how have we not had a proper meeting since OCTOBER

[subtract]

Who: Everyone
When: January 10th, after 6PM
What: it's finally time for another FAMILY MEETING aka info sharing and yelling at eachother session, come and discuss recent discoveries & upcoming plots
Warnings: if there isn't at least ONE attempted murder, is it really a fam meet?

[It's the first day of the last semester, and sometime around lunch a note is slipped into everyone's lockers, as well as posted up in various common areas of the dormitories. In neat, printer-perfect text:]

Transfer Student Meeting
Dormitory Common Room @ 6:15 PM
Don't be late.
[... and that's all anyone gets until the agreed upon time, unless anyone wants to show up early and help Add set up.

Add himself is looking tall & fragment-y today, and by 6:15 PM exactly the whiteboard (that we stole and I assume never gave back because fuck the rules) is at the front of the room with a list of topics to cover. There's extra space left at the bottom for more to be added. His two dynamos are hovering at around shoulder-level by the main entrance, offering a friendly beep! to everyone who enters while they take attendance.

There is also the science room's Add's anatomical model standing next to the whiteboard. It's just standing there and looking creepy... it's fine, don't worry about it.

Once everyone arrives, Add goes over the rules—which are pretty simple, because Add doesn't give a shit.]

Let's try to keep this concise and tolerable. Stay on topic, and speak up if you have something useful to contribute. Take your fights outside if you want to kill someone. Failure to abide by these terms will result in removal from the room.

Like it or not... information is key to surviving this place, so working together as a group is the optimal strategy. Some of you will be "graduating" soon, and we still barely know what that entails. I'm not interested in letting this school dictate my future and neither should any of you, and I don't care if you want to find your own method of escape, but pooling our information will prevent wasted time and effort on dead-ends. If you don't agree with that, you can leave and figure it out by yourself.

We've made it this far, starting from practically nothing. Life or death, return or reincarnation... none of that matters because nothing is an impossibility. What matters is that we leave on our terms. Don't settle for less because you think it's too difficult. We will find a way out of this school.




((~FAMILY MEETING OOC RULES~
- this is a mingle!! feel free to start your own toplevels and threadjack into any ongoing discussions.
- off topic threads (like characters just chatting or bringing snacks or whatever) is allowed, but try to keep it contained. this is for sharing info both IC and OOC, so try to think of future-us sometimes and don't leave 38473645 unnecessary shitpost toplevels people will have to scroll past to find the one bit of plot info they needed or w/e
- if you're starting a new discussion topic, please put something in the subject line to make it easier to find! you can also ping/PM me to have it added/linked in the Official™ topic list below.
- if a new discussion topic comes up in the middle of an existing discussion, please consider giving it a fresh toplevel so it's easier to find!
- IC chaos/disruptions are allowed, but expect appropriate IC consequences. Add is a shitty meeting host and has not banned hangman or murders but like, he can manipulate gravity to throw someone out a window, this is exactly what will happen if anyone starts to annoy him.
- priority to sharing plot info should go to whoever discovered it, so please be considerate of others and ask before sharing something another character has been investigating!))

Comments

DISCUSSION TOPICS (do not reply to this comment pls&thx)

[subtract]

- "Voidschool" debrief (1/1 - 1/7)
           - Piano bench photo album
           - Seiya Kaneko, secret passage
- Finals, what happened in December?
- The mess in the study hall
- Science lab/club open
- February school trip
- Missing persons?
- Graduation, what next?
- Broken PDAs
- Forest = infinite? Shrine?
- Kazuki's box contents
           - Donations for new box

[subtract]

[Add is here, obviously. He'll stick to loosely moderating the discussion once he's done his embarrassing speech about teamwork...

Discussions aside, he still looks a bit worn out and he's once again making an effort to hide his right hand/arm, but it's difficult to pull that off when he's missing his ring and pinky fingers + weird glowing cracks spreading up past his wrist. It's still totally fine, really, honestly, dwbi]

decided i wanted it here bc its for you

[commences]

( hyping up the crowd +10
giving motivation +10
turning a horrible situation into something hopeful so others can be swayed by his charisma? +hope

clap, clap, clap. )

[gatetohell]

[ Joe's here, and he doesn't have to contribute (yet) information wise. He's just praying that don't ask for more blood from him. Not that he won't give more, but maybe he should lie down before starting. That thankfully doesn't seem the focus for now though.

But since discussions are open, he does eventually speak up about something that'd been plaguing him for a few weeks now especially since graduation is mentioned: ]

...Has anyone considered what happens when we leave this place? I mean, I'm sure you guys will find a way home, and I want that. But some of us... are...

[ He can't seems to bring himself to finish the answer, but those who know, know: Joe's dead back home. So he's been afraid what's going to happen over all this. ]

I-I really mean it though: I don't want anyone to be stuck here. But I... I just don't know.

[commences]

Do you want to stay because you have no place back home?

( it's a yes or no question, but if he doesn't know, there's no reason to comment now is there. so he'll try to find him an answer that he can commit to rather than holding his head confused on what to do. there's some who want to go home, others who would rather stay, and then the idea of going to other people's worlds was tossed around, but that one seems like a fairytale.

although, everything else here seems like one to. )

But I understand if you want to remain here and graduate like a normal third year... if you make it there.

[samuraiwomen]

Joe, we're all in the same boat.

[ She has to stand up from where she's seated to meet his eyes, but she puts a hand on her chest like she really means it. There are some hard truths she's been taking some time to swallow, but hearing Joe talk like that, like his life is different from hers, like he couldn't go home but she might? That's stupid! ]

It's not "some of us"...I don't want to accept it, but I'm dead too, aren't I? Just because I don't remember doesn't mean I have anywhere else to go...but I don't want to accept that, or reincarnation either!

[dereban]

I've been thinking about it a lot, actually.

[For a while, if she had to be honest.]

And honestly, it's hard to tell since there's a lot of details that are missing... but if I'm going to be honest: if people really are stuck here because they're dead, maybe the inner workings of the school needs to be one of the major things to change, besides just--being able to leave, you know?

[stubbornhope]

[Ah, yes. This can of worms. It's one that she hasn't really wanted to open for herself. It means admitting that she died and abandoned Mikale, after all...

But she's failed to consider deeply how it affects other people, hasn't she? Satou sighs and prepares for the worst chat of her life.]

If he was dead... [Well. He is dead. Satou is talking about Shugo and it's still incredibly hard for her. She feels her throat threaten to close up from the sin of verbally acknowledging Shugo's death.

It takes her a second to recover;] I'd want him to be resting. Not stuck in high school forever..?

So even if there's no where to go... [Her voice trails off again.

ugh, death sucks.]

pdas.

[commences]

Those who are part of Robotics Club, if you don't mind... there's four PDAs in need of assistance: Amami-kun, Yashiro-san, Ebalon-kun, and Hinata-kun that have happened to overheat and stop working.

( says un: i.sena, but he doesn't find his own pda to be as important as theirs, and given that someone like noah doesn't have a cellphone to keep in contact with everything, communication will be tedious. the same goes for the others too, even though they have a phone to connect with certain people, but the network is their go-to for wolf rp, 400 replies of komaroku slowburn, and information. )

Perhaps you can make it a little project in figuring out why they went out exactly at midnight when everyone else's PDAs had ceased to stop working until the generator was turned on.

( okay, he's going to sit down now. )

[dereban]

I'm not part of the robotics club, but if nobody else offers, I can look at them. I already have familiarity with the PDAs' inner workings.

[Hi, she's interested in this specific topic because she's a Big Tech Nerd, in spite of who's mentioning it. She can shove spite away for a few seconds for things that are of her interest.]

i haven't contributed a single thing and neither has noah

[silentabyss]

[Raises his hand politely like a nice young man]

The forest outside goes on infinitely. I might have... wandered it for almost a week. It just goes on and on. When I tried to go back out there recently, though, uh... once I passed the treeline, I passed out. I'm not really sure why.

...

Oh, but the water is drinkable and doesn't have blood in it. You still have to boil it, though.

[heroicpolonaise]

[oh what a polite young man]

Well, that's a relief... If we're forced out for some reason, we'll at least be able to survive with that much.

[like

two weeks]

Thank you for your bravery, Ebalon-kun! I'm sure it wasn't easy going off on your own someplace entirely new, with no idea the dangers that might've lurked right around the corner... I'm glad you're safe now, too.

[commences]

That's strange, perhaps the counselor didn't want you to leave yet.

( with a shake of his head, he'll pat noah's head gently. )

We'll get you out there so you can tell us what's waiting for everyone.

[dereban]

Passing out isn't a good thing, but having another source of drinkable water is good at least...

[Because lord if the pipes get fucked again it would absolutely suck.]

[decrypter]

...There may be something hidden in the forest as well. Perhaps it's only on this side, since I'm not sure what direction you went, but a while before exams, I heard talk of a shrine in the forest, hosting a god that could be prayed to for your wishes. Though I also heard that the god was terribly unfair, and may have left anyway.

[and with that inescapable barrier up, that's going to be hard to confirm or deny.]

Of course, going to look for it and see if the rumors are true has been difficult, since we can't exit the front gates. And I tried to ask Mr. Kazuki, who'd know the forest far better, but he denies any shrine's existence. I couldn't tell if he was telling the truth or lying, but I'd like to think he believes his words.

[samuraiwomen]

[ Working together is the optimal...strategy? ]

Yaaaay! Add-chan! That's right! You tell them!

[ Cheering during his friendship speech like she's his mom at his first soccer game or something. ]

[commences]

( clap clap clap )

[subtract]

[why are you people like this ugggghhhhhhh]

Shut up and stop causing distractions. This is a serious meeting.

voidschool -- let's begin here

[heroicpolonaise]

[oh... this place really is like, the total opposite of the academy. it's relaxing and weird not being the one to lead, or in their case force, discussions. she really hopes saihara had a better time of it after her.

regardless, she'll do as noah had done and raise her hand to be heard, because she's presuming that's simply how you do it here and not that he's an exceptionally good boy.]

About the week we were gone... I'm sure we've all found some things of interest, so why don't we go through it while we can? I can start.

[even if it's smaller than the wet bone room and generator,]

Yashiro-san and I managed to open the piano bench [through definitely peaceful means] in the music room and found a photo album inside it.

[which she'll lay out on the table to be looked at... please don't steal pictures... unless you're komaeda i guess, since his boyfriend is vaguely in there. the note is included, unfolded and tucked into one of the photo holders for ease of viewing.

...

she isn't going to mention the hole in the music room's corner. that isn't important. clearly.]

akamatsu-san...

[commences]

...

( going to look at every picture ASIDE from his supposed boyfriend because he doesn't have a boyfriend. )

The piano bench...? It's a shame the one here has already been tampered with, it would have been interesting to gain a few more relics from the past.

( he'll flip through them, stopping a few times. )

What did you think of them?

( the pictures. )

[mermaidcursed]

( little wave! she helped! oh-- but... let her write out on her notebook real quick. )

when we found it, i felt unusually happy. i'm not sure the joy was mine. but i'll admit now i'm a little protective of the album...

( she's sure people will understand what she means. ... right- )

[miirai]

Oh, so that's what you found there.

[Rika takes a glance at the photos for a bit, morbidly curious before finding herself asking:]

Do you think that they were afraid of forgetting...?

(roddy rich voice) ee oo kazuki's box ee oo

[commences]

Ahaha, can I have everyone's attention, for those who are familiar with Kazuki-san, you'll understand he's the gardener who lingers outside the school. He was tamed by a sublime group of students — you know who you are.

( the only way he can talk about this without giving all the credit to certain ultimates, look, he's learning, probably. there's even a smile on his face, he thinks... he's applying new details to his way of addressing people without addressing them. )

Amami-kun was the chosen, ( ignoring evil clamor, and dead shuichi ) to find the three keys to open up a certain box underneath the wisteria. Now... it can't be brought to the meeting, so I'll tell you each and every item that was inside which I can recall — mind you, this box is worn from age, but what was found inside, was...

( he clears his throat, counting on his fingers to make sure he mentions each and every one — )

A box of chalk; a carved wooden bird; a doll with flowing black hair and a missing arm; an empty flour bag neatly folded with a happy face drawn with marker; strips of colored paper reading "I want to live," "I want freedom," "I want to be loved," "I want to die," "I want to remember;" a resin knife; a resin ring; a button pin; a smooth black stone flecked with silver; a light pink stone ringed with white; a clear stone holding a rainbow; a complete set of go stones; a handful of colorful beads that look like eyes; a math exam with full marks; a pocket notebook filled with sketches of cats; a box cutter; an old PSP; a guitar pick; a feather ring; a broken watch; a pastel chevron bracelet; a small knit bunny; a coin purse containing a single 5 yen coin; photographs of unfamiliar students posing in front of the school gates, sitting underneath a blooming wisteria tree, playing with fireworks on the rooftop, a Christmas party, a cultural festival, a school trip to Tokyo Disney, all with bright smiles and tired eyes; a torn piece of paper with the name "Hikaru Tomori" written on a thick line; silk flowers pinned to all sorts of colors of ribbons expressing congratulations, a myriad amount of normal boring pebbles, packaged peanuts.

At the bottom of the box, "Memento vivere", was written. ( ... ) "Remember you must live."

( let him catch his breath with a shaky exhale, and he takes a sip of water because that's a mouthful every time. with a hand now on his waist, he looks off to the side, thinking over everything inside as he continues. )

Does anything sound familiar? If not, I can tell you what was in the second box underneath the tree during our little trip on New Years.

[dereban]

... The school motto, huh.

[Memento vivere, that is. Although an old PSP is definitely interesting--that's not something that existed during this time period, that's for sure.]

Voidschool Part 2: Seiya and the BLOOD

[samuraiwomen]

Right, I guess I'll also chime in. It's pretty rude to read other peoples PDA messages, but I'm sure everyone has seen the conversation
Komeada and I had with Seiya Kaneko last night. It seems like he was the person behind our...imprisonment?

[ She'll hold up her own PDA as an example. ]

He left us the means of escape with a puzzle through the lockers, so I don't believe him to be our enemy...but I do think his behavior is worth more investigation! I know he was looking for secret passages in the school during finals, and then he hide clues for our escape in one. Its weird, right? His talk of showing us a memory was also quite strange...he wouldn't tell me what was so important about that school that everyone had to see it.

Ah...but anyway! Komeada also thought he probably worked with some other people to achieve this? That Rokoro guy? And maybe others? [ Explain your theories to the group, jerk. ]

[dereban]

PDA messages are completely public and everyone should know this by now that if anybody really wanted to keep their shit private they would have typed it out in incomprehensible code or something.

That being said--

If we're going to attempt to psycho-analyze someone, then think about how that place was essentially an alternate space, parallel to this one. If he said he was trying to "show us a memory" then the word 'memory' is most likely the key--it's that he thought that we need information that could only be obtained in the "past" to figure out where to move on in the "present". I can't say what specifically he thought was important, but that's my vague working theory at the moment.

give back kazuki

[sisters]

Speaking of Kazuki-san, now that Komaeda-kun has brought up the contents of his box, I think now is a good time to mention that he's still missing.

I'm sure a few of you have noticed, some of the others who were in the school with us before weren't here when we got back — even the ones who couldn't leave the school grounds, like us. After hearing from Komaeda-kun and experimenting a little myself, it seems like we can find them if we can use their "reason for being here" to draw them back.

( if anyone walked in on amami putting together a shrine for izumi sena, decked out with christmas lights and candles and vanilla ice cream offerings, no you didn't. we're not talking about that. )

The truth is, that box we found was Kazuki-san's "tether" to this place. His connection to his students is what bound him here. So Komaeda-kun thought that to bring him back, maybe we could make him a new anchor — something that represents our bond with him. If we do that, maybe he'll appear here again.

( "why would we want the man-eating monster to come back?" you may ask. not to fear! amami has an answer for this too. )

I don't know about you guys, but Kazuki-san is the reason we know a lot of what we do about why we're here, and what this place is. If it wasn't for him, we'd still be a lot more confused than we are now. I think that, all things considered, it's useful to have him on our side, so I thought I'd bring this up. If everyone could consider whether you would be willing to donate one item that you'd like to remember to a new time capsule, then once we've collected everyone's we'll bury it under the wisteria tree after dark.

( and ideally the idea is that kazuki-san will show up and be like "thank you my children" or something. )

Of course, if it doesn't work, you can feel free to take back what you gave.

( but hopefully it does? )

ITEM DROP

[sisters]

( tucked neatly up against the box is a note written in doctor's scrawl handwriting that reads: Leave one )

[OOCly, feel free to leave one item for kazuki's new time capsule if you wish — preferably one with strong memories attached!]