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

[disharmonizes]

[Handholding time already? Don't mind if he does. Maybe just leaning against him a little.]

Oh? Are you two having regular chats now?

That must be exceptionally boring.

[violentenvies]

[oh. leaning good. Salieri will shift a bit into that lean, tilting his head to rest it against Discord's shoulder]

I wouldn't call it regular, however, it wanted to talk through the results of the dress rehearsal, and my own experience.

And...it did mention a bit of what happened while it was connected with it's brethren.

[disharmonizes]

Oh? Like... what, exactly? It was more than a little vague during the meeting.

[violentenvies]

It was, yes.

[boy, he knows you're not going to love this, Discord, but...]

It...didn't tell everyone else that in alerting the other SQUIPs, it started in motion a rescue from the others. Their expected arrival time is unknown, but it felt that if the others knew that there was a safety net, then they would not put their all into the performance the way that they would if they thought this plan was the only option.

[disharmonizes]

[Discord is quiet a moment, simply taking that in. Then he takes a deep breath and lets it out. Slow.]

Wait-- Wait, it started that and didn't think that was worth mentioning--

Because it wants to motivate everyone?

[violentenvies]

[he huffs out a small sigh]

Yes. For the record, I did try and dissuade it.

[disharmonizes]

Ugh! Computers and their logic. Can't see the forest for all the zeroes and ones it thought up!

[violentenvies]

[he does not understand that reference at all]

Apparently not. [dryly] ....I...did inform it that if it didn't bring it up itself, then I would tell you myself. Only because, well...it wasn't right that I knew and you didn't. Especially knowing how much you would disagree with the idea.

[disharmonizes]

It's trying to be manipulative and failing. Mostly I'm just insulted.

If it wants to manipulate everyone into doing their best, I could tell it how to do that. Without even lying to everyone about it.

[violentenvies]

Perhaps you should.

It certainly isn't going to.

[disharmonizes]

Perhaps I shall. If it's going to be difficult about this. Honestly.

[And he'll push to his feet, as much as he was enjoying the handholding and everything.]

I'll take care of that and be back soon. How does that sound?

[violentenvies]

[there's a hint of amusement to Salieri's expression as he keeps holding onto Discord's hand until just...the last...moment]

Sounds like a plan. I'll wait for you.

1/2

[disharmonizes]

Then I'll be back soon. Adieu~

[And... off he goes.]

2/2

[disharmonizes]

[And after aaaaaaaall of... that, Discord will return. Announcing himself by, once again, just plopping himself down next to Salieri on the mattress.]

So! How are we going to tell everyone about this?

[violentenvies]

[That was fairly quick. Not that he's surprised. And of course already moving to cozy back up to Discord's side. It's gotten a little colder out, after all, now that it's getting later and that is definitely the only reason.]

An announcement would be best, I should think.

[disharmonizes]

Excellent. An announcement it is. I figured we can work on that together, since you're meant to be resting and I have a tendency to... [he waves his hand around vaguely] ...deliver news a little rudely.

[violentenvies]

You certainly have a unique way of putting things, that's true. [that amusement creeps back in] Very well. A joint effort, then.

[a pause] In a bit. [decisive--before moving, shifting to stretch out on the mattress, knocking some of the scores off and to the grass with surprisingly little care. then he reaches up to tug on Discord's arm.]

Come down here.

[disharmonizes]

Oh?

[And then suddenly, he's tugged down. And, well, who is he to say no? So with a bit of a huff (like he minds this in the least) he lies down, joining Salieri properly.]

Very well. Is this better?

[violentenvies]

[oh, well in that case, he'll just roll over a bit so he's half laying on top of Discord, propping himself up on his chest a bit--ah, it seems Salieri's pulled that ribbon out of his hair again, and it falls loose around his face and over his shoulder.

he smirks, like a cat that caught the canary]

Much.

[disharmonizes]

[Ah--

He blinks just a little bit, not expecting to have Salieri suddenly right there half on top of him and-- yep okay, there goes his hair, too.

S-Sir...]

Well... Happy to oblige, then.

[violentenvies]

Mn. [got him :> But also...his expression softens a bit]

...thank you. For today.

[disharmonizes]

You know you've already said as much, right? Not that I mind hearing it.

[violentenvies]

I know. But it bears repeating. [he reaches up with a hand, setting his palm against Discord's cheek]

Between breakfast, the books, the meeting, bringing the mattress out here...I think it might be the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for me.

[disharmonizes]

So the bar's set very low, then? Because all I'm doing is preventing you from being stupid, so...

1/2

[violentenvies]

[he can't help but huff out a small laugh at that, dropping his head a moment to hide his smile against Discord's collar for a moment. Then he sighs a bit, turning his head to the side so he can look up at Discord while still perhaps just listening to the sound of his heartbeat.]

Perhaps. But you didn't have to do all of that. You may call it a low bar, but there's plenty of people that would've just locked me in the dorm and left it at that. Or wouldn't have even cared enough to look after my health in the first place.