dormheads | SEANCE - CLAUDE & LILA

[lila is ... here?

someone is here. she's lila's height and she's got the same hairstyle, but she's definitely decked out in a pretty ridiculous getup, i hate this canon. but, hey! the necklace around her neck is the same one she'd been wearing. so. yeah. lila's here.

she doesn't look too impressed by the fact that they're in a bathroom, but she perks up a little when she sees claude.]

Oh, that's what this is about! Whew, I guess I didn't need to transform after all. [I kinda wish there was something dangerous so I could beat something up and work off some steam? Oh well.] Some stuff happened since we sent our last letters that we need to catch you guys up on - but is there anything you wanted to say first?

[ Uh... what?

Claude was pretty sleepy before this, but now he's... kind of alarmed? He notices her thoughts though, taking note that the effects apparently influence both groups. ]

I thought I'd start off with a greeting, but looks like we're getting straight to business. Seeing you like this, can I assume you have your powers while in the daycare...? How did you send those letters in the first place?

Well, it kind of seems like we're running low on time and things are getting more dangerous, so...

[business it is. lila shrugs.]

It's good to see you, regardless! But no, it's not that we have all our powers back in daycare. But starting at the beginning of this week, we were able to do some stuff. I'm able to transform again, but I can't use all of the powers I had before coming here. [so! there's that.] I don't know everything that everyone else can do. Bradley mentioned being able to just... make stuff. Leo's got... I think he called it technomancy? Stuff from home.

The letters are because we unlocked a part of the admin building that had stuff we could write on to send them. This week we got onto the third floor, and it's... really weird. But! We found a locked door to the Student Records room. We've been trying to break in without much success so far, but if the pattern holds, I'd guess the next key the bear is going to find will belong to it. So... seems like we should be able to get in there soon unless he's just like, "Oh my! I found the key to a storage closet!" or something like that.

Weird how?

[ He's very sleepy, and he doesn't have a notebook, but he's going to do his best to remember all this. ]

But all right, so you mean Principal Bear is finding the keys, not you all? How often does he find keys? The fact that you're regaining bits of your powers is both a relief and concerning—are you using them to fight against something? Like have you had encounters with the story?

It looks like someone was sketching it? But it feels solid when you walk around on there. It's really weird. Like it's - unfinished? The second floor had a hallway that was like that, but the rest of it looked normal.

[ganba, claude. lila will be watching to see how much of this you actually remember when you tell the others.]

We've scoured the daycare for the stupid keys, but we never find them ourselves. But every week Principal Bear is like, "Do this activity! It'll help!" and then at the start of the next week he says he found one single key.

[she doesn't sound impressed. her thoughts are also just along the lines of, if he just dropped them somewhere wouldn't they have all been together? why is he only finding one at a time?]

Bradley and Crow - uhh, "Boss" and "C," I guess, since that's what they introduced themselves to it as, talked to the voice, but you guys heard about that already. There hasn't really been anything for us to fight in the daycare ourselves, but last week, after um, the victims and Tsuyukusa turned up, Bradley, Rupert, Aikawa, and Crow came back from... something that sounded a lot like the "field trips" you guys end up on each week. That was the first time that happened here. They... ended up in a version of my world, so they ended up needing to fight there.

So, hopefully if it happens again, whoever ends up on it will be more prepared.

Hm, so if you're only one door away from the Student Records room, and the Bear finds one key a week, then you could edit your transcripts as early as next week. Has he given any indication on how that'll work? [ He doubts it. ] In any case, it seems like you've stumbled across a part of this story that hasn't yet fully realized.

[ He has a sudden, terrible thought that maybe the inside of the Student Records room also isn't complete, and even once they break in, they won't be able to accomplish anything. ]

But this field trip— Did they bring back any clues like we've received? I know you don't receive vouchers, but do you get coupons or something...?

He has not. I'll see if I can get some answers out of him once we're done here.

[somewhere, principal bear sneezes because he's being talked about, maybe.]

There's definitely something weird about the whole thing, but we haven't found out much about it yet. We're trying, though. [ohh, she doesn't like that thought. there's a brief flicker of that better not happen before lila takes a deep breath. calm down.]

It was a clue a lot like yours, actually. You guys aren't going to like what it says. [wait, we have to paraphrase, huh...] You know how, like, in a lot of stories, the main characters can't go back home and get their lives back to normal unless the villain dies? Like, that's the only way they can get back? Pretty sure this place was getting inspiration from stories like that.

...buuut. Earlier in the week Leo and I ended up in a different place when we walked through a doorway - it looked like a train dispatcher's office. Here, look at this...

[she pulls out her phone and pulls out a picture to show him - it's a list of train stops, departing from Wiwaldi Train Station and listing a whole bunch of other stops on it that correspond to the player characters' worlds.]

I think this is our way home after we deal with the whole story situation. Find the station, board the train, get the heck out of here. The train wasn't operational at first, but Leo and I flipped a switch and its status changed to "Ready to Depart / Awaiting Passengers". I assume that would be us.

What? That's great. [ We really can leave? Really? ] So you think this train is the way out without having to destroy a villain?

[ He tries not to get his hopes up too much, digesting this new piece of information critically. ]

This train... did you end up there randomly? I'm just wondering if there's any concrete way that we can all get there. I mean, you guys are trying to escape the daycare, but if the train is only accessible from wherever it is that you are on the campus, then that'll be a problem. Do you think it'd be wise for us to ask the dorm heads if they know anything about it? Maybe... while they've regressed to their old personas?

[ Since he doesn't know how much of their knowledge of this place remains when they're themselves. ]

I'm not sure. It says it departs from Wiwaldi Train Station, and in worlds that have trains, stations are usually named after places they're near. So - the train station is probably somewhere on or close to the campus, if the way they name things is anything like the way they're named in other worlds.

[watch this world just decide to throw them a curveball or something!]

It was pretty random. One second Leo and I were at the daycare - the next, we were in that office. We were just going through a doorway. And then after we flipped the switch, we were suddenly back in the daycare again. I wouldn't know how to get there again from the daycare.

It's hard to say if it'd be wise or unwise, so I think you guys should probably discuss that with each other and see what you want to do. But what I'd do if it were me and I was talking to one of their regressed personas, is I'd ask how people get to campus from far away. There are commuter students, right? Maybe some of them use the train? Hey, where's the train station...? You could also ask them about that when they're themselves if you think it's a good idea, but if this is something "the story" doesn't know we're going to try, I don't want to give it any ideas on how to stop us. So.

[she shrugs!!]

...I'm not sure if it's an alternative to whatever this place wants to do, but it looks like this train stops at our homes. So... it's something. It's a way out, if we can find the train station. But it's hard to tell if we'll be able to find it before or after we deal with the rest of this.

Mm, might as well try both. But that's something at least. A concrete way that we can work toward getting us all out of here.

You and Leo- you didn't feel any effects afterward? Like memory loss?

[ He assumes not, if Lila didn't mention it, but might as well make sure. ]

I assume the regressing of the dorm heads and the memory loss to people that encounter the story is an attempt to breakdown our bonds—the plot hole?—and make it easier to villainize one another. Have you heard anything about how it might try and create villains where you are? Or why this is happening to the dorm heads?

Nothing that I've noticed, and if Leo's noticed anything, he hasn't mentioned it. [so far, so good, she hopes! she's not really sure what the reason is, but she does have a theory.] I was thinking it might be because we didn't have any direct contact with weird, creepy voices or strange writing. It was just us and that office.

[at his next question, she sighs and shakes her head.]

We haven't heard anything like that, no. But we're keeping an eye on the Dorm Heads too. We're able to write visitors passes for them from the administration building to get them into the daycare, so we can check up on them in person every so often.

...this isn't anything but my own thoughts here - but I come from a world where there's a real jerk behind the scenes who turns other people into villains to do his dirty work, and it usually gets worse before it gets better. So... don't be surprised if it starts to look like things are getting worse, but always remember that we'll be able to pull through it, too, okay?

[ He smiles a little. ]

That's remarkable optimistic of you, but I agree. It'll get worse, but once we have a clearer picture of what we're up against, I'm sure we'll figure it out. I just hope that we can all reunite and figure it out together soon.

[ That big about meeting with the dorm heads is new though, and he looks curious. ]

I didn't realize they could visit you... By the way, I transferred to Summer, but it's numbers are as small as ever. Do you know if there's any harm to the dorm head for losing members or not gaining as many points?

Yeah... I hope so too. I'm really ready to get out of this stupid daycare and this stupid school.

[clichés are clichés for a reason - "it's always darkest just before the dawn" and all that...]

They couldn't visit us at first, either. It's a sort of recent development, but not quite as recent as the letters. [...] Thanks for that - I'm sure Annie appreciates it. If there is any harm to losing members or not getting as many points as the others, it's not something we've been told about. So... hopefully there isn't any, but we can't definitively rule it out either.

Mm, I'm worried that the dorm head with the least members or points will make an easy target for being made into a villain... [ Because, theoretically, they would have fewer people to snap them out of it. Even though Annie is well loved beyond her dorm.

He sighs. Might as well keep focused for now rather than worrying about unknowns. ]

But no ominous messages written on the buildings this week? I wanted to clarify if you'd figured out anything new about that photo with the fellow with his dog and Maya's theory as well.

I'm a little worried about that, too, but... we haven't found anything to prove that's going to happen one way or another.

[everyone's pretty friendly with each other - which seems to be The Voice™'s beef. but they'll just have to cross that bridge when they come to it.]

There was some writing - "If you don't like my ending, you could always write a sequel". Not quite as ominous as last week's. We haven't found anything new about the photo of the guy and the dog. Which of Maya's theories did you mean? She's had a couple, from what I remember... she's pretty smart.

[even if she doesn't always act it... but that's normal, too. no one can be super smart all of the time, they'd get a headache.]

[ He smiles a little at that. Because yeah, Maya is smart. She's the best. ]

We could write a sequel? That's interesting. I wonder if there is some way that we could take control of this story if not "defeat" it... [ Hm. ]

And I meant the one where she mentioned the importance of that photo. Whether it has something to do with our plot hole or our villain—I think it was Bradley who said she was on the right track. But if you haven't learned much more about that photo, then we'll have to keep working on it ourselves.

Aside from discussing things, is there still not much we can do to help you all? And I guess if I summarize this over text, you won't be able to follow along?

[ Do I need to lead a meeting...? ]

I'm not exactly sure... On the one hand, it kind of sounds hopeful? Like, "you might have a second chance!" ...but on the other it sort of sounds like it's saying if it doesn't like how this turns out, it might happen again. And I really, really don't want to be stuck here for another "school year" [she does the airquotes] just because of an unsatisfying ending or whatever.

[she will be so mad if they get stuck here for longer. so, so mad. she takes a breath to try to settle her thoughts, though, because getting worried or upset isn't going to help and they probably don't have a lot of time left.]

Discussing things is the most help, at this point - because anything you guys find out in private or over text we won't know about. We've been getting a lot of our information from your meetings or when people, um, join us. Like I said before, the interactions with the voice and us finding clues on a "field trip" are extremely recent developments.

[a pause, and then - ]

Oh, before I forget! You're not gonna make me go back to the others empty-handed, are you? You guys were talking about sending letters...

[ He nods. There'll probably be another field trip today, for better or worse. ]

Right. We'll do our best to share whatever more we get today from field trips by tomorrow hopefully. If you get anything from yours, it'll help to convey it over a letter too, though I'm sure Lucretia or someone else will come visit again next week. [ He smiles a little. ] That is, unless you guys actually manage to get into the Student Records room.

[ Nothing wrong with having a little hope. ]

And yeah, I've got a bunch actually.

[ He will reach into his jacket and hand over a sizable stack of letters! ]

Out of curiosity... what is it that limits you from sharing information freely? Or details about the killers? Is it the thing that happened to Adora?

Edited 2021-07-22 15:39 (UTC)

Timing-wise, I'm not sure that'll work... they came back from their field trip after we turned in our letters. But we'll try. If nothing else, whoever you guys talk to next week can let you know if we got anything.

[...]

But, my hope is that we get into the Student Records room and get the heck out of there! I am so over daycare.

[if anyone EVER gives me applesauce again it's getting thrown in their face.

she takes the letters and looks for a second like she might start going through them right then and there, but tucks them under her arm instead. then she smiles.]

Thanks, Claude. ...and, yeah - we're all pretty worried about things not being safe. I'm pretty sure no one wants a repeat of Adora's situation.

[although a setting change might throw the story enough off the rails to - no, that's a bad idea...]

Oh, actually, hold on. [she shifts the papers and gives claude a quick hug!] That's for you, from Byleth. [did byleth actually put her up to this? who's to say? and then she hugs him again.] ...and that's for Dimitri, if you could pass it on? [...and then another hug!] And that's from me for the rest of you guys. If you wouldn't mind passing that on, too...

Do your best, okay? We're rooting for you.

[yes i timed this so he's getting booted out of the bathroom right after the hugs what of it]

[ He nods. The timing makes sense, and regardless, they'll be able to share their information one way or the other.

He doesn't expect for her to reach out and hug him though, and he stands there surprised for a moment before steadily returning the hug.

We're going to make it out of here together. ]

We'll do our best. Don't you guys give up hope either.

[ Her thought makes him laugh a little. For as sweet as her face is, she can be pretty ruthless. ]

I'll see you soon, okay?

SEANCE - CLAUDE & LILA

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