Imeeji Idol Productions ([personal profile] idolpro) wrote2020-08-21 11:39 pm
Entry tags:

Betrayal 3: BARiTONES

[ You spill out of the elevator into the Bar—the elevator is gone when you look back.

It’s surprisingly quiet, here, with muted, upbeat jazz playing from speakers tucked away somewhere, and a bar long enough to give you some space. Curtained booths are set against the back wall for quiet dining or clandestine meetings. The specials menu gives a full array of… poison-themed cocktails?

At the other end of the room, a single spotlight shines on a raised stage, with a microphone, almost as if waiting for a show to begin.

What poor soul's going to perform? Not you—you do enough of that all day, every day, after all. After all, you learned early on that's how the game was played. You watched money change hands—quietly, discreetly—and despite how many late nights you'd pulled working on your case, it meant nothing in the face of whose wallet was biggest and who knew who in the circles of the rich and powerful. So to get what you wanted, you'd make yourself one of them, as long as you need to for it to serve your purpose—

It's in the script someone's written for you, in your hand. Now, you have your own history, your own words and you can give those to the audience instead. But enough pain, enough destabilization, and you don't know if you'll want to keep sharing. They've set the stage for someone else, given you a prop, and you feel that. Reality isn't wanted here—no, you need to be larger than life, in this place, to not be devoured by the narrative, reduced to an extra. The script whispers for you to lock that troublesome self away, and try on this new role for size, and you'll be a star.

...but there's no point in casting a top-tier idol like you if you can't put your own spin on it, of course. At the bottom of the script, there's a note someone's written with a smiley-face: "just ad-lib, you're gonna be great :)"

A polished, round pocket watch on a long, dangling chain, ticking rhythmically, rests on the bar.

A readout on your phone tells you the rules and displays the basic goal (explore the rooms of the casino) as well as the item that you've been given (Hypnotist's Watch). Only once you leave your starting room does your phone update to display your role's traitor goal (kill someone after helping them). It looks like nothing is stopping you from committing the traitor goal even while you're sane, if you wish to.

There is an exit to the West. ]
temperedinpride: (37)

Re: SESSION 9 DISCUSSION

[personal profile] temperedinpride 2020-08-25 06:11 pm (UTC)(link)
I spent my last two rounds either in the company of Emecchi or the company of Vergil so, yes more or less. I did get mildly injured but I retain my wits.

I had gotten the impression this had been run before. Should I be relieved you are a veteran?
marsascending: (and the shape of the heart)

Re: SESSION 9 DISCUSSION

[personal profile] marsascending 2020-08-25 06:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ...he's also picked up "Emecchi"

cute. ]

Well, at least I have a sense of strategy from last time, if not knowledge of the layout of whatever this place is.
temperedinpride: (61)

Re: SESSION 9 DISCUSSION

[personal profile] temperedinpride 2020-08-25 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
I have not actually seen much beyond this floor and the basement and not even all of either. But two west and one north will take you to the landing to every floor, I believe.

Any tips you would share?
marsascending: (sick of all these people talking)

Re: SESSION 9 DISCUSSION

[personal profile] marsascending 2020-08-25 06:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Don't escalate anything if the numbers are close and you don't have to, try and find things and places that are bolstering, definitely don't get stuck in crowded areas.
temperedinpride: (23)

Re: SESSION 9 DISCUSSION

[personal profile] temperedinpride 2020-08-25 06:26 pm (UTC)(link)
That all seems wise.

Ah, as for bolstering, directly south of the basement landing is a fortune teller, creepy but... soothing. And Taisho's starting area is rather pleasant as well if I recall.

I am going to head out, any are free to join me of course.