i'm getting a good grade in yogen lore, which is something normal people definitely try to get

[crystallomancy]

Who: Whoever's in the dormitories
When: Friday, October 1st
What: It's time for a little lecture. And a genuine information meeting. But mostly a lecture.
Warnings: N/A please don't make me change this.

( Early in the morning, a curious text gets posted. )

N.Sakasaki

DRM-STDYHLL
1800HRS

( ...In less coded news, the dormitory's study hall will have a note taped to it:

Yogen and You: A Quick Summary
Held by Natsume Sakasaki

For those who need a summary of events, whether because our meetings rarely get anything done in terms of information sharing or because you're freshly awakened. Come around dinner time for food, enlightenment, and the opportunity to share your troubles with those going through the same thing.

The room will be locked all day until about half an hour before six, at which point it will become unlocked... this is primarily for Natsume to set up a table of food, but people can come sit in early if they like. There's an overhead projector that's been wheeled into the study hall all the way from school, and the curtains are drawn over the windows. It isn't dark though, since he still has the lights turned on...

Several tables have been pushed together to make at least three groups, chairs around them like they've been readied for a dinner party, while a few more are pushed a little further back and have absolutely no chairs whatsoever; those are for the food. There's also a chair by the overhead projector.

Your food and drink for tonight: lemon and rosemary roasted shrimp, white rice, rosemary and thyme chicken, a make-your-own-salad area with all kinds of salad-making ingredients, three types of eggrolls (seafood, vegetable, and pork), and various drinks from the vending machine because some of us can afford to spend a bunch of merit points on things like that.

When a sufficient amount of people have come in, or the clock hits 6:05, Natsume shuts the door, turns off the lights, and moves to the overhead projector. To stand on the chair, so he's the tallest person in here, and claps his hands to get people's attention. )

Save all questions and outbursts until the END, ( he says, and then kneels down on the chair and flicks the projector on.

All of the slides are pre-written on some transparent sheets that project onto a wall without windows, which he reads one by one without rushing! But for ease of reading OOCly, you can find the entire thing here. There's also photocopied handouts for people on all of the tables, stapled of course, so people who aren't blind (sorry Helena) can follow along at home!

He lets the last sheet stay up, his face half-illuminated by the overhead projector, then sits down in the chair and leans forward the back of it like some kind of delinquent. )

Alright, you can speak NOW.


( ooc notes: go ahead and treat this like one of our meetings, aka mingle, jump around, actually get a chance to share information that hasn't been talked about yet, etc. thank you plenty to enh and peace too for reviewing and suggesting things for the presentation \o/ )

Comments

[moraloutrage]

[As Meng Yao speaks up, Ishimaru seems unresponsive for the most part. But he is clearly listening. Once he finishes, he speaks up. He cannot manage a smile, but he manages to speak gently.]

...Thank you, Meng Yao-kun. I... I appreciate your insights.

[His fists loosen as he thinks.]

It is truly hard to fully accept these... revelations. I want to believe... to have hope in what you mention. That this is not the end... that we truly can return. That despite everything, our... our lives are continuing...

[samuraiwomen]

I'm just...tired of being strung along with false hopes.

[ Stephanie has run off to fight with just about everyone about the evils of the school, but Sara stands back and looks to where Ishimaru and Meng Yao are talking. ]

Hunted for sport, given allies just so we can mourn them...just being toyed with for worthless reasons, for years and years. [ She buries her face in her hands, breathing hard. ]

I...don't want to give up! Or let someone win! B-but, what do we even do?

[filialdeception]

[ That is actually a mood, but still... ]

We do the only thing we can do. We struggle even when we've been pushed into a corner, and we fight. We were forced here, against our will, and for us to give into who was responsible for that...it's not something I can accept.

There are answers waiting for us in this place, as it is. We keep looking for them—those clues and those hints until we're able to weaponize that answer for ourselves.

[samuraiwomen]

I just worry that...fighting like that is exactly what this school wants. Like Stephanie says...our struggle is the point of all this.

[Is the winning move not to play, or do they have no choice here? She doesn't know. She looks up to stare at Meng Yao, hands clenching into fists. His stable words and demeanor, she wants to believe them...but... ]

Do you mean...like destroy the school? Can we do that? I don't want this...so called graduation. I just want to go home.

[filialdeception]

On some level, I don't think she's wrong about that.

But if we don't fight or try to do something, we're giving in, aren't we? Don't you agree that something like that can't be right? Even if nothing about our situation is right...

[ It's unacceptable, no matter what kind of goal they're aiming for. He knows if he stops and thinks it's the end...that's it. No matter how he really feels about all of this, that it something he knows for certain. And that's what scares him more than anything.

He's fought so hard to survive, to get where he was back in his world. Even when he feels like it's hopeless, he instinctively can't see himself doing anything else.

When she mentions destroying the school, however, he does pause to consider his next response, fingers clenching tightly for a moment, before relaxing and his expression turns thoughtful. ]

I meant we find a way out of here and go back home, to continue where we left off. Also, this is a place that has some control over life and death...but, I don't think it is impossible to be destroyed, however, since there there is that void.

Personally, I suspect we'd have to eliminate whomever is responsible for this first. Returning home as it is happens to still be the priority, but also preventing from being brought back is enough of a concern that we'll have to ensure that it's impossible. Whether by weakening this place or as we leave, ensure that this place can't interfere in our daily lives again.

[ And if Meng Yao eventually concludes this place being destroyed will be the answer to that, then that is a choice he will make. At this time, he knows too little to commit, though he plans to assist in what he can overall. ]

[samuraiwomen]

Its true. I don't want that.

[She also did a lot to survive, and she wants that to be worth something. If...this school requires her to do more, then maybe the solution really is to grit her teeth and bare it. As long as she can go home at the end of the day, she can do a lot of things she once thought were beyond her.

With a goal to focus on, she does calm down considerably. Her eyes widen warily as his fists clench, but she says nothing else until Meng Yao finishes. ]

You have a very admirable sense of logic, Meng Yao-san. [ He has a clear idea of what he wants, and what steps he'll take to get it. That's the kind of person Sara would like to be if she ever gets to be his age. ] I hope you can get back to your daily life...

You think it would bring us back? Why only us? This school can't have more then a few hundred....spirits. Compared to how many people we all remember in all our worlds. Why only us, and the non transfer students?

[filialdeception]

This one humbly accepts your compliment. But I too hope the same for each and every one of us, yourself included.

[ He considers her inquiry carefully. The non-transfer students ... well, he does not care too much for them, but he has long since acknowledged their presence, amongst the other denizens of this world. The people, the staff (two of which he doesn't think of as so bad), and the creatures... ]

I think it could bring us back if we're not careful because we already have someone who "left" that had returned. [ He gestures to Inaba as proof. ] To be frank, I also imagine the situation of the non-transfer students would be different in some way since this is a setting they are familiar with more than us.

Whatever the case...it's still a concern, isn't it?

[samuraiwomen]

[ Meng Yao is so cool. He feels right out of a samurai movie..."humbly accepts" her compliment. So cool. She should start saying that. ]

So what you're saying is something is...binding us here? [ She looks down at her hands, trying to imagine her own soul as it must exist in this place. ] Ah, you're an exorcist right? Or is there another word...nevermind. Do you know how binding a soul somewhere usually works?

[ She has no framework of reference when it comes to souls and death like this. ]

It might be different, but I don't think its unrelated. They've always been here, but we're new. We aren't supposed to be here, but are they? They suffer here just like us. It isn't right.

[filialdeception]

Yes, I think there is something that keeps us 'bound' here, so to speak.

[ It's clear they have not arrived here under normal circumstances. Thinking about his own circumstances, as he figures that Sect Leader Nie could've changed his mind since technically that danger still hadn't passed.

Anyway, he'll toss those thoughts aside, focusing on the questions Sara has for him; he's ever glad to be of assistance and so he has no problem in doing his best to answer to the best of his ability. ]

Well, in my world you would call me a cultivator. [ A sheepish smile appears and disappears. ] Either way, from my perspective, binding someone's soul to something or somewhere usually requires a spell of some sort, or array, and at least something to act as an "anchor" to hold it in place. Like let's say you have a rock and want to keep someone's soul in it for some reason...you'd have to at least use an array or spell for that. Or if you would like, you could use both to strengthen its bond to the rock so its less likely to break free from it.

As for those people, I don't disagree that they're suffering as well. But it is a simple fact that they're familiar with their surroundings than we are—none of them seem so confused about the technology, entertainment or any such things. Whether or not they're also supposed to be here in the end I suppose is also up in the air...but I wouldn't be surprised if for them, that may just be the case.

[ Whether or not that is right. But of course, as far as he's concerned it's pure speculation, so he's not going to commit to it just yet even if he's unafraid of presenting his thoughts so far. ]

[samuraiwomen]

A cultivator...well thats a nicer word. It makes you sound like you're growing something.

[ She quiets down for his explanation, clearly thinking hard about what he's said. Anchors and arrays to bind a soul. It doesn't sound far-fetched, if you imagine souls are real. It's just like putting a rock on a balloon string, or tying it down. ]

And when you...break this array? What happens to the soul then?

[ Does it destroy it...or let it go? ]

Some of them also want to escape...so maybe they have an array of their own? But different from ours? If I'm understanding how this works in your world?

[filialdeception]

It depends on the circumstances, I suppose.

The soul could be free to go, but where it can go may still be fairly limited. If we're applying it to our situation, though, I imagine that we'd need something that'd help us get back in the first place even if we break free of what binds us here.

[ Once again just pure speculation, so he's still a little uncertain because this is containing people on a rather high number, and just the simple fact the situation they're in is just...well, complicated. ]

Well...I'm honestly not certain enough to say, in regards to them. I can only imagine their circumstances are slightly different from ours in some way, even if the issue of 'being trapped' in this place is the same.

[filialdeception]

[ It's been a long day for all of them already, and as far as Meng Yao is concerned, the meeting has just started. He hopes fervently that at some point something good presents itself in the meeting as it is but he's not going to hold his breath.

He's just going to do what he can for now. ]

Admittedly, it's been a hard pill for me to swallow as well, but...

There is so much we still don't know. And there are people waiting for us to return home...I figure that it's at least something to think about as well. Or I suppose I'm just pretty stubborn about all of this. We've been struggling so hard and for so long now, after all.

I can't help but want to see all of us break free of this and live our lives again. I do understand if you need time to think about it too.

[moraloutrage]

[It would have to be something miraculously good to truly counteract everything he's feeling right now! But at least Meng Yao is a steadying presence, who helps Ishimaru to feel calmer. He can't quite manage a smile, but he looks more composed as he faces his friend.]

That is true. We have been working hard. And hard work... should always reap rewards.

I am sure we will make it there. That the time will come. To live... to live our lives. To live our lives again... [To live... Ishimaru doesn't really know what will await him if he manages to get back home.]

I think I do need some time to... let all of this settle in. And to sort out my feelings. But I will remain here... to listen to all that must be said. Thank you for your patience... Meng Yao-kun...

[filialdeception]

That it does.

[ Meng Yao allows a small smile to Ishimaru; it's a teensy bit weary but it's one nonetheless. ]

...Of course. And, it is no problem, I'm just happy to help in what way I can. It's not going to be easy, but I think that too is something we already know. And of course, if there is anything else you will need help with in the meanwhile or anytime in the future, please let me know.

[ And he'll come running straight away to do what he can to help Ishimaru without a single bit of hesitation. ]

[moraloutrage]

[The small smile is welcome. It does bring some small comfort that the people he cares for can still draw smiles in these times! Ishimaru lightly bows his head.]

...Thank you. You - you have been quite the incredible help already, Meng Yao-kun. I would feel bad if I had to call upon you for all of my problems. B-but I would still honor your offer... and I offer my own aid in turn.

[A slow bow.]

Please... call upon me to help with your own troubles. I... I want to help. I want to help anyone I can... [Before it's too late.]

[filialdeception]

[ Meng Yao feels himself grow quiet, and he just blinks, but then he can't help the way the smile turns a touch softer. It's such a natural thing, for people who are so willing to assist one another to reciprocate the sentiment—but it still feels a new experience to him, even such things like people returning the courtesy of bowing. So when he answers, his voice is a little quiet. ]

For now, just knowing that you will be there when the time comes ... is enough.

[ He does not say if.

The weight doesn't feel like it lifts, but for some reason it doesn't feel so crushing. ]

I appreciate what you've said in return, and look forward to our escape from here. We've truly a long road ahead of us still, but I believe the fact we're not alone in all of this will be an important reminder to most of us.

[moraloutrage]

[Ishimaru's expression softens at the sincerity of Meng Yao's reply.]

I - I am glad to bring you such comfort, and I hope to help you as much as I can in... your own dark hours. ...I feel like I owe you quite a lot, Meng Yao-kun.

[He's been there for him time and time again. It's a small relief in this hellscape - probably the best they could hope for.]

That is right. We are not alone. Let us do our best as... as we work our way forward towards the best possible future! [He can feel a little bit of his fire stirring up.]