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June Event
hello
You open your eyes.
And you scream.
Four long gashes tear your sleeve to ribbons and arm to searing pain, something sharp clamps down on your ankle and sinks into flesh and bone, down the hall another student dangles half a foot off the ground with their hair slowly separating from their scalp, and littered across the floor are bodies pooling blood and occasionally twitching— not in a last bid for life, but in the way strips of skin and muscle and fabric pull away from a person's limbs when several dozen invisible hungry imps have decided they don't want to be banished and would rather feast on the blood of their enemies if that's what it takes to survive.
For every instance of blood that touches the floor, the school pitches and transforms into a dilapidated version of itself, what npcs that were in the hall with you turning into shadow versions of themselves and taking hold of the fallen bodies to drag them to the auditorium. There, the empty room is pitch black. There, the threshold at the doorway crumbles and expands with each shadow that stands and feeds the void another sacrifice. In this school, in its darkness and its silence and its faceless students that cannot be touched, you may at least find some reprieve from the imps that do not exist, find fresh water flowing from the bathroom sinks, and scenes of normal school life playing out in the cracked mirrors that if you break even further you find that you return.
You open your eyes, and no time has passed. Something invisible tears open a student's throat, so close you can see their vocal cords bright white and vibrating as they scream. Blood splatters on the ground, and the school pitches and turns once again.
And you scream.
Four long gashes tear your sleeve to ribbons and arm to searing pain, something sharp clamps down on your ankle and sinks into flesh and bone, down the hall another student dangles half a foot off the ground with their hair slowly separating from their scalp, and littered across the floor are bodies pooling blood and occasionally twitching— not in a last bid for life, but in the way strips of skin and muscle and fabric pull away from a person's limbs when several dozen invisible hungry imps have decided they don't want to be banished and would rather feast on the blood of their enemies if that's what it takes to survive.
For every instance of blood that touches the floor, the school pitches and transforms into a dilapidated version of itself, what npcs that were in the hall with you turning into shadow versions of themselves and taking hold of the fallen bodies to drag them to the auditorium. There, the empty room is pitch black. There, the threshold at the doorway crumbles and expands with each shadow that stands and feeds the void another sacrifice. In this school, in its darkness and its silence and its faceless students that cannot be touched, you may at least find some reprieve from the imps that do not exist, find fresh water flowing from the bathroom sinks, and scenes of normal school life playing out in the cracked mirrors that if you break even further you find that you return.
You open your eyes, and no time has passed. Something invisible tears open a student's throat, so close you can see their vocal cords bright white and vibrating as they scream. Blood splatters on the ground, and the school pitches and turns once again.
hi
For each fallen student, a new one transfers in to replace them. Between the student council election and the imp infestation, more and more you seem to be surrounded by unfamiliar faces. The contrast is stark between those veteran students with bandaged arms and a limp to their stride and long sleeves and pants despite the growing heat, and those students with bright and smiling faces, the ones who coo over the cats and share their lunches with anybody who looks hungry and sit in small groups outside by the wisteria tree to chat during breaks, ignorant of what keeps it fed.
With all the new transfer students, many teachers have decided to assign group projects for their classes: poster presentations on their favorite myth or legend, short skits portraying famous historical scenes, and, everybody say thank you Cain and Kelly, taking care of flour sack babies. Projects are by homeroom and can be done in groups of 2-4, because sometimes a family is a dad and a dad and a wine aunt and a dog. The projects are all due at the end of the month, and if you're able to keep your flour sack baby from being turned into a cake or torn apart by imps, you may notice that they start to feel... warm... after one week. At the end of the second week, they begin to make short, quiet noises— a gurgle, a breath, a whine. At the end of the third week, while you're cradling the sack in your arms, you swear it moves. At the end of the fourth week, well. The project is over. Maybe it'll hatch? Let me know if you make it.
With all the new transfer students, many teachers have decided to assign group projects for their classes: poster presentations on their favorite myth or legend, short skits portraying famous historical scenes, and, everybody say thank you Cain and Kelly, taking care of flour sack babies. Projects are by homeroom and can be done in groups of 2-4, because sometimes a family is a dad and a dad and a wine aunt and a dog. The projects are all due at the end of the month, and if you're able to keep your flour sack baby from being turned into a cake or torn apart by imps, you may notice that they start to feel... warm... after one week. At the end of the second week, they begin to make short, quiet noises— a gurgle, a breath, a whine. At the end of the third week, while you're cradling the sack in your arms, you swear it moves. At the end of the fourth week, well. The project is over. Maybe it'll hatch? Let me know if you make it.
can you hear me?
The veteran students don't seem very keen on working with transfer students who make excuses about not wanting to work outside of school, but newer students are more willing, eager to meet people and get to know them and learn about the school. They gravitate towards the bulletin board to check out the class ranks, new clubs, a new section on the board with several dozen slips of colored paper tacked onto it and a little container below containing blank slips and a pen so you can add your own wishes:
That's certainly the thought as the month goes on and there are more and more wishes for the construction in the clock tower stairwell to hurry up and finish already, as the entire month of June, from 6AM to 6PM, six days a week, the sounds of drilling and hammering and screaming and sawing can be heard in the stairwell despite no construction workers being seen entering or exiting the school. The clock tower itself is inaccessible while the stairs are being taken down and replaced with a brand new elevator— veteran students are particularly grateful, because it's hard to climb stairs and go to class when your shin is splintered and a thin layer of bandage is the only thing keeping your guts from spilling out onto the floor.
In the evening after the npcs leave, characters are able to open the doors on the second and fourth floors to find... that nothing looks any different. On the first floor, however, a set of elevator doors has been installed right by the front doors, and while the button to open the doors don't work, they can be wrenched apart and entered, revealing a barren space with metal walls, a clock hung on the back wall that ticks backwards, and too many buttons on the panel by the double doors. Most buttons are white, numbered -6 to 27 though out of order and not all the numbers are there. Some are black, one is red, neither colors having symbols etched into them. None of the buttons work when pressed.
Not yet.
Wishes are meant to be granted, but... Some of the newer students make an attempt at being a little more realistic and add things like "I want the answers to next week's math exam" and "I want a pony" and do check the board occasionally, so it never hurts to leave a wish of your own.
"I want to be normal. --XX, 1-A"
"I want to live. --XX, 2-B"
"I want my friends back. --XX, 3-D"
"I want life to go back to normal. --XX, 2-A"
"I want my brother back. --XX, 2-A"
"I want more power. --XX, 1-A"
"I want to be loved. --XX, 1-B"
"I want to fix the past. --XX, 2-A"
"I want to find my family. --XX, 3-B"
"I want to be loved. --XX, 2-A"
"I want a normal life. --XX, 1-A"
"I want my brother back. --XX, 2-B""I want to see my family. --XX, 1-C"
"I want to die. --XX, 2-D"
"I want my friends back. --XX, 2-D"
"I want to fix the past. --XX, 3-D"
"I want freedom. --XX, 1-D"
"I want to live. --XX, 1-C"
"LUNCH DATE WITH IZUMI SENA!!! --XX, 1-A"
"I want to be strong. --XX, 2-E"
"I want freedom. --XX, 3-E"
"I want to live. --XX, 2-E"
"I want to die. --XX, 3-E"
"I want to remember. --XX, 3-C"
That's certainly the thought as the month goes on and there are more and more wishes for the construction in the clock tower stairwell to hurry up and finish already, as the entire month of June, from 6AM to 6PM, six days a week, the sounds of drilling and hammering and screaming and sawing can be heard in the stairwell despite no construction workers being seen entering or exiting the school. The clock tower itself is inaccessible while the stairs are being taken down and replaced with a brand new elevator— veteran students are particularly grateful, because it's hard to climb stairs and go to class when your shin is splintered and a thin layer of bandage is the only thing keeping your guts from spilling out onto the floor.
In the evening after the npcs leave, characters are able to open the doors on the second and fourth floors to find... that nothing looks any different. On the first floor, however, a set of elevator doors has been installed right by the front doors, and while the button to open the doors don't work, they can be wrenched apart and entered, revealing a barren space with metal walls, a clock hung on the back wall that ticks backwards, and too many buttons on the panel by the double doors. Most buttons are white, numbered -6 to 27 though out of order and not all the numbers are there. Some are black, one is red, neither colors having symbols etched into them. None of the buttons work when pressed.
Not yet.
it'll be alright
Until then, the clock tower can be reached as normal up several flights of stairs, the room at the very top bright and sunny with clock faces in the glass on all four sides, floorboards stained copper red and the air thick and difficult to breathe. For some, it's still worth it for the view of the wisteria tree in perpetual bloom in the courtyard below, especially as the heat and humidity of summer approaches and with it comes clouds of gnats that have taken up residence in the courtyard, hovering over puddles of light pink water left over from watering the courtyard overnight. Classes are no longer held outdoors, as teachers find it impossible to speak without gnats entering their mouths at any given opportunity, and the heat inside the school becomes near unbearable towards the latter half of the month as there is no air conditioning and teachers hesitate to open their windows. The homeroom teachers in 1-B, 1-D, and 2-C made that mistake once, opening the windows facing the courtyard and the gnats had gotten in, little homing missiles to their favorite food: blood, sweat, and tears. But if you don't cry, sweat, or bleed and aren't afraid of the gnats squeezing their way through the mesh screen in the windows, it can be nice to sit by the window and hope a breeze comes your way.
Those in classes 3-A, 3-B, 2-C, 2-D, 2-E, and all of the first year classes can find that they're able to open the windows in classrooms 1-B, 1-D, and 2-C to enjoy the breeze, but find an invisible barrier blocking their way and preventing any part of them from reaching out into the open space. 3-A, 2-C, 2-D, 2-E, 1-B, 1-D, and 1-E are able to remove the screen and exit through those windows facing the courtyard, keeping in mind it is the 3rd and 4th floors and they will have to climb back up to reenter the school. 2-C, 1-B, and 1-D can go a step further and find that the front door to the school opens for them, except when they try to leave, they run into an invisible barrier, unable to take another step out the door. But they can stand there and take in the sight of the school gates in the near distance, of the forest just beyond, of the npc students slipping past them on their way to and from home. At this threshold it is chilly despite the heat that smothers the school in waves, the air is fresh, invigorating, and when the sun passes overhead you swear you can feel it staring.
Those in classes 3-A, 3-B, 2-C, 2-D, 2-E, and all of the first year classes can find that they're able to open the windows in classrooms 1-B, 1-D, and 2-C to enjoy the breeze, but find an invisible barrier blocking their way and preventing any part of them from reaching out into the open space. 3-A, 2-C, 2-D, 2-E, 1-B, 1-D, and 1-E are able to remove the screen and exit through those windows facing the courtyard, keeping in mind it is the 3rd and 4th floors and they will have to climb back up to reenter the school. 2-C, 1-B, and 1-D can go a step further and find that the front door to the school opens for them, except when they try to leave, they run into an invisible barrier, unable to take another step out the door. But they can stand there and take in the sight of the school gates in the near distance, of the forest just beyond, of the npc students slipping past them on their way to and from home. At this threshold it is chilly despite the heat that smothers the school in waves, the air is fresh, invigorating, and when the sun passes overhead you swear you can feel it staring.
OOC
✽ Sometimes you summon murder imps and you gotta get rid of them yourselves. The imps are invisible unless supernatural sight (eg Nene, Clamor) or form (eg Moriarty, Sherlock) is regained, or are seen through an adder stone (possessed by Arthur, Gundham), but can still be fought either way through physical or magical means, or banished with the proper materials. They will NOT be rampaging and attacking everybody all the time, so this prompt is avoidable if you'd rather not, but they will gravitate towards 1) students who are alone, and 2) areas where there is already bloodshed happening.
✽ For the flour sack group project, groups are by homeroom and can number between 2-4 students. You may also assume npc students are part of your group if you wish.
✽ Characters may notice that physically, an elevator can't make sense without demolishing the first floor locker area, and they will have to accept the fact that not everything will make sense, and that sometimes, Ori just does not want to redraw floorplans. The elevator will be functional starting next month, maybe.
✽ Only windows in classrooms 1-B, 1-D, and 2-C can be opened by characters in classes that have gained at least one class rank to date. Those classes that gained at least one class rank last month are able to exit out the windows facing the courtyard only. Those classes with 30 or more ranks are able to open the front door to the school but not exit through it. To anybody else watching them open the door, they will see that character turn into a shadow and go through the motions of opening the door without exiting, exactly how npc students appear when they enter and exit the school.
✽ For the flour sack group project, groups are by homeroom and can number between 2-4 students. You may also assume npc students are part of your group if you wish.
✽ Characters may notice that physically, an elevator can't make sense without demolishing the first floor locker area, and they will have to accept the fact that not everything will make sense, and that sometimes, Ori just does not want to redraw floorplans. The elevator will be functional starting next month, maybe.
✽ Only windows in classrooms 1-B, 1-D, and 2-C can be opened by characters in classes that have gained at least one class rank to date. Those classes that gained at least one class rank last month are able to exit out the windows facing the courtyard only. Those classes with 30 or more ranks are able to open the front door to the school but not exit through it. To anybody else watching them open the door, they will see that character turn into a shadow and go through the motions of opening the door without exiting, exactly how npc students appear when they enter and exit the school.
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Out of everything, though, the library ghost gravitates to the books, pinching the corner of one of the notebooks and lifting it up to tilt her head at the words she has trouble making out, then leaving that alone to peer at the sketchbooks and go !!! when she sees cats.
She looks over at Natsume to make sure he's seeing this too. Look! Cats! ]
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What an adorable picture of the little lamb you've DRAWN... ( Sorry, was he supposed to look at the cats— he'll give them a quick glance too. Hiro's are cuter but it's fine. ) The kitties as WELL. Come to think of IT, your initial drawing on the PDA was one of those, wasn't IT... Before I derailed the conversation with magic cirCLES.
( good times. )
Our little ghost friend really likes your cats as WELL. Perhaps you could let her have one instead of one of your fingerNAILS? If she'd like it, of COURSE.
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Second of all, he'll open his eyes now and look and squint like, wow, the ghost girl is real. What even the fuck.
Third of all, now his face is red. So he's going to ignore that and focus on the cats.]
Y-yeah, if she wants the page with the cats on it... I don't mind. Um... [To the little library ghost,] Do you have a name? I-I'm Noah.
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Haruka... You called my name.
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Natsume pauses, tap tap tap, ah. )
I suppose "Harque" is close eNOUGH... ( Hm-hm. ) The pleasure is OURS, Haruka-chan. Natsume Sakasaki, fortuneteller and your medium for the NIGHT.
( except it isn't night, but don't worry about it. )
This fellow here is Noah; I was fulfilling a wish of HIS. Though ( to Noah ) I'd assume if your brother didn't come when you CALLED, it's likely he's passed from the world - resting peacefulLY, as it WERE.
( and not............ because they're in a different world(?) maybe, sure. )
How old are YOU, Haruka-chan?
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Rest peacefully, dear brother. Noah will commit slaughter in your name as soon as he gets back to Elrios.]
Y...you don't have to hide, you know? I, uh... I don't bite?
[And he doubts he'd be able to bite a ghost anyway because aren't they intangible or something?]
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How old is she... She holds up a hand... tucks in her thumb? raises two fingers from her other hand... lowers one...
How long has it been? When your world is as small as it is, the days and months and years bleed together. She doesn't know. ]
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Don't worry about IT. ( She just looks young... It's crazy how so much from a conversation with Nene two weeks ago is bearing fruit in June, they also talked about ghosts then— ) Can you SPEAK, or is that too difficult for YOU... Or WRITE?
( stares hard at ori )
Perhaps chaRADES?
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over 500, also 16to people either.]Oh, um... you can use one of my notebooks if you want to write.
[Or charades. But Noah doesn't know if he'll be great at charades, so good luck everybody!]
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but cute, kitty... )
What a regular little artist you ARE. Is that one of the cats around HERE?
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That's really good. You're good at drawing.
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Hehe... It's Whitey!
[ guess the black cat's name ]
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...y-yeah, I wonder... The cats are scared of me, so...
[Yes Noah that's because you made whole-ass shadow cats and spooked them! That's how you end up in the void, dumbass.]
Maybe you should show the cats your art, Haruka...?
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[ But, mm... She deflates just a little when Noah says they're scared of him, because it's the same with her, and the other way around, even. She's a ghost, after all, so there's been more than once where she's turned a corner and found a cat staring directly at her, eyes shining in the dead of night, and that itself is scary. ]
Do you think they'll like it...? They're cats.
[ what's the point, noah ]
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( it is Not a good time. )
They're more likely to lay on it or play with it than appreciate it for the art that it IS, but that in and of itself is a way they show they like IT... You'd have given them something new and exciting to mess WITH.
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Y-yeah. They're not going to draw or say thanks but they might flop on it. Uh... did you know cats meow because they're trying to talk to us? They don't do that to each other. It's, um... a special way of talking to us.
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I want to... Can we?
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I don't see why NOT. We can find Lucy - that IS, Whitey - and show THEM, since they're the friendlier of the TWO. ( ...man how gullible is noah- ) To keep the séance going, however, we're going to have to keep holding HANDS... Is that alright with YOU, Noah-kun? To help keep Haruka-chan with US.
( How Gullible Is Noah. )
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[He's not usually gullible. But he's faced with unfamiliar magic and he'd like to trust Natsume, so maybe he's a little gullible right now. How's he supposed to no better? No one's ever done a séance with him before!
So they're holding hands now, and Noah's beginning to think people are going to see this and get the wrong idea. He's got a track record going now, doesn't he? Who's going to Talk...
someone go to the store real quick and bring this kid back a bi pride bracelet because they totally made those in 1990s Japan okIf Komaeda sees this and calls Noah a cheater or whatever it was last time he's going to be so confused.]Where do the cats usually hang out...?
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His leg might start to feel a little numb too as he walks, with her pressed so close against his side that she sometimes phases through him without thinking. ]
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Mental notes for spirits later, but not minding it so much, no. )
Sena-san and I found Blacky on the lower floors and Whitey on the higher ones ONCE, but they're cats: they tend to just go wherever they WANT. ( No food, but he clicks his tongue as they walk, ye olde cat-calling tradition. ) Whitey, Lucy, Lily...♪ Kitty kitty, we've got a treat for you ♪
( if nothing else cats recognize "treat" he knows this. also neither of you are allowed to make fun of him for cooing over cats, this séance business is PRIVATE. )
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He'll keep his eyes peeled though, glancing all over the halls and even on top of the lockers to see if he can see the cats (who hate him) (RIP). He doesn't let go of Natsume's hand because he was told not to, but sometimes he glances over at Haruka to see if they can still see her, and he looks away when he's satisfied she's still there.
So. Where are cats. Pspspspsps cats.]
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Ah!
[ She starts to run down the hall, but she's only a little ghost girl and can't tug their little chain of people, not that she needs to because peering out from behind the next corner is little Blacky, aka my downstairs neighbor for two months while I was at university. It stares at Noah and starts to bristle. ]
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