The Directors (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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griefstreet2022-05-30 01:00 pm
thedirectors) wrote in griefstreet2022-05-30 01:00 pm
Entry tags:
A PARTY TO DIE FOR
The invite instructed you to come to the manor to celebrate Mr. Edgar Lionheart's 75th birthday party at precisely 7 PM. An ominous peel of thunder rumbled in the distance as the guests began to arrive at the manor. Passing through the estate's grand gates was like passing some invisible threshold from one mundane realm to one more fantastical and heightened in reality.
As the front door opened and you walked into the vestibule, you were greeted by Mr. Lionheart himself--a large, bearded man with graying hair wearing an expensive royal blue tuxedo. He smiled, holding out his hand for a handshake.
"Welcome to the Lionheart Estate, my good fellow. May I take your coat? Ah--dinner will be at 8 PM, following a speech. I have a few important announcements to make...but that can wait until later. For now, help yourself to a few drinks--we're here to celebrate, after all."
And with that, he departed to tend to the other guests. The sound of a grandfather clock somewhere in the house echoed throughout the hallway, counting down the minutes until dinner. The entrance hall loomed before you, beckoning you to...well, enter, if you dare.
One thing was sure--this would be an unforgettable evening.
Welcome to the murder mystery! Make sure that you carefully read over your dossiers to understand the scenario. Each character has been given a pre-murder task, which can be completed at any point during the week. The murder investigation will go up on Saturday, June 4th. In the meantime, just enjoy the party and mingle with the guests while you can. Perhaps you'll discover some interesting information for later....
no subject
It's not that there's too many people- it feels as though the guest lists grow shorter and shorter with every passing year, trimming the excess off like fat. And they're not ridiculously common, either- Lionheart restricts his celebrations to a handful of times a year, with long stretches of peace in between.
But Michael prefers when the estate is quiet and the only ones present are those who are supposed to be here. Anyone else feels like an intruder in his territory, a threat encroaching in on his space that he wants nothing more than to remove. Even one stranger- a stranger to Michael, at least- is an offense. A crowd, however small, is an outrage.
... "His" territory- of course, it's not really his. For that reason and that reason alone, he tolerates these disturbances as they come, bristling uncomfortably the entire time. Not that most could tell. It's difficult for the average person to spot the differences between Michael at ease and Michael in the throes of neuroticism.
Lionheart is not the average person, and more importantly, is one of the rare few people Michael feels in any way comfortable around. Before the party truly begins, when the first guests have only just begun to trickle in, Michael trails his employer like a looming shadow. He's reluctant to part until outright ordered to do so, preferring to stick close- half to quell his own irritation, and half out of a feeling of obligation.
Eventually, he does go his own way, and awkwardly lingers around the vestibule for a while. He makes no efforts to reach out to converse with others, preferring to linger on the sidelines and eavesdrop on snippets of the conversations happening around him. Still, he doesn't outright reject any efforts to reach out to him. Just don't expect him to have too much to say. Or anything to say. He doesn't speak, and while he can write and has a basic grasp of ASL, he prefers to be difficult and avoid either whenever possible.
For most of the evening, he can be found in the entrance hall, lurking at the base of the stairs and intently scrutinizing any and all loiterers and passersby. If anything, he appears even more agitated than earlier. Engage at your own risk- particularly if you're intent on heading upstairs.]
lionheart
Lionheart stands near the bottom of the stairs near the entrance hall, waiting for more guests to arrive. When he turns to address Michael looming behind him, his pleasant expression has dropped to a more neutral one, scowl and frown lines etched deeply into his face.]
You're allowed to enjoy the party, too, you know. I know you're not one for conversation, my boy, but there's no harm in introducing yourself to the guests.
[He gives Michael a firm pat on the back.]
After all, they're all going to come back for the next birthday party.
no subject
He huffs quietly. Yes, he knows. He simply sees no point in engaging any of them. They've all at least seen him around the estate before, even if they've never asked him his name. They don't need to know anything about him beyond that. No one does.
His hand comes up to adjust the neckline of his mask, trying to keep it snug against his skin.
Besides, he's already being more "social" than he used to at these functions. In the early years of his employment, the moment Michael knew Lionheart no longer needed his assistance, he would slink off to one of the empty rooms upstairs and stand around in the darkness for hours. He'd only come back downstairs once the majority of the guests were gone. He doesn't even really remember the parties he did remain present at back then- he was operating entirely on autopilot, mentally checked out and waiting for the night to end.]
no subject
I know, I know. You've already been employed under me for so long and gotten away with not having to truly meet anyone I've been acquainted with.
[Any sign of his earlier, kindly facade disappears as he continues to speak.]
Perhaps that's one reason why I've felt you to be more trustworthy than the others. What you see is what you get....
[And just as suddenly, his smile returns--as quickly and naturally as switching on a light.]
I trust you'll behave yourself, as you always have.
no subject
With that said, he does take mild offense to the request to "behave". He tips his chin up, his expression vaguely indignant- haughty, even. Of course he'll behave. If anything, Lionheart should be making that request of some of the "guests" he's allowed to intrude upon his home. He huffs again, shaking his head slightly.]
no subject
I shall take the opportunity tonight to enjoy myself to the fullest. You only ever turn seventy-five once in your life, after all.
[A small smirk appears upon his face.]
And don't worry too much about the guests, will you? You've been around for larger events, I'm sure you can survive a little shindig like this.
no subject
But he will still worry about the guests. He won’t nag Lionheart further about his choice in company, but he’s not letting his guard down. The estate may not belong to him in any official capacity, but he's stalked these halls nearly every day for seven years. As far as Michael is concerned, it may as well be his, and he's more than a little possessive of it. And he doesn't trust guests to not sneak into places they don't belong, or steal Lionheart's belongings while he's not looking, or cause damage throughout the estate...
With that in mind, though, it would be smarter to stick close to the guests, wouldn't it? To make sure nothing happens? Michael grits his teeth, pained by the realization.]
entrance hall
Just perfect. Tall, Dark and Gruesome is here. Jimmy is well aware of Michael's... Michaelness. The guy could make a killing at the NBA and yet he chooses to spend his days gazing at Mr. Lionheart's esteemed clientele with droopy murderer eyes. It's really starting to feel like this guy's been watching him all night.
Jimmy clears his throat as he tries to walk up the stairs and past Michael, wary of Michael but still trying to play it cool. He's not the weird one, you are! ]
Hey, there's a whole party out there. You might want to consider joining it instead of pretending you're... you know, one of his sculptures.
no subject
When Jimmy stops in front of him, Michael inclines his head very slightly- just enough to peer down through the eyeholes of his mask. His expression is hard to read, but unnervingly intense.
He gives no indication that he even registers Jimmy's words, and remains as stiff and un-moving as the cheap plastic Halloween decorations he resembles. He is also completely blocking the stairs. The only way Jimmy could possibly squeeze past would require him to literally squeeze between Michael and the banister- and frankly, it's probably not a smart idea to intentionally get into such a position with Michael Myers.]
no subject
One thing Slippin' Jimmy can not slip past, however, is Bill Shatner's Living Corpse's blocking the stairs. At least not physically. ]
Hey, uh -- [ He points up the stairs. You know, the place he is trying to go. ]
I gotta take a leak.
[ He's obviously lying but also where the hell are the bathrooms on the first floor. ]
no subject
Predictably, he’s unimpressed by Jimmy’s excuse. And if Jimmy pays close attention to what little he can see through the mask’s eyeholes, he’ll notice Michael briefly glance in the direction of the terrace- and thus, the back gardens.
Absolutely no sympathy here.]
no subject
As a former scam artist, he's adept at reading people. The glance doesn't escape his purview, and causes him to audibly scoff before his voice raises just a smidge. ]
C'mon. You know that Edgar wouldn't want that. I'm over here practically ten times a month, guy pays me a very generous and might I add, well deserved amount every year, and now I can't even use one of his many many bathrooms?
[ He is so making sure you don't even get a lick of the will, Michael. ]
I mean, what is this, Alice in Pissland? I gotta go through a hedge maze to take a piss? What kind of world do you live in?! Oh, but I suppose when Michael Myers wants to go to the bathroom, he's allowed to just waltz right up and go right in! But not the rest of us! The rest of us aren't good enough to piss where the great Michael Myers marks his territory!
[ Ohhhhh no. Jimmy is content to point right in his face. ]
You know what I smell? I smell discrimination.
no subject
He's prepared to do this for as long as it takes- until Jimmy's voice gives out, if necessary- but the word "discrimination" does startle him back to reality, if only for a moment. Michael blinks, refocusing on Jimmy after a few seconds, and huffs, sounding vaguely insulted. Discrimination? On what grounds?]