[For Char and Ana] A schoolplay gone horribly wrong.

[the_tv_is_a_lie]

[> Late August...

> You would think that, after a while, you wouldn't hear of more weird things going on. But it seems even when the world behind the TV isn't involved, you just find yourself coming across the most bizarre incidents.

> One afternoon, your feet took you to the bookstore in the Shopping District. It was somewhat busy -- something you quietly appreciated as you filtered through the books for something to read. But it was oddly loud and panicky, as well. You couldn't really put a finger onto why it feeled this way at first. At least, until one of your classmates at Yasogami High, one you recognize as a Drama Club member at that, came barging in, and quickly excused himself after returning his baggage...

> You took a closer look at it, and found that it was an old book. One that seemed like it was made in an older century.

"That's the third time they've returned it this month..."

> That was what the shopkeeper had said; it piqued your curiosity, and had you wondering what the book was, and why this would need to be returned in such a rush. The answer wasn't exactly one you had in mind.

"It's an old western classic, and I figured the kids would need somethin' like it if ever. They did Romeo and Juliet last year, didn't they? What I don't get is why they'd return it so hastily. I got all these weird excuses for doing so...but 'it's haunted' is up there for most frequent."

> The sheer absurdity of their reason for taking the book back after only a week's use had you balking a little, but shaking your head. You've seen worse, and you've dealt with worse. You figured that it wouldn't be that bad at the time, so you bought the book off the shopkeeper's hands.

> Only a few days later though, while you were holding rehearsals for the play (and insisting that this old tale would be the one you'd use for the big fair coming up in October), something happened on the set... Uncalled for scene changes, sandbags falling and nearly hurting your clubmates, setpieces mysteriously disappearing...but there was one constant you were missing.

> Today, you and your friends are going to find that constant. You called them up and asked them to help out with an investigation at the theater. You were only able to get Yosuke, Yukiko and Rise to settle in, but that was more than enough. You took turns in pairs trying to find it, with the other pair querying the club members about what happened the last few times they used the book.

> Hopefully, you would finally get to the bottom of all this.]

Comments

[ghostycues]

[ Eventually, during his questioning, or maybe after it's done, he'll be approached by a man outside his school. He seems nice enough, at least, but a little out of place, in his silk hat and expensive-looking suit. ... Possibly an actor, perhaps. He's got quite a bit of purple hair, it would seem. ]

... Excuse me. Could I bother you for a moment, young man?

[ If the owner of that store was to be believed, this was the kid asking about his book. How troublesome. ]

[the_tv_is_a_lie]

[It doesn't take that long to query his clubmates and help them settle down from all that. (And get comments about how steely his nerves are, but that's neither here nor there.) None of them -- him, Yosuke, Rise and Yukiko -- could really gather much today; his clubmates still looked a tad spooked even after his best efforts. He did make plans to ask again, though, when they could think straight, so it's not the last time he'll be looking into the matter...

As he steps out with his friends though, the suited, purple-haired man catches his attention. He wasn't sure what that feeling in the back of his head was... But he seemed vaguely familiar? Or maybe he was thinking of the wrong person...nevertheless, Souji veers off course towards him.

Risette blinks and looks in his general direction.]

Senpai? Where are you--?

[Souji peers back for a moment, as stone-faced as ever.]

I'll try not to be long. Can you go on ahead without me?

[Rise frowns a little, worry showing through, but nods. It's not like he couldn't handle himself...but she's not sure she likes what's going on.

She'll have to trust him for now and hope for the best.]

Er...sure, I guess. Just don't get into trouble...okay?

[He gives her a faint reassuring smile that alleviates the issue -- at least, for now. She nods back, and while she hurries ahead to follow the rest of their group, Souji turns his attention back to the man.]

Sorry about that. What did you need me for?

[ghostycues]

... I was told you were the most recent person to investigate a... belonging, of mine.

[ Rather, that book. He's a fool. Has long has it been cursing people, he wonders? Ugh. He'll slowly remove his hat. ]

... My name is Majordome. It's... about a particular book. It was sold a long time ago, and I have reason to believe it may have ended up around here someplace?

[the_tv_is_a_lie]

[...he feels like he should recognize that name from somewhere. A pen name, perhaps? Maybe the one that was on the book in question...?

Souji ruffles his hair for a moment.]

...was it an old one being returned to the bookstore at the shopping district, by any chance?

[...He wasn't sure if bringing it up right away was a smart move, but he'll have to live with the decision. Hopefully it won't bite him anywhere unpleasant...]

[ghostycues]

[ That's because it's French for Butler. And Butler is an anagram of Burlet. Hah. He is very inventive. ]

... Yes. That particular book... I've been hearing very unpleasant rumors, so it must be mine.

[the_tv_is_a_lie]

[Three cheers for his creativity! :|b HIP HIP HURRAH.

...Well, now. That just makes it easier on him, doesn't it? He takes it out of the bag. Beating around the bush would just delay things more than necessary.]

That this was responsible for incidents in the theater at this school, right?

[He'd heard his clubmates' excuses from the same source... he wouldn't put it past the locals to start spreading gossip about this book, especially about what would happen if anything was to be done with it.]

[ghostycues]

[ ... What a nasty aura that book puts off. How worrisome. He slowly raises a hand to his mouth, as if looking at something particularly unpleasing to the eyes. ]

... And just how many people have opened this book, my good sir? Because if it is a fair number of people, I am rather... concerned.

[ Well... he himself is cursed, it is little surprise, he supposes, even his objects have ended up such. ]

[the_tv_is_a_lie]

[Souji stares at the book for a moment before looking to his acquaintance. Three separate occasions before his, three returns...]

...I'd say a few, at least.

[Kei, Murata, Aki; those three amongst his clubmates were the ones that had the strongest protests towards using it. But there was no way they were the only ones to have gone through this book... especially when everyone involved needs an idea of how the script flows.]

[ghostycues]

[ A click of his tongue against the roof of his mouth. ]

... That is most unpleasant, my good sir. Most unpleasant.

[ This is not a good thing at all. ]

This is a book that radiates negativity and bad experiences. It should not be in anyone's hands but mine. ... Even I could not like exhume the cause of it, but... well. Suffice to say that it is more a tragedy than a comedy.

[the_tv_is_a_lie]

[Souji blinks. He wasn't entirely expecting a reaction like that... What did he have to do with this book -- other than the explication that he's the one that penned it? It'd be easy to think he was just that miserable in writing the whole thing and it seeped out, but past experience keeps telling him otherwise.]

I could gather that much from its writing, but... [He tilts his head in confusion at it.] Is it really so bad you can't give it to anyone else?

[ghostycues]

[ ... He nods slowly. And come now, Souji. If he didn't own this copy of the book, he would have to be the AUTHOR, but... that's silly, right?

It was written hundreds of years ago. ]

This book is rather... cursed, it would seem.

[the_tv_is_a_lie]

[...It's pretty far-fetched, yeah. He doesn't even look the part either.

Well, the puzzle of 'who he is' and 'what he wants with it' is one thing he may just have to piece together down the line instead. As it is now, he's got another bag of problems to work with, and working on multiple issues was never a smart idea, unless one wanted to work oneself into the ground or something.]

...'Cursed'.

[His tone of voice when he repeats the older man seems... fairly questioning, actually. The gears are turning in his head, but it doesn't seem like there's enough pieces to this puzzle yet...

There's not much he can do from here besides try to coax an answer or two that might help.]

Can you elaborate?

[ghostycues]

Unfortunately not. All I can tell you is that it is cursed, and I shall rather hope you take my word for it.

[ ... He doesn't... want to get into this. It's a bad idea, to touch on the subject of Miss Miku's repeating infamy and death, and all that occurred around it, and... well.

She listens.

... Besides. It's his burden to bear. ]

This is my problem to shoulder, sadly. I should be bearing this issue, rather than you. So if you might, perhaps, return the book to me... I shall be leaving with it.

[the_tv_is_a_lie]

[Was it really so easy, though? If giving this back to him really solved everything, then that would be one thing. But that was the straightforward answer, and it was, as far as Souji knew, only a temporary solution to whatever he's found himself entangled with this year. And he refuses to elaborate as to what's haunting book, just to cap all this off... If he can't give his reasons for needing it back, then what does Souji have to go off of? What are the odds that he'll do something to damage it instead?

...

Souji, after a moment of staring at the book, looks back at the elder man...before shaking his head.]

...I realize you likely know better. But if you won't share what you know about this, I can't really trust you with it.

[A failure to communicate is the worst thing you can really do here. At least, that's how he feels.]