![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
🎉 if i celebrate, i want to offer my heartfelt and honest congratulations
Who: Norton Campbell, Nagito Komaeda, and open to anyone who'd be willing to offer Komaeda birthday wishes of their own volition
When: April 28, after class
What: 3rd floor, music room
When: April 28, after class
What: 3rd floor, music room
Arriving
( so, it's like this: nobody likes komaeda.
well, it seems that way a lot of the time, from what norton's observing, and the unfortunate fact of the matter? no matter how absolutely off-his-rocker insane he's been acting, he... well, real or not, he didn't seem to be a bad guy in those memories norton has of him. try as he might, he can't simply act as though they don't exist either. so instead, with a sigh of defeat and an important date that he'd learned in those strange memories in mind, he'll go about collecting those who seem to be... more tolerant (even if that's a generous way to express it) of komaeda lately.
he's already arranged for the most reliable chef he's yet to meet in this school to help by preparing a birthday cake, (and learned quite a bit in the process, actually,) and he's let the others know where they should gather. so, when norton decides it's about time to drag komaeda to the survival club's meeting room for some kind of survival club-related excuse of a reason, there should hopefully already be at least a couple of people there and waiting for them—including one boy holding a white cat who may or may not look a little out of his element.
his voice is soft, but as the cake and the small collection of people he's managed to gather come into view, norton offers a smile. )
Happy birthday.
01.) ♡
( so... how will you greet the birthday boy? tag-ins will be assumed to be for komaeda, unless otherwise indicated! )
closed leave me alone im killing you closed @ norton I HAVE TO KILL HIM
of course, komaeda turns on his heel towards the prospector, and he points one finger at him — if he can dismiss those feelings like they weren't there, play it off like he didn't do that. especially with how quick his attitude changes, sighing as if he's disappointed in this already... )
"Happy Birthday"?
( he sounds like he's waiting for an explanation, but there's just not enough time to do so as he speaks up again. )
Just because you're lonely doesn't mean you have to use me as an excuse to bring them together.
( his words hardly have a bite to them, but it's more of a comment to redirect the situation somewhere else. yeah, he's onto you norton, he's onto you! )
...That's what I'd say if it was the case, really, you're really wasting your time going this far for someone like me.
:3c
Whether it's a waste of time or not, isn't that something for them to decide?
( following komaeda's example, he doesn't offer the space for the other to answer, nodding in their direction instead. )
And it doesn't look like they agree with you there.
( he looks pretty satisfied with himself as he says it, too. though, through the show komaeda is putting on, norton feels like he's beginning to understand something, however small, about him. his expression softens for that, smile warm and sincere. )
...It's fine. You should be able to enjoy yourself today, at least.
stop
( he knows better than anyone he'd be born on such a complicated string of numbers, and it all feels unlucky to him as he thinks about it. it's hard getting out of this though when norton is more than aware of the truth behind his birthday, and he's starting to think these heat haze days memories are turning against him. he doesn't give him time to answer though since he already knows what the other could reply, so it's useless. ) I'm an adult, everyone stops celebrating around 21.
( who says that? listen, he's not complaining, yet he's pulling at straws as a sigh follows afterwards. there is one thing that stands out to him though, and he crosses his arms right over his chest as he speaks. though as he does it, he seems a little uncomfortable as he repositions one arm on the outside, and sighs deeply. )
I'm not going to celebrate any of their birthdays, neither yours, because scum like me knows this really means nothing. ( but he's willing to compromise, especially when he's compromised. ) So you take it.
no?
( he comments simply. really, it'd be better if komaeda picked one and stuck to it until it was refuted—at least then he might look like he actually believed in anything that he's saying. for his part, norton looks rather amused with the whole ordeal; he doesn't let the pity show, mind you, only an expression as if he's watching a child try to make excuses for why they should be allowed to open their christmas presents early. it's like that as komaeda continues on. )
I waited my turn fair and square, so you're going to have to wait yours, too. On March 19 you can get me back for this. For now, well... you've been saying that even someone like you wants to be able to let people's "hope" shine, haven't you?
( something along those lines, he's pretty sure. )
I'm sure this counts, so you should take credit for it.
you listen to ME
Last month, how unlucky... ( he pauses, thinking on a response until he hears hope being used against him — hm, how manipulative. ) What is this? Harassment? You're doing well at it, I didn't take you for that type of person.
( besides, something like this wouldn't feed their hope, and instead, it gets in the way. though, komaeda has always preached that overcoming such hurdles made their hope shine brighter. )
What I'm trying to say is that if it's my day, I make the rules. ( yep, yep this is how this works. ) Happy birthday, Campbell-san.
make me !
( about the harassment, that is; really, if there's anything that paying proper attention to people can give him, it's the ability to terrorize them. it's just, you know, not always recommended to actually do that. not something he has the chance to do, you know? with komaeda, though... yeah, he deserves it. just a little bit. and that warm smile of norton's looks more like a shit-eating grin from this angle, not gonna lie. )
Well, anyway, I'd prefer if you'd make things easy just this once, but I guess if it has to be that way...
( he has to resist the urge to roll his eyes. )
Since it's my day, I've decided that we're going to be celebrating you anyway. You've already given up your right to decide, so you're just going to have to accept it.
i will ill kill you
( the immediate shock passes as he sighs, looking off to the side, and while he doesn't mind celebrating — he doesn't want to be the topic. it's unfair, if you ask him, why does he have to do something he has no recollection of enjoying in the past? despite having to accept what's been done, komaeda finally looks back to the other as he looks him over from the expression he wears to his build. )
Mmn, not like that's a bad thing. Aren't I lucky to have someone like you...
( his expression softens, but for how long until it changes? well, he better accept it for now until it disappears. ) How did you manage to get so many people here? Last time I checked, they're pretty sick of me... I'm surprised they can stomach being around me, oh, the same goes for you. I'm sure I make you uncomfortable as well.
no subject
( really, it's kind of cute how komaeda tries to push aside a celebration of himself, if a little sad at the same time. what matters is that norton is rather stubborn in his decisions; komaeda can't do anything to him, and even with all of his reluctance to accept such a show of affection from those around him, the fact is that it appears to have struck some kind of chord with the other. that's enough for norton. )
Anyway, the most uncomfortable thing you do is put yourself down, frankly. There's no need to bring up anything else at a time like this.
( because that's a lot to unpack and we don't need to get into it in the middle of an already lame according to rika birthday party like this. norton instead raises a brow, expectant. )
'Cause if they're here, it's only because they chose to be—and it looks like they disagree with your assessment judging by how many have stopped by.
no subject
( he wouldn't be surprised if the roof caved in, or this room miraculously exploded due to some other bombs beneath the floor panels. there's nothing out of the ordinary if he watched each and every person drop dead, one by one without even a warning because of how things work around komaeda. if he had to decides his feelings on the matter, komaeda would have to say he doesn't know what he should feel — it's complicated, unsorted and pretty messy by his standards. is he happy? is he upset? nothing comes to him easily with the way he's blocked out his emotions, or how they've become so numb over the years. )
Can't fault them for what they don't know.
( he chuckles sheepishly, sighing right after as he glances at who is all joining the party. to be honest, he wouldn't have expected half of them... maybe just a few.. two.. or one. )
Just wouldn't want all that blood on your hands if they were to die right now.
no subject
That's not a laughing matter.
( is all he says. but, glancing away, he recognizes that... the young man beside him now seems to have such a morbid way of thinking. this isn't the first time he's made such suggestions, and all norton can bring himself to do is sigh, bringing a palm up to his forehead because he's tired, honestly. and also because he can't run it through his hair when it's covered by a hat. )
And anyway, nothing's gonna happen. Pretty sure we've had enough bad luck to last us a while now, so maybe you're due for something good for once.
no subject
( he hums in thought, not really willing to give his opinion on the matter. to him, komaeda could say many things are good luck, but in turn norton would find them to be bad. that's the type of life that they live, and what makes them different, so he can understand the way he's put off by komaeda's comment. it's fine, he doesn't mind being comfortable with his own train of thought. )
Why are you standing here? ( he looks up at norton, indicating that he's doing something wrong, and which he is. let komaeda help him by pointing it out so that the other doesn't have to come face to face with it himself. ) You should enjoy yourself too, and here you are standing next to me like a lump on a log.
( taking a step forward, he points towards the cake on the table. ) I want you to eat my share.