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bulletin board updates

✽ There are several new points of interest at the bulletin board this month, most prominently a wooden box with the slit on the top just large enough to drop a sheet of paper inside. Above is an explanation of Secret Santa and a form to fill out for those interested in participating to write down their name, homeroom, and locker number. Sign-ups close on 12/5, and following assignments, gifts may be given in person or through one of the student council members if anonymous gifting is preferred (contact the mod to hire a stuco elf).
✽ Right next to this box is a poster with a large orange giraffe painted on it. The contents of the poster has nothing to do with giraffes, but rather, is an advertisement for student store commissions featuring quality work with quick turnarounds and a special discount for the month of December if you buy five or more commissions, or bring the shopkeep a warm drink and maybe a snack while they're working.
✽ To the side of the class roster and current ranks is a digital countdown, and scrawled on the bulletin board itself is the message "You're almost there! You can do it! One more push!" but it's unclear whether this message refers to the countdown to the new year, or to the long glass tube situated along the edge of the bulletin board next to it. Maybe both. The tube looks similar to a graduated cylinder, holding a total volume of 5000 ml and currently containing 4850 ml of dark red (presumably) blood, hot to the touch. It can not be broken or removed. The mod will be in contact if any character action this month causes the volume to change.
✽ A neatly typed notice, half buried under all the other announcements, contains a reminder that tuition will be due soon for those students continuing to study at Yogen. If tuition is not paid in full by the end of February, "compensation" will be taken instead.
✽ And finally, there is a notice from the student council that proof of club activity is once again due for submission to the student council by 12/24, otherwise the club will be dissolved and resources taken back. Please submit activity proof to the toplevel below.

12/20 - 12/24 finals week

✽ The week before winter break is finals, with many students cramming as many math formulas and foreign country leaders into their heads as possible without it all spilling over, while other students have decided to chance the practicum instead. Those who have signed up for the practicum are asked to meet inside the auditorium after homeroom at the start of the day while test takers begin their written exams. Students are allowed to change their minds on which to take, up until the end of homeroom on Monday, after the bell rings and the doors close.
✽ For the test takers, finals last for five days, from 8AM until noon each day, after which students are allowed to go home, or have lunch and continue studying in their homerooms or in the library. At the end of finals on Friday, students are asked to remain in their homerooms over lunch break while their exams finish being graded, after which homeroom teachers will return and ask certain students to go with them to the faculty office. These are the failing students. Which the homeroom teachers themselves have the pleasure of executing for their failures. All other students are dismissed and wished a happy winter break.
✽ For those opting for the practicum, finals last for two days, from 8AM until noon on Monday and Tuesday. All students from all grades meet in the auditorium the first day and are told the very simple rules for this semester's practicum: in order to raise your failing grade, all you have to do is kill another student, upon which you take their points for yourself. At the start of both days, students first gather in the auditorium for a headcount and then are given a half hour no-killing grace period during which they are allowed to scatter and find the best sniping/ambushing/hiding spots. The hunt is limited to four hours each day and kills must be done on campus; any kills done outside of these parameters are just for fun and do not count towards their final grade. Points are given for kills involving students in the same grade level of different homerooms (e.g. third years only benefit from killing other third years) and points are revoked for kills involving other grade levels or test takers not participating in the practicum. They studied hard, leave them alone. Most students need only one or two kills to pass, but multiple kills stack and earn them extra credit that will carry over to the next semester. Students who end the second day with a still failing grade will be called to the faculty office. ... All remaining students are dismissed and wished a happy (early!) winter break.
✽ A winter storm starts to whip up around noon on the 24th, raging through the night before settling down come morning, blanketing the entire campus with several feet of snow.

OOC

✽ PC faculty still have finals: they will either take written exams excluding that of their own subject, or they can take the practicum. Players with faculty characters are asked to reply to the toplevel below to indicate the number of failed students per class, but characters do NOT have to ICly be responsible for killing failed students. Unless they're cool with that, and if so, please let me know.
✽ This is a reminder that for any character that murders (again, please let me know), they will experience the same pain the following night and lose powers/abilities for one week. Two weeks after the murder, +1 tally and +100 merit points will be awarded for each kill.
✽ 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 all floors, including the locker area but not the rooftop. Please mind the void, murderers.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Really...

( he walks over to subaru, placing a hand on his back as he guides the other towards the sink. keeping him in place, komaeda grabs the mixture of whatever subaru's favorite color may be because komaeda's lucky, and drizzles it over top of the balloon into the shape of a star. if subaru pays close attention, he can see that the air is making the liquid stiffen, giving it shape around the head of the item that he's holding. )

For someone with such a bad attitude, and before you defend him... there's nothing wrong with such a personality, considering he wants to see a world filled with smiles and endless euphoria.

( because if fame and money didn't bring subaru happiness then, having good luck in that too wouldn't bring him happiness now, is what he's guessing. )

... ( he groans slightly, moving away from subaru as he forces his smile to remain, that's who he is, ultimate luck, but he's never been fond of the talent. ) After you pop that one, sure...

[oh... he's being touched. that's rare, it's usually the other way around-- but nevermind that, subaru watches the orange drizzle turn into a star, drying in the air, and whatever narrative komaeda wants to think natsume has with his fortunes towards someone who doesn't believe in anything but his own actions is fine.]

I wouldn't defend him~, Natsume's got a nasty, shady, ne'er-do-well sort of feel to him... That's why I have to embarrass him as soon as I can so people know he's human just like they are.

[that he's not some standoffish, high horse young man who knows it all -- natsume hates him for it, probably, but subaru has opinions.

he'll get a knife to pop it though, naturally startling at the loud noise even though he's the one that did it!!!!!]

What's a human to you, Akehoshi-kun?

( komaeda waits for the tips to be longer in the star before pulling away to check his work, and he takes a few steps back to open one of the drawers. snagging a knife, he holds it out to the other, and glances at the balloon in hopes that he gets the idea. oh, but subaru's an excited individual who managed to get a knife first, and once the balloon pops, he sets back down his own knife as the star-shaped craft falls into the idol's hands. it's kept its shape into a star, and can break if he's not careful. )

Not everyone is human here, so wouldn't that be rude? Come now, or you must play for one side.

( ultimates are gods, komaeda is trash, there's students here who aren't human and never will be, and then there's some who want to be human. it's a touch considerate, so he molds his words better so that it doesn't seem inconsiderate. things like showing someone is human, who needs that when they can be anything and still accepted among the people? )

It's not about being human, it's about showing he's capable of emotions. ( he brings over a plate for him to sit it down. )

[subaru will be so careful. and are we really getting into philosophy today... he'll keep it light, he doesn't want to fall into komaeda's pace too easily. setting the star down before he replies...]

That's what people think when you say human, normally~. The emotions thing. Feeling stuff. Compared to what they think of as monsters, or gods, or anything else that they don't think can't be hurt. But Natsume can be, and he can laugh and smile and cry and be embarrassed like anyone else.

[nothing more to it, though considering subaru isn't immediately defensive like he has been in the past komaeda's consideration is noted and appreciated]

I don't get why people think that they're the only ones who can feel stuff, though~. It's dumb. ♪

Do you know that some people can't feel, Akehoshi-kun?

( people like komaeda who can't feel properly, from this conversation, he's technically not human because of that. this isn't about him, though, it's about natsume. )

Hm, that said... it must be a job, being the only person that can show his humanity.

( komaeda teases, taking the stare shaped confection to the counter, flipping it upside down so that he can look for something to put on the inside. what did i say he pulled out, well, i'm going to have some fruits, pepperonis with blueberries wrapped inside of them, and he'll proceed to place them against the confection. )

Or do you trust no one else being capable to do so?

[but he does still feel, even if its not proper in social circles...

what a number of interesting queries there though. subaru looks up at the ceiling thoughtfully, leaning against the counter, and shrugs as his gaze returns to the confectionary. pepperoni wrapped blueberries... interesting.]

Natsume... is difficult and dishonest. [he can drawl it out like that, he guesses.] He's really all about appearance. I can get away with stuff 'cause we've known each other for a while, but other people can't.

[... he knows komaeda gets reactions out of natsume, and he's always teased that they seemed close, but subaru still wedges himself firmly into a spot he feels no one else can take. whether it's "keeper of natsume's humanity" or some less stupid title, he just

feels like he's the only one who can do it, safely.]

I know when to stop with him, and he knows that -- it's the same way with me. So it's more like... he wouldn't trust anyone else teasing him the same way? And it's not a job at all~, Natsume's my best friend! I want everyone else to be friends with him too~.

[hmm... some people can't feel...]

( that's no different from listening to ranger talk, about how partners look out for each other, see the world through different eyes by borrowing one of each other's. to see the world in depth, to understand and be understood no matter what, and if one of them were to act stupid, another person would stop them. that's what subaru's explanation reminds him of, but not as deep as it goes for ranger who lived in a murder game, but for idols, all they have is being friends, and yet they make that sort of bond. )

Sakasaki-kun is crude, and horrible, but that doesn't mean we don't like him. Actually, I believe he's kind, he just likes to be in charge, if you give him that... let him seem smart, he's satisfied.

( some people want to be know-it-alls, some others want their egos stroked, and natsume lives off praise. there's nothing horrible in wanting to, and he feels the need to work harder than anyone else, and that's why he seems so inhuman. well, to others. komaeda finds him to be the same pathetic human being, interesting enough. )

You should take care of him, Akehoshi-kun! ( with the little food fixed, he's looking at the other as he picks it up, holding it out to him. )

Taste.

[well, that goes without saying -- of course he'll take care of natsume, just like natsume'll take care of him. the rest is true too, so no protest there.

obediently opens mouth!!!]

( he'll pop it into subaru's mouth, and once he starts chewing... i rolled high on this, so it's the best snack he's ever had. )

Now, you can't fight all of Sakasaki-kun's battles, but you can assist. Remember that if they want to make friends with him, they shouldn't have to make it through you... how will they know the true Sakasaki-kun without meeting him themselves?

( which maybe komaeda would do better if people introduced him, but ymmv. )

[holy shit maybe subaru takes this for himself fuck hinata]

Mm~, mm... [he wants more... hand stretchy.] Natsume's the one who knows everyone before I do, actually~. There's only been a couple of times that's been switched, but he even introduced me to Ukki~ back when we were all in first year together. Reviews were mixed about him, though -- Ukki~ thinks he's strange but a good guy 'cause he helped out the Game Club and invites him to play super hard games, Sally~ doesn't have much of an opinion on him at all even though Natsume seems to hate him for some reason, and Hokke~ has never trusted him a day in his life... He told me once that Natsume was just seeking to use me, 'cause that's what he does, and then he'd drop me.

[but that hadn't happened, and it still hasn't. subaru's gut and eagerness of having a friend, of having who wanted him for him, won out.]

Natsume hates when I do anything for him, though, so even assisting's out of the question.

( he'll give him another, komaeda finds that plucking it into subaru's mouth, and that he's actually eating it seems to... work in favor of what he's doing. so he'll grab a plastic container, and he'll start to make about fifteen to slip inside. once he's done doing so, he'll hand it off to subaru to have. )

I never made a snack like this before, so you keep the first batch. The next one will go to Hinata-kun.

( after he says that, he'll laugh considering natsume must have introduced subaru to the people here, too. only because the other came so late, but even at the start, subaru tried to make friends with komaeda's ultimates. he didn't like that, actually... he hated it, but that's because love won out when it came to saihara.

...

...

he still loves his ultimates, and that's why he permits subaru. )

Does he use people, or do you allow him to use others without batting an eye?

[not unlike a dog, subaru looks visibly excited at the snacks being prepared, and takes a seat on an empty counter space to eat from the container; he's gonna have to save some for natsume to try, and maybe helena too, but definitely keigo and amami... one each. the other eleven are for him.]

He doesn't use people.

[immmediate after it's asked, but... really, subaru wouldn't know; he turns a blind eye to his best friend, he chooses to think the other doesn't use others, and would deny it forever and a day if evidence was brought up. even by the person in question.]

Natsume only does what he does for others happiness... and to keep himself alive, but mostly the first. But I know he's had to have told you that at some point~. [...] Do you like him, Maddy?

Mhm.

( but that other person was able to point it out, which komaeda could laugh about that time where natsume wanted to use komaeda properly from a wish. had it been any other moment, maybe komaeda would have folded, but he's picky about who uses him. not like that matters when natsume can ask komaeda things, and he'll just do it once he sees a benefit from it. )

This belongs to you, so don't give it to anyone else.

( he smiles softly, leaning up against the table as he watches subaru, that boring, dead expression at his question. )

Are you jealous, Akehoshi-kun that you aren't the center of his world?

[hm.

he's made the mistake of eating when komaeda asks, but not because he chokes -- subaru is gonna talk with food in his mouth he isn't polite.]

I've never been anythin' but a star in his orbit.

[not sad, not frustrated, just fact. no yearning, no envy, just acceptance.

he'll at least swallow before he continues,]

I wouldn't even be on his radar if we didn't go to the school we did~. [more like if they were both just normal high school boys.] He's got his eyes forward back home, y'know? That's why I'm pretty happy it seems like he's got someone he's into here.

You aren't jealous, yet, but you're fine as long as you're something to him.

( that's what he's getting from this, now that subaru knows natsume's existence, he's happy about being there. knowing his type of star, he'll never let it die, he'll continue to shine so that when natsume looks up, he has no choice but to see him. )

Do you know why people look up to the north star? I'm sure you're aware.

( as the captain of the astrology club, he should. not only that, he sees the star motifs that the other tends to have, too, which makes coupling them so much easier. )

[... yeah.

yeah, pretty much; he never puts too much thought into it, because that chapter of his youth has turned its page, but yeah. subaru kicks his feet a little, closing his eyes.]

As a guide. One of the brightest stars in the sky, Polaris is the most northern fixed star in our world -- it's used even today to help people find their way. [a grin.] Fun fact for ya, Maddy, Polaris is actually three stars~. It just looks like one to us 'cause we're so far off. ♪

Yep.

( blame the way his name is formatted, but he'll nod. )

And so the person he's interested in is like his northern fixed star in this world.

( add said the stars here were slightly off, and so komaeda notes that with the way subaru talks about them. he closes his eyes to imagine what the stars would look like, but those lights are meaningless when he can see the subtle glow of hope around him. )

Ahaha, is P-kun your Polaris, too?

[his northern fixed star, huh.

... mm.]

You've got it wrong from the get-go. Natsume's his own fixed star, Maddy, he isn't guided by whoever he likes -- if he loses his way, I don't think he'll ask them to be his direction. [maybe

he's a little jealous, there. just a little. what good is he if he can't act as someone to pull natsume back to the right path...?] And that's the same with Boss. If anything, I wanna be their Polaris, y'know?

[...

it isn't that he doesn't trust them to be his guidepost, but... at the same time, subaru doesn't know if he'd let himself even get to that point, or if they'd notice if he did.]

He is? I've learned something.

( you only know you're a fixed star if someone looks up to count on you, there's no harm in saying that maya can be that for him too. komaeda laughs, looking to the side, oh how tedious idols tend to be, treating themselves as if they're more gods than man themselves. )

...You can't be their Polaris just yet, you haven't passed a few things. You're still in that phase where you'll break their heart, and you lack consideration.

( which is true, let's not forget how subaru has them all believing in this fleeting romance, but hasn't found a way to correct the error of their decision. though, that's not on subaru at all, but someone should be kinder, because npckun does depend on them. )

Right now, their Polaris is their brother.

[rocchan....

he leans back on one hand, balancing the container on his lap as he hums. the food keeps him happy enough, and... subaru knows. he isn't enough, he's finding what needs consideration through trial and error because it feels awkward to talk about it and keigo doesn't bring it up either so what else is he supposed to do? he can't be anyone's polaris, not in terms of being a guide anyway... but being an unstoppable shine someone will always see, always be caught by--

subaru can do that. it's what he's good at.]

Yeah, I'll give you that. Bet you'd make a good Polaris for 'em too, they seem like they really look up to you.

I'm not really meant to be a guide, because you have to keep doing it. I'm a boring bystander.

( that doesn't mean he's not there though, he's the person that could push someone forward, or end their lives depending on what he chooses to do. he's unable to be something bright that a person can follow, that's what ultimates are for. he won't change his mind on that bit, but he can be a little confused as bits and pieces of a small laugh leave between his lips. )

I couldn't take that spot away from their brother, it's his, something he's yearned for all this time.

Why can't you share it? Like I said, Polaris is three stars -- it's not just one star, one person making up that bright shine, it's more than that! So I don't see why he's gotta carry it all on his own, even if he wants to be that for them.

[there's a heavy burden that comes with expectation! with guiding. some people don't mind it, they enjoy it, but it feels like an itch that won't go away to others.]

Guess he is sort of a loner kinda guy, though.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

DECEMBER EVENT/TDM

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bulletin board updates

12/20 - 12/24 finals week

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