May mini-mini-event

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05/31 16:00

The student council elections take place after class on Monday, with students instructed to gather in the auditorium for the assembly. Attendance is not mandatory, but once students enter the auditorium and take their seats with the rest of their homeroom, they will find that they are not able to speak or get up from their seats. There are no teachers present.

Fifteen minutes past the hour, the doors to the auditorium close and the assembly commences, with the current student body president Maya Arisu stepping up to the podium, obligatorily thanking everybody for coming, and briefly going over the agenda: the student council candidates, sitting in a neat row behind her at the back of the stage, are to first introduce themselves to the student body, after which the candidates will make a case for why they would best serve the student body. As each person comes up to the podium, a projector shines on the white screen behind the stage with an image of the student's profile, displaying their full name, homeroom, blood type, handedness, club membership and leadership roles, current grades, and current merit points. Those in the student council are held to high standards, be it scholastic achievement as exemplified by grades or club participation, or eloquence or bravado if they have nothing else going for them but talk big anyways, like the current candidate in the middle of a passionate speech concerning the atrocity that is Ishimaru's eyebrows, like, do you really want that to be the face of the student body--

The mic cuts off and Maya drops the end of the power cord before striding up to the center of the stage, staring at the candidate to get out of her way or risk a broken foot.

"I'm going to stop wasting your time," she says, voice quiet but at the same time clear and audible in the hush of the room. "The qualities I'm looking for in a member of our council isn't intelligence or diligence or kindness. Who the person is matters the most: what they do and how they think."

She turns around, facing the candidates, looking at each of them in turn. "We will be testing your character. Follow me."

One by one, the student council candidates rise to their feet and file out of the auditorium after Maya, stiff and robotic, almost as if they have no control over their bodies as she leads them out the door. The moment the last candidate leaves the auditorium, the spell binding everybody's limbs and voices breaks, students jumping to their feet to push and shove each other out of the way in their excitement to leave-- not to go home, but to crowd around the windows surrounding the courtyard, or to race each other to the higher floors to claim the windows with the best views:

Out in the courtyard, the student council candidates line up against the side of the school. Facing them, in a half circle in front of the wisteria tree, are several familiar faces, each with a dagger in hand, a stagger to their steps, yellow in their eyes, and wild animalistic abandon in the way they lunge at the student council candidates.

The sun is bright overhead. Blood spills and soaks into the ground. The school stays true and does not turn.

OOC

✽ Happy Execution Day! For those unfamiliar with how murdergame executions work, the initial top-level is reserved for Ishimaru and Madison to fight to the death, while the rest of the post is free for characters to post reactions as well as to play out the aftermath.
✽ As a general guideline, the dropped characters look the same as originally, aside from yellow eyes, and the way they move is haltingly, as if they're resisting the compulsion to murder. It is a compulsion, though! So if both Ishimaru and Madison refuse to fight each other, they'll just get stabbed by somebody else.
✽ The execution will end once there is only one person left, after which the door will allow them back inside the school. Before then, the doors and windows are locked, and trying to escape the courtyard will result in loss of consciousness, with enough warning to turn back. The moment there is one survivor left, the npc students go home, as the position is won by default. Congrats! Hope it was worth it.

Comments

[trialbyliar]

[For his part, Kokichi just...watches. Blank-faced, totally still. It's probably clear that Shuichi's a better person than him, doing his best to help somehow along with Rika while Kokichi does nothing. But what can he really do?

It leaves a sick feeling in his stomach to think he'd toyed with the idea of signing up himself. Despite everything, he didn't anticipate this.]

[dangernoises]

Ehhh, you dont like the show?

[ Hyde states casually looking through the window, taking note how the male seemingly blanked out for a moment. ]

[trialbyliar]

[He seems like he'd be super out of it, stiff and expressionless, yet his eyes cut sideways to Hyde at the direct address. Alert, and far more aware of what's happening here than he'd really like.]

What are you talking about? I looove people fighting to the death for my entertainment.

[He doesn't bother even remotely trying to put on a cheery face or voice for that. Not like he really cares about people believing him most of the time anyway.]

[dangernoises]

Oh yeah?

[ Hyde is leaning along the window his face pressed against it, arms shuffling to the side. Allowing the guitar strap along his shoulder to jostle a bit... The boys bandaged the fuck up actually because hes been in a fight with Rika, the Counselor, chiaki broke his fingers a few weeks ago... The list goes on. ]

Kinda bored of it honestly, the fucks the point of it ? Seem like the lot out there throwing their life on the line for noooo reason. This aint no Grail War so, the fuck the kids out there fighting for? The right to sit on a big chair?

[ he LAUGHS like kekekeke! ]

[trialbyliar]

[That...actually jostles something in his brain a little. One of the dumb anime references Tsumugi made, one Kokichi didn't actually know (because no one's as huge a nerd as her). Maybe he'd think on it more if there wasn't a literal fight to the death happening outside. For now, he just rolls his eyes at the dude being chuuni as fuck now of all times.]

I'm sure they're gonna cry their eyes out once the head you were bored. God forbid, right?

[dangernoises]

AWW?? Cryin' fer little ol' me. That would be so cute, having girls and boys cry all over you what an ideal fantasy.

[ His face looks bored, but hes lively as ever with his words. Look at all the blood outside!! Good for them, having a chill time. ]

Oi, so you think after this were gunna have more murder games? Did ya hear anythin' about this murder game? Cause I aint know shit about this- HAD I KNOWN! I would have signed the fuck up.

[trialbyliar]

[This murder game. As in the one going down outside. Kokichi can't hell but wonder if this freak's even aware of the game going on at a larger scale here. Suddenly, he's very glad he's kept certain details a secret. People like this don't need a motive. Maybe he's just a chuuni talking big, but do they really need to be taking chances?

Kokichi seems almost similarly bored, if unenthusiastic in tone as well. Except it's not quite boredom, just...nothing identifiable. His expression remains totally unreadable.]

What a shame. I toootally wish you were out there right now.

[dangernoises]

[ AW THAT GET SHIM TO BLUSH!! Wtf dont do that, ouma. His cheeks go red and now hes a bit vibrant with energy, ]

Y E A H, see you get me. Sighhh, if I was out there right now it would be a slaughter show. Something actually enjoyable - but I mean whose to say we cant have what they have outside? In here? Right now?

[ Hyde steps closer to Ouma, and gives him a wide smile. ]

[trialbyliar]

[Kokichi's eyes flick back to Hyde, momentarily searching and thoughtful. Fuck. He really doesn't need this shit right now. Is this an actual threat? Are there really people that unstable in here? He does some rapid risk assessment. Worst case scenario...

Ugh.

After a moment, a bright smile suddenly appears on his face.]

I mean, I wouldn't wanna make a mess for the poor janitors to clean up. That's why those guys are outside, right?

[contrarily]

( throws a shoe at his head from across the room )

[commences]

Ouma-kun.

( he calls out to him, looking at the other a bit thoughtful, and moments later he smiles happily as if nothing about this is out of the ordinary. )

Aren't you excited to see his hope displayed in such a way, last time, he was unlucky... so to see him prevent his own death... isn't that something to be admired?

[trialbyliar]

[ WHY DOES HE ONLY GET PESTERED BY THE CRAZIESSSS fuck he does not have it in him to play along with these freaks rn ]

Oh yeah, I'm super jealous.

[commences]

( STOP, komaeda thinks ouma needs to let go. )

No, why would you be jealous of his hope? You're all Ultimates, so together, we'll be able to go towards a brighter future. He'll be able to get out of this... Saihara-kun and Kawaii-san are even sending their motivation his way!

[trialbyliar]

[Oh sure, he might get out of this and just have to murder someone in the process. Kokichi's not sure if Ishimaru's the kind of person that could recover from that.

Kokichi takes a moment to steady himself, closing his eyes and taking a breath. Then he turns a smile Komaeda's way, totally unaffected by the knife fight outside.]

Right? I bet Ishimaru-chan's loving his cute cheerleader squad!

[commences]

( you know komaeda's aware, and he watches as kokichi takes a breath with closed eyes, and that's a normal gesture that he's seen before. he's not going to say anything about, and instead his attention is on the fight now than meeting ouma eye to eye. )

It's pretty lucky, I applied for this too, but as Maya said... she was searching for a certain type of person.

( maybe she wanted a battle that wouldn't end so soon, maybe she wanted to watch someone have to force themselves through this who typically wouldn't. had komaeda been out there, he already has an idea he would have went for it, but him and ishimaru are two different people. )

What if that person can bring this school hope? What if she's looking down on him, hoping that he fails... what will she when he wins? That's why his hope is important, and seeing how much it grows from this will be worth it.

[trialbyliar]

[Kokichi only subtly watches him, glancing sideways at him while keeping an eye on the fight. It's not like he actually enjoys watching this kind of shit...but information is information.

Besides, it'd be pretty cruel to poor Ishimaru to just turn his back on the whole scene. Even Kokichi's not that much of an asshole.]

Aww, too bad. I would've loved to see Komaeda-chan out there!

[commences]

I'll sign your name up next time, I'd love to see your hope too.

( he'll be positive about ouma out there was well, considering his small size, he'd probably survive when everyone knows tall people would die. that's not what komaeda knows, that's what i know. anyway, he stares down at the other, contemplating what he should do next — he could see if he could get under his skin for a reaction! or he could continue to spout his hope nonsense, but komaeda can do that later, and instead he opts for something more normal. )

We could probably ask Arisu-san now! Let's go —

( yep, he's picking him up with his prosthetic arm instead to throw him over his shoulder. c: )

[trialbyliar]

[He's like a cat, he's so goddamn easy to just scoop up. But also like a cat, he's gonna make this painful for you. He grits his teeth, forcing out a cheery tone even as he kicks at Komaeda. He'll go for the dick if he can reach it, he's got no compunctions about ~honor~ in a fight.]

Nah! A Supreme Leader works best moving pieces from the shadows! Jeez, don't you think I'd have signed up myself if that was the right thing to do? You think you know how to be the Ultimate Supreme Leader better than me?

[ kick kick kick ]

listen... after everything's resolved at some point

[unsurely]

[ He loses track of time. He doesn't know for how long he just stands there, even as the rest of the students begin to filter away from beside him and the space starts to clear. Maybe... he doesn't even remember that well when he does start to move again; not exactly. He just does, at some point. ]

...

[ All of it... this entire situation... It's difficult to come to terms with. Even when you arrive from a murder game to begin with, and on some level in your brain, you did expect that this would be no different... it's a little much. As if a level Shuichi didn't even know could go higher just did, and his head is struggling to even make sense of what parts are the most messed up anymore. Maybe what Kokichi said to him on the night they'd run into each other in this place is just the truth -- maybe this is hell.

Like irony playing tricks on him almost, he happens to spot just the person in question around the time that the recollection takes root, stopping him from his aimless wandering with no goal beyond just "away from the entrance and courtyard" right now. He doesn't want to be there. He doesn't want to think about it anymore, or ponder what it means -- what else they'll find themselves forced to do in the future. For a moment, he only pauses and freezes in absent hesitation, with slumped shoulders and an averted gaze. It's not... as if he looks at Kokichi when his steps carry him over towards that side of the hallway, either.

He doesn't even say anything at first -- just crashes beside that single familiar figure he's found right now, back against the wall, and slinks down like that until he's reached the floor. Drawing his knees up once there, he buries his face in his arms atop them, and doesn't move anymore. ]

...Sorry. You don't have to say anything. I just... need a short break.

thanks for the excuse to tl;dr

[trialbyliar]

[Kokichi watches the scene outside a bit longer than everyone else. Despite the blood and all the bodies they'd found, it hadn't quite felt the same as the last killing game until someone was being killed right in front of them once again. It wasn't exactly something Kokichi had missed. And it's almost worse this time – not some performance of an execution, so over the top that it barely feels real. It's just raw and brutal killing, people pushed to their limits.

And people do have their limits. Even he recognizes that. Hell, he probably knows where is the line better than most, despite what many people probably think – he might deliberately choose to trample right over that line sometimes (oftentimes), but he's not ignorant of it. He has his title because he knows of it, because he knows when to stop and when to push, when it's worth crossing that line to do what needs to be done.

He's sort of surprised when Shuichi just quietly sits near him, back to the wall under the windows. Hell if he knows where they stand right now. Somehow, that's an answer that continues to evade him, no matter what angle he comes at it from. It drives him nuts, honestly. Maybe that's part of why he pesters the detective so much – if Shuichi's gonna drive him insane, he can at least return the favor.

Right now, though...Shuichi has his limits. And it doesn't currently benefit anyone to stomp all over them.

Kokichi doesn't acknowledge him at first. But after a moment, he heaves a sigh – just a tinge of his typical dramatics – and turns, dropping to sit beside Shuichi. Shoulders brushing, but not the annoying leeching he's so often prone to.]

[unsurely]

[ That slight bit of contact... it might be Kokichi, but it still helps. It feels like it grounds Shuichi, keeping his mind from just leaving the current state altogether and drifting to more murky worries or theories he can't even prove yet. Things that might only be... his worst fears.

Where are they? What are they really being made to do? Maybe if he doesn't even think about it and simply continues to sit where he is, he'll drift out of consciousness eventually and then never wake up to all of this again.

It's that sort of thoughts. ]

...

[ He wants to curl into a ball -- or maybe he would have already, if not for that single sensation of someone else right beside him. The small point of contact through the double layer of fabric from both their uniforms, which still conveys a meager trace of warmth, or the impression of breathing here and there that isn't his own. It's the only thing that keeps him sane, has him stirring from where he is in some show of powerless struggle in the end, even though he still never lifts his face. ]

Ouma-kun... you saw it... didn't you? All of it... everything...

[ He has no strength to say anything else. ]

[trialbyliar]

[He can only imagine what's going through Shuichi's head. He knows the other boy is the sort of overthink and blame himself for everything and drown himself in anxiety – all that's obvious enough to anyone who pays attention. And he's paid lots of attention to Shuichi.

Normally Shuichi would probably love for him to keep his mouth shut, but maybe it's not ideal in this moment. Kokichi's internally debating whether he should say something just to prevent whatever spiral is happening in the silence, but then Shuichi does it for him and that solved that problem. Kokichi eyes his bowed head, thoughtfully quiet for a moment.]

...Are you hoping I'll say no so you can pretend it was all a dream?

[There's a tiny hint of humor in his tone, but it's dry. A soft huff of something vaguely resembling a laugh, and he drops a hand onto the top of Shuichi's head.]

I could, but it'd be a lie.

[unsurely]

[ There's the barest trace of a flinch -- more as something that would have happened, but doesn't. ]

No... Even if you said you didn't, it wouldn't make it a dream.

[ Shuichi's voice is still somewhat hoarse, a little frayed around the edges, maybe thanks to all the shouting he did earlier. But the answer itself escapes his lips with more ease than he'd thought, and perhaps that same touch he almost recoiled from, felt at the back of his head, is responsible for it. He might have lost his edge right now, but even like this... it seems there's one thing he won't lose. And that's the logic in his thinking.

No matter what he'd like the case to be... ]

I still saw it... and so did Kawai-san and everyone overlooking it from the windows. No matter how you think about it, the evidence supports it being real.

[ That's not what he was asking. ]

I just... wanted to know if you watched it.

[trialbyliar]

[Having a subject to focus on is probably good for Shuichi. Even a morbid subject like this is likely better than whatever his brain would be coming up with on it's own.]

It'd be pretty mean to our poor classmates to just ignore it, right?

[He thinks so, anyway. Maybe it sucks to have everyone watching while you struggle and suffer like that. But everyone turning away so they don't have to see it seems lonelier, somehow. Even to someone like him, who practically gets hives at the thought of anyone seeing him in a vulnerable position.

A beat, and then he uses that established contact to just gently tilt Shuichi's head back so Kokichi can see his face. Just, y'know...checking if he's crying.]

[unsurely]

...Ah!

[ Surprisingly... he isn't. There are no tears on his face, not even streaks that suggest there might have been some before. There's only the startled expression from being moved before he expected it, and the rounded shape of his mouth while he looks like he might have started to say his typical "Ouma-kun!?" in confusion at some point, but then got his bearings right on the brink of doing so.

He scrambles somewhat, lifting his head more properly on his own in an attempt to get it away from the other's hand, though he doesn't... exactly make any effort to brush it off, either. He only half-turns, not really able to make eye contact in the embarrassment of the moment.

Somehow... being caught not crying isn't all that dissimilar from if he had been. ]

Is that why you watched it...? To not be mean?

[ There's a line on Shuichi's cheek, from where it was pressed a little too closely into a fold of his sleeve, but he's none the wiser about it. It does kind of make the bristled question a little funnier though, tragically for him. ]