Sabrina's still tilting her head at your dramatic pronouncement when you've decided what to do next. "Sabrina?" "Uh, yes?" She snaps back into the present when you speak firmly. "We're going to visit the lavatory so that I can recover from my small episode." She seems to pick up that you've got some kind of plan, and nods. "Right, uh, this way…I think." She steps towards a set of doors on the side wall, helpfully labeled "PUBLIC DRESSING ROOMS", with three doors - One marked "MEN", "WOMEN", and a third marked "ALTERNATIVE", presumably for…abhumans? The disabled? Families? You're not sure, and you don't take the time to think about it as you step into the women's dressing room. You glance around inside, making sure it's empty, then whisper to Sabrina. "Buy me some time." She nods, and firmly sets herself at the door, glaring at anyone who comes near, tongue flickering in and out menacingly. (To note: Sabrina is essentially giving you her action since your plan is performing 'two' at once. I'll allow that sort of thing in Emergency situations, to be clear, but don't count on it in normal situations…and this will definitely draw some attention.)
With your surroundings secured, you take the time to conduct a brief physical examination of the dressing room. While you've seen lavatories before, inside the apartments of your building, this is your first time examining a public dressing room. It's, frankly, a bit extravagant. A marble washstand takes up the center of the back wall, a mirror hanging with golden framing above it, and several clearly expensive wooden tables and padded couches surrounding it make the opinion of the designer clear - This is not merely a lavatory, but a zone for people to be able to take a break from the theater. Perhaps this is why the theater's atrium was rather sparse (
Perceptive)…More frequent or discerning visitors would know that they can utilize these spaces, while single-time or lower-class visitors would likely be encouraged to hurry into the theaters. Another small thing in order to make the space less welcoming to some, and more welcoming to others.
Anyways, in terms of exits and entrances, there are, unfortunately, no windows - The lighting comes from lighting fixtures shaped like lamps hanging along the wall. Another display of wealth - The electricity bills this place must run…Well, that wasn't your primary thought, anyways. Disgorging a tentacle from within Super Spy, you reach down into the pipes until your thought is confirmed - This place does have a connection to the sewer. Unfortunately, anything coming up will need to be pretty small, or else they'd get caught in the pipes, (
Artificer) and your mechanical inclinations are pretty sure that any sort of clog in the system would get noticed by the staff if they put this much effort into decorating the place. Plus, if you want to get in unnoticed, it'll probably have to be out of business hours, too. Still, if you want to seed the place with small infiltrators beforehand to make your business easier, and have the biomass to spare on such a risky long-term excursion, it'd be an option. (You've discovered a keyword of Herman's:
Modern Amenities!)
With that done, you busy yourself with cleaning up the small messes of water that have gotten splashed around, and ensuring that your disguise isn't stained. After that…It's time to focus (
Soul Senses). You slowly open your ears, trying to focus on singular snatches of the screaming you're hearing. As you do, you start to realize - There are different levels of it, so to speak. The wind, the rain, and the thunder, if you want to keep to your hurricane metaphor. The terror is the thunder - Intermittent piping yells, preceding large shocks and bursts of emotion being conveyed to you. The screams of rage are the wind, constantly whipping away on you, trying to wear away at you. And, of course, that means the song of sorrow is the rain - No less present, but more of a slow wearing down, spreading cold and weeping sorrow. (
Perceptive) These metaphors…They're the best way your brain can interpret them. It's telling you things about these people. The terror-filled person, they're reacting to something - Specific things, that are causing them terror, followed by periods of calm, and then terror again. The rage is constant and burning - A fresh reaction, a fresh wound, but one that isn't going away. And the sorrow…It's more distant, but at the same time, deeper - An old scar or an old shame.
Initial insight gained, you open your ears further - And receive a full blast of the words they're yelling.
"
Nobody's coming!"
"
How could you do this to me?!"
"
I didn't want to do it, you have to believe me…"
"
Please! Please, help me! Please, any god, anyone!"
"
You've ruined me! You've ruined everything!"
"
I had to do it, I didn't want things to turn out like this…I just wanted…"
"
KILL HIM, YOU LILYLIVERED-! AHHHHH!"
"
I'll kill you! You think I won't! I'll do it! I'll do it! I'll really do it!"
"
I'll kill you, please…if you don't stop…Don't make me kill you, please…"
As if they can tell someone's listening, their words intensify, swarming in closer and closer with almost malicious intent - You shut off your senses before you can be overwhelmed…(
Perceptive). But that definitely gave you a lot. All three of them…they're working themselves up to something, but not in response to anything you did, though you paying attention triggered the escalation. They're cycling through behavior. They're not
talking to anyone, and certainly not each other - You're not even sure if they're capable of talking, instead of just spewing out words. (
Soul Senses) No wonder anyone with magical senses is getting a screaming storm whenever they come in here, whatever these things are under is triggered off of attention. (
Artificer) Which, considering what you were told about the machine, makes sense. It's triggering responses from the souls due to stimuli - Which, given the theater format…means that the shows must work off the same principle, and what you're getting is probably bleeding over from the atmosphere of the machine suffusing the theater itself. If you come here in off-hours, when the machine is off, you won't have to worry about getting blowback from the souls for any kind of magic. However, while you're here on-hours, any kind of magical senses will get blasted as soon as the souls detect their 'attention'. (Discovered a Keyword of Herman's:
Soul Cycle! Discovered a Keyword of Herman's:
Attention-Seeking!)
You swipe away the blood leaking from your ears after listening to the souls for too long, and calmly wash up. Then, you step outside, to find Sabrina hissing at a clearly frightened employee in a suit. (
Unyielding) (
???). "Look, ma'am, You-you can't just block off a dressing room, other people need to-" You interject yourself. (
Cute) (
Likeable) "Hiiii! I'm soooo sorry, my friend here was just worried about me because I had a bit of a fall when I came into the theater!" Your sudden interruption sends both Sabrina and the employee a step backwards, which you capitalize on ruthlessly. (
Perceptive) (
False Humanoid) In this, your slightly more doll-like characteristics work in your favor - You can see the employee assessing you, and you know that you look slightly stiffer than your average human, which works for you in this case. "I'm Scarlet, by the way! It's so nice to meet you, I'm soooo, soooo sorry about the trouble - This is my first time here! My friend is taking me to meet Mister Namreh-" You use his fake name, remembering Mario's reaction outside, but you hope name-dropping his boss will help make him back down. "-Because we're going to be conducting some kind of deal? I've heard he's the man to work for in this town! You must know, right?" Still off-guard from the sudden change in tone, the employee stutters a bit, glancing over his shoulder. "I-Uh-I-Yes? Mister Namreh is an excellent employer, in my opinion." The opportunity to respond gave him some time to regain his footing, so you try to wrap things up...by introducing the stick to your carrot. "Anyways, I'm sooo sorry again, I hope you can forgive us? My friend here is just really protective of me." He frowns at the reminder, then glances over your shoulder at Sabrina, and sighs, accepting defeat if it means he doesn't have to face down against your 'protective friend' again. "Mmm. Just…please head to your meeting with Mister Namreh with all due haste.
Please." He returns to what you assume he was doing, standing behind one of the small stands set up to offer food to guests.
You turn around to look at Sabrina, who is staring down at you with clear astonishment. "...Kid, that was almost scary." You smile. "When I'm properly motivated, I can do a lot!" She nods, flicking her tongue out. "Yeah, I can believe that."
You are in an EMERGENCY.
You have time to change one Core keyword! Changeable keywords are highlighted!
Your Current Assets Are:
1x Super Spy (Soul Senses, Artificer, False Humanoid, Shield, Poison, Disguise)
1x Sabrina "Slick" Johnson (Snakewoman, Mage, Rebellious, Blunt, Unyielding, ???, ???, ???)
Your current Core Keywords are:
Cute, Pactmaker, Perceptive, Likeable, Bountiful, Exponential Growth, and Explosive Growth
Employees are currently moderately suspicious of you.
Herman is expecting you.
You've discovered the following keywords of Namreh's Theater of the Soul: Attention-Seeking, Soul Cycle, Modern Amenities.
The Theater labeled as being "Heart-Pounding Adventure" has the sound of gunfire and explosions emanating from within. Your Soul Senses can feel that the overwhelming yells of terror is coming from within this Theater.
This Theater is labeled as being "Bone-Chilling Terror!", and you can hear screams and wails leaking from within. Your Soul Senses can feel that the song of sorrow is coming overwhelmingly from this theater.
This Theater is labeled as being "Tear-Jerking Drama", and you can hear the sounds of a physical fight coming from within, along with smashing furniture. In here, you feel the soul that screams rage through your Soul Senses.
Maybe the heat's getting too much - Maybe you need to find your way into an area that's being guarded. Either way, you'll need to distract the employees of Herman's Theater of the Soul, somehow. Write-ins will make this action more effective!
There are a few doors prominently labeled as "For Employees Only" scattered around the building. Some of them might be break rooms or they might be vital equipment for the Theater - You can't be sure until you've taken a look inside. They don't seem to lock them, out of a hopefully misplaced sense of invulnerability, but if you're not careful, you could get seen entering or exiting. This may require multiple actions to fully complete!
You need a way in and out that isn't through the front. This place definitely has some - You doubt that they have employees or prospective…soul sellers (?) enter and exit through the front, after all. This action may be more effective after exploring other areas thoroughly.
No sense in putting it off - The big man himself awaits. And he's got a lot to answer for. You may wind up doing something unwise…or maybe that's what you want to do.
Just walk out! You're not meeting this guy! Real winners don't deal with soul-renting evil-doers! You've got enough intelligence to be satisfied, so, you're just leaving. This may cause Herman to take offense…or maybe that's what you want to do.
QM's Note: Normal 12 hour moratorium and 48 hour voting period! BTW - In the future for ease of processing, please specify
specific actions and assets, in addition to any write-ins. An example has been provided.
[] Plan Real Winners Quit
-[] Leave The Theater with Super Spy and Sabrina
--[] Wave goodbye to Mario as you go.