WELCOME TO FYODOR AND STANLEY’S PLAYPLACE.
FYODOR RAKOVSKY
FYODOR (FEDYA) RAKOVSKY
> 24 YEARS OLD
> EXPERT PIANIST
> SCARILY CONTROLLING
> LIKES TO HAVE FUN AND PLAYFyodor is a skilled composer and pianist, and he knows it.
As a high school senior, he took an interest in a talented (and easily controllable) composer... Stanley.
This was a good first step into power, but he quickly realized teaching didn’t quell his need for control.
His real passion was in medicine, and he went on to achieve his bachelor's degree in pre-med.
However, a year after starting graduate medical school, Fyodor unenrolled to accept a full-time (and high-paying!) piano teaching job at the House-Let.
His boss was known simply as... The Man.
STANLEY PROVAN
> 22 YEARS OLD
> FRESH OUT OF MUSIC SCHOOL
> REALLY FREAKIN' INSECURE
> JOBLESS AND HOPELESS… WILL DO ANYTHING TO MAKE RENT…Stanley has always struggled to make decisions without guidance. His strained relationship with his parents damaged his ability to form healthy relationships, and he relies on people to tell him what to do.
As a sophomore in high school, Stanley became painfully attached to Fyodor, his senior piano tutor.
Because of him, Stanley gained a deeper love of music theory and committed to music school post-grad.
After gut-wrenchingly finishing college, he struggled so much to find a job in his field that he was willing to take anything…
Until he witnessed Fyodor stabbing his boss to death in the parking lot.
Even though Fyodor was financially well-off, there was still something missing— full, unadulterated power.Medical school used to bring him that satisfaction, but teaching, frustratingly, no longer did.After being (rudely) denied a promotion from The Man for the millionth time, they entered a heated argument, and Fyodor’s patience shattered.As if on instinct, Fyodor grabbed a nearby box cutter and made a beeline straight for The Man’s neck, killing him in the parking lot of The House-let.After noticing Stanley around the corner, Fyodor attacks him with the intention to off a witness.He pauses, recognizing Stanley’s face for the first time in 6 years, and realizes he has an incredible opportunity by offering to spare poor Stanley’s jobless life… and adding a promise of employment…...but with some unsettling conditions of power relinquishment.Stanley, finally presented with a chance to work in his studied field, has no choice but to take this offer under fear of being killed… or worse… unemployed.
"“Help me dissolve the body in this tub. Jesus Christ, not THAT tub. That’s where I wash my duck collection.”
...or whatever Fyodor said. Stanley can’t remember word-for-word verbatim, so he paraphrases. It really pisses Fyodor off. Ha ha haha.
Despite the circumstances in which they re-met, Stanley felt like a void was filled when he reconnected with Fyodor.He didn’t forget about Fyodor after high school. He couldn’t. Whenever Fyodor entered his mind, the fear that coursed through Stanley’s veins was persistent and oddly addictive.Despite the morbid possibilities, when Fyodor was truly threatening his life, Stanley finally felt needed, like he didn’t completely waste his degree, because in the end, he was able to be useful to Fyodor!…Right?The music degree was another ball game. Finding a job in the industry was absolutely impossible unless you got lucky or knew someone… which is something you cruelly learn for yourself in college.After Fyodor introduced him to music theory, Stanley hooked his whole life on studying it, and it crushed him when he realized it was a mistake. But, no worries— he gained that confidence back after Fyodor hired him to make him a pawn.Think of music, instant dopamine.
See Fyodor, think of music, instant dopamine.
Gratification by association.
Well done, Provan.Fyodor isn’t just gaining power from this. He’s gaining the exact same power from the exact same person he was so nostalgic for in the first place.Well, he wasn’t quite feeling nostalgic for Stanley himself, but for the feeling of control that Stanley used to awaken in him. After experiencing just a taste of it for the first time in years, he knew he needed more, and he was going to chase it.The dynamic between Fyodor and Stanley is a two-way parasitic street. Stanley doesn’t realize this, but Fyodor does, and he takes advantage of it.By slowly reeling Stanley into emotional dependence, Fyodor finally has ultimate control, and he loves watching it intensify under his silent command, because no matter what stage they’re at, it’s never enough.In short, if Fyodor sees a boundary, he pushes it. No matter the stakes on Stanley’s life.Perhaps this is why he’s so attached to Fyodor…? An amalgamation of regaining hope and that his most passionate interest is linked to the person who piqued his interest to study it? Who—may I add— is successful in that same field?Surely, the association (and humiliation) can’t be healthy, but Stanley doesn’t care. Fyodor wants him. Sometimes it hurts, but Fyodor WANTS him. He feels so special.Fyodor has Stanley wrapped around his finger. Stanley knows this. It’s not a problem of failing to fight against the dynamic— the idea of being used while vulnerable makes Stanley feel useful and sought after… despite the context.
He loves Fyodor, or so he thinks. He loves the FEELING he gets from Fyodor.Pain, fear, yearning, gratification, suspense, obedience, it’s overwhelming in the most addictive way.He feels strangely at ease knowing someone else has control of his life for him...Especially when rewarded with a paycheck.Through punishment, trial and error, Stanley becomes proficient in sheet music, theory, and composition.Fyodor schedules him for a big performance showcase under one condition— do not make a single mistake onstage.Stanley doesn’t want to mess up. Of course, he doesn’t. But as Fyodor maps out every intricacy of what he plans to do to Stanley over one potential mistake… he’s reached a point in his state of brainwashing that he wants Fyodor to punish him just so he can get that addictive praise afterwards.On the final measure, Stanley makes the conscious decision to play a sour note. As he walks offstage, Fyodor grabs him by the arm and throws him on the floor. Fyodor’s eyes have a new type of anger in them— one that sees that Stanley intentionally messed up just to get his attention— and this scares the shit out of Stanley.As Fyodor aims to stab him, Stanley’s fight or flight kicks in… and he turns the knife on Fyodor.Stanley remains in shock for quite a while. He still hasn’t fully comprehended what he’s done until he hears the show start to come to a close.Stanley comes back onstage and plays an impromptu piece perfectly. After he finishes, he grabs the microphone and introduces himself as the new boss of the House-let... and that applications are open for a new employee.As he walks offstage and the audience cheers, a trail of blood drags behind him.
WELCOME TO THE PHOTO BOOTH.
