IN THE FOREST OF THE LOST

[beathollow]

it's all too perfect.

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PHASE THREE: THE THEATER

[beathollow]

[beathollow]

It's sunset, and Mafuyu sits in an empty park, staring at her broken phone. ... She should go. She has to study. But...

...

Something makes it spark to life, and a hologram of KAITO appears, much to Mafuyu's shock.

"Kaito..."

Now I get it. We couldn't reach you because your phone was broken...

"How did you-"


Miku, try now.

Okay.

There's another flash of light and then another hologram appears.

Mafuyu wants to cry, with relief for once.

"Miku... I was worried I would never see you again."

Mafuyu...

So, care to tell us what happened?

Mafuyu nods, speaking quietly.

"My mom tried to take away my phone... I resisted and... it fell into my aquarium."

Oh, I see...

That explains it. Mafuyu... If you don't fight back now, this is probably going to be it for you. I'm not just talking about being cut off from everyone. She's going to pick you apart clean. If you agree to do her bidding, she'll succeed in destroying who you are. You'll lose everything that you care about. For good.

Mafuyu inhales sharply-

"What am I supposed to do?"

Fight back. Tell her how you really feel. No one can predict what's going to happen, but this is the only option you have right now.

"Fight back...? But, if I do that, Mom will..."

The image of a woman crying into her hands in the middle of an amusement park comes to mind.

Miku frowns and puts a tiny hand on one of Mafuyu's knuckles.

If you tell her, she might get upset... But if you don't say something, you might break... I don't want that to happen... So, please, tell her. We'll be here for you...

"Miku..."

Mafuyu is quiet. She thinks of that cold, emtpy home. Of friends and warmth.

"Okay. I... I... I'll try telling her how I really feel."

[beathollow]

At some point in the antics, the six lights freeze and then several people among their chosen- Soujuurou and Yoon, at least, don't have to share- will feel a tug on their wrist.

The door's appearing! Hurry!

The lights will lead the group back to the entrance hall, where a shadowy door that wasn't there before waits.

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis is instantly in business mode and approaching that door.

Is there anything that can be heard from behind it? ]

[privatedomicile]

[DOOR

Jesse is going to try and open it. What the hell is thinking?]

[strawsandals]

[ It's door time. He'll follow in after McGillis and Jesse. Let's get the princess etc ]

[supherb]

[He feels the tug, and immediately steels himself.]

Let’s go, everyone. It’s time.

[Let’s go in!!]

[cirquedesang]

[...Yeah, it's back to business.

And right up to that door - it's not that he's ignoring the crying behind it, really, but... he is definitely more focused on trying to see if there's a way to open it.]

[emptyself]

[ soujuurou feels the pull and lets himself get led along, but he will be looking over his shoulder just in case that someone is trying to follow with the intention of stopping them. ]

[beautifulknight]

[ So...there's like a doorknob or something, right?

Anyway he will be beeling for it (though for others who wish to throw it open sooner than him they can) ]

[moodwrecker]

[Aubrey is also walking very quickly in the direction of the door, looking like she's ready to bash the thing open if she has to LET'S GO.]

[beathollow]

Eventually, you push the doors open- and Mafuyu's song stops completely. It's a grand theater, with steps leading down to seating and then, the stage. Above, more misplaced things hang in strings, and shadowy figures sit in the audience, whispering fawning adoration of their perfect princess.

On the stage, Mafuyu hangs from more strings, dressed like a princess, a veil covering her face.

... Honestly. Even going so far as to intrude on the play...

[privatedomicile]

--Mafu! Come on, we're gettin' outta this dump!

[He's still got the teary-eyed doll girl with him, ready to fulfill that promise, but then he sees that shadowy figure and offers a glare.]

Play's cancelled, bitch.

[supherb]

Mafuyu!

[Arven shouts to her as he rushes in with the others. He knows not to do anything rash, but she's right there. It's so hard to not just summon Hestia to get rid of those strings.]

We're here, Mafuyu! Just hang in there, and we'll get you down!

[He's completely ignoring the voice of the queen.]

[cirquedesang]

[Oh? Oh, you think this is intruding, Mafumom?

He's going to walk very confidently down the aisle and right up to the stage, hopping up onto it like he belongs there.

(...Assuming he's not interrupted, of course.)]

[goei]

[Yeah nuts to the judgement and the crowd, Izou's running down to the stage and trying to clamber onto it if not stopped by Enemies.]

Mafuyu! We're here ta help you break outta here!

[emptyself]

Mafuyu!

[ this is distressing for soujuurou, seeing her in such a way. who cares about the play! ]

This isn’t right! This isn’t what she wants to do!

[moodwrecker]

[Also running up onto the stage because she's the designated troublemaker, if she gets crucified for this maybe an enemy will be in sight for everyone else to take a shot at, or maybe she'll even be in position to take a swing personally- she doesn't really care which way it goes, so long as they can stop this.]

Mafuyu!

[cleansewithfire]

[ So many things about this are just so profoundly upsetting to Sunrise for some reason that she's not going to spare a single word. She is honest to goodness just going to walk down there. ]

ICON ACCURATE (no) (unless?)

[strawsandals]

[ He sees Mafuyu on the stage.

Oh, he was not lying when he said he hates violence, but boy does that make him angry. He'll follow the rest of the group, though, and be here for backup. ]

[townmusician]

[Haruka is going to hop up on the stage, looking up at Mafuyu. He wonders if the strings will be cut as easily as the rest...]

Someone can catch her if she falls, right?

[If the voices have any complaints they can bite him.]

[bloodweapon]

[He'll let the others take the lead, but Fray's here for backup. Off to the stage we go!!]

[beautifulknight]

[ The sight triggers something in him, though there is no name for it as his eyes harden and his expression darkens.

The pressure to be perfect and flawless...it is immense. How could he not know it? Still, all the same, this is...

Argenti runs straight ahead to the stage, words failing him at first, but then as he reaches it, he speaks: ]

That is enough! People are not toys. Miss Mafuyu isn't your puppet.

[idealitas]

[ Local braincell with a heart is hanging back and approaching slowly, if only because everyone else can yell at that mother's voice.

Yi Sang is used to talking to abstract things/objects so he doesn't feel that crazy doing it. So for that heart in his hands, he whispers: ]

I don't care for that woman's delusions of love for you. We'll help you.

[ledbythewind]

[... oh. He really hates that he was exactly right about this.

So. Can he see where the strings are leading...?]