( open to all ) all the world's a stage

[dothelokimotion]

Who: Open to All
What: Party @ The Opherium
When: August
Where: Central City
Content Warnings: N/A



( i. here for your entertainment )

[ most people would see the strange arrivals as an imposition. and loki does to some degree. that being said, he’s more than willing to turn that problem into a business opportunity. show that he’s open and welcoming. throw in a little extra money to establish the theater as a prominent spot in this world. the doors are open, fees are reduced. and if you’re not interested in catching a play, you might want to stop by the steps where there are a few vendors selling cotton candy, ice-cream sandwiches and beer to passersby and there are a few street performers there to catch your attention, whether they’re juggling fire balls, doing magic tricks or simply playing a pianoforte on the steps of the opherium. ]

( ii. the curtain rises )

[ for this month, loki is running a bunch of shakespearean plays. hamlet, macbeth, the twelfth night . . . you name it, it’s probably running. during the intermissions, there’s an open bar for you to rub elbows with the other patrons, maybe discuss your favourite part of the play. enjoy the arts so to speak. if you catch the really late night shows, you might find that your favourite plays might . . . turn out a little differently. like the trees are real in macbeth. that the ghosts move through the audience, sending chills down your spine. but the experience is still worth it. or is it?

or perhaps, you might need some alone time after a show, wanting to catch the infamous view of the city from the opherium's balcony. the choice is yours. ]

( iii. something wicked this way comes )

[ the theater keeps up odd hours. its productions run late into the night. and sometimes, you might feel the urge to linger and explore. after all, it’s strange to hear that a god of mischief is running a theater these days. almost suspicious even! so you might be wandering the halls, ears and eyes peeled to hear anything that might be unusual.

and you might just get your wish. a ghostly murmur, the flicker of a shadow against the pane of glass, statues that seem to be unnerving with their gaze upon you . . . is there something really there or are you just imagining things? ]

Comments

[unkindled_madness]

[He shakes his head slightly.]

A friend. [And he said that almost without any hesitation!]

I've no experience with entertainment.

[makeanentrance]

You're a friend of Loki's? Just coming to see the show?

[A pause and then, flustered, he holds out a hand for belated introductions.]

Oh, I'm Quentin Beck.

[unkindled_madness]

...I wanted to confirm he was well, given the circumstances.

[Sephiroth looks at the hand for a moment before deciding to take it. Look, he's not great with this either.]

Sephiroth.

[makeanentrance]

[Beck gives a brief but firm handshake. He's generally much more confident with his helmet on but that's not a thing today at work.]

Yeah... Been a lot of new people around, huh? I saw at least one other Loki that looked almost identical to the boss here. Not to mention all of the other Lokis already here. He's tricky enough without all these duplicates.

[Beck chuckles wryly.]

[unkindled_madness]

Yes, I encountered that Loki as well.

This seems considerably more chaotic than past Confluences.

[makeanentrance]

I guess so? I couldn't say I've been around here long enough to know what's normal.

[And he's been through enough weirdness in the past to not question it all too much.]

[unkindled_madness]

I admit I've not been here long myself.

But from what I've gathered from others, they seem to be escalating of late.

[makeanentrance]

Do you think there's an actual cause for concern?

[unkindled_madness]

...I don't know.

Loki seems unconcerned, and perhaps things will sort themselves out, but I think we've yet to see the worst of it.

[makeanentrance]

That's.... Well, I guess all we can do is try to ride it out.

I'm sure I've already been through worse than anything else that can possibly happen.

[He sounds somehow at once confident and wary.]

[unkindled_madness]

Hm.

[Sephiroth gives him a considering look, but he's not going to ask about it.]

I suppose that may be true.

[makeanentrance]

It's the truth that I know.

[He replies simply back.]

[unkindled_madness]

Is this world an improvement for you, then?

[makeanentrance]

It has its problems but it's much better than being dead or in Hell.

[unkindled_madness]

You were dead?

[He looks the man over again. Human or no?]

[makeanentrance]

Yes.

[He pauses and hunches his shoulders up a bit as if uncertain or nervous.]

Well, my psychiatrist told me it was my imagination but I know that isn't true.

[unkindled_madness]

I've certainly heard of magic or powers capable of bringing people back from the dead, but it's uncommon, and not something of my world.

[makeanentrance]

Do you know anything about demons?

[unkindled_madness]

...real ones? Not really.

[He's been called a demon, before.]

[makeanentrance]

I know too much. More than I ever want to know.

Not seeing them here... is a good sign.

[unkindled_madness]

...that indicates to you that this isn't Hell.

[makeanentrance]

It could still be a trick.

[unkindled_madness]

I doubt a near stranger's assurance is of much consequence.

But I am quite certain it isn't.

[makeanentrance]

How can you be so sure that this is a true reality?

[unkindled_madness]

Because I believe that illusions have both limitations and purpose.

To what end would this entire reality exist to trick us? How could an intentional creation be as complex?