Web

[The first act went absolutely perfectly. Every cue hit just when it needed to be, not a single mic malfunction or fallen gobo to be had. Every so often when there was a free moment he would check on Stella. She hadn’t mentioned if her moms would be in the audience, but he hoped to see them after the show. She was doing such a wonderful job. From his place near the projector he could see Ray and Ollie. He made sure to check to see if there was any camera trouble and see if Ray had noticed the things Ben had added just for him. Everything was going perfectly. But he could feel the dread settling in slowly. Something always went wrong on opening night. Always. He just had to wait for it. In the meantime, between acts he cleared a few spider webs from the rafters and waited for his next cue as the show began again]

[ Unfortunately and completely unintentionally, the creaking turned out to be something more structure related- his harness caught on some old board that was god knew how old suddenly, almost yanking Ben straight backwards ]

[ The others has already been dealt with, either distracted, incapacitated or woefully ignorant. What, did you think the Web was a poor planner? Did you think you could escape this? Change anything? They always did, the cocky ones. And surprise, surprise, they always ended up losing. ]

[The first act went absolutely perfectly. Every cue hit just when it needed to be, not a single mic malfunction or fallen gobo to be had. Every so often when there was a free moment he would check on Stella. She hadn’t mentioned if her moms would be in the audience, but he hoped to see them after the show. She was doing such a wonderful job. From his place near the projector he could see Ray and Ollie. He made sure to check to see if there was any camera trouble and see if Ray had noticed the things Ben had added just for him. Everything was going perfectly. But he could feel the dread settling in slowly. Something always went wrong on opening night. Always. He just had to wait for it. In the meantime, between acts he cleared a few spider webs from the rafters and waited for his next cue as the show began again]

[ Unfortunately and completely unintentionally, the creaking turned out to be something more structure related- his harness caught on some old board that was god knew how old suddenly, almost yanking Ben straight backwards ]

[The first act went absolutely perfectly. Every cue hit just when it needed to be, not a single mic malfunction or fallen gobo to be had. Every so often when there was a free moment he would check on Stella. She hadn’t mentioned if her moms would be in the audience, but he hoped to see them after the show. She was doing such a wonderful job. From his place near the projector he could see Ray and Ollie. He made sure to check to see if there was any camera trouble and see if Ray had noticed the things Ben had added just for him. Everything was going perfectly. But he could feel the dread settling in slowly. Something always went wrong on opening night. Always. He just had to wait for it. In the meantime, between acts he cleared a few spider webs from the rafters and waited for his next cue as the show began again]

What— What are you?

An old friend, you could say. How have you been, Jon?

I’m not—I don’t know you—

Oh, but you do. Can't you remember, dear? Oh well. No use. You know the park you've been putting off visiting? You should go sometime.

Why…?

I think you'll find something there that'll help!

I still don’t know why I should listen to you.

Oh, you don't have to! It'll just be better for you if you do. Don't worry, you still have the choice whether to go or not.

You’re… weird.

I would say "I know" but then I'd just be stealing lines.

From what? What are you even talking about?

Oh, Jonathan, there's so much you still don't know. Well, talk to you soon. I think anything more would spoil the surprise!

What surprise? I don’t— what?

[ A shit ton of spiders proceed to scuttle past Jonathan, away to somewhere else ]

What— What are you?

An old friend, you could say. How have you been, Jon?

I’m not—I don’t know you—

Oh, but you do. Can't you remember, dear? Oh well. No use. You know the park you've been putting off visiting? You should go sometime.

Why…?

I think you'll find something there that'll help!

I still don’t know why I should listen to you.

Oh, you don't have to! It'll just be better for you if you do. Don't worry, you still have the choice whether to go or not.

You’re… weird.

I would say "I know" but then I'd just be stealing lines.

From what? What are you even talking about?

Oh, Jonathan, there's so much you still don't know. Well, talk to you soon. I think anything more would spoil the surprise!

What— What are you?

An old friend, you could say. How have you been, Jon?

I’m not—I don’t know you—

Oh, but you do. Can't you remember, dear? Oh well. No use. You know the park you've been putting off visiting? You should go sometime.

Why…?

I think you'll find something there that'll help!

I still don’t know why I should listen to you.

Oh, you don't have to! It'll just be better for you if you do. Don't worry, you still have the choice whether to go or not.

You’re… weird.

I would say "I know" but then I'd just be stealing lines.

What— What are you?

An old friend, you could say. How have you been, Jon?

I’m not—I don’t know you—

Oh, but you do. Can't you remember, dear? Oh well. No use. You know the park you've been putting off visiting? You should go sometime.

Why…?

I think you'll find something there that'll help!

I still don’t know why I should listen to you.

Oh, you don't have to! It'll just be better for you if you do. Don't worry, you still have the choice whether to go or not.

What— What are you?

An old friend, you could say. How have you been, Jon?

I’m not—I don’t know you—

Oh, but you do. Can't you remember, dear? Oh well. No use. You know the park you've been putting off visiting? You should go sometime.

Why…?

I think you'll find something there that'll help!

What— What are you?

An old friend, you could say. How have you been, Jon?

I’m not—I don’t know you—

Oh, but you do. Can't you remember, dear? Oh well. No use. You know the park you've been putting off visiting? You should go sometime.

What— What are you?

An old friend, you could say. How have you been, Jon?

Ordered something? No, no darling, I'm only here to check up on you!

Where are you coming from? I can't see anyone. Are you talking from a floor up maybe?

Whatever interpretation you prefer. In the end it doesn't matter.

What does matter to you then? I need to get this package to someone. They always know if I don't.

Oh, that's terrible, isn't it? Not being in control? You poor thing.

Oh, but there is! Have you heard of Chetham’s Library? I think it would do you well to pay it a visit. They have some great stuff

I suppose I don't mind paying libraries a visit. What sort of things have you found there?

That's rather institution based. But I know you'll find just what you need.

Well it's difficult to plan if I don't have all the information first.

Oh, come on, where's your adventuring spirit? Trust your gut! If nothing else you'll just have a nice little look around the library.

A library? A trap? Doesn't that sound a little ridiculous, even to you? Well, do what you want, it's not important to me what happens to you.

Yes, I'll go. Can't hurt too much. I've been trying to refrain from asking, common politeness when you wander like I do, but who are you?

Oh, honestly, you lot have given me many names! But I'd best be off now. See you, 'wanderer'.

Ordered something? No, no darling, I'm only here to check up on you!

Where are you coming from? I can't see anyone. Are you talking from a floor up maybe?

Whatever interpretation you prefer. In the end it doesn't matter.

What does matter to you then? I need to get this package to someone. They always know if I don't.

Oh, that's terrible, isn't it? Not being in control? You poor thing.

Oh, but there is! Have you heard of Chetham’s Library? I think it would do you well to pay it a visit. They have some great stuff

I suppose I don't mind paying libraries a visit. What sort of things have you found there?

That's rather institution based. But I know you'll find just what you need.

Well it's difficult to plan if I don't have all the information first.

Oh, come on, where's your adventuring spirit? Trust your gut! If nothing else you'll just have a nice little look around the library.

A library? A trap? Doesn't that sound a little ridiculous, even to you? Well, do what you want, it's not important to me what happens to you.

Ordered something? No, no darling, I'm only here to check up on you!

Where are you coming from? I can't see anyone. Are you talking from a floor up maybe?

Whatever interpretation you prefer. In the end it doesn't matter.

What does matter to you then? I need to get this package to someone. They always know if I don't.

Oh, that's terrible, isn't it? Not being in control? You poor thing.

Oh, but there is! Have you heard of Chetham’s Library? I think it would do you well to pay it a visit. They have some great stuff

I suppose I don't mind paying libraries a visit. What sort of things have you found there?

That's rather institution based. But I know you'll find just what you need.

Well it's difficult to plan if I don't have all the information first.

Oh, come on, where's your adventuring spirit? Trust your gut! If nothing else you'll just have a nice little look around the library.