enough, you'll see a rat staring at you from a corner. When he notices he has been spotted, Rémy hides, trying to stay out of sight. He can hear anything you say, though.

He's more focused on escaping than doing anything else, though. Later you may find him at the Library, the projection room and the wax museum, getting in all small spaces he can find and trying to get to the other side. The walls of all these places look rather flimsy and about to fall down, how can it be possible he can't pass through?]

There has to be a way out somewhere...!

[The more time he spends here, the less he likes this situation]

library

[pinkflip]

[ Oh, ew. That's a rat, isn't it? So not surprising, this place having rats, Kim wrinkles her nose and--

AND NOW IT SPEAKS and she just can't help but let out a little shriek. ]

Oh jeez!

[bestchefinparis]

[For what seems to him like the twelfth time that day, Rémy jumps in the air and hides. Being in an unfamiliar place has his nerves on edge, and people yelling at him is starting to get old]

Can't you all stop shouting at me?

[He says that from behind a book. He has no patience for this today]

[pinkflip]

[ It spoke again. No chance of her imagining it, or... ]

I-I've never heard a rat talk back before, sorry! [ ...Perhaps she's a little on edge too. ]

[bestchefinparis]

[Well she apologized, and he doesn't feel like holding it against her, so...Rémy peeks from behind the book, still wary about everything]

I get it. Honestly I'm not used to humans talking back to me either.

[pinkflip]

[ Carefully edging toward the book where Rémy's voice is coming from. ]

How can you even...? Oh my gosh, this is so weird. Is it magic?

library

[faciliheir]

[ugh, rats. this place is more like home by the minute.]

Well, at least we won't run out of food, right? [mentally preparing herself for rat steaks. maybe she should catch this one for later, just in case...]

[bestchefinparis]

[He's not going to cook himself for you, Freddie.

Still, that's a welcome change from people shouting at him when they see him. That was starting to get real annoying. Rémy looks around, expecting to see someone nearby, but it seems she really is talking to him. Is she expecting a reply?]

...I guess...?

[He sounds a bit confused, as if unsure she's even going to hear him. He does have stuff to say about the matter, but monologuing about it isn't his idea of a good time]

[faciliheir]

[-- oh, wait. it talks. that puts a damper on things.]

Are you a regular talking animal, or are you a human under a curse that turned you into an animal? [this 100% decides whether eating is still on the table btw]

[bestchefinparis]

[Okay, that confirms it, she really is talking to him and can actually hear him. Now that's unusual! Rémy approaches a bit, staying at the edge of the shelf]

Regular animal, pretty sure there's nothing unusual about me talking, can't everyone do that?

[It's just that humans simply don't reply to anything spoken, that's the problem]

[faciliheir]

Sometimes-- depends on where you're from. Some places you need magic to understand them, some places they just talk like normal, some places they don't talk at all.

[okay. cool. regular animal. will probably not eat then.]

projection room

[holdthetrumpet]

[Kit has eyes only for this absolutely marvelous contraption. He hears what Rémy says but doesn't immediately realize it's not coming from a human.]

Oh, yes, yes -- but would you look at this! It's --

[Wait.]

Where are you?

[As far as he can see there's nobody else in here...? You're going insane, Kit. Again. Good work.]

[bestchefinparis]

[Oh, he was heard. The more people hear him talk, the more he gets used to it, but it's still kind of weird...

A bit wary, Rémy peeks to take a look at who he will talk with now. He looks like a decent enough person, but Rémy isn't going to approach. Better stay away, just in case]

Over here. You can hear me, right?

[holdthetrumpet]

[... Oh. Hey. This, again. Kit nods, stepping away from the projector, though not too close. This one isn't wearing little clothes. Maybe he's not used to people?]

Should I not be hearing you? The other mice were speaking just fine.

[bestchefinparis]

I'm not sure anymore. All this time I thought humans couldn't hear me, but it's like everybody here can! It's almost strange.

[holdthetrumpet]

Maybe none of the humans you met before were good listeners.

wax museum

[madeofpine]

[Oh, cool, a rat. He's never actually met one of those before. And the whole talking animals thing is pretty normal for him, so that's not what throws him off when he notices Rémy.]

What happened to your clothes?

[bestchefinparis]

[That's not the question he expected. Rémy looks up, a bit uncertain. Right, his toque, that counts as clothes, doesn't it? It's just a chef hat, but it fits the bill, so...]

I think got left behind. Why? Did you find it around here?

[madeofpine]

Uh, no... I don't think so. [Rat clothes had to be small, right? He probably would've noticed small clothes lying around.] I was just wondering 'cause I've never seen a talking animal that didn't wear clothes before.

[bestchefinparis]

Is it really that weird? I haven't met an animal wearing clothes besides myself.

[You know that many? Could humans understand him all the time and he never bothered to find out? This place is messing with his head a lot lately, seriously]

[madeofpine]

Well... [he has to think about if, and if it really is that weird.] I know a talking fox who wears clothes. And a cricket. And a cat, but the cat didn't really talk that much.

My pets at home don't talk, but they don't wear clothes, either. So I guess I thought clothes were a requirement for anybody who talks.

[Or something.]

observation... somewheres.

[not_over_yet]

[ Basil's more accustomed to being the one doing the tailing, but he's been followed himself a few times before. He pretends not to notice this time, and tries to be subtle about noting who--OKAY, nevermind, forget all that in favor of a disconcerted twitch-sputter. ]

Please have a reason you're naked.

[ Yes, he's noticed an assortment of strange beings wandering about in various states of undress--but you're a rat, Rémy: rats wear clothes, this is weird. Also awkward.

...And considering Victorian vs modern fashion trends, this particular mouse is likely wearing more clothing than Rémy's used to seeing humans bother with. ]

[bestchefinparis]

[So rude, Basil. Rémy blinks, surprised. Where are your priorities? The relief he felt about seeing someone of his size is quickly vanishing, instead getting defensive]

This wasn't my idea! My clothing simply wasn't brought with me!

[His toque counts as clothing, doesn't it? At least he figures it does]

[not_over_yet]

[ Excuse you, his priorities are perfectly in order!

But it's relieving that the nudity wasn't this fellow's idea. And simultaneously alarming because it wasn't this fellow's idea. Muttering: ] Good lord, we need to get out of here.

I'd, ah, offer you my coat or something, but... scale differences and all... [ Awkward throat clearing. Moving on! While studiously looking someplace else. ] Do you have any idea how we were brought here? Or why?

[ If Basil finds out that by "clothing" Rémy actually means "hat and that's it", there will be Judging. ]

[bestchefinparis]

[I can't believe Basil will spend like eight weeks looking somewhere else when Rémy is nearby, haha!. Why don't you ask Mabel to make Rémy something, Basil? For your sake]

I don't know! I just--last night I was home above the bistro, and then I'm here. I guess I'm kind of known in the city, and I was almost kidnapped once, but not...with a bunch of other people.

[He does sound rather uncertain about the situation, that's for sure]