Welcome to the Theatre!

Come along for the ride. Why, to find what you've lost! I'll be your guide. ...For as long I'm allowed to remain... ...I fear my time has begun to wane...

[a-maestros-final-bow]

This blog is a Balan Wonderworld AU for @voiceofverbose, my rendition of the Narrator from The Stanley Parable.

Weird crossover? Yes.

Premise:

Simply trading one place, lost in the universe for another. An office for a theatre.

At this point Balan and Lance have both come and gone. Alexander was selected to become the maestro succeeding them. As such, he has no memories from his life as a narrator. It's been many years since he disappeared from his office. Over his time in the theatre, he's helped many people find the lost pieces of their hearts and return to the world. However as any maestro can attest, befriending so many people only for them to leave and never return; it begins to take its toll.

He has begun to notice the signs of his time as maestro drawing to a close. So much loss is beginning to change him into the thing he works against: a king negati. He's not ready to accept this outcome. In fact, he's somewhat in denial and doing all he can to resist the change. He'll help visitors to the theatre for as long as he has left. But he fears what may become of them when he's lost his own heart.

Muse:

Just like the normal verse blog, canon and oc friendly. Any verse welcome.

NO NSFW.

Although he still goes by Alexander in this verse, feel free to call him pretty much anything. Al, Alex, Balan, Xander, Weird-Rhyming-Teleporty-Guy, anything goes. Whatever name you give him is the name he will go by in RPs with your muse.

Speaking of Weird-Rhyming-Teleporty-Guy, As the maestros before him, Alexander speaks in rhyme often in this verse. And as with his normal form, he appears and disappears as he sees fit. Narrators and Maestros really do have a lot in common.

Mun:

Mun is happy to discuss plot or chat. But bear in mind she's shy.

May take a while to respond. Please have patience.

[a-maestros-final-bow]

The Maestro sat alone in the theatre, reading over the Chronicle of Wonderworld. So many humans had come and gone. If it weren’t for the book, it would be impossible to keep track. Although it was the duty of a maestro to smile and embrace the future with open arms, he couldn’t help but reminisce on the visitors he once called friends.

A woman who wandered aimlessly in search of the next adventure, the man who felt he’d lost his purpose; he was happy he could help them all find their way. But at his heart, a peculiar feeling was brewing.

Surely he had nothing to worry about. He had helped them find themselves again, so why did he feel this way? What was this feeling? It felt familiar, unsettling.

The Maestro shook his head and turned the page. In doing so, he caught sight of his own right hand. He gazed upon it in shock and horror. The flesh had turned a haunting shade of purple, and a bright yellow spiral crawled from his knuckles up his wrist.

He quickly closed the book and returned it to the shelf. Opening the drawers of his desk he searched their contents hastily. In his panicked scavenging, he procured a glove from the drawer and slipped it over the affected hand.

Looking it over, he breathed a shaky sigh.

“There, it’s as if it never occurred. No one has seen, nor a soul has heard.” He muttered.

[a-maestros-final-bow]

((OOC: I’ve put some thought into Alexander’s fully corrupted, Negati form since I was on here last. Here’s what I came up with!))

[voiceofverbose]

OOC: Really starting to miss TSP muses. Not really ready to write big stuff again just yet, but I might get back into some small interactions here and there with Alexander, Rita, and Maestro!Alex all three. ^u^

[voiceofverbose]

OOC: If we have threads going or if you’ve sent asks or starters in to Alexander, Rita, or Maestro!Alexander, I haven’t forgotten! I’ve just had really, really severe TSP burnout. So I’m taking a break from all 3 of them.

Sorry, kind of a bummer, I know. But I’m not done with them. They’ll be back! Just needs some time.

[a-maestros-final-bow]

^^^

[the-haunted-office]

"Hmm... Yes. The floor here is made out of floor."

((Is that normal here? A fact I should ignore...?))

-@a-maestros-final-bow

“You are the second person who has said that to me, which is honestly leading me to wonder if floors aren’t made out of floors elsewhere in the world. What is your floor made out of?” Thursday asks while looking thoughtfully at the floor with her arms folded. She then smiles at the stranger. “Also, hello! How are you?”

[a-maestros-final-bow]

“Ah pardon me. You see, a theatre is my home. From there I’m afraid I don’t often roam. How I got here is a bit of a mystery. And how I’ll get back, I’ve still yet to see.”

He continued to study the floor with great curiosity.

“You see, in Wonderworld, what the floor is made from varies. From chessboards, to snow, to sand the wind carries! All these places and so much more; such a multitude of lands to explore…”

He prattled on, directing his attention back to Thursday.

“Oh right! I’m doing well! Thank you for your concern. Allow me a query if you’ll tell. Now it is your own turn. How are you? And how do you do?”

[the-haunted-office]

Thursday is intrigued by the cadence of his speech. It sort of reminds her of Zecora the zebra from My Little Pony, which makes her smile. “Ohhh, that sounds really nice! Is the theater you live in in Wonderland, then? Sounds like a wonderful place, ehehehe. But at least that explains the comment about the floor being made out of floor.”

Being used to random visitors all the time, she doesn’t even question why he is there or how he got it. She just sticks out her hand for him to shake if he wants. “I’m all right! Nothing special, except for this floor here. My name is Thursday! Yep that’s right, just like the day of the week. So do you perform your own shows or do you have actors and whoever? I haven’t been to a show in- gosh, I don’t know or how long.”

[a-maestros-final-bow]

The maestro shook Thursdays outstretched hand enthusiastically. “A pleasure to meet you Thursday. It’s nice to meet another who enjoys a good play. In my theatre I am the maestro; master of music and director of the show.” He explained with a theatrical bow.

“There are many names by which human beings have called me. Who I am to you, is up to your imagination, you see. Each name I have carried close to my heart. And with many more names shall I refuse to part.”

He pulled a long list from his coat pocket and unfurled it before Thursday. It sprawled across the office floor almost cartoonishly before vanishing with a snap of the maestro’s fingers.

“As for my shows, I’m afraid they’re quite exlusive. Tailor-made to each person and my theatre, quite elusive. However, if anything important you lose on your way, a trip to my theatre you might very well pay.” Though he smiles, talking about theatre visitors seemed to make him wary.

[the-haunted-office]

As Thursday listens she begins to wonder… Is he asking her to give him a name? Or, at the very least, come up with a name by which to call him? A name that only she will use? Oh she’s never done that before - given someone a name. This is a huge responsibility! How will she ever manage such a task?

She watches the list roll out across the floor and it suddenly dawns on her… She has given someone a name before.

Employee 432. Her friend before the parasitic mist entity attacked the office and killed every employee save for herself and Stanley. The friend in question was in the middle of transitioning and very nervous about picking a name for herself, and indecisive to boot. This, she had quietly confided in Thursday (then known as Christine) on their shared lunch break one day, and Thursday had suggested to her the most beautiful name she could think of.

Which she would do for this person now. Well. He’d get the second most beautiful name she could think of. Or one from the pool of beautiful names, anyway.

“Well. How about I call you Leonidas? Or Leo for short,” she suggests with a smile. “I don’t know, you just strike me as a Leo, that’s all.”

At the last part, she cocks her head to the side a bit. “Huh. What do you mean by that? Do you mean that I can only go to see one of your shows if I lose something? Hahaha. Shouldn’t be too hard for me to do that! I lose my mind just about every day, especially around these offices, ehehe.”

Now, Thursday unfortunately does not always notice a person’s change in demeanor or what it could mean, let alone what caused it, so she doesn’t quite notice the fact that he seems to be wary. As such, she smiles and says, “You know, I’m something of a maestro myself. Around here I’m a Narrator. That means I get to sit up in a control booth all day and narrate stories for people. There are several of us around! It’s delightful good fun. Maybe I’ll try to make a story one day that rhymes the way you do!”

[a-maestros-final-bow]

As Thursday gave him the new name, he wrote it down on the list he had shown her previously. Once done, the list vanished again in a puff of smoke. “My Thursday, you’ve chosen a lovely name! You have a talent for this; as they say, ‘it’s your game’.” He chuckled. As Thursday mentioned her life as a narrator, he listened quietly.

“A narrator, hm? Bravo! Perhaps someday I’ll have to see your show….or hear rather. Well, you know!” The maestro, now nicknamed Leonidas applauded. He was relieved that the topic had shifted away from visiting the theatre. Surely if this human stayed out of the theatre, she wouldn’t be in any danger.

“Though I suppose my fate is now in your hand. Could you help me return from this strange land?” Leo looked around the office for any sign of where he came from. “I’m afraid, I’ve found myself astray. I’m turned around; I’ve lost my way. If there’s an exit you can direct me to, I’m sure getting back is something I could do.” He paused to think for a moment.

“Though, how ironic it is that the theatre can’t be found. And yet for that very theatre my destination’s bound…” He mused. Nonetheless, he shook his head and directed his attention back to Thursday. “Won’t you help a maestro in need? I’ll do my best to follow your lead.”

[the-haunted-office]

"Hmm... Yes. The floor here is made out of floor."

((Is that normal here? A fact I should ignore...?))

-@a-maestros-final-bow

“You are the second person who has said that to me, which is honestly leading me to wonder if floors aren’t made out of floors elsewhere in the world. What is your floor made out of?” Thursday asks while looking thoughtfully at the floor with her arms folded. She then smiles at the stranger. “Also, hello! How are you?”

[a-maestros-final-bow]

“Ah pardon me. You see, a theatre is my home. From there I’m afraid I don’t often roam. How I got here is a bit of a mystery. And how I’ll get back, I’ve still yet to see.”

He continued to study the floor with great curiosity.

“You see, in Wonderworld, what the floor is made from varies. From chessboards, to snow, to sand the wind carries! All these places and so much more; such a multitude of lands to explore…”

He prattled on, directing his attention back to Thursday.

“Oh right! I’m doing well! Thank you for your concern. Allow me a query if you’ll tell. Now it is your own turn. How are you? And how do you do?”

[the-haunted-office]

Thursday is intrigued by the cadence of his speech. It sort of reminds her of Zecora the zebra from My Little Pony, which makes her smile. “Ohhh, that sounds really nice! Is the theater you live in in Wonderland, then? Sounds like a wonderful place, ehehehe. But at least that explains the comment about the floor being made out of floor.”

Being used to random visitors all the time, she doesn’t even question why he is there or how he got it. She just sticks out her hand for him to shake if he wants. “I’m all right! Nothing special, except for this floor here. My name is Thursday! Yep that’s right, just like the day of the week. So do you perform your own shows or do you have actors and whoever? I haven’t been to a show in- gosh, I don’t know or how long.”

[a-maestros-final-bow]

The maestro shook Thursdays outstretched hand enthusiastically. "A pleasure to meet you Thursday. It's nice to meet another who enjoys a good play. In my theatre I am the maestro; master of music and director of the show." He explained with a theatrical bow.

"There are many names by which human beings have called me. Who I am to you, is up to your imagination, you see. Each name I have carried close to my heart. And with many more names shall I refuse to part."

He pulled a long list from his coat pocket and unfurled it before Thursday. It sprawled across the office floor almost cartoonishly before vanishing with a snap of the maestro's fingers.

"As for my shows, I'm afraid they're quite exlusive. Tailor-made to each person and my theatre, quite elusive. However, if anything important you lose on your way, a trip to my theatre you might very well pay." Though he smiles, talking about theatre visitors seemed to make him wary.

[the-haunted-office]

"Hmm... Yes. The floor here is made out of floor."

((Is that normal here? A fact I should ignore...?))

-@a-maestros-final-bow

"You are the second person who has said that to me, which is honestly leading me to wonder if floors aren't made out of floors elsewhere in the world. What is your floor made out of?" Thursday asks while looking thoughtfully at the floor with her arms folded. She then smiles at the stranger. "Also, hello! How are you?"

[a-maestros-final-bow]

"Ah pardon me. You see, a theatre is my home. From there I'm afraid I don't often roam. How I got here is a bit of a mystery. And how I'll get back, I've still yet to see."

He continued to study the floor with great curiosity.

"You see, in Wonderworld, what the floor is made from varies. From chessboards, to snow, to sand the wind carries! All these places and so much more; such a multitude of lands to explore..."

He prattled on, directing his attention back to Thursday.

"Oh right! I'm doing well! Thank you for your concern. Allow me a query if you'll tell. Now it is your own turn. How are you? And how do you do?"

[a-cats-travels]

@a-maestros-final-bow did something quite unexpected for her standards of different places.

The area backstage is mostly dark. Dressing rooms are closed and locked. The only light emanated from some sort of practice room, or recording booth. From this room, the disembodied voice was given form. Placing his coffee cup down on the desk, an older looking gentleman in a greyish-white suit locked eyes with Xabby.

With speed that shouldn't be natural for any human being, the stranger pulled up a chair for Xabby at the desk.

"Hello, hello, travelling cat! I have no say of where the theatre appears at. But something must be amiss. A tragedy fraught. The theatre never goes where it's needed not. Do tell me my friend, is everything alright? Has something important vanished from your sight?"

He tapped at his glasses as he spoke the last sentence.

"Oh! But how rude of me! Make yourself at home! Coffee? Tea?" The stranger offered with a smile.

Xabby wasn’t expecting that. Sure, she has met weirder people, but for the guy to appear out of thin air sounds very illogical to her. Before she could speak about that, the stranger just have to pull a chair for her at a speed that looks too inhuman by metaverse standards.

Since it was already too late to exit this place, Xabby decided to sit on the chair he pull for her. Besides, it looks like she is going to be stuck with a nutcase theatre for who knows how long. At least the theatre offers coffee on the table.

"I'll have an espresso for the offer." She appreciated that someone other than her is probably making her coffee since she usually does it by herself.

Now, as for what this place is about, according to what the stranger said, the theatre shows up when someone lost something important.

Wait, someone lost something important?! For all she knew, she didn't lose anything valuable, it was just that the portal is the one that lost it. This isn't the infamous live-action movie Cat in a hat, this is the metaverse!

Regardless, she might as well answer if it appeases him. "....I'm fine." She hesitated. For some reason, whenever she asked if she was okay, she just hesitate before answering that she is when in reality, she isn't.

"I haven't lost something valuable to me and all I know is that my portal of mine seems to not be summoned and I don't know why. I try everything I can think of to get it to work, but it just refuses to summon. Traveling to places I don't want to go is one thing, but not being able to go anywhere makes me feel uneasy despite the fact I won't have to deal with whatever the place has. Be it offices or a forest of someplace different, it's not within the metaverse I'm living in!"

Well, this slightly shocks Xabby for a moment. She never raises her voice in frustration over something so... technical issues. Regardless, she quietly coughs to regain composure. "Sorry for raising my voice there. I don't understand why I did that, but there's nothing wrong with me."

Unknown to her, however, there is something wrong with her. If she states that it's a dream come true for the portal to not summon, yet feeling uneasy, it's conflicting that she claims there's nothing wrong with when there is.

She then ponders, but she speaks out loud, saying, "Now I think about it, it's been a while since I entered a theatre. Not too sure how long, but this place here seems to capture my heart in a good way, yet I can't figure out why..."

[a-maestros-final-bow]

The ever rhyming spirit began preparing the espresso as he listened to what Xabby said. When she rose her voice, he was admittedly a bit startled. Though he seemed to get over it quickly. "No need to fret, it's quite alright. Please, continue. If you might?" He replied, passing the coffee over her and once again taking the seat across from her.

As she began to mention the portal not summoning as intended, he nodded, deep in thought.

"A predicament to be sure, yes... But can it truly be all a mess? I do hope you'll accept an old maestro's apology. But it sounds like this has both trapped you and set you free. On the one hand, there's not much of anywhere left to go. But on the other, no struggles; neither troubles nor foe."

With a snap of his fingers, his own coffee mug disappeared. He clasped his hands together as he continued.

"Technical support I'm afraid is hardly my field. But shall we see what help a walk through Wonderworld yields? Many do enter without a clue what they've lost. But along the way find what to the wayside's been tossed."

[a-cats-travels]

Okay, the whole rhyming scheme thing is making her wonder if this is how he speaks, being a little poetic, or just plain both. Not that's terribly bad, but can be slightly confusing. However, he was correct about how she no one where to go nor no struggles.

So, the portal decided to not only let her be free for the time being but also trapped. As much as she wants to snark, she just can't since she doesn't want to throw off the rhyming guy's groove.

As she wonders about this, the guy mentioned taking a walk through the wonderworld while mentioning that people that lost something has found it again. At least, that's her interpretation of what he's saying.

"Well, I suppose a walk towards the wonderfields might work. The reason why I said this might be cause this is the first time I'm considering someone's suggestion more than my own."

[a-maestros-final-bow]

The maestro smiled. "To trust in another is a method trusted and true! It's a hard lesson to teach, but an incredible virtue!" He rose from his chair, extending a hand to Xabby.

"Now then, I should mention that Wonderworld is quite vast. But worry not! When we return, no time will have passed."

Opening the door to the main stage revealed not the red curtains from before, but a strange gateway.

"Don't be afraid of the gateway's glow. We've Tims to meet! Come on! Let's go!" He laughed, leaping in.

On the other side of the gateway was a floating island decorated with patches of flowers. Peculiar birds also inhabited the island. They seemed to exist in a wide range of colors. Some even had animal ears! Cat ears, rabbit ears; for birds, they were certainly a unique kind.

He looked back at the gateway to see if Xabby had arrived safely as well.

"Traveling Cat, are you there? I have something I'd like to share. The chances you've seen such a creature is slim. Behold! These little dears are known as a Tim! They make their home here in Wonderworld's core. From this area we may branch out and explore. If you'd like to get to know the Tims, then here we can stay. When you're ready for adventure, walk through the door and we'll be on our way."

[a-cats-travels]

@a-maestros-final-bow did something quite unexpected for her standards of different places.

The area backstage is mostly dark. Dressing rooms are closed and locked. The only light emanated from some sort of practice room, or recording booth. From this room, the disembodied voice was given form. Placing his coffee cup down on the desk, an older looking gentleman in a greyish-white suit locked eyes with Xabby.

With speed that shouldn't be natural for any human being, the stranger pulled up a chair for Xabby at the desk.

"Hello, hello, travelling cat! I have no say of where the theatre appears at. But something must be amiss. A tragedy fraught. The theatre never goes where it's needed not. Do tell me my friend, is everything alright? Has something important vanished from your sight?"

He tapped at his glasses as he spoke the last sentence.

"Oh! But how rude of me! Make yourself at home! Coffee? Tea?" The stranger offered with a smile.

Xabby wasn’t expecting that. Sure, she has met weirder people, but for the guy to appear out of thin air sounds very illogical to her. Before she could speak about that, the stranger just have to pull a chair for her at a speed that looks too inhuman by metaverse standards.

Since it was already too late to exit this place, Xabby decided to sit on the chair he pull for her. Besides, it looks like she is going to be stuck with a nutcase theatre for who knows how long. At least the theatre offers coffee on the table.

"I'll have an espresso for the offer." She appreciated that someone other than her is probably making her coffee since she usually does it by herself.

Now, as for what this place is about, according to what the stranger said, the theatre shows up when someone lost something important.

Wait, someone lost something important?! For all she knew, she didn't lose anything valuable, it was just that the portal is the one that lost it. This isn't the infamous live-action movie Cat in a hat, this is the metaverse!

Regardless, she might as well answer if it appeases him. "....I'm fine." She hesitated. For some reason, whenever she asked if she was okay, she just hesitate before answering that she is when in reality, she isn't.

"I haven't lost something valuable to me and all I know is that my portal of mine seems to not be summoned and I don't know why. I try everything I can think of to get it to work, but it just refuses to summon. Traveling to places I don't want to go is one thing, but not being able to go anywhere makes me feel uneasy despite the fact I won't have to deal with whatever the place has. Be it offices or a forest of someplace different, it's not within the metaverse I'm living in!"

Well, this slightly shocks Xabby for a moment. She never raises her voice in frustration over something so... technical issues. Regardless, she quietly coughs to regain composure. "Sorry for raising my voice there. I don't understand why I did that, but there's nothing wrong with me."

Unknown to her, however, there is something wrong with her. If she states that it's a dream come true for the portal to not summon, yet feeling uneasy, it's conflicting that she claims there's nothing wrong with when there is.

She then ponders, but she speaks out loud, saying, "Now I think about it, it's been a while since I entered a theatre. Not too sure how long, but this place here seems to capture my heart in a good way, yet I can't figure out why..."

[a-maestros-final-bow]

The ever rhyming spirit began preparing the espresso as he listened to what Xabby said. When she rose her voice, he was admittedly a bit startled. Though he seemed to get over it quickly. "No need to fret, it's quite alright. Please, continue. If you might?" He replied, passing the coffee over her and once again taking the seat across from her.

As she began to mention the portal not summoning as intended, he nodded, deep in thought.

"A predicament to be sure, yes... But can it truly be all a mess? I do hope you'll accept an old maestro's apology. But it sounds like this has both trapped you and set you free. On the one hand, there's not much of anywhere left to go. But on the other, no struggles; neither troubles nor foe."

With a snap of his fingers, his own coffee mug disappeared. He clasped his hands together as he continued.

"Technical support I'm afraid is hardly my field. But shall we see what help a walk through Wonderworld yields? Many do enter without a clue what they've lost. But along the way find what to the wayside's been tossed."

[a-maestros-final-bow]

Life can be exciting, mysterious, confusing. It's full of highs and lows. Like a rollercoaster, such is life. And when the balance of one's heart has been thrown off, it appears.

The bright lights and faithful old sign. The intricately trimmed doors. From the humdrum it may call you.

The Balan Theatre.

Behind its doors. A new world awaits. There only remains one question: Do you enter?

[a-cats-travels]

Xabby was walking in the streets of the metaverse, pondering why her portal won't summon. Having the portal go to places she wasn’t planning to is one thing, but having the portal not summon in the metaverse is an entirely different story! She already called Portal-Tech Support, looking for any solution to get her portal to summon, and anything that could fix this issue, yet it just won't budge!

Like, the other day, the portal was flickering but works fine. But, today, on the other hand, it won't summon. Sure, it sounds like a dream come true for Xabby, however, this uneasiness came along with it. She doesn't understand why she's feeling uneasy, but maybe it's not bad to travel to places that are isn't in the metaverse. Yet, she doesn't want to interact with those that came from another world.

As she kept walking, she notice something off, and not a crime kind of way. There's a sign; a literal sign. "Balan Theatre?" Xabby mumbles to herself. Normally, no one wouldn't go to a theatre like that. But, for some odd reason and much to her chagrin, she decided to go in.

"Hello? Is there anyone in this Theatre?"

[a-maestros-final-bow]

As the metaverse wanderer entered, the theatre lights flickered to life, leading the way down the auditorium steps and towards the backstage area.

The thick red curtains cloaked the main stage, adding a strike of color to the dimly lit room. For somewhere that felt nearly abandoned, it held an air of mystery and perhaps even beauty, depending on the eye of the beholder.

From further in the theatre, a voice hummed an upbeat tune. At the sound of Xabby's call, the melody ceased. From the silence, the very same voice rose to answer.

"Oh! I'm afraid it's a rather slow day on which I've been caught, but abandoned is something the theatre is not! Forgive me traveller, but what brought you here? Please. Pull up a chair. I'll lend an ear. Are you lost? Unseen by your peers? Is nature being torn apart? Perhaps even trapped in an office for years upon years? Hm... no, that can't be right. What kind of office could instill such fright?"

The voice seemed to ramble on from backstage. Catching itself blathering on, the voice refocused.

"Right! My apologies traveller. I'm sure you've come far. Do come in! The door is ajar." As if on cue, the door to the backstage area opened.

[a-cats-travels]

Well, this theatre isn't any normal theatre she has seen and that's saying something as most theatres she went to aren't this empty with the lights turned on the moment she got in. Also, there is humming from somewhere. Wait, humming? Looks like the place is not that empty than it looks.

As someone ramble, Xabby internally realizes she probably enters a theatre that is owned by Dr. Sesus's successor. At least, that's what she thought. She has encountered weirder people before...and that's solely because the portal kept leading her to places that aren’t located in the metaverse.

As she got a feeling she was going to be in this place for a long time, the door backstage just open for her. Well, she could try and leave the place, but that won't fix the portal won't summon problem. So, she just sighs in annoyance as she enters backstage. What's the worst thing that could happen when anyone like her enters backstage.

"Alright, can you please explain who are you and what is this place doing here in the middle of the streets, where I was walking at?"

[a-maestros-final-bow]

The area backstage is mostly dark. Dressing rooms are closed and locked. The only light emanated from some sort of practice room, or recording booth. From this room, the disembodied voice was given form. Placing his coffee cup down on the desk, an older looking gentleman in a greyish-white suit locked eyes with Xabby.

With speed that shouldn't be natural for any human being, the stranger pulled up a chair for Xabby at the desk.

"Hello, hello, travelling cat! I have no say of where the theatre appears at. But something must be amiss. A tragedy fraught. The theatre never goes where it's needed not. Do tell me my friend, is everything alright? Has something important vanished from your sight?"

He tapped at his glasses as he spoke the last sentence.

"Oh! But how rude of me! Make yourself at home! Coffee? Tea?" The stranger offered with a smile.

[a-maestros-final-bow]

Life can be exciting, mysterious, confusing. It's full of highs and lows. Like a rollercoaster, such is life. And when the balance of one's heart has been thrown off, it appears.

The bright lights and faithful old sign. The intricately trimmed doors. From the humdrum it may call you.

The Balan Theatre.

Behind its doors. A new world awaits. There only remains one question: Do you enter?

[a-cats-travels]

Xabby was walking in the streets of the metaverse, pondering why her portal won't summon. Having the portal go to places she wasn’t planning to is one thing, but having the portal not summon in the metaverse is an entirely different story! She already called Portal-Tech Support, looking for any solution to get her portal to summon, and anything that could fix this issue, yet it just won't budge!

Like, the other day, the portal was flickering but works fine. But, today, on the other hand, it won't summon. Sure, it sounds like a dream come true for Xabby, however, this uneasiness came along with it. She doesn't understand why she's feeling uneasy, but maybe it's not bad to travel to places that are isn't in the metaverse. Yet, she doesn't want to interact with those that came from another world.

As she kept walking, she notice something off, and not a crime kind of way. There's a sign; a literal sign. "Balan Theatre?" Xabby mumbles to herself. Normally, no one wouldn't go to a theatre like that. But, for some odd reason and much to her chagrin, she decided to go in.

"Hello? Is there anyone in this Theatre?"

[a-maestros-final-bow]

As the metaverse wanderer entered, the theatre lights flickered to life, leading the way down the auditorium steps and towards the backstage area.

The thick red curtains cloaked the main stage, adding a strike of color to the dimly lit room. For somewhere that felt nearly abandoned, it held an air of mystery and perhaps even beauty, depending on the eye of the beholder.

From further in the theatre, a voice hummed an upbeat tune. At the sound of Xabby's call, the melody ceased. From the silence, the very same voice rose to answer.

"Oh! I'm afraid it's a rather slow day on which I've been caught, but abandoned is something the theatre is not! Forgive me traveller, but what brought you here? Please. Pull up a chair. I'll lend an ear. Are you lost? Unseen by your peers? Is nature being torn apart? Perhaps even trapped in an office for years upon years? Hm... no, that can't be right. What kind of office could instill such fright?"

The voice seemed to ramble on from backstage. Catching itself blathering on, the voice refocused.

"Right! My apologies traveller. I'm sure you've come far. Do come in! The door is ajar." As if on cue, the door to the backstage area opened.

[a-maestros-final-bow]

Life can be exciting, mysterious, confusing. It's full of highs and lows. Like a rollercoaster, such is life. And when the balance of one's heart has been thrown off, it appears.

The bright lights and faithful old sign. The intricately trimmed doors. From the humdrum it may call you.

The Balan Theatre.

Behind its doors. A new world awaits. There only remains one question: Do you enter?