[who's there?]

[detentionroom]

Who: Luo Binghe, and. . . ?
When: the IC day he died
Where: the school
What: hm
Warnings: references to blood and dismemberment

[Luo Binghe wakes up standing over his mutilated corpse. haha! surprise!!]

[the body he has now is his own, perfectly put together and lacking in any of the injuries inflicted upon him. it is, however, semi-transparent; he can see the rest of the school right through his hand. the flower tattoo with which he arrived glows with a gentle light, like some kind of tether keeping his consciousness tied to this world]

[the school seems different than it normally is. from this side of things, the sky outside is stained red, illuminated by a bright white moon that stares down on him like an eye. shadows flicker around him, broiling with life, as though something might jump out at him at any moment. if he stares at them too long, he may find red eyes peering right back at him]

[a voice echoes around him. smooth and soothing. he will recognize it as the one that announced the school's most recent fundraiser]

Haha. . . oh dear. I actually didn't expect this to happen! Delightful as it may be.

Would you like to have a chat?

Comments

[demonvinegar]

[ .... gonna be honest sir, he just got brutally murdered by the one (lol) man he loves most in this world so he kind of doesn't feel like having a chat.

still. after staring with a dark, distant expression at his own body for a long moment. he responds, his voice low and barren. ]

Do I have a choice?

[detentionroom]

[the voice smiles. somehow, Luo Binghe feels it]

Not at all!

At least, not if you wish to return. If you'd like to remain here instead, I'll allow for it.

[demonvinegar]

[ that pulls his gaze away from his corpse as he looks for the source of the voice. ]

I want to go back.

[detentionroom]

[one of the shadows flickers in the corner of his vision, like a hand reaching out to grasp at him. it falls away seconds later]

Mm, I thought as much. Then shall we make a deal? I can send you back, but I need a small piece of you before I do so.

[the voice's smile widens]

Consider it a toll, of sorts.

[demonvinegar]

[ ... he's had dealings with demons before. it's never "just a small piece". ]

Explain. [ he plans on agreeing in any case. but what exactly is the cost... ]

[detentionroom]

[the glow of his flower tattoo intensifies, before 1/3rd of it dimes, as though fading away]

A small piece of your soul should suffice. Not the entirety of it-- good heavens, I am not so greedy-- but just a tiny taste.

[demonvinegar]

[ he watches that tattoo start to fade, frowning for a moment... before his lips pull in a sharp smirk. ]

One third of my soul? I would call that awfully greedy.

[detentionroom]

Would you? Hah!

[the entirety of his tattoo dims for just a brief second]

I could take it all! Or I could simply leave you here to face. . .

[the voice trails off, and the shadows jump again, licking at Luo Binghe's feet. they feel lie ice. they feel like despair and mourning. they feel like. . . absolute darkness]

[demonvinegar]

[ despair is a thing he is accustomed to. he doesn't flinch. he regards the dark shadows with calculated neutrality. he's already determined to return. this threat is meaningless to him.

still. negotiating does not seem welcome in this situation. ]

What will happen? If you consume part of my soul, I will lose a part of myself won't I? And what if I die again?

[detentionroom]

[the shadows recede again]

Aaah, yes. . . you would lose a small piece of yourself, as opposed to the whole. But you will hardly notice! That much I can promise. It will not affect your day-to-day. . . "life," as it were.

[that smile turns into a large, wicked grin]

And should you pass again-- something I do not recommend-- then you will merely have to pay the toll a second time. And a third, should it be necessary.

After three. . . well. There will be nothing I can do for you then.

[demonvinegar]

[ he narrows a glare at the nothingness that says "I do not believe you". but he has very little choice. ]

Is that why you brought us here, then? To feast on our souls?

[detentionroom]

Haha! No, no! What a simple motive that would be. Have you not seen the souls wandering these halls? We already have a smorgasbord available to us.

I take it you accept my terms?

[demonvinegar]

I thought you said you wanted a chat.

Are you going to tell me why you called us here?

[detentionroom]

[the shadows begin to crowd him again; one lashes out to grasp at his wrist. ice courses through his veins, and he feels more despair yanking at the pit of his stomach, threatening to take him to the depths of oblivion]

Haha. No. I am not.

[demonvinegar]

[ admittedly he does not like that. the despair sinks deep-- deeper than he thought was possible, after everything. the cold grip feels like a sword piercing his stomach. his fist clenches as he pulls at the shadows encircling his wrist, anger and frustration combining with the deep, hopeless despair. he cannot ever gain what he wants. but he refuses to give it up without a fight. ]

I will agree to your deal. [ he grits out. he can't leave this world just yet. ]

[detentionroom]

Good.

[despite Luo Binghe's acquiescence, the shadows gripping at his wrists merely tighten. his flower tattoo now burns, the pain shooting through his body, running down every limb. it feels like something is trying to rip it off of his skin. to tear it away and devour it for their own sick satisfaction]

[the shadows begin to crawl across him, consuming him, drenching him in an abyssal darkness. eventually, they devour him entirely, until he sees nothing by a black hole of complete emptiness. the sweet release of oblivion]

[but that isn't his destination today. something tugs sharply at his naval, yanking him out of blackness and into the light]

[Luo Binghe will awaken 24 hours after his death in the nurse's office, sprawled out on the cot. his injuries have been healed, his body is now whole, but his death injuries-- that is, the cuts across his legs-- will now be covered in red spider lily tattoos. the color does not match that of an of the homerooms]

[furthermore, his team-colored curse marking is now missing a third of its pattern. for the next however long you'd like ICly, Luo Binghe will also feel a sensation of hollow emptiness in his chest. it will fade with time!]