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! ))

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GHOST TIME GHOST TIME GHOST TIME

[guardianofsplendor]

[It's a Monday.

Or possibly Tuesday. Time is fake when you're dead/temporally misplaced. But what really matters is that things are stirring in the living world. She can feel it in her bones and she's sure the Balladeer can too. The kids have busted out their spirit boards and it is time for some haunting! It's almost funny. The second time she'd run things she'd been a mixture of mildly charmed and deeply annoyed by all the vandalism the dead got up to. Now she's part of it. Hm.

Anyway step aside, Hester, some of us don't need PA systems to project across an entire campus.]

Alright, everyone, it's time to go into the woods!

[You hard the lady, to the woods!]

[alchemistake]

[Varian's probably already outside, busy avoiding...specific areas, but honestly they're not as bad as they once were since he and Rina went on their corn destruction spree. Either way, he no doubt hears the call of going into the woods which...

Huuuuuh.

It's not like they have anything better to do during their time as the non-living, and sue him: he's curious.]

So what are we doing in the woods, exactly?

[voicerights]

I was under the impression they had already been explored by Pegerine. [Say what you want; it knows she knows what she's doing in that regard]

[guardianofsplendor]

Oh, we're not exploring. We're haunting, baby!

[She's standing in the little wooded area, right where the living have their little campfire. She can practically smell the wood smoke. It's a perfect storm.]

[samefacesyndrome]

[ She’s here with him of course because do you think she’s left his side since they made up? Absolutely not.

She seems in a happier mood because of that even though her face doesn’t show it and even starts to sing under her breath: ]

Into the woods
and out of the woods
and home before dark

[guardianofsplendor]

[That's what she likes to hear!!]

The way is clear
The light is good
I have no fear
Nor no one should

[wanderlusttitania]

The woods?

[Hm. She is admittedly curious what is going on in the woods.]

[guardianofsplendor]

[LP has been strangely silent since the actual summoning had started. She'd been active for sure, pacing and gesturing and glaring at the Balladeer a few times. It's very suddenly that she jerks back, frustration creeping into her expression.]

Dammit! That wizarding rat bastard. Alright, change of plans- everyone get to the gym. We're moving to plan B.

[wanderlusttitania]

The gymnasium? What's happening?

[guardianofsplendor]

That damn Wizard happened! [She's already powerwalking toward the gym.] He's learned from the last time apparently, so we've got to get sneaky.

[samefacesyndrome]

[ Finally stops focusing: ]

Plan B?

[ But ok gym time it is, she’s already got Varian’s hand. ]

[alchemistake]

[All of that had been...overwhelming, even if it didn't seem like much was really happening. Nothing was being said verbally, but he could still feel their intent reaching out to the living. ...and he could feel their responses.

His grip on Rina's hand is tight, and he can feel tears burning the corners of his eyes. He doesn't let them fall this time though, instead turning his attention back to LP when she suddenly jerks back.

Wizarding? Fuck.

TO THE GYM THEN...]

Did the Wizard do something...?

[tellthestory]

[The Balladeer's been doing essentially the same thing - a lot of standing with his hands in his pockets and staring at the sky, looking sad with occasional pauses to glare at the Leading Player. But he snaps back to the here and now at the same time, turning to make sure everyone's here.]

What's Plan B?

[guardianofsplendor]

The hands-on approach. You felt it too? The storm, the cut-off.

[voicerights]

What is he doing?

[but. doing a quick headcount and making sure everyone's here - yes, you too, Connor - before heading for said gym]

[guardianofsplendor]

Throwin' a tantrum is what. Grab all that math you've been pulling together, it's goin' to come in handy.

Video cat herd!

[musacal]

Okay—! I think I got everyone in the frame!

[ She holding the phone up, carefully making sure everyone’s there before she presses anything. ]

Try not to take too long - we gotta let everyone have a chance if they want! Oh, and make sure to look at the phone and speak clearly!

Aaaaand… go!

[ She presses record. ]

[yourattention]

[When the cellphone pans around to Connor, he freezes for a moment. Nana said messages for "everyone" alive, but well. Presumably, nobody will be surprised that his message is for a specific person.

Even when the dark comes crashing through—]

Hey, Per. I...

[He swallows, and when he speaks again it comes out gut-wrenchingly sad.]

Promise that you won't forget me
Live and let live but don't let go

[alchemistake]

[Varian makes sure he's standing up straight and focused on the camera, holding Rina's hand as Nana focuses the phone on him. He looks nervous...but determined. Happy, yet sad.

He's given the signal to go, and he wastes a few seconds struggling to find his words. It's awkward, as expected, but it's very...Varian.]

Oh! Right, right, uh...it's Varian. There's not a whole lot of time, so...

I'm still here. I'm listening. And...I'm waiting for you guys.

Mon père. Ma sœur...I love you.

[Long nights being dead give you a lot of time to research in the library, turns out.]

[voicerights]

[The SQUIP is looking extremely uncomfortable, pulled in to the group like this. It's standing by Elizabeth, and watching the others as they deliver their messages. Finally, though, in a space of silence, its voice breaks through]

The Wizard is an expert manipulator, even by my standards. And at this point, I would like to be proved further wrong in order to stop whatever he has used us for. Do not underestimate him for a second.

Even so...

If it was up to you, and you
You know that you would lose
If it was up to you, I know

[And it may or may not be resting a hand on Sissi's shoulder at this point]

You'd always choose...to continue.

[wanderlusttitania]

[Sissi takes a deep breath once it's her turn, composing herself as she looks at the camera.

She'll be brief.]

I haven't had a proper picture of me taken in almost 30 years. But for this, I'll make the exception.

Éljen. It means many things in the language of the people I came to love as my own. It means long life...and...to rise up in glory.

If you can keep the spirit of that word in your heart...I know you'll stop the Wizard!

I'm here when you need me,
I live and I die with you.
I'll share all your troubles,
I'll laugh and I'll cry with you.
You can blame me and bless me,
but do not let the Wizard possess thee...

You all belong to you...

And I to me!

[samefacesyndrome]

[ Rina is holding hands with Varian and is similarly a bit nervous and awkward. But she tightens her grip on his hand, trying to give herself strength. ]

The… the nice lady here says that we could maybe come back to life like past groups did a-and I’m afraid to hope but I… I want to see everyone again so much! I still want to sing for everyone with Salieri-san, so please… come and find us!

Rina-chan Board says—

[ But wait, she doesn’t even have the board anymore. She looks down, unsure what to do before gripping Varian’s hand again for support and looking back up. ]

Rina-chan says… “I love you!”

[prophetpriestandking]

[Look up to the phone and speak clearly - got it. Mumble straightens his little penguin back up and gets ready.]

Everyone…you can this. We’re - we’ll be fine, don’t worry. If you stick together, and don’t give up, and we’ll all be able to get out of here. Together.

A-And when we do, we’ll all have a great big party - got it?

[tellthestory]

[The Balladeer positions himself off to the side a little bit - clearly still intending to be in the video, but waiting until everyone else has had a chance to go first. It's only right.

Once that's happened, though, he chimes in - in song, the way he always has:]

Sometimes people leave you,
halfway through the wood.
Do not let it grieve you.
No one leaves for good...

[...but things aren't as they always were.]

Janis, Benjamin, S - [The man touched his corpse.] - Antonio. Everyone. I'm sorry you had to deal with that, but...thank you. I can't say enough now. Just stick together, all of you. These things can be beaten. I've seen it happen.

I'll keep playing in the garden - maybe you can hear it. Ha, probably not. But I'll be around. Ben, Maya, anyone, if -

If you need me, come and find me.
Come and find me.
If you don't know what to do.

Though you can't see me, come and find me
You come and find me.
We're all still here for you.

[guardianofsplendor]

[With everyone else set, the Leading Player flashes the camera a dazzling smile. It's a little odd though, the way she's looking directly into the camera almost feels like she's speaking to more than just the survivors.]

Nothing's gonna harm you
Not while I'm around
Nothing's gonna harm you
No sir, not while I'm around

[She winks at a certain someone reading this and extends her hand toward Nana and, by extension, the camera. An invitation to step through.]

But I've got friends on the other side