WEEK 3: CYOA (Rufus, Sumire, Taako, Dorothy)

[retellers]

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START?

[retellers]

[ When everyone tries to cross the bridge over to visit their favorite leopard, they will find that they're... well, probably not where they were expecting.

While there are still trees surrounding them, they look less like the jungle of the northern area and closer to the forest from the town, except that the castle can't be seen from anywhere. They're on a pathway that splits off into two paths, with a sign that helpfully tells them where they're headed.

LEFT: FREE
RIGHT: FUTURE

Just kidding. It's not helpful at all.

But the group will understand one thing--they must split up here. If they try to take only one path as a large group, they'd be blocked off. They also cannot head in any other direction besides these two roads.

Discuss? ]

[uhhhmagic]

Ugh.

[ . . . ]

Dungeon.

Well? Flip a coin? Anyone got a coin.

[soulus]

There's four of us. We can take both paths.

[siblingless]

We still have to decide how to split up, though...

[Obviously uneasy, glancing around.]

This must be something similar to what happened to those two groups, just the other week.

[misstrust]

... Well, here's hoping we'll end up better off.

[ No burn marks, no bloody wounds... a girl can hope. ]

But we might as well just get to it. [ So she takes one step towards FREE. ]

FREE: RUFOTHY

[retellers]

[ As soon as Dorothy and Rufus take a few steps onto the path, everything changes.

While behind them is still the forest, they won't be able to see the crossroads, or Sumire and Taako. But ahead of them, the path only leads straight to a large building. From the outside, there is no indication of what it could be other than it's about three stories high. There are no windows, but there is one door that serves as a potential entrance. ]

[misstrust]

... Well, we're off to a pleasant start.

[ Dorothy gives the area a quick glance around-- but then it seems to reveal nothing in particular, so she sighs under her breath and continues to walk forward and open the door. ]

[soulus]

[It's decided, then. There's no turning back now. Rufus follows suit closely behind Dorothy as they approach the building.]

[retellers]

[ The door does open!

Stepping inside will just bring them into a long hallway. It's rather generic looking, with tile flooring and beige walls. There are no doors, except for one at the very end of it. The sound of music can be faintly heard coming in that same direction.

On the walls are various posters, all in various states of wear and tear. Other than that, there are no other decorations. ]

[misstrust]

[ Hm. Kind of concerning, but not concerning enough to really make her hesitate. Not yet. ]

Looks like a rather slow build so far.

[ But once again-- to the door!! ]

FUTURE: GREG AND TUFF GREGSUMI

[retellers]

[[ As soon as Taako and Sumire take a few steps onto the path, everything changes.

While behind them is still the forest, they won't be able to see the crossroads, or Rufus and Dorothy. But ahead of them, the path only leads to a large field with... goal posts?

Huh. It's a football field. ]

[uhhhmagic]

Oh— god fuckin’ dammit. Sports? Are you serious— No. Okay. Turn around. No, we’re switching with the other team. I’m not doing this one.

[too late]

[siblingless]

[Taako, please. Don't diss sports when you called dibs on Greg.

Sumire will glance behind them, but. Well. The crossroads are gone, and so are Team Rufothy. Unfortunate.]

... It doesn't look like we have a choice, Taako-san. [A pause, and she holds her hand out to him. Does he need an emotional support jock?] Um, maybe... the sooner we walk through this field, the sooner we can leave.

[uhhhmagic]

At least we don’t have to deal with Mr. Wet Blanket. [ . . . ] Dorothy’s alright though.

[He’ll look at the hand, consider it and then adjust his hair. He’s just not super good at hand holding. But he appreciates the gesture?]

Let’s get this over with.

[Foward ho!]

GRADUATION

[retellers]

[ When Taako and Sumire run into the building, they will find that they ran through a side entrance to what appears to be a high school auditorium. As soon as they take a step inside, everyone turns in their seats to stare at them, their expressions unblinking. It's probably difficult to spot Dorothy and Rufus, who are also sitting, in the crowd.

However, they won't have long to look around. The door slams shut behind them, and the lights in the room dim at the same time that a spotlight appears on the now not empty stage. The man that Dorothy and Rufus are familiar with, as well as Claire, are both on the stage. They're staring straight ahead, smiling serenely. ]

Hello. Welcome to your graduation.

[ They speak in unison, but it's not their own voices that come out--instead, it's a single voice, something that's static-y and high pitched, unlike something that a regular human can do. ]

You have failed, again and again, but maybe this time the lesson will stick. Maybe this time, you will get to walk the stage.

[ Another light goes off on the stage, this time to highlight four chairs that are in the middle of it. There's also four people seated on them, staring straight ahead. Nooses hang above them. On their laps, each of them has a knife. ]

Mr. Taako, Mr. Wilde, Miss MacBean, and Miss Yoshizawa. Please come to the stage. You must sacrifice one of these offerings before we proceed with the ceremony.

[ So. What now? ]

[uhhhmagic]

[JUST

EXHAUSTED

he just sits down on the floor, bloody, burnt baseball bat, blood dripping from his temple, big cheerleader bow all in disarray, one formerly white crisp sneaker now all burnt and bloody too. Just sitting on the fucking floor, legs out of in front of him, observing the stage with a deeply exhausted look.

Eventually he just points to the guy in the suit.]

Look, I like him and all, but that guy is already dead. I think. He’s not alive, at any rate.

[misstrust]

... Mm.

[ And there's Schoolgirl Dorothy, bloody abdomen at least wrapped tightly in someone's vest as she frowns at the stage. But also hi Taako, you look terrible. ]

It's the same for her as well.

[ She's easy to spot, the only one up there who looks remotely Victorian. ]

[uhhhmagic]

[Raising a hand. hi.]

Oh— yeah. Not like sad dead.

Undead, I guess. Or, Dead-Adjacent? Because he’s Death. Like. The Grim Reaper? Or, one of them. Collects Souls for bounty and stuff.

[siblingless]

[Jae is not here atm, but Sumire glances at Rufus and then back to Dorothy. Everyone in this auditorium is tired and bleeding, it's fine.]

... Is that what they all have in common?

[Death adjacent.]

[siblingless]

[Oh.

Oh...

She takes a step back, gripping the tuba hard enough to turn her knuckles white while staring at one particular person on that stage. It's, uh, probably obvious who considering they have the same goddamned face. Your girl was already dizzy from the blood loss and this ain't helping.]

Kasumi—? [It's not real, and yet.] I'm not going through this again. Shut up already!

[What if they just hit Claire and the other dude with the tuba instead?]

[uhhhmagic]

[haha well, they don’t exactly have the same face anymore, right?

Anyway, Taako will, uh, notice that. He’s still sitting on the floor, but he’ll look over, anyway.]

You don’t— You don’t have to. It’s alright.

[siblingless]

[To be fair, they probably haven't had the same face in a year. Sometimes... splat happens.

She glances in direction of where Claire and the other dude stood, and lowers her voice.]

There has to be a third option, right? We shouldn't have to do as they say.

GRAD WALK

[uhhhmagic]

[Well, gonna try A Plan. This is a good idea, right? Getting up, limping up to the stage with Sumi, whistling innocently until he’s right near claire.]

Hey— Claire? Did ya’ know I was good at sports?

[Then superstrength swinging his baseball bat at one of her knees. TUBA HER, SUMI.]

[siblingless]

[This is absolutely(?) a good(?) idea.

Taako swings low, Sumire swings high. ENJOY THE TUBA TO THE HEAD, CLAIRE... Assuming it even connects. I don't know Francy's life.]

[retellers]

[ Closes my eyes.

Well, there is some luck (thanks to dice roll). Taako does connect, smashing Claire's leg and causing her to tip over. Her going down, however, makes Sumire miss her with the tuba since she is no longer where she previously was. ]

F-U-C-K!