foolishmortals | Forget all your troubles

[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?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Don't worry about them; they can't do anything more evil than bridge. [but forget about explaining that at all MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TOPIC] "Gig?" Are you a musician? What sort of music can a gator play?

What's bridge?

Oh, uh, not that many gators are as musically inclined as I am. I play the trumpet in a nice lil' jazz band. It's pretty nice that I was able to land this job, 'specially since most people prefer to stay away from gators.

[Pause.]

If I had my trumpet right now, I'd probably show you. I mean, uh, if ya check out those biography-things in the foyer, you could probably listen to what I play....

A card game for old folks--

[STOPS SHORT AND DROPS THE CARDS FUCKIN EVERYWHERE]

A jazz band? Really? Like they play in Bayou d'Orleans? [heart eyes]

[Cue BIG ALLIGATOR GRIN. FINALLY a fellow JAZZ APPRECIATOR]

Right on the dot, lil' lady! I'm from New Orleans, myself. Ever heard of a band called 'The Firefly Five Plus Lou'? I'm Lou. Well, Louis to be exact.

Man, but what am I sayin'? I'm gettin' ahead of myself--don't believe I caught your name!

[slight bow] Freddie Facilier. Charmed, I'm sure.

[........Oh. His expression immediately changes to that of suspicion.]

Facilier, huh? You wouldn't happen to know a voodoo doctor by that name, would you?

[ahh, there we go. much more comfortable territory of immediate distrust.]

That'd be my dad. I see his reputation precedes me-- usually does.

[Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Okay. He appreciates the fact she likes jazz but...he's just gonna keep her at arms distance away.]

Well, my friends had an unfortunate encounter with him, y'see. Got turned into frogs and had all sorts of shadowpeople chasin' after 'em. Can't blame a gator for bein' too wary.

[... ah. frogs. she can't say her father ever mentioned those two having a gator friend, but she knows enough about the damn frogs.]

And your friends got him killed and exiled to the Isle of the Lost! So, I think we're pretty even, wouldn't you agree?

Hmph. Guess so.

[He's going to try and avoid making disparaging remarks against this child's father--she doesn't deserve that sort of stuff. Maybe it would be best to have a change of conversation.]

So, about those, uh, cards? I've never played any card games before. Well, besides Go Fish, but that's 'cus it's pretty easy. You know any good games to play?

I know pretty much any game worth playing-- poker, blackjack, bouré. The rules of any game would probably have to be modified, for you; the claws will get in the way of anything too fun.

Whaddya mean, too fun? I can hold cards just like anyone else.

[louis thats probably not what she means]

Oh, I'm sure you can hold them just fine! But, that's so boring! You can't exactly keep an ace up your sleeve without sleeves, right?

[cheating she means cheating the rules are ways to cheat]

I...That's fair. Oh! But I can put 'em in my mouth! No one would ever take 'em from me, then.

[To demonstrate this, he takes a card from the table and shoves it between his jaws. Louis no.]

[cackles] You know you'll need to bring it back out to win the hand, right? Without the other players seeing?

[...oh. He sheepishly takes the card out of his mouth and places it gently on the table again. It's covered in gator spit now. Delicious.]

Well, I guess I'll just have to come up with my own techniques. No one expects a gator to play cards, anyhow.

If your opponent underestimates you, you'll win every time.

... I could give you some tips, one of these days. If you're not gonna use who my father is as an excuse for beating up a sixteen year old girl. [she's had one hell of a month okay]

Nah, don't worry about it. I ain't one to judge too much. Believe it or not, people take one look at me and tend to skedaddle. Not that I really blame 'em, but most of the time I haven't even done anythin' wrong!

[maybe its because youre a gator]

People get scared of the dumbest things sometimes! Like, you shrink just one little head and suddenly nobody else wants to be your singing partner. [is she kidding

we don't know]

Yeah! Like--oh.

[okay]

Not what I was thinking of, but...I'm sure things can go wrong with magic sometimes! Probably?

[visibly winces but tries to like play it off with a laugh.]

Yeah, things can go pretty wrong! You never really know what'll happen...

[Oh. Oh dear. He tries to make it a little less awkward.]

Exactly. Things go wrong and you can't always blame people for 'em. You can't expect a musician to hit everyone he plays, can you? So...ah. That ain't really the same thing, I guess. Sorry 'bout that.

[okay that works]

Oh, right! I got distracted, but I wanted to tell you-- I'm a musician, too! I'm just in my school's acapella group now, but one of these days, I'm gonna play jazz in the Bayou d'Orleans!

Edited 2018-01-07 21:03 (UTC)

Hey, now that's pretty cool! One of these days, I've gotta hear you perform.

If we get outta this place, d'you think you'd wanna bring your acapella group over to perform at my friend's restaurant? She's always lookin' to boost local performers and stuff. And you get free food!

[hmmmmmt]

Now, your "friends..." That'd be King Naveen and Queen Tiana, right? I'm not too sure they'd be all that interested in seeing me. Especially since they're part of the reason I'm not exactly "local."

(no subject)

bayoublues - 2018-01-07 21:28 (UTC) - Expand

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