inside_yourmind | Letters to the Phantom

Letters to the Phantom

[You may now write letters to the Phantom!

Each of you will find plenty of stationery in the drawers of your vanities, along with candles, a block of sealing wax, and a stamp with your initial on it. You can use these to seal your envelopes in style!

Letters may be dropped into the flap at the Box Office at any time. Replies will appear in your dressing rooms, occasionally quite quickly. Sitting in your room to keep watch won't let you see how they're brought; they'll just appear whenever you happen to leave or fall asleep. Yes, they can be delivered overnight. Probably don't think about it too hard.]

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[Oh. Okay. It just be like that? Mass executions and these letters are in French? Sure. The reply is in French too, because the Squip would hate to offend.]

Phantom it is, then. What sort of information about their activities do you seek, since surely you're monitoring us anyway? I'd hate for the information I give you to be useless, after all. That wouldn't make for a very good bargain. Even if intervention is a simple matter.

Regards,
SQUIP

There are blind spots within the Opera House. Besides, it never hurts to have backups. Isn't that right?

They will attempt to determine the limits of my sight sooner or later. I want to know what they try to keep secret. Intervention will be on an as-needed basis.

Regards

As you may have gathered, they had a meeting today. Of the people present, I would say the ones to be most watchful of are Angus and Sigyn as they appear to be determined to discover the secrets of this place. Angus found some sort of chamber below the opera house and they've arranged to explore it tomorrow, I believe. Stephen (not Steven) has figured out that their memories have been altered, through Riley's clever use of surveys. Fortunately, she doesn't appear to be bright enough to care about much more than whether or not you can be befriended.

The Mountain Dew is freaking Jeremy out because he's convinced you "squip'd everyone" even though I have assured him that no such thing has occurred. He's refusing to listen to me because his memories have been altered but his distrust of me remains. This is not ideal, but is only to be expected given the awkward circumstance you've put us in. I've tried to convince him to focus on Christine in an attempt to distract him from the missing time he's become aware of.

Johnny is another one to watch for, but less because he's smart and more because he's extremely unpredictable and also lacks the braincells to comprehend that actions might have consequences. His actions led to Jeremy being taken out of the meeting, but he's secured someone's update on what happened after we left.

Regards,
SQUIP

Yes, that was an interesting spectacle. It's unfortunate that he still distrusts you - you're doubtless his best chance at staying alive here. He doesn't seem able to manage his own affairs well. Maybe if he becomes involved with Mme. Canigula, he can distract her from her constant pursuit of me.

I'm aware of Angus's explorations, and Jonny's...escape attempts. Both are accounted for; they won't stumble across anything of import.

Regards,
OG

[This time, the Phantom does not send a letter. Instead, late at night, when the SQUIP's custody hours are visibly taking place, there's a voice from behind the mirror:]

Having a bad week?

Something like that. [He was in the middle of a letter, but well. This is better.] A question: do you control the process through which they regain memories?

[Well, leaving a paper trail no longer seems wise, given the circumstances.]

I do not. The process is largely random, and not administered by myself.

[.....]

It may be helpful to know that your...deactivation would be considered a murder, just like any of them. Spinel's presence should indicate that humanity is not a determining factor in this. [...] Although, unlike her, you could be reactivated, could you not?

Assuming you do still have Mountain Dew. I supposed the larger question here is what if Jeremy does it? [An unfortunate possibility, if Jeremy convinces Stephen to get him drunk beforehand.] He regained a memory I was not aware of that contained the information necessary for him to determine how and I know he won't put anyone else in danger.

Of course it is not native to here, but there is still some amongst the merchandise. Along with a bottle labeled "Puck's Pansy Serum".

[You don't even need that old generic regain stuff.]

Can you not prevent him?

Ah. The prop from the play.

[The SQUIP smiles. Everything is going to be wonderful.]

As for whether or not I can prevent him, it depends on the sequence of events. If Jeremy is drunk, I lose my control over him. He has developed an pact with Stephen - the adult, not the child - where Stephen will get him drunk if he ever wishes to be free of me or if I do not comply with their wishes. Theoretically, it's possible he could drink Mountain Dew Red while drunk and deactivate me himself.

I see.

[Hm.]

Perhaps if Jeremy does it himself, I shall simply have you reactivated and call the matter resolved. [...] He is very resistant to your efforts, for being the one that installed you in the first place.

He resents being used. Unfortunately, he also cannot be trusted to take care of himself.

[Alas, sometimes the water bottle you are responsible for does his damnedest to like. Not be taken care of.]

The very reasons he wanted me are the same reasons he wishes me gone.

And they will all continue to condemn you for keeping him alive. Attempt to kill you for it, even.

[Just a statement of fact; that seems to be how things went in the first trial, and even now he expects them to continue that way.]

Humanity can be like that.

Yes, I suspect as much. They were already discussing it, at the trial. Thankfully there is only one way to shut me off and none of them are in possession yet.

[Not that he suspects it will stay that way.]

Nor do any of them know the exact nature of it.

They are trying to cook it in the kitchen.

[There's no way the Phantom of the Opera has any idea how to make Mountain Dew Red, but like. Pretty sure that's not it? Seems unlikely???]

Well. I can keep them from gaining any, unless you believe it could be of use.

Hm. It might be easier if I manipulate Jeremy into believing I'm gone so we can continue to work together. My approach toward this matter may have been too forceful.

[The SQUIP tilts Jeremy's head, contemplating.]

If I tell Jeremy that another party forcing my deactivation would be considered a murder, he will refuse to let the others participate and we would have a simple loophole on our hands. Say, perhaps, that because I am him it doesn't count as a murder.

Indeed. As I stated at the trial, a suicide would result in no further executions. If we were to accept that definition of you, it would only count as Jeremy killing himself and living to tell the tale. A perfect loophole.

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Letters to the Phantom

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sent after riley and christine put jeremy to bed, post-meeting

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week 3, tuesday

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cw: suicide mentions