Round 4 graveyard

[foundationmods]

[When your character dies, however that may be, they will feel themselves floating. For a moment or two they will linger at the site of their death, hovering just above everyone, watching.

Then they will feel a pull and they will get tugged all the way to the studio, through a wall, through the hall, through a door.

The place they end up in looks to be a backstage area. There is an area for storing supplies, a coat rack full of empty prinny costumes, a lounge area, and a place to rest. All of these areas are marked by a green border between the described rooms and the doors that go elsewhere. You will see prinnies come and go, hurrying around as they do their work for the day. But within those borders, some of the prinnies will take off their suits, revealing the human souls within. Men, women, old, young, there is a large mix. They are all very dead, though, and seem used to being dead.

And among all of the dead is one living girl, one who seems to be running the show behind the set. She can be found giving instructions to prinnies and telling them where to put things, but she will always take time to give everyone who arrives the same warning:]

Hi there! I'm Marona, and this is the backstage area. There's a lot to do yet, so if you could help us out I would really appreciate it.

All the areas with the green on the floor are safe to be in as ghosts. Your souls won't get pulled away as long as you stay in the safe areas. If you want to go outside of there, though, you have to put on a prinny suit. And if you do that, you have to follow the rules of the prinnies: no killing anyone, follow the orders you're given by the living, and try not to blow up too much.

If you have any questions, I'll be here! But you can come and go as you like. Just don't give Mr. Dazai too much trouble, okay?

Comments

[scarsnstripes]

Kai--!!

[It's a slip up, one he would be afraid to make if he were alive and audible to anyone else.

But right now he doesn't care. His heart is thudding in his chest with panic, and then--

...The ticking of a clock, slow and steady.]

....What...?

[foundationmods]

[It goes back and forth, back and forth. The swinging continues for quite a while, as if the clock is indecisive. And as it goes back and forth, everyone nearby will see two distinct scenes flash in the window of the clock.

It reaches the 'Just' side, and they see Dazai's cruel face as he guns Atsushi down in cold blood.

It reaches the 'Heroic' side, and they see Dazai reaching out, flinging everyone back to the safety of the house while he himself is left behind to deal with Alcor.

Back and forth. Back and forth.

Finally, after what feels like an age of this ticking, the clock slows to a stop with the needle falling right on the line in between 'Heroic' and 'Just'. Then, it lets out a loud gong and starts to glow, and Dazai suddenly draws in a sharp, life-giving Breath.

The Heir rises once more.]

[arraignments]

[ holy shit ]

[scarsnstripes]

[Atsushi feels like he can't breath either, watching that clock sway back and forth. Watching Dazai's face, both killing him and saving everyone else.

Praying, hoping this isn't the end. Because he's more than the person who killed him, so much more.

He lets out a cry of relief when the clock starts to glow, Dazai drawing breath again. He doesn't know what happened, but he isn't going to question the results. Not this, not now.

Because--]

He's breathing!!

[merirut]

[He just watches this entire spectacle silently, narrowing his eyes when the pendulum stops. He's about ready to do something at the sound of the gong, with a hand moving over to his hip reflexively, but.

Well. Isn't this interesting.]

[foundationmods]

[SURE FUKKEN IS

The interesting part is that, when he comes back, all of his wounds are gone too. It's hard to tell exactly what's going on here, but it's something way, way more than Dazai has ever admitted to. Which begs the question of who the hell he even is, really.

But uh, he's still looking confused, because 1: he just came back to life, and 2: he can't see anyone here. Maybe leave a sign that you're there?]

[merirut]

[Leave a sign, you say...? slaps him in the face-- okay fine he won't do that.

But he will summon a huge fuckoff sword and drive it into the ground right next to Dazai, leaving a gouge in the rubble. You're welcome??]

[guileturncoat]

[Well if you want to make him scream, then that is a good idea yes.

So he's screaming right now.]

[merirut]

[He's alive! See, he's a helper.]

How noisy... I suppose that's as much proof as anything else.

[Mrghhh but okay fine it's time to go prinny he guesses. So now there's at least one empty prinny suit that's probably levitating in front of Dazai as Sandalphon gets in it?? Hurray.]

[scarsnstripes]

[And Atsushi's gonna kick Sandalphon in the shin with a scowl as he picks up a prinny suit.]

Stop that, idiot!

[Just.. going to put this on like he remembers it happened in the backstage a few days ago. Does this just work like putting on a costume? Can he be heard in it??]

Can you hear me?

[guileturncoat]

[Once Atsushi climbs into the prinny suit, Dazai can indeed see Prinnysushi. But he sees him as a normal prinny, so he doesn't quite realize who it is.]

Ah! You guys made it too, huh? I'm glad, I was worried.

[He sounds a bit sheepish as he speaks.]

I'm sorry, but I left a lot of work for you guys. And someone is throwing a sword around too.

[arraignments]

[ He's getting into the suit, too. ]

... You doing okay? How did you...?

[ gesture!!! ]

[scarsnstripes]

Don't worry about the guy with the sword.

[Ha...hahaha...

At least he seems to be alright if he's got enough in him to worry about the prinnies?]

I'm glad you're alright. We were worried.

[A careful patapat with a flipper! Wow this is weird.]

[merirut]

[The shin kick connects, but the combination of prinny suit and... whatever the fuck Sandalphon wears on his legs does dull the hit. He'll stand a little to the side compared to the other two, although he'll acknowledge the sword comment.]

That was me.

[guileturncoat]

[Three prinnies, and Dazai is looking at the third one right now.]

I think I can guess who you are.

[And then, to everyone:]

I'm not really sure how, but I guess I'm alright? I was in a lot of pain a moment ago. What happened?

[scarsnstripes]

I just got here, so... I hope I'm doing this right.

[Two minutes dead and already wearing a penguin suit. What is his life.... death?]

Alcor-san exploded. You saved everyone, and... I don't know. A clock appeared?

[arraignments]

[ This prinny gives Prinsushi a nudge. ]

You're doing great, okay?

[ He nods at Doezai. ]

And, yes... there was a clock that swung between "just" and "heroic" - the needle stopped right between them, and then you returned to life.

[merirut]

[If Dazai could see Sandalphon's face, he would be greeted with a small, sardonic smile in response, but alas. He's content to sit back and let everyone else say their piece though, considering they would be a lot more tactful than him anyway. However, he will pitch in with a couple extra details.]

We also saw flashes of what transpired during the game as it swung... as if it was judging you for your deeds in life.

[guileturncoat]

You just...ah. Atsushi-kun.

[He gives Prinnysushi a sad look for a moment there.]

I'm so, so sorry. I had to kill two of you today, or 'Mission control' was going to take over the game. I thought it would be best to leave it to random chance, but...

[...well.

The clock talk is interesting, though, and Dazai focuses on that.]

It was judging me, huh? I wonder why it stopped in the middle. I haven't seen anything like that before. Weird... I wonder if any of my books mention it...but I guess I should check on the others first and worry about that later.

[Also, he's covered in glitter. Forgot to mention that before.

Speaking of checking on the others:]

...oh! If I go out there looking like this without any injuries on me, it's gonna be suspicious. Can you guys punch me a few times, and maybe stab me a little too? I know I definitely deserve it anyway, so I won't fight it.

[scarsnstripes]

...It's okay, Kai. I told you, didn't I? It's fine like this, if it gives you and everyone else a better chance. I knew what I was doing. I'm just sad I ended up hurting people, you included.

[He can't smile at him like this, but he's getting another flipper pat! Ew, he got glitter on his flipper.]

....B-but... punching you? Stabbing you?! Are you really sure about that?!

[arraignments]

Ah. Good point.

Okay.

[ He's already punching him-- ]

[merirut]

[He can appreciate how ready Akechi is about getting down to business, so he'll just nod at him and look back at Dazai.]

Incidentally, I hold no ill will towards you in regards to my execution, but...

[He winds up for a punch.]

Would you mind enlightening me on why you chose that method, of all things? [Then he swings.]

[visionem]

[ Hello everyone he's floated up here at some point. ]

Ah, you survived. [ In a certain interpretation of it anyway, but Alcor doesn't seem bothered. ]

Yes, I can help in this matter. I am glad you have truly started taking into account how important perceptions are due to the nature of this game. [ Because what you wanted was some sage advice from a ghost star who just exploded on you, sure. But yeah he's levitating some rocks and tossing them Doezai's way. He's not doing it with any real force but it'll probably hurt just because he's still not great at moderating his powers towards others in most circumstances. ]

[guileturncoat]

Yes, I'm sure-

[And there's Goro's punch.]

-um, it was in the heat of the moment-

[And there's Sandalphon's.

He doesn't even say anything for the third one though, because he can't hear Alcor as a ghost. But he sees the rocks and mouths 'what the fuck' before getting struck by them.

You're doing great guys, keep going.]

[scarsnstripes]

[W-welp.

If he's sure...

Well, enjoy getting flipperslapped a bunch by Prinsushi. They are short on time.]

Sorry! But you don't deserve this, so don't say that.