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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.
Sidney Wolfe | Original Character
( it catches his eye a few times, actually- "I want to see my family. --XX, 1-C". and the thing is, he knows it's his wish, because he thought it so much when he first left the manor that it burned. but he's never spoken this out loud to anyone. one may catch him staring at the little slip of paper before turning away sharply and walking away. he's got nothing to say... but maybe if you ask, he will? )
( b: magnetic north )
( at some point one might find sidney in the void school, holding something- a large compass... though, in reality, it doubles as a flask. it always points to the clock tower as it's north, regardless of void or otherwise. )
... Interesting. I wonder if it's meant for the intrepid explorers...?
( c: wildcard )
( sidney is a tutor in the tutoring club, a teacher and a retired police detective! also he was in a hell game of murder cat and mouse! i'm not smart but i will bullshit to my heart's content. hit us up! )
b;
What do you mean, exactly?
gasp hi
Lucifer and a couple others, I believe, were interested in trying to learn more about the pit that the auditorium becomes in this state. Given that Lucifer can get back safely, it may do him some good.
hihii
It sounds like a good idea to me, yes. Especially since we know so little about this pit in the first place...there stands to reason that there must be some clues lying around about its nature somewhere.
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( especially since the pit seems to be the shadow students' body disposal location of choice. something tells him that lucifer is ... lucky, that he can go in with wings. that otherwise, there's no way out. )
I'll have to talk to him about this later. ( and then, simply because of how sidney is- ) Are you holding up, here? Clamor said there was a way out.
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[ ...That being said... ]
I intend to leave the way I've left from this place before when I'm done speaking with you. So you don't have to worry too much about this one. But, I thank you for your concern, even if I do not know why you would direct it to my person.
[ But he will do a respectful little bow in appreciation. ]
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( since they're sent back to the same time... it's hard to get out of here if you get sent to the void in the middle of an imp attack. )
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Meng Yao was more weak than he would like. Especially considering the nuisance the imps had become in the first place. ]
...I'm not sure. I do have a weapon with me, but unfortunately as I am now, it is difficult to face them. If I were...
[ More powerful. At the thought, he felt like his mind almost hazed over in the amount of bitterness he was steeped in due to their situation, and because it's something he tried not to think about. Thankfully, he let it pass quickly. ]
...in a better state, that wouldn't be the case. I hope that I will not be a burden like this to you, nonetheless.
no subject
( though, the fact that sidney can barely help because he can't see the imps... ... that line of thinking is useless. but it's concerning... what can they do to get him out safely? )
... What can you tell me about that situation?
a !!
He hadn't seen Sidney tacking anything onto the board, after all.]
Ah — Sidney?
[He calls after the man, sweeping after him.]
Your exit was so abrupt that I almost want to think something is bothering you.
[What a tactful way of saying "I'm extremely nosey but also are you gucci?"]
gee this isnt concerning at all is it sidney
( with an exit like that, only a fool would believe him regardless of his even tone. )
Either I've been more open with things like wishes before gaining lucidity, or something has been going through my head.
no subject
[Lucifer follows in Sidney's footsteps until he catches up, falling into step beside the taller, arms crossed over his chest.]
...you're implying that you have no memory of putting anything on the board, aren't you? A lapse in memory brought on by whatever magic has seized this place, perhaps.
no subject
( he drags a hand down his face, mindful of his glasses. of all the damn things... )
I never liked the idea of wishes. Even before the manor. ( which he's alluded to, a couple months back. ) But this is just insulting. ... I suppose I should explain.
The topmost right wish. It's my own. The thing is, my family has long since passed on. You can understand why I'd be irritated, I'm sure.
no subject
[This school is already a nightmare of monumental proportions. Lucifer almost wonders whose idea it was to put that wish on the board, if it wasn't Sidney's own — who would poke fun at a man who has lost everything already.]
I saw nothing that I would write up there, so I feel somewhat fortunate. Still, there were some who I caught looking at the board in distress. I had assumed it was because what they were wishing for made them sad, though... perhaps that isn't exactly the case. Perhaps there are others in your same situation.
[Which, like everything else in this fucking place, bodes well.]
I am sorry to hear, though. I'm not a superstitious sort of man myself, but within the walls of this school, it feels like anything is possible. Though, also knowing — or having an idea of — by what rules it operates, I wonder if anything untoward will happen to those making wishes to see loved ones.
[Things he didn't think about when he made his own wish out of some false hope that everything might be okay, whoops.]
no subject
( after a moment he sighs, shaking his head and crossing his arms. )
There probably are a few who's wishes are there without their knowing. There's little reason to single me out, after all. I can only hope that their own are less... tragic.
We can only hope that the ones about loved ones- lost or otherwise- simply go without recognition.
( if some weird, horrific apparition of his mother, sister or niblings shows up he's going to pitch such a bitch. )
no subject
[If a horrific apparition of Lucifer's brothers show up somehow, or if there's a note tacked up about Lilith somehow later on, Lucifer will definitely lose his shit. He gets it, truly.]
...admittedly, I'm baffled as to the purpose of this place. To me, this is nothing but an arena to kill people, but for what reason? Perhaps there is none, however frustrating that is. To instill false hope in people, to then kill them off... I know some spells can be charged with powerful negative emotions, particularly curses, but I doubt that's what this is about.
no subject
( they're lucky they aren't being hunted down like animals. but he doesn't say this- he has no desire to bring the manor's games upon these children through jinxing everything. )
I just don't have solid evidence. But then, does anyone?
no subject
[He shakes his head. No, there's no solid evidence. It's disappointing, but he's not shocked. They have yet to figure out... any pieces of the puzzle, really.]
If I had my magic back, I might be able to contribute more to an investigation into such things. Sadly...
[No dice.]
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Perhaps I was summoned here, but that begs the question as to who would have called me forth, and why I don't have a pact with them. I would know if I had entered into a pact with someone, and I'm also not inclined to make them.
[Solomon had been harassing him for years about a pact and Lucifer sometimes wishes he could strangle the little shit, but also he thinks Solomon might like that and it would undoubtedly also piss Asmodeus off, so...]
Regardless, I'm sorry that happened to you, and that you're in another one of these situations. Let us hope we can both get out in one piece...
no subject
... What does a pact entail? Curiosity only, promise. I'm not inclined to deal with magic.
( he's quiet for a moment at the apology. he's... sorry too. but there's nothing they can do to change things just yet. )
... You don't have to say that. But I appreciate it nevertheless.
no subject
[He shakes his head, brow knitting.]
As long as the pact is ongoing, the pact-bearer typically has the power to control the demon as well, issuing any number of commands that the demon is forced to listen to. Therefore, I'm not in the habit of making pacts... and it requires a certain level of power from the summoner to control a demon properly anyway. Someone like me or my brothers... I don't think we can be controlled so easily.
A pact would also invariably allow a pact-bearer to summon that demon to their side if they're separated. A summoner doesn't need to be overly powerful to do that.
Basically, what you hear in storybooks — that all demons are monsters, that we'll take your soul, et cetera — are all true, with some nuances.
no subject
I see. I suppose that's about what I expected... but thank you for explaining. I can see why it's not quite your thing- ( lucifer is a man who likes to be in control. to be in a pact, to be forced to obey... that isn't control. it's submission. ) But it likely wouldn't be mine either, if I were in your position.
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[There's a thin layer of... something under his overconfidence and bragging. Lucifer puts his hand to his chest as he's speaking, a vague motion to himself. He's difficult to control. He's unrelenting. He must be in charge.]
I wonder, and this is merely idle speculation... if you were a demon, what do you think you would represent? One of the seven sins, or something else?
no subject
he gets it. )
Ah... I wonder. ... Maybe you'll have to tell me.
( is that a hint of a smile? )
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