[the pulsing lights throw her off a bit - she is still going for the rings, but the second the bat-creatures come out, she loses focus entirely. nope! absolutely not! she will not let those things get close to her, and she maybe panics a little as she kicks away from the stone chunks. maybe she hits a billboard or a book, because she's not thinking clearly.
the books didn't get this treatment but the bats absolutely do - she immediately calls for fire, as much as she can manage, spraying it in the direction of the creatures with a little yelp. stay back, demons.
it's probably going to wear her out, but she's not remembering this. girl has an aversion to umbrellas.]
[ shinobu brings a hand up....? A hand down, if they're diving, to shield her eyes from the pulsing lights. She grunts like Sasuke i guess when the books ram into her.
She notices that these umbrella bats are eliciting a different kind of reaction from lup. In concern, she buffs (defense and attack) both lup and yjh. The sooner they can get away and land, the better she thinks. ]
[ Shinobu... Joonghyuk tries to cover for the girls from the books, but he can't do much about the debris ascending. He only has so much control in the air, so he will get dented with book spines and corners here and there, maybe a billboard piece, but when the stone pieces come he tries to land on one that hasn't splintered yet. He just wants foundation under his feet, for a single moment.
There are umbrella bats and he has no idea what is going on? Is this a wizard thing? But he sees that Lup is having a moment. ]
Focus and don't overextend yourselves.
[ He tries to stay away from the fire spray and cuts down some of the wayward umbrellas that may have escaped Lup's fury. A part of him wants to go ahead down another ring, but doesn't. Not until he's sure Lup doesn't exhaust herself completely just from the drop. ]
[billboard pieces splinter around lup, but as she calls for fire (and the last use of her magic for the time being) she's able to fry the umbrellats to a crisp as they dissipate into black stardust and float on. little stars appear and she absorbs them as she falls. shinobu's buff helps both her and joonghyuk and it gives him enough strength to land on one of the pieces of the building without shattering his legs from a hard landing or anything.
all three of them are getting knicked with wooden splinters as the bats swirl, but joonghyuk's able to avoid the flames and swipe at the bats with his sword.
the three of them fall through a ring and they speed up, plunging straight down into a heart-stopping drop before they all tumble out onto a grassy lawn.]
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[as they work to regain their bearings, they will find there are buildings all around them. large, sprawling lawns are sprinkled with sidewalks and pathways leading from building to building, all made of marble and shining glass and standing several stories high. all around them is the chatter of people walking to and fro, a busy common area in the center.
judging by the advertisements for organizations, information and landmarks, along with the number of buildings, they may recognize it as...a school campus?
[i'm sorry to say, yjh, that she ignores you completely. the umbrellats are given no mercy. and then all three of them eat it on the grass and she doesn't really have time to acknowledge that she absorbed stars. hope that's not bad later.
she just lays on the floor for a second.] Hhgh. Oh, hey. Our score was better this time.
[she says this idly as she stares at the campus around them. slowly, she pulls herself to sit, holding her staff, and then:]
... This is my school. By the way. I went here. [she hasn't seen it in... a century? maybe more. she hoists herself to her feet.]
I don't know where we're supposed to be going, though. [are people saying anything that she can make out as they pass by?]
[ maybe absorbing stars is good in this star themed game?
anyway, shinobu hasn't really overextended herself in acknowledgment to joonghyuk's words, but she isn't focusing too much when they plummet onto the university lawn. splinters are.... whatever. it's fine. she's slowly reverting back to potato from being mashed potato.
she slowly gets to her feet. the only school campus she's been to that's anything similar is wiwaldi. ]
Does getting a good score matter for what we need to do?
[ she has no idea. ]
Go wherever you want.
[ she's still at least half a mashed potato, so any ideas aren't really coming to the forefront. ]
[they're in a quad sort of area. it's grassy, there's nice flowers and trees around and there are benches and water fountains and the like in the distance. as they get to their feet, they can start to hear that all of the disembodied voices of other students are talking about the spell games, a time-honored tradition.
whatever the hell those are. there's buzzing excitement about teams, and pre-game qualifiers, and something about a grand prize intermingled with usual discussion about classes, parties and homework.
there is always something to look at, but maybe they'd like to try to find more information somewhere?]
I mean, my dorm, maybe? The uh, the main building is on the way to the dorms. We can poke in to see if anything is going on there, and if it isn't we can just check out my room. The trouble is probably going to come to us one way or another.
[she makes a face, picking splinters out of her finger.]
... Come on, let's go, I guess. [and she'll start walking! they can... go find information. she will go ask the front desk if necessary.]
[ shinobu will defer and follow, looking around, taking everything in, just absorbing the environment and looking out for random blood splatters like what happened in her ring. ]
[ Shinobu basically asked the question he wanted to ask, so he stays quiet, taking in the sights as he follows along with them with sword sheathed.
Joonghyuk never had the opportunity to go to university or any kind of school, so it's somewhat interesting to him. Only a bit. Otherwise, he tries to find any... yeah. Blood.
[they can start walking! as they make their way toward the dorms, they'll find there are all sorts of advertisements for things like potions, books, drinks and more. various signs are stuck in the lawn for different team names (nothing familiar, which is odd) and colored streamers and balloons are strewn about on light poles, buildings and more.
it's essentially what you would see in-line with a university's spirit week. as they walk, however, they begin to see...people?
yeah. people. not blood. there are people of all shapes and sizes and races mingling around campus, around the main building and rotating in and out of the dorms. some of them are in clusters, laughing and joking around. others appear to be enjoying some alone time on a quiet patch of grass. it's as if they've crossed through some threshold because the university is suddenly buzzing with life.]
Not, uh, entirely sure. It's been like a century or two since I've been here.
[she answers shinobu, with a little shrug.] It's probably some bonding activity.
[which seems to be right as they come around to what looks like a spirit week set up. are these like, shadow people? or real people, with visible faces? because if it's the latter, she's going to start trying to see if she knows anybody in the area. does anybody look familiar?]
[they're real people! with visible faces? none of them immediately look like they're recognizable at the moment. they also don't appear threatening? this actually looks relatively safe, what the fuck.
in fact, when joonghyuk approaches someone to ask, they seem to grin in excitement.]
The Spell Games, my dude! Where have you been? It's not too late to sign up if you're interested. Prelims start tonight! [and they reach into their bag, pulling out a slightly crumpled flyer before slapping him on the back companionably and darting off to catch up with a friend.
they are now in possession of a flyer! it's the same bright colors.]
THE SPELL GAMES Charm your way to the top and show us what you've got. Final sign-ups TODAY. Teams of three only. Grand Prize: Guaranteed Graduation.
[lup is unnerved by how safe this is. it's immediately going to go wrong she knows it.
she makes her way over to joonghyuk is harassing some rando, and peers around him at the flyer.]
Teams of three, huh. Convenient. [she says, dryly.] This seems like what we need to do? As much as I'm sure the two of you want to play games.
[she doesn't either, but she does want to get out of here, and this is the only thing that they have a lead on.
also the guaranteed graduation thing sounds like a nightmare so she's just like alright let's go right for the shit that reminds me of the trauma hotel, let's gooooo]
[sometimes life is a game and your cyoa runner is really curious how this is going to go for all of the people involved. anyway, they're probably closer to the main building now and there is a table for sign-ups! if they approach to sign up, they can at least read a few things. namely, they can see the names of the other teams:
TEAM STARBLASTER: Merle Highchurch, Magnus Burnsides, Lucretia TEAM DEMON CORPS: Giyuu Tomioka, Mitsuri Kanroji, Kanao Tsuyuri TEAM DOKJA CO.: Han Sooyoung, Yoo Sangah, Jung Heewon TEAM S̴̹͝t̸̲̑a̸͙͊r̴͚͛l̴͙̅i̸͇̎g̴͍͑h̸̗̍t̶̯͌: Hua Cheng, Mikazuki Munechika, Taako, y'know, from TV?
in addition, they can see the outline of the different rounds of the games:
-Trick or Scream -Hide and Sneak -Pop Goes the Toxin -Rushin' Ru-lette
she startles, when she reads the names... and glances at the other two.]
... I'm assuming you know these, too. [since she recognizes three, and then obviously the ones from the hotel, and. taako. fuck.
she's not sure she wants to sign up, but she's pretty sure they don't really have a choice. like what are they going to do, just live here instead? they have to progress.]
Why would you give me this responsibility if you didn't want it to be stupid, my dude?
[well, okay. first, she hands shinobu and yjh a green bottle. and they can also have some of the blue squares. why not.
there was a thing where there was stuff for sale earlier right can we see if there's anything cool there to buy? it was like books and potions and things. if not, she just tests what the bottle and the squares do.
she also writes down their team name as Team Fan Favorites.]
[ she looks at the name and shrugs. you need to know shinobu's naming sense is even worse than this, so she is just going to accept it. ]
That's fine.
[ ... ]
If they behave as the people I know, I can handle them one way or another.
[ the ones from home, she means. not the ones from the hotel. just from a logical perspective. she takes the items lup gives her and looks them over.
it is suspicious, but what is the worst that can happen? ]
Do we drink this to try it?
[ can she try to take a sip? she doesn't know how this works. that is, if lup can increase their inventory and doesn't default to trying it out. otherwise, she will watch what happens to lup, prepared to smack the items away if they start having an adverse effect. ]
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the books didn't get this treatment but the bats absolutely do - she immediately calls for fire, as much as she can manage, spraying it in the direction of the creatures with a little yelp. stay back, demons.
it's probably going to wear her out, but she's not remembering this. girl has an aversion to umbrellas.]
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She notices that these umbrella bats are eliciting a different kind of reaction from lup. In concern, she buffs (defense and attack) both lup and yjh. The sooner they can get away and land, the better she thinks. ]
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There are umbrella bats and he has no idea what is going on? Is this a wizard thing? But he sees that Lup is having a moment. ]
Focus and don't overextend yourselves.
[ He tries to stay away from the fire spray and cuts down some of the wayward umbrellas that may have escaped Lup's fury. A part of him wants to go ahead down another ring, but doesn't. Not until he's sure Lup doesn't exhaust herself completely just from the drop. ]
BELATEDLY...PART TWO
all three of them are getting knicked with wooden splinters as the bats swirl, but joonghyuk's able to avoid the flames and swipe at the bats with his sword.
the three of them fall through a ring and they speed up, plunging straight down into a heart-stopping drop before they all tumble out onto a grassy lawn.]
[as they work to regain their bearings, they will find there are buildings all around them. large, sprawling lawns are sprinkled with sidewalks and pathways leading from building to building, all made of marble and shining glass and standing several stories high. all around them is the chatter of people walking to and fro, a busy common area in the center.
judging by the advertisements for organizations, information and landmarks, along with the number of buildings, they may recognize it as...a school campus?
perhaps they would like to look around.]
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she just lays on the floor for a second.] Hhgh. Oh, hey. Our score was better this time.
[she says this idly as she stares at the campus around them. slowly, she pulls herself to sit, holding her staff, and then:]
... This is my school. By the way. I went here. [she hasn't seen it in... a century? maybe more. she hoists herself to her feet.]
I don't know where we're supposed to be going, though. [are people saying anything that she can make out as they pass by?]
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anyway, shinobu hasn't really overextended herself in acknowledgment to joonghyuk's words, but she isn't focusing too much when they plummet onto the university lawn. splinters are.... whatever. it's fine. she's slowly reverting back to potato from being mashed potato.
she slowly gets to her feet. the only school campus she's been to that's anything similar is wiwaldi. ]
Does getting a good score matter for what we need to do?
[ she has no idea. ]
Go wherever you want.
[ she's still at least half a mashed potato, so any ideas aren't really coming to the forefront. ]
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It could be a dictation of how well we will land.
[ It is a guess. He tries to find anything that seems distinct, but this place is really... A lot? It's a lot. There's always something to look at. ]
Is there no area you have a strong connection to?
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whatever the hell those are. there's buzzing excitement about teams, and pre-game qualifiers, and something about a grand prize intermingled with usual discussion about classes, parties and homework.
there is always something to look at, but maybe they'd like to try to find more information somewhere?]
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[she glances at the two of them.]
I mean, my dorm, maybe? The uh, the main building is on the way to the dorms. We can poke in to see if anything is going on there, and if it isn't we can just check out my room. The trouble is probably going to come to us one way or another.
[she makes a face, picking splinters out of her finger.]
... Come on, let's go, I guess. [and she'll start walking! they can... go find information. she will go ask the front desk if necessary.]
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[ shinobu will defer and follow, looking around, taking everything in, just absorbing the environment and looking out for random blood splatters like what happened in her ring. ]
What are the spell games?
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Joonghyuk never had the opportunity to go to university or any kind of school, so it's somewhat interesting to him. Only a bit. Otherwise, he tries to find any... yeah. Blood.
He squints every once in a while cause wizards. ]
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it's essentially what you would see in-line with a university's spirit week. as they walk, however, they begin to see...people?
yeah. people. not blood. there are people of all shapes and sizes and races mingling around campus, around the main building and rotating in and out of the dorms. some of them are in clusters, laughing and joking around. others appear to be enjoying some alone time on a quiet patch of grass. it's as if they've crossed through some threshold because the university is suddenly buzzing with life.]
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[she answers shinobu, with a little shrug.] It's probably some bonding activity.
[which seems to be right as they come around to what looks like a spirit week set up. are these like, shadow people? or real people, with visible faces? because if it's the latter, she's going to start trying to see if she knows anybody in the area. does anybody look familiar?]
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she hopes this crowd doesn't turn on them. she follows lup and doesn't care to approach any of these new people.
she's very cautious, paranoid. ]
... I wonder if that has anything to do with what we'll have to do.
[ bonding gone bad. ]
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You. [ Joonghyuk has chosen some rando. ] Tell us what’s happening on the campus in detail.
[ Now. ]
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in fact, when joonghyuk approaches someone to ask, they seem to grin in excitement.]
The Spell Games, my dude! Where have you been? It's not too late to sign up if you're interested. Prelims start tonight! [and they reach into their bag, pulling out a slightly crumpled flyer before slapping him on the back companionably and darting off to catch up with a friend.
they are now in possession of a flyer! it's the same bright colors.]
Charm your way to the top and show us what you've got.
Final sign-ups TODAY.
Teams of three only.
Grand Prize: Guaranteed Graduation.
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she makes her way over to joonghyuk is harassing some rando, and peers around him at the flyer.]
Teams of three, huh. Convenient. [she says, dryly.] This seems like what we need to do? As much as I'm sure the two of you want to play games.
[she doesn't either, but she does want to get out of here, and this is the only thing that they have a lead on.
also the guaranteed graduation thing sounds like a nightmare so she's just like alright let's go right for the shit that reminds me of the trauma hotel, let's gooooo]
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1) she gave up magic
2) her charm stat took a dive
not that she knows both of those. ]
Too convenient. Let's get it over with if graduation will get us out of here.
[ she sounds reluctant and grumpy. terrible. ]
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[ Sometimes life is a game? Joonghyuk looks around to see if there’s a place where they can sign up? ]
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TEAM STARBLASTER: Merle Highchurch, Magnus Burnsides, Lucretia
TEAM DEMON CORPS: Giyuu Tomioka, Mitsuri Kanroji, Kanao Tsuyuri
TEAM DOKJA CO.: Han Sooyoung, Yoo Sangah, Jung Heewon
TEAM S̴̹͝t̸̲̑a̸͙͊r̴͚͛l̴͙̅i̸͇̎g̴͍͑h̸̗̍t̶̯͌: Hua Cheng, Mikazuki Munechika, Taako, y'know, from TV?
in addition, they can see the outline of the different rounds of the games:
-Trick or Scream
-Hide and Sneak
-Pop Goes the Toxin
-Rushin' Ru-lette
are they still sure they want to sign up?]
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she startles, when she reads the names... and glances at the other two.]
... I'm assuming you know these, too. [since she recognizes three, and then obviously the ones from the hotel, and. taako. fuck.
she's not sure she wants to sign up, but she's pretty sure they don't really have a choice. like what are they going to do, just live here instead? they have to progress.]
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I know three of them. If we have to, we have to. What else is there?
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The show of names make him close his eyes... Less from concern, but more out of annoyance. ]
If they are as good as their originals, it will be troublesome. [ Crosses his arms. ] Give us a team name.
Don't make it stupid.
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[well, okay. first, she hands shinobu and yjh a green bottle. and they can also have some of the blue squares. why not.
there was a thing where there was stuff for sale earlier right can we see if there's anything cool there to buy? it was like books and potions and things. if not, she just tests what the bottle and the squares do.
she also writes down their team name as Team Fan Favorites.]
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That's fine.
[ ... ]
If they behave as the people I know, I can handle them one way or another.
[ the ones from home, she means. not the ones from the hotel. just from a logical perspective. she takes the items lup gives her and looks them over.
it is suspicious, but what is the worst that can happen? ]
Do we drink this to try it?
[ can she try to take a sip? she doesn't know how this works. that is, if lup can increase their inventory and doesn't default to trying it out. otherwise, she will watch what happens to lup, prepared to smack the items away if they start having an adverse effect. ]
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cw: suicide attempt
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