Season 1 / Tatsuko - "It's Showtime!" [The First Trial Projection]

Tatsuko Onizuka

Kaoru Naito He opens the side door to check out what’s out there.

It could theoretically be a jumpscare if you were afraid of dumpsters and paint cans. Otherwise, it is just a normal-looking dumpster with a box of red paint cans next to it. The outside area seems to resemble an alleyway, except only half of one, as the concrete ground only extends a few feet before transitioning into empty scenery.

Kaoru Naito

Oh fuck yeaaaaah a dumpster. He looks in the dumpster first. (A tiny part of him wants another rat).

Tatsuko Onizuka

Kaoru Naito He looks in the dumpster first.

Just by opening the dumpster, you are hit by a strong petroleum-like smell, akin to kerosene, without even seeing what's inside. Looking in, you can clearly see where the smell is coming from -- the dumpster is mostly empty aside from several empty cans of paint thinner.

And what's that in the corner? A single small rat. A present just for you. (It's a squeaky rat, but it's the thought that counts)

Nobuko Yoshida

Walking into the backstage area, Nobuko glances at the list, and a smile crosses her face.

"I see that there are tasks required of us. Excellent. Let's get started then."
Nobuko will go over to the equipment. Perhaps there are things here to be juggled?

Tatsuko Onizuka

Nobuko Yoshida Nobuko will go over to the equipment. Perhaps there are things here to be juggled?

Wandering throughout the backstage area, you eventually come to a section helpfully labelled "juggling equipment". In this section, you can find boxes upon boxes of different materials and items that can be used for juggling. Balls, bowling pins, rings, and even things like knives, flaming torches, and axes… if you can juggle it, there's a box of it here.

Some of this equipment definitely looks older than other options. Who would even bring some of these things onstage?

Kaoru Naito

YEAAAH RAT. He squeezes it really hard a couple times to squeak it then wraps its tail in his collar to dangle it from there like a weird ass necklace. He sniffs the dumpster a few times and notes, okay, this seems flammable as fuck and adds that to his mental notes before looking at the box of red paint cans. Does it look like it's been opened already or is it sealed?

While here, he tries sticking his foot into the empty scenery. That's weird. Some brain thing? He doesn't expect much; these projections wig him out, which makes him want to pick at the seams of them when he sees a chance.

Tatsuko Onizuka

Kaoru Naito Does it look like it’s been opened already or is it sealed

The box has already been opened. Inside are several red paint cans, which have also helpfully been opened. The box even contains some paintbrushes for you to use, if you so desire.

Kaoru Naito While here, he tries sticking his foot into the empty scenery.

You stick your foot out to see… nothing happening. Looks like there's nothing physically stopping you from leaving the circus tent if you really wanted to. But why would you? There's nothing out there. Everything is here. You notice that the moment the thought of leaving even crosses your mind, you are filled with an overwhelming desire to stay here and finish the show.

Shiori Yoshida

As she steps into the backstage area alongside her sister, the relief in Shiori's eyes is evident as she hears Suzune read out the list of tasks. There was nothing she loved more than being given clear directions for what she's expected to do, and now with these instructions in mind, she sets out to fulfill the first one on the list.

Of course, this leads her to approach the dumpster alongside Kaoru. Except rather than looking for rats with him, she hoists up the box of red paint cans in her arms with notably little effort. Guess she's used to doing manual labor like this. She takes a step inside but then pauses to squints into space, unsure what to do next. Damn, guess the instructions weren't completely clear after all.

"What marks are we meant to paint with these? The instructions did not specify."

Tatsuko Onizuka

Shiori Yoshida “What marks are we meant to paint with these? The instructions did not specify.”

As soon as you say that, you notice that several lines of lights suddenly illuminate. Following them reveals that they turn into arrows pointing at the door back to the stage.

Chula - Suzune

"Ooooh… Yeah, I guess the other ones I've visited didn't have anything like work, huh? Though the, um, last one I was in was VERY dark!" She wouldn't share the details without Vincent's express permission, but it certainly was. A lot. So far this was a little refreshing in comparison. Wait… was that the rustling of trash she heard outside? "… Is that a raccoon I'm hearing?"

Still! there was a checklist to address now, best to get to work! Suzune glances around the signs for the different equipment types. "Do you think there might be like… a little stage thingy? Gosh, I wouldn't know what they're called."

Tatsuko Onizuka

Chula - Suzune Suzune glances around the signs for the different equipment types.

There are signs for assorted kinds of circus materials. Everything from "wardrobe" to "ropes" to "things to set on fire and jump through" seems to have its own section. You're not sure what the organization system behind this is, or when and why you would need half this stuff.

Shiori Yoshida

"Ah." She bows to the air. "Thank you for the clarification." Girl what. Anyways. She follows the arrows back to the stage. Anything on the stage that they need to paint?

Tatsuko Onizuka

Shiori Yoshida Anything on the stage that they need to paint?

The stage itself is completely empty. Looks like there's nothing to paint but the stage itself. There weren't any kinds of marks specified, so you could theoretically just paint whatever you wanted.

Nobuko Yoshida Nobuko portions off a selection of various juggleable items, with a preference towards the ones in better condition.

Most of the items seem in different states of disrepair. The only ones that seem relatively better and in show condition is the box of axes.

Nobuko Yoshida

"I'm not entirely certain." Nobuko admits to Suzune. "While I have performed many different tasks in my life, entertainment has never been one of them."

She looks over, the assembled options, considering. What would a clown juggle? Not something she had ever had to think about before. Best to stay safe and get a good variety. Nobuko portions off a selection of various juggleable items, with a preference towards the ones in better condition. She looks over to Suzune. "Ah, Gikou-san. Would you be willing to assist me in transporting these items to the performance area? I don't believe I'll be able to take all of them at the same to."

Nobuko Yoshida

It seems the only option is actually axes. Her question to Suzune still stands, she doesn't wanna carry all this stuff by herself.

Chula - Suzune

"Oh, well that shouldn't be too much of a problem! I'm plenty experienced in arranging entertainment. If I had to guess.. Marks might be the markings where performers are supposed to stand on the stage? Um… The bigger question is if WE'RE supposed to be the clowns or if, like. there will be weird ghostly NPC clowns or something, orrrr…." She looks over to the wardens. "Can any of you juggle? I can like… produce costumes and makeup and direction just fine, but I'm not suuuuuper coordinated enough to juggle."

Now, transportation assistance? THAT she could do! "Absolutely! Gimme Juuuuuuuust a second!" She rolls up her sleeves and picks up boxes to aid transport!

MILGRAM

Chula - Suzune “Can any of you juggle? I can like… produce costumes and makeup and direction just fine, but I’m not suuuuuper coordinated enough to juggle.”

"I don't believe so, Mrs. Gikou… though I suppose I don't know my fellow wardens well enough to say for sure?"

"No, and I'd rather not teach myself with heavy bladed objects…"

Ei starts to respond, but hears a suspicious thump outside the tent.

"…Have any of you seen Prisoner 013 in the last two minutes--"

Right on cue, Kaoru enters the stage.

"I told you to keep an eye on him!!!"

"Damn, here I was hoping he'd exploded again.~"

"Miss Bea, that's not funny….!"

Kaoru Naito

Ghh, he hates this shit— fuckass projections fucking with his head. He runs his hands back and forth through his hair as he walks back inside, shaking off the feeling. Leaving him alone in the back room for even a second is a great idea it seems, because he does what any normal person would do and rifles around the boxes for one of those flaming torches to light and pitch into the dumpster for fun. He can't do this outside, why the fuck would he pass on an opportunity to now? He's trying not to give a warden time to stop him, they have to trust him. This could be vital to the case, they just don't get it.

Tatsuko Onizuka

Kaoru Naito Leaving him alone in the back room for even a second is a great idea it seems, because he does what any normal person would do and rifles around the boxes for one of those flaming torches to light and pitch into the dumpster for fun.

As soon as you throw the torch into the dumpster, it immediately catches fire and bursts into full-on flames. Way more than you would actually expect from a dumpster this size, actually. Huh. Either way, the dumpster is now on fire. Hope you're happy with yourself Kaoru.

Kaoru Naito

Okay yay ❤️ For the first time since he's been here, his smile really reaches his eyes for a second while watching it light up into flames. Then he figures he should leave this here before a warden comes and scolds him.

Trotting back into the main room with the energized look of a guy who just set the dumpster on fire, he raises an arm, "I heard somethin' 'bout jugglin'? I can juggle, geheheh!" He waves his sleeve a little. "We gotta draw shit, yeah? Ooh, oh, gimme a brush, I got some ideas!"

Assuming there's enough to share, he's going to waltz over and grab a brush and a can to get to work with everyone. Innocently.

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