the final investigation

[stagemanagers]

[It's Wednesday - the day of the promised and somewhat ominous Club Meeting. But where is it happening, exactly, and when? The posters didn't say, and there is no announcement, nothing obvious to gather you all together. Just the awareness that something was meant to happen today, and an odd feeling in the air.

Even if there isn't any clear signal, there are a few subtler things to note. For one thing, Janis might have a feeling, and anyone else who passes by will be able to see - the door to Hester's office is standing open. Perhaps it's worth looking around in there a little more right now?

Janis isn't the only person. Nana has a feeling as well. She'll be able to grab a few people and lead them to a door at the end of the dorm hallway that wasn't there before. Where did it come from? It seems like it's unlocked.

Finally, that mystery door in the hallway? The one that Benji tried so hard to open, and ultimately failed? Maybe he should look at it again - that's a little bit ajar as well.

Have fun investigating!]

Comments

Hester's Office - LSP, Cass, Elsa, Janis

[stagemanagers]

[Hester's office, when you enter, is just as abandoned as it has been all week. Cass and Peregrine in particular have been in here pretty recently; they'll be able to tell that it doesn't really look much different. But the door thing is weird, so it might be worth poking around anyway.

As per usual, her desk is here, as well as the two locked doors in the back of the room. One is labelled Principal's Office. The other isn't labelled at all.]

[defyingfrigidity]

[Elsa had been with Cass when Janis had flagged down a few people to point out Hester's office, and as she enters, it's like every hair on her body is standing on end. She's never been in here before, but there's still something very... wrong about the air.

As the others file inside, Elsa approaches the unlabeled locked door. ]

If we can't find keys for these, I could possibly try to freeze the locks?

[fourbutts]

I can try to uh. Rifle through the desk. But that's a solid plan B.

[ #justalmostgirlfriendthings

So, what are we looking at, desk-wise? ]

[sugarlumps]

We could totally take them off the hinges or something.

[Heck yeah let's do a B&E guys.]

[Or heck- are these doors solid wood or is there glass that mightbe broken.]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Boy, isn't it strange that Hester's door was left open? Wild.

Cassandra doesn't trust any of this. As the group files into the office, she stands back for a moment, surveying the scene in case of... something. Anything. Who knows what could be waiting for them.]

I could try and kick the doors down, if nothing else works.

[Hell yeah they can do a B&E.]

[sugarlumps]

Hm.

[...Yeah she's gonna try to just shoulder-check the Principal's door open, action movie style.]

[stagemanagers]

[We regret to inform you all that these were maybe more accurately described as the previously locked doors - they were unlocked the entire time. LSP flies through it and into the office at speed!]

[stagemanagers]

[The surface of the desk looks much as you left it. Hester's teapot is still here, possibly full of extremely cold tea, as well as her vase of flowers and her little plate that does not currently contain cookies.

Also, uh, did anyone ever put the laptop back or does someone maybe have it now?]

[fourbutts]

[ WHO CAN SAY it's fine waves hand someone somewhere has it

there wouldn't happen to be drawers she could start going through, would there? ]

[stagemanagers]

[Sure are! There's two top drawers and one bottom drawer!]

Dorm Hall Door - Spongebob, Maya, Angus (and Nana)

[stagemanagers]

[Nana has spent the last year gaining a lot of experience in the ways of a narrator. She's picked up a few things. She can tell that this door has a tenuous relationship with reality.

She'll be able to open this passageway for the rest of you, but she'll have to focus on holding it open so no one gets trapped outside of space and time; it's going to be up to everyone else to look around inside. Feel free to talk to her about what you find, though, she's just right there!

You may have limited time to look around in here - which is probably why there isn't time to gather a slightly more stable search party. Oh, well. Enter the door?]

[employeeoftheyear]

Neptune, when did this door get here?

[Is Spongebob concerned? Yes. Does he kind of want to ignore it? Also yes.

Is he still deathly curious and want to open the door anyway? absolutely yes.

With Gary in hand, he’s just going to enter the door.]

[mayavericks]

[Well -- This is probably going to be unpleasant. Maya gives a nervous glance to both Nana and Spongebob before stepping across the threshold. She's got Claudine's sword in hand, and the leg-sword in a sheath at her waist. Ready for anything!]

Watch our backs.

[mcfife]

[Angus follows Nana the moment she approaches; an old friend is one to be trusts, but first: some preparations. This is going to be a great battle, and he must be prepared. He has a red, sea-scented scarf to protect his neck, a Gorgeous Breastplate resting over it. The ribbon-decorated armor will be the one thing protecting him from the forces of the Wizard, along with the green goggles resting on his forehead.

Finally, he has the red riding hood, the one modified by Elle to swish around dramatically with the aid of a few weights sewn into it. Bruiser rests in the hood while the remainder of Angus' supplies go into his backpack, the engagement ring, rose, and airhorn included. As a final touch, he has a flower crown composed of thistles above his head. Now he is ready for an adventure.]

In we go. [Gloryhammer in his hand and-

Uh.]

All of us...

[employeeoftheyear]

[He only has one good hand, so he can’t hold both of their hands, but he happily takes Angus’s free hand, smiling genuinely at both of them.]

Of course; we’re all family! [Spongebob points to the sunflower and iris flower crown he’s wearing.] And we all gotta stick together, no matter what.

[mayavericks]

Indeed. All of us.

[She pulls Janis's jacket tighter around herself, and adjusts the yellow scarf she'd found. At least walking is a little easier, even if she is just sort of dragging one leg behind her. It's too hard to wield a sword with crutches.

Anyway. Here we go! Into the unknoooooooown.]

[stagemanagers]

[As Spongebob opens the door to lead the group inside, you feel a sudden sense of foreboding. Though it doesn't happen diagetically, it's as though a boss theme has started playing.

There is a roomba in this room. It's painted red with white racing stripes, and when you all enter, it immediately spins around, squeals, deploys a taser from the top of its frame, and charges at Angus specifically.]

[mcfife]

YOU!!

[SORRY BOB HE'S LETTING GO OF YOU AND SWINGING AT THAT EVIL ROOMBA.]

[mcfife]

[Looks at Maya. Looks at Spongebob. They can't run out and find someone new, not when ancient secrets lie beyond this door. But they're all going to be today, perhaps in a small space, and if something doesn't distract Angus, he's going to be less than useful.

Well, at least he has an airhorn in case something happens.]

Of course. [It's Spongebob. How can he abandon him?] Let us get this over with.

Mystery Door - Farrah, Peregrine, Benji

[stagemanagers]

[After all that effort, the mystery door in the hallway seems to have simply unlocked itself. It isn't standing open like Hester's office; it's only the slightest bit ajar, enough that some people may have walked right past without noticing. But you noticed.

Through the little window in the door, it still looks very dark inside. But this time, you may be able to find a light switch.]

[barberic]

[He decided to come and check the door again, with a crowbar again to make another attempt if needed.

When he sees it ajar, he stops, staring at it suspiciously.]

[comeandfindme]

[ On her way to the cafeteria, Peregrine stops when she sees Benjamin at the mysterious door. ]

Mr. Barker? What's... Hey, whoa, is it open? [ Just gonna withdraw her maglite from her emergency supplies backpack, thank you! ]

[brokeforgood]

[And wherever Benji goes, Farrah will follow-- unless she's up to her own mischief. She's not, this morning. So, she's here too, leaning dramatically to the side to gape at the door.]

Guess you didn't need that crowbar after all.

[barberic]

I suppose not.

[He says, keeping it anyway.

He nods at Peregrine and her flashlight, putting an arm out to keep the girls safely behind him before he pushes open the door, and reaches to the side where most of the other rooms have had a light switch.]

[comeandfindme]

[ As he looks for the light switch, Peregrine tries to get a preliminary look into the room, peering under dear Benji's arm. ]