Letters to the Phantom

[inside_yourmind]

[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.]

Comments

[inside_yourmind]

Of course I could.

[37773972]

[He almost screams then what's the point, but- that's just it. There has to be one. Stephen stares at the mirror with his mind racing a thousand light years per minute, thinking back to what Mephisto- what 'Ariel' had said in the first trial, about sacrifices, and he swallows around the lump in his throat.

He doesn't want to think about this right now. He doesn't want to think about Sigyn, or Riley, or anyone else being somehow used.]

...I can't even imagine what's going on in your head.

[Awe? Shock, maybe.]

[inside_yourmind]

...have I not just told you?

[What? Was the point of this talking thing you wanted so bad then?]

[37773972]

[That he intends to fix this. That all of this is- pointless, except not. That...]

You've given me more questions than answers.

[...]

One more. [And hopefully before the Phantom has a chance to pull away-] I'm gonna ask Nana to help me make something. And because, despite everything, I think you're still just a man...

...where'm I leaving a portion.

[Consider it gratitude for humoring him in this. Also? No man can resist Nana's cooking- he's pretty sure of that.]

[inside_yourmind]

[You hear an audible sigh.]

Outside the box office is acceptable. Nana can show you. [Nana Knows]

[37773972]

[He can't help it. He chuckles.]

Not the first one, huh?...look, consider it 'thanks' for humoring me.

[beat]

The offer's still open.

[What exactly is the offer? Fuck if he knows anymore.]

[inside_yourmind]

Which offer is that?

[yeah you know it's unclear]

[37773972]

['Try to understand'. 'I can't even begin to understand'. Yeah, good job, Stephen, you're an idiot. He shakes his head at himself. What's new?]

...talking at someone who'll at least listen. Since there's still too much I don't know. [To start to understand.] And who won't try and bullshit that I'm something I'm not.

[Aka, They're Definitely Not Friends and at most, Stephen is deliberately trying to curry Lima?]

[inside_yourmind]

Fair enough. I appreciate your honesty.