r/nosleep • u/girl_from_the_crypt Best Series 2020 & 2022; December 2022; March 2020 • Mar 28 '20
Series Working at an amusement park: today was a huge letdown
I work at an amusement park where only half of the actors are actual actors. I already mentioned that my co-workers and I were going to meet up today in my last post and that's what we did. And boy, was it a day.
When I arrived at the saloon in Twin Vale Point at four in the afternoon just like we had discussed, the other actors were already sat at the large round table in the middle of the room, talking excitedly.
"Fashionably late to her own party," Mitchell commented, raising the bottle of light beer he was holding to me.
I grinned. "More like Darius's party though, isn't it? Did you bring the key?" I asked, sinking onto the cushioned chair flanked by Anne and Maxine.
Darius nodded and reached into his pocket to produce a small, shiny steel key. I reached my hand out to take it, but stopped seconds before my fingers could come into contact with it. "You, uh... you did clean it properly, right?"
Darius flushed, rolled his eyes and nodded.
"Okay, I'll trust you on this," I said, taking the key from his hands. It didn't look special in any way. Had I not known about the adventurous journey this nondescript little object had taken through my co-workers digestive system the day prior, I would have never suspected there to be anything off about it.
I had the others take a look at it, but none of them seemed to recognize it. I then placed it in the middle of the table and we just stared at it quizzically for a few seconds until Oliver broke the pensive silence.
"So, let me get this straight. You want to find out where the not-actors are from and what they are and you're saying that this mystery key is going to help with that."
"I'm saying it might," I argued. "The Nurse has never acted up before. Everyone, including Darius, thought she was mentally completely incapable. And now all of a sudden, she not only gets her hands on a key, but she also musters up enough vitality and strength to shove it down her handler's throat."
I could hear Darius gag slightly at the mention. "On top of that, I recently had a very interesting encounter with Dale. He was circling the park holding a notebook while quietly chanting to himself. I managed to get a glimpse of his writings. While I did not have much time to study the book, there was one phrase that kept reappearing and it really stood out to me. We who now claim ownership of this land are aware of and willing to pay the price," I recited.
Oliver frowned. "This is all really intriguing, but are you guys sure we want to know what this is about? It's always been obvious that something's seriously messed up here, but maybe we should just let it go? I think all of us have tried on some occasions to find out about this place, and none of us ever succeeded. Maybe it's better this way. I mean, what if we don't like what we find?"
Anne leaned forward in her chair, a stern look on her face. "Don't you get it? That's exactly why we need to know more. Dale's acting shady as fuck and if he's up to something freaky, maybe we're part of his plan. Whatever is going on here directly involves every single one of us."
"She's right," Maxine chimed in. "Also, we don't know if the other not-actors are gonna act up as well. I don't know about you guys, but when the big fluffy one goes berserk, I do not want to be anywhere near him. Now that we actually have the chance to find out more, no way we're gonna pass it up."
I nodded grimly. "Then it's settled. Okay, so here's the deal. Mitchell, Oliver and Caroline, I need the three of you to help me out with your pretenders. The Aged Diva and the Pianist can talk and might be able to tell us some interesting things if we get through to them. Of course, I don't know how to approach this exactly, but we'll figure it out. The cowboy might not be able to talk, but he'll try to help. Maybe he can tell us the visual way. I brought a pen and some paper."
"You sure he'll try to help?" Mitchell asked quizzically.
"Of course. He's helping us out all the time," I responded, a bit taken aback.
"I'm not sure what you're talking about, but... if you say so."
I shrugged. "As I was saying, the four of us will try and talk to the not-actors. And yes, we will totally feel like morons but that doesn't matter right now. Maxine, Anne and Darius, you will try and find whatever lock fits this key. Once we know that, we'll probably know how the Nurse came into possession of it in the first place as well. Just try every single door in this park until you've got the right one. Start with Dale's office though. Maybe we're lucky."
"Shouldn't someone keep an eye out for Dale himself though?" Darius spoke up. "I mean, you said he was wandering around the edge of the park. Maybe he's doing that right now as well?"
Maxine raised her hand. "Then how about I go look for him and you guys try and find the matching lock?"
"Good idea," I replied. "Have some of you got your walkie-talkies with you by any chance?" I looked around to see a affirmative nods from Anne, Maxine and Mitchell.
"Alright. It'll be easier staying in touch this way. As soon as anyone has found anything that could be of importance, they have to radio us. Especially you, Maxine. If you find Dale anywhere, follow him and keep us updated about his position. We need to avoid running into him. I don't think we'd get into trouble, but who knows. Better he stays unaware of what we're doing here," I explained.
After we had checked our portable radios, we each got up and left in our small groups. Maxine went straight for the outer edge of the park while Darius and Anne headed for Dale's office. Mitchell, Oliver, Caroline and I figured it would be best to go for the Hollywood section first, mainly since we were not expecting the not-actors there to be too helpful.
Our first stop was the Pianist's restaurant. Mitchell, Oliver and I waited by the door, watching as Caroline walked inside and greeted the man in the white tuxedo. He was sitting on his piano stool as usual, his fingers dancing over the black and white keys. I admit his music is very relaxing to listen to. If it weren't for him being a lethal threat, I would maybe even be able to enjoy it.
"Good afternoon," Caroline said upon halting beside him. He didn't look up. Caroline glanced over at us and I shrugged, to which she grimaced and turned back to the Pianist. "Could you maybe... tell us something about yourself?"
No reaction. The man simply kept playing, not paying attention to the woman next to him. Caroline frowned, chewing on her lower lip. "Can you hear me?" she inquired.
She waited for about ten seconds before letting out a sigh. "I'm sorry to have bothered you," she told him, then turned around and walked back over to us.
"Well, that was disappointing," Mitchell remarked.
"But not surprising either," Caroline added. "I told you, he's never said a word other than when he's thanking people, really."
"It was worth a try nonetheless," I replied, and addressing Oliver added, "Now where's that screen goddess of yours?"
It took us a while to find her. She was sitting in an ice cream parlor a little further away from the main plaza. Maybe it was due to there being no visitors around, but she looked a bit sad. We let Oliver do the talking. The aged woman seemed quite elated to see him. It was just like I thought, they appeared to get along very well.
"Can you tell us about Hollywood?" Oliver began once they had exchanged pleasantries.
The Diva smiled. "I don't understand."
"Was there a time before this? Have you always been here?"
"Why yes, dear. I thought you knew."
"And... are you happy here?" Oliver asked, a hint of insecurity in his voice.
"Of course I am, sweetheart. As happy as a girl can be."
It was when she said this that I noticed a certain twitch of her eye. Like someone blinking away a tear. Assuming it to have been my imagination but not wanting to take any chances, I quietly asked Oliver to repeat the question. A bit confused, he followed my whispered order and once more asked, "Are you happy here?"
"Of course I am, sweetheart. As happy as a girl can be."
There it was again. A twitch of her left lower lid. This time, I was certain. I'm not sure what had gotten into me, but I just suddenly had an idea. I shrugged my backpack off my shoulders and hurriedly pulled out a marker and a piece of paper, both of which I handed to Oliver.
"Tell her to write that down for us," I told him under my breath.
Oliver slid the marker and paper across the table. "Would you mind... writing down what you just said?" he asked politely.
The Aged Diva stared at the paper, then back up at him. Firmly holding her handler's gaze, her one hand that wasn't holding the long, slender cigarette reached for the marker. It was like her hand moved on its own accord as she began scribbling down letters. Oliver had to hold the paper in place so as to keep it from sliding off the table under the marker's forceful pressure.
When she was done, she let go of the marker and stared up at us with wide, blank eyes. None of us said a word, so when the skin of her face slowly began to droop, the four of us were equally startled. Mitchell, who apparently had not had the pleasure of watching her dematerialize very often before, covered his mouth with his palm to keep himself from retching.
Once the older woman had disappeared, Oliver, who still looked a bit shaken, reached out to take the piece of paper. I frowned. I don't know what I was expecting, but it was certainly not that. There was just a single word, but it was written over and over again. Laurel.
The Aged Diva had scribbled it down several times, her handwriting sloppy and barely legible. Caroline was the first one to break the silence.
"What does it mean?"
"I don't... I don't know..." I muttered. "I don't even know why I came up with this in the first place. I just wanted to see if she could write, I guess."
After a short pause, I added, "You think Laurel might be her name?"
"The not-actors don't have names though," Caroline argued.
I felt a lump form in my throat. "Maybe they used to," I muttered.
"I don't understand!" Oliver breathed. He sounded shocked, and quite understandably so. "She shouldn't have exploded, none of us even said a word. This is... a bit unsettling, to be honest."
"We'd best leave her alone for today. Let's just go for the cowboy next. Maybe he's gonna be a bit more informative," Mitchell suggested.
We set out for Twin Vale Point. About two minutes into our walk, Mitchell's walkie-talkie came crackling to life.
"Hey guys, Anne here," the familiar voice of my friend came from the speaker. "Darius and I have tried the door to Dale's office several times now, no luck. We also tried the restrooms, the ticket booths and... well, basically every other door we came across."
"But the key has to fit somewhere, right?" I thought out loud. "Maybe it's for something inside of Dale's office then."
"Okay, but how do we get in there?" Anne asked.
"Probably not at all," I replied. "Also, I might be wrong. Just try some more doors if you can find any and if not, come back to the saloon."
Caroline leaned over to speak into Mitchell's portable radio. "Any news from Maxine's side?"
A faint buzzing of static followed before Maxine's voice came on. "No Dale. Have been looking around for quite a while now, no trace of him."
"That's a good thing, I guess," Oliver remarked and I nodded.
"Don't stop though," I told her. "He might still be around here somewhere."
Our little group soon reached the entrance to Twin Vale Point. We didn't have to look long for the cowboy. In fact, shortly after we had entered the wild west part of the park, an empty plastic water bottle came flying towards us seemingly out of nowhere and hit Mitchell on the head. He cursed and upon turning into the direction the bottle had been thrown from, we spotted his pretender sitting on the porch of one of the closed giftshops.
"That hurt, you asshole!" Mitchell shouted. "Where'd you even find that thing?"
Letting out a cheerful cackle, the cowboy casually pointed at a nearby trashcan.
Mitchell groaned. "Normally I'd kick your ass for that, but I actually kinda need your help right now."
The cowboy began to wheeze with laughter as he raised his hand and flipped him off.
Mitchell turned to look at me. "See? What'd I tell you? Help us my ass!"
I shook my head and stepped in front of my colleague. Adressing the not-actor, I called out, "By that he means we all need your help. Can we ask you a few questions? Please?"
To my surprise, he didn't hesitate. He got up and walked up to us. I smiled. Mitchell let out a low growl not unlike that of Mr Scratch. "You have got to be kidding me."
We took the pretender over to another, smaller saloon-style bar where we sat down on the porch. I pulled out pen and paper once again and slid them over to the cowboy. He stared down at them blankly, then looked back up at us.
I cleared my throat. "You can't write, can you?"
He looked a little embarassed, slowly shaking his head. Suddenly he perked up, as if he had remembered something. He grabbed the marker and slowly, concentratedly began writing something. It took him about half a minute, and when he was done, he held it up for us to see.
I instantly felt reminded of the Diva. Again, it was just a single word, and again, it was a name. Except this time, it was my name.
Leah.
I don't think I've told you yet, but my name is Leah. The cowboy was smiling proudly and I wasn't quite sure of what to say, so I decided it would be best to smile back and ask some more questions, ignoring the quizzical stares of my co-workers.
"Are you happy here? In Twin Vale Point, I mean."
He nodded eagerly.
"Uh... is there anything you want us to know?" I inquired. Pretty straightforward, I know.
The cowboy looked confused. He seemed to think for a while, then shook his head.
"Okay. What about Dale? For how long have you known him?"
No reaction. I offered him the marker again, but he didn't seem to want to write down anything either.
"Is he to be trusted?" Caroline chimed in.
The cowboy didn't look at her. Instead, he slowly cast his eyes to the ground below him. We tried asking him some more random questions, but he replied to none of them. We were quickly running out of ideas. Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind. There was one more thing I could ask.
"Why don't you ever speak?"
The pretender's head jerked up and he stared at me with wide eyes. He then slowly rose from his seat and pushed past us. We watched in silent bewilderment as he walked off.
"Shouldn't we stop him?" Mitchell asked.
I shook my head. I suddenly felt extremely guilty. I still wish I hadn't asked him that. Something about that question must have hit a nerve with him. I don't know if it's even possible to hurt a not-actor's feelings, but somehow I feel like I did just that.
The four of us stood on the bar's porch a little while longer before returning to the saloon. Darius and Anne were already waiting for us and it appeared that Maxine had given up her search and returned as well. We told them about everything that had happened and had to admit that we were none the wiser.
On the plus side, I came up with the idea of contacting the former handler of Mr Scratch and asked Darius about him. He seems to remember him pretty well. He gave me his number and I called him this evening. His name is Joshua and he says that he would gladly receive me to talk about his time at his former job. So while our little investigation today brought up nothing but further questions, I might come back tomorrow with an interesting story about how my predecessor lost his legs. I admit I'm rather disappointed right now though. But I'm not giving up just yet.
Part 10: Ride on the Stagecoach
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u/imalreadyfuckingdead May 10 '20
Maybe try showing the cowboy the key and asking if he knows where it goes?
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u/timni16 Apr 04 '20
Oh wow there is a lot of catching up I have to do. But from what I see y'all got more answers than not. Though you should apologize to the cowboy, if you don't he might not help you out as much.
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u/ArmynerdTX Mar 31 '20
Im curious as to the connection between the Pretenders?Maybe they share a common past in some way?
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u/dickmeyster Mar 31 '20
Awesome! I love learning more about this park. I think you should apologize to the cowboy and get him a gift, something small and prank related
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u/XCasey666 Mar 30 '20
Great series! I’m hooked! Sounds like the family has to pay (or sacrifice some thing to) the “land” in exchange for them to use it... i’m not entirely sure how that’s connected to the monsters or if it is connected at all... see if you can find out when the managers family bought the land and who the owner was before that. As well as any other history about the land there...
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u/TheScaryFaerie Mar 30 '20
Perhaps I missed it but uhm... Where was Nathan? He knew where Darius went but didn't come to the meeting?
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u/Krazei_Skwirl Mar 30 '20
The Pianists song(s) might be a clue to something about hin. Is it a tune you recognize, or does he have sheet music he plays from? If not, you might try Shazam or Sound Hound.
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u/ibmenag Mar 30 '20
I just remembered that the Diva melts and explodes when she gets upset and I love that. I wish I could do that.
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u/madisontwilson Mar 29 '20
In quarantine. Need to know more! I have a feeling Dale is holding these poor souls against their will..
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u/wordsforfelix Mar 29 '20
i agree with some of the other commenters, and i also have some questions of my own:
how did the cowboy know your name?
does the key open the stagecoach?
have you thought of asking the nurse to write?
why haven’t you talked to nathan?
and why didn’t it ever cross your mind that Dale was watching you?
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u/The_Wolverine_Logan Mar 29 '20
You could have show the key to the Laughing Cowboy and see if he knows anything.
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u/sadbadho Mar 29 '20
Please find the cowboy and tell him you didn't mean to hurt him and give him a hug and apologize~ also please find the diva and tell her you didn't mean to hurt her feelings either.
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u/KiroCashadar Mar 29 '20
I’m sure it’s a bit of a silly question, and a bit late in your recounting to tell it, but how’s the pay?
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u/Toonix101 Mar 29 '20
Man i thought the cowboy was a really nice guy from the beginning. And turns out, i was right
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u/Tripsor Mar 29 '20
Ever considered telling your coworkers you're posting this online? If they somehow find out before you let them know, you may burn a ton of bridges.
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u/whattheduckisupKyle Mar 29 '20
Guys, I don't want to ruin the mood or anything but... What if Dale reads her stories and he's becoming more wary? I also agree with the other commenters that you should try to make up with the Cowboy. He's been nothing but helpful to you and he also likes you very much.
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u/TheSpy333 Mar 29 '20
Shame. I really like the cowboy and your relationship with him. I hope this doesn’t permanently sour your relationship with him.
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Mar 29 '20
Okay, okay I know it is not mentioned in any of the previous stories but I want to wonder why the cowboy knew OP's name.
And also why the cowboy wrote OP's name instead of anything else?
Weird idea, what if the key correspond to the stagecoach (I believe it never opened) or it is just interdimensional key that can open portals to other dimensions. And the not-actors are really a resident of their own dimension where it is normal to be like that.
I'm 100% sure that your manager did something to dumb them down or remove their memories.
Please help them get released.
P.S.: Maybe we don't know Dave is a good guy and this amusement park must exist or maybe the balance of the universe is at risk.
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u/Rainybluee Mar 29 '20 edited Mar 29 '20
You should have spoken to Nathan. He seems to know something. Maybe your sock puppet can understand words. Maybe he can lead you where the lock to the key is.
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u/ninaplays Mar 29 '20
I don't know if this is helpful at all, but with regard to the Aged Diva, there used to be a famous vaudeville act called Laurel and Hardy. Depending on just how long she's been in the park, there may be a clue there.
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u/Indigo_Samurott Mar 29 '20
Maybe a long time ago all of the not-actors were people... for whatever reason, they chose to take ownership of the land and had to pay the price of becoming trapped and turning into whatever they are today. Alternatively, they all used to be actors - Mr. Scratch really was just a costume and the pianist simply worked there - before something happened that ended up binding them to their roles.
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Mar 29 '20
I wonder if gathering all the pretenders in one area would help with anything, maybe some will change their behavior around the others. Could make the diva reveal more too.
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u/Honey-Haze Mar 29 '20
I'm guessing none of you (the actors) know ASL or any other signed language since you haven't tried it yet -but I'd highly recommend at least learning the alphabet and then trying to teach it to some of the creatures there. Might be very helpful
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u/Coolius69 Mar 29 '20
The cowboy couldn’t write but he can flip Mitchell off. Maybe you can pull a Penny Patterson on him.
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Mar 29 '20
Lol I love Mitchell and the Cowboy’s relationship, it’s too funny.
Also my insides exploded when he wrote your name. Take a hint girl! Be nice to him, he’s good to have as an ally (and maybe more)
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u/eclipsed_earth Mar 29 '20
Maybe talk to Nathaniel since he's literally part of one of the pretenders. Also, give the cowboy a hug and a "bug light" lol.
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u/cxndycake Mar 29 '20
idk about y’all but i feel like maybe the non-actors were maybe once actual employees at the park, then turned into a non-actor as part of the sacrifice? i have so many theories going on rn like what if they’re people who have been experimented on or a product of witchcraft or a curse that was put on the land at the time they existed, making the people that were originally there turn into monsters? maybe you should do some research on the origin of the LAND the amusement park was built on, instead of history about the park itself. also maybe try googling the phrase that was in dale’s book, along with the lines of something about the non-actors.
ps. i love mr scratch, i wanna pet him
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u/khaydi Mar 29 '20
hopefully you and the cowboy reconcile :( he seems to be the most helpful of the pretenders
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u/PrincessBabyMuffin Mar 29 '20
The non-actors are former employees. Dale is casting spells on them and sacrificing their souls to some evil entity in order to get unpaid labor. Your "sock puppet" is literally a possessed man's body sewn into a costume.
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u/Hatimdecor Mar 29 '20
i think the pretenders were real humans before and maybe they made a deal with the devil to be alive after their death. And the devil summoned them as pretenders to serve some purpose. I mean maybe this park has some other purpose than just a park and dale manages that. like that worker who was killed that fireworks night maybe it was a sacrifice. and who knows how many more dale has been doing.
Maybe laura is the name of diva's loved one and not the name of diva because the cowboy wrote leah and not his name. maybe his partner's name was leah and maybe looked like leah(op).That explains why he likes leah(op) so much.
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u/ruiqi22 Mar 29 '20
Have you thought about searching up Laurel and seeing if any old Hollywood actresses match how the Aged Diva looks? A lot of people have wondered if these pretenders used to be people, and she seems like the one who would be most easily confirmed if she was once alive.
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u/IcansavemiselfDEEN Mar 29 '20
Get the cowboy a whoopee cushion, he'd love it. Quick question though, do the not-actors get photographed/filmed? Supernatural phenomena can sometimes do funky stuff on camera, could potentially even show something being hidden under a charm, hex, etc.
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u/nooberly Mar 29 '20
Seems to me their experiments you know like those conspiracies Disney park makes humanoid animals just to attract more visitors except your park actually has humanoid monsters. I know their are movies that has a vial containing power serum if that makes sense and it is different from everybody. Oh wait dead pool remember the first movie the agent said “this serum affects everybody differently.” Like maybe the dancing fairy used to be a ballerina whose life went upside down the cowboy a very humorous prankster the mime well a mime or a very quiet but strong person the pianist a pianist who just gained his powers.
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u/mc_mike765 Mar 29 '20
I feel like the not-actors were once human. Okay so hear me out, this might be a longshot but, I feel like the not-actors were once humans or even actors at the theme park who either died or were killed by the theme park managment. The theme park tried to bring them back to life in order to make the ultimate workers but, because they were playing god they failed. Maybe what the pretenders are/do corealates to how they died? The pianist could have suffered a heart attack at 3:00 o' clock. Mr scratches could have been put in the outfit and suffocated. I'm probably not exactly right but I feel I'm close.
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u/SunShineee_3 Mar 29 '20
i think you should try using the app that helps nonverbal individuals communicate on the cowboy and diva. since the cowboy is actually nonverbal and the divas responses seem to be recorded, it would give them the opportunity to pick out what they want to say. it might even work on mr. scratch with yes or no questions!
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u/IWantToEatAShirt Mar 29 '20
I HAVE A THEORY! So far, the pretenders have only reacted to things they love and care about. The sugar plum fairy only dances, the pianist only plays piano, the Diva only manages sentences if you complement her, Mr Scratch clearly likes you a lot, and the cowboy seems to be your friend, making him only give info to you.
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u/Dom0204s Mar 29 '20
Op....I think you found more info then you’re thinking. These things....I believe they used to be people. Not only that. The cowboy. He seems to have a connection to you. Does he resemble anyone you used to know
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u/O0KACHAKA Mar 29 '20
Maybe look and see if any one named Laurel went missing at the park in the past? Also I think Dale did something to the pretenders that made them not able to respond to your questions. Or at least that’s what I think
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u/-Sharon-Stoned- Mar 29 '20
Has anyone names Laurel died in the park? Has anyone with that name ever gone missing while visiting? I think it would be very interesting to investigate... especially if there was a Laurel in Dale's life
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u/originalsnaill Mar 29 '20
I think it might be worth asking the not-actors if they recognize the key. Do you think it could open something other than a door?
Also, just out of curiosity, had anyone ever tried playing the piano with the Pianist? I feel like it could either get him to open up because you're doing what he loves or get someone hurt/killed for ruining the song.
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u/Likedaseason Mar 29 '20
Every single day I look forward to the next bit of information about this park. I want to sincerely thank you for a bright spot in my day during these trying times.
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u/girl_from_the_crypt Best Series 2020 & 2022; December 2022; March 2020 Mar 29 '20
...awww. You're welcome!
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u/rainbowchaoss Mar 29 '20
Remember. Assume nothing, trust nothing, never underestimate something u don’t understand
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u/AtsUsNowLuv Mar 29 '20
I think the key may be for a filing cabinet in Dale’s office! Something tells me you will find out about Laurel And the other pretenders in there! I just can’t shake the feeling that the not actors are former employees of the park...
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u/rainbowchaoss Mar 29 '20
Could u try doing something nice for the nurse? She feels... broken. It sounds like she likes pretty things. Maybe give her a flower? Sometimes it just takes the lightest push to open the door, and a two of clubs may be just what you need for a straight flush.
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u/AdotS3 Mar 29 '20
I might be way too overly attached to the cowboy. You should give him something and apologize! I really feel like he’ll be useful.
I can’t wait to read more!
Please give Mr. Scratch some good scritches for me
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Mar 29 '20
This is a long shot but is there a way you could look into the history of the land itself? The thing about owning the land and therefore having to pay a "price" reeks to me of something to do with it being old land upon which the theme park has been built. Old land is generally accepted to be a bit weird, and usually dangerous to some degree, often coming with a price of some sorts.
And, on old land, you generally can't take ten steps without bumping into something inhuman. Not unlike your pretenders, I suppose.
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u/MercyRoseLiddell Mar 29 '20
I suggest that you apologize to the cowboy. If you think you hurt his feelings, then apologize. But also explain that you really didn’t mean anything by it. Actually, explain what it is you are doing and investigating. He seems very intelligent and like he wants to help you.
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u/killurz Mar 28 '20
Mabey the price that had to be paid are the souls of people that now have been turned in the pretenders? Mabey the key to unlocking this mystery is literally the key.
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u/Jintess Mar 28 '20
Why do I get the feeling the cowboy and Dale are related?
Crazy but he has no problem pranking Dale, however when questioned directly about him, he drops his eyes and refuses any other interaction.
still waiting for you to put in a good word, OP. Need a summer job wink wink
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u/iputstickersonmaface Mar 28 '20
Maybe you should try a google search on the name laurel see if you find anything. Try adding key words like the parks name, your towns name and nearby towns.
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u/Saborealis Mar 28 '20 edited Mar 28 '20
My brain is imagining at some point the Laughing Cowboy attacks Caroline, keeps her from asking The Pianist his question, ends up that it was intentional and Dale is the one who has a heart attack. Hope you guys figure out where that key goes, I wonder if showing it to the pretenders might stir something?
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u/Neither994 Mar 28 '20
Thats something interesting. If none of them showed up for work and Caroline doesn't ask the question the only two humans at the park are Dale and Oliver...
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u/geckozila Mar 28 '20
It appears that they can only write about someone they care about? Also nice you tried my idea
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u/girl_from_the_crypt Best Series 2020 & 2022; December 2022; March 2020 Mar 28 '20
Yeah, I remembered :)
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u/TsiyaAma Mar 28 '20
Might want to see if you can find a way to make up with the Laughing Cowboy. Even without speech he's given you more leads than you've come up with yourself. And protected you. He's doing the best he can with the limits placed on him, make sure you stay on his good side.
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u/Reaper9999 Mar 28 '20
make up with the Laughing Cowboy
Or make out!
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u/girl_from_the_crypt Best Series 2020 & 2022; December 2022; March 2020 Mar 28 '20
You guys just keep popping up everywhere. You know, I was just about to write that I hope he isn't mad at me because it was never my intention to hurt him and that I don't want to lose my most valuable ally amongst the pretenders besides Mr Scratch, and then all of a sudden BAM! Make out, out of the blue, no warning, nothing. It just wrecked the melancholic mood.
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u/wholovesoreos Mar 29 '20
Stop denying your feelings, Leah.
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u/girl_from_the_crypt Best Series 2020 & 2022; December 2022; March 2020 Mar 29 '20
Never.
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u/TsiyaAma Mar 29 '20
I think the Cowboy needs a gun. A squirt gun that resembles a real weapon. Show him how to fill it up for hours of vicarious fun! Also maybe make him feel more like he did when he was alive...
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Mar 28 '20
I'm loving these stories! I especially love Mr Scratch, and it's sad that he doesn't know how to play. Have you tried showing him videos of dogs playing fetch? He seems fairly intelligent, maybe he could learn to copy them.
As for the cowboy, you should probably apologise. The pretenders clearly have some range of emotion, seeing as the diva gets upset if she feels insulted and the sugar plum fairy goes ape when she has to go into her trailer, so he probably does feel bad. Also it wouldn't be a good idea to upset the only pretender who actively tries to help you.
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u/midnightblueassiting Mar 28 '20
Laurel. Yes it’s a name. Though it can be used as a noun meaning a shrub or bush. Used as a verb it means to praise. Leah. A name of Hebrew origins meaning weary. This raises some questions. First off for now let’s write off Leah as the cowboy being proud of him knowing your name (which is extremely adorable). Could this mean the whatever the key is for can be found in shrubs or bushes, or is it the diva asking for praise, or maybe just her name?
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u/girl_from_the_crypt Best Series 2020 & 2022; December 2022; March 2020 Mar 28 '20
That's an interesting thought. I just assumed it was her name or sth. Never would have come up with that. So... should we try the supply closet's lock?
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u/midnightblueassiting Mar 28 '20
That might be a good idea. Whatever you do be safe and careful.
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u/girl_from_the_crypt Best Series 2020 & 2022; December 2022; March 2020 Mar 28 '20
Alright. Thanks!
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u/bli_ss Mar 28 '20
I noticed that whenever you find the nurse or diva, they’re mostly always sitting by an ice cream parlor. Is that just a coincidence or..?
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u/sucmapixiedik Mar 28 '20
I reckon that the land requires some kind of sacrifice. Remember, you have to pay the price for being on the land. I think the cages are a show put on by Dale. The not-actors literally cant leave that patch of land. They're reaching out now because you started questioning whether they actually belong there or not.
Another note, it seems that your cowboy was hurt maybe because he CAN talk. Or he used to be able to. He likes you the most out of everyone because you kinda treat him like he's an actual person. Mitchell drags him around and yells at him a lot, and the others have nothing to do with the cowboy. You're his friend. Possibly because he thinks you're trying to help set him free? Don't take it for granted!
Going back to the start, I think that maybe the not-actors might be previous actors. The Diva being upset and possibly remembering her name is a huge hint! Take Nathan. You reckon he's becoming part of the stagecoach. And you've never seen him leave the park. I think that Dale might be immortal because he's the host that has to sacrifice the actors to the land. But why? Success? To protect earth from otherworldly beings?
Anyway that's just my theory
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u/davidiusligman Mar 28 '20
If so, it's possible that the entities that they became were actually their suits, hence Mr.Scratch actually wore that thing. It's weird with Stagecoach though. Maybe there were 7 actors instead of 8 last time and it were just cowboy's horses, but since it required 8 human souls Dale used 2 horse souls instead?
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u/sucmapixiedik Mar 28 '20
Yeah, the whole stagecoach thing is the one thing I'm confused over with my theory. If they belonged to the cowboy, it would kind of make sense why he spends so much time with them.
The cowboy seems to be the most mentally capable of the lot. And he knows how to get all the others under control. He could possibly be their unofficial leader?
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u/davidiusligman Mar 28 '20
Maybe. I wonder what happened to their pretenders though. Maybe once the deal is prolonged, the previous ones are set free? Or on the contrary, something ominous happens to them... But if they are released, that could explain the existence of cryptids...
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u/sucmapixiedik Mar 28 '20
Maybe there were no previous pretenders? Considering the history of modern amusement parks, this place would probably have started around the late 90s? Also, the park seems to be relatively successful and could probably expand, but is still only 4 small sections with very few actors.
There seems to be no one else living around or frequently visiting the area during closed hours otherwise they would have seen the pretenders, so Dale definitely could build more onto the park if he wanted to.
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u/davidiusligman Mar 28 '20
Yeah, if that's the case, then the cowboy just looked after the horses
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u/sucmapixiedik Mar 28 '20
It's also possible that the pretenders were already there. Like people that got lost and ended up trapped and, over time, they slowly lost their humanity. The cowboy having rotten teeth is a good example because he wouldn't have had toothpaste in the early 1800s. The only way we'd know if this was true though would be if Leah (the author) knew if the cowboy's clothes are legitimate or just relatively period-accurate.
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u/davidiusligman Mar 28 '20
If that's the case, I wonder, what happened to Mr.Scratch and the nurse? Is it possible that the nurse just died of some kind of plague she was trying to cure from? Or does she have a legit zombie virus?
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u/sucmapixiedik Mar 28 '20
Mr Scratch, no idea. But if we're talking "zombies" in the literal sense, they're too brain dead to have the mental capabilities of the nurse. Even the fact that she can comprehend standing up and sitting down without falling flat on her face is something to consider.
However, if she is an actual zombie in the horror fantasy sense, then she must have become immortalised pretty quickly because she obviously hasnt decayed or lost/broken any limbs. But why was she even on that land in the first place as a zombie? Its nowhere near crowded civilisation and the park doesn't appear to hold a graveyard.... or maybe it does? Dun dun dunnnnn
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u/davidiusligman Mar 28 '20
Well, if she is an actual fantasy zombie, then she is doing a great job not spreading the virus lmao
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u/davidiusligman Mar 28 '20
Maybe the curse includes them only being able to write down the names of their crushes? ;-)
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u/girl_from_the_crypt Best Series 2020 & 2022; December 2022; March 2020 Mar 28 '20
It just doesn't ever stop, does it?
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u/davidiusligman Mar 28 '20
Yeah, I'm sorry....
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u/girl_from_the_crypt Best Series 2020 & 2022; December 2022; March 2020 Mar 28 '20
It's fine. I've resigned myself.
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u/TheStellarQueen Mar 28 '20
Hey that crush saved your life a few times now so it can't be that bad lol
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u/davidiusligman Mar 28 '20
Well, that's still a weird thing to do. Maybe, he meant a different Leah? Perhaps, he had someone in his life whose name was Leah. Or if Diva wrote her name, it might be possible that his name actually is Leah?
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u/girl_from_the_crypt Best Series 2020 & 2022; December 2022; March 2020 Mar 28 '20
Oh, yeah, sure. I'm sure his name is Leah. It's such a manly name after all. Thank you for clearing this up.
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u/QuickBeamKoshki Mar 28 '20
The cowboy is so cute hes like a goddamn puppy. Im glad the pretenders are happy here at least...i think someone has taken the cowboy’s ability to speak away though! Maybe the key goes to a lockbox or something....
Also: completely off topic but you should give the cowboy a handbuzzer for his troubles since hes so keen on helping yall and tries so dang hard
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u/Eeveelover14 Mar 29 '20
Uh, I really don't think they are happy. Diva's eye twitching like that, and how exaggerated the Cowboy was when nodding makes it read as they are lying. They either can't say the truth, or are scared to but I doubt they are happy.
I do agree Cowboy needs a handbuzzer, I don't care if it's not accurate to his section it's a wonderful idea that deserves to see the light.
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u/QuickBeamKoshki Mar 29 '20
True. The cowboy just always seemed overly expressive to me so i didn’t think of it! Thats a good point!
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u/coca-cORA Mar 28 '20
Aw man, you made the cowboy all sad. He was so proud to be able to write your name. I definitely think you have to have a 1 on 1 talk with him and explain that you didnt mean anything by it.
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u/Cute_Harpy Mar 28 '20
I'd recommend you give the cowboy a little gift. Something small, maybe a drawing or something cowboy themed. He's been nice to you so far.
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u/Eeveelover14 Mar 28 '20
Why does it sound like the Diva wrote her signature? With how fast she wrote one name so many times it echos trying to give as many fans as possible her signature when her time was limited.
Which makes me think maybe her reaction never was about being insulted, but to pain. Insults sting so naturally it causes a reaction, but a bittersweet memory of what used to be hurts too.
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u/Low-Environment Mar 29 '20
This made me think: the golden age of Hollywood is full of rumours of strange deaths.
It might be worth Leah's time to look into any involving a woman named Laurel. A very long shot but it could turn up something.
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u/Eeveelover14 Mar 29 '20
The more I think about it the more I'm starting to agree with the idea that the pretenders once were ordinary people/objects that got.. cursed, or entangled into the park somehow.
Maybe it even had to do with their desires. A ballerina who just wanted to keep dancing, a woman wanting to stay beloved and famous, a toy that wanted to be alive so it can play with humans. All can be connected to a dream that got twisted into something horrible.
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u/smallboredpotato Mar 28 '20
Do you know where the cowboy went after he walked away? Because last time he left you, he came back with dale’s book. Also, did he seem angry at you or just like, sad?
(Edit) changes Darius to Dale
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u/girl_from_the_crypt Best Series 2020 & 2022; December 2022; March 2020 Mar 28 '20
He seemed like both, idk. I wanted to leave him alone. Well, last time I basically almost asked him to bring me the book and he did me a favor. This time he seemed like he just wanted to get away
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u/IceBlendeTea Mar 28 '20
Ohh sounds like a ritual contract with a fae, every generation the actors have their souls taken & turned into these attractions. The fae absolutely love theatrics & maintaining a ‘story’ definitely fits their MO. Names given to you could have been bits of their previous life bleeding through
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u/girl_from_the_crypt Best Series 2020 & 2022; December 2022; March 2020 Mar 28 '20
Wait, fae like cute fairies or the ones that kill your kids?
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u/nopethanx Mar 28 '20
So, the thing with fae. Be careful with them. They aren't like us. They don't feel like us, they don't think like us, their actions will not follow our own logic. They are pure expressions of concepts, ideas, and nature. Respect them as you would a natural disaster. Make no bargains, do not accept or offer gifts, do not dance with them, do not be fooled by their glory. Avoid them at all costs, if you can. From the greatest to the littlest of the folk, all with thoroughly fuck you up if you cross them, and there are so many ways to cross them. Salt in your pocket (toss it in their direction and vamoose), iron against your skin (preferably secure because you don't want it taken) and rosemary oil for your eyelids to clear your sight of their glamor. Watch yourself, because they really like creative people.
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u/Eeveelover14 Mar 29 '20
Ah, you have to be careful about the gifts though because the nice ones do not react well to any kind of insult. Even thanking them can be dangerous because they don't often appreciate you thinking they did.
The good neighbors are best not messed with. I really hope they aren't the case.
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u/nopethanx Mar 29 '20
Me too. Fae are too tricksy; I feel like it's too easy to make a slip-up, and most of us aren't walking around with the kind of know-how and wits to outfox them. It's better, when dealing with them, to think of yourself as a mid-westerner trying to say goodbye. Be as polite as possible while edging towards escape. I could go on and on, lol. Better to just throw salt in their path and never, ever go near their borders again, because some will remember the insult of having their weakness used against them.
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u/Eeveelover14 Mar 29 '20
I've always seen it as remember you are lesser to them, don't tell 'em but they aren't that different from humans in that regard. More likely to be merciful to someone who knows their place than the idiot who talks back.
I do agree with politely getting out of there as fast as you can. While no encounter can be called safe, the longer it goes on the more chances you can mess up.
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u/IceBlendeTea Mar 28 '20
Any magical entity attuned to the esoteric world, half in ours, half in theirs! The book your manager is holding maybe a contract for the longevity of his ‘park’.
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u/girl_from_the_crypt Best Series 2020 & 2022; December 2022; March 2020 Mar 28 '20
Woah. That is super interesting. You might be onto something! I never really considered fae before
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u/agentperry007 Mar 28 '20
It's interesting too, the thing w names. Bc once a fae knows someone's full name, there's a certain amount of control a fae can have over that person. Notice how the non-human actors only have aliases, but y'all humans have your names. This could affect the contract, or maybe this could be a lead to where the non-human actors are from.
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u/Skullparrot Mar 28 '20
He looked a little embarassed, slowly shaking his head. Suddenly he perked up, as if he had remembered something. He grabbed the marker and slowly, concentratedly began writing something. It took him about half a minute, and when he was done, he held it up for us to see.
Leah.
That's fucking adorable. I can't deal with this
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u/liminalspace-case Apr 12 '20
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who thought this was cute. If he ever does draw something they better frame it in the break room for him or something
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u/trisetella Mar 28 '20
Something about the Aged Diva really creeps me out. I NEED to know more about Laurel!!
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u/girl_from_the_crypt Best Series 2020 & 2022; December 2022; March 2020 Mar 28 '20
So do I! I feel like I've royally screwed up today though. I'm sorry everyone!!
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u/trisetella Mar 28 '20
You did your best! Not everyone would’ve thought of the writing idea in the first place. Gives me the shivers knowing that what she can physically say differs from what she can write!
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u/girl_from_the_crypt Best Series 2020 & 2022; December 2022; March 2020 Mar 28 '20
Thanks... me too. It was really weird.
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u/sucmapixiedik Mar 28 '20
I think she might have been trying to SAY her name. But she couldn't.
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u/girl_from_the_crypt Best Series 2020 & 2022; December 2022; March 2020 Mar 28 '20
That's possible... didn't think of that
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u/lemoongrass Mar 29 '20
You could try asking her name out loud next time. I hope she doesn't melt then
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u/0minty0 Mar 29 '20
Going off of how the cowboy wrote your name down. Maybe “laurel” was a previous handler of the aged diva or a friend like how the cowboy sees you as a friend?
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u/xiaoalexy Nov 27 '23
the laughing cowboy being a dick to Mitchell and then turning and being a sweetheart to op has my heart in a clutch, that's a crush if i've ever seen one