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wake up

You open your eyes. And then immediately squeeze them shut as a cloud of chalk dust gets clapped in your face, the student next to you looking surprised— but the sort of surprised as if they're faking it, barely suppressing a laugh. "What're you dozing off for, transfer student?" they ask, going back to wiping clean the chalkboard you two are standing in front of. "The sooner we get everything cleaned up, the sooner we can go home!" Another classmate tosses a wet rag at the side of your face, laughing as if a joke— if it weren't strangely warm to the touch, with dark red stains smelling strongly of iron.

All characters open their eyes and wake up in one of the classrooms around school. Whatever they remember last, it's lost in a thick, sleepy fog, the drowsiness still wearing off and making it difficult to reconcile the fact that they've never seen this classroom or these people in their lives, but somehow, it feels like they've been here forever. The other students all act familiar towards you, calling you by name and encouraging you to help clean the classrooms as part of observing the Vernal Equinox. Buckets of soapy water are set on the desks around the classrooms, light pink suds spilling over the sides, and both students and faculty can be seen hard of work scrubbing dark, stubborn stains out of the walls and floors. "It must be absolutely spotless," they murmur under their breaths. "All evidence must be erased."

You don't have to stay and clean. You could throw the rag back into a bucket and flip these strangers the bird and exit the classroom. But those who don't help clean even a little will find that they leave sticky red footprints wherever they walk, creating more work for everybody else and becoming very easy to track down and """accidentally""" knock over the backside of the head with a mop handle. Besides, it's not like you can walk out of the school and get back to whatever you were doing before. Your feet may bring you to the front door on autopilot, but the doors do not open for you, and neither do any of the windows no matter how hard you try to pry them open or kick them in.

Careful, though. On some windowsills, particularly on the third and fourth floors, rests a stack of five flat stones one on top of another: a gorinto to those who recognize such a thing, a pile of rocks to those who do not. The stones are all damp with water, topped with a scattering of wisteria flowers, and flanked by cheap packaged snacks. Whether on accident or on purpose, the moment you touch any of it—-

wake up

You open your eyes. The last thing you remember is touching a wet stone or trying to swipe the rice cracker beside it, and in the next moment, you're somewhere else inside the school. Characters who touch the gorinto or its offerings will find themselves pulled into a memory of high school life, one that feels like theirs, although they recognize that that's impossible. There's the feeling of being classmates with the other characters- perhaps two characters are seat partners, or best friends, or rivals, or club members- but despite the familiarity, do not know each other's names or recall ever seeing their faces before. Essentially, live your pre-established cr high school au dreams.

The memories fade in and out of different scenarios, but they all start off the same: You open your eyes.

You open your eyes and the inside of your left wrist is stinging; you stop scratching, pulling your other hand away before the angry red lines on your skin splits and bleeds. Somebody calls your name, just as you see a pan slide off the stovetop out of the corner of your eye, and the stinging on your wrist flares to a searing burn, hot oil splattering you and the person next to you.

You open your eyes. You're flat on your back in a room that smells of paint thinner, your chest is heavy, and it's so hard to breathe. Something is crushing your throat- a fluffy white cat with golden eyes, purring and kneading away, but then somebody calls your name and its fluff puffs twice its size in surprise, claws sinking into your throat, hooking and tearing as the cat scampers away.

You open your eyes. A kendo shinai comes down hard on your head, the one in your hand failing to come up quick enough to guard, your classmates groaning in sympathy all around you. Your head is spinning, you feel sick.

You open your eyes. You and a friend are seated side by side in the clock tower, back to the walls and feeling the resounding toll of the bell fill your entire being as the count reaches ten, eleven, twelve. The world turns to silence. Your friend opens their mouth to speak, but you cannot hear them. You cannot hear anything.

(tw: implied suicide) You open your eyes. Your classmate sits on the other side of your desk, a spread of sandwiches and juice boxes between you and the window to your side providing a clear view of the upper branches of the wisteria tree in full bloom. And the strangled look on an upperclassman's face as they fall headfirst from the sky on the other side of the glass, hurtling towards the pavement of the courtyard below.

You open your eyes—-

You're standing in front of a window, cold fingers wrapped around your wrist and pulling it away from the pile of stones. Perhaps another character has come to your rescue, or else one student in particular who shakes his head, whispers "don't," and walks away.

wake up

You open your eyes and wipe a bit of drool off the corner of your mouth. There's really no shame, when half the students sitting around you in the auditorium are half asleep as well. As if coming out of a dream, the characters don't remember getting here, just that they are now- sitting in uncomfortably hard plastic chairs in the back rows in the auditorium, the school principal's flat, droning voice reverberating oddly off the walls of the large room. No matter how hard you try, you cannot get up out of your seat.

"...and now, let us congratulate the graduating class," the principal says, stepping back from the podium. A single student rises to her feet and meets the principal at the center of the stage, her long dark hair falling across her face as she bows and receives her diploma. "Congratulations, graduate. May your life be full and prosperous. Please, if you would say a few words..."

The girl straightens and pushes her hair out of her face with one hand— she has no other hand, the entire sleeve of her right rolled all the way up to the shoulder and pinned flat. She forgoes the podium and the microphone, but somehow, her voice rings out clearly and reaches all the way to the back of the room: "Keep your eyes open."

With that parting message, she steps off the stage, disappearing into the mass of students who stand and fill the room with applause, drawing the graduation ceremony to a close. Characters find that they can now get up and move, which is a good thing because the other students are all pushing and shoving to get out of the auditorium and out the front doors, phasing right through the closed doors. Like a sieve, the school empties out, leaving behind the dregs.

wake up

Your eyes are open and the school is quiet. None of the students or faculty remain in the school, and all the staff— the principal, faculty, nurse, and counselor's— offices are locked. A skinny black cat flicks its tail from where it sits on top one of the lockers, where characters can find a copy of the school calendar showing the next two weeks to be spring vacation, with the school being closed for the holiday.

At least, with school vacated, it's clear from those left who's in the same boat and allows the chance for exploration away from prying eyes of the other students and staff. Introductions are probably in order, a discussion of what the fuck is going on, maybe also a plan of attack— or a plan for survival, at the very least, because there is no way out of this school. What ingredients are left in the home economics kitchen is going to have to last everybody the next two weeks. The student store is already empty. The water runs pink. The vending machines don't respond to jostling or being kicked over and brought to the ground, only the last dozen "merit points" on your PDA that you can't earn any more of, with class out of session. The snack you've been hiding in your locker should probably be saved as a last resort. The cats are starting to look tasty.

Hang in there. School will be starting again real soon.

OOC

✽ Characters experience the recurring feeling of drifting in (school life) and out (canon life) of sleep up until the graduation ceremony, after which they will have full awareness and come to their senses. Pre-established cr is possible to some extent, as a varying degree of familiarity may remain, but all characters will be strangers to one another unless they know each other in canon. All npcs will know the characters' names, but characters will not know each other's names until introduced.

✽ The second prompt occurs upon a character touching a gorinto or any of the offerings surrounding it. While touching it, characters fall into a trance and experience different scenes of high school life, with examples given in the prompt but players are free to play out any aspect of normal school life taking place at any time during the school year.

✽ stopit is an npc and will be available for threading in his toplevel during the vernal equinox and graduation day, but not during spring break. After the game opens, he will be available as a student for threading on the npc contact page. The graduating student will not be available for threading in this TDM.

✽ During spring break, all npc students and faculty will be absent from the school, with exception of one white cat and one black cat. For this TDM, in addition to the areas greyed out and inaccessible on the locations page, the faculty office and nurse's office are locked and unavailable, as there is no staff. The library and club rooms remain open, but supplies will not replenish themselves.

✽ As a reminder, all doors and windows leading outside are locked and cannot be broken. From midnight until 6AM, all sound disappears from the world. Characters are free to use their PDA as a network, but it is text (and shitty touchpad art) only and all threads are public.

✽ TDM threads may be used for bonus activity after April AC is submitted.

Comments

Kiyotaka Ishimaru | Dangan Ronpa

[moraloutrage]

A. Clean Record

[When Ishimaru wakes up in the classroom, he feels no doubts about the current situation. In fact, the idea of cleaning is very appealing to him! A clean classroom is an ideal learning environment, after all. Best to scrub and scrub away until no traces remain of anything to sully one's memory.

And so, this intense young man quickly gets to work on scrubbing down every inch of the floor without question! He will engage in a little bit of chatter with anyone nearby, while trying to focus on his task.

One thing that can easily break his reverie is if he sees someone leaving - with a trail of red footprints. Furious, Ishimaru will try shouting at the offender.]

Hold it right there! This is no time to wander off! Can you not see the mess you are making?!

B. Locked In

[After witnessing the graduation ceremony, things feel a lot clearer. And a lot more confusing at the same time! That's right, he was supposed to go to Hope's Peak Academy! ...But then, things went horribly wrong. He was trapped in the school and the killing game, and so many awful things happened...

And now, here he is. In a different school. One that seems to be messing with his head. Ishimaru has a bad feeling about this, so he quickly heads towards the front door. Once he sees it, he's initially relieved. There's no sealed vault door - it's just a normal door. Or at least it seems.

Then he tries to open the door. And he tries again, and again, and again. He struggles, practically trying to rip the door off its hinges. Because he got out! Somehow, he had left Hope's Peak Academy! And now, he's trapped in a different school instead?!]

Come on!! Open up! [His frustration and rage build up, and his hair flashes yellow.] Dammit!

C. No Escape

[Later on, Ishimaru has regained his cool. Or some of his cool, at least. Enough to try to speak to others. He knows that they'll have to work together to make it out, just as in Hope's Peak Academy. So he'll try to address others in the middle of halls or classrooms. His arms folded, he shouts out to anyone who will listen to him.]

Greetings! My name is Kiyotaka Ishimaru! I- I believe that we should discuss the current situation and perhaps organize our findings! Let us... let us all do our best to get out of here safely! [It feels like a lifetime ago when he tried to take charge like that. In a way, maybe it has been. But he won't let that stop him from trying to address anyone!

...Unless he's at the library. There, he tries to address others loudly, only to trail off and look around anxiously. This does not feel right!]

D. Wildcard

[Feel free to make up an alternate prompt, or hit me up for plotting!]

c

[parhellia]

[ ...haha. Ala can only laugh silently, but her shoulders shake with it, seeing Ishimaru's mouth open and close but there being no sound that comes it. It had scared her at first when she entered the library and couldn't even hear the sound of her own footsteps, skipping as she tends to do, but this? This is kind of funny.

She waves to get Ishimaru's attention and cups her hands around her mouth in a mime of shouting, then pumps her fist in the air. Try harder! You can do it! ]

[moraloutrage]

[Normally, Ishimaru tends to be a fervent supporter of various rules, regulations and etiquette guidelines! This includes respecting the silence of a library. However, he felt that some talking in a controlled amount, especially in circumstances like this, could be considered appropriate!

But all that had changed when he tried speaking and was stricken silent by this mounting sense of dread. At least this stranger seems supportive. That's right - he can't give up!

Ishimaru balls up a fist and opens his mouth... but without making a sound. Instead, he just moves his mouth as if speaking.

"Can you read my lips! Kiyotaka Ishimaru! Let's get along!"

That's what he's trying to mouth, at least.]

[parhellia]

[ Nope, no talking in the library! No talking after midnight either; people are trying to sleep /:

Ala, for her part, misses the initial part of whatever Ishimaru is trying to say, can't match his name to any words— expecting words and not a name— but she's able to understand that last part with a bit of focus, and her grin widens a little more as she nods. She clasps her hands in front of herself, in that awkward way where you're trying to mime a handshake but have two non-matching hands, and mimes that handshake anyways. Let's get along!

She spreads her arms out above her head, sweeping them down in an arc like two halves of a rainbow, and then places a finger in front of her lips. ]

A. Clean Record

[patcheel]

[She's been caught! Hana abhors cleaning, and though it did seem like she should, like she was meant to and had maybe done it several times before, she couldn't go through with it. Not when the soapy water started to make her nail polish flake. But... mess?]

What mess?

[Hana looks around for a moment; her uniform is pristine. The skirt may be a little short, but surely it's within dress code limits. There's no mustard stains from that turkey sandwich she only vaguely recalls eating. She catches sight of the red footprints and gasps dramatically. They're hers!]

What did I step in!?

[That's more concerning to her than cleaning up her tracks.]

[moraloutrage]

[It won't be so easily to escape the watchful eye of the ultimate member of public morals commitees! He frowns severely at the girl. Her question is valid, though, as he does not know where it could have come from.

He kneels down close to the ground and stares at the footprint for a moment. Looking at it makes him sweat a little!]

Hmmm, hmmmmm...! You must have stepped in red paint! Or... or perhaps some type of red jelly...?

[There's another obvioue possibility that Ishimaru seems to avoid. Instead, he shoors upward into a rigid standing position and holds out a rag.]

But that is not so important! What matters most about this mess is that it exists to begin with. Now... Please clean your own footprint, young lady!

[patcheel]

[Hana raises an eyebrow at the boy as he examines the footprint. He's looking very intense. He must really love clean floors.]

Jelly!?

[She's about to crouch next to him to taste-test that jelly, but he's suddenly standing again and she's takan aback as the rag is thrust at her.]

But it's not my jelly!

[Hana reaches for the rag tentatively, with two fingers and a frown of distaste.]

You'd really make a poor girl clean up someone else's jelly?

b

[uncommonsense]

You aren't gonna get through.

[ Haruhi chimes in, arms folded as she watches Ishimaru flare up against the door. ]

I tried everything I could think of, and it wouldn't open for me. It's locked tight.

[moraloutrage]

[Ishimaru remains intensely fixated on the door. He does not even look at the stranger. Now he's started slamming into the door repeatedly.]

I am sorry, Miss, but have you truly tried everything? [Slam.] Have you tried having a firey fighting spirit that cannot surrender? [SLAM.] Have you tried the pure power of hard work itself?!

[SLAM!

There are tears in his eyes. He can't be trapped in a strange school again. It's just a normal door!]

[uncommonsense]

I tried with the overwhelming desire to get out of here, it ended the same way.

[ She hasn't given up on it, but seriously? Haruhi goes right over to rap her knuckles against the door. ]

If you wanna separate your shoulder you can keep trying that, or you can help me look for a different way out.

B

[bloodandlife]

What's the matter, mate?

[Zagreus arrives just in time to see this poor person losing their temper at a door and apparently suffering some sort of hair issue.]

Can I help?

[moraloutrage]

[Someone is offering help! Ishimaru ceases his struggle for the moment and spins around to face the newcomer. A strong intensity is practically etched intp his features!]

Yes you can! Please, help me to get this door open! [Maybe a little help is all he needs!]

[bloodandlife]

[Zagreus grins a bit.]

Well, a little enthusiasm goes a long way, so I dare say we've got a fighting chance. Door's stuck, I take it?

[His grin grows both wider and cockier as he takes a few steps back, eyes trained on the door now.]

On the count of three. Ready? One...two...three!

[And on three, he launches himself forward and slams his shoulder into the door, hopefully in tandem with his new friend here.]

b;

[filialdeception]

[ ... well, that's not exactly looking good. If the other man couldn't force the door open, what could he do? ]

It's probably been doubly reinforced, so there's no point in attempting to leave through this door. But, in a building like this, perhaps there'll be another?

[ Meng Yao didn't have hopes that would be the cas, actually. But maybe it'd get the other to stop and calm down. ]

[moraloutrage]

[It doesn't do much to calm Ishimaru to be sure. He continues to rail against the door a little bit, before pausing and breathing heavily.]

But no amount of reinforcement... should stand up against... the power of hard work!

[Still, he looks back towards the stranger.]

...Hm... Did you say... another? Perhaps... perhaps another door would be easier to open...! [He's considering it!]

B. Locked In

[silentabyss]

Move!

[And, without warning, Noah comes racing down the hallway and attempts to shoulder-tackle the door with all of his weight (which isn't much — he's kind of lanky!) in an attempt to get it open.

It goes without saying that this fails spectacularly, and the force of him running into the door winds up launching him back on his ass. A small but audible oof escapes his lips as he falls smack on his tailbone with a comical little bounce.

Well, that didn't work. Time for plan B.]

Ugh... ow...

[Plan B is to, apparently, sit there holding his bruising shoulder and whine.]

I was sure that would work. H...hey, uh... [This is awkward.] Whatever your name is. Since we can't get through the front door, maybe there's a window somewhere...?

[moraloutrage]

[When he hears the command, Ishimaru turns around with the intention to object! ...But he finds himself facing the boy charging directly at the door, so there's little else for him to do but move out of the way! He watches in wonder as the stranger's tackle fails incredibly! With such a fall like that, Ishimaru feels inclined to go along with his idea.]

Are you okay? You should not do something so reckless! [Ishimaru says even though he wasn't far from trying the same thing himself.]

A... a window, huh? [He doesn't want to give up on the door entirely. But this person raises an interesting possibility.]

You might be onto something! What are you standing around for? Let us seek one out posthaste!

[ C : No Escape ]

[mermaidcursed]

[ Maybe she spent a bit too long trying at the windows and doors- her fingers hurt from prying, actually. When she finally takes a break, it's just in time for someone to try and rally... well. Whoever's around.

Man, he's loud. But... well... if it makes him feel better, she'll ignore it for now. Instead, she gives a polite bow and tries not to fiddle with her brooch too much when she speaks. ]

My name is Nene Yashiro... I was testing the doors and windows to outside, but I couldn't find any that would open. And if you go into the library, there's no sound at all- if someone's talking, you can't hear it, I mean. But that's all I've found so far.

[moraloutrage]

[Ishimaru knows how that feels. He's still a little sore from spending half a day trying to get the front door open! His pride is wounded, but he's still determined to really people together to find a new solution.

Once the newcomer speaks up, Ishimaru points towards her, as if he's a teacher calling on students in a class. Even though there really isn't anyone else there aside from the two of us.]

Hmm, hmmm... very interesting. [He ponders her reports.] It is good to meet you, Yashiro-kun. Thank you for reporting your findings so clearly. It is quite helpful to know. I... ah... I have also had no luck with trying to get any of the doors and windows open. [It's like a cruel joke to Ishimaru. They're not bolted over like the doors and windows at Hope's Peak, but they're still just as unopenable.]

As for the library, silence is supposed to be the golden rule. So I supposed that is alright. That is just the way that a library should be! In any case, I thank you for your report, Yashiro-kun, and I look forward to working with you!

c - hi gore!! it's ichi◝(⁰▿⁰)

[optimistical]

[ oh look it's ishimaru-kun ]
[ wait it's ishimaru-imdead-kun ]

[ Out of all the people that Naegi expected to see, he definitely does not expect Ishimaru. That's not a face that he's seen in... a while and he's frozen stiff for a moment, but he's jerked back to reality when he hears himself yelling. ]

I-- Ishimaru-kun?!

[ The fact that they're in a classroom environment doesn't stop him from yelling. ]

[moraloutrage]

[Ishimaru is stopped in his tracks as he recognizes the other boy in this classroom.]

Naegi-kun?! [His surprise is loud too, but that's partially just because Ishimaru is always loud. It's a pleasant surprise, to see one of his classmates here, after he was starting to think that he was alone.

In the blink of an eye, Ishimaru practically zooms to close the distance between them and stand directly in front of his classmate, a smile on his face.]

Ah, I am quite relieved to see you here! You- you are the first person I have fond here who I already know! [Let alone someone from Hope's Peak.] How are you? Glad to be away from that troublesome Monokuma, I'm sure! Ahahaha!

[He gives a little laugh, because they can laugh at it now, right? Now that they're not in Hope's Peak, that has to mean that all the bad things are behind them now... like some bad dream that they can just look back on and laugh about...]

c

[comburst]

Haaaaah? [ Katsuki is automatically already scowling. He's getting class president vibes from this guy. Not just general ones, but "who the fuck is this guy, he feels like he should be wearing glasses, like Glasses" vibes. It's obviously not his classmate, but the similarity in annoying take-charge class togetherness bullshit is irritating at best.

Despite finding it annoying as hell, Katsuki does stop walking - he's prowling the halls exploring - to turn his red-eyed glare on Kiyotaka, eyes narrowed as he takes in the shouting. ]

If you want to organize a damn meet and greet, why don't you just use the stupid PDAs? It's inefficient to go around yelling at random people, dumbass.

[moraloutrage]

[Ishimaru's spirits are quickly soured by this stranger's reaction. He seems rude - some kind of rebellious ne'er-do-well? While knowing Mondo has helped teach him to not be so quick to judge others, this guy's already bothering him. Red eyes lock together as Ishimaru replies.]

I disagree with that notion! That is no true replacement for a face-to-face meeting. I would much rather put the effort into finding everyone in person. Not only does it make for good exercise, but it the effect of the conversation is so much different in person! It is only then that my words can truly stir the spirits of my peers!

c

[commences]

( the library is a special place for komaeda — it's silent, his talent doesn't really make a fuss there, and overall he has nothing to worry about. it does make him curious about what could be found in here, so having a stack of books right next to him to read is one of his many starting points. though, after reading through most of them, he's found nothing he's looking for. with one book left, he decides to open it up and leave the library and makes a mental note to return it as soon as he's done.

once he's outside the library, there's a voice that doesn't go amiss, and has komaeda's soft colored eyes remain on the page that he's reading. of course, his eyes freeze on a sentence when there's a name said that sounds familiar to him — all too familiar. everything else said is thrown out the window of komaeda's mind as his eyes draw up, looking towards the appearance of the voice.

very familiar, the same name that was listed inside of the future foundation's file that he remembers all too vividly. despite giving his name, there's this look of complete admiration as he stares at the other — kinda freaky, if i do say so myself. )

A Symbol of Hope! To meet you here is truly a dream come true —

( it is one when he never believed he would meet kiyotaka ishimaru of all people, considering he's supposed to be dead. quickly, he closes distance between him and the other as he reaches out with a metal hand, gripping ishimaru's wrist to place against his chest. personal space? non-existent. )

One that died for hope no less! I am quite lucky!!

[moraloutrage]

[Ishimaru was not sure if this latest person was truly listening him. He seemed absorbed in his book! While he can respect someone who can get so into reading, it is rude to do so when someone is addressing him.

But then, it seems that he does have the other boy's attention! Just... not the kind of response he was looking for, or hoping for, or even understands?! In a blank of an eye the other boy is right up in front of him! Ishimaru has never felt concerned for his personal space like this before - is that a mechanical hand?! As his own hand is placed against the stranger's chest, Ishimaru will try to withdraw it at the first opportunity.]

Wh-what is going on?! [He blinks, sweating anxiously. Did that man just call him someone who 'died for hope'?]

Ah... ah, I do not understand what you are talking about! ...Please calm down! [He never thought he would be the one who would have to tell someone else to tone it down!]