🎉 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

closed leave me alone im killing you closed @ norton I HAVE TO KILL HIM

[commences]

( if you blink, you may miss the shortest moment where komaeda actually appears to be shocked by the arrangement, his eyes widen and the expression is out of his element. he couldn't remember the last time he was put in a position like this, nor can he remember this many people in one sitting even going this far, it's just... really unfamiliar. his lips twitch, almost curving up, but he tries really hard to not let his feelings slip through so easily, but some are mindful than others so whatever has been betrayed is already out there. especially when you work hard to seem like a horrible person around here, but mostly because of his obsession with hope and etc.

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.

[unsurely]

[ The boy holding a white cat does very much look out of his element, which is... honestly, because he is. And it's still an improvement from what he was doing earlier, standing stiffly with "Lily May" in his arms from the moment that Norton offered her, telling him to make sure she won't leave before she's had the chance to be part of the celebration. It makes sense, really... it's a cat, so there's no reason she'd understand that they're waiting for Komaeda or that they want her in this room specifically for a little longer, but... that doesn't change the fact that Saihara doesn't know what to do.

Even from the way he's trying to pet her right now, that's plenty apparent, his own fingers dodging clumsily around her face as she's trying to do... whatever she's trying, really. This was Enh's idea, blame him. ]

Ah... Happy birthday, Komaeda-kun.

[ He lifts his head when, after a while of waiting, Norton does appear with the intended guest, adding his own wish in a quiet, soft voice intermingled with the others. If Lily May is kind enough, maybe a mrow of recognition can be heard in the mix as well, idk Enh said Ori said we can NPC the cats so I'm going for it. She perks up in Saihara's arms, watching attentively as things happen in the room around the familiar figure she's spent time with before, and eventually... it's their turn.

Careful not to drop or disturb her too much, Saihara holds Lily May up with both arms as she swishes her tail and meows again like in greeting, eyes trained on Komaeda's face. She's climbing on him instead at the first chance she gets, she is smart and Ready. ]

H-Here... I don't know a lot about cats, but... I think she's trying to say it in person too, right?

[dokkans]

[ Okay, she has no idea who the hell Komaeda is. Bonnie either hasn't been paying enough attention or hasn't really cared too much to learn, but since there was something interesting going on, there was the knowledge of a survival club, and there was cake... how could she say no?

So, surprise! A newbie's here to give greetings! ]

Happy birthday~! ♥

[ now wheres that cake ]

this is an open

[contrarily]

( because, despite this being a komaeda birthday party, she's not actually here to wish him happy birthday. no... norton told her about the cake, and about how there isn't going to be a lot of people, so she can have more than one slice, and so... she attends, despite not harboring any particularly positive feelings for the birthday boy. he's kinda annoying, alright? and weird. and talks about stuff she doesn't understand. and smells like a grandpa. and doesn't wash his hair. and probably a lot of other stuff she's too lazy to list here, but the POINT IS

when she arrives, she ignores everyone and beelines straight for the food table, no ifs and buts about it. )

Hey, did you guys bring the cake out yet? I'm hungry. ( she calls over her shoulder, to nobody in particular — before spotting it. it looks... well, it's fine, she wasn't expecting bakery quality, or anything...

so she takes a slice onto a paper plate and turns around, stuffing a piece into her mouth. )

This party sucks. Where's the music? Has nobody here attended a party before? Jeez.

[closewithnewintown]

[absolutely unfair to spring a birthday on her so soon she usually has WEEKS to prepare her perfect gift. but that's okay she can make do. after all, all she needs is a piece of white construction paper and some colored pencils.

the card she, beaming proudly, hands to him is Big. at the top is HAPPY BIRTHDAY, in big bubble letters and decorated with little hearts. in the middle is a weirdly photorealistic drawing of Komaeda, looking very sane and happy because she has taken creative license, with the white cat curled around his neck. at the bottom is a simple "Love, Stephanie" and a drawing of a white calla lily.]

Happy birthday! Um, it's the best I could do on short notice! I hope you like it!

♡ for the emotional support bastard ♡

[mermaidcursed]

( now, the truth is... nene's still mad at komaeda. he pulls her into weird, sketchy stuff and then rants about hope and murder and causes so many problems. all of it on purpose.

but she meant it when she said she doesn't hate him. so when norton asks for her help, she happily agrees! she even tries fishing for information- what flavors does he like? color? it's very important, you know! and once the time comes, she's ready. the cake is smoothly frosted with white and green (and she absolutely, lovingly bullied norton into helping with the frosting. he didn't even know about the crumb coating...) and she has a second, softer bundle in her arms. there's little she can do for wrapping paper in this place, but. well. hopefully he'll like his new blanket? )

Komaeda-san! Happy birthday!!

closed, open, idk, leave me a comment and i'll write us sumn! c:

[commences]

( think of this an an infinite wildcard and whatever rolls for the birthday boy might be chaotic so good luck. )

[crystallomancy]

( ...Nagito Komaeda isn't Natsume's favorite person, but he isn't his least favorite either. He's frustrating to figure out, but some of the things he says sets something off in Natsume's head, little ghosts of days gone past.

Not literally, as if they'd ever been friends in this high school, but echoes of other people he knows.

He's pretty much keeping to the back, using the excuse of two certain girls being here as his reason to be here, but if he catches Komaeda's eye he'll keep their gazes locked just long enough to imply a 'come here' before it shifts away, back to watching Nene and Stephanie.

...What, like he'd make this easy? )

open

[trialbyliar]

[Cake is a pretty solid excuse to come to a party, even if said party is for a lunatic weirdo. It's not 100% true, but "I wanna keep an eye on this freak" is a lot more likely to start a debate he doesn't want. That one doesn't really fit his brand, anyway.

So yes. Cake.

Kokichi's seated himself on the edge of a table, kicking his feet while he digs in hungrily (he's always hungry, lately).]

Ugh, gross. Who made this? It's waaaay too sweet. I can't handle sweet things, y'know.

[Whining not aimed at anyone in particular. He's just gotta be his normal annoying self.

(And of course, he doesn't actually stop eating it.)]



((ooc: also feel free to hit me with a wildcard starter if you prefer!!))

you know what this is

[futurebullets]

[It's taken a lot of convincing from undisclosed parties to get Hinata to show up, but he has enough affection for these certain undisclosed parties that he was swayed enough to make an appearance.

He has a lot of reasons not to. Out of anyone, considering just how much baggage he has with Komaeda Nagito, Hinata certainly has a lot of reasons to not show up today. Things already felt so complicated when it came to him, but now since they've been in this school, things feel even more complex...

But he didn't necessarily not want to show up. After all, even if he says it every chance he gets, Hinata doesn't actually hate Komaeda. Only wishes that he did.

It would make life a lot easier, if he did.

Throughout the party, most of his time is spent keeping an eye on things, expression either turning grumpy or pensive depending on what happens to be unfolding at any given moment. But eventually, when there's a lull in activity, Hinata will steel himself and walk up to Komaeda.

In spite of himelf, he kind of hates that he doesn't have a present. But his nerves shyness? are more overpowering than his lack of gift, so Hinata finds himself struggling to maintain eye contact for long.]

...Hey. [His voice is steady at least, even if his gaze keeps darting away from Komaeda.] It'd be weird if I hung around and didn't say anything considering what day it is, so...

[He forces his eyes forward, face just a little hint of red.]

...Happy birthday, Komaeda.