ARE YA READY?

[notreadyatall]

[Even with all the commotion, it seems as though a single question has hung over the crowd. Exactly who is responsible for this kidnapping? That single question eventually leads the group to the portrait gallery, where each guest files in and packs the room. Slowly but surely, a strange presence can be felt. The portraits almost look like they’re stretching, and it seems as though they’re moving on their own...

After a few tense moments in complete silent darkness, the lights dim.

You realize there’s a man here. One who wasn’t with you when you came in.

He’s...only barely passing for human. It seems as though he’s falling apart, chunks of skin and bone hanging from his face. His clothes hang from his lanky frame in the same fashion. When he moves about, he audibly clicks and clacks, dragging his leg across the ground in obvious pain.

He smirks, cheekbone exposed, before speaking.]

Au enchanté, Foolish Mortals. A friendly hello from Dr. Facilier, and welcome to Phantom Manor. This home is one steeped in tales of bloodlust, murder and maiming. We’ve brought you here to this house on a haunted hill to continue this tradition, and to appease the terrifying spirit that still lingers here today. The Phantom.

[He smirks, adjusting his hat as he speaks. His shadow moves behind him, disconnected.]

Puttin’ it plainly, friends...you’re here for a blood ritual. Y’all are gonna be stayin’ here for the rest of your lives, unless you manage to kill someone and get away without bein’ caught. Surely some of ya are smart enough to do that.

‘Course, you don’t wanna do it, feel free to stay here for the rest of your horrible lives. But I’ll be sure to make them as miserable as possible till y’all comply.

...Questions?

Comments

[tanukey]

[Well. That's a thing. A knife might not be enough here, but first things first.]

...Y'want us to off someone. Fine. Fine. What exactly's in it for me? An' don't sell me that "rest of our lives" crap, I've broken outta twenty-three prisons, this place ain't that special.

[notreadyatall]

I can make it worth your while. Grease the pot a bit.

[used_realtears]

[LOUD SCREAMING AND POINTING] AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! A ZOMBIE!

[madeofpine]

I thought you said phantom meant ghosts, not zombies. Are you sure you were thinking of the right thing?

[upgradeit]

[He was going with "experimental facility" up until this moment, what with the talking racoon and all, but uh. No. No, this really seems more "reality tv show."]

. . . So what's the grand prize if we win?

[notreadyatall]

Depends. What are you feelin, kiddo?

[negaverse]

Sounds like fun. When do we start this whole murder ritual thing?

[notreadyatall]

Now.

Though, you might wanna be a lil more covert than this.

[faciliheir]

[... okay, so. like. there's. several things she needs to be concerned about here? so many things are happening at once? like why is he all but he's also so young but like but that was such a good entrance, tho.

okay. we can handle this. this is fine.]

... Dad?

[doopdoll]

You have an evil parent too?! [this is how she makes all her friends]

[kickbuttseatnuts]

....So like. You sure you aren't Arcade?

[tanukey]

He's not? Pay up.

[bayoublues]

[AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH JESUS CHRIST THAT'S FUCKING HORRIFYING]

W-What th' hell?! No way am I gonna be a part of this! Y-You can't do this, shadowman!

[notreadyatall]

Why, you afraid of gettin’ squashed like a bug, gatorman?

[notasingleword]

[This is so much to take in at once for sure. The appearance of the man is extremely frightening as is, but what he as to say... is even worse somehow! Kill? There's no way!

Her wish... this is what she wished for? She gave up everything for this? She was supposed to be human! She was supposed to find love! She was supposed...to...

Ariel suddenly feels like the room is spinning, and she stumbles as she holds her head.]

[scrapplinghook]

[Mabel's seen a lot of weird things over her summer in Gravity Falls. She's seen zombies and deamons, dinosaurs and sentient candy masses. She tends to roll with things pretty well, but this... there's something pretty unsettling about this guy. And she can tell the others - her new friends - are freaking out too.

She's sticking pretty close to Stan now as she's sure he won't let her more than a few feet away from him, but when she notices Ariel stumble, she reaches out, just to hold her hand. She's here for you, princess friend!]

[lostbutnotaboy]

[This is a lot to take in. So very much, goodness gracious, but there is one thing she's sure of.

This guy is horrifying.]

What- What are you?! Is that some kind of costume?

[notreadyatall]

Not exactly.

Comin’ back from the dead...it ain’t a pretty picture. Don’t like doin it. It changes you.

[soplaynice]

...

[so it’s hard to tell but it looks like the lifeless, hatless cowboy doll might be silently screaming]

[angelgoatdemon]

[Oh, mood.

He's just going to carefully pick this guy up just so he won't get trampled on.

Which one of these kids lost a toy around here??]

[sorrydoods]

[So. We've got a zombie as host. Soos would be intimidated if he hadn't been one himself.]

Yeah, I doubt anyone here is gonna murder someone because you tell them too.

Also, did you put a relative your's in here? Cause that...that's just sick, dude.

[notreadyatall]

I think they would, and also, just a little.

This has happened three times already. History repeats, big boy.

[angelgoatdemon]

AAAAA!!

[Damn, and here he was, hoping to offer some healing magic to this poor guy.

He's just going to stiffen up and freeze a little for the time being.]

[sorrydoods]

[He wanted to comfort Ariel but Mabel seems to have that, so Soos is gonna try comforting the goat man]

I-it's okay, dude. None of us are gonna really kill each other, I'm sure.

[Soos is definitely giving angry side eyes toward several people when Lekmet isn't paying attention, though.]

[pinkflip]

[ Kim stifles a scream against her teeth. It's only natural to. It looks like this guy has had things happen to him. ]

Like Rito tried a skin-replacement...eugh. [ Mental shiver, alright, a little out of practice but- ] Look here, creep-o, there's no way you can take this many people without someone figuring out where you are and stopping this freak show.

[notreadyatall]

I hope they know exactly who I am.

Anyone watchin’ especially.

[stanbyme]

[Stan goes for his brass knuckles immediately, and finds them missing.

Damn it.

He's just gonna put his arms out in front of Mabel and Soos, then, to put himself in front of them.]

Lemme get my knuckle dusters and then I'll show you a 'ritual,' Smelly.

[notreadyatall]

Do you have ‘em on you?

[lovelylilmouse]

...We-

We gotta what?

[She knew something felt off!]

[notreadyatall]

Do you need me to repeat?

[holdthetrumpet]

[MmmmmmMMMMMMMM. Ah. Kit presses his lips together very tight and does his very best diplomatic breathe in, breathe out. He is still like... twenty percent sure he can diplomacy his way out of this.]

I think there may have been some, uh. Some sort of mistake? I didn't sign up for any blood ritual. Is there, perhaps, an ambassador I could speak to...?

[He is 100% screaming internally.]

[notreadyatall]

Nope. That’s the way things just work around here, your highness.

[hasit]

[Unlike Kit, Leia is being...a little less nice about this.]

I demand an audience with your superiors at once.

[notreadyatall]

I don’t have any.

[truecalling]

[She wants to be mad. She is mad. But--]

Are... you okay?

[Like. Really. You're falling apart sir. That's alarming.]

[notreadyatall]

Bout as good as I can be.

[athleticallyinclined]

[ Gaston, never one to put himself at unnecessary risk, merely hangs back at first, watching how the others react and listening to the - largely unsatisfactory - answers they get to their questions and protests.

But staying in the shadows forever simply isn't in his nature. At a lull in the conversation, he steps forward, addressing Facilier. ]

Tell me, my good...[ Pause. ]...man.

What is this...Phantom you speak of?

[notreadyatall]

A spirit who lingers over the mansion. One who demands our participation in this ritual.

You don’t wanna let him down.

[sharpasanarrow]

Phantom? Hmph. Sounds like nothing more than superstition.

[Just...ignore the man physically decaying. He tries to ignore the shiver down his spine (?) at the shadows separate movements. Ghost don't exist. This guy's just...incredibly weird.]

[notreadyatall]

Might as well start believing in that superstition, cap!

[not_over_yet]

[ ...That fellow looks very dead. Very very dead--far past what could possibly be reached by stage makeup. And the smell is... quite convincing.

Basil doesn't want to reach the most obvious conclusion here. It's too sensational--laughable, even. He's not going to ignore evidence simply because it points to an explanation he doesn't like though, that would be idiotic. But the genuinely supernatural is also pretty far outside his realm of expertise. He needs more information (and soon, if they're to avoid this little game of murder actually getting underway--there's already enough non-outraged responses to indicate an unfortunate lack of morals among his fellow captives). He glances around the room, considering replies and making a mental list of who might be worth questioning later.

Addressing their host: ] Care to elaborate on what this "blood ritual" would do, if successful?

[notreadyatall]

Appease him. Believe me, Sherlock, I don't get it either. He has a taste for the kinda backstabbing that goes along with this rituals.

The entertainment value helps, though. Don't it?