CHAPTER 7 ; MINGLE

[themodsgrimm]

The Story Continues... CHAPTER 7 - WEEK 715 Narrators Remain ; Just before Narrators awake, those who are still attached to partners will dream of the two of them together – and then the sudden snap of a red string that connects the two of them. Once they awake, they’ll find the entire section of the rulebook pertaining to Partners has disappeared entirely. Apparently the time for partnerships is over. In addition, the castle has begun to empty out. Perhaps Narrators will notice it now especially on this morning, as their footsteps echo and the halls lack the familiar faces they’ve come to know. Upon entering the dining hall, the tapestries of Evan Hansen, Lord El-Melloi II, Natsuo, Fon Master Ion, Fane, Varian, and Zelos Wilder will all catch flame and disappear as the fire engulfs them entirely, leaving nothing behind. Yet one oddity seems to have enchanted the castle this week – there are the sounds of running footsteps and the familiar laughter of those who have departed. Should you choose to follow this noise, you’ll be led to the Puppet Room. The door will shut behind you – you’ll catch be movement out of the corner of your eye. Yet instead of a puppet entering the stage and re-enacting a dramatic scene, it will just suddenly appear… closer to you. It lingers there, and makes no other move. Welcome to Week 7, everyone! We would also like to remind players to submit all of their Chapter 6 PCs and new PCs at the Private Conversations page and review the weekly ooc notes for important details in the castle. Something odd will be arriving on Wednesday, July 25th so keep your eyes peeled for that as well. full navigation. locations taken (statuses) stories (profiles) info & faq wishing well private conversations

Comments

[sanguinairy]

[You've seen what's behind door number one, now let's take a look at door number two!

Oh, it's Souji. He's got blood on his face and a scattering of small bruises, welts and scratches. He also just sort of falls to his knees as soon as he's through the door, gracefully hacks a mouthful or two of blood into the crook of his arm with some stellar full-body coughs, and then promptly collapses in a sprawl. He seems to be clutching something in one hand... Hm.

Anyway hi nerds. But lo, one more is on the way!]

[finethanks]

[ It’s... another sickly!! He’s a little bruised on his arms for anyone who takes a look closer, but his main issue seems to be his body in general. One step out of the door, he staggers like he’s just lost his support and collapses to the ground, hunching over and vomiting some blood! Yay!

It’s a miracle he hasn’t dropped it, but he’s also holding something in one hand. He’s pale, trembling, and can’t seem to move even if he’s trying. Looks like he’s trying to breathe...? ]

Dio...-kun? Junior-kun— [ That’s all he’s got, still dying ]

[doublecrows]

[hey man wtf]

Okita-san-- Eichi?

[HI AKECHI IS RUSHING OVER HERE IMMEDIATELY. . . he drops at Eichi's side first, sorry Souji, hand on his shoulder]

Show me where you're hurt!

[finethanks]

[ He’s relieved and horrified all at once. Goro is at his side, and Eichi crumbles into himself a little more, gasping in what sounds like it could be a sob if his body could do anything right, currently. ]

Don’t look— [ At him, at this mess he’s coughed up, at how weak he is. There’s only one cut on his body, a shallow thing on his neck Akechi already knows about. Otherwise, it’s just bruising from how delicate this pathetic body is, too dark for what impact it really had, standing out against impossibly pale skin.

Still, he reaches to clutch at Goro, even if he doesn’t look up, and that’s the most he can manage between genuinely wheezing. ]

[doublecrows]

Hold still. I'm going to look as much as I want. I can help you, you're. . .

[. . . he frowns. for as big of a commotion as his entrance was, Eichi seems relatively okay? he places a hand against the cut on his neck, a warm glow engulfing it to heal that injury. next comes the bruises, which vanish underneath his touch as well]

[he definitely doesn't have much time left, and although he stays next to Eichi, he does glance up to assess Souji's condition as well]

[finethanks]

I nearly...

[Wheeze, wheeze. What he really needs is an oxygen tank, alas. Akechi can probably tell from this close that Eichi's heart is beating too fast, too hard. He's overheated, somehow, trembling, and his lungs aren't getting enough air.

Not too much that Akechi can help with aside from trying to calm him.]

Souji-san? I'm sorry, where—

[wagashis]

[akechi's got eichi, so he's here to assist the other sick potato, I'm just putting this here so threads don't become a mess!!

anyway shirasu kneels next to him, brow furrowed in concern, evaluating if he's. uh. conscious.]

You truly do have a knack for trouble, don't you...

[sanguinairy]

[THANKS SHIRASU this sick potato is, uh. Struggling. Still conscious!! But definitely struggling. He doesn't even bother trying to push himself up, fuck this, fuck everything, his cheek is married to the nice cool ground which he's probably getting mouthblood all over.]

--Sorry.

[Wow that sure is a big wheeze. Shirasu is Not Wrong, this fool is a curse and also cursed and if there's trouble afoot, he will find it and yeet himself into its arms.]

Is Eichi...?

[wagashis]

Akechi has him.

[that's probably fine.

if souji isn't trying to pull himself up, shirasu will help with that too, carefully pulling him up to at least sit instead of lying on the floor. he'll support him.]

Are you badly hurt, or is it just...?

[you know, the blood coughs.]

[sanguinairy]

[well they are the resident big gays, so Souji does seem relieved at that, knowing Eichi will be fine. And thanks for the help sitting up! He sure could use it! He leans pretty heavily into whatever support is offered, trying to regain some composure.]

...I wasn't hurt badly.

[The injuries he has are all pretty minor and small! Whatever he did go through apparently had a pretty harsh toll on his body though, yeah. He looks like he's lost another month off his life, honestly, and seems extremely exhausted.

That's probably why it takes him a second to realize something.]

--Where's Aya?

[wagashis]

[shirasu looks over those wounds, nodding at his answer; yeah, they don't look bad at all, so he'll assume it's the illness currently taking a toll. he doesn't mind souji leaning into him either, adjusting to let him rest a little more.

at that question, though... shirasu gives him an apologetic look.]

Someone you saw inside there...? I'm sorry, but you two arrived alone.

[fonlines]

[ Jfc partner you're going to give him a heart attack or something. After he's been doing better too, as of late.

Anyway, so. How're those wounds looking, does Ion have to use a certain thing he always has stashed up his sleeves? ]

[sanguinairy]

[HEY PARTNER GLAD HE CAN STILL GIVE YOU HEART ATTACKS EVEN AFTER THEIR PARTNERSHIP IS OVER!!

Anyway the wounds don't look too bad, actually! The bruises are like... small fist-shaped ones, hm... None of the scratches or welts looks serious. It seems like the worst of it is just the toll whatever they got into took on his sickly body, considering he's still just sort of hacking up blood. IT'S FINE. He's made his home on the floor.]

[fonlines]

[ Listen partner you've been like, grandfathered in or something. Even after partnerships are gone, just look at Kyouka and Nico!! But if you insist sure they're just roommates!!!

He huffs just a little, equal parts exasperated and knowing, before settling down to offer... some sort of support, given that Shirasu seems to have the most of it handled. ]

He certainly wasn't joking about you being stubborn.

[sanguinairy]

[NO ION IS HIS PARTNER OKAY!!!!! And he does seem grateful that he's stopping by to make sure his stupid ass isn't dead, thanks Ion... More grateful still for the support, and the comment actually gets him to smile.]

Hah... [That's a wheezy sound.] I wonder who said that.

[fonlines]

[ Yes, yes, of course. Because you know that his partners aren't allowed to get themselves killed! ]

Who else but a certain faithful sword of yours?

[ A deliberately light tone of voice and returning expression, even as his head cocks not unlike a bird. ]

You've quite the devoted [ pet, friend, follower, supporter? ] ally.

[doublecrows]

[oookay, after assessing Eichi, Akechi. . . pops to his feet and trots towards Souji]

What did you two do?

[he sounds scolding, AS THOUGH HE IS ONE TO TALK, and extends a hand]

I can take care of these wounds for you. Would you like for me to?

[sanguinairy]

[YEAH HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE SCOLDED BY AKECHI OF ALL PEOPLE!! Even if he reflexively seems to look a little guilty, like he's just used to That Tone.]

We-- [WHEEZE] ...ran into a little trouble, but things turned out fine.

[He's sure Eichi will want to explain all of the horrific details away from the ears of everyone else, if he wants anyone to hear it at all. BAD TIMES WERE HAD. In any case, he looks briefly surprised by the offer and seems to consider for a second. Fortunately, he uses his .5 weekly common sense point allotment to nod.]

--If it wouldn't be too much trouble.

[His outer wounds are all pretty manageable, at least. None of the scratches are that deep, and the bruises are sized like a small fist, even if they're like. All over the place.]

[doublecrows]

[a quick glance at the object in Souji's hands confirms a hypothesis for Akechi]

You must have been at the carnival as well.

[looks like there were Narrators on that other boat after all. . . meanwhile, outer wounds are something Akechi can handle!1 with permission given, he lays a hand against Souji's bruises and scratches. they, too, vanish in a glow of light. that should make hims mildly more bearable!1]

[he can't do much about Souji coughing up blood, though. that's beyond his power to fix]

[sanguinairy]

[Bless Akechi and his magic healing that came out of nowhere, god. Souji can at least rest without rolling all over onto bruises now!! His only pain is the eternal pain of TB Lungs™. Akechi will get a soft thank you for his help, before Souji's attention shifts.]

You were there, too? Then - the children...

[Akechi probably saw the same kinds of real spooky shit they had ended up seeing. Hm, bad. Bad times for all.]

--Are you alright?

1/2

[doublecrows]

I--

[axilium]

[uhhhhhhhhhhh.]

... Well, I guess now we know who was on the other boat. [a pause.] You okay, man?

[sanguinairy]

[HI BELPH, THAT SURE WAS A FUN INTERLUDE. He looks 10% better by the time Akechi helps him out but that's still like 80% dead, it's fine.]

--I'll be fine. [Hm.] ...You were there, too? The carnival...

[axilium]

Yup. Fun times, right?

[sanguinairy]

[Hm, bad, he hates this.]

--Are you alright...?