Dangerzone High -- an unofficial morbit story

[anima]

Let's see... I can... "scroll back" through what you've said to me, so...

RIJK: I'll address these one at a time...
RIJK: It's not formal questions anymore, so... firstly, the... audience?
KATE: Yeah, that works.
RIJK: They're concerned for our safety. They think we're all very nice, and it would be tragic if we died...

Everyone takes in some air, looks from one direction to the next. Nobody wants to mention what we're all thinking-- that few of us really have anyone who would care. I have my mother, who sent me here because the education really is good, but...

AMITY: My parents want me to die, I think. They'd be happy to have me out of their tentacles.
BULLET: Volley and I are here as part of our knight training. The family wants us to get good or die trying, basically.
DRAGON KITE: Kate, why are we here again?
KATE: It's better than Consumption.
DRAGON KITE: Right! I have no idea what Consumption is like, but I believe that.
MOON LOGIC: Death is simply a risk of the job.
AMITY: Hey, don't pretend you're not here for the exact same reason I am! Your rich parents are just as awful as mine are!
MOON LOGIC: Come on, let me sound cool while the device is on...
RIJK: Anyways...
RIJK: They expect to meet Poet eventually...

Some people shudder, some roll their eyes.

TORPEDO: Pray it doesn't happen soon.
KATE: No, they have a point. The audience has gotta meet the mastermind behind this morbid tale at some point, yeah?
RIJK: I've never met them, what's so bad about them?
AMITY: Well--
KATE: Oh, what's so bad about the fucker who makes sure to put all the best, most promising people with a few brain difficulties in the same deadly place? Gee, I wonder.
RIJK: ...Oh. I think I see.
KATE: It's not any kind of social engineering or nothin', either! He just thinks it's funny to see... how did she word it again? "The mortal struggle for survival..."
RIJK: ...I can't decide if that's better or worse.
MOON LOGIC: Better, I think... but if people are using it as social engineering rather than its intended purpose of... twisted entertainment, I guess it has the same effect, in the end.
RIJK: They want to know what causes us to be wiped out--
MOON LOGIC: Ah, a simple question! We've effectively already answered, haven't we?
KATE: It's called Dangerzone High because-- well, messed up fool behind the name aside-- 'cause we're in a dangerous zone. I'm sure we'll see one of the monsters that bursts through the barrier every so often-- it's been easier for me to create a rapid rebuilding program than to make impervious materials to protect us all.
KATE: That being said, there are impervious materials, they're just reserved for the dormitory bunker.

I'll address my mother by myself... Really, she is a nice woman, I just... need teachers who will be patient with me, and the quality of education here is far better than Eclipse's ordinary public schools. I've had a very nice time here, when my life has been in less than immediate danger, at least. She sends a lot of messages online-- she'd text, but due to the nature of the nightside, telecommunications don't seem to work normally here. They work, just... they're only really useful if you've lost a loved one to angel timeline messes.

RIJK: What's next on our schedule?
KATE: Free day.
TORPEDO: You can't just decide that.
KATE: Overruled. I'm doing my fun experiment bullshit. I can decide whatever I want in that regard.
TORPEDO: ...Any objections, class?

Most everyone shakes their heads.

VOLLEY: ...I had some history questions, but they can wait. This is... something different.
RIJK: Is there anything any of us want to ask the audience?

I have my own questions, if I'm honest, but those can wait.

MOON LOGIC: Two, in my case.
MOON LOGIC: What sort of world are you from?
MOON LOGIC: And... Do you think you can solve a mystery faster than I can?
DRAGON KITE: This is where Maize normally tells you off for being too cocky, right?
MOON LOGIC: That's right. Do you want to ask anything?
DRAGON KITE: Hmm... What are your favourite snacks?

I'm writing down what everyone is asking on the whiteboard now. I'm determined to relay to everyone the answers they seek.

MOON LOGIC: What if you don't know what the alien snacks are?
DRAGON KITE: I'll be amazed by the funny names alone, then!
MOON LOGIC: Fair enough.
BULLET: Hey, if we're a "story" now, what genre do you think this is?
RIJK: That was actually one of their questions... Let me... copy all their thoughts down. Shouldn't take long...

Ok, so if plot armor somehow makes your life into a contemporary narrative, we should know what kind of story that is. Horror is right out, unless it's a parody, as 'Dangerzone High' is an absurd name. we don't have an inciting incident for this to be a mystery yet, but I don't think the 'setting' lends itself well to that either. Romance is also right out, the 'audience' participation gimmick would just ruin the mood way too much, even in a RomCom. Comedy itself doesn't seem to fit, even dark comedy, for the same reasons as romance. That leaves us with two common high school fiction genres: Slice of Life, and Adventure. 

Slice of life is still on the table, despite the constant mortal peril y'all are under. I've seen weirder. the tone would just have to be irreverent, or ignore the people who die. as a main character you'd be safe.

Adventure is a lot trickier. It's the oldest kind of story told. whatever the case you'll go to hell and back, and come out of it stronger, though not without some losses. there's a good chance at least one person you care about will die, and there's a lot you'd have to shoulder. I think this is the most likely genre you're in, if Plot Armor is working as advertised.

isn’t there a detective here? i feel like a mystery is still very plausible. it isn’t uncommon to establish characters before introducing the mystery.

RIJK: Phew.
DRAGON KITE: That was a lot of writing, little man.
MOON LOGIC: I think whoever said mystery is right. I'm here, after all.
KATE: It's a death game.

Everyone goes silent.

RIJK: A what?
BULLET: Oh, you haven't heard of them? That's... kind of rough.
KATE: They had this kind of thing back in Consumption all the time, both real and fictional.
MOON LOGIC: Wait, you mean the genre from my point-and-click games is--
KATE: Very real, yes. My first date was at one.
DRAGON KITE: Wait, you've dated?
BULLET: Probably not the time, pal.
TORPEDO: Everyone, calm down. No one here is going to kill or be killed on my watch.
KATE: Oh, of course not. The alien monsters outside are gonna do the killing, as usual.
KATE: We're just as likely to die as before the project was implemented. Except Rijk, of course. Can't go around changing the viewpoint character that easily, yeah?
RIJK: And you're sure I can't give the pin to someone else--
KATE: We've been over this.
KATE: Just a couple days for now, yeah? It's not so bad.
RIJK: It... still just feels like a lot of responsibility I don't deserve...

It's a very interesting sort of ebb and flow, I've noticed. I have to actively stop to let you all in, and then everything flashes into my mind in a second, a half dozen thoughts with perfect clarity.