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

[alchemistake]

Don't you worry, whatever it might take, I'm finding a way
And I swear right now, that no matter what comes of me...

Anybody who stands or has stood in my path
They're going to pay

[His gaze narrows, still holding Nana's eyes with his own.]

Whatever you need us to do...I'm not going to rest until I see this through to the end. Even if it means spending an eternity in this afterlife.

I lived my entire life with regrets. I refuse to let the afterlife be the same.

[musacal]

[ She's a little surprised at first by his declaration but soon enough she smiles gently. ]

Hopefully an eternity won't be necessary.

What's your names by the way? [ Because of course Rina is also close behind him and nodding in agreement BUT THE WALL OF PLAYERCEST IS IN MY WAY ] I don't think I caught them yet.

[alchemistake]

O-oh, uh...

[Varian will step back, finally, reaching to take Rina's hand again in his own.]

My name is Varian. This is Tennoji Rina.

[He got the order right are u proud of him]

[musacal]

[ SHE'S VERY PROUD Rina even gives his hand a squeeze. ]

Varian-kun. Rina-chan. Got it.

This is a sad song
This is a sad tale
This is a tragedy.
It's a sad song...
But we sing it anyway.

'Cause here’s the thing
To know how it ends
And still begin to sing it again
As if it might turn out this time
I learned that from a friend of mine...

[ She sees Karen triumphing in the face of what she herself could not overcome on her own, her soft pirouettes and delicate singing voice with Hikari and their intimate hand hold, changing the ending of the story she repeated so many times. And then she sees Mephisto making promises to her, and then Anne, Christine, Santana... she sees them all. ]

...It's going to turn out this time. I'll help get them out and then we'll help get you all out. Just like with my group. And then you can all try a batch of my famous banana muffins afterwards to celebrate joining the family.

I promise.

[alchemistake]

[Varian's expression softens, at that. The idea that they could save the others, but also this group here who didn't survive...it's almost too good for Varian to believe. When you're dead...that's it. You're gone. But he knows now- knowing people like Farrah- that for the Wizard, that sort of thing didn't much matter. A power existed that could save them...it's just a matter of them reaching it.]

...Thank you, Nana. I'm going to look forward to that.

I think all of us would agree.

[musacal]

[ She's still smiling and strongly resisting the urge to give headpats and hugs... when she realizes something. ]

Oh, I have an idea!

[ She turns away a little bit just so uh. She's not accidentally flashing her bra at any kids as she sticks her hand into the v-neck of her shirt, trying to get at her side. Eventually she finds and pulls out a yellow and brown cellphone.

Listen sticking your smartphone in the side of your bra when your hot Meg Giry pants don't have pockets is the most lesbiancore thing to do.

She holds it up. ]

If it's okay, would you guys like to record messages for everyone alive before I go?

[alchemistake]

[Varian's eyes widen, remembering Farrah's smartphone...and the idea of being able to send a message- a real message, with his voice- makes his chest tighten.

Now that really feels too good to be true.]

You...can really do that for us?

[musacal]

Of course! Hearing from the dead gave us a lot of hope last time!

It can’t be too long because of limited memory [ she takes. A loooooot of pictures ] but I can still do some kind of nice video!

[alchemistake]

A...video? You mean like...

[...]

They can see us...

[He says that under his breath, reverent almost. Not being able to see them has been killing him, but...]

Maybe... [He looks at Rina's hand still in his own.] ...maybe we can all stand together. And...each of us can take a turn to say something.

[voicerights]

It would be best if I stay out, then.

[Still kind of off to the side]

[musacal]

You sure?

[ Wait this is the SQUIP so— ]

Did you do something bad again?

[voicerights]

[glances at Connor]

I killed him.

[Matter-of-fact. Zero remorse]

[musacal]

Oh.

[ A pause. ]

Didn’t like. Half of you kill someone technically?

[yourattention]

Get the fuck over here, you over-dramatic knock-off Hatsune Miku! At least one person probably likes you or feels weirdly conflicted about your death. [A beat.] Also if you're not in the video someone is going to think I murdered you.

[voicerights]

By my calculations, they would consider that further justice.

[...]

But, if you insist.

[yourattention]

Yeah, but I don't want them to think I'm a murderer. The insufferable drudgery of human emotion is enough punishment for you, Cortana.

[musacal]

I think that would be a wonderful way to do it.

And then… they know for sure that it’s you.

[alchemistake]

Alright.

[Varian looks around their immediate area. There aren't that many of them, in the grand scheme of things...but enough for there to be too many.]

C'mon guys, let's all stand together here and get ready. We can't keep Nana too long.

[musacal]

Oh, by the way!

You can call me Banana, if you’d like! That’s what all my friends call me.

[wanderlusttitania]

Record us how?

[what is that]

[musacal]

With my smartphone!

It can do all sorts of awesome things!

[wanderlusttitania]

A smart phone?

[Oh, now you have her curious.]

What does it do?

[Might be subtly coming closer so she can see this mysterious smart rectangle now.]

[musacal]

Well, on top of making phone calls and sending text messages to other phones, to not take picture and even record video.

[wanderlusttitania]

Text messages and...

[She looks at the little rectangle with complete awe and excitement.]

What an incredible invention! But, ah, what are videos?

[musacal]

It’s like a moving picture! With sound and everything!