Entry tags:

04/04, 23:56

M.Arisu

hey... anybody who's awake to see this. hope you're not having too much trouble sleeping.
get rest when you can. work together when you can.
all we can do is keep trying, but i'm hopeful for this year.
feels weird to say... but it's all going to be gone soon, so...
anyways.
see you at school tomorrow.

Any replies on the forum go unresponded, and at the stroke of midnight, the past year's worth of messages are completely gone from the PDA forum, including any sent over spring break. Hope you have a good memory if you were in the middle of a conversation! Though you should really be in ...whatever you've managed to make your bed... because tomorrow is a big day.

04/05, 06:00

The silence continues until six in the morning with the toll of the clock tower bells, and anybody near the locker area will hear two women in mid-conversation as they phase through the front doors, heels clicking on the ground: "-—didn't even have the decency to finish the job! And now I have to— oh, stop crying, for goodness' sake! I swear—" It's a one sided conversation, mostly, and one that stops short the moment the women spot the students lingering around. While the younger woman, recognizable as the assistant principal, hurriedly scrubs at her face with her sleeves, the unfamiliar older woman with the oddly dissonant voice scowls intensely. "I don't need this on the first day of school! Students trespassing over break! I can't believe it! I don't have time for this—" she huffs, shaking her head and stomping down the hall towards the faculty office. "Miss Nene, I expected better of you! And you! Miss Ritsuka— the two of you shall report to the faculty office after the entrance ceremony. I expect a full report of everybody involved. Now behave yourselves and go to the auditorium."

Goodbye...

The assistant principal is left behind and looks confused and distraught. She sniffles and ducks her head a little, draws a shaking breath and stands a little taller. "I'm so sorry. I'll hear you all out after- after this is done. Alright?" She too heads towards the faculty office, trying her best to smile at those she passes by. While they may be followed, they seem to phase through the faculty office doors which remain closed and locked, and cannot be interacted with until after the ceremony.

Until then, other students start to filter through the front door, seeking out friends and chatting about their breaks, remembering about homework and asking if anybody actually did it so they can copy off them before classes start, laughing at any mention of being locked inside the school all break because what?? that's silly. A handful of students wear yellow armbands on the left sleeve of their uniform, marking them as members of the student council, and these student council members go around finally removing the gorinto from the window sills, tossing the rocks into a bag without any apparent ill effects, and collecting the snacks in a separate bag— though they'll offer the food to anybody they pass who looks hungry enough. Which is a lot of you. One or two might give a short lecture about the importance of eating breakfast to start the day off right. Other student council members busy themselves in the locker area, posting the new homeroom assignments and updating the school calendar to reflect exam dates and breaks for the coming year, or help setting chairs out in neat rows in the auditorium in preparation for the entrance ceremony.

04/05, 08:00

The opening ceremony starts at 8, with students and staff moving to the auditorium to sit with their homeroom class, calling characters out by name and dragging them over to their seat— physically if need be, and they're much stronger than they look. Unlike the graduation ceremony, characters are not forced to come to the entrance ceremony, but the moment they take a seat, they find that they can neither speak nor get up again until the ceremony is over.

The assistant principal stands behind the podium on stage, looking rather nervous as she glances down at the watch on her wrist for it to be time, and clears her throat before addressing the room. "Yogen High welcomes you, all our new students," she pauses, beaming at the row of first year classes before her gaze sweeps over the rest of the student body, "our transfer students, our returning students, our... repeat students..." Looking at you, Norton, Gawain, Abel... "I, um. You may have noticed that I am standing in for our principal today, who is currently... unavailable... and didn't exactly leave any notes to go off of..." She wilts a little, but trucks on nonetheless and continues the address, promising that the teachers will pass along any important announcements, expressing her belief in the potential of young minds, and wishing everybody a fulfilling school year. The ceremony concludes in a little under an hour, and the spell binding the students to their seats is broken, allowing everybody to rise and leave.

School lets out for the rest of the day with classes starting the next morning, and while many students take the opportunity to leave, some linger around the school. Gossip is flying already with news of the transfer students caught breaking into the school over break and what punishments they might get, rumors of what happened to the principal ranging from a family emergency to hospitalization to death, complaints about the water pipes not getting fixed over break, and general excitement over upcoming events listed on the bulletin board by the lockers, in particular new club advertisements, fortune telling ads, and a Charity Auction to be hosted the Monday after Golden Week next month.

April

School is school... The first thing teachers ask at homeroom Tuesday morning is for students to hand in their spring break homework. Didn't do it? You're on their shit list now. Characters are not forced to attend class, but patrolling faculty and student council members will heckle any truant students into going and can be a pain to deal with. Classes aren't taught terribly, though. The second year math teacher has a knack for easily digestible explanations, even if she writes and erases the board a bit too quickly to copy. The third year literature teacher combines weekly analytical essays with film studies, and is showing Child's Play, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Silence of the Lambs, and Where the Red Fern Grows this month. The first year biology teacher brings eyeballs and frogs and rats for dissection during anatomy lessons, and if you have a special request for a specific eye color, give him a day or two and he can deliver. 2-A's homeroom teacher can be seen stealing chalk from each of the second year classroom she rotates through and is offering extra credit to any students who sneak her chalk without asking questions.

New students will quickly learn that merit points are awarded for a full day's attendance, turning in homework, participating in class and clubs, scoring 80% or higher on quizzes and exams, etc. Less predictably, the PDA may sometimes ping for a single merit point when hanging out with a friend or arguing with a classmate, with stronger emotions (positive or negative) when interacting with somebody else more likely to trigger a point, and if students are abusing this system, it's kept out of the faculty's eyes. As the month goes on, sometimes a student comes to class with a cut eyelid, or a busted lip, or bandages wrapped thick around a wrist, but they always deny anything more than clumsiness or an accident or having pets who very aggressively show their love. Sometimes it's harder to hide, when a bloody nose drips onto the ground or bleeding knuckles brush against the wall, and those near enough to see blood touch the building will find that everything sort of... shifts... Just for a second. The feeling of vertigo that stops almost as soon as it begins, the world tilting without slotting back into alignment. You feel a bit nauseous. Just a little.

You go to the bathroom to splash water on your face and the pink looks a little darker, a little more solid. On the fourth floor, the water has stopped running in the bathroom sinks altogether, and students are told to go downstairs to do their business so that they may wash up after. With more students milling around the bathrooms, it's much easier to notice that people's reflections in the mirrors are just a bit off, lagging that split second long enough to be impossible to ignore once aware.

Every day you have homework. A new essay for something or other is assigned each week. Nobody wants to do group projects with a slacker who can't promise to meet up after school to get it done. Like clockwork, the school empties out at 6 PM each school day, leaving those behind to their own devices. There is no school on Sundays. Golden Week marks the end of the month, and guess who's going to be stuck at school for an entire week with only vending machine junk food to live off of if they aren't able to make progress concerning their living situation? Yeah.

Charity Auction

At least students have the charity auction to look forward to and work towards. Information about the auction set on May 10 can be found on the bulletin board, and appears to be put together by the student council as an annual event and an incentive for students to start the year off strong in earning merit points. Both students and staff are encouraged to donate to the auction, with the items collected and put on display in the auditorium behind locked glass cases. On May 10, students will be able to bid on items using their merit points, those who donate will receive 10% of the winning bid towards their item, and the school will match donations 100 to 1 point with proceeds going towards the "Save A Brain Foundation."

Throughout the month, glass cases lining the walls of the auditorium start to fill up with donations. The most popular donations seem to be physical items: possessions such as jewelry or gaming consoles, or artistic creations such as hand sewn clothing or paintings. There are placeholders for things that can't be put on display all month, such as placards with a picture or description of homemade food that won't be prepared until the auction date, or the promise of fishing lessons with the guidance counselor or a dinner date with the school principal (pending availability). At the back of the room stands the largest case, with the skinny black cat often found lying on top of it as if guarding it, although it will run away when approached.

Inside the case is a body.

OOC

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✽ The plot will only move forward as things are discussed and acted upon, and clues distributed during app acceptances are meant to be shared and connected, so don't be afraid to ask questions and dig into things! I am here to enable.

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[ Iria just manages a smile. "Lucky to have her" is an all too familiar phrase that only makes her stomach churn now. ]

He loves food, so I can definitely say it's a way to get closer to him. I'm the middle child, actually... my brother is younger and I have an older sister. Though, it feels like I'm both of their older sister at this rate.

[ Sounds like her older sister is a Handful. ]

Ahhh, I'm beginning to get the picture, now...

[ he nods, Knowingly. yes, yes, Abel Knows what this sounds like. poor Iria; to be the level-headed and responsible one... not that he has any experience with that bit? still, he can sympathize. ]

So you double as 'big sister' and 'sometimes mother hen?' It sounds like you're busy at home, aren't you?

[ To that, Iria laughs a little softly with a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. ]

I always strived to be independent, but always being their support was something I never minded. In fact, I liked it that way.

[ hmm... the juxtaposition between the story her eyes tell and what leaves her lips doesn't escape his notice. it isn't the first time he's seen some measure of reservation in her smile, either...

... ]

Mm, really... I suppose it must be nice to be relied on like that. But, um... doesn't it get a bit tiring?

I enjoy helping others.

[ Whether as a self-satisfaction need or purely for the sake of others, is something Abel can eventually decide. ]

People say it's a waste of my talents for something like that, but I'd like to be someone who makes a difference in a good way.

[ ...

he cants his head slightly at that, and the quiet question in blue eyes as he watches her across the counter deepens. ]

But.. what about you? Do you think it's a waste...?

[ Abel wants to say any talents used to the betterment of others can't be wasted - he definitely believes that. but, he wants to hear if Iria is of a like mind. ]

Of course not.

[ The answer comes very easily with conviction. ]

Besides, my talents are my choice of how I use them. I love helping people, so they're definitely not a waste.

[ her answer has a pleased smile tugging at his lips as he takes his next bite. good... he's rather glad she answered with as much surety as she did. ]

Then I couldn't agree more, to be quite honest...! Especially as cooking is one of your talents, and might I say... one I'm fond of already? I'll encourage you as much as necessary, Miss Iria, if you keep it up...

Ah, well...

[ Iria laughs a little again, but it sounds like it's more from her heart this time. ]

Depending on the leftover ingredients, I'll try to make a meal every day after school. I have both home economics and cooking club to attend, so I will be here more often than the others, I assume. Please come by when you can.

[ he's made short work of his plate, and good as licking the spoon clean now - exhaling contentedly. ]

So you're going to make this a daily thing, hm...? Now, I'm pretty terrible about the actual cooking part, but maybe I could give you a hand? I'm a very reliable go-getter for ingredients and a passable dishwasher to boot, if you wanted some help...

[ one must earn their keep, you know...?! ]

[ The thing about Iria is that when help is offered, she doesn't reject it right away. She could always use some help, and there's a particular task that she definitely would like help with. ]

Washing the dishes would be a really big help. I would really appreciate that.

Then consider it done~! I'll pop in here after the last class wraps up and give you a hand. Maybe bring some chocolate milk, while I'm at it...?

[ you know. every now and then. ]

You can always send me a message if you need me to play courier for anything else while I'm at it. There's... well. A lot of children who could use a good meal, so... I'm at your service!

[ making a good faith effort to feed them? that's as good a start as any toward keeping everyone in good spirits - as much as possible, anyway. ]

Thank you, and... ah. I don't think there is a way to send a private message on these just yet, but if you let me know where to usually find you, I can go there.

[ She also thinks it's a good start. People get cranky when they're hungry and can't do things properly. It would surely help the efficiency and energy of everyone else, so as long as Iria can help make that happen, she would be satisfied. ]

Ah? No personal messaging... mm, well, we'll just make due somehow! You can leave me a note in 3-C if you need anything; that's probably the easiest way to make sure I see it.

[ Abel likes to Roam... he can't sit still, it's a Thing. but she can put that to good use and send him wherever she needs him to go for various errands; it's a win win! ]

Well! Then, considering you fed me... I think it's only fair I get started on cleaning up, hm? Are you finished with cooking for now, Miss Iria? [ rising to his feet and dragging his plate along with him, he's scouting out for anything else that might need washing. might as well be productive, right... ]

Ah, yes... I'm finished. It's just a matter of feeding those who won't mind eating.

[ Since she can understand the suspicion of someone else giving them food. Iria would hate for it to go to waste though... ]

If there happens to be any leftovers, people can choose to store it somewhere for a late meal or an early breakfast.

[ That reminds her--she gets out a bottle of water. It's extremely clear, like how you would normally expect water to be, unlike the very light tint of pink that's everywhere else--even the water bottles inside the vending machine. ]

Please keep this with you and use it as you see fit.

[ Maybe Abel can turn it into holy water and spray it on heathens if he gets his powers back. ]

[ oh... Abel takes the bottle of water, examining it curiously. no subtle pink tint that a certain priest may or may not know is tainted with blood? interesting, very interesting! ]

Mm...? Oh, where did you manage to find this? I didn't realize there was bottled water anywhere! --Thank you, by the way.

[ Iria nods. ]

There's bottled water in the vending machine, but they're the same as water from the drinking fountain, so there's really no point in buying them unless you need the bottle itself.

[ If Abel remembers, Iria poured cucumber juice and fruit juice from a blender into two separate respective bottles--they're the same water bottle as the one he's holding now, with the same brand label: Olfen Springs. ]

Mm, I had noticed that bit. That the water is the same...? From the vending machines, I mean.

[ which is more than vaguely unnerving, to be honest, considering... um, yes. it seems intentional that they’re forced to utilize it for better or worse. ]

Did one of the students bring this to you...?

No. I found it in the back of the auditorium.

[ Though if Abel goes to look in that place later, he won't find anything in particular. ]

I don't think the students would bring such a thing to me.

[ hm, he'll go poking his nose around to no avail... ALAS... ]

Oh! Actually, some of them are very friendly and don't mind handing over little things from home if you ask nicely... [ is he speaking from experience? mooching... ] I'm not sure how much that kindness can be abused in the long-term, though. I really hope we aren't stuck here that long, you know...?

[ ...how long ARE they going to be stuck here?? ugh. ]

... I hope the same, but I feel that we might be in for the long haul.

[ Merit points really give off that feeling of "y'all are gonna be stuck here for a long time, so get used to it". Iria has always been for adapting to her surroundings, but it's so sudden with critical survival skills that she's suddenly forced to hone. ]

I'm sorry, but I don't think I ever got your name.

[ She gave hers upon meeting, but she just realized she has no idea what she should even call Abel by. ]

Ah? [ ...wait. --wait, has he really forgotten to-- he's flustering and giving a start, before jutting his hand out with a sheepish laugh. wh-whoops!!! haha, his name, right, that would be helpful huh ]

--Where are my manners...?! Ah, scatter-brained... sorry, sorry-- it's Abel! Father Abel Nightroad, Miss Iria, it's a pleasure~! You know, even if, um. The circumstances could stand to be better, hm...?

Likewise, Father Nightroad.

[ She shakes his hand, assuming that's why he extended it in the first place. Despite the supposed blunder, Iria doesn't seem bothered. ]

With that title, I assume you're a priest, no?

Please, just Abel is more than enough. Casual~! We're friends, right?

[ a most gentle handshake is exchanged! ]

Um- yes, that's right! I'm a touring priest, back at home. From the Vatican?

[ not everyone seems familiar with it - so, he's just testing the waters. ]

[ Ah, yes. The Vatican. The country, yet not a country. That makes sense, but for Iria, that means Abel is a rather high ranked priest in the church. But she hasn't heard of a touring priest before... hm... She takes her hand back after the gentle handshake. ]

It's the first time I've met a priest that was so...

[ Iria isn't sure how to pin Abel. But one thing is for sure as a priest-- ]

... unique.

04/04, 23:56

04/05, 06:00

04/05, 08:00

April

Charity Auction

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I'm sorry I didn't get a notif for this