The Overlook

<KiruGM> You're standing up on the tower platform, overlooking the school grounds.

<KiruGM> You now attend biweekly meetings of Ohtori's Student Council.

<KiruGM> The theme of this week's meeting is Bettering Our School.

<KiruGM> As you look out, you can see the various buildings where students congregate.  Now that your Student Council position has given you the freedom to roam wherever you like in the school, maybe it's time you checked some of them out, to discover how they can be Bettered.

<KiruGM> Please peruse the various sites you can view from the tower and decide which you would like to visit.

* Shimabukuro_Kamiko sighs as she leans out over the balcony railing. "I still say Nemuro is an eyesore, and we should pressure the headmaster to have it razed."

<Inoki_Aoi> "I suppose if one was going to make the school Better, the burnt-out ruins would be a logical place to start."

* Kseniya_Opasnost glances over at the ruins. "It's so romantic, though. And it's not as if anyone lives inside that place."

<Kseniya_Opasnost> "I do wonder about the labs, though. They seem like a fire hazard every time I go in there, and some of the younger students get lost."

<Kurouto_Demi> "Yes, Kseniya.  They are also not in keeping with Ohtori's aesthetic, generally."

<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "If their spatial senses are that poor, perhaps they shouldn't be studying math and science at Ohtori."

<MaxFaust> "No-one studies anything."

<MaxFaust> "They just come and go."

<MaxFaust> "If the library was fixed once and for all, THEN people could study."

<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "The library is fine."

<Inoki_Aoi> "What's wrong with the library?!"

<MaxFaust> "It is sinking into the ground. Again."

<Inoki_Aoi> "Oh, that."

<Inoki_Aoi> "Very slowly, though!"

<Inoki_Aoi> "I suppose you are right, though, it would be a shame to imperil the rare book collections in the sub-basements."

<KiruGM> Kseniya!

<KiruGM> After the meeting adjourns, you head toward Valpurgis Labs.

* Kseniya_Opasnost has acquired a cute little notebook to record student council meeting notes in, and can use that for observations.

<KiruGM> While most of the school's buildings are constructed of stone or brick with a marble facade, the VL building is wood and stucco.  It's a reasonable approximation of a Japanese castle from the height of the Tokugawa period, but over time it's become worn and dilapidated.

<KiruGM> The signage is terrible, and the halls are often clogged with students trying to find their rooms.

<KiruGM> Eventually you make your way to a familiar classroom, where the head of Maths and Sciences, Dr. Weyland, is sitting over a lab table with Issei.

<KiruGM> Issei is fascinated by life science, and Dr. Weyland's mentoring has been invaluable for him.

<KiruGM> They appear to be cutting something up.

* Kseniya_Opasnost takes a polite peek, while also checking out how sturdy the architecture looks from the inside.

<KiruGM> Every room appears cracked and water stained.

<KiruGM> The animal under dissection appears to be a snake with two heads.

* Kseniya_Opasnost jots down disapproving little notes. Oh yes. The school could be Bettered.

* Issei notices Kseniya and looks up brightly

<Kseniya_Opasnost> . o O (Though the dissection specimen acquisition team seems to be really on top of things.)

<Issei> "Hi K-sempai!"

<KiruGM> Dr. Weyland also looks up absently and gives you a distracted smile.

<Kseniya_Opasnost> "Issei-chan, how nice to see you exploring biology. How are you liking the science building?"

<Issei> "I love it!  Dr. Weyland and Yutaka-sempai showed me how to get around.  Now I never get lost!"

<KiruGM> You hear a rustling and realize that there is a third person in the room with you.

* Kseniya_Opasnost jots down "layout confuses even very bright young students" in her notebook, then looks toward Mysterious Third Person.

<KiruGM> Yutaka, a pudgy, bespectacled junior with shaggy hair, is poring over a large model.

<KiruGM> It appears to be the Valpurgis building, with the roofs cut open so that the rooms within are visible.

* Kseniya_Opasnost heads over to Yutaka's model to have a look.

<KiruGM> It's immaculate and filled with tiny model students.  The door behind Yutaka is cracked just a bit, and you can see what appear to be more models of buildings, stacked up.

<KiruGM> Yutaka looks up at you, then, using a pair of tweezers, selects a female model out of a small box of figures and places it in the room.

<Kseniya_Opasnost> "What do you think of this building's architecture, Yutaka-sempai? It looks like you've studied it more closely than most people."

<KiruGM> He grunts and shrugs.

<Yutaka> "Are you gonna change something?"

<KiruGM> his hand hovers over his tools

<Kseniya_Opasnost> "Well, first I would need to know if anything really needed a change."

<Yutaka> "Tiles could be bigger."

<Yutaka> "You need a lot of them."

<KiruGM> From behind you, Dr. Weyland barks a little laugh.

* Kseniya_Opasnost writes this down, a little dubiously. "I was thinking more about...building safety."

<Dr_Weyland> "Oh, we have this discussion every few years.  The faculty think this place isn't safe, just because of what happened to Nemuro."

<Dr_Weyland> "But it's got too much history, this place.  Build a museum around it, that's what I say."

<Kseniya_Opasnost> "...what happened to Nemuro, Doctor Weyland?"

* Dr_Weyland pushes his glasses back up his nose and sits back on his lab stool.

<Dr_Weyland> "Used to be the computing division, back in the seventies when that was the thing.  All punch cards and hot glass tubes and sparks.  Well, if they just had external storage, it could've been just localized to one or two rooms."

<Dr_Weyland> "We lost a lot of bright young minds then.  Such a waste."

* Kseniya_Opasnost writes down "fire hazard" in her notebook and underlines it twice.

<Dr_Weyland> "Is this for the faculty?  Tell them I need a bigger office."

<Kseniya_Opasnost> "I'll be sure to pass that along, Doctor Weyland."

* Kseniya_Opasnost scans the room for visible fire extinguishers and clearly marked exits.

<KiruGM> Well, there's certainly...doors...

* Kseniya_Opasnost underlines "fire hazard" a few more times, and draws little stars and frowny faces around it.

<KiruGM> Max and Aoi, you head to the library after the meeting.

<KiruGM> It's just before the time of year when the restoration work always begins in earnest, so you can just see a sliver of light piercing the dust-filled air, from where the fault is splitting the building in two.

<KiruGM> There's a scent of books, glue and plaster.

<KiruGM> Yoko, head of the Honors Society, is barely visible within a fort of stacked books in one of the creches. 

<KiruGM> Tesser, who knows just about everything anyone has to hide at the school, is on a high upper floor, apparently perusing spines in the Hydraulic Engineering section.

<Inoki_Aoi> "I suppose, being here every day, it's easy to not notice the sinking."

<Inoki_Aoi> "Frog-in-a-pan."

<MaxFaust> "I don't know anything about any frogs."

<Inoki_Aoi> "It's a... parable?  Sort of."

* Inoki_Aoi waves absently to Tesser.

* MaxFaust doesn't

<Inoki_Aoi> "Frog in a pot, you turn the flame up high, he jumps out."

<MaxFaust> "Seems wise."

<Inoki_Aoi> "Frog in a pot, you turn the flame on low, raise it slowly, he boils."

<Inoki_Aoi> "Slow enough, he doesn't notice."

<KiruGM> Tesser responds by going rigid and turning quickly away from you both.

* Inoki_Aoi frowns slightly

<Inoki_Aoi> "Anyway, not actually true.  But illustrative."

<Inoki_Aoi> "Which is I guess what makes a parable."

<Inoki_Aoi> "A lie that tells you something true."

<MaxFaust> "Regardless, fix up the great crack and it can be like this all the time. Not always hammering and banging around."

<MaxFaust> "Good and quiet."

* Yoko slams a book shut with a snap, rises and comes over to the two of you.

<Inoki_Aoi> "That would be good, it is true."

<Yoko> "Hey Inoki-san.  Hey Faust.  I heard you guys got onto the Student Council.  That looks good.  Good extracurricular.  Any chance you've got a position for me?  I'm free between seven-fifteen and seven-forty-five on tuesdays and thursdays."

<Yoko> "I really want to round out my transcript."

* Yoko looks at you expectantly.

<MaxFaust> "I...uh, think it's full? It's not really up to me."

<Inoki_Aoi> "You'd have to take it up with the administration, I believe.  Council members don't actually get any say in selection."

* Inoki_Aoi spreads his hands apologetically.

* Yoko looks angry

<Yoko> "Well why the hell didn't I get any say?"

<MaxFaust> "Did you get a letter?"

* Inoki_Aoi looks a bit pained.

<Yoko> "A letter?  How did you apply?  Who do I talk to?"

<Inoki_Aoi> "I did not apply, nor did I speak to anyone.  I simply received a letter."

<MaxFaust> "If you didn't get a letter, you weren't chosen. Simple as that."

* Yoko is aghast.

<Yoko> "That's not fair!  Oh, I am going to talk to Mme. Ohtori about this.  I meet with her, you know!  I meet with her every second wednesday!"

<Inoki_Aoi> "Well then, I am sure she will be receptive to your thoughts on the matter!"

* Yoko gathers an armful of her books and flounces weightily off.

* Inoki_Aoi beams after Yoko

<MaxFaust> "Okay, well, see you at the next meeting then, probably!"

* MaxFaust rolls his eyes

<KiruGM> Tesser seems to have disappeared.

<KiruGM> Will you search the stacks for her?

<MaxFaust> Nope!

* MaxFaust finds a quiet corner

* Inoki_Aoi is somewhat concerned by the sudden brushoff by Tesser, but it is not something germaine to the improvement of the Library, and thus best saved for addressing later.

<KiruGM> Kamiko!

<KiruGM> You've chosen to go down to Nemuro Memorial Hall.

<KiruGM> This is unusual for you, because of the kind of people who normally hang out there.

<KiruGM> People who think getting a big bit of masonry in the face might be kind of romantic and cool.

* Shimabukuro_Kamiko smiles and waves to all the right people on her way there, while seething inwardly at the brush-off she was given at the council meeting.

<KiruGM> Skulking around the structure, you see Haruka and her entourage of smaller goths, as well as Tadashi, who is smoking and kicking bits off a low outcropping of brickwork.  

* Shimabukuro_Kamiko pauses and contemplates if Haruka's coven getting crushed by crumbling brickwork would be enough to get people to see reason about this awful place.

<KiruGM> The murder of goths murmurs incredulously as you approach.

<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> . o O (Maybe if there was some sort of school function, and they were crushed gruesomely in front of the underclassmen?)

* Shimabukuro_Kamiko stands in front of Haruka, studying her and her chicks like the rest of the ruined and dangerous architecture around here.

<Haruka> "Something you need help with, Kamiko-san?"

<Haruka> "Maybe your taste in clothes?"

<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "Oh ho ho ho ho. You've certainly got me there. I *don't* dress like an old widowed grandmother, which might confuse your little ducklings."

<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "No, I'm surveying the ruins for a council project. We intend to raze this dangerous eyesore, and replace it with something better for the school."

* Haruka grins

<Haruka> "You can't erase memories just by wiping this place away, you know."

<Haruka> "It'll still be haunted, no matter what kind of, like, sports place you put here."

<Haruka> "Like, if it's a hockey rink, the puck will move around and spell out words and stuff."

* Haruka looks smug.

<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "In fact, we *can* erase memories by removing the evidence. It's been done throughout history. We tear this monstrous wreck down, and in ten years, no one will ever know this was never a conservatory."

<KiruGM> Uh oh, Tadashi is also starting to notice you.

<KiruGM> This could be bad.

* Shimabukuro_Kamiko looks disappointed.

<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "This place is not haunted. It's not ghosts that cause bricks to fall and foundations to settle."

* Haruka isn't that phased.  She'll just relocate to Ohtori Memorial, or, if she can talk her way in, the Gallery.

<Tadashi> "Are you fucking kidding me?"

* Shimabukuro_Kamiko looks at Tadashi with the same expression as she might look at something she found on the bottom of her new shoe.

<Tadashi> "Like fuck are you tearing this place down.  This is the only good bit in this stupid place."

* Tadashi tosses his cigarette at Kamiko.

<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "Pardon me, Tadashi-yogisha, but I don't believe you were invited to join this conversation."

* Shimabukuro_Kamiko stands stiffly, chin raised.

* Tadashi gets all up in your face.  It's hard because he's shorter than you.

* Shimabukuro_Kamiko quivers, but stands her ground.

<Tadashi> "If this wreck goes, I'll just make a new one.  Where'd you say you live, again?"

* Shimabukuro_Kamiko narrows her eyes.

<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "I didn't say, Tadashi-yogisha."

<Tadashi> "Well this school's a pretty small fucking world."

<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "Watch your tongue!"

* Tadashi flips you off. Then he pivots on his heel and goes back to his destruction.

* Shimabukuro_Kamiko mutters, "Stupid, horrible little monster. This school would be better without *him*"

<KiruGM> You've all had a chance to see some of the sights.

<KiruGM> When you return to your locker, you each find a foil inside, and two of you find a letter instructing you to come to the dueling arena.

<KiruGM> The duelists this week are!

<KiruGM> Kseniya Opastnost and Inoki Aoi

* Inoki_Aoi looks stricken, and rereads the letter several times.

* Kseniya_Opasnost looks thrilled. She grabs her foil and heads straight for the arena.

* Inoki_Aoi eventually picks up the foil, hefts it experimentally, and slowly walks off towards the tower.

<KiruGM> When you make your way up to the arena, three figures are present: Demi, Yoko, and Yutaka.

<KiruGM> Yoko and Yutaka are holding swords, and their faces look flushed and glassy-eyed.

<Kurouto_Demi> "Welcome to the heats, Kseniya and Aoi!  If you beat your opponents, you will gain a chance to duel for the Rose Bride."

* Inoki_Aoi looks surprised, but slightly less apprehensive at this news.

<Kurouto_Demi> "Aoi and Yoko, you will be first to duel."

* Kseniya_Opasnost is looking increasingly calm as actual fighting draws nearer. Alas that it doesn't start with her.

* Inoki_Aoi steps forward, takes a deep breath, and smiles faintly.

* Kurouto_Demi produces two white roses and places one in each of Aoi's and Yoko's breast pockets.  She motions for Yutaka and Kseniya to stand to one side, outside of the circle that bounds the arena.

* Kurouto_Demi raises her hands over her head and drops them.  "BEGIN!"

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Kurouto_Demi [d10]: 1>

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Inoki_Aoi [d10]: 6>

<KiruGM> Aoi gets 11, Yoko gets 4.

<KiruGM> Aoi has a bonus of +4 to his next action.

<KiruGM> Both combatants attempt to step around one another, but Yoko trips and Aoi is in a prime position to attack.

<KiruGM> (next round!)

<Inoki_Aoi> "You must want to be a Council member very badly, Yoko-san."

<Yoko> "I...yes.  I want..."

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Yoko [d10]: 3>

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Inoki_Aoi [d10]: 7>

<KiruGM> Yoko gets 8, Aoi has 11

<KiruGM> Aoi hits out at Yoko's hand holding the sword, grazing her.

<KiruGM> Yoko is at -3 for her next action.

* Inoki_Aoi cocks his head quizzically as he knocks Yoko's sword aside.  

<Inoki_Aoi> "You want?  What DO you want, Yoko-san?"

* Yoko does not appear to register the pain, but simply brings her sword up to guard.

<Yoko> "I want...to win."

<KiruGM> (next action!)

<KiruGM> (oh, and I should say, it's 1-0 to Aoi)

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Yoko [d10]: 6>

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Inoki_Aoi [d10]: 10>

<KiruGM> 6 for Yoko, 14 to Aoi

<KiruGM> Aoi gracefully sidesteps Yoko's clumsy lunge.  It's like he's been doing this all his life.

<KiruGM> (next action!)

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Yoko [d10]: 5>

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Inoki_Aoi [d10]: 6>

<Inoki_Aoi> "Well, we wouldn't be fighting if we didn't want to win.  But why did you want to fight, Yoko-san?"

<KiruGM> 13 to Aoi, 8 to Yoko

<KiruGM> Aoi feints left, drawing Yoko into an attack which totally fails to connect.

<KiruGM> +4 to Aoi's next roll.

<Inoki_Aoi> "After all, surely there are better ways to fill your tuesdays and thursdays."

<Yoko> "I have to win.  For the future.  Everything depends on it."

<Yoko> "Everything must be prepared!"

<KiruGM> (next round!)

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Yoko [d10]: 7>

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Inoki_Aoi [d10]: 3>

<KiruGM> 12 to Yoko, 11 to Aoi.

<KiruGM> Aoi goes in to attack Yoko's guard again, but is parried with a forceful glise from Yoko!

<KiruGM> Aoi's next attack roll is taken at -4!

* Inoki_Aoi 's expression goes from a faint smile to neutral

<Inoki_Aoi> "You seem to want that very badly, Yoko-san.  What future are you fighting for?"

<Yoko> "I don't know!  But it's going to be better!  Better than YOURS!"

<KiruGM> (Round 6!)

<KiruGM> Yoko charges!

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Yoko [d10]: 6>

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Inoki_Aoi [d10]: 1>

<KiruGM> 8 for Yoko, 6 for Aoi

<KiruGM> Yoko knocks Aoi down, and he takes a -3 penalty to his next action on account of being on the ground.

<KiruGM> (1-1!)

<KiruGM> (ROUND 7)

<Inoki_Aoi> "Dear me, you do want that very badly."

<Yoko> "When I get to the future, I can finally live there.  I can stop preparing and just live."

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Yoko [d10]: 3>

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Inoki_Aoi [d10]: 5>

<KiruGM> Yoko 7, Aoi 10

<KiruGM> Yoko lunges in to stab Aoi in the chest, but he rolls aside deftly and springs to his feet!

<KiruGM> Aoi's next defensive action is taken at +4

<Inoki_Aoi> "You can stop preparing any time you wish, Yoko-san."

<Inoki_Aoi> "Just live.  Most of us do."

<Yoko> "But...but..."

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Yoko [d10]: 5>

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Inoki_Aoi [d10]: 10>

<KiruGM> Yoko is completely unprepared for Aoi's blade to snikt the rose right off her chest.

<KiruGM> Its petals scatter across the duel arena, and blow away in the wind as she drops to her knees.

<KiruGM> Demi's long ballgown sweeps across the arena, and Yoko is gone from sight.

* Kseniya_Opasnost looks rather impressed.

* Inoki_Aoi smiles mildly, like he always does.  Face like a mask.

<Demi_Kurouto> "Congratulations, Aoi-san!  You will progress to the next level of the duels."

<Yutaka> "Hey."

* Kseniya_Opasnost offers a polite nod and smile. "How nice to see you again."

<Yutaka> "I don't want you to change the school.  I just got it the way I like it."

<Kseniya_Opasnost> "I'm afraid I have to disagree with your penchant for fire hazards, then."

<KiruGM> (Round 1!)

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Kseniya_Opasnost [d10]: 6>

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Yutaka [d10]: 5>

<KiruGM> 7 to Yutaka, 11 to Kseniya

<KiruGM> Kseniya comes in with an attack to Yutaka's guard that he can't parry!

<KiruGM> Yutaka is scratched, and at -3 to his next defense.

<KiruGM> (Round 2!)

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Kseniya_Opasnost [d10]: 6>

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Yutaka [d10]: 5>

<KiruGM> Kseniya gets 10, Yutaka gets 10.

<KiruGM> IN THE CASE OF A TIE, defenses are successful but no bonuses are applied.

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Yutaka [d10]: 7>

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Kseniya_Opasnost [d10]: 9>

<KiruGM> Yutaka gets 11, Kseniya gets 13

<KiruGM> Yutaka charges, but Kseniya throws him off course with a glise!

<KiruGM> Her next attack gets +4.

<Yutaka> "Stop it!  Stand still!  I can't keep track of you if you move around all the time!"

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Kseniya_Opasnost [d10]: 9>

-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Yutaka [d10]: 6>

* Kseniya_Opasnost shakes her head at Yutaka, but doesn't answer out loud.

<KiruGM> Kseniya gets a smokin' 18!  Yutaka can't nearly match that.

<KiruGM> She deftly flicks the rose off his chest, ending the duel!

<KiruGM> Bells begin to toll, and Yutaka slumps.

<Kseniya_Opasnost> "I admire your resolve, Yutaka-sempai."

<Demi_Kurouto> "Well done, Kseniya-san!  You are truly a worthy duelist."

<Demi_Kurouto> Yutaka says nothing, but shuffles slowly away, hair hanging in his face.

* Kseniya_Opasnost does not spend a lot of time staring sympathetically after Yutaka, but smiles in thanks at Demi.

* Demi_Kurouto lifts her eyes to the castle spinning above.

<Demi_Kurouto> "If both of you will draw near, I will offer the blessing."

* Inoki_Aoi steps up to Kurouto, smiling as impassively as always.

* Kseniya_Opasnost also steps nearer.

<KiruGM> Demi begins to bend backward, further and further, almost sickeningly far.  It's inconceivable that she could continue to be balanced.  One foot comes off the ground, then the other.  She floats at head height, horizontal, arms outstretched before her, toward the towers of the castle overhead.  A ball of white light grows between her palms.  When it's about the size of a beach ball, it shoots upwards and disappears among the shining spires.

<Demi_Kurouto> "Rose of nobility, divine power that sleeps within, come forth!  Grant us the power to revolutionize the world!"

<KiruGM> A shower of sparks descends, dazzling your vision.

<KiruGM> When it clears, you're back on the ground, ready to head home and ponder how to change the world.

 ~ ~ ~TO BE CONTINUED~ ~ ~