give your friends a surprise

[closewithnewintown]

Who: EVERYONE
What: FAMILY MEETING
When: 8/4, right after school closes.
Where: Student council room
Warnings: Eventually, probably.

["If my friends back home were acting like this, I would've already locked them in a room and forced them to figure out their feelings."

the job puts all of her considerable superspy skills to the test. she knows where every normal kid's locker is; it's easy enough to slip the note into each that morning. if it's someone who she knows would be unable to read the note, she tells them its contents, but keeps her own involvement out of it. lies of omission don't count.

the note reads:]

I have very important information about this place. Please come to the student council room after school ends today.

- Nao Sato

[and if the text looks just a bit girlier than you'd think she'd write, hey, you don't know her. she's got layers.

either way, it's a pretty interesting proposition: the student council room door is, for the first time in seemingly ever, wide open. anyone can walk inside - and, hopefully, most everyone should. because it's only when Stephanie thinks that she's got enough of them inside that she actually enters the room, shutting the door behind her.

click.

it locks. she grins, spins the key on her finger, and slips it into her pocket.

"How are you supposed to do that with grownups?"

the exact same way, she's decided.]

We haven't had any meetings since, um. Well. The last one. But, I'm pretty sure nobody has no more murders to report, so it shouldn't be too bad, and we can all just focus on the most important task: Getting along! All of us are on the same team, but most of us barely even know each other; some of us even hate some of the others! [SHE SAYS, LIKE SHE DOESN'T ACTIVELY DESPISE KOKICHI] So, I figured we could spend the evening fixing that problem. Play some games, talk about stuff we've discovered since the last time...

And, maybe, if everybody does a really good job, I'll unlock the door!

[smiles]

Comments

[radnarok]

Huh...?

[ Its big news when you're unsubtle enough Crona notices somethings up. ]

Are you okay? Were you friends with him too...?

[silentabyss]

Um... n-no, not... not really.

[Noah sinks a little further into his chair. By the El, how he wishes he could disappear right now.]

...he... attacked me. About 2 months ago now. We got pulled into the void, and... I...

[Memories flicker behind his eyes for a quiet moment before Noah shakes his head.]

It was my life or his. I... I'm sorry. I didn't want to...

1/2

[radnarok]

He attacked you...two months ago...?

[ They sit stunned for a second, blinking over at Noah. ]

2/2

[radnarok]

A-and...you didn't tell anyone??

[ Crona's voice pitches up a little as they feel...more upset then they thought they might. Because...they had been really worried for Jekyll. They'd looked for him. People dying is fine, its normal, its okay, they don't need to be upset about Noah killing him, because Noah probably had some reason or another and people die all the time for reasons that don't make sense which is why Crona hates people, generally but just. They'd been worried. And nobody had told them? That was the thing they couldn't deal with. ]

I...how cruel do you have to be. I was worried. I can't deal with being worried. Or lied to. I don't know what I want to feel right now.

[silentabyss]

...feel whatever you want.

[Noah's not dealing with this.]

What was I going to do? Get on the intercom and say that I had to kill someone because I was attacked? I had to come to grips with what happened too, you know. I didn't want that to happen. I tried to run.

[He's sitting down now, but something in his clenched fists says he might get up and try to break the door down to get out at any moment. It's Noah, after all, he's pretty impulsive.]

I don't know about you, but I didn't hear anyone asking after him. I didn't hear a single person acting like they cared for Hyde. Maybe that's just because I'm not around enough, maybe I don't hang out in the right circles, but...

...anyway, I don't see those of you who run around killing indiscriminately admitting to anything. I don't see why I have to play the role of the bigger person when no one else is.

["Those of you" isn't targeted at Crona specifically, but to those nearby who might be listening. You know who you are.]

[radnarok]

I don't know!!

[ They're just twelve and they're sad!! They can't deal with that! They just stare at Noah with wide eyes as he clenches his fist. ]

I don't know! I never knew someone who died before. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. Or you're supposed to do. But it taking two months to find out someone nice died feels awful!

You aren't that big. [ Taking things literally again. ] And I killed lots of people. So maybe I don't get to be upset, because that makes me weak. But I don't like that you lied. You said I could feel what I want, so I'm going to not like lying forever.

uhh cw for light mentions of... gruesome murder

[silentabyss]

I don't like that I lied, either. I don't like that I have to live with the guilt of killing someone who didn't deserve it every day — but I do, because I decided that I wanted to live for the people who want me to live, and if I had a choice I would have saved both of us.

[But he couldn't, not with Hyde's unrelenting kicks and punches and the knife that met Noah's side, the way he grabbed the boy by the throat and slammed him against the wall, the knife between Noah's eyes, and the inevitability that he'd come back alive because of the one secret he has left — the "blessing" from a long-dead elder brother.]

Be mad at me. Hate me. I don't care what you do. Sorry your friend had to die.

[radnarok]

And I...ugh don't put words in my mouth I didn't say that I hated you!!

[ They don't like Noah's expression so they've stopped looking at it, instead addressing the wall. Wall-kun isn't looking scary and sad at the same time. ]

Saying you don't care is mean, okay? I'm mad and I don't know what to do, but I've never hated anyone before [ Except Mommy dearest ] and I don't know how I'd deal with hating you. We could fight? Is that why you're saying this? Plotting out revenge takes a long time, and Ragnarok isn't even here to help me.

[silentabyss]

...what are you even talking about?

[Crona's no longer looking at him, and so Noah's not even going to make an attempt at reestablishing eye contact, instead sitting there with his arms crossed.]

I don't want to fight you. I don't want to fight anyone here. But if someone killed one of my friends, I'd hate them. I'd hate them and I'd want to make their life miserable — isn't that just the natural response?

[Hate him, hate him, please, it's easier, Noah's a cursed child anyway — anyone who he gets close to and cares for dies in the end, Crona.]

[radnarok]

Sorry, but I'm talking about really important stuff!! [ They jab a finger at Noah without looking at him. They're talking about...feelings! And friendship! And not hating you for whatever weird reason! ]

Its true. I don't want to fight either. If you could beat Mr.Hyde you could probably hurt me. That makes you pretty tough, and I haven't fought anyone tough since I made friends.

[ They'd probably have a shot, though. They're pretty strong! If they'd walked in on you fighting Hyde they'd have tried to stop you both! ]

I'm not good at natural things. You look pretty miserable already, so what do I need to do? I just want to punch you, not hate you forever. Forever is a really long time.

[ Crona's cursed too! ]

[silentabyss]

[...

Feelings and friendship, huh...

...]

Why don't you, then? I won't hit back. If it helps you feel better, I don't see a problem...

sorry for the violence they're normal

[radnarok]

Ooooooh. Okay.

[ They whip their head around a little to fast. Please Noah, their latent violent impulses...

They hop off the desk to stand in front of him. A normal person might start winding up their arm but Crona just looms weirdly in their tallness.]

Bye Noah. [ They give him a little wave because this is their weird attempt to make this polite and not awkward. And then they punch him square on the upper jaw, because they're mad, believe it or not. Jekyll was a nice guy, and Crona liked him.

So, they harden their blood, its more habit then anything, but also Crona has the idea that Noah is tough enough to take it. The overall effect is less like Noah being punched by a weedy and angry twelve or thirteen year old, and more like Crona slammed a solid brick of iron on the upper half of his face. ]

honestly hurt him go off, royalty tbh

[silentabyss]

[The speed of which they whip their head around is a little concerning? But he can't say he blames them. If someone gave him permission to deck them when he was pissed at them, he'd be the same, he thinks.

Really, honestly, he doesn't have time to think that hard about it because Crona says bye to him like he's going to die (please kill him) and then—

—then his head snaps back against the punch and the force of it actually knocks Noah out of his chair, sending him spiraling to the floor where he sputters for a moment before rolling over, picking himself up on hands and knees. He wipes a bit of blood from his... nose or lip, he's not certain because he's pretty sure he bit his lip but there's undoubtedly throbbing pain all over and blood running down his face from somewhere. Maybe both, but he sits up and returns to his chair shortly after, letting out a winded little breath.

Noted, Crona hits hard. It's fine, because Noah deserves it. He's atoning.]

...feel better?

[closewithnewintown]

[LOOKING ON COMPLETELY HORRIFIED]

[mermaidcursed]

( ALSO COMPLETELY HORRIFIED, WHAT THE FUCK, SHE'S ON HER KNEES TRYING TO HELP NOAH UP IN AN INSTANT- )

[silentabyss]

[He's fine but he appreciates the help! His face has already started to bruise and his nose is bleeding a metric fuckton, but at the girls' horrified looks he holds a hand up and waves it around a bit dismissively—]

...I've had worse. Ow.

[closewithnewintown]

You're both gonna be locked in the Healthy Human Emotions Room with Komaeda and Rika if you keep it up!

[mermaidcursed]

( oh my god this is the second time they've come to the void during a meeting she may just skip the next one honestly? holy shit. is she gonna dissociate in the void for a few hours again? maybe. but right now she's just hovering and fretting over noah big time, here let her see your face- )

Noah-kun, Crona-chan, we can't keep doing this- what even happened!?

bought new icons bc it took them literally three months to do anything crazy

[radnarok]

......Wow you flew pretty far!

[ They're grinning, but not in a good way. ]

I thought you were a lot tougher then thaaat, Noah.

[ Do they feel better...well they don't feel worse. Besides this is fair enough to them. Hyde is dead, and now Noah's face is all bloody. Makes sense to Crona!

Everyone sure is freaking out though.]

i love it

[silentabyss]

Please. I've died before, you know. If this were an actual fight, I would've wiped the floor with you.

[NOAH.]

If you want to try again, I won't go flying this time.

[WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU. THIS IS WHY PEOPLE ARE FREAKING OUT.]

hello i'm helping

[subtract]

I can put a Seal on your body if you'd like to go all out. Not even reversing death is beyond my power, kuku.

I want to see what else Crona is capable of...

this isnt' a gagtag im so sorry dafs;jkl

[mermaidcursed]

( nene just. blinks. stares. and then slowly pushes him away. go sit down. go drink your apple juice. )

Not. The time.

[silentabyss]

I've died before, so it's not like it would be new. I'm fine with that, if Crona wants to kick the shit out of me for a bit.

[]

[mermaidcursed]

NO.

[radnarok]

Wow, you died? That sounds pretty awful.

[ Treating this like a normal conversation. ]

I don't think so. Mhm...if you died you probably aren't very strong.

[ They like winning! Its fun! ]

Its fine though. I thought Maka was weak, but she surprised me. We can be friends now.