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10/02 06:12

✽ Silence lifts at six in the morning, and there is still quite a bit of time before classes start. Early risers who decide to return to school from the dorms cross the courtyard and open the double doors and—- something cold and wet drips down onto their head: old blood from the torso of a student(?) bound by rope and strung up above the doors to the courtyard, body burned black and cut in half at the waist.
The air is heavy, and the entire school smells of blood.

Hope... month...

✽ A large poster advertising the student store has been tacked up on the bulletin board. For October, store hours are now 6AM to 8PM Monday to Saturday, and noon to 4PM on Sundays. Outside of those hours, the shopkeeper is occasionally in the shop and will leave the door propped open if they are, but more often than not, the door is closed and there is no answer when knocking on the door. Laundry tokens can now be purchased at a reasonable price. The rock gacha machine is now located just outside the door so it can be played at any time. Please continue to spend your hard-eared points on plain boring normal rocks.
✽ In the dormitory, the construction paper covering the oil paintings start to soak through with blood, causing the papers to grow heavy and fall. The distorted faces in the paintings seem to be bleeding from their open wounds, the canvas wet to the touch and smelling of blood. Blood dripping down the walls and on the floor do not cause the dorms to change, nor do the splatters of blood seen on the glass over the star dormitory rooms occasionally throughout the month, as if it had rained blood in the darkness and silence of night, although no other evidence is seen elsewhere in the courtyard.
✽ The wisteria tree slowly continues to lose its petals, and the area roughly ten feet around the trunk of the tree has become completely dead and barren, leaving dry dirt underneath. Despite shedding its petals, new buds are becoming noticeable now too. The spider lilies that bloomed during the autumnal equinox remain, still covering the rest of the courtyard and extending into the forest surrounding the school. Outside, the air smells faintly metallic at all times.
✽ Occasionally throughout the month and increasing in frequency and intensity towards the end of the month, characters with 13 or more tallies will find themselves sensitive to sunlight and loud noises, prone to vertigo upon standing or turning too quickly, and suffering ice pick headaches throughout the day.
✽ Characters with 5 or less tallies will hear faint white noise during the normally silent hours of midnight to 6AM, but no other sound.
✽ The class roster on the bulletin board acknowledges class 1-D for leading the rest of the classes in rank, being the first to reach 100. All characters in first year classes and #-D classes will receive 500 merit points and will be able to exit out the front door to the school. They will be able to make it up to the front gate, but will find themselves growing lightheaded and about to pass out if they try to squeeze through the bars or climb over the gate itself. Please contact me privately if they would try to get out anyways.
✽ The void in the auditorium continues to grow, and (pending character interaction) by the end of the month will encompass the entire right wing of the first floor past the lockers, the home ec cooking room on the second floor, as well as the art club room on the third floor.

Exchange Program

✽ On October 11, students participating in the exchange program are given one pocket knife each and sent out the front doors, upon which they will find themselves in that canon location as if they had stepped out of any normal door in the area. For characters who visit their own canon's location, they will find all their friends and family alive and happy— except for the one person they are closest to, who will be absent. Nobody there will recognize your character or the person they are closest to, regarding both as complete strangers, as if neither have ever existed in the first place. But otherwise... think of it as canon good end, in contrast to elevator bad end.
✽ There is no bus to take them back to Yogen and they can stay as long as they'd like, even forever if they feel like it. If they wish to return to their real home, though, they would have to first return to Yogen and figure things out from there. The first time they open the pocket knife, they will find a piece of paper tucked between the blade and the handle reading "Use to return." If they use it on other people, that's the local law enforcement's business. In order to return to Yogen, perhaps remembering Natsume's presentation mentioning how they got there in the first place, they will have to use the knife on themselves, or otherwise die by happenstance or, eventually, old age. Two weeks after their return to school, they will find one additional tally on the inside of their wrist.
✽ In return, Yogen receives three exchange students: two familiar and one not.

OOC

✽ The first prompt leads into this month's mini-event, which is becoming a misnomer, maybe they should be called murder events instead.
✽ All students leaving on the exchange program will icly be gone for at least 10/11 - 10/17, although they will be able to return at any later date in October, at the player's discretion, regardless of how much time they experienced on their trip. Just like in the bad end elevator and the void school, nothing physical can be taken back from the exchange trip, but characters can at least drain their bank accounts eating good food and exploring town before coming back.
✽ The new exchange students are former npcs Kouji Seki and Chiaki Kudo, as well as a new student ???. They can be interacted with in their corresponding toplevels below, after 10/11.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( fraser was cute, but james mason wasn't that bad to look at, komaeda guesses — hm, it was an alright movie, science fiction has always been better than action filled. so he nods, looking towards subaru with mild interest. )

What was your favorite part?

( movies, watching movies doesn't sound so bad, and komaeda hasn't really been to the movies with... hm, he wouldn't know what to label subaru as, and so he ignores it to carry on. )

No, you can't. Only the Shobijin are capable of summoning Mothra, so the same could be said of our sea creature, you'd have to find them first.

( also the fact komaeda doesn't want to sing with subaru at all. )

[...! mild interest, maybe they have a commonality beyond some parallel understandings...?]

I've got two~, I liked the monsters down there a lot -- the dinos coming out of the caves was funnier than it should've been, but as a kid I really thought they were super cool -- but Gertrude really stole the show! Especially with her debut scene in the feather storage...

[label him simply as "subaru" it's fine...]

We won't know if we don't try, though! C'mon, Maddy, let's figure out a song to sing to the pool monster~.

Ah, I remember, Gertrude was quite the addition, along with the fact her tapping could be read as Morse code at the start.

( the constant dots and lines almost made sense, especially with the professor trying to make heads or tails of it. hm, who knew a duck could carry so much responsibility by venturing down into the center of the earth, not only that, being the reason they got so far. )

...You could say I'm a fan of how they moved forward despite their predicament, but they had such lucky instances... and unlucky ones at that.

( he hums, contemplating whether he wants to or not. ) We could always give it food, there's no need for us to sing just yet!

Honestly, that's what I liked a lot too~. The whole spirit of adventure is pressing on despite the hardships, y'know? That's what makes it romantic!

[the romance of adventure.......... anyway can subaru help season the pork or whatever he wants to smack it with his hands and tenderize it]

Aww, you really are a shy person~. There's no need to hesitate though! I love hearing people sing, even if they sound like an alley cat-- but with a nice voice like yours, I'm sure it's sweet as a bird. ♪

Then you should read the novel, it illustrates their journey rather well, and the monsters you speak of are the least of your concerns. Depending on how advanced your vocabulary is, it'll be quite the tale for you to immerse yourself in. The three companions that take their descent, how they handle their surroundings, and then how they handle themselves... if you find romance in that way.

( he explains thoughtfully, having read the novel of jules verne, but he wonders if subaru would even enjoy it considering gertrude isn't part of the story — that charming duck isn't involved in leading them where they need to go, but hans is actually taking after her, or rather the animal, him. )

...What makes you think trash like me can sing? ( did rokkun snitch on him? what's happening here. ) Ahaha... I'll excuse you, it's because you're an idol, so you'd want to share what you're best at, isn't that right?

Oh, I'm not really into books... My attention wanders too much for 'em, see, and I fall asleep even reading magazines~. I'll see if someone'll read it to me instead.

[that sounds nice... the cadence of their voice, how they pronounce things and the attention he has to keep from not dozing off lets him observe them all the more; it's also a good way to keep subaru quiet too. maybe he'll see if keigo'll do it... the thought makes him smile wider, so much that it crinkles his eyes.]

Yup! You're lucky we don't have to dance for it, 'cause I'd ask you to do that too~.

You're not...

( -- like a sim is how komaeda sees this, instantly thrown off by how reluctant the other seems to even indulge, and then to have someone read it to him instead...? if they were in the library, komaeda would have left subaru where he stands, but sadly they're in the kitchen so the idea of ignoring him is there. while he looks into the fridge, subaru is unable to see the disappointed expression that litters komaeda's face. )

You could ask, and I'd hear you out, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to do it.

( simple as that, not because he can't, it's just because he wouldn't want to. ) Not when there's other means that would work better.

You sure are like a cat, doing as you please~.

[which makes two of them... subaru is the same way, even if he's dog-coded too, so it's not said in a bad way-- in fact, it's sort of happy and fond...

though he might miss the disappointed expression, he'll watch komaeda's back anyway, and then glance away with a thoughtful smile.

...]

Who's the author of it, anyway? Keigo likes books, so I might spot it for 'em.

Huh? What's that... Is it wrong to do things like this with my peers?

( not friends, but peers, a safer word as he finally pulls himself out of the fridge with a plate of unknown meat that's been inside. he doesn't know who it belongs to, but it's theirs now, and he holds it out for subaru to take.

when komaeda looks to subaru, it's with a smile on his face. )

Oh? Hm... Maybe P-kun might enjoy it, it's by Jules Verne, hm... would you want a spoiler?

( about the duck. )

Of course not! You've got a way about you, Maddy, but I like that.

[............ anyway subaru will take it. okay. he's honestly probably trying to figure out what kind of meat is it.

jules verne... jules verne... he'll remember that.]

Nope! The name's enough, thank you~. ♪ Anyway, are we really gonna feed... whatever this is to the pool?

Yeah, this is the only method we have, like I said before, only the Shobijin can call out Mothra, and so their technique won't work here.

( who knows what sort of meat it is, but it's going to be what they throw in the pool — he does wonder how izumi's arm is fairing down there... probably bloated, and gone. sighs, that was a good hand to have. )

Ebalon-kun and I fed it daily, but he's been... down on his luck, so maybe it's our turn!

Lon-chan, huh... I hope he's feeling better. Nene's a pretty hard girl to be down around, even it sounds like he's pretty down for her.

[if you catch his drift. subaru will follow whatever commands komaeda gives him and also tag at his heels like he's the one with a leash]

If only, she's been struggling too, I wonder if they'll drag each other down together.

( they can walk out the kitchen now, and then to the exit of their dorms which it must be pretty cold outside, and given subaru's outfit... he's kind of fucked, isn't he? well, komaeda going to take a sharp turn towards the pool area, his paws attached to his side. )

Unless you haven't noticed, but yes, I've seen their affair; she's keeping herself busy.

[it's FINE he's a natural space heater, he shivers at the initial hit but he won't be too uncomfortable. it feels a little nice even, once he gets used to it.]

Nene's... the kind of person who hides behind smiles, like you and me. But I've been a little preoccupied, yeah.

[with other things... other people... he'll be a little less turned around next month, and even now he seems faaaaar more relaxed and carefree than their crawlspace conversation nearly a month ago. has been, too, since the exchange in particular.]

I wonder what I can do to help... I'd hate to third-wheel 'em, but they're pretty attached at the hip right now. What's Lon-chan like to do besides feed the beast?

Don't compare me to any of you.

( let alone, don't compare komaeda to her, she's only hiding behind smiles now, but she's nothing how komaeda is. when he smiles, he means it (or that's what he believes) considering it's all about hope to him. yet, he can say all of this with a smile because he doesn't think too much about how awful it looks, but that nene will overcome this with no problems. )

Ebalon-kun? Oh, he's quizzing people to figure out if they're real or not, Clamor-san's death has ruined his perception... ( as for what he likes to do, komaeda thinks about it, he's never really got on a personal level with him before. which probably shows as komaeda can't really pinpoint an exact thing. what does he know about noah other than revenge? that he's learned to live for others, and that he's some child who isn't special and all he has left is to try his best. )

...He has hope! A spectacular hope, and he wants to protect all of you, so he likes doing that.

( uh oh... and then it hits him, his eyes widening for a moment that he's got something, and it may not be a lot but... he chuckles softly. ) ...He also likes to draw, and he's really good at cats.

[caustic as ever... that's so harsh, don't compare me to any of you with that same smile he always has. but subaru just exhales at it, not wanting to ruin one of his favorite holidays... listens to noah's current state (he really does not blame the guy, it's rough and despite the way natsume hides it subaru can tell how much it burns him up inside too), and

yeah he should've known better than to expect komaeda to know something real about someone besides their hope. this does tell him that noah and komaeda are more like passing acquaintances than anything, at least, which is something in its own right he guesses.

... ooh, that's something concrete though ♪]

Drawing, huh~? I can do something with that. ☆ Thanks Maddy, I knew I could rely on you. ♪ You're pretty useful when it comes to info gathering, after all~.

Not too much.

( he ignores subaru for something as more fulfilling, he points at the plate in his hand to look at the pieces of meat they have to go through; they don't want to overfeed the monster, but if subaru wants to interact with it, then he'll have to become a familiar presence. cutting his hand so that some blood sinks into the flesh would probably be a good idea, and komaeda's thoughtful on the matter as he wonders if there's anything to do that with as they come closer to the pool.

he thinks about that instead because despite what he knows of noah, he doesn't want to discuss it, not because it'll seem like he knows nothing — he knows enough, and is aware that the other doesn't really have a childhood anymore; he thinks of saving people, and not himself. that sort joy may be lost upon him, and perhaps it'll show in other ways. besides, it's best if komaeda keeps his distance on people's joys, and then there's no way for him to ruin them. )

Only a taste, and then you can pursue the creature more.

[yeah, just like a cat. subaru looks down at the plate, then back at komaeda.]

Aren't we technically trying to get it to pursue us? Since we're gonna feed it and all, we want it to seek us out when we visit and stuff.

Both ways offer the same conclusion: we want to come into contact with it.

( it may not be kind, nothing in this world is, and since it's purgatory, everything has its own rules. that's what makes this interesting. whether it's friend or foe, it did manage to eat whatever's dropped within the pool, and so that's a start of probably how they can summon, or have it chase them down. )

Hm... you sound like you really want to meet it, me too, I'm excited for it as well.

Of course I'm excited! It's a never before seen beast! We could probably name it after one of us, Maddy~, wouldn't that be cool?

[yes..... cryptid hunting.....]

And if we befriend a little, then cool~. Maybe we can ask it to bring us down into the depths of the pool and see what it is!

Do you not have giant creatures back home? ( it's plenty for him, but maybe subaru comes from a normal place despite having idol wars. ) ...Hm, I don't want it named after me to have a risky life, we should name it after someone who lives perfectly. ...Ishimaru-kun!

( yes, and then when it kills people they blame him. )

...Have you seen what that place looks like in the void? You might not want to descend.

Not like that, except for cryptids and stuff... And the mikoshi stage, which isn't really alive, just a robot. [but that's just par the course for yumenosaki.] Ishibakemon.

[perfect.

...]

Nu huh, what's it look like?

That almost sounds like a Digimon, we won't be copyrighted for that, will we?

( he glances towards subaru, curious, but at his next question... )

I heard it was a mixture of wet mud and bugs, if we happen to cut ourselves in that murky deep, we'll suffocate.

Do you think they'll copyright us in the afterlife?

[like... no way. they could create digimon here. they'll become millionaires, maybe.

........................ he been swimmin a lot in that lately,]

We won't cut ourselves.

[simple solution: they just won't]

Our lives aren't our own at this moment, we're governed by the school.

( so they have every right to copyright them. )

We can cut ourselves preemptively, especially if you haven't seen it... a new experience will do you good.

10/02 06:12

Hope... month...

Exchange Program

OOC

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