[ lmao are you ever just having a bad time! we are all having a bad time!! ichiro's already in the classroom by the time the meet up at the usual spot text goes out, and is leaning on the wall, jittering in place, looking just deeply, deeply unhappy and angry.
his thoughts are mostly just what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck and once everyone (streusel included obviously) is in the room he just - ]
[ NOT A GREAT WEEK!!! streusel is slightly fretful, while dimitri looks lowkey murderous. though really, he's just... upset. it's hard not to be. he's got his arms crossed, tense. ]
...It must have been after we finished and went back to our dorms.
[ this sucks!!!!! ichiro’s also just big angry upset vibes. lux is here also definitely reacting to everything we say. ]
Do you think - maybe it was like with Otome-sensei, like they had that message about her in the daycare or whatever, last week...? Why would it be, though? And - Denji was out there, too, right? Not Malik...?
Is that why he was inside the week Molly died, too, when he had that weird bump on his head? [ dimitri why, his thoughts say like as clear as day, but Ichiro shakes his head. im nonconning lux into streusel cuddles. ]
It would be, yeah. It’s three when it usually counts as a pattern - otherwise it could just be a coincidence.
...but, it wasn’t like anyone knew Manwol-san was with us.
I wouldn't know about that. As far as I'm aware, Caiman complicated a number of things that week.
[ he has no nice thoughts about caiman, so we won't dwell on that. ]
And I agree, I would be surprised if anyone knew for certain that Manwol was involved in Leo's death. It could just be a coincidence, but all the same... three of us have been killed now, between compulsions and Catra. So be cautious.
[ listen it’s not judgement he’s just the Denji wrangler. Ichiro nods, though, mouth setting into a determined line. of course. Ichiro also has few nice thoughts about caimanaikawa after that particular week so. ]
...yeah. Anything that’s related to you guys, we can separate out to figure out Manwol-san.
[ he's hesitant for a moment, looking towards lux for a long moment before nodding. ]
...We all started at the cosmetology building. Then the cafeteria, where we spoke for a while. [ why did he listen—? who meets death with such grace? ] He and I dueled in the woods after, upon his request. There were... complications, so Luxanna ended up using her ability on him.
[ pew pew ]
I am injured somewhat, though not grievously. Luxanna [ and manwol ] avoided any direct violence, but she would have left a trace with her power anyway.
She did. Ichinose and I were there-- in addition to the mark she left, we found a broken phone, a broken... game device? [she knows video games exist, she doesn't know a switch.] As well as a thermos, his bracelet, and... one of his swords, which I assume had something to do with the complications.
[That fucking sword. she looks very displeased at the thought.]
but then, back to dimitri... ] I went to the cosmetology building - that explains the fucked up mannequin we found. Lalli found some blonde hair, too, so, we'll have to watch out for that, but... [ I don't know how hard people will be looking. ]
It's not our phones, it is Iris's game device. [ it's called a switch, guys ] But yes, that sword gave us all some trouble. As did the assimilation process.
[ his thoughts go a little dark, muddled as he recalls this particular portion of the night. but he forces himself back on track. ]
We spoke for some time, and he was understanding of our circumstances. [ unsurprisingly. ] ...He even insisted on making us food.
[ he does not look pleased about any of this, neither killing nor one of their own dying. ]
The 'Switch' is irrelevant. [ sometimes you just have random distractions thrown in ] As for Sakyou—this has happened nearly every time. Those being assimilated will behave strangely, not unlike the Teacher's Pet, but more extreme. I know that Lan Wangji, Crow, Wang Lu, and now Sakyou at least have all shown symptoms... they believe they are truly students here. Even if they believed you before, they begin to believe you are lying to them—they flee.
[ She plugged like 500 hours into that thing, Iris is gonna be pissed...
anyway, besides me praying someone will scapegoat me for switch crimes and ichiro grimacing a little for iris's switch, anything that was just slightly "whoops" changes to infuriated. he clenches his fist, tight, teeth gritting, and looks away. ]
...that's how Iris - Viola was last night, too. We could hear her thoughts. [ so. yeah. of fucking course. fuck this fucking school. ] So... he was normal while you guys were eating, and then it just started getting worse, right?
[ just trying to get a clear picture. ] Fuck that.
...Yes. They have acted no differently from frightened students at the end, sometimes.
[ depends on the person, depends on the night, but he can't deny that. ]
The progression doesn't seem consistent between everyone—at times it comes and goes, so I cannot speak to how severely each victim felt this happen. But it makes it clear that this assimilation is a real threat. One we cannot ignore.
If I didn't trust you on that, Dimitri, I wouldn't be here.
[but it still sits so poorly, to think that this place won't even allow them to die as themselves, to know what's going on in the end.
she doesn't want to keep thinking about it.]
If there's nothing else you think we need to know for tomorrow, though, I-- don't know if Manwol sent any of you what her group found yesterday, but Rita showed it to us in Spring.
[ ugh. anger takes over, again - he takes a deep breath, shoving his hand in his pocket and scowling. Sakyou didn't deserve that. an assimilation, to someone like that - how fucking cruel. how cruel every single one of these assimilations is. ]
Agreed. [ ... ] You said you weren't hurt too badly, right? Do you need anything for that? And... maybe one of us can look over his body, too.
[ Or something. Miss something. It's -
we're doing everything we can, right now, to stop it for good. you're strong. to lucretia, he glances at dimitri for a moment, and then nods. ]
...we saw Kon's last night, too. They're all about the death and then resurrection of a hero of a story. Caleb-san and I looked up the ones I didn't know off the top of my head.
[ it is cruel. it is senseless. he hates thinking about it, anger boiling in him, but there's nowhere to direct it so they'll all just end up fuming pointlessly in this little classroom. ]
I tended to my wounds, but they are still fresh. [ sword slashes aren't going to heal overnight, alas ] While they are a liability, I do not regret crossing blades with him.
[ is it stupid to duel someone fairly? yes. would he do this for a friend every time? yes. if he gets caught, he gets caught. they have bigger matters to attend to. ]
...We should discuss all the new notes together, as well as whatever new hint we can purchase, if any.
Just-- be careful, then, I don't have anything that can help, and unless someone else does, there's not going to be a way to hide that or heal you before tomorrow.
[there's an edge of worry, there, a concerned thought of please make sure you have an excuse for it, before she moves on.]
I looked over Sieghart's body. It won't be suspicious if I take Sagihara's body, too.
[but boy, the sound of those clues is... it's bad.]
I agree we'll need to talk, though, once we make it past the expulsion. This week proved that even if buying information has a negative effect at the time, it doesn't keep anything from happening to the dorm heads later, so... we may as well.
...I'm out of vouchers, so no dice. [ rip. there's a little, quiet respect and fondness from ichiro - vibing with dimitri's anger, maybe, but moreso with what he says. i know you don't. not like an insult, or thinking it's foolish - that he wouldn't regret it, either. ]
If they're not bad, then we can probably come up with some kind of story to back up where you got them, if people ask. I got your back.
[ ichiro knows he's well liked, and - well, he knows he's not a liar. he'll be able to handle this, even if it doesn't sit well with him, but hopefully, it won't come to that. lucretia's right. when you attack directly, you always leave yourself open. she was the one who told him that, all those weeks ago.
... ] And... I don't remember who bought the hint last time. I think it was Caleb-san, but if someone in the know - or one of us - can get it towards Manwol-san, that would be good. I think... I know Kon's really fucked up about it. I've got my item, too.
This should be our last week of summer, if the two weeks thing holds. It feels like we're getting to the end. Just gotta figure out how to get there, now. [ And bring everyone back home. ]
[ he wouldn't be eager to accept a heal anyway, it's fine. it feels weird to even allow people to cover for him, but by now he's learned not to argue. ]
...Yes. We should be nearing the end, for better or worse. I believe this world will launch its attack on us soon enough, before we can graduate.
[ ... ]
When I spoke to our contact, they suspected that we were the easiest targets to make 'villains' before. But seeing as how most everyone seems to be sympathizing with us, and with the dead possibly returning to us soon, it seems we no longer fill that role in the story. We've seen that the world is thus lashing out in the face of not having any antagonists.
It seems likely to me that it will create a villain for us soon, since we are unwilling to make one ourselves. [ to him, it's just not something this group seems capable of at this point. ]
I do have some, and it'd probably be enough, we just-- can't actually reach any of the Dorm Heads to do anything about it.
[otherwise, yeah, she'd heal him, injuries after a fight with sakyou are probably going to look suspicious as fuck.]
But-- I think you're right. I don't think we'd exactly count as heroic, either, given what the job entails, even if it's to try to keep people from losing themselves; if we wanted to be villainous at this point we'd have to have been purposely targeting who people cared for the most. It's almost certainly going to need an alternative.
Mm. I think - [ he shifts a little where he's standing, uncomfortable, thinking about the behaviors of people the night before, and some of the messages their little no name has been sending. ]
I think it's already started. The first time we talked to it, it said - "I'll take them", right? I was wondering if it meant the Dorm Heads.
[ ichiro clearly hates that, his voice sharpening a little at the end. Cowardly piece of shit. ] Especially with the way they started regressing.
did you want a real starter from me i don't have one for you ichiro looks like he's been crying this entire time and is just bitterly angry and miserable, leaning up on a wall and jittering in place. ]
...you know, I think I've changed my mind. Be as obvious as you want if this is the alternative.
[she's just-- she's tired. she's so damn tired right now. there'd still be enough of them left if one were caught, and maybe that's the sacrifice they have to make, instead of someone innocent.]
Maya knows, by the way. That Malik was moved. She left something with him while he was outside. That's why she suspected you, Ichiro, she thought a Winter must have been framing Denji, because it should have been Taichi and Malik-- and Rita's on to the fact that this group can add to its numbers. Both of those things are likely to spread.
I brought up that conversation because you should be aware of where you already have suspicion when you're speaking with others, but no, I may as well say something about the subject now. I'm not going to agree to join you and then just... stand by to try to cover it up for you when you're intent on getting yourselves caught, or stand by and do nothing instead, especially when we may be getting targeted by those who are compelled.
We don't need to discuss it at length now, but don't go into next week thinking that if we have to do this again, that I'm going to stand by.
No. [ a little fiercely - to lux and dimitri. ] I like you both, but - fuck you, no. I signed up for this. I know what I got into. I'm doing it. You're not the only one people know about, now, so that's not a leg to stand on.
[ the guilt is just like an iron boulder, at this point, weighing down on his shoulders. i lied, and denji paid for it. if there's going to be blood on his hands, it may as well be literal. if he's going to be put to the test, he intends to deserve it.
he does listen to what lucretia says, too, though, and just tears his gaze away, after a second. he's in agreement, and after everything, today, he's not arguing. focus on the subject at hand. ]
...Why would Maya do that? Did she just have a suspicion?
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w6, friday
his thoughts are mostly just what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck and once everyone (streusel included obviously) is in the room he just - ]
What the hell happened?
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...It must have been after we finished and went back to our dorms.
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Then-- they may not have had much time to work with, depending on how quickly you...
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Do you think - maybe it was like with Otome-sensei, like they had that message about her in the daycare or whatever, last week...? Why would it be, though? And - Denji was out there, too, right? Not Malik...?
[ the what the fuck thoughts continue. ]
no subject
I don't know. It could be. Considering it was likely someone compelled to kill...
[ what a mess. he turns to lucretia. ]
Malik was originally our third choice, and a sleeper. However, I moved him inside and Denji back outside. Do not let it confuse you tomorrow.
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[...shit. this week really was a difficult call, then.]
...if it was someone compelled to kill, then that's twice in as many weeks that it was someone from this group, isn't it.
[which is-- potentially a bad sign. that's a pretty big coincidence, if it is one.]
Did you leave anything with Malik, by the way?
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It would be, yeah. It’s three when it usually counts as a pattern - otherwise it could just be a coincidence.
...but, it wasn’t like anyone knew Manwol-san was with us.
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I wouldn't know about that. As far as I'm aware, Caiman complicated a number of things that week.
[ he has no nice thoughts about caiman, so we won't dwell on that. ]
And I agree, I would be surprised if anyone knew for certain that Manwol was involved in Leo's death. It could just be a coincidence, but all the same... three of us have been killed now, between compulsions and Catra. So be cautious.
no subject
[as far as she's concerned, anyway.]
What do we need to know, before tomorrow?
no subject
...yeah. Anything that’s related to you guys, we can separate out to figure out Manwol-san.
no subject
...We all started at the cosmetology building. Then the cafeteria, where we spoke for a while. [ why did he listen—? who meets death with such grace? ] He and I dueled in the woods after, upon his request. There were... complications, so Luxanna ended up using her ability on him.
[ pew pew ]
I am injured somewhat, though not grievously. Luxanna [ and manwol ] avoided any direct violence, but she would have left a trace with her power anyway.
no subject
She did. Ichinose and I were there-- in addition to the mark she left, we found a broken phone, a broken... game device? [she knows video games exist, she doesn't know a switch.] As well as a thermos, his bracelet, and... one of his swords, which I assume had something to do with the complications.
[That fucking sword. she looks very displeased at the thought.]
no subject
A game device? What'd it look like? [ hello?
but then, back to dimitri... ] I went to the cosmetology building - that explains the fucked up mannequin we found. Lalli found some blonde hair, too, so, we'll have to watch out for that, but... [ I don't know how hard people will be looking. ]
Did you guys eat like usual..?
no subject
[ his thoughts go a little dark, muddled as he recalls this particular portion of the night. but he forces himself back on track. ]
We spoke for some time, and he was understanding of our circumstances. [ unsurprisingly. ] ...He even insisted on making us food.
no subject
[I wish you'd been as understanding with yourself, Sagihara.
but-- she gathers herself and continues.]
The assimilation process... Dimitri, what happens?
no subject
ichiro almost immediately thinks of a mental picture of the exact nintendo switch that lucretia found, though unbroken. ]
...Why did you have her Switch? And- [ just nodding along to lucretia's question because what the fuck does that mean. ]
no subject
[ he does not look pleased about any of this, neither killing nor one of their own dying. ]
The 'Switch' is irrelevant. [ sometimes you just have random distractions thrown in ] As for Sakyou—this has happened nearly every time. Those being assimilated will behave strangely, not unlike the Teacher's Pet, but more extreme. I know that Lan Wangji, Crow, Wang Lu, and now Sakyou at least have all shown symptoms... they believe they are truly students here. Even if they believed you before, they begin to believe you are lying to them—they flee.
no subject
[...she cuts herself off, there, just-- looking extremely unhappy about this. she Hates this place.]
no subject
anyway, besides me praying someone will scapegoat me for switch crimes and ichiro grimacing a little for iris's switch, anything that was just slightly "whoops" changes to infuriated. he clenches his fist, tight, teeth gritting, and looks away. ]
...that's how Iris - Viola was last night, too. We could hear her thoughts. [ so. yeah. of fucking course. fuck this fucking school. ] So... he was normal while you guys were eating, and then it just started getting worse, right?
[ just trying to get a clear picture. ] Fuck that.
no subject
[ depends on the person, depends on the night, but he can't deny that. ]
The progression doesn't seem consistent between everyone—at times it comes and goes, so I cannot speak to how severely each victim felt this happen. But it makes it clear that this assimilation is a real threat. One we cannot ignore.
no subject
[but it still sits so poorly, to think that this place won't even allow them to die as themselves, to know what's going on in the end.
she doesn't want to keep thinking about it.]
If there's nothing else you think we need to know for tomorrow, though, I-- don't know if Manwol sent any of you what her group found yesterday, but Rita showed it to us in Spring.
no subject
Agreed. [ ... ] You said you weren't hurt too badly, right? Do you need anything for that? And... maybe one of us can look over his body, too.
[ Or something. Miss something. It's -
we're doing everything we can, right now, to stop it for good. you're strong. to lucretia, he glances at dimitri for a moment, and then nods. ]
...we saw Kon's last night, too. They're all about the death and then resurrection of a hero of a story. Caleb-san and I looked up the ones I didn't know off the top of my head.
no subject
I tended to my wounds, but they are still fresh. [ sword slashes aren't going to heal overnight, alas ] While they are a liability, I do not regret crossing blades with him.
[ is it stupid to duel someone fairly? yes. would he do this for a friend every time? yes. if he gets caught, he gets caught. they have bigger matters to attend to. ]
...We should discuss all the new notes together, as well as whatever new hint we can purchase, if any.
no subject
[there's an edge of worry, there, a concerned thought of please make sure you have an excuse for it, before she moves on.]
I looked over Sieghart's body. It won't be suspicious if I take Sagihara's body, too.
[but boy, the sound of those clues is... it's bad.]
I agree we'll need to talk, though, once we make it past the expulsion. This week proved that even if buying information has a negative effect at the time, it doesn't keep anything from happening to the dorm heads later, so... we may as well.
no subject
If they're not bad, then we can probably come up with some kind of story to back up where you got them, if people ask. I got your back.
[ ichiro knows he's well liked, and - well, he knows he's not a liar. he'll be able to handle this, even if it doesn't sit well with him, but hopefully, it won't come to that. lucretia's right. when you attack directly, you always leave yourself open. she was the one who told him that, all those weeks ago.
... ] And... I don't remember who bought the hint last time. I think it was Caleb-san, but if someone in the know - or one of us - can get it towards Manwol-san, that would be good. I think... I know Kon's really fucked up about it. I've got my item, too.
This should be our last week of summer, if the two weeks thing holds. It feels like we're getting to the end. Just gotta figure out how to get there, now. [ And bring everyone back home. ]
no subject
...Yes. We should be nearing the end, for better or worse. I believe this world will launch its attack on us soon enough, before we can graduate.
[ ... ]
When I spoke to our contact, they suspected that we were the easiest targets to make 'villains' before. But seeing as how most everyone seems to be sympathizing with us, and with the dead possibly returning to us soon, it seems we no longer fill that role in the story. We've seen that the world is thus lashing out in the face of not having any antagonists.
It seems likely to me that it will create a villain for us soon, since we are unwilling to make one ourselves. [ to him, it's just not something this group seems capable of at this point. ]
no subject
[otherwise, yeah, she'd heal him, injuries after a fight with sakyou are probably going to look suspicious as fuck.]
But-- I think you're right. I don't think we'd exactly count as heroic, either, given what the job entails, even if it's to try to keep people from losing themselves; if we wanted to be villainous at this point we'd have to have been purposely targeting who people cared for the most. It's almost certainly going to need an alternative.
no subject
I think it's already started. The first time we talked to it, it said - "I'll take them", right? I was wondering if it meant the Dorm Heads.
[ ichiro clearly hates that, his voice sharpening a little at the end. Cowardly piece of shit. ] Especially with the way they started regressing.
w6, post trial
did you want a real starter from me i don't have one for you ichiro looks like he's been crying this entire time and is just bitterly angry and miserable, leaning up on a wall and jittering in place. ]
no subject
welp. ]
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he shoots lux a look back, then at the other two. then back at her.
...welp. ]
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[she's just-- she's tired. she's so damn tired right now. there'd still be enough of them left if one were caught, and maybe that's the sacrifice they have to make, instead of someone innocent.]
Maya knows, by the way. That Malik was moved. She left something with him while he was outside. That's why she suspected you, Ichiro, she thought a Winter must have been framing Denji, because it should have been Taichi and Malik-- and Rita's on to the fact that this group can add to its numbers. Both of those things are likely to spread.
[so there's your update from springleville.]
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the question echoes, again.
why did you move him? miserable. achy. defeated. he's already asked this question tonight, though. ]
... he didn't deserve that. [ softly. ] ...Lalli knows, too. He texted me. I had to ignore it. He - his theory's wrong, but he knows I'm involved.
[ ... ]
If we have to do this again next week, I'm going.
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I don't think you should have to.
You're torn up enough over this. Understandably. But each week it gets worse and worse.
... Can't we at least wait to discuss it on Monday?
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...At least wait to see the names.
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We don't need to discuss it at length now, but don't go into next week thinking that if we have to do this again, that I'm going to stand by.
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[ the guilt is just like an iron boulder, at this point, weighing down on his shoulders. i lied, and denji paid for it. if there's going to be blood on his hands, it may as well be literal. if he's going to be put to the test, he intends to deserve it.
he does listen to what lucretia says, too, though, and just tears his gaze away, after a second. he's in agreement, and after everything, today, he's not arguing. focus on the subject at hand. ]
...Why would Maya do that? Did she just have a suspicion?
no subject
Pardon me.
[ ... she's falling back on her tried and true method of dealing with things by just leaving. ]
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Luxanna...
[ he'll follow shortly after, though he'll just wearily tack on: ] ...Let's reconvene Monday. Hopefully our source will have something for us then.
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[at least they're aware, now.
but to ichiro, just as tiredly:]
She just left an orange with him because she thought he might be hungry when he woke up.
[their sweet maya who was out ENDING MANWOL'S LIFE. god. godddd.]