yogen | 🎉 if i celebrate, i want to offer my heartfelt and honest congratulations

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🎉 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

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! )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Explain my unhappy situation.

( his unhappy, pitiful situation that he's in because that's how komaeda took his words actually — but it doesn't make sense if he knows there's problems because... komaeda can't really go to the courtyard. strange, roku~n's strange to him. well, that's normally the initial feeling when you don't know anything about the person talking to you, and this whole time komaeda's been running with it naturally.

instantly, he beams with joy, delighted to explain his thoughts. )

Huh? Which side...? Haven't I made it obvious that hope is here, and that's where I go. ( but that doesn't mean he wants to be here, and so far his mindset has been following hope to encourage those around him in not giving up so that they can escape. but a vague answer is a vague answer, so it's something he leaves open to interpretation for his companion, and the conversations dies as fast as his smile. his lips purse into a straight line, and he almost looks like he's pouting with the way roku~n squishes his cheeks. ) When you say it like that... maybe it is pitiful, our situation, if they're going to die without witnessing the tremendous hope they could bring about... or they're weak.

( he pauses. )

Is that why you stay by me, Roku~n? Do you want me dead? ( ... ) For your hope?

[ Not even a side, but a person is what he means. There's always one person who comes out on top, that much was apparent in the graduation ceremony last month, and his feelings towards that isn't so much hope or despair as it is... ]

I don't want you dead.

[ He squishes Komaeda's cheeks a little more, pushing up towards the eyes like I do with my cat and her face gets all squinty and it's very cute. Being able to play with somebody else's face is a very blessed thing. ]

I want you to open your eyes, and remember.

( but komaeda wants to die himself, it's always this cryptic speech that means nothing to him. at this point, he's a follower than a leader, and that means doing what roku~n is asking of him isn't... in his design. open his eyes and remember what exactly? is that truly warranted when he's giving his life to hope, but it'd be unlike him to leave something at that. )

Remember...

( not komaeda going though lily may tingz, which he allows as he stares at the other — he really has the cat aesthetic down from doing just this. congratulations roku~n. )

It's my birthday — ( he starts, using it as an excuse. ) So refresh my memory, or should I ask them? ( as in the satanists, they look like they might have an understanding. )

"Them"?

[ noooooo FORGET ABOUT THE SATANISTS I can't believe I'm going to have to find a satanist oc, I know nothing about satanism I'm going to be disappointing so many people ]

Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that. You'll remember in due time, if you just keep being you ...not like it needs me saying, though.

[ He stops squishing and simply holds Komaeda's face in his hands. ]

I hope that when you do, you won't think too badly of me.

You said you don't paint, right? My blood is worthless to you, but maybe to them...

( sounds like he's thinking about it, BUT KOMAEDA WON'T DUMP HIM FOR A SATANIST... i'm crying, not you pulling our your satanology book, me about dragonology actually. )

Haha, selling yourself short? I may not listen to you, but someone else will.

( let komaeda try and pull roku~n's hands off, he's not really used to things like this, so he can only deal with it for so long. besides, who knew he could be so affectionate? must have not been able to do this for awhile. )

Saying that... it makes you sound responsible and that this was unavoidable.

[ Roku~n just hums in his throat instead of answering Komaeda's question, letting go of his face and doing everything he can to resist wiping his hands down on the sides of his pants, gross, he really wants to go home and hop in the shower. ]

I won't claim full responsibility, but we all play our parts, don't we? But never mind that— I did get you something.

[ Before the courtyard, lockers first-- ]

I don't know if you'll like it, but I want you to give it a try.

( he's insane... he's fucking insane, omg, these npcs are insane, komaeda about to girlboss his way out of this one, he might get stabbed at the locker or something... oh these students ain't right. )

...

( as suspicious as that is, komaeda's smile doesn't falter as he slows his pace, allowing roku~n to walk ahead of him. he's curious though, eyes glancing up and down to check if there's anything on his attire — paint, the color red, or any definitive traits that makes him different. )

There's time I can't get back, so there's better ways to have my attention than wasting my time. ( he pauses. ) Are you about to become bad luck for me?

[ KOMAEDA calling my sweet good npc Roku~n insane???? My good kind totally normal npc who isn't bloodied in any way, who wears a black cloth wristband around his left wrist and has one of these cute keychains hanging out of his right pocket that's attached to his house keys, all my npcs are deliberately plain and normal, please. ]

Don't be silly... It won't take that much time. You don't even really have to do anything.

[ His gift to Komaeda is jammed pretty well inside his locker, notebooks bent and a jersey squashed in a corner to make space for the present he pulls out of his locker and presses into Komaeda's hands. ]

( tell me you're not sitting there LYING TO ME like this, he was npc# 66666 for a reason, and even his cute keychains are ominous? maybe the people in 3-b isn't the cult, the true satanists are the friends you meet along the way... anyway, how is he not insane when he's??? responsible for something? insane... )

I'm too worthless to do anything, I already know th — oh..?

( let him look to see what roku~n's locker number is right quick and at the little things that he has before getting comfortable with the weight of his gift. he blinks slow, head canting to the side because at face value, it appears to see... a miniature log? unluckily, komaeda doesn't stop there as he looks it over, fiddling with it to see if it has a lid or a secret switch that opens a locked compartment first. komaeda does like solving mysteries... or perhaps he's taking this too literally and it really is just a genshin mat log. )

This isn't anything to break the game's balance, is it?

[ Sometimes your keychains are cute and then you're forgiven of all things, it's fine. His locker number is 001 and his things are pretty normal school supplies and a jersey, and several half empty water bottles that he should either finish or throw away.

The log is a normal log. Made of wood, no secret compartments. ]

Huh... I don't think so? You could probably use it to your advantage, but it's really just something extra to help you along.

( wait.. is that clean... NORMAL water..... might be talking the secret language here... well at least komaeda knows what locker to rob if things get tough. )

...Where did it come from?

( how is it... supposed to help him? and "probably"? don't tell me he gave komaeda a piece of junk, i am crying. )

I wonder... I guess it's great for attacking people with, but why would I need this?

[ It's either blood water or fake pink lemonade flavor packet water, but no, not normal clean water. ALSO DON'T BE RUDE ABOUT HIS GIFT cherish it ]

I mail ordered it, so don't go breaking it over somebody's head. It'll ruin the surprise if I explain it, so just hang onto it, alright? Someplace dark like your locker is fine, and it'll be fruitful if you have some patience.

( THEY'RE CANNIBALS? omg... it's all coming together... no wonder there's no red and they fight for it... AND STOP KOMAEDA IS CHERISHING IT... JUST... he'll even think of a name for it. )

It's unlike you just to buy something without checking its type, so you have to know that.

( you know, just in case it matches the wisteria tree or something, but komaeda doubts that. he sighs, keeping his small smile as he turns the log in his hand trying to identify any scratches or anything weird. )

Also, please hand over your jacket... I'll keep it tucked away like you did.

( he's waiting with his hand held out. )

[ Loooooooooookk sometimes you grew up on pink salty water and that's all you ever knew ]

I'm saying I custom ordered it for you but I'm not telling— don't go burning it either, that's not what it's for.

[ He begrudgingly hands over his jacket, though, by which I mean he sets it on top of Komaeda's head instead of in his hands. It looks similar to this, with a little two-headed crow stitched onto the left breast, and on the back are the numbers 06. ]

( you know that meme of the man blinking his eyes because he's concerned, that's me looking at that sentence right now. )

It'd be a waste to burn it si—

( as soon as the jacket is put over his head, it obscures his vision, but he carries on as if he didn't do this at all. her remains unbothered, chuckling softly as he leans towards roku~n, canting his head to the side while keeping the log close to his chest. ) ...nce it'd last one night, and where would I even get anything to burn it?

( oh, now that he thinks about it. )

I guess rubbing it against something is an option, but... Okay, okay, I'll keep it safe. I'm not good at tending to plants, I should warn you.

[ It's better that Komaeda has nothing to set it on fire even if Roku~n's gut reaction is to offer something to do it, but he snaps his mouth shut and messes Komaeda's hair through the fabric of his jacket. ]

Lucky you it's already dead, huh? Seriously, all you have to do is keep it safe. At least make it to the end of the school year... think you can do that?

That's suggesting I live all the way until then.

( that's what he meant by patience. specially purchased item where he has to play the waiting game to see what it offers him, but that's ironic given the fact komaeda seeks out his death almost every day. )

Is this something you should really give me, Roku~n?

( as he says that, he lifts one hand to lift up the fabric of his jacket so he can view him with at least one of his eyes. ) What about Kudo-san, she seems pretty lively for a first year and you know her.

[ Maybe he won't live for himself but he'll live for a log, okay? Either way, Roku~n shifts his shoulders a little, somewhat uncomfortable at Chiaki being brought up. ]

It's not something she needs. [ Not that it's something Komaeda needs either, but he can't see Chiaki cradling the thing in her arms and wrapping it in fabric just because he gave it to her. ]

Besides, she would probably set it on fire, or bludgeon my face with it... [ MMMM he shakes his head before he can start imagining it ] It's your birthday, not hers, anyways. Did you want to go back to it? We don't have to wash outside.

( excuse me if this ain't a hope log, i don't think so. what's this, why is he shifting, is she his crush? is that what's going on here. )

I get it, because you'll always protect her. ( gottem.......... ) You've done it quite a few times already, well, the talentless have to look out for each other when they can.

( but wait, he's not too concerned with what chiaki would do to him if she got her hands on it. she's a little feisty, so maybe she's just out for blood when it's available to her. she is an art student after all, and no. )

I thought you really wanted to wash out there, we — ( you, as in him. ) can go. Besides, after what you did... what if everyone starts to think I enjoy having white cream all over my face, ( honestly wish i didn't have to type this, but it's said in a lighthearted tone that comes to him with ease. ) and then I'll have to admit you made a mess of me.

[ He has to stop and think about all the times he physically held Chiaki back from punching Komaeda's face in, who's protecting who?? ]

Let them think what they want. [ He says, in a slightly pleading way that suggests he's just saying this but please don't. But he closes his locker door and spins the dial to relock it before leading the way to the door to the courtyard so he can hose them down, but—-

? ??

He rattles the door handles. ]

...Huh? Did they lock up early for break?

( ok... roku~n a freak, what the fuck? who SAYS that?? crying... anyway, stop, where was he when he was punched in the stomach? nowhere!! )

How unlucky, this is always what happens.

( finally removing the jacket from his head, he's cradling in his arm first, and repositioning the log second so it looks like a child. not the intention he's going for, but roku~n did say keep it in the dark. )

Does that mean you're trapped in here with us too? How great! ( how is that? remotely great? well, it'd be nice to see how well roku~n fairs as well, and how long he'd last. ) It's good for all of us to be together.

( he peeks through the glass of the door, seeing the outside — )

[ Roku~n could not have stopped that punch, please,,,

It's a normal courtyard outside, a nice sunny day with a slight breeze that makes the wisteria tree branches sway and wave at him while Roku~n gives the handles one last futile jiggle before stepping back. ]

No, it's not. They probably locked the courtyard early, but it's not like they lock the front doors until the last of the teachers leaves.

[ It's a back door, and no skin off his nose if he can't get outside, though he'd rather not have to walk home covered in frosting. ]

Come on, let's just wash up in the bathroom. We can water that thing while we're at it.

( he just didn't want to... he's a sadist that likes to see komaeda in pain.

it's nice out there, huh... there's a question on komaeda's mind, and casually as he steps back from the door after looking out. )

When will the weather change, I haven't seen any rain... or even snow, a little change of pace would be nice sometimes.

( now he doesn't want to say he heard things last night, but i'm not saying i don't think they're living in either the 7 layers of hell or the bermuda triangle from all that noise. )

A storm would be nice, to live every day with clear skies... that's just asking for something bad to happen.

( oh wow, that thing? hey, he has feelings... don't talk about him like that. which, komaeda's covering it entirely in the jacket since roku~n is just... mean and hateful, damn. maybe it's shy??? ) Apologize.

For what?

[ It's a log.

And after spending the last five months having to trudge to school in the snow, he's glad for clear skies and sunny weather— until it gets too hot, and then RIP everybody because the windows don't open. ]

Roku~n.

( bullying a log? not cool. but he's waiting, apologize to it. thankfully, komaeda takes his "for what?" about the weather. )

Having such great weather for that long would be immensely good luck, but the bad luck that follows after...

( he sighs. )

We should have a few storms, don't you think so? ( time to dig into the pockets of roku~n's jacket while he thinks on that. )

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