WEEK FIVE

[whimsicalism]

WEEK FIVE

There's one thing that belongs in Closetland: Monsters.

It was a monster that brought the students here to begin with, and it's a monster who controls their lives now. By now, some have even accused their classmates of turning into--or always being--monsters themselves.

The academy is just as cold as it was last week, autumn air seeping in through the unfriendly architecture and the artificial light seeming darker than before. The occasionally cloud of purple fog snakes through the hallways at ground level, a constant reminder of the new presence haunting the school and her role in the past five weeks of torment. Now that Kakuya is back in a body of her own making, the music room is silent, though the rooms and halls of the Academy themselves occasionally fill with a low, haunting flute melody. With the school's new overlord already wishing her ill, Nanami's already deflating power and free roam capabilities are more or less completely limited as well: She's just one more toy in the box.

The stairwell has opened into another new floor. Upon closer inspection, it seems to be the uppermost one. This is the top of Ira Academy, and while it likely bears some new answers and some new locations to try and find a solution to your plight, is there anything that can heal some of the rifts that formed from the accusations thrown at the last trial? Still, if you don't find answers, then you'll be here playing this eternal deadly game.

Is the devil you know better than the devil you don't?

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday
Regains | AC | IC Profiles | Locations | Mystery Information | Sheep Contact | Nanami Contact | Kakuya Contact

OOC NOTES

Welcome to Week 4! Nanami has joined the party! She no longer has office hours but still be contacted privately, as can Kakuya, who is no longer stuck in the music room. New locations are now open, and some minor adjustments have been made to the IC profiles and rules. Please hit the mods with a ping in Discord and put INVESTIGATE in your subject line if you're interested in exploring a new location. The SHEEP are still taggable, though you may find them in a...different mood.

You now have a week to make sure your AC in for last week and to start collecting AC for this week. Remember to submit your regains, and sign up for a spot exploring this week's mystery if you want to!

Comments

1/2

[canreallymove]

[A deep sigh as he looks at his image. He sits, staring at it as the moments pass. Finally, though, he stands.]

2/2

[canreallymove]

[And looks genuinely…confused?…as he continues to stare at the photo.]

But wait, if she really managed to do that, how would that even work-

[otogihorror]

You… think Kakuya can die… how funny…

[Kakuya isn’t anywhere to be seen but she definitely is listening.]

[panglici]

[It's like she doesn't even hear Kakuya.

Carrie stares at the picture, touching the image with evident disbelief. She stares, tracing what must be someone's face (perhaps a standing person's head and shoulders), and then clutches the picture to her chest almost protectively. Her expression has gone from disbelieving to coldly furious in the space of a heartbeat.]

Does she count as someone to die, I wonder....

[otogihorror]

Well… Kakuya thinks… you can guess.

[Hey, you asked. She’s not materializing but her voice is definitely heard.]

[otogihorror]

Are these… stakes… better?

[Kakuya can’t be seen but her presence is there.]

MINI EVENT: CRANE OPERATOR

[whimsicalism]

[Thursday arrives uneventfully. Maybe you’re looking through the library for more information, maybe you’re scouring filing cabinet after filing cabinet in the records room. Maybe you’re even just trying to peacefully ignore the upcoming deadline. One way or another, soon you feel someone next to you. It’s a peaceful presence, at least, lacking malice that your host possesses.

The presence doesn’t say anything but the image of the dance studio comes to mind. Something important is waiting for you there, waiting for everyone.

As soon as people start moving into the dance studio there’s something new there. Something that shouldn’t be there. On a little nightstand table is a landline phone with the cord leading to nowhere. It’s ringing.]

1/2

[violence_ensues]

[Adorabat jumps and screams a tiny bit upon realizing that Kakuya was talking to her.]

2/2

[violence_ensues]

O- oh... um...

[THIS IS REALLY MEAN, COME ON ADORABAT, SAY IT!]

...Yes! I think...

[temmapathy]

[Well, Emma has to leave her room eventually, envelope now stuffed into one of her uniform pockets as she tries to figure out how to deal with it. Which is where she comes across Adorabat in the hallway, and she kneels down to tap her on the back, a concerned expression on her face.]

[violence_ensues]

[Adorabat notices Emma after a moment. She flies up to her and smooshes her cheeks.]

EMMA! SHE'S GONNA TAKE MAO MAO AND BADGERCLOPS AWAY!

[otogihorror]

Good… Kakuya thinks… making sure that… the sky pirates fell… elsewhere will be fun for her…

[temmapathy]

Is that what she showed you? [It seems she's picked a pretty effective motive this time.]

Do-do we know she can actually control time? That's a bigger thing than all the other motives so far...

[otogihorror]

No… one said thank you… Kakuya thinks a hard game is… needed… such rudeness from my… friends.

[violence_ensues]

[And then Mao Mao likely would not have crashed into the Ruby Pure Heart and the shield keeping monsters out and Pure Heart Valley invisible to outsiders would still be up AND THEN ADORABAT WOULD STILL BE SUPER BORED AND-]

[Adorabat grasps Kakuya desperately.]

NO, WAIT, DON'T, I DON'T WANNA BE BORED I WANNA FIGHT CRIMINALS AND MONSTERS AND BE A HERO!

[otogihorror]

If you’re asking… Kakuya can’t die…

[violence_ensues]

[Adorabat picks her photo off of the ground and shows Emma.]

This- this is when we first met. right after Mao Mao crashed into the Ruby Pure Heart...!

I DON'T KNOW, CAN SHE!?

[otogihorror]

[It’s like trying to grasp the wind. Even when she materializes she can’t be grabbed.]

Well… Kakuya doesn't want… to be bored… either… but apparently that’s… a bad thing…?

[violence_ensues]

But- but- but-

MEETING MAO MAO AND BADGERCLOPS WAS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE...! I'LL... I'LL DO ANYTHING TO STOP IT...!

[ADORABAT, NO-]

[canreallymove]

Uh…

[He can guess what it means. Sort of. Which is the problem he’s having.]

You know what? For once, I’m…just…

[Actually no, NO, he will not give his captor more ideas.]

Thanks for the heads up???

[THE ROSIE PARADOX WAS CONFUSING ENOUGH T H A N K S KAKUYA]

[canreallymove]

[H u h.

Time to read them and see if any of it makes a lick of sense!]

[lets_dewey_it]

Whatever, better than taking it out on a person, the machine will be fixed by tomorrow or something! _{[He pulled the axe out, holding it with both hands on the handle and taping it back inside the skirt.]} Sidenote: We need to research Japanese exorcism rituals stat!

[lets_dewey_it]

Well, maybe? Maybe it's a multi-layer affair.

[whimsicalism]

[Well, it's definitely understandable even if it might not make sense right away. There's a 'subject' header with a long string numbers that don't make a lot of sense then the following:

"Child from world [Insert another long string of numbers that Sonic can't parse]. Lives on family ranch. Fears being attacked by wild animals while working with her horse. Suggestion: Send werewolves from container [insert string of numbers] to attack while working."

A lot of these seem to be about the fears of various children and what monsters would be best to go against them. From werewolves to an insect pretending to be a baby sitter... strange, though. None of the suggestions are about child-like monsters. No dolls, no creepy twins or ghosts. Nothing.]

[whimsicalism]

Ain't it obvious that it hurt? I let go! Yeah. I've been here since that night that doll let me out of the container. The pipes suit me.