Test Drive Meme
Welcome to the Hell House Test Drive Meme. Since none of this will carry over to the game, feel free to voicetest, just play a little in the setting, tag around, and have fun. Use the prompts or come up with something on your own!
crying babies/children
You're around; maybe you're exploring, maybe you're trying to finally get some rest, or maybe you're having a quick snack, but you hear something that catches your attention because of course it would. Who would bring a child (or a baby) into this house?! Are you going to follow the sound of the crying baby? Are you going to look for the child calling out for help? What if they aren't real and the sound is just a trap? Worse, what if it is real and that child needs your help? What would you do?
exploring the halls
You're tired of being a sitting duck. It's time to start exploring. If you're inside, then there's a way you got in, and if there's a way in, then there's a way out. Today, you're going to find it. Or maybe you're just looking for the person you woke up with because you got separated and this place is way too dangerous to stay alone.
Be careful, don't get lost. It's all too easy when the house is in a bad mood. Watch out for that wall creeping up behind you. Watch out, that door you thought led to the pantry just dumped you into the neverending hallway. Oh no...that's not a bathroom, that's the elevator! Going down, anyone...?
ghosts aren't real...are they?
Do you believe in ghosts? If you're a skeptic, maybe the house will change your mind. Did you see that flicker at the end of the hall? ...is your reflection grinning maliciously right now or is that just your imagination?
You're around; maybe you're exploring, maybe you're trying to finally get some rest, or maybe you're having a quick snack, but you hear something that catches your attention because of course it would. Who would bring a child (or a baby) into this house?! Are you going to follow the sound of the crying baby? Are you going to look for the child calling out for help? What if they aren't real and the sound is just a trap? Worse, what if it is real and that child needs your help? What would you do?
exploring the halls
You're tired of being a sitting duck. It's time to start exploring. If you're inside, then there's a way you got in, and if there's a way in, then there's a way out. Today, you're going to find it. Or maybe you're just looking for the person you woke up with because you got separated and this place is way too dangerous to stay alone.
Be careful, don't get lost. It's all too easy when the house is in a bad mood. Watch out for that wall creeping up behind you. Watch out, that door you thought led to the pantry just dumped you into the neverending hallway. Oh no...that's not a bathroom, that's the elevator! Going down, anyone...?
ghosts aren't real...are they?
Do you believe in ghosts? If you're a skeptic, maybe the house will change your mind. Did you see that flicker at the end of the hall? ...is your reflection grinning maliciously right now or is that just your imagination?
PREMISE • SETTING • RULES • FAQ • TDM • RESERVES • APPLICATION • TAKEN • HOUSE LAYOUT • RESIDENT LIST • PLAYER INPUT
faq
Frequently Asked Questions
If the house is always moving, how do our characters communicate when they get lost?
Each character will wake up with what appears to be an iPhone embedded in inside of their non-dominant forearm. It connects to an intranet that allows them to communicate with anyone else trapped in Hell House.
That said, for the first seven days that your character is in the house, they will not be able to see avatars/icons for other characters when they're talking on the network. Other characters will also not be able to see their images. This is to encourage cross-canon play and exploration.
Think about it... Wouldn't it be more interesting to bump into your canon bestie/sibling/parent/significant other in the hall while looking for a snack and find out later that you've been in the same place the whole time? Wouldn't it be more fun to find out that the person with whom you've been having flirty banter on the network is someone you find incredibly attractive? Wouldn't it be better if you were playing a villain if no one knew that the villain was in the house right away?
On the morning of the seventh day your character is in the house, they will suddenly be able to see everyone else's icons and everyone else will be able to see theirs (with the obvious exception of people who have not been in the house for seven days).
There's only one IC community, so where do the network posts even go?
All IC posts go onhellhouse and all OOC posts (mod posts with the current plot, arrivals, and departures, necessary notes for players to know for game play) will go on
What about dead characters? Can they play? How does that work?
Characters who have died in canon are absolutely allowed in the game. The house will bring them back to life. In the instance that the character died as a child but canonically appears older for whatever reason, then their canonically older body would be the one that they wake up in and it would become corporeal and they would have the same vulnerabilities (or lack thereof) that their body had when they used to be alive.
That said, to keep from spoiling other players, we ask that any character who is dead in their ongoing or recently ended canon have been dead in that canon for at least one month of real time before being played from a post-death canon point. For example, if you're playing a character who died in canon two weeks ago, you'll need to wait an additional two weeks to play them from post-death in Hell House.
Can I suggest a plot? Can I opt-out of a plot? What if a plot triggers me?
You can absolutely suggest a plot, in fact, please do! Leave a comment on this post with your suggestion and we'll try to work it in!
You can also opt-out of any plot that you don't want to participate in. If you feel triggered by a plot (some of them may be triggering and will come with warnings before characters are chosen or players volunteer their characters in), by all means, opt out of it and let other players with whom you have CR know that you would prefer not to take part.
What kind of plots might happen that could be triggering?
This sandbox is sort of in the old style of Insanejournal games, and some of these crack plots haven't exactly aged well. Things like gender and body swaps, de-aging and aging up, body horror, characters having their thoughts, feelings, and actions controlled by the house, and even character death are likely to occur.
I don't want to have to drop my character, so what do you mean character death? That's not mandatory, is it?
No, of course not, but your character can die up to 3 times in game and they will respawn. They will not respawn straight away, you'll have to wait to hear from the mod when your character will come back to life in the house, but they will be restored. After the third time your character dies, they will be considered dropped and you will not be able to play them again. Someone else could pick them up, but they wouldn't be considered playable for you again, so have fun killing your character and letting them work through that trauma, if you want, but be reasonable.
So what kind of stuff can happen in the house when it's a "normal" week with no plot?
What do you want to happen in the house on a normal week? Do you want your character to get attacked by insects while they're admiring the greenery in the greenhouse? Do you want your character to get stuck in the elevator? Do you want your character to walk down a hall and end up stuck in a wall that's popped up out of nowhere?
Go for it. Within reason, anything goes. If you have any questions or you want to be sure before you do a thing, feel free to reach out to the mod via PM or in the comments section of this post.
Your application has canon-puncturing and fourth-walling as separate things? wtf?
These have been separated so that if your character who is a total comic book nerd and would absolutely know Tony Stark/Iron Man, you don't have to play that character ooc by having them not know, but at the same time, if Tony's player doesn't want Tony to have an existential crisis by hearing he doesn't exist in your character's universe as anything other than a piece of fiction, then they don't have to.
If you want to puncture/fourthwall a character, first, check the taken list and make sure that the player has agreed to that. If they agreed to puncturing, your character can recognize theirs. If they agreed to fourthwalling, your character is welcome to tell their character that they're fictional. If they've consented to one or the other, then only the one that they've marked as a yes is okay for your character to do ICly.
If you're unclear or have questions, please ask for help before doing anything. It's better to be safe than sorry!
This FAQ was clearly thrown together in almost no time and it answers exactly none of my actual questions. Now what?
First of all, don't judge me. I got overzealous and excited.
Second, just drop me a line and I'll add your question to the post and answer it. ;)
player input
Please drop the mod a line with any plot or house expansion ideas. Some examples of plots that took place in the previous iteration of the house are as follows:
Sleep deprivation via loud music
Field trips to other planets
Power and/or body swaps
Aphro effects
Zombie attacks
Ghosts
House controlling character thoughts/feelings/actions
Trigger words causing specific character behaviors
Network glitches/filter failures
Please be creative! People will be allowed to opt-out if they are triggered by a plot, so don't feel limited. Crack is fun, horror is fun, all the things are awesome, so let's hear it! Comments are screened both for privacy and for secrecy (it's more fun if the plots come as a surprise, isn't it?)
Sleep deprivation via loud music
Field trips to other planets
Power and/or body swaps
Aphro effects
Zombie attacks
Ghosts
House controlling character thoughts/feelings/actions
Trigger words causing specific character behaviors
Network glitches/filter failures
Please be creative! People will be allowed to opt-out if they are triggered by a plot, so don't feel limited. Crack is fun, horror is fun, all the things are awesome, so let's hear it! Comments are screened both for privacy and for secrecy (it's more fun if the plots come as a surprise, isn't it?)
taken
TAKEN
BEETLEJUICE
Lydia Deetz •abigdarkroom • canon puncturing okay?: Yes • fourthwalling okay?: Yes
Played by: Gann • PM,redlionspride, or RedLionsPride#9087 on Discord.
CARRIE
Carrie White •Played by: Jen • PM,
DCTV
Sara Lance •Played by: Cara • storiestheytell@gmail.com
Firefly
Kaylee Frye •Played by: Hailey •
Game of Thrones
Sansa Stark •Played by: Cerie • PM or sheikah#5408 on Discord.
H2O: Just Add Water
Rikki Chadwick •Played by: Jen • PM,
Cleo Sertori •Played by: Cara • storiestheytell@gmail.com
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Carol Danvers •Played by: Hailey •
Peter Parker •Played by: Sam • PM or
Otherworld
Kate Danvers •Played by: Cara • storiestheytell@gmail.com
Riverdale
Betty Cooper •Played by: Hailey •
Teen Wolf
Derek Hale •Played by: Jen • PM,
The Umbrella Academy
Ben Hargreeves •Played by: Gann • PM,
Diego Hargreeves •Played by: Sam • PM or
Original Characters
Malach HaMavet •Played by: Gann • PM,
Jared Jacobs •Played by: Jen • PM,
rules
RULES
1. Don't be a dick. IC drama is what makes the world go around, but OOC drama is obnoxious and will not be tolerated. If you have an issue IC that you feel needs to be mediated, please reach out to the mod. The mod reserves the right to remove problem players from the sandbox.
2. Activity check will be a periodic check-in. Yes, that means it's super easy to pass. No, that doesn't mean it's okay to play one or two tags between check-ins, get a nudge from your buddy, and comment to pass. It's not a game, so activity is lax, but also know your own limits. If you can't handle at least some semblance of consistency in play, take it easy on your CR, otherwise it's not fair to other players. Just be considerate and don't hold up other players' ability to play. If you haven't got the time to play out what you need to, at least be communicative.
3. Godmoding and infomodding will not be tolerated. Don't do it.
application
APPLICATION
Copy and paste into a comment below to reserve apply. Sandbox is currently open! Apps will be processed as often as possible, typically at least once per week.
reserves
RESERVES
Copy and paste into a comment below to reserve your character. Players may reserve up to three characters at a time (this is subject to change). First come, first served.
CURRENT HOLDS:
Steve Rogers • MCU • 6/16
resident list
HELL HOUSE RESIDENT DIRECTORY
NOTE: Bedrooms are numbered from the far east end to the far west end and have vacancy listings of space for two to three people per bed, depending on the size of the beds; characters are allowed to occupy more per bed if they so choose. Blank spaces are meant to be non-habitable spaces, but this is subject to change. NO VACANCY rooms are meant to be non-vacant as far as long-term residence; characters may reside in these rooms for temporary periods. Comment below under the appropriate space if you would like to claim your character's living space.
house layout
There is an elevator* in the center foyer, as well as a flight of stairs** on the west end and one on the east end.
First Floor
East End: • Three bedrooms, each with its own full bathroom (toilet, sink, bathtub/shower combination). Each bedroom has two double beds, a vanity with a broken mirror, and a closet filled with clothes in many different sizes and styles.
• Billiard room with a pool table, all the necessary balls and rack, and four cues.
• A greenhouse so full of plants it's difficult to get through them; it even slightly resembles a rainforest, in which sprinklers turn on and off sporadically for periods of fifteen minutes at a time. When the sprinklers turn on, the door locks preventing anyone from entering or leaving the room.
West End:• Dining room, as described in the game premise.
• Kitchen with a fully stocked pantry of non-perishable items and canned goods, a working oven and stove, and plenty of counter space.
• Walk-in pantry with rotting fruits, vegetables, and moldy bread as well as old mason jars filled with God only knows what, use your imaginations, but whatever it is, it isn't edible!
• One room, completely empty save the dusty paintings on the walls.
• A nursery with two old, decrepit looking cribs, broken mobiles hanging from the ceilings over each that are old and dusty; these will sometimes begin to spin and play The Hanging Tree, minus the lyrics.
Second Floor
East End: • Dining room, as described in the game premise.
• Kitchen with a fully stocked refrigerator and plenty of counter space.
• Library filled with books of just about any kind your characters can think of.
• A padded room with straight jackets folded neatly in each corner. If your character falls asleep anywhere in the house before nightfall for a nap, they will wake up in this room, strapped into one of the straight jackets.
• A room filled with dusty, tattered furniture of all kinds (couches, tables, chairs, bed frames, etc) strewn about as though a tornado has hit only this room.
West End: • Three bedrooms, each with its own half bath (toilet and sink only). Each of the bedrooms has one king size bed in it and a closet filled with clothes of many different sizes and styles.
• A room filled with piles of old newspapers, magazines, and random knick-knacks strewn about as though a hoarder had once lived in it.
• A computer lab with twelve computers, none of which seem to boot past the Windows screen.
Third Floor
East End: • Master Bedroom, with a king size bed made of memory foam and it has its own full bathroom with the same layout as those on the first floor. There is an armoire filled with clothes of many different sizes and styles, a vanity with the only mirror in the house that has no cracks or chips in it, and a window seat, although the window view appears to be nothing more than a brick wall.
• Smaller bedroom with a full bathroom, two double beds, a full closet and a small, decrepit desk. The desk is empty save a dusty, well-worn Bible.
• Two medium-sized bedrooms, each with a half bathroom (toilet and sink only), as well as a full closet as previously described.
• A locker room with seven shower stalls, seven bathroom stalls, and a main room with thirty lockers (one of which is slightly ajar with no lock at all); all but the aforementioned one with the locks broken off and hanging loosely from them.
West End: • Dining room as described in the game premise.
• A room made of stone that looks like this.
• An empty room that, once entered, turns into an Olympic sized swimming pool with a deck of only 1.5 feet in width and one ladder on the far end of the room.
• A spa, looking shiny and new, with stylist stations, two massage tables, a jacuzzi, a wax station, three shampoo bowls and chairs, with one wall composed completely of shiny new mirrors (save a few scratches and chips). If someone is to enter the jacuzzi, the room will transform around them; the jacuzzi will disappear and the salon will become old-fashioned with stations like this (these dryers will turn on at random for a few minutes at a time and the sound of fingernails being filed can be heard, though no one else is there) and the wall of mirrors, changes to look like this, complete with translucent and flickering ghostly figures of women sitting there.
• Faux entry way with front door that opens to a never-ending hallway of doors.
Fourth Floor
East End: • Master Bedroom, with a king size bed made of memory foam; there are handcuffs hanging from either side of the headboard and its own full bathroom with the same layout as those on the first floor. There is an armoire filled with clothes of many different sizes and styles, a vanity with the only mirror in the house that has no cracks or chips in it, and a window seat, although the window is blacked out.
• Smaller bedroom with a full bathroom, two queen size beds, a full closet and a small, decrepit desk.
• Two medium-sized bedrooms, each with a half bathroom (toilet and sink only), as well as a full closet as previously described.
• A large bedroom with three full size beds, a full bathroom, and three closets, fully stocked.
West End: • Master Bedroom, with a king size bed made of memory foam and a full closet and vanity.
• Smaller bedroom with a full bathroom, two queen size beds, a full closet and a small, decrepit desk.
• Two medium-sized bedrooms, each with a half bathroom (toilet and sink only), as well as a full closet as previously described.
• A large bedroom with three full size beds, a full bathroom, and three closets, fully stocked.
*The elevator is...unique. If a character is going up, the higher they go, the hotter it gets in the elevator. If they are going down, the elevator will fall rather than descend, catching itself just before hitting the bottom floor for a smooth, last minute landing. If a character is standing in the elevator too long (rather than disembarking or, if they choose to stop the elevator between floors to hide), they will feel jolts as though they've been shocked with static electricity. For every minute they stay put, the jolts will become more and more violent in voltage.
**The staircase in the west end of the house has no lights whatsoever. The staircase in the east end is filled with a thick black smoke.
First Floor
East End: • Three bedrooms, each with its own full bathroom (toilet, sink, bathtub/shower combination). Each bedroom has two double beds, a vanity with a broken mirror, and a closet filled with clothes in many different sizes and styles.
• Billiard room with a pool table, all the necessary balls and rack, and four cues.
• A greenhouse so full of plants it's difficult to get through them; it even slightly resembles a rainforest, in which sprinklers turn on and off sporadically for periods of fifteen minutes at a time. When the sprinklers turn on, the door locks preventing anyone from entering or leaving the room.
West End:• Dining room, as described in the game premise.
• Kitchen with a fully stocked pantry of non-perishable items and canned goods, a working oven and stove, and plenty of counter space.
• Walk-in pantry with rotting fruits, vegetables, and moldy bread as well as old mason jars filled with God only knows what, use your imaginations, but whatever it is, it isn't edible!
• One room, completely empty save the dusty paintings on the walls.
• A nursery with two old, decrepit looking cribs, broken mobiles hanging from the ceilings over each that are old and dusty; these will sometimes begin to spin and play The Hanging Tree, minus the lyrics.
Second Floor
East End: • Dining room, as described in the game premise.
• Kitchen with a fully stocked refrigerator and plenty of counter space.
• Library filled with books of just about any kind your characters can think of.
• A padded room with straight jackets folded neatly in each corner. If your character falls asleep anywhere in the house before nightfall for a nap, they will wake up in this room, strapped into one of the straight jackets.
• A room filled with dusty, tattered furniture of all kinds (couches, tables, chairs, bed frames, etc) strewn about as though a tornado has hit only this room.
West End: • Three bedrooms, each with its own half bath (toilet and sink only). Each of the bedrooms has one king size bed in it and a closet filled with clothes of many different sizes and styles.
• A room filled with piles of old newspapers, magazines, and random knick-knacks strewn about as though a hoarder had once lived in it.
• A computer lab with twelve computers, none of which seem to boot past the Windows screen.
Third Floor
East End: • Master Bedroom, with a king size bed made of memory foam and it has its own full bathroom with the same layout as those on the first floor. There is an armoire filled with clothes of many different sizes and styles, a vanity with the only mirror in the house that has no cracks or chips in it, and a window seat, although the window view appears to be nothing more than a brick wall.
• Smaller bedroom with a full bathroom, two double beds, a full closet and a small, decrepit desk. The desk is empty save a dusty, well-worn Bible.
• Two medium-sized bedrooms, each with a half bathroom (toilet and sink only), as well as a full closet as previously described.
• A locker room with seven shower stalls, seven bathroom stalls, and a main room with thirty lockers (one of which is slightly ajar with no lock at all); all but the aforementioned one with the locks broken off and hanging loosely from them.
West End: • Dining room as described in the game premise.
• A room made of stone that looks like this.
• An empty room that, once entered, turns into an Olympic sized swimming pool with a deck of only 1.5 feet in width and one ladder on the far end of the room.
• A spa, looking shiny and new, with stylist stations, two massage tables, a jacuzzi, a wax station, three shampoo bowls and chairs, with one wall composed completely of shiny new mirrors (save a few scratches and chips). If someone is to enter the jacuzzi, the room will transform around them; the jacuzzi will disappear and the salon will become old-fashioned with stations like this (these dryers will turn on at random for a few minutes at a time and the sound of fingernails being filed can be heard, though no one else is there) and the wall of mirrors, changes to look like this, complete with translucent and flickering ghostly figures of women sitting there.
• Faux entry way with front door that opens to a never-ending hallway of doors.
Fourth Floor
East End: • Master Bedroom, with a king size bed made of memory foam; there are handcuffs hanging from either side of the headboard and its own full bathroom with the same layout as those on the first floor. There is an armoire filled with clothes of many different sizes and styles, a vanity with the only mirror in the house that has no cracks or chips in it, and a window seat, although the window is blacked out.
• Smaller bedroom with a full bathroom, two queen size beds, a full closet and a small, decrepit desk.
• Two medium-sized bedrooms, each with a half bathroom (toilet and sink only), as well as a full closet as previously described.
• A large bedroom with three full size beds, a full bathroom, and three closets, fully stocked.
West End: • Master Bedroom, with a king size bed made of memory foam and a full closet and vanity.
• Smaller bedroom with a full bathroom, two queen size beds, a full closet and a small, decrepit desk.
• Two medium-sized bedrooms, each with a half bathroom (toilet and sink only), as well as a full closet as previously described.
• A large bedroom with three full size beds, a full bathroom, and three closets, fully stocked.
*The elevator is...unique. If a character is going up, the higher they go, the hotter it gets in the elevator. If they are going down, the elevator will fall rather than descend, catching itself just before hitting the bottom floor for a smooth, last minute landing. If a character is standing in the elevator too long (rather than disembarking or, if they choose to stop the elevator between floors to hide), they will feel jolts as though they've been shocked with static electricity. For every minute they stay put, the jolts will become more and more violent in voltage.
**The staircase in the west end of the house has no lights whatsoever. The staircase in the east end is filled with a thick black smoke.
setting
THE HOUSE
The house is alive. Or at least that's the way you'll come to think of it when you walk down what seems like an endless hallway then turn around to find a wall at your back. The house changes its rooms, hallways, windows, EVERYTHING whenever it feels like it. It also likes to mess with your mind. Inside the house, along with your fellow captives, you will also discover all kinds of manifestations of the house's evil.
House Layout • Residence List
THE STRUCTURE
You've found a window? You can see out to the world beyond? It's tempting to think you could break the window & get out. But you can't. Even if you could, on the other side would be more hallways, rooms, & doors. You might think you've found an outer wall. But demolishing it will get you the same thing as breaking a window. You really can't find a way out. We promise.
THE MANIFESTATIONS
Or infestations, depending on the house's interests. Every monster you can imagine from zombies to creepy mermaid things asleep in mysterious bathtubs full of water. Bugs, snakes, & even possibly dinosaurs roam the halls. Bear in mind they are figments of the house's imagination. They can hurt you but the house wants you alive to play with so they won't kill you.
FOOD & OTHER PROVISIONS
These will be found in stockpiles here & there. Week changes will notify you if food is available. It will be (usually) located in the kitchens. Other items, besides what is in your pockets when you enter the game (assigned upon game entry), will possibly be available as well at the discretion of the house.
QUESTIONS?
Feel free to ask questions here if something is unclear. Comments are screened.
The house is alive. Or at least that's the way you'll come to think of it when you walk down what seems like an endless hallway then turn around to find a wall at your back. The house changes its rooms, hallways, windows, EVERYTHING whenever it feels like it. It also likes to mess with your mind. Inside the house, along with your fellow captives, you will also discover all kinds of manifestations of the house's evil.
House Layout • Residence List
THE STRUCTURE
You've found a window? You can see out to the world beyond? It's tempting to think you could break the window & get out. But you can't. Even if you could, on the other side would be more hallways, rooms, & doors. You might think you've found an outer wall. But demolishing it will get you the same thing as breaking a window. You really can't find a way out. We promise.
THE MANIFESTATIONS
Or infestations, depending on the house's interests. Every monster you can imagine from zombies to creepy mermaid things asleep in mysterious bathtubs full of water. Bugs, snakes, & even possibly dinosaurs roam the halls. Bear in mind they are figments of the house's imagination. They can hurt you but the house wants you alive to play with so they won't kill you.
FOOD & OTHER PROVISIONS
These will be found in stockpiles here & there. Week changes will notify you if food is available. It will be (usually) located in the kitchens. Other items, besides what is in your pockets when you enter the game (assigned upon game entry), will possibly be available as well at the discretion of the house.
QUESTIONS?
Feel free to ask questions here if something is unclear. Comments are screened.
premise
You wake up sitting at the table. All around you the decadence of a very formal dining room in a very lavish estate. In your hand is a gleaming silver fork & the remnants of a bite of very expensive looking game fowl.
As your eyes re-focus on your world you realize that you aren't alone & that there are others sitting at the table with you. Others who are just now re-joining the world of the living from some sort of sleep-like state.
Who are they & why are you all dressed as if attending a black tie event? There is no music & the lighting is entirely comprised of maybe 100 candles in a beautiful crystal & silver chandelier hanging from the ceiling above.
You toss down your fork, forget the napkin on your lap, & start to get to your feet with a protest on your lips.
Which is when the scratchy recording of a voice begins to play from the Victrola in the corner.
"Welcome to Hell House." It's neither male nor female sounding. Its androgyny leaving you very unsettled. "You are here for the party, as you can well see. But before you decide it's not for you, please be sure to note that just like that funny, old song says, 'You can check out any time you like. But you can NEVER leave.'"
The last words are a snarl & someone sitting at the table faints. You think that's the end of it & consider finding the door & proving the record wrong when it coughs back to life with one more thought.
"Oh & check your pockets, loves. That's all you've got to survive."
As your eyes re-focus on your world you realize that you aren't alone & that there are others sitting at the table with you. Others who are just now re-joining the world of the living from some sort of sleep-like state.
Who are they & why are you all dressed as if attending a black tie event? There is no music & the lighting is entirely comprised of maybe 100 candles in a beautiful crystal & silver chandelier hanging from the ceiling above.
You toss down your fork, forget the napkin on your lap, & start to get to your feet with a protest on your lips.
Which is when the scratchy recording of a voice begins to play from the Victrola in the corner.
"Welcome to Hell House." It's neither male nor female sounding. Its androgyny leaving you very unsettled. "You are here for the party, as you can well see. But before you decide it's not for you, please be sure to note that just like that funny, old song says, 'You can check out any time you like. But you can NEVER leave.'"
The last words are a snarl & someone sitting at the table faints. You think that's the end of it & consider finding the door & proving the record wrong when it coughs back to life with one more thought.
"Oh & check your pockets, loves. That's all you've got to survive."