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May mini-mini-event
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.
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.
✽ 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.
no subject
Fine. You don't have to help someone like me, but - if you insist, then let's just go ahead and do it. Show me your tunes!
[He wonders if he'll end up feeling even worse if the music does nothing for him and he has to break that to her... but that's a bridge they'll cross if they get to it. For now, it's off to the music room! At least he wasn't pacing far from it, so they'll be there in no time.]
no subject
[ At least, that's how Kaede sees it! He was in the middle of all of it, though, so Kaede is sure he sees everything differently. To himself, he's probably a murder. To Kaede, however... he did what he could to survive. It wasn't great, but what choice did he have?
So, she leads them to the room, making sure to close the door once they're inside. Then, she grabs a chair and sets it next to the piano. ]
Okay, sit down there!
[ Once he's settled in, she starts to play a song. It's that same song they talked about at the slumber party, and she hopes it evokes the imagery that she described... but if it doesn't, that's okay too. ]
no subject
[And so, he follows her to the music room, and he takes his seat with a stiff posture. A frown seems etched into his face, and he silently sits there for a moment as he lists to the music.]
...It... it is a lovely song. [He can feel some of his tension fading.] It reminds me of... past times. Simpler times.
[Times before this afternoon. He thinks on it some more.]
...Hm... Hmmm... I can imagine a gentle, moonlit walk past a cafe... It has an espresso machine... [That's the imagery, right?]
no subject
It might not be the exact imagery she's going for, but she'll take it. ]
Yup! They've got an espresso machine and everything!
[ She turns a little on the bench so she can face him better. ]
They also have lots of tea options too.
no subject
They do? Ah... that is nice. Perhaps I should stop inside then. I am sure that I would be content with some simple green tea...
no subject
[ Are they getting a little too deep into the imagery? Yeah, probably. But thinking about going to a cafe on a quiet street... it's nice.
It's better than here, and the place she was before too. ]
I'll join you too! I would order an iced coffee, and you can tell me all about Chopin's life.
no subject
[A whole scene is practically being built! But he frowns as they go on.]
Chopin's life... Yes, that's right. I wanted to study more about his life, b-but I have yet to truly apply myself there. I am unprepared... I- I am unprepared!
no subject
Then... We'll talk about what we want to learn about him!
[ Yeah, sure, that'll work! ]
Or we can talk about one of your favorite subjects. What do you like most?
no subject
Very well. I would like to learn what is known about the inspirations for his music. How history shaped him!
[He pauses thoughtfully.]
It is quite hard to pick a favorite. That is even worse thab picking a favorite child! But if I had to select one... then, with respect to all other subjects, I may choose history. It feels crucial to understand the events that have formed our world and society, and its impact on all of our lives as we move forward!
no subject
That's not a bad reason! History is important to know for pretty much any subject.
[ There's always a little history even behind science lessons. ]
I'm not good at it, though. I'm bad at memorizing dates.
[ Then again, she's only good at piano. ]
no subject
[It's nice to think of how impressive history is.]
You just have to work harder. I am sure that you can remember dates! Just apply yourself in your studies and try to visualize a timeline. That may be helpful.
no subject
Visualizing a timeline isn't a bad idea... Maybe I'll start drawing them! Can you help me out with that?
[ Truthfully, Kaede isn't that into the idea of studying and doing things like that, but she wants him to think of the future and have something to look forward to. He'll need that if he ever wants to try to push past all of this. ]
no subject
I... I have nothing against lending you my aid.
[But the election's events still gnaw at him, with Kaede's offer on top of that. He looks down at the floor.]
But are you sure that you want me to help? ...My... hands are stained...
no subject
I do want your help. We’re friends, aren’t we?
[ She gives him a small smile, but then she takes a breath, her expression more serious. ]
You did what you had to do, Ishimaru-kun. I know you feel guilty, and that guilt will probably never totally go away. But… I don’t think any of us see you as stained or a cruel killer. It’s not like you put yourself in that situation, or came up with some big plan to kill someone.
no subject
Friends? Yes. Yes, we are... friends... [He almost questioned it, but he knows that if Kaede is stating it like that, then she has accepted it. He wanted to have more friends, but did not expect it to come with this level of incredible support.]
Your words... your logic.... Th-they ring true. I would understand if you wanted to reject my existence, but... you do not. [He whimpers and bows his head.]
Th-thank you, Akamatsu-kun!! For your graceful words, a-and such a gesture of friendship!
no subject
You don't need to thank me. I'm just happy I can be here for you.
[ It's nice, supporting other people, and she's glad that she gets to do that here too. It just sucks that it's in these kind of circumstances. ]
When it starts to feel like too much, you can come find me and I can play you a song that will help calm you down. We could also take a walk around the school and talk, or you could teach me some history. That's what friends do, so don't even think twice about looking for me.
no subject
I... I see. I appreciate those offers of yours beyond words, and I shall take them to heart. If- if it is your will to continue this friendship in such a splendid manner, than I shall comply... Akamatsu-kun!
[He feels truly fortunate to have made a friend as great as her.]
no subject
[ She smiles. ]
I'm here to give you strength whenever you need it. I'm not good at much else, but at least I can do that!
[ It's fulfilling, too, helping the people around her. Managing all of this pain is easier with friends, after all. ]
no subject
...I am quite grateful, for your friendship. A-and for the strength you have helped me to feel. This has been... quite nice.
[A hint of a smile.]
You are selling yourself short. You seem to have many skills. I am happy to depend on you... and I hope to make it up to you.
[Now that he's part of the student council, he can't let her and everyone else down. He can't.]
no subject
I don't know about having a lot of skills...
[ Because really, she doesn't. ]
I do know that you'll be able to make it up to me for sure. But don't strain yourself too hard, okay? Just seeing you happy would be more than enough for me.
no subject
[He nods slowly.]
That is quite nice of you. I certainly hope that such a time comes. [The state of being 'happy' currently feels further away than it ever has.] Until then, I will just have to keep on doing my best to help you out.
no subject
Geez… I don’t know about all that, but I won’t argue with you.
[ More importantly, though— ]
I’m sure you’ll be able to help me out a bunch. You have a lot of enthusiasm, so I know you’ll put your all into it.
[ Enthusiasm, intensity… he has them both. ]
no subject
[More of a smile starts to come to his face.]
Thank you. I appreciate your faith in me... and I shall try my best not to let you down!
no subject
[ She grins. ]
It's really nice to see you smile, so you need to keep doing that whenever you feel like you can.
[ She won't tell him to do it all the time, because she knows that's impossible. But if he can smile from time to time? That's great. ]
no subject
I- I shall be sure to do so whenever I feel able. [He manages a weak smile.] Such as... when spending time with a good friend.
[It's been a long roller coaster of a day, but for now, he can feel somewhat relatively relaxed.]
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