the mark of those who cannot be saved

[stagemanagers]

[You remember dying. Maybe the memory is clear and bright and your body still aches from the cause. Maybe it was fast enough that you didn't feel it and don't remember what you went through. But no matter how you went out, that's no excuse for truancy! Which is to say: you are still in the school.

For those executed, you will wake up in your beds. The dormitories look exactly as they did when you first arrived, without any of the changes or personal effects you and your dormmates might have made. The only real difference is that the little cot in Ambassador isn't there.

For those who were victims, you will wake where your body was discovered. All of your injuries are gone, and you feel fine. It's almost like you're still alive - but you remember what happened to you. It couldn't have just been a dream, could it?

The school looks much as you remember it, save perhaps for a few key differences. For one, there's no groundhog murals anywhere. Where things were green on the other side, like banners or paint, you'll find that here they're blood red.

The doors, for the moment, are still locked. Looks like even death couldn't free you.]

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

(( ooc: Welcome to deadland, everyone! It mostly resembles the school here, and new floors will be revealed after new people die. For example, the second area will unlock after the week 3 dead arrive, and so on. Also, all dead characters will wake up at their actual canonpoint, with all lost memories restored. Have fun being dead! ))

Comments

[violentenvies]

[Would anyone like to see Salieri high?? I hope so, because that's what you're getting. He is probably seated on the floor, relaxing back against one of those pillows, looking mellow as heck. His jacket's probably off on the floor somewhere and his cravat's gone along with it. Heck, even the top collar buttons on his shirt might be undone! He's really going wild here.]

[disharmonizes]

An excellent question.

[He makes a show of observing the bombs, all of them impressive pieces of work, he thinks, before just turning to Varian. Holding up a die, that he magically spins in the air. Where did he even GET--]

We could leave it up to chance and see where things end up.

[voicerights]

[Right. As with everything, it's quick and efficient about it, using some improvised rollers and tools to the more mathematical-portions out of the way. While they're intrinsically tied with the theory, as much as anything else, for Salieri? It needs to focus on something else.

And so, it flips another whiteboard to reveal a set of carefully-measured lines, these ones made with permanent marker and allowed to dry. Now it gestures for him to approach, uncapping one of the dry-erase markers]

As I had explained earlier, I understand how to make music. But not how to make music evoke. Unless I can either explain to you how I am programming the score, or you to me how to make it alive...I have hit a barrier in my progress.

[disharmonizes]

[Now isn't this familiar?

It's... a strange mixed memory from right before he and Salieri died, but all the same, here he is. Before he tries this, of course, he'll just be going up to Salieri.]

Ah. This again, then? So you're going to be doing another impression of a koala? Because it was extremely funny, I'll admit.

[...But, after talking to Salieri, Discord will be, uh, around here later. Just sort of. lying on a pillow. staring up at the ceiling.

He is like a million miles away right now.

Someone was convinced to join in this time.]

[violentenvies]

[alsdhfs at that he huffs a bit, tossing some more pillows on the floor, trying to pretend his ears aren't going a bit red]

Yes, well. You were in arms reach and I am particularly fond of you. Can you blame me?

[alchemistake]

[You know what they say, gotta get the kids started early on predatory business practices which includes gambling-]

Oh, yeah! That's a great idea!

[He pulls his goggles down, making sure they're firmly in place.]

Let's do this.

[disharmonizes]

Oh, it was very endearing, really. You're usually so put together and I do enjoy seeing it when people suddenly aren't.

[samefacesyndrome]

[ She's also on the blanket but is uh going to just... scooch over and hide behind Salieri, just barely peeking her head out. ]

R...Ready.

[violentenvies]

That's because music tells a story. Always. [Salieri steps closer to the board, mirroring the SQUIP'S position at the other end of said board] Whether it's instrumental, vocal, choral, or even a simple folk song--whatever it happens to be. And certain combinations in our Western music are taught to us from a young age to make us feel a certain way, whether that teaching is formal or informal.

For example, if you want something sad, a natural or melodic minor key is best. Hopeful? Major. Sinister? You use a harmonic minor. Triumphant? Trumpet blasts in the upper chords.

The question is, what emotion do you want to envoke?

not here

[voicerights]

[But in the nurses's office, the SQUIP calmly continues its preparations for a worst-case scenario.

Because Discord.]

[violentenvies]

Is that so? Well, I'll be interested to see how Peregrine's medicinal herb affects you.

[disharmonizes]

[voicerights]

[It's quiet for a moment. Then, quietly, looking back at the whiteboard;]

I don't know. We should start at the very beginning.

[Is it talking about composing? Emotions? Who knows.]

[violentenvies]

[alskdhfs Rina. Salieri will shift a bit so she can better hide behind him, reaching back to pat her knee]

Discord did mention putting glitter in them. That'll be nice, won't it?

[disharmonizes]

[And Discord will spin that die further into the air, letting it land on his hand after a moment. And then points to the corresponding bomb when it lands on a 3.]

Looks like we have our first lucky contestant.

[disharmonizes]

Me? Oh no, no, but it's so fun just watching you.

[violentenvies]

Oh? You aren't joining me, then?

Are you sure? You did miss out last time.

[disharmonizes]

I doubt I'm missing out on much. It was mostly you all rolling around on the floor a lot.

[violentenvies]

[Salieri arches an eyebrow at that]

Well. One way to find out. After all, I did introduce you to drinking as a human. [he smirks]

[disharmonizes]

My, is this that peer pressure all those specials were about? Because you really seem to want me in on this.

[violentenvies]

Maybe I do. [he shrugs a shoulder] Perhaps you're due to relax for a bit yourself.

[disharmonizes]

We have met, yes? I'm always relaxed.

[violentenvies]

[just

gives him the most

deadpan look imaginable]

Mon amour, I consider myself to be rather skilled at hiding my emotions when I need to, and even I will admit that I have nothing on you.

[disharmonizes]

[...............]

...Fair enough, I suppose.

Fine, fine. Let's give this a try, then.

[violentenvies]

It's a very good place to start...

[he clears his throat]

Think of every musical phrase like a sentence. It's composed of words in certain areas, but depending on how those are put together, they evoke a different feeling. For example, a 1-5 chord, or an authentic cadence. You use it to close everything up, like a period. It makes things sound very final and finished. And there's four types of main cadences. Then in addition to the melodies, there are dynamics--and the use of those can change how any of these pieces come across.

[he pauses]

This would be easier if I knew what, exactly, you're trying to create.