Entry tags:

Please let August be better than July I'm begging

✽ Due to 10+ classes raising their ranks last month, ALL characters have access to the courtyard via the door in the locker area and the windows facing the courtyard.
✽ Characters with 1-10 tallies are not able to get any further past the end of the courtyard before they fall unconscious; characters with 10-20 can get halfway to the pool building before the same happens to them; characters with 20+ tallies can reach the pool building but unfortunately, the door is on the other side. There are no windows on the walls, but from the clocktower, characters can see that it has a glass ceiling, though they are unable to see inside.
✽ Outside, there is no breeze, and it occasionally rains ash.
✽ Characters going up to the 4th floor will feel that the door is warm to the touch, and will occasionally open (see: missions)
✽ The student store opens, with the door propped open with a doorstopper. The npc running the store ~~is currently not interested in conversation, but may be available for threading in the future~~ and is available for threading in the toplevel below. Please see the updated bonus activity page for more information.
✽ Posted on the bulletin board and also handed to each club president before break is the notice that proof of club activity is due at the end of break. Please submit these proofs in the toplevel below.
✽ There is another ad on the bulletin board advertising an exchange student program for the month of October. Applications will be taken until the end of August, and there is a 300 merit point fee. Sister cities include Death City, Devildom, Ishigami Village, Lanling, LazyTown, and Maiami City.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Lily had a little bit of food in her bowl so I mixed the treats with the kibble and she ate just the treats and left everything else and went to sleep on my pillow

With a little grin behind the mask, npc-kun leaves the mirror and tap tap taps over to where they last saw Komaeda's back just before the lights went out and jumps on his back like they're hoping to surprise him, arms over his shoulder and laughing— less evil and maniacal, and more little kid having a good time. ]

( she wanted two things, and it was (2) treats. before i fell asleep, i gave my dogs two treats and one of them i had to play red light, green light to give it to her.

his hands press against the wall of the bathroom, caught off guard from the other jumping onto his back. )

W- What are you doing?

( stumbles over his words, and he stumbles back in his attempt to keep the other from falling off. he quickly slips his arms under their legs, securing them properly as he spins on the balls of his heels so that they face the other way. )

You got me. ( not really, but if they're giggling and enjoying themselves then it's fine. he takes a few steps in the darkness, and each one echoes as he moves further. )

Are you sure being a shopkeeper is... your only profession?

Hehe...

[ npc-kun settles on his back, chin propped up next to Komaeda's head which isn't nearly as comfortable as it might be with the mask's filters pressing against his cheek. ]

I'm a person of many talents.

[ They are also, for example, a con artist and a drug dealer ]

What else would I be? I'd make a pretty good assassin... or a wood carver.

In the real world, Ultimates are the ones with talents... as for people like you, it must be nice to be covered by the umbrella of them.

( did he just say npc-kun had no talent, he sure did. as for their hope, he'll wait for the seed to root, and then hatch through the hard truth of the world. )

When will you carve for me so I can decide... I also find that you're very controlling, what's a job so you can excel in that field?

( they are walking in the bathroom with the lights off, he wishes the whole school's lights were off actually... seems like it'd be fun if they weren't limited to just here. )

[ leans to the side so the mask filter presses harder against Komaeda's cheek, who says they have no talent, they're the most talented ]

I'll carve for you when I feel like it. And I can do any job, because I'm the best. Whew, it's tough being perfect.

[ There's a popping noise outside, like an entire hallway's lightbulbs burnt out at the same time. ]

( they recently started to believe in hope, it takes a little time to get an ultimate talent!! once they find one that suits them afterall, because wood carver does sound perfect — he's seen the totems and they make a sound argument, but ultimates love their talents. adore them, use it to give others hope...

he hasn't see the other carve just yet, but the idea of it does appeal to him. ) I want to see you do that speci—-

( the popping sound catches his attention and he falls silent like he's waiting for someone to appear, or maybe there's something nearby. he blinks like a dog interested in a treat, and he takes a short step forward while keeping npc-kun is his hold although... they may be slipping a bit, komaeda's priorities are normally skewed. make a little fuss to keep him from dropping the other. )

Did you hear that?

[ They're slipping but that just makes them hang on tighter, trying to pull themselves up because Komaeda isn't helping. ]

Heard... what?

[ A little bit of fear bleeds into their voice, because 1) it's pitch black with this mask over their head, and 2) they can't hear much outside of Komaeda's voice right next to them with this mask over their head. ]

The howling?

( them tightening on komaeda reminds him to redouble his efforts, holding on properly. he should probably apologize for that. )

...You didn't? Oh... that's bad, do you think it's here?

( "it's" being how unfortunate his luck can be, but it in a way... this reads good to him. perhaps they can do something exciting while the chance is placed before them. "fun," yeah, this probably isn't fun at all, but he walks to the exit of the bathroom to expose them to the pitch black hallway. his eyes glance down the hall, and he whispers so it's between them. )

This is better than that, or no... the howling would have added much needed ambience. ( he walks into the center of the hallway, pressing his feet down hard in search for shared of glass... just in case, can never be too careful. ) ...and you'd be even more scared of the dark...

Stop...

[ Ughh, they frown a little because they can't press their face against Komaeda's shoulder without undoing the mask, and they can't undo the mask without letting go of Komaeda. All they can do is squint out into the darkness and tighten their grip at any real or imagined movement out there. Maybe it's the black cat coming to eat their toes. ]

I'm not scared of the dark.

Isn't it scarier to say that...

( it's all psychological, if a person is scared of something, then say they aren't... doesn't it amplify the fear, but if they admit to themselves the truth... it because less nerve-wracking, and allows them to be ready for anything? that might be the stuff out of fairytales, but is that not how komaeda also envisions hope? he gently squeezes npc-kun's legs, letting them know that he has a pretty good hold onto them. )

Even though you're with me, it must be terrifying...

( he spins around once, then twice, not too worried about the darkness when there's other things to be concerned about. like the black cat coming for their toes!! )

You wanted to scare people, right? ( like how the darkness plays tricks on people. ) ...You have to use the darkness to your advantage.

[ It does, but also, consider this: they won't ever admit their fears because they're perfect and perfect people aren't scared of the dark like some three-year-old who's just grateful they're here with somebody instead of being left alone.

... ]

Let's go find somebody to scare.

[ Let's walk down the hall and pray the lights aren't out in the entire school and if they come across somebody else then good for them. ]

( oh, npc-kun is perfect alright, how many times does komaeda have to hear this? luckily for them, komaeda's going to keep calling them out on the fact they're scared of the dark. he wants to mention it now, but the suggestion comes first, and he's actually interested in it. )

Who do you think we'll find...

( thank god npc-kun isn't that heavy because komaeda can walk the long hall within the darkness, peeking around the corners even though he can't see himself. there's a way he could scare someone, but it'd be a brief moment if anything... )

I hope we find Chidouin-san, she keeps a gun on her... that would get the adrenaline pumping, you know. ...Or Stephanie, but she might attack us herself.

Why are all your friends feral?

[ If they had some shiny rocks to calm and ground themselves, maybe they wouldn't attack poor innocent shopkeepers and their whatever Komaeda is to them in the dark. ...Actually, if npc-kun had some rocks, they'd feel better. If they had their suncatchers, that never let the shop steep in darkness when they lock up after hours, it wouldn't be so bad.

There's a thump at the end of the hall, which could either be a cat jumping off from a high place, or maybe Stephanie stomping towards them. ]

My what? Anyway... they're like animals, aren't they?

( his what? please don't become confused, komaeda doesn't have many of those, he has like people who put up with him. also people that hate him for how he acts, so he has to accept his L.

walking around in the dark is refreshing, but anything could happen here... part of komaeda wouldn't mind being in the library, it's much more comforting there. things like thumps can't happen, so hearing that noise means he has to come closer to it. he takes in a deep breath to prepare himself: )

Heeeeeeeeeey, is anyooooone out thereeeeee?

( he calls out, wanting it to echo, if it's stephanie and she kicks komaeda in his knee for being loud, it's allowed. whatever made that sound will hate the noise, or make more noise for them to follow, and that's why komaeda stands in place like he's waiting. he doesn't want npc-kun to miss out on the sounds of darkness... )

[ If they made it to the auditorium it would probably echo, but in the hallway all Komaeda manages to do is sound more like a ghost himself than any they might come across— which is comforting, in its own way, like no self-respecting ghost would dare bother them now.

There's a little tap tap tap down the hall away from the noise. ]

I heard it that time. Looks like we scared them.

[ Mission accomplished! Let's go home now. ]

( komaeda can't even see the ghosts without his hacking gun so they're probably floating next to them right, laughing, mocking at living humans that can't open their eyes. everyone else is supernatural, komaeda just has supernatural things happen because of his luck, and so... the ghosts have every right to laugh at him specifically. he's already close to dead, so he'll be laughing with them soon.

as for the let's go home, that sounds... like an option, but one that he ignores. he follows the tap tap tap, wondering if it really is just a cat, or something else. if it is, oh, if it is... he has half the mind to pull out his cat treats to see if it's actually lily may, but...

npc-kun said they wanted to scare someone too, that was all komaeda's doing. ) You didn't scare anything, you were the one scared yourself.

( well, he's going to squat down a bit, giving npc-kun the option to crawl off his back. ) Your turn. ( he sounds excited, like he knows npc-kun can do it... come on, just a little horror as a treat. )

I'm not scared.

[ They're also not letting go, feet touching the ground to give Komaeda's back a break but their arms remained wrapped and locked, brain whirring to find a suitable justification and heart hammering not because they're scared, this is just ...excitement... or something.

... ]

It knows we're coming now. We should try again later when it's let its guard down.

That's the best way to hunt your prey.

( make them know and every attempt they make to get away could be their last, they act without thinking so this gives them every chance to come out on top. that, and komaeda doesn't seem turned away from looking into what they're searching for. it's dark, and he wishes he had something so that he could see better. ah, well, maybe he can get something for them later. )

Besides, if we don't find out what it is now, we'll never know for next time.

( he allows npc-kun to stay wrapped around him, but peeling them off seems difficult. )

Think of this as a test of your hope, it'll protect you as long as you have it... the only thing to fear is people dragging you down. ( he's going to stand back up now, but he does it slowly so that npc-kun isn't caught off guard by subtle movements. )

[ Mm, npc-kun is more of a halibut-type hunter than a lion-type, preferring to blend into the background and appear cute and innocuous until the right moment/business opportunity presents itself and then they strike.

There's a little breath of relief when Komaeda caves and stands back up, but if he doesn't have his arms supporting npc-kun's legs then the only thing they're going to manage is to choke their life support. Okay... Begrudgingly, reluctantly, they get go, dropping down to the ground. ]

...Okay.

[ okok. gotta be brave.

They reattach themselves to Komaeda's arm. ]

Okay, let's go.

( success! he breathes in, breathes out... he's going to be okay. they may be in the dark, and while they have no sense of direction because komaeda's probably going to walk into something sooner or later, he raises his organic hand to check if the gas mask is still properly on npc-kun's face. his mechanical arm will be what's in their grasp, heavy, cold, and just lacks life like the rest of him. )

I'll be with you, so it's going to be fine.

( he'll walk with them, but... he pulls his hand away from their face, and instead he's pushing a few buttons through his sleeve, and there's a soft click.

...

...

...

how far would npc-kun get with just komaeda's arm if he stood there in place? )

[ IS HE FUCKING DETACHING HIS ARM?????

npc-kun is going to scream bloody murder and the arm falls to the ground with a thunk as they scramble to pull the gas mask off their head without undoing the straps and it's not coming off.

The ghost got Komaeda.

Oh my god.

Oh no.

Frantic, they dig into their pockets for an evil eye keychain as their last line of defense but they don't have one but maybe Komaeda still has the one he bought and if looting Komaeda's corpse is what's going to save npc-kun then what else can they do but turn around and blindly reach for where Komaeda last was ]

( one side of his arm is lighter than ever, his jacket sleeve hangs down limp from the nub of his arm — he still experiences phantom pains from time to time. npc-kun must have gotten not too far, because komaeda can hear the muffled screaming coming from down the hall in the dark, and his arm hitting against the ground.

i've seen so many arts where like they make the arm move like it's on adam's family because komaeda plays like that, i wish i could, god... it'd be like that one part of little nightmares 2. he can hear their shoes screeching on the floor from how quick they're moving, must be really desperate to find something or someone —

a little insane of komaeda as he sits down on the floor now, wondering if the other will stop and keep going, or keep frantically running around. he squints trying to see better, as if he'll be able to see them completely in the dark.

...

...

...

as a remnant... which komaeda is... because of despair... what if he just blinks once, and allows his eyes... to glow red... in the middle of the dark. )

[ npc-kun sees red eyes and whips back around, Komaeda is on his own

But no. Red cuts through the darkness and that's all it takes for npc-kun to calm down, it no longer being complete darkness. They hadn't gone very far in the first place, so they soon come back to where Komaeda's arm is and accidentally kicks it but then picks it up and starts running back to those mean evil ghost eyes, whereupon they're going to swing at those eyes as hard as they can with Komaeda's arm. ]

This is for Aniki!!

[ Komaeda is dead and can't be helped, but the least npc-kun can do is take revenge. ]

( WHAT THE FUCK!!!! me and enh laughing about scaring npc-kun, but npc-kun bites back and i'm laughing help!!!

okay, guess komaeda's being whacked with the arm which the first hit really hurts, and then the second, ow ow!! the amount of work souda and hinata put into making this creation is wonderful, and this must be what it feels like to be beat by hope! he accepts it happily with a smile despite getting his in the shoulder, in the head, and he leans to his side as he uses his other hand to try and have that hit too.

he accidentally bites his bottom lip, bleeding, but he makes sure to lick his lip so that none of the blood drops. )

Ahahaha...!! ( he has to remember to breathe! ) Again, again!

( thank you ghost thing for making npc-kun brave and a dps in hitting komaeda, he's enjoying himself! too much enjoyment and when he blinks, his eyes return back to normal... it's not like he has to keep them that way either. at least all npc-kun has to do is keep hitting in the same spot. )

[ crying as npc-kun is unwittingly made into a murderer

There's that evil cackle that Komaeda had wanted them to try, and he's right about it being scary. It's the hall going black again that makes npc-kun freeze up again, gripping Komaeda's arm tight, like they're trying hard not to think about the fact that it's an arm.

... ]

You'd better have learned your lesson! Don't mess with me!

[ They're sparing you, ghost, out of the vast generosity of their heart. aka they're going to run back to their little store and take a moment to breathe before setting the arm under the counter and moving their chair over to the corner so they can take one of the suncatchers off its hook.

It's not as bright as they'd like, but it'll have to do as they poke their head out into the hallway and tentatively go down it again, suncatcher held up like a silver cross, better not be here, ghost, when they get back to Komaeda. ]

Please let August be better than July I'm begging

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