somniatis

And there, almost looking as if she were sleeping, lies Yuuma Chou.

A ping prompts you to tear your eyes away from your body to the id.

Victim’s Name: Yuuma Chou, SHSL Oneirologist Time of Discovery: 4:21 AM Location: Male Bathroom Cause of Death: Hypoxia

He was about to offer a response when Yuuma spoke up again, apologizing for talking so much, as if she was boring Jesper. As if! Never in a million years would it bore him to be able to pick Yuuma Chou’s brain. 

“Ah, well… first of all, there’s no need to apologize for talking. It doesn’t bother me at all. On the contrary, I wouldn’t mind listening to you speak for as long as you wanted to,” he assured her, offering a small but genuine smile. “Which… on that note, yes, I recognize you by your name. I’ve read… well, everything you’ve published, I believe. I find it so interesting.”

It felt so strange to actually mean that. Usually, his flattery meant nothing and served only to gain more trust from the other person. Here, though, it was earnest. 

“Ah, that’s so nice of you... ! Usually people don’t care to listen too long when I talk, but some things just need to be elaborated upon, you know... ? Our lives and what we say are full of such symbolism... out subconscious has so much influence that we don’t even realize, you know? And yet most aren’t interested... it’s rather sad, but... if only a few people will go deeper and think about things, that’s good, right?”

Indeed it is, Yuuma.

“Uhhm... that’s a bit embarrassing, though. Not that I’m not flattered, but... ! My older journals... all of them, really... they’re so long and dull! I thought only the wizened scientist type actually cared about them... mostly people our age look at my blog, if anything... ah, I’m sorry that I haven’t seen your antique shop, if you know so much about me... ! Perhaps when we leave I could take a trip to visit... ? It would be only fair, right?”

She wasn’t sure if she should be presenting herself differently given the fact that Jesper had a pre-formed opinion of her, but she had never really run into someone in real life who knew her by name before, and especially not in a situation such as this!

Therefore, he wasn’t about to simply say no to the company of an individual who carried a soft air of kindness. He caught her staring, but he didn’t mind it. He knew an observant look when he saw one. Besides, he was a bit distracted by the nagging thought that something about her seemed familiar.

When she offered a bow, he returned it in the form of a low nod. He smiled patiently at her as she stammered with her words; he was about to give her a response when she seemed to switch gears, opting to introduce herself first.

Yuuma Chou. Yuuma…

Oh. 

Jesper blinked his eyes open wide, drawing in a quick breath. “Ah, Chou-san…!” He scooted himself closer to the edge of the bench to make more room for her to sit comfortably. “Please, yes, take a seat. I’m… truly honored to have your company.”

Even after the shock left him, he couldn’t help but watch her with childlike wonder in his red eyes. This was her, in the flesh, asking to sit with him. This was Yuuma Chou. Somehow, he didn’t care anymore whether he did or didn’t have poison coursing through his veins.

She smooths out her skirt, setting her book on her lap gingerly before turning slightly to face Jesper with the same warm smile on her face.

“Ah, it’s very nice to meet you too, Jesper-san... antiques are so interesting, aren’t they? To think about the memories that they hold... I really like dolls... they’re so expressive, you know... ? Did you know dolls can represent childhood or... if they’re alive... a desire to escape your current situation? Perhaps it’s appropriate for this place...”

She opens her mouth as if to continue on another pointless tangent, and then blinks in surprise.

“Eh, I’m sorry... ! I got going a bit too much, didn’t I... um, as I was saying, antiques are really interesting... as for myself, I am an oneirologist. That is... the study of dreams, as people don’t usually know, ahehe...”

“Uhmm... forgive me if I’ve misinterpreted, but I don’t think... well, that is, there really is no reason to be honored by my presence! I’m completely average, really, despite the title... ahehe. But, um, the only reason for a reaction like that would, perhaps, be that you recognize me... ? Or at least... my name? This is... purely speculation, of course! I don’t mean to sound too cocky...”

A dinner gathering such as this one wasn’t exactly unfamiliar territory for Jesper. He’d hosted plenty of similar events himself. What was foreign to him was the entire situation - everything surrounding the dinner. He was uncomfortable. He took a seat beside Miyako and remained quiet and polite, but he did not touch his food. He couldn’t bring himself to do it. He had no appetite, no will to eat at a table hosted by a murderous cat.

He soon discovered it didn’t exactly matter, anyway. He’d apparently been poisoned already.

The news made him feel ill, but he kept himself calm, kept his composure. It would appear to anyone around him that he wasn’t at all bothered by the announcement that they had all ingested poison and the only way to cure it was to kill someone. Deep beneath all of that, though, he was… anxious. Just like the rest of the students, he didn’t want to die. 

As the others stood, so did Jesper. He fell behind the crowd, slipping out of the building, hopefully unnoticed by even Miyako. He wasn’t sure he wanted to deal with anyone. He definitely didn’t want to deal with his cottage and the people in it. He made his way past the cottages, into the garden.

It was a relaxing place, full of lovely foliage, breathable air, and elegant fixtures. He enjoyed it much more than he enjoyed being in a small building with three other boys, one of which was a horrible nuisance. 

He wandered along the path until he reached the furthest bench, where he took a seat, his legs comfortably outstretched with ankles crossed. He folded his hands in his lap and let out a soft sigh.

And so, she had sat through the dinner and announcement with a pleasant smile on her face, albeit a bit... detached. It begged the question of if the oneirologist was registering much of the situation at all, or at least if she had any sort of concern about her own life. Perhaps she did, perhaps she didn’t, but it was basically impossible to tell, what with her smiling beatifically at everything.

Still, there was always the fact that others were less... unconcerned? Disconnected? Than she was, and that they would be upset about this... and this she could help with, perhaps! If she ran into any of them, at least, but they seemed to all dissipate fairly quickly as soon as things end. She decides that she’ll take a trip back to her room and then try and find someone to talk to, and so off she goes.

Some time later, Yuuma emerges once more with a thick book under her arm, humming something softly under her breath. The most likely place to find someone of a disposition she’d want to interact with was the garden, what with it being all peaceful. She wanders in several moments later, glancing around either to find someone or a lack of someone-- it was unsure which. She wouldn’t have been opposed to spending time alone.

At least the person she eventually finds seems to be quiet. Yuuma shuffles over to him after a moment of staring curiously and bends slightly into a polite bow. When she speaks, she tries to keep her tone soft, so as not to disturb the quiet.

“Ah... I, uhm... do you mind if I join you, um...”

She waves her hand vaguely and then points at the bench.

And true to her mental vow, as soon as she finishes with the body and Lani, she scurries off in the direction the speed texter had gone. Surely they had found something to do by now, but she was nothing if not full of Determination! Yuuma was, indeed, determined to find this person and… perhaps provide some sort of distraction in this troubling time! 

However… she wasn’t the best at actually finding people.

In the end, she finds herself futilely wandering about the place, softly calling out to the areas she passes through- “Ah, hello? Uhm… <hello>?”

Sure, her Korean was a bit rusty, but it couldn’t hurt to make an effort. At least that way, the person would know she was talking to them!

Finally in the lounge her efforts come to fruition, although not in the most favorable way. She seems to be distracted by watching her feet as she walks, for some reason, and so doesn’t notice that she’s about to run into someone until it’s too late. With an oof! she seems to bounce off, padded by her puffy coat, and stares confusedly at whoever she’d run into before recognition dawns on her.

“Oh! I was… looking for you! I mean… not that we know each other, but… I heard you before you left the meeting, you see, and while I was engaged at the time… I wouldn’t want you to have no company while, erm, waiting for this trip to end, and so… ! I am here. Hello… !”

The speed texter got up from their spot and started to make an exit, only to bump into someone along the way. Damn, seemed to happen to them a lot here, didn’t it? 

They stared back at the girl as she spoke, an eyebrow raised. She really… huh. Well, that was… sweet? Not that Tae-Hyun particularly minded being alone, but it was the thought that counted, right? 

“…Ehe, uh. Wow, didn’t think anyone’d actually take me up on that.”

Thanks.

“Ah, well, whatever. Not just gonna send you back after you came all the way here just to keep little old me company.”

“Ah, I-! I try to... make sure everyone’s requests are fulfilled to the best of my ability. I mean, if... I hear them made... it is just a habit of mine! I apologize if I made you uncomfortable... b-but yes! I mean, I would be happy to keep you company. In these...”

She pauses to glance around her as if searching for the words. 

“In this troublesome state we are in, I think everyone would benefit from someone to talk with, don’t you? Ah, if only all dreams... could be shared such as this... the problems solved... but when the opportunity presents itself to help, don’t you think we should take it?”

That made no sense at all, but cool, Yuuma. 

“Ah, I apologize...! In my haste, I neglected to introduce myself... I am Yuuma Chou. It is a pleasure to meet you, Tae-hyun-san.”

The oneirologist gives a short bow, one hand pressing to her chest gently to punctuate her introduction. When she straightens back up, she glances around the lounge quickly before giving Tae-hyun a slightly quizzical look.

Following her conversations with Lani and Tae-hyun– quite a while after, it would seem, as Yuuma was not the fastest-moving person in the entire world. Following that, though, the oneirologist found herself, frankly, very tired. Tired indeed, but there was no time to sleep yet, what with the looming doom of this nightmare.

Wandering about Wonderland, Yuuma did not find much that could serve to keep her awake. Then again, there was rarely anything that could stop sleep when it was coming, but she could make an effort if she wanted. There was nothing especially thrilling as far as she could see, not being hungry or interested in whatever Coolmath was.

After trying in vain to locate something to do for a while, she’d eventually fallen back on a time-honored tradition. Gripping a worn-out paperback in her slightly sweaty hands, Yuuma now wanders about looking for somewhere she could safely read. The garden seemed a safe bet, and the flowers were very nice. She takes several steps inside, distantly looking at them before she’s distracted by the statue. It was… quite solemn, if she was honest. Usually statues like this showed some sort of relation, right? Or at least an interaction? Then again, it really fit the mood at the time, she reasoned…

It seems that Yuuma is looking at the statue for quite some time. Quite some time indeed, just standing there in front of it, lightly swaying back and forth. She also doesn’t seem to respond if anyone walks past her, and– hey! Oddly enough, her eyes seem to be closed.

“………”

In the time they’d had to socialize amongst themselves, Yuuma had met a couple of the people stuck in this odd place with her… but only a few. Really, she was just looking forward to heading to the actual school. A set curriculum was much easier for her to work with than wandering around aimlessly, and Yuuma didn’t have that many books to read. So, in her opinion, a meeting is quite welcome! A welcome distraction, or so she thought-

But then something plunges through one of their hosts, and Yuuma watches with a startled expression as they fall to the ground, and then the thing crushes their head like a… cantaloupe.

“O-Oh my…”

One pale hand pressed to her mouth, Yuuma’s gaze shifts from the body to the… cat? Misfortune and deceitfulness… that was unfortunate indeed. She listens as it explains that they’re now stuck and would have to, as it seems, murder each other to escape. It was a shame, she thought distantly, seeming to sway on her feet. Monoches was kind of cute… they looked soft, at least. It was a shame they were so… nasty.

An odd, odd nightmare, Yuuma thought. Strange indeed. She didn’t remember falling asleep, but that was how things like this always went, wasn’t it? She was still… tired. Her wobbling gets more pronounced, the girl seeming as if she’s going to topple over onto the ground with a yawn. The odd part was, it wasn’t like when people fainted in surprise. In fact, she looks completely serene, if not a bit weary. Had she… even registered what happened?

Of course, that was all to an outside observer. She had, of course, registered, and was currently trying to make sense of the proceedings without dozing off entirely. It was… It was…

Well, anyway! It came as a welcome wake-up call when Yuuma hears someone requesting help. Help was something she could surely provide! She pushes up her glasses, rubbing bleariness from her eyes briefly before shuffling over to the other girl. 

“I, ah… I would be willing to assist if you… need. I am not especially strong, but… I can try my best! I agree that… it is not right to leave them there… it seems… disrespectful, even if…”

Well, so much for a normal field trip.

Tae-Hyun listened with… frankly, boredom, as the utaite spoke about the situation. Good, so they were leaving – maybe once they were out, they’d have access to better websites and less… outdoors. Assignments to not do until the last minute, classmates to avoid, everything right back

-Schiiiirk!-

to

-thud-

n… normal…

“<F… Fucking hell.>”

The cat mascot – the mascat, if you would – went on a long spiel about it’s reason for showing up, that they were trapped forever, that they had to kill some people to get out, all with a healthy dose of cat related puns and ‘nyas’. The speed texter cracked a smirk (nervous and unsure, but a smirk nonetheless), arms folded over their chest.

“…Heh. What is this, some part of your weird LARP session? Sorry, pal, I realize you must’ve gone through a lot of trouble, all the special 2spooky death effects and that fursuit you got going on there, but I ain’t interested, nya.”

They rose a hand to their face upon the ‘nya,’ snickering to themself afterward. Even in the (apparent) face of death, they couldn’t go without taunting the enemy…

“Oh well, can’t fault you for trying, I guess. I’m outie. You kids have fun doing your weird little game thing, I’ll be… literally anywhere else, waiting for our little field trip to end. Anyone else want in on that business, feel free. Later, l-m-a-o.”

And with that, Tae-Hyun turned on their heel and left. Did that do anything to ease their worries? Not… really, but to be fair, they didn’t have too many to begin with. There was no real reason for them to kill each other, why should they start? Everyone here was surely better than that!

And true to her mental vow, as soon as she finishes with the body and Lani, she scurries off in the direction the speed texter had gone. Surely they had found something to do by now, but she was nothing if not full of Determination! Yuuma was, indeed, determined to find this person and... perhaps provide some sort of distraction in this troubling time! 

However... she wasn’t the best at actually finding people.

In the end, she finds herself futilely wandering about the place, softly calling out to the areas she passes through- “Ah, hello? Uhm... <hello>?”

Sure, her Korean was a bit rusty, but it couldn’t hurt to make an effort. At least that way, the person would know she was talking to them!

Finally in the lounge her efforts come to fruition, although not in the most favorable way. She seems to be distracted by watching her feet as she walks, for some reason, and so doesn’t notice that she’s about to run into someone until it’s too late. With an oof! she seems to bounce off, padded by her puffy coat, and stares confusedly at whoever she’d run into before recognition dawns on her.

“Oh! I was... looking for you! I mean... not that we know each other, but... I heard you before you left the meeting, you see, and while I was engaged at the time... I wouldn’t want you to have no company while, erm, waiting for this trip to end, and so... ! I am here. Hello... !”

Yuuma’s departure to what was meant to be Hope’s Peak Academy had been a flurry of ‘did you forget your bag?’ from her parents and 'don’t forget to feed Morpheus!’ from her, shrugging into her many layers of clothes and clutching a letter and her phone in her sweaty hand. At the train station she’d still been holding the paper, unfolding it every few minutes as if nervous… but really, she wasn’t. Although her face wouldn’t betray a hint of excitement, seemingly stuck in perpetual serenity, Yuuma Chou was quite, quite excited to head off to Hope’s Peak…

And yet, that isn’t where they were. 

Having spent much of the train ride awake, watching her companions nod off one by one and wake in turn and only dozing off for an odd hour herself, Yuuma is not entirely sure she’s awake as they pull into 'Wonderland’. After all, was that not a children’s book? It seemed an official enough destination, with a reasonable explanation given for their arrival there and students of the school, but… she couldn’t help but sigh at the odd turn this had taken. Odd indeed.

Wonderland… desire to escape from the routine of daily life. Looking for excitement…

Well, she didn’t quite think that was the case for her, but the subconscious always knew best! Perhaps she was thirsting for adventure! In that case, she reasons, it would be best not to look the figurative gift horse in the mouth. After all, it was a nice place to be in, with pretty chandeliers and decorations! 

So, with the same eternal smile on her face, she listens to the explanation given, accepting the keys and the ID dutifully. It was really nice, she thought. A nice place to be, like she’d said. 

Eventually the introduction peters out and those around her begin to trail off, leaving some standing there, like her. She seems preoccupied by her ID, flipping through the options until she’s startled by a text appearing. With an oh! she fumbles the ID card, watching it hit the ground with a slightly surprised expression- as if she’d seen… someone stumble, or something less exciting than dropping her very important ID card. Apparently she wasn’t the type to scream when she dropped a phone?

After retrieving it, though, she does send a reply, shuffling off in a random direction as she goes. There was nothing she especially wanted to check out, so her journey eventually and inevitably takes her into the pantry. There, she spends some time taking in her surroundings blankly, eventually settling for reaching for a container of… raisins. Wow, what an exciting choice, Yuuma.

Moments later, she turns at the sound of someone entering behind her, face automatically shifting into a smile as she bows politely to this… interesting character.

“Ah… hello! Sorry, am I… in the way? I apologize, the room is not… that large. Did you, ahem! Did you want… some raisins?”

Smooth moves, Yuuma.

Third Batch! \ovo/

voice meme for farren, finn, and me feat. cynthia-viola and guest star grant who is Not Here

as a note i have not listened to this so u kno it’s a surprise for all of us

Meet the Mun

Name/Nickname

Age

Time Zone

Which game are you in? Is this your first time?

Did you expect to get in?

What are you looking forward to most?

Meet the Muse

Who do you play? Tell us about them.

Give a random fact about your muse. (nothing TOO spoiler-y though)

Anything you share in common with them?

Any ships (involving them, of course)?