liminalteashop | haunted theatre au psl

haunted theatre au psl

Truly, this challenge could have only been trusted with a future star such as myself! No wonder I got dragged into this. Even this theatre and the ghosts residing in it recognize my talent!

[Is how Tsukasa chooses to make himself feel better about his predicament. Not that he hasn't done his fair share of panicking and would continue to do so, but panicking wouldn't solve this. Yes, this is but a stepping stone in his career!

One he isn't too thrilled about and never could have predicted, but a still a stepping stone. The only thing that would get him out of this mess would be his skills as an actor. But there is the whole issue of getting visitors to stick around long enough to act. The place is creepy. Signs of abandonment are showing as its popularity declined over the years with no one wanting or able to take care of it. Even Tsukasa has to admit it looks different from how he remembers. To make matters worse, his attempts to draw in visitors have been doing the opposite. He can reach people with his voice, he can interact with the props and theatre, but no one has managed to see him. All of his rehearsals end up backfiring with visitors panicking about the theatre being haunted and leaving as fast as possible.

His shoulders fall as he watches a group of people do just that. They whisper to eachother about how the ghosts here are a lot louder than they imagined and...kind of annoying for a ghost? No one sees Tsukasa stagger back at the insult as if injured.]

I'm not a ghost!

[Even if he is transparent, and can't get hurt, he's definitely not a ghost! But his shouting does the opposite and the visitors leave the theatre empty again other than of Tsukasa and the actual ghosts.

The stage lights turn on, flooding the auditorium and stage in a dazzling light. In that moment, Tsukasa can almost see the same sparkle it had when he and Saki visited. There's laughter as some of the residents of the theatre emerge to perform one of their favorite shows. Scrambling off the stage, Tsukasa meanders and starts tidying up where he can--dusting the shelves, rearranging items, bringing belongings to the lost and found that no one ever visits. He still tries to avoid the ghosts when possible. They're the reason he's in this mess.]

A welcoming and neat appearance will attract more of an audience!

[And no one in their right mind would visit a haunted theatre at this hour!]

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You can count on me! [He looks pleased and gestures to himself, but his eyes fall on the wall.]

It does, doesn't it? [It's not the same without an audience, even as the voices grow louder in the background.] Oh. Over to the side is an equipment room. There's still some props and instruments in there!

Instruments?

[ She's quiet for a moment, thoughtful. ]

... Does this theatre have a piano?

It does!

[He beams.]

It's in the auditorium. Would you like to stop there next?

Yes, please. I think it's important to see what we can work with.

[ She at least has familiarity with a piano. ]

Yes, and it would be a shame not to play it.

[That's right. Mafuyu played the piano wonderfully. He thinks about mentioning it, but that looked like a personal moment between her and Kanade.

They could go through the backstage area to get there, but where's the theatrical suspense in that? Instead he'll go down a sweeping staircase that leads to the auditorium. Rows upon rows of red chairs descend to a grand stage, where a piano sits. The walls and ceiling are even more guilded than the corridors. Some of the ghosts are performing a show, while others sit at the front rows to watch.

Tsukasa is so caught up in staying in character as the enthusiastic guide, his eagerness to show the theatre genuine, that he forgets about the ghosts and gestures at the piano dramatically.]

There's the piano! It's still in quite good condition!!!

That's a surprise.

[ Mafuyu pauses for a moment, gazing at the piano while looking past the ghosts as though she's very much unaware of them. Even if that's... far from the truth of the matter.

It feels more... opulent, here. ]

But you're right. From what I can tell, it looks better than I would have expected.

I've tried dusting it as well when the ghosts aren't as active-- Oh.

[The ghosts. They still haven't noticed them and Tsukasa takes the chance to duck in the aisle.]

Perhaps we should wait.

This might be an opportunity for you to talk to them.

[ She'll have to stay hidden, but. Still! ]

You're right.

[He smiles nervously but forces himself to stand up.]

I shall give it my all! [The ghosts in the audience applaud as the show ends. Flashing Mafuyu another smile, he descends to the stage. A few of the ghosts whisper and stare but he ignores it and projects his voice through the whole auditorium.]

EXCUSE ME, ACTING COMRADES! I AM TENMA TSUKASA, FUTURE STAR, AND I ASK FOR A MINUTE OF YOUR TIME!!! I'd...like that you make me visible again, in order to make it easier to attract the audience you wish for!

[There’s a long stretch of silence. And then they roar with laughter. They had no idea he was going to act out a comedy!!!]

[ ... Well.

This is going great. Maybe not the approach she would have taken, but then again, she doesn't think she'd ever have Tsukasa's... volume level. Or enthusiasm.

But it also means they're not taking him seriously at all, so Mafuyu sighs a little under her breath, remaining hunkered down for now but wondering if that needs to change. They won't make much progress if he truly can't be seen by an audience. ]

[Ghosts start talking over one another. Does Tsukasa even know how much energy it would take to make him visible? And where would the suspense be in that? How are they supposed to cheer on his success if they make it easy for him?]

You want it to be exciting… Then what about one day?! Give me one day to perform a show! You have my word it will draw in a crowd! And I’ll tidy this place up to draw in even more people! Please!!!

[That makes them pause. They whisper amongst themselves until finally a woman in a sparkling gown, impeccable hair and mask decides yes, they will make him visible for one day to see how it goes. But if he fails to draw in a crowd of at least thirty people, he’ll stay invisible. Tsukasa brightens and thanks them for their time and runs back up to meet Mafuyu, whispering.]

Your idea worked!

[ ... Thank goodness.

Mafuyu draws in a quiet breath and remains crouched down, because the last thing they need right now is knowing she's there. But they've got a foot in the door, so to speak. ]

It was your implementation that convinced them. But at the very least, that should help draw in a less frightened audience.

Yes, our success is certain! Oh—

[The ghosts are now chatting in excitement about this new challenge. They disperse, some disappearing entirely while others leave more normally. Tsukasa ducks down, even if it makes no difference, moreso he doesn’t draw attention to Mafuyu as they leave. Once the auditorium is empty of anyone else he peeks back out.]

The piano is free now.

[ At least there's that. Mafuyu carefully pushes herself to her feet and slips down the aisle, taking the stairs up to the stage where the piano sits and resting a thoughtful finger against a key. When she presses down, there's a clear note. ]

It's well-tuned.

[ She says it a little distantly, something darkening a little in her expression, as though she's recalling something painful. ]

[The pain in her expression, the melancholy tune from before. Tsukasa has no idea if they're connected, but it must be important to her. She's handled all of this with more of a level head than Tsukasa ever could. He hasn't seen that expression before.]

Do you play, Asahina-san?

[He knows the answer to that, but this seems more polite.]

[ After a moment, Mafuyu blinks, remembering--right.

She's not acting like "herself."

Still, even as she smiles, her voice has gotten quieter. ]

I had lessons when I was much younger, though nothing so formal since then. I've played a synthesizer more than an actual piano, these days.

[ Though that... was also thrown out. ]

That’s what my sister plays.

[He beams with pride mentioning Saki. But this isn’t the time to boast about how hard she’s worked. He doesn’t know the thoughts behind her shift in mood, but he wants to try to help.]

You’re already helping me so much that I don’t want to burden you with more. Admittedly, I don’t know what kind of show I plan to perform yet…going over the music together and practicing would help me a lot. It would also be nice to discuss it with someone who isn’t a ghost.

If you think I'll be able to help.

[ She's used to giving responses like that. At the very least, while Mafuyu doesn't have show experience like Tsukasa does, she knows music. She can listen.

Since right now, she's the only one who can see him, she's probably stuck with this problem until they can get him out of it. ]

Then, I'll be happy to lend a hand. Let's try to figure out what you'd like to perform first, and then we can figure out the music to fit, as well as the rest.

That would be a great help! You have my gratitude!

[Things would be a lot more bleak if Mafuyu hadn’t taken the time to look into things and was able to see him. He definitely needs to thank her when this is over.]

As for what I’d like to perform— [He winces.] I’m not sure. Do you have any ideas?

I'm not very well-versed in shows. [ Unless it was something she'd had to learn as a good student. ]

But if you're the only performer, I imagine that should narrow it down quite a bit.

Right. I’m the only performer…

[He misses performing with his friends. Misses his family and classmates.]

I was thinking something that could get the feelings and wishes of all the people who have performed here. Maybe we could incorporate the piano somehow.

...

[ There's a moment of thoughtful silence.

Mafuyu was far more solitary than someone like him could have ever been, she's sure of it. With his energy level and friendliness, it's hard to imagine Tsukasa ever being alone until now. But even now, she knows, she'd balked at the idea of being separated from the other members of the circle. The only people who knew her true self and still cared about her.

Maybe she can understand how he feels, at least a little. And she was helping him, anyway. So... ]

You're fond of this theater, Tenma-san. So you might be able to remember shows that have been performed here before. What if we could compile some sort of medley? Pull from a history of performances, relevant songs or monologues, or both. It shouldn't be too difficult to compose something that samples the music from those shows.

[Oh no. He's brought the mood down, hasn't he? That won't do at all, not when Mafuyu is going out of her way and she already has her own obligations to worry about.

He doesn't have to force a smile. Her suggestion genuinely lights up his eyes.]

That's a fantastic idea! Yes, I have followed the shows that have been performed here and am familiar with them, even if I haven't seen them here. I'm sure we can compile something guaranteed to move the living and the deceased.

[Especially if they include his idol's work!]

[ Good. Then they have a game plan. ]

Then let's figure out... maybe five to seven productions to pull from. We can find the sheet music and get to work composing a medley.

[ Not exactly how she thought she'd put her experience to use, but. They'll do what they need to with what they have at their disposal. ]

If we work together, our show is promised to be a success!

[He almost looks smug about it.]

I think I remember seeing some sheet music in storage. Maybe there’s enough there to work with.

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