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

[whimsicalism]

[Reika still:]

You're doing very well, Anya-chan.

[Luz, as indicated, chimes in next:]

So we're in Kakuya's hometown, Kakuriyo, like Reika said, and... apparently we're also still in the academy? Which is in Utsushiyo somehow. I don't know the specifics. But we always wind up in this one bathtub when we turn up here-

Also, my... feet hurt? Like, they have for a while. Hey, does... anyone else's feet sorta hurt?

[whimsicalism]

[This devolves into... Luz and Reika talking about shoes before someone grabs the phone from them.]

[violence_ensues]

Y'ALL STOP TALKING ABOUT SHOES!

[whimsicalism]

[They do not. Sorry, Adorabat. At last someone takes it away from them.]

[spychic]

Thank you, Reika.

Hm...a bathtub. Weird.

Okay...Thomasin?

[whimsicalism]

Ao was taken strangely from the first, by her who you call Kakuya. She knew not her name. Father never used it.

He threw Ao into the mirror that jailed Kakuya when she defied him, thinking she would eat of her. Instead, she was possessed. The spirit hath used her voice with you, but here, she had her body. 'Twas only in the last weeks Ao freed herself, when Kakuya was distracted... when she killed Yuta.

[ There's an awkward, tentative pause. ]

Pray pardon me, I've little to say next to the others. But first, I... I would tell thee — I was false with you all, to protect myself. I meant no harm in it, but it was still wrong... and I am sorry of it. Most to you, Carrie, and Yasu. That is all.

[spychic]

[noting this along...]

...You're forgiven, Thomasin. None of us are mad. You were scared.

Edward?
After that will be Valmont, then Yuta. Then Dylan, then Jeanne.

And then if Ao wants to add anything on, since we haven't actually met her yet here....

[whimsicalism]

[It's time for Edward!]

It's... possible that we're in a different time. Anything with a date that I've seen says 1999, and from what I've seen of the technology that holds up, though I'm less familiar with Japan in the late 90s than America. It's also possible that time is not advancing here. This place is nothing like how hell is described, certainly, and I doubt everyone here would deserve an eternity of punishment. It seems like...

[He pauses.]

It seems that those of us who are here may be able to return, if there is some way back that can be found. We can remember dying, but... None of this is what death is normally like. There's some stores, a train, houses and apartments... everything is very purple.

Beyond the realm of speculation, I can tell you that Kakuya cannot resist playing any games that are proposed to her. Perhaps it's some kind of compulsion.

[spychic]

....

Maybe we can make her play the float down a box in the river game.

[anya]

Thank you, Edward.

Moving on~

[whimsicalism]

[You asked for this, Anya.]

Get me out of here! This place is an absolute nightmare - there's nowhere to go, we've got these dinky little apartments, the company is atrocious, and don't get me started on the thread count of the sheets -

[Thankfully, Valmont is cut off as the next person takes the phone from him.]

[hashtagwoof]

[ In response to the yellywagger before someone takes the phone away from him: ]

Shut up, at least you're not totally dead!

[whimsicalism]

[And almost on the tail of Valmont the person who took the phone, Yuta, adds:]

I still stand by what I said. No one's more useful dead than alive. But we're still making ourselves useful over here, too. Don't forget about us, okay? We're doing our best.

[spychic]

...

Anya's glad Valmont is still the same.

Okay...Dylan, then Jeanne? Anything else?

And then anything from Miss Ao?

[whimsicalism]

[Dylan first:]

I...don't really have much to say, after the...masks and doll stuff. Haven't found much else yet. But-I promise, if there's anything else we can do to help, I'll get it done!

Everyone, please try to be safe. I know it's redundant at this point, but bad things happen on Thursday nights, just...stay inside your rooms, or if you really, really want to go on patrol...make plans to do it with people instead of going it alone.

And...

[There's a noise that sounds like a gulp on the other end of the phone line.]

And...Dewey, Sonic, Adorabat? Please...please stay alive. I...I can't do anything from here, but...

I don't want anything else hurting my family.

[spychic]

...

Anya will keep them safe.

[violence_ensues]

...Big bro... I promise I won't die. I promise to bring you back. Then we can go see Mao Mao and Badgerclops... And... And I can introduce you to Slimy...

I promise... I love you.

See you later.

[lets_dewey_it]

...I promise. Cross my heart.

[canreallymove]

Dyl...

[He doesn't know if it's a promise he can keep, but. He takes a deep breath.]

You can count on me. We're not goin' anywhere without a fight.

[whimsicalism]

[Jeanne has clearly had a fair bit of time to prepare this entire speech. Was she fuming in a corner for some reason? Perish the thought! She does have a French accent now though because of the multilingual rush.]

I believed at first that we had been rendered spirits the same as Kakuya that could pass freely with enough energy. Ao's testimony and other events have dissuaded me of this notion; I am working hard as I promised Emma, but Kakuya's possession and manifestation abilities are on an entirely different level from ours. We are little pieces in Kakuya's game, just as when we were alive. Everything that appears here is tied to her whims and feelings.

The only thing that she cannot control is our hearts. And her own. From the start she has designed this as a game, when her monsters could have made light work of us on Mondays if released all at once. While there might be lies and illusions, and brutality that might be beyond your ability to understand or forgive, do not disregard the emotions of anyone around you. In the artifacts, there has been plenty of practice seeing the world through another's eyes. Follow the laws and make them your own. Win.

[Jeanne swallows.]

I am no saint kneeling before a throne in heaven, but I will pray.

[spychic]

[...That was a lot. Anya's brain fizzled out midway.]

Um. Okay.
Thanks, Jeanne. Anya's sorry she doesn't have much to add....but Anya will win.

...Miss Ao?
Anything from you?

[whimsicalism]

I know it doesn't matter much coming from someone you don't know but... I wish everyone luck. Just stick together to the end. It doesn't matter what you're planning to do after you win.

Also, before I forget... I read the book that Reika did, too. If you don't know the story of Kaguya; it's about a princess from the moon being found by an old man and his wife. They raise her as their daughter, she rewards them, and a bunch of suitors try to marry her only to fail at her tasks. Still... the book felt weird to me. The old man was afraid but loved Kaguya all the same even if she was cruel. It was a strange mix of fear and respect.

[She pauses then sighs.]

I'd like to think I'm everyone's friend because I saw so much of what happened but I understand I probably hurt you more because of what Kakuya did. So I'm sorry. Especially to you, Nanami. I was a mess of a Senior Prefect and ended up in the mirror instead of being able to help.

...see ya later, maybe.

[violence_ensues]

Ao... I have the class photo. It seems we were already friends before, even if we don't remember it. But I'd like to be friends with you again.

[lets_dewey_it]

Edward? Before you go...

I'm protecting Anya with my life. Just like you told me to keep on doing in your letter. I promise I won't let her get hurt.

And... Thanks for keeping my keytaur safe.