detentionroom | [KENKOU]

[You needed an escape.

For a moment– however brief, or however not– you longed to get away. Perhaps you envisioned a vacation upon sunny, beachy shores, palm trees at your back and seagulls floating in the air. Perhaps you envisioned nothing at all, and merely accepted that anywhere but here would do. Either way. . .?

You blink. . . and you wake up slouched on a school desk, arms folded with head resting between. You lift your gaze and realize that you've woken up in the middle of a classroom, seated in one of the. . . uh, very few functional desks that remain. The others have been broken into pieces, with legs and splinters of wood scattered across the floor. Deep claw marks decorate the walls, having gouged the sheetrock with jagged, violent gashes. The window curtains are closed, but they too have been torn and ripped to shreds, with holes showing a dark and unidentifiable landscape beyond the four walls which trap you.

And written on the blackboard, in large, white letters that seem to glow in the midst of the dim room lighting, is a warning]

DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR NAME.

[. . . you are not alone]

[Each and every new arrival awakens dressed in a high school-issued track uniform. The design is up to the players, but each uniform is already color-coded to match the group at large. Somewhere on your body is a new marking: a mysterious floral design shaded the same color as your track uniform. It is glowing very gently. And in your pocket you feel. . . something warm. Further investigation reveals a tiny little omamri, tucked away in your outfit, for safe keeping. Huh! What a nice gift!]

[For now, the front door to the classroom is locked. No matter how hard you try– with physical prowess or otherwise– the door cannot be opened.]

[But hey! You can poke around the area, if you'd like! Maybe get to know your new classmates. . . ? Try not to panic. For now, everything is. . . calm]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( ... something reminds her of kanade. the sincerity... mafuyu smiles as well, something soft and warm. )

... Thank you. But, we're in this together, aren't we? I'm trained in first aid, so if we can get supplies, we'll be okay.

... Let's just hope that- nothing will be necessary.

[...! It's good to see her smile! he's gotta protect that smile!!]

Perhaps these curtains will suffice as makeshift bandages, should the need arise. And if the beast returns...

[he's gonna scavenge among the wrecked furniture, grabbing the metal chair legs as improvised weapons]

It will not find us such easy victims.

( he's so valid, this is the real and true response to her smile.

mafuyu glances at the curtains- they aren't ideal, but it could work. )

Mm.

It would be good to be prepared... Will that be enough, though?

It's impossible to say until the true nature of the enemy is revealed - but by the time it is upon us, it will be too late. Better to prepare what we can than to idly do nothing.

In such a time, your skills will surely be needed. Perhaps we could fashion a shield out of these desks as well...

Mm. ... I've volunteered at medic tents during festivals. So- hopefully it'll be enough.

( she'll leave the strategizing to him, since he seems to have experience here...? though that raises the question- )

... You seem rather- familiar with this sort of thing.

Due to my position, I will be tasked with managing armies, resources and strategies - to defend the kingdom from threats. And thus it is a core part of my education at the Officer's Academy.

Of course, we're also tasked with practical combat experience as well.

[most of the wood debris is too small, so he'll try to dismantle one of the intact desks.]

...

( ah. that. that makes sense. )

... It sounds like you'll do well for your people already, then...

[Immediately sheepish,]

Please, I still have much to learn! All the more reason why I must hurry back to Fódlan, as to complete my studies.

It's okay. I do, too.

( both as a ~~doctor~~ nurse, and- as a person. )

We will endure, and survive this trial to return to our duties. Of this I am determined.

( oh god duties nooooooo let her die in the haunted school actually )

Mm. We just have to get out of here.

Normally, one night suggest building a barricade, but there's hardly any usable material for that. You'll have to make due with this, for now.

[Hands her like, the top half of a desk to use as a shield]

I realize it's not the most sturdy of defenses. But if it can take a blow that would otherwise maim you, then it will have served its purpose.

( its a desk...thannnnks

no but she accepts it, and she's not as strong as the rest of their team, but she can handle this still. )

... You really are prepared...

[A mild chuckle,]

Please, I don't deserve such praise. I'm only grasping at whatever possibilities might present itself.

It's more than what I was doing. ... I do better with people to take care of, I think. Strange to be the one in need of that, now...

Have patience. I have a feeling your skills will soon be in demand.

...Especially if ones such as our burned friend there insist on thinking of others before himself.

[Said the HYPOCRITE]

Oh, don't worry. If I'm right and this is a school building, I'm raiding the infirmary for those burns first thing.

Very astute - I was thinking the same thing. It would hardly be a school without some kind of medical office.

Exactly! Finding someplace safe to stay and supplies are paramount.

Procuring food is a necessary step as well, if we're unable to solve the mystery of how to escape by day's end. It's hard to imagine a staffed dining hall, but there may still be some unperished food, or rations in storage.

If worst comes to worst, there are weeds that can be safely eaten...

( she nods- she had included food in supplies, but it's good to be specific when planning for the worst case scenario... )

... Ah, that... is true. I hope it's not necessary though...

The true challenge may well lie in finding out how to return everyone to their proper homes. We have no understanding of the magic that brought us here to begin with - and among our number, it seems only one of us could truly be called a scholar of magic.

If the voice demanding our names cannot be trusted, then we have no way of determining whether its power is legitimate, either.

I'm certain it can't. Names are power, and to surrender our names would be to give it just that.

I've not heard this adage before - is it common wisdom?

It's a common beat in myths and fairy tales where I'm from. Yokai and fairies can wreck havoc on a person with their name- but having their name in turn can give you power over them.

I don't really... believe in magic. Or I didn't before this. But I've met a ghost before, so I can at least believe in that... Maybe I should have thought of more being possible after that?

Re: [ARRIVAL MINGLING]

brokenlance - 2025-07-20 05:36 (UTC) - Expand

beathollow - 2025-07-20 05:45 (UTC) - Expand

brokenlance - 2025-07-20 05:55 (UTC) - Expand

beathollow - 2025-07-20 06:00 (UTC) - Expand