[SEMI-OPEN?] penny for my thoughts?

[sunstead]

Who: ????
When: Saturday, September 25th
What: A gorinto is placed in room 1-C.
Warnings: Violence/death, descriptions of burning bodies, and npckun getting an ouchie in the connected log. Will update this if needed.

Clamor's gorinto is set up before the weekend, a simple monument of stacked rocks sitting on the windowsill of class 1-C. Anyone is free to pay their respects, though should they choose to touch it, they'll be confronted with a vision of blood, violence and fire.

For those willing to pay the toll and place a coin upon the rocks... perhaps someone will answer?


((Anyone may touch the gorinto on the 25th and see Clamor's death. Two groups (closed) may place a coin on the gorinto and speak to one of the ghosts connected to it. If your character would have a question for Clamor or "Clamor", please send me a PM/plurk/discord ping and we may be able to fit them in, but CR/investigators will take priority!))

Comments

[mermaidcursed]

( nene is there with noah, but she... really doesn't want to be honestly. she's mostly here for him. because there's no telling who will appear for the gorinto...

sighing, nene holds out the coin from her pocket. )

Noah... placing this on the gorinto will summon the ghost. If you have the two-headed bird side facing upwards, you can see and maybe touch them, but they won't be able to speak. If you have the text facing upwards, you can hear them, but they'll have no physical presence.

... Just... be careful, okay?

[silentabyss]

[He touched, he saw, he's... shaking a bit, for obvious reasons, the sort of shaking that comes from an all-encompassing rage, but it's not like he can do anything about it. Perhaps that's the more frustrating thing here.

Powerless as ever.]

...I'll be careful.

[He doesn't sound like he's listening, and as much as he wants to obliterate the person who took Clamor from him...

Noah sets the coin text-side up.

He can always get another coin, if he wants to try to murder a ghost.]

[sunstead]

[The moment the coin touches stone it turns black and dissolves into shadow, a chill filling the air. For Nene and Nene alone, the uppermost rock begins to glow blue.

Nothing else happens, at first. A terse silence, then...

...]

Hello? Is... someone there?

[silentabyss]

[Forgive him for instantly bursting into tears, he can't help it — Noah doesn't know what to think, if he should be happy or sad or a mix of both. He's very, very quiet, uncomfortably so, and then in a barely-audible whisper...]

...Clamor?

[mermaidcursed]

( don't mind nene squeezing noah's hand in hers quietly. sidney will be here soon i need to stop putting them in the same room together and endangering all of yogen though-

still, she's tearing up a little herself. )

H-hi, Clamor. We- we've all missed you a lot...

[sunstead]

[He knows that crying, which is why the response is so immediately, before he can even call the ghost's name—]

Noah? Noah, are you alright?! What's— I can't see anything, what's happening?

[it's strange, remembering what he does but also that strange vision with Amami in it... but what he's currently feeling is familiar, in a sense. lacking a form, being bound to something and robbed of his senses. is something just covering his eye, maybe...?

Nene's words confirm some of his fears, though. ah... if he's been missed, then...]

... it's okay, I'm here now. I'm sorry I made you worry... please don't cry.

[silentabyss]

I'm...

[Not alright, no. Not crying, totally not. Definitely not wiping his eyes on his hands and definitely keeping it together.]

...I missed you. [Even though Noah knows better — Clamor's going to disappear again soon. It's inevitable.] Don't — don't worry about me. I'm fine. I...

...

What... happened to you? Why...

[sunstead]

Noah... [how can you expect him not to worry when he's gone and made him cry? even if he didn't die on purpose, he can still feel guilty for it.

there's a desire to reach out, to comfort the boy and wipe away his tears... but, of course, Clamor doesn't have the arms to do so anymore. it's as frustrating as he remembers.]

I'm sorry... I won't leave you again this time, I promise. [he still doesn't realize where he is, why he can't see and why the same memories keep flashing in his mind, but there's something he can do to help now so he instead focuses on that] I... I can remember it clearly. I was heading to the library to look for Haruka, and something... attacked me, I think. There was a sudden, jabbing pain at the back of my skull, and then my body went limp...

I didn't see what it was. Everything happened so fast, I barely had any time at all to react... I'm sorry, that's all I know. It must've come from behind, so I didn't see who did it or what it was.

[mermaidcursed]

( just like inaba...

clutching the skull brooch, nene glances at noah and then back at... well. the gorinto, she guesses. )

... You didn't deserve it. ... Do you remember Inaba...? She- she died around... May. But... she came back this week. S-so- I'm sure you will soon, too. Noah and I are taking care of each other, okay?

( it was a rough start. )

When you come home to us, we'll have so many things to show you.

[silentabyss]

[Noah knows better than to say that Clamor will leave, when this is over, that he's going back to the tree and that he's still at a loss for how to get Clamor back. The weapon at his side is still pitifully empty, bereft of the soul it once had, because that soul had been stolen away like a fragile breath.

He knows better than to say any of that, because it won't let Clamor rest easy. Even if Noah's a sobbing mess right now, even if he'll never recover from this — Clamor shouldn't have to suffer more than he is. Than he did.]

Whoever did it is... don't worry about it, okay? Amami dealt with the whole thing... [Noah wishes he could strike the final blow still.] I... you'll be fine, s-somehow...

[He hiccups a bit in between the sobs wracking his body; part of Noah is grateful that Clamor can't see him. The other part... well, they've been apart so long, it's not fair to think that.]

I-I feel so stupid for leaving you alone, I... I should've been there, I could've... Sorry... W-we're... we're going to bring you home, so don't worry anymore.

[sunstead]

[there's the guilt again at Noah's hiccuping sobs, the soft fragility of Nene's voice... but there's something else thats nags at the mind, the way they're talking like—]

What... do you mean? When I come home? [to his body? he doesn't have one right now, he knows that much, but] I'm here right now, aren't I? Oh, right—I can't see anything, am I in something besides the sickle? It feels different from having the eye covered up, so I thought it might be something like that.

... Well, I'll admit I would've liked to see you all, but I'll manage! [and here comes his usual cheer. it's probably obvious to Noah how forced it is, but he's gotten pretty good at hiding his emotions in this disembodied state. gotta stay positive! for the kids!!] What am I stuck in this time? I hope it's at least portable, but whatever it is, I'm sure we'll figure something out.

Oh! And what day is it? Have I been gone for long? [dear El he hopes it hasn't been as long as Inaba was gone] You said Inaba came back, too? I hope she's in a better state than I must be...

[silentabyss]

[Noah should hate that forced cheerfulness, actually, but in the darkest of times he's grown fond of it — if anything it's a reminder that Clamor is Clamor, not some awful fake who he couldn't even identify properly the first time. Berating himself for being stupid enough to fall for the old doppelganger trick a second time is for another day, because—]

You're... you're not in anything right now. I-I have the sickle back, but there's no... you're not in it. Your soul is stuck in the wisteria tree, I... I think. R-right now you're just a spirit...

[As far as he knows, anyway; as far as it's been explained to him.]

I'll find a way to get you back, a-and then we can be together again like always. Okay?

[There's a long pause, and a shaky breath following as Noah tries to collect himself. For Clamor's sake as much as Nene's, he needs to do that much.]

...it's September 25th. You've been gone a l-long time.

[mermaidcursed]

... Did. Did I not tell you about how we can talk to the people through their gorintos- I'm so sorry, Clamor, I thought I did--

( aaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAA WHY IS SHE SO-- no. noah needs her right now, so there she is at his side again, one hand on his shoulder and the other on his back. she's here. )

lore group is here

[commences]

Let's get this over with now, shall we?

( after a bit of arguing in chat, komaeda — with shin's supervision, can you believe this? — will set the coin in front of the gorinto text side up, and remove his hand so they drop down by his side. he takes a step back to stand in line with the ground: shin, natsume, and sara, who are all patiently waiting for the seductive, luxurious, scandalous, smart and intuitive "clamor" to arrive. )

Hello, hello... Where's the let down who had the chance to be crushed into the dirt by an Ultimate? Please come out and talk to us. We're truly interested in your demise.

[sunstead]

[The coin dissolves into shadow just like the first had earlier that day, a chill filling the room, and for Natsume's eye the rocks begin to emanate a blue glow...

and then Komaeda decides to speak first

...

they might hear very, very faint breathing if they listen closely, but like... who the fuck would want to answer after a greeting like that, can you blame him??]

[crystallomancy]

( Well, thankfully, Natsume can see you, asshole, so no amount of trying to pretend you aren't there will work.

Not that blames the guy, given Komaeda being... Komaeda... But. He'll step on the back of Komaeda's shoe, annoying but basically harmless, and just. let him clarify. )

...What he means to say is that we'd like to ask you some quesTIONS, Senpai, regarding what happened that night and your reasons for the entire chaRADE. ( He smiles a little. It is not one that goes anywhere near his eyes, settling very calmly on his mouth and nowhere else. ) Provided you cooperate with US, this will be a very quick interrogaTION.

[notsosou]

[Shin's supervision... a bit of an oxymoron that. Wow, though. It's kind of fascinatingly impressive how much those sentences spiked things into the ground, and that's coming from someone well versed in annoying people.

He can get little a schadenfreude out of Natsume stepping on Komaeda's heels. As a treat.]

It's not like you'll get another chance to explain what really happened...

[Dangle, dangle. C'mon, don't you want to monologue a bit? Share your side of the story? That should be it's own catnip, right?]

[samuraiwomen]

If you say sorry for Clamor, we'll even tie Komeada up and throw him away.

[ She's not here to babysit that guy he can go. But this mysterious student....she's mad!! She's mad and she wants answers!! Killing Clamor...making Noah cry. It's unforgivable! ]

So, please repent and explain everything! And at least start with your name, so I know who I'm talking too!

[commences]

( ouch, ouch! he jumps forward from natsume digging into his heel, where he accidentally steps on shin's foot instead.

luckily for him komaeda's a twig!! )

You heard her, don't bully women... that'd be very rude of you. I wouldn't be surprised, though... You didn't even take control of a woman's body...

( the misogyny is already showing, but he claps his hands together gently. )

Which begs the question, why did you choose Clamor-san... Adams-san could have been a great choice.

[sunstead]

[Everyone gets to say their piece, because he's still trying very hard to pretend he's not there... but after another stretch of silence, a sigh finally echoes through the room.

y'all really aint gonna leave until he says something back, huh]

What, so you can hunt me down if we end up in the same year again? Yeah, right.

[He sounds a little tired, but mostly annoyed. Imagine being trapped in an infinite loop of your dying moments and then your only reprieve is Komaeda asking what dying to an Ultimate was like. Kind of an instant mood-killer. Not really what he wants to think about right now, if ever, so]

Interrogate my ass. You're a bunch of armchair detectives, yeah? Figure it out yourselves, it's not my problem anymore.

[He's dead, so what does he care?]

[crystallomancy]

Being edgy won't get you anyWHERE. ( Maybe this is Add's Yogenself, that would be..... funny. ) RegardLESS...

( ...they have some questions they're supposed to ask, and Komaeda's is a good starting point, and kind of what he wants to know too—or at least have his supsiscions confirmed on—but, well, get through the more important parts.

He has a vested interest in one of these, after all. )

You and I aren't so dissimiLAR, in one way or anoTHER. I have an interest in soul magic TOO. ( can't not have one. ) How did you manage to switch yourself into Master Clamor's boDY?

( And Where Did He Go dammit )

[notsosou]

[He is a twig but Shin is easily bruised and absolutely refuses to believe that's not "accidental". Is he going to "accidentally" kick the side of Komaeda's foot as he steps away closer to Sara? No, but he's thinking strongly about it. Maybe it will manifest itself in the universe.]

...

[End up in the same year again... that's an interesting sentence in it's own right, looking at it. There's more petals than classes... was Inaba that lucky? He's trying to memorize the guy's voice, but it's definitely trickier than having a name or face...

'Figure it out yourselves'...]

[samuraiwomen]

[ No, she's not dealing with this. Sara takes a moment as the boys are having a scuffle to step further away from the group, crossing her arms and sticking up her nose. She's grumbling in whispers, attempting to not interrupt Natsume's questions, but her voice is icy with prim displeasure. Not even giving his name...what a pathetic murderer. ]

Hunt you down? Please...I just want to punch you.

[ Maybe hit him with a gun a little. That's not murder. When Natsume finishes his questions, she raises her voice to add. ]

It'll be your problem when you get back here, won't it!? Sharing information helps everyone...Natsume-san understands that.

[commences]

Mm, you really are a piece of work.

( no wonder they failed, they're such a piece of work who overcompensate with being aggressive than taking life as it gives it. hence why they're even in this position. crossing his arms, komaeda laughs softly as he understands natsume's question is built from his, so he has it in that department, but winding up in the same year. )

Oh, don't worry. You will, and your cycle will put us together. ( :) ) The unfortunate me, and then you'll have to suffer in the despair of being by my side.

( he's been like this for two years already if he has pictures of lily may on his camera, he guesses, anyway. )

If you answer us properly, I'll avoid that, and instead do anything you needed before your death. Even though you lost, you were a very hopeful experience, and that way I'll thank you since you became a stepping stone.

( literally. )

[sunstead]

Are you... threatening to kill yourself just to bother me next year? [... well, it is Komaeda...] You guys really are a bunch of weirdos.

[but anyway, back to the soul magic question...]

Everything I figured out is in the spellbook I had with me, Sakasaki-kun. If that's all you wanted to know, you can just read it yourself. If something happened to it, well, I guess you're on your own then, 'cause I sure couldn't tell you how it all worked off the top of my head.

How do you know it wasn't Clamor-san that tried to switch with me? He's the one who knew all that weird stuff. Maybe I was just an innocent bystander, minding my own business. [besides all the lying and murdering and black magic he did.] But it doesn't really matter now, so... I don't know! You can believe whatever you want, but I really have no idea how I ended up like that. Weird, huh? If it's not Clamor-san who did it to himself, someone else must be messing around with the same kind of thing.