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

[voicerights]

If you want my advice? Leave that sort of thing [a nod towards the book] towards my own processor. A basic understanding will help, but as your partner enjoys mentioning, reality doesn't care what you do and do not understand. I would exploit that fact if I could.

[...]

Thank you, by the way. For the announcement, earlier.

[alchemistake]

Hah, yeah. I guess the whole human thing has been...really a lot to get used to. I mean, we're not exactly simple creatures.

[More gentle petting]

[alchemistake]

I'm okay! I'm okay-

[He's dead already, it's not like he can get deader, right?]

This is...whew. Okay, way slipperier than I thought...

[alchemistake]

[Varian nods, brought back to that trial room, thinking about everyone up there...and it reminds him of something.]

Discord- you remember everything now, don't you?

[disharmonizes]

I do indeed. A solid amount of lost time, all back in place once again.

[alchemistake]

[Honestly might as well just go for it, right? Varian takes a couple of preemptive steps back.]

You set the fuse on that one, it's your turn.

[disharmonizes]

Oh-- Yes, of course.

[Making sure the whole thing is in Salieri's hands, now, just... passing it over.]

By all means.

[howtheworldwas]

[ ok but how do you practice reality-bending and furthermore how do you get good at it within a week??

that's. probably not for her to know. she'll just offer up the obligatory: ]

...okay. Just be careful, and let me know if there's anything I can do to make it safer, yeah?

[alchemistake]

Okay. I wasn't sure I'd get to ever tell you, but...my dad is okay.

[He smiles a little, a sad, bittersweet thing.]

Rapunzel and I were able to free him from the amber after all. The Wizard just made sure that was something I'd forgotten.

[And hey, now he's dead for his efforts.]

But...I still really appreciate your offer to help me.

[whatyouwant]

Yeah! She's fine, so is everyone else. She's the one who caught you, actually.

[Elle gives the SQUIP a soft smile.]

You've changed a lot.

[violentenvies]

[Salieri blinks at that]

Ah...yes, alright. [he'll move to stand, then, as well] If you'll give me a moment to put myself back together, I'd be happy to. [because y'know, wet feet and all that.]

[violentenvies]

[sldhfs Varian. Salieri is just going to pause, stopping them both before just...going to tug Varian in by the hand so he can give him a hug]

...it did. It might take a few days to sink in completely but...it was a rather effective verbal kick.

[whatyouwant]

You'd probably like it! It's super light, just fish and rice.

[Elle hums and stares off into the distance.]

Sucks that we're dead. There's this amazing soup place in Boston that has the best lobster bisque.

[voicerights]

I'm a learning computer. With every interaction, I evolve.

[THAT'S THE REASON. CLEARLY. it's not like it likes you guys or anything, b-baka!]

And they will be needed if we are to do this again.

[violentenvies]

[His other jacket is already off, so it's just a matter of swinging this one carefully over his shoulders, almost reverent as he slides his arms into the sleeves, buttons the coat in the front and just...smooths his hands down the front, gently pulling it into place]

It's a perfect fit. [it almost feels like he can hardly breathe, not due to any fitting problems, but more that now that he's got it on, he can feel the care and careful fitting that somehow went into this without him ever even trying it on before]

somewhere, who knows

[voicerights]

[Hey, Discord. Don't mind the SQUIP passing you in the hall, and without even halting and/or turning to look at you-]

Thank you.

[JUST CONTINUING ON]

cw: suicide discussion

[whatyouwant]

[Elle lets out a choked laugh.]

And it didn't even work! Orpheus and Eurydice died just because they saw what happened to me. If I hadn't been on that roof, they would still be alive.

cw: discussions of suicide, food insecurity

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ It's his instinct, to insist that she and their friends would have found some way. Between spring finally coming again back home and all their resources, surely they could have brought her somewhere that would finally be as safe and secure as she'd searched for her whole life. But it doesn't matter now, does it, and that hope feels pointless and condescending and chiding on his tongue, so he swallows it back down.

Instead, he leans in, pressing his forehead to hers. ]

No, I - I'm sorry. That you had to see that happen to me. I can't imagine how that must've felt.

[ He can get close, though, thinking about losing her the first time and his desperation to follow that could've turned very bad if Hermes hadn't intervened when he did. The second time, when he felt like the whole world had ended, spent hours and hours and hours sitting outside what had once been the entrance to the Underworld, now closed to him, possibly forever. And now, knowing that Maya did it, separated them and then saw fit to reunite them in the worst way. Did she think she was doing them a kindness?

His hands shake slightly and he draws a sharp breath through his teeth. ]

Have you seen her here, yet? Maya. [ his voice is quiet, but uncharacteristically angry. He doesn't know what he'll do when he sees her next. Violence in all its forms has always been something he's hated, even sparring for sport or fun, so that's not something he's all that worried about, but what do you do when someone murders the love of your life? ]

[disharmonizes]

[...Oh, the SQUIP might not halt, but Discord definitely does. At first just blinking. Before then spinning around to look at it.]

I'm sorry, what was that?

1/2

[violentenvies]

[Salieri looks slightly amused at that] ...I suppose you're right. Perhaps I'll let it be for now, then, and simply trust yours and my boyfriend's word on it.

[wanderlusttitania]

[She chuckles, at this.]

Of course, of course! Take all the time you need!

2/2

[violentenvies]

[the thanks, however, startles him]

Ah...certainly. Though I'm not sure why it is exactly deserving of thanks, but I'll accept it nevertheless.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus has to take a second to remember - it feels like a lifetime ago, that first solemn gathering after a trial and execution. But he does remember, eventually. ]

You asked if I'd fight for what I believed in. If I'd die for it. And I said I would.

[ He glances over at Eurydice, presumably somewhere nearby because like anything could drag them too far apart after what they've just been through. ]

I don't think I would, anymore. Die. I'd rather live. Dying is... easy. Living is harder. But there are things that make it worth it.

[ Sighing, he shakes his head. ]

Not that I'm sure we can die, again? But I will fight, with all my heart. I promise.

[whatyouwant]

And you'd be upset if something happened to them.

[Elle takes a seat on one of the bedside table.]

So you and Elizabeth have gotten closer, huh?

[themuseabandonsyou]

Um. Like the Balladeer. Hester gave us back your, um. Your body, after the execution. I'm sorry. Should we not have?

[ Is there a custom he would've preferred? The traditional thing back home for Orpheus is cremation, he knows, but given what resources they had on hand here he really didn't think that would've been a good thing to try. ]