yogen | (closed) the rat died.

( everything so far has been a rollercoaster of emotions, but if only komaeda could understand the one's that come from others, and not his own characteristic smile. the one that makes it seem like everything that's happening around him is a-okay, that there isn't a problem around him at all — not when he's able to witness the hopes of others. he should be grateful, the situations he's been placed in to see how far certain people will go, and he's been satisfied so far. there are names at the top of his head, but he won't mention them yet, not as he makes his way into the home ec room where a certain girl's name appears instead.

he said it'd be alright.

that was... the lie that stephanie mentioned, the one that hurt her more than she could stand, and komaeda has a feeling it was done in her best interest. it's not hard to see natsume as a liar, especially when he said himself that he molds his actions and personality around others to gain their trust, and to gain things out of them. while he's aware of that, what was he to gain from telling stephanie something like that? one of the reasons he doesn't think of it as negatively as he should, but, he also believes they should have asked directly if natsume was a murderer.

well, komaeda thinks anyone would be happy to confess their crimes.

as his eyes fall upon natsume's back, he's sure the other probably notices him before he can do this, but even if he doesn't... the older boy will walk over as quietly as possible, and with his organic hand, he'll pat the other on the should to grab his attention. )

Sakasaki-kun, it's bad to be by yourself at times like these... ahaha, you know what happened last time I walked up behind someone.

( just because natsume notices him doesn't mean he's going to give him the time of day — at least, he wouldn't if not for komaeda talking right to him, patting his shoulder. he shrugs the pat off, turning halfway; in front of him on the counter are some dried herbs and flowers laid across some cotton fabric.

...no, maybe this is more fortuitous than he initially thought. natsume smiles slightly, turning fully to hide his dried ingredients behind him. not intentionally, but it's sort of the result of being in front of them. )

I'm not afraid of anyone HERE, least of all YOU. ( despite the fact komaeda has killed... but there wouldn't really be a purpose in natsume dying. he thinks that, at least. ) Putting that aside THOUGH... You've actually found me in good spiRITS, Komaeda-san. How "lucky" for YOU.

( a good mood he says, but komaeda double checks by annoyingly wrapping his arms around natsume's waist, and his mechanical hand wraps around his other wrist. his chin rests on the male's shoulder, eyes looking down to the cotton fabric with the various herbs, and the first thing that pops into his mind — )

Ah... is that potpourri?

( he actually likes those, from the looks over it to the smell, but he doubts the other is here to give him a gift. of all places, why would he have an item that's meant to dress the appearance and air of a room within the home ec. since it's not intentionally hidden, maybe this really is his lucky day — also for natsume, it seems this time... komaeda has known better to clean himself, so he smells better than the last time he was this close to him. )

You seem the type to be into... items like that, where did you get it?

( forget natsume in a good mood, let's talk about the herbs. )

( why must you do this, why can't you let him be happy to see you for one (1) second.

natsume tenses under the physical contact, his smile tightening, but he looks over his other shoulder to glance at the herbs... oh, well. )

Some of these are for potpurRI, yes, but I was considering using some for floral teas as WELL. ( potpurri and perfumes should be safe... he's excited to make all kinds of fun little items, sigh ) As for where I got THEM, I simply asked the gardener for permission to take some of the flora from his courtYARD. He gave it on the stipulation that I remove them properLY, and as a member of Gardenia, not to mention someone who has my own herb garden at HOME... Well, that's not a problem for me to DO.

( natsume sakasaki renaissance man )

Though he did say something rather curious to me regarding THEM... ( A SIGH....... TRULY, A SIGH...... ) But I'm sure that's not of any interest to YOU.

( though he sounds like he'd really like to share...... like he'd really like to tell komaeda... if only he were interested... putting his acting abilities and immaturity to good use here, )

You really are a jack of all trades, you're able to take care of plants too... I tend to have bad luck sometimes.

( as we all know, if he can take a life, something good is given in exchange, so the life of flora teeters back and forth on a scale of sins and forgiveness. of course, komaeda is fond of the item, so while he's latched to natsume for a little longer than he should be, he manages to peel himself off afterwards. that's actually interesting, maybe he should deconstruct the potpourri he has into tea, and perhaps natsume can help him with that like he did the "bombs". )

...

( the gardener, komaeda has heard from amami about his human form, and there was a time he noticed his more horrific appearance, but he wasn't scared of that. instead, he was actually excited to see saihara overcome such a turn of events, he almost died then too. )

I'm interested, I haven't played around with the gardener, but from what I've heard and seen, he sounds fun! ( he says that without a care in the world, and he knows more than he lets on, but he doesn't seem against whatever the other has planned. )

( ...♪ )

Though he didn't say WHY... He said we shouldn't eat anything that was grown in the courtYARD. A little disappoinTING, since Yashiro-chan and I were hoping we might be able to grow bigger vegetables outside in IT, but an important warning anyWAY. ( he portions the dried flowers neatly, setting aside what he's using for non-ingestable purposes. ) HowevER... I'd like to know why we shouldn't consume anything from THERE.

( a little pause, thoughtful as to how he should approach this. )

It isn't like any of these flowers and such are normally poisonous to huMANS... In FACT, they're all rather popular for different types of herbal medicines and teas and SUCH, so I assume it's something in the soil conTENT... But they grow healthily eNOUGH, so it's a little hard to determine what exactly's going on without running a few TESTS...

To put it plainLY, ( natsume says slowly, turning his eyes up at komaeda ) would you like to help me with a little experiMENT, Komaeda-san?

Hm...

( eating information, processing it in his head, and he looks over everything natsume is showing him... none of it really looks harmless, but isn't that his luck. it's not unusual to him that the other would say something like this, and he thinks back to the wishes where the other wanted him to listen his commands (probably mostly to stay out of trouble, AND to be an experiment).

because of everything that's happened, komaeda looks up from the mixture of petals and herbs to glance at natsume, he still remains the same despite how everyone has reacted. )

This might be an exciting murder! Hey, Sakasaki-kun... what number tally would I be... ( without asking, he reaches out to grab natsume's left arm, and lightly will he brush his thumb along the area he recalls normal people's tallies should be. he's not going to look, but he'll remove his hand once he feels like the other is going to give him some dirty look. aside from that, he's completely normal as he chuckles right after. )

How would I be using it...? Like lotion? I've always wanted darker skin, but I don't think any cream will do justice for my skin...

( he sighs, looking into the palm of his hand... even if it's a little, he'll keep this same pale appearance, and then it hits him. oh yeah, it's by ingesting... should he just eat them plain? he doesn't ask rather, he just waits for natsume to correct him since he thinks the other likes to be a) right and b) never told no. )

( he'll be tally number (checks notes) eight, because natsume got a tally from killing his demon child. he can tell that much by the raised skin, which hurts slightly at touch and natsume scowls at him until he's moved his hand. thank you. )

If you survive my triALS, I'll make you some suntan oil or someTHING. ( tanmaeda... ) I'll prepare some TEA, you'll drink IT, and I'll record what happens as the days go ON. Of COURSE, unless it's particularly toXIC, nothing's going to happen from drinking one cup of TEA... so I'll make you it every day until you start feeling the efFECTS.

After THAT, I'll monitor you closely and record my finDINGS.

( and if komaeda dies then them's the breaks, no hard feelings!!!! )

( now his cute little scowl, komaeda will smile about that. )

How many do you have up your sleeve... well, I don't see the harm... ( the harm, as if he cares while taking a few steps back to find somewhere to sit. once he does, he'll cross his legs like a polite adult, and sit his hands in his lap as he waits. )

Come and visit me every morning, and we can learn all about the gardener's forbidden fruits... herbs... — ( about him, though... ) Do you speak with it often...?

Every so ofTEN. The first time was on the full MOON, but last month I got in contact with him through... other MEANS.

( ???????? he is not telling komaeda you can light some candles and talk to spirits. )

So not as often as I'd like TO, but... well, it's FINE. Our conversations so far have borne FRUIT, so I don't mind it too MUCH.

( haha, bearing fruit. anyway he'll get a tea cup for komaeda and put a teaspoon of the dried flowers in... boil some water for the tea and all that jazz too, while he's at it... )

You don't seem the patient TYPE, so I assume you haven't spoken to Kazuki-san YET.

Did you sell your soul? Or kill somebody else as an offering? Hm... other means...

( stop, how hard is it to figure out that natsume used the oujia board? well, he's not thinking about it, but he's plucking every thought that he can that as up properly with being able to see a spirit. ) Maybe a trip to the reverse world...?

( NOT BORNE FRUIT SHUT UP, i was just thinking that. )

Either way, I haven't... I've heard that he's the reason we can't go outside, so I'm guessing you tried to find a way for the group... ( ... ) But, it's probably wrong of me to place a narration on someone as mysterious as you, Sakasaki-kun.

( natsume considers, briefly, the ramifications of pouring the boiling water on komaeda instead. he watches it as it remains still, waiting for the bubbles to start coming up, and remembers he essentially promised stephanie he'd behave himself, and sadly discards the thought. )

No, I just wanted to talk to him about his PLANTS. Nothing so grand as any of THAT... It was for the gardening club as well as my own curiosiTY. While I'm certainly not opposed to stealing people's FOODS, stealing from spirits is another thing entireLY, so I wanted permission before I started taking things from the courtYARD. ( he's a good... boy... ) I learned he lives in the woods THOUGH, the ones that surround this school like some sort of barriER. EvidentLY, he hasn't seen anyone step foot in them for a long time outside of himSELF.

Did you ask if the woods were off limits?

( it instantly comes to him, something he remembers from... a small trip he took into the void realm. it's nothing spectacular, but a small list that's come together for him to use to his benefit... he guesses. he takes a step away from natsume as he goes to find somewhere to sit, and crosses his legs after while the other works on his brew. )

To students, that is...

( but ah, he learns that natsume's really a good boy... someone who doesn't steal from spirits, but he guesses that's what makes them different. komaeda would do whatever, not caring for the consequences, at least natsume understands something wrong may happen. )

( natsume is unfortunately really a good boy. )

Not in those exact WORDS, but he said it'd be a while before we'd be granted permission to enter THEM, so I assume they're NOT.

They're off-limits until we're allowed...

( even he doesn't understand his little note, but he recalls the woods being on there, so there is that. )

If you're left around him, he'll try to devour you... I've seen the attempt for myself, but Saihara-kun's hope gleamed beautifully, it was such a fantastic display that I was honored to witness it. ( but he'll continue, ) Aside from that, everything after the woods being off-limits has... faded out.

Is that SO? He merely warned me from being outside at night because that's then the gnats are most acTIVE.

( ...how nice that the gardener did not try to eat him when he called for him. shame about shuichi but komaeda, you weren't gonna save him? you were just gonna let him get eaten? bro? )

Faded out on WHAT, exactLY?

...You're kidding, right?

( his voice falls flat, and then soon after, it returns to that more low, soft, breathy voice of his as he laughs after.

komaeda stabbed himself and was inside the school as he watched shuichi outside the school get chased. sighs, it was simply wonderful. )

The wall.

( straightforward as he remembers, information that he has to write down because: ) Half was burnt, so legibility was tedious to discern.

( ugh, komaeda's so.... )

And naturally you're picking and choosing who gets to KNOW... ( instead of just Telling People to help widen the pool of possible perspectives. natsume's not really in the position to judge him though: he also has a similar habit.

still. patiently, like he's speaking with a five year old instead of someone technically like five years his senior: ) And what did the part that was legible SAY? Was it only about the WOODS, or was there MORE?

We have those family meetings, but... why would anyone listen to me?

( everyone already shows how they feel, and if they had it their way, they'd rather he not talk. it's true, he does pick and choose between the people he wants to talk to. then again, it's because he'd rather not trouble anyone, do it himself, and figure out if it was good enough to even let be out in the first place. )

The woods, the library, the halls... different locations between here and the outside world.

( he pauses, looking around as he's searching for something. ) I need a pencil and paper, I have my theories, but I couldn't recite it aloud.

( well—

fine, komaeda IS always sent straight to the crazy corner, so fine. who would listen to him? but, hmm... the art room isn't too far, so he'll leave without saying anything and return with a pencil and someone's forgotten sketchbook. they left it over break so it can't be that important. flipping to a new page, he gives both items to komaeda. )

There you GO.

( ...this is the only day he's indulging komaeda like this, because komaeda's indulging him. )

( he takes both the notebook and the pencil in hand, his lips purse into a straight line as he rummages through his brain to try and remember how it went. as he writes, there's a few areas where he scribbles a rectangles, and then rubs them with his finger as if he's hiding something. it doesn't take too long for him to finish, and the end result comes out like this:

the woods are off limits to all students. there will be no w▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ed for ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓.
when the▓▓▓▓stle blows, line up quickly. those who tarry shal▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓hind.
running in the halls is prohibited.
students may not gather in groups of five or greater.
silence is enforced in the library unti▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓mplete. do not let it hear you.

he flips the notebook upside down, turning it towards natsume so that he can read it. )

I visited the void once... it was behind the school rules, but the paper was burnt... and that was all I had managed to parse.

( ...huh. natsume takes it back from him, reading the lines over and over. he can at least sort of figure out one of them, but that's not the one he's paying any attention to. "the woods are off limits to all students"...

well, there's another one he's paying attention to, too— )

...Forget the WOODS. Interesting that they're off-liMITS, though I can't fathom WHY... ( he taps the fourth one, smudging the granite a little. ) I like watching peoPLE, and I've noticed something—the students only ever travel in small GROUPS, when they're not with a teaCHER. They're never aLONE, and they're never in a group larger than FIVE.

( ........ )

But plenty of people run in the HALLS. ( he glances up, but... hmmm, wait. is that just them? he guesses he's never seen hiro or maya run, not that he can imagine either of them doing that, actually. ) They don't get penaLIZED.

( he's kind of stuck on this. unless— )

The rules will change depending on who's in poWER. ( softly said, and he checks the water—it's boiling because i say it is now, he'll fix up a cup of Courtyard Flower Tea for komaeda to start his ~~week-long poisoning~~ experiment with. ) The little wolf told me something similar to THAT. Those rules you saw were probably old ONES, or... maybe they're this year's—the ones she was actually talking aBOUT, rather than the ones that are actually on disPLAY.

It is interesting... we're unable to get to the woods, but something doesn't want us in, or they're keeping us out. Out of all of them, I managed to read that "when the whistle blows, line up quickly. those who tarry shall be left behind."

( makes one think what whistle? why would they get left behind? there was the moment where saihara was left outside, and was unable to get in unless komaeda stabbed himself, but... he wonders if the other heard a whistle at that time. the only whistling sound he's ever heard was the day he gained his first tally, the sound of a storm outside even though the trees hardly moved, there was barely any wind. )

Little wolf... ah, that's Arisu-san, right? I actually spoke to her about them... she was... curious about the meaning behind them, she actually rushed to the rules in this world.

( he's trying to recount the events, it was awhile ago. ) We took down the board they were posted on, and there was nothing behind... in the process of putting it back, she managed to cut her finger, and I was sent into the void world as soon as she bled. The only thing I could make note of is that her shadow went to the fourth floor, and I was unable to follow... coming back, she stood still in front of the rules board, frustrated with me.

( not fair, komaeda, seeing sides of maya he hasn't... )

...The fourth FLOOR... We're not allowed to go there YET. ( hmmm. ) But she invited me up to the rooftop at the beginning of the year when I wanted to talk to her in priVATE. It could be her shadow went that WAY, though why I can't SAY.

( maybe she just likes the roof, or maybe there's something about the fourth floor... ugh, he wishes they could get in right now. )

Was she mad that you spaced OUT? I assume that's what happens to us when we're in the VOID, considering we don't actually move anywhere physicalLY.

( ... wait until natsume hear he and her shared a bento, looks up. )

We don't understand the shadows properly, are they... afterthoughts of what they truly want to do? Do they have a mind of their own... once, I've heard someone call them ghosts that follow the paths before they died.

( that however sounds... actually useful, to speak with someone up at the rooftop, and he taps his chin in thought wondering if there's something special there. his hands settle against the surface of the table, looking towards natsume as he tries to figure out their little delimma. ) I asked was there anything different about me at the moment and she seemed confused, I admitted that I saw an uglier version of this world, and that her shadow went to a different floor...

( he pauses, thinking back, it's hard when you have dementia on the brain. )

She "thinks" I have the wrong eyes open, and didn't want to keep up her end of the deal to accompany me there.

8/2 — crystallomancy

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