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

[nortonnnn]

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! )

Comments

[commences]

( bro, that has GERMS on it, jesus christ, roku~n please.... please put that back. )

That's thinking too selfishly, besides someone pathetic and worthless as me has no reason to dream —

( that's the truth actually, because it was something that actually happened to him. the rest if just his self-deprecation coming into play like usual. ) Fantasies can't apply to me, haha, so fulfilling hope is a reality at least...

( about that though, now that he's put that into perspective. )

If I recall, isn't the eye of the storm the safest place? ( um... why is he.. bro is he really about to wash his face with blood water? which komaeda doesn't care, but you know so many people have told him not to do it so roku~n can have it all to himself. )

[adsum]

[ First of all, two second rule. Second of all, it's in a box, so take that, germs! Also stoooooooopp it's like a drop of blood in the ocean, barely enough to be noticeable, though he does stop to stare at Komaeda before splashing his face. ]

I'm talking about sleep dreams, Nagito...

[ What are you going on about!! pathetic and worthless, p l e a s e ]

But yeah, the eye of the storm is safe— but only while you're in it, and while you're in the eye you're surrounded by danger from all sides.

[commences]

That's what I mean, why would I have those when I have hope. ( he walks over, watching roku~n clean his face with the water — he does that so effortlessly, like it's natural. of course it would be, but komaeda wonders if the smell even bothers him just a little. )

Is there a reason you call me that...?

( confusion laced in his voice, he blinks slow before drawing back from him. with a sigh, he thinks on the idea of it, but that seems to easy — way too simple. too good to be true, and besides, that's just one of the many theories behind why did komaeda hear what he did? it doesn't make sense, and while he's curious of what the reason may be, he continues on like nothing is on his mind. )

Anyway... that's only until it stops, but what are the chances of surviving the fall...

[adsum]

What?

[ He echoes the confusion, blinking water out of his eyes and dripping somewhat on the floor as he gropes for the paper towel dispenser mounted on the wall so he can dry off his face, ball up the wet paper and make a toss at the trashcan— bank shot off the wall, good enough. ]

What are you even talking about, Nagito?

[commences]

When the storm stops, tornados, things like that. You aren't safe from the fall either... so the safety in question was never there...

( he's mumbling that to himself as if he's coming to some sort of understanding, but it's all very confusing when he doesn't have enough information. sure, he likes to look into subjects that makes no sense, but the position they are in now only raises more questions. sadly, even komaeda doubts he can confide in the information given to him by roku~n either, and the possibility it's probably something to throw him off — just like the log is an idea, and he shakes his head after. )

Why are you really here? ( a pause, a swift change in subject. ) Everyone hates me, what do you want by being this close to me?

[adsum]

[ I spent like half an hour looking up birthday presents and decided that a log was the thing to give, Roku~n gave it at least as much consideration, probably. It's the least he can give, with how important Komaeda is to him? Even if Komaeda doesn't remember, even if Roku~n sort of slows and stops everything he's doing and stares at his hands for a moment before reaching for another paper towel to fold up and dampen with water so he can wipe off Komaeda's face with it. ]

Who says everybody hates you? I'm here because... [ Because he wants to? ... ] ...because I made a promise. A long time ago, so you probably don't remember anymore— no, you definitely don't, but that's alright.

[commences]

( what PROISE? he PROISED? that's a little worrisome, especially with this log, it's extra worrying. with the damp towel touching his face, komaeda closes one eye depending on white side the other is cleaning. he should be used to this after all considering he doesn't actually take care of his hygiene due to his mental health. is he going to catch something from this? doesn't it have the smell of blood... well, not like any of that bothers him. )

... A promise?

( he leans into roku~n's touch, allowing him to clean his face properly without any struggle. )

What do you have to do to break it? Maybe I can help so that you don't.

[adsum]

Hmm... Die before you, I guess? That's not something you need to help with.

[ Not that he thinks Komaeda will go out of his way to keep him safe, but Komaeda's lifeline is short enough as it is that there is little to no way he'll outlive Roku~n unless the latter gets jumped in the hallway and stabbed by a selectively mute murderous little boy. ]

...there we go. [ One last wipe, him lightly pinching Komaeda's cheek through the paper towel like grandmas do with babies, and he's done. Nothing to do about all the frosting in his hair or clothes, but at least he doesn't have to send Komaeda home with cake all over his face. ]

[commences]

( HOME??? HE CAN'T EVEN GO HOME. die roku~n. like, don't die, but die. )

I'd never make a promise like that —

( it sounds unrealistic, even the idea of living together with someone considering how much his luck has thrown a wrench into even witnessing a future like that? he would never. as hard as he thinks about it, he smacks at roku~n hand when he pinches him so that he can stop. )

Because I don't make empty ones.

( is this why roku~n takes care of him like this even though komaeda solely uses him for information? it's not an easy task considering they all talk so cryptic, but he sighs softly as he continues. )

How about we promise now, for old time's sake?

[adsum]

[ He can go home if he tries hard enough! The void is right there, in just a couple of ic days. But also, yeah, what information has he even gotten out of Roku~n... ]

Hm... A new promise? What of?

[commences]

( stop??? he has to stay alive for the log, apparently... the tree log, not the event/tdm log... slaps knee. anyway, he has to have him trust him first bro... he can't just go in and get information off the bat... unless. )

Open your eyes, Roku~n, you should already know.

( komaeda seems thoughtful when he says this, almost like he has something planned. )

Unless I have to tell you everything, then that really gets boring...

[adsum]

[ Roku~n does the opposite of opening his eyes, which is to squint at Komaeda. He doesn't mind boring or being told things outright, but ]

Promise me I get my jacket back someday, and I'll promise what you want.

[commences]

Hm.

( he pinches at the jacket in his arms, and he doesn't think there's anything special about it. like.. unless it's cursed, but he sighs as he nods slow. )

That's pretty straightforward, then I should make my promise just as direct, huh?

( is he trying to say komaeda can't keep it? wtf.... thought they was besties. )

[adsum]

[ Do you ever own only one jacket perfect for 42-57F weather and all your other jackets are either too bulky or too thin and so there's a void left when you lose this one jacket? Of course he would want it back, you get your own jacket. ]

If it won't kill you to be straightforward for once, yeah.

[commences]

( actually komaeda does have his own jacket, but it's not everyday he can get a new one like the way roku~n has his. it's all nice, and...

what is that supposed to mean. )

You act as if I'm difficult, no one is telling you to stay around trash like me... ( with his mechanical hand, he reaches up, pinching roku~n's nose — hard, because he's not paying attention to how much strength he puts behind it — then after he pulls away before the other can smack his hand away. )

I keep hearing it: "Open our eyes." It's always said in urgency, but... graduation isn't coming fast enough, so if I wanted to open them right now... ( his words are soothing, soft despite the topic at hand. ) How would I?

( taking a step back, he proceeds to dig into his own pocket until he pulls out the yellowed chisel he keeps on him. looking at the blade, he figures that it'll be enough as he brings it up to his own neck, his intensions laid out bare. )

If I...

[adsum]

[ His entire body tenses, hands clenching at his side just short of lunging for Komaeda to snatch the chisel away with the belief that any sudden movement will spur Komaeda to drive drive the point into his neck and tear out his throat. The chisel isn't nearly sharp enough to do that, not like a knife, and if Roku~n interrupts, a half-hearted attempt would do nobody good.

So he breathes out and loosens his fists, tension remaining but redirected to the balls of his feet, the tips of his fingers. ]

...If you do that, you will never open your eyes again. You want to open them? Then keep surviving, and never stop looking.

[commences]

( it's a reaction, nothing too strong, but enough to tell komaeda that roku~n is affected by whatever he does. it's obvious from the small movements that can be gauged from his hands, and his eyes stare that for a moment before raising back up to stare at the other's expression. )

Roku~n... even you know that's not what I want to know.

( it's enough to force a bit of laughter from komaeda, even though the blade isn't sharp enough, he does press it up against his neck to feel the cold blade along it. he just has to use force, that's all, if he pushes in deep enough then maybe? )

It won't kill me to be straightforward, but you will.

( because he's doing this for him, after all. )

[adsum]

[ Who asked for this!!!!!

...Slowly, he extends his hand. ]

If you're going to die, at least be useful and die by somebody else's hands.

[commences]

Like whose? You can't really say yours.

( besides he's not an ultimate, and komaeda's not one to lose his life to someone beneath him, especially by someone here. if it's being useful, he already knows how to be, but no one actually understands properly. )

For hope, I would, you know that too if you know anything about me. ( he takes a step away from him, contemplating whether to push or not. he could just go for it, "open his eyes" as they say, but he's waiting for something. )

You have to help them, if you continue to treat us like children... their hope will diminish, and if you're why they fall into despair...

[adsum]

[ He lets his hand hang there in the air, unwavering, fingertips completely still. ]

I don't have to help them. Why would they want my help, anyways?

[ A nobody like him, who doesn't even get the honor of being called by his actual name, has no such influence in other people's hope or despair. He's just a guy doing his own thing, there's no way he's so self-absorbed to think he would influence anybody in that way. ]

If you want me to do anything, you'll make a promise.

[commences]

You know about our situation, and you're hiding information regarding it: "open your eyes," — what the hell does it mean? Is that not your way of assisting us or are you just another hurdle in our path; you lack talent so it makes sense why you'd lead us astray.

( he's speaking for the ultimates more than everyone else, but that switch in his attitude comes from how protective he is about hope in general. if roku~n has really dealt with komaeda, this might be something he's used to as well — constant flip in feelings, knowing the ultimate can never truly understand roku~n's feelings of why he does this or that. it all comes down to his use towards them all, and that's depressing. )

...?

( he pulls the blade away from his neck only a bit, just to show he's willing to make a compromise. )

What? Your jacket?

[adsum]

[ He shrugs. ]

Sometimes, life isn't a path.

[ Sometimes you just run around in circles doing the best that you can, but he doesn't say anything more about leading towards or astray from anything- or whether such a thing has any meaning here. ]

You hand. You offered to make a new promise, didn't you? What is it you want from me? Just say it.

[commences]

( and who is he to say that? well, he's right, the amount of hurdles that tend to get in their way makes their path just a instinct trail they need follow on their own. he stares at roku~n, thinking about it until he brings the weapon completely away from his neck, and with a small sigh. )

...

( a new promise, he did say that, but there's a problem before he actually can. )

I have to know the old one before I can make a new one, what's the point of doubling up?

[adsum]

...We were partners in crime, once, but if you don't remember that, you don't have to worry about doubling up. Take that as a freebie promise.

[ If it's any consolation, anyways. Promises can be one way? With Komaeda and his dementia, a lot of what Roku~n says and does and remembers feels very one way, but maybe the new promise will stick if it's something Komaeda feels strongly enough about. ]

[commences]

( partners in crime? it's enough to make komaeda laugh, it seems his own sins continue to catch up with him no matter what he does — though, that's not a problem to him. as long as it was for hope, he doesn't mind what type of crime it was they could have committed. )

I wonder... if I asked you to give your body and soul to me, and do every little task I say, would you promise that?

( to be honest, komaeda doesn't know how deep their friendship goes, or if roku~n is saying these things because of the advantage that he has. mostly everyone here is transfers with not much memory going for them, and he can reference to yesterday with izumi and chiaki. )

You'll be a stepping stone for hope, it's perfect!