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APRIL EVENT LOG/TDM
The opening ceremony starts at 8, with students and staff moving to the auditorium to sit with their homeroom class, calling characters out by name and dragging them over to their seat— physically if need be, and they're much stronger than they look. Much like the graduation ceremony, characters are not forced to come to the entrance ceremony, but the moment they take a seat, they find that they can neither speak nor get up again until the ceremony is over.
A teacher stands behind the podium on stage. Characters may recognize pieces of the speech from the previous year. He takes the time to welcome Yogen High's new students first, followed by acknowledging the transfer, returning, and repeat students. As he goes on, the teacher encourages students to instead focus on their own personal growth, and developing strong bonds that will allow them to reach their goals. He sighs as he explains that the Principal and Vice Principal are currently not available before he reminds students that violence is strictly prohibited and that there will be strict consequences for anyone who is caught engaging in misconduct.
The teacher concludes by noting that teachers will inform them of any important announcements. He wishes everybody a fulfilling school year, and reminds them that they have the power to shape the future. The ceremony concludes in a little under an hour, and the spell binding the students to their seats is broken, allowing everybody to rise and leave.
School lets out for the rest of the day with classes starting the next morning, and while many students take the opportunity to leave, some linger around the school.
A teacher stands behind the podium on stage. Characters may recognize pieces of the speech from the previous year. He takes the time to welcome Yogen High's new students first, followed by acknowledging the transfer, returning, and repeat students. As he goes on, the teacher encourages students to instead focus on their own personal growth, and developing strong bonds that will allow them to reach their goals. He sighs as he explains that the Principal and Vice Principal are currently not available before he reminds students that violence is strictly prohibited and that there will be strict consequences for anyone who is caught engaging in misconduct.
The teacher concludes by noting that teachers will inform them of any important announcements. He wishes everybody a fulfilling school year, and reminds them that they have the power to shape the future. The ceremony concludes in a little under an hour, and the spell binding the students to their seats is broken, allowing everybody to rise and leave.
School lets out for the rest of the day with classes starting the next morning, and while many students take the opportunity to leave, some linger around the school.
Classes resume as usual, and it's the same old routine, with gossip and rumors spreading about, and students growing excited over new club advertisements, and fortune telling ads in addition to upcoming events. In an effort to encourage students to form lasting relationships, the school has set up events for the first week with plans for smaller events throughout the month. The PDA logs have been wiped clean with the start of the year, and all messages from before 04/05 are gone.
✽ Tuesday, 04/06 will be a simple Welcome Back. The day will be dedicated to giving important announcements, including the events for the rest of the week, introducing students to clubs, etc. There will be a potluck with various sweets and snack items, along with time dedicated to getting-to-know you style games and other such activities.
✽ Wednesday, 04/07 will feature the beginning of a Team Building Scavenger Hunt! There are no items to be found, but instead students are given a list of tasks to complete and turn into their homeroom teacher. Examples include introducing yourself to a new student, doing something nice for another student, being asked to identify a specific student who fits a certain criteria, anything that can be used to encourage interactions.
✽ Thursday, 04/08 will feature karaoke night in the music room. There is a karaoke machine set up along with a screen set up, along with some CDs with all the greatest hits of the 90ws. There is a decorative backdrop set up along with party decorations. There are inflatable music notes, cut out notes, microphones, record albums, and instruments taped along the wall, and a box full of props for students to use if they so choose.
✽ Friday, 04/09 will feature a game night held in class 1-B. Desks have been pushed together to form tables and covered in cloths, and various board and card games have been set out for students. There is a TV with an N64 and Playstation set out along with various games.
Outside of classes, the days wear on, and students come in with bruises and scraped knees and elbows and bloody noses. They smear blood on the walls and drip it onto the floor, splatter it onto the mirror without meaning to, bringing along with it a sense of vertigo. Characters looking in the mirror may find that they catch sight of something. It's there reflected in the mirror, a shadowy and dark figure in the edge of their vision, but it the moment they look away it disappears, leaving behind only a chill in the air. The mirror room is almost unbearably cold.
✽ Tuesday, 04/06 will be a simple Welcome Back. The day will be dedicated to giving important announcements, including the events for the rest of the week, introducing students to clubs, etc. There will be a potluck with various sweets and snack items, along with time dedicated to getting-to-know you style games and other such activities.
✽ Wednesday, 04/07 will feature the beginning of a Team Building Scavenger Hunt! There are no items to be found, but instead students are given a list of tasks to complete and turn into their homeroom teacher. Examples include introducing yourself to a new student, doing something nice for another student, being asked to identify a specific student who fits a certain criteria, anything that can be used to encourage interactions.
✽ Thursday, 04/08 will feature karaoke night in the music room. There is a karaoke machine set up along with a screen set up, along with some CDs with all the greatest hits of the 90ws. There is a decorative backdrop set up along with party decorations. There are inflatable music notes, cut out notes, microphones, record albums, and instruments taped along the wall, and a box full of props for students to use if they so choose.
✽ Friday, 04/09 will feature a game night held in class 1-B. Desks have been pushed together to form tables and covered in cloths, and various board and card games have been set out for students. There is a TV with an N64 and Playstation set out along with various games.
Outside of classes, the days wear on, and students come in with bruises and scraped knees and elbows and bloody noses. They smear blood on the walls and drip it onto the floor, splatter it onto the mirror without meaning to, bringing along with it a sense of vertigo. Characters looking in the mirror may find that they catch sight of something. It's there reflected in the mirror, a shadowy and dark figure in the edge of their vision, but it the moment they look away it disappears, leaving behind only a chill in the air. The mirror room is almost unbearably cold.
Characters who look in mirrors will see the shadowy figure reflected in it growing closer to them. It's an odd sight to be sure, and the cold air it brings with clings to the skin, but even as they draw close they seem to do no harm. It's only once they're right behind a character that they'll begin to notice it - the cold that clings to them no matter how warm the room, the faint tingling of their skin, the sleepiness that settles in, and the whispers in their ear.
It's faint at first, barely noticeable if not for its persistence, but over time those whispers will grow louder; the coolness on their skin will turn into a cold that chills them down to the bone, and the unrested feeling becomes a constant fatigue and lethargy. The words and tone vary, as do the voices, but each and every one eats into the character. They might speak of a character's insecurities or guilt, or they might leave them with a sinking loneliness, or perhaps they promise the warmth and companionship that a character desires, or any other number of matters that so often tug at the mind.
The figures can be viewed through mirrors. Those with supernatural sight or an adderstone will similarly be able to see them following characters, latching onto them. Items that ward off the supernatural may help, but the only way to truly ward them off is with bonds formed in the school. The figures seem to be warded off by the presence of another person. The cold disappears with the slightest touch, the whispering stops during conversation, and for that time they're given a brief reprieve. But they often seem to come back the moment a person passes by a mirror once more.
It's faint at first, barely noticeable if not for its persistence, but over time those whispers will grow louder; the coolness on their skin will turn into a cold that chills them down to the bone, and the unrested feeling becomes a constant fatigue and lethargy. The words and tone vary, as do the voices, but each and every one eats into the character. They might speak of a character's insecurities or guilt, or they might leave them with a sinking loneliness, or perhaps they promise the warmth and companionship that a character desires, or any other number of matters that so often tug at the mind.
The figures can be viewed through mirrors. Those with supernatural sight or an adderstone will similarly be able to see them following characters, latching onto them. Items that ward off the supernatural may help, but the only way to truly ward them off is with bonds formed in the school. The figures seem to be warded off by the presence of another person. The cold disappears with the slightest touch, the whispering stops during conversation, and for that time they're given a brief reprieve. But they often seem to come back the moment a person passes by a mirror once more.
✽ The school will be hosting various smaller team building exercise throughout the month which can range from exercises to group projects. There are examples here, so feel free to pick what works best for your goals.
✽ The shadowy figures will appear more frequently where there is blood, fresh or otherwise.
✽ Characters who are isolated will find that they are more susceptible to being followed by the figures, and it may take longer interactions to dispel them completely.
✽ Items from the student shop that ward off supernatural creatures will aide in keeping the shadows from getting too close at first, but their effectiveness will wear off the longer a character is followed. They seem to be most effective when used in conjunction with interactions with others, and especially others who have similar items (i.e. a character with a silver cross and a character with a gold chain.)
✽ The shadowy figures will appear more frequently where there is blood, fresh or otherwise.
✽ Characters who are isolated will find that they are more susceptible to being followed by the figures, and it may take longer interactions to dispel them completely.
✽ Items from the student shop that ward off supernatural creatures will aide in keeping the shadows from getting too close at first, but their effectiveness will wear off the longer a character is followed. They seem to be most effective when used in conjunction with interactions with others, and especially others who have similar items (i.e. a character with a silver cross and a character with a gold chain.)
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[ How can Komaeda say that so cheerfully?! It's encouraging to see him acting like his usual self, the Fairy Godmother of Hope, evidently eager to make conversation, but was there no risk that Rantarou Amami's epic battle could have ended badly? Or did he have a gun to shoot whatever rampaging creatures he faced? That word, "ultimate" — just as he did when he spoke of his talented pianist friend, Komaeda utters it like a special title. What sort of ultimate position does Rantarou Amami hold, then?
Even as these thoughts rush through Alice's head, his feet resume moving to catch up; he isn't willing to let Komaeda out of his sight, knowing that today's plans involve wandering off into such a bizarre forest. That, and he's actually absorbed in listening, curious to hear the rest of the tale. It could be another story for the fish — without reenacting any epic battles and near-death experiences — if Komaeda hasn't already recounted it for them.
Moments after that thought crosses his mind, Alice catches himself thinking it so naturally. Of course the fish don't understand anything... Still, he can't pretend that he didn't come to look forward to those visits.
He will overlook the hotel prank incident. ]
Then... that's your destination today?
[ To retrace Rantarou Amami's steps? ]
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( what the x mentions of all things, what it symbolizes, and what he wants to use it for. slowly he begins to fold the paper back up as he turns to look at alice, a slow blink as he registers that he's still there. surprising after what happened still, you know, everyone's mad at him for what he's done. )
I bet you're thinking I shouldn't go to a place like that, because I can't save anyone if I tried.
( they're words komaeda believes as he says them despite the wide smile on his face, it's like he's happy with the conclusion and couldn't ask for anything more. sadly, he knows that alice isn't thinking that, and it's a narration created by komaeda's own whims.
all he does is bring disasters with his luck, and all he does is... )
But... I bet you're really thinking how you don't want me to go alone, and if I do I'll get hurt. ( pain is natural now, his body is numb to all advances, and even if he's stabbed...
it doesn't hurt much. it's like he's not a true human anymore even though he is, but he's not a monster either if there's a choice. he's nagito komaeda, scum of the earth, and as pathetic as they come. )
Please don't put yourself in danger by following me...
( he doesn't want to hurt alice either! )
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There's no alternative anyway, is there? No matter what he says, Komaeda's mind is made up, so he'll go through with it, searching for whatever he expects to confirm in the forest. ]
How unfair...! You started such an epic tale, yet now you want me to leave before you've finished the story?!
[ These are the only tactics that Alice can think to resort to, and it's not a lie that he's wondering how the story ends. Arguing about the apparent double standard when it comes to danger wouldn't work, he suspects. ]
Besides, it's faster to carry out your search with another person. You merely need to provide a more detailed description.
[ He's caught up, technically no longer following Komaeda, since he's accompanying him now! ]
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( when it comes to these stories and positive outlooks about amami, alice has never failed to make komaeda proud in the conversation. it's the same thing as always where the individual looks up to another person because of their title which he's noticed, and it stays true— komaeda thinks very positive of ultimates, but never keeps the same feelings about others in what they've done. for the story, if alice knows natsume well enough, could he really imagine him the most troubling and confused party? )
It's pretty interesting... ah, let's see!
( the map comes undone again so they can have a full view, and he hands it over to alice to have so he can lead the way as he walks along with komaeda. it's a colored map that's been taken from the survival club of the entire forest, useful for if someone was to ever get lost. darker green meaning where the forest gets thicker, and a lighter green which could mean the light pierces through, leaving shadows over their body as they walk through; shapes of all sizes, and if they look up the light will blind their eyes to the point they need to squint. the warmth that rests on the back of their neck would be nice at least. )
As our one hero and lackey walk forward, they were right to be wary of the shift of the trees... behind them were a shimmering of gold, and in front was the flash of blue! It surrounded them at all sides, so I bet you could only imagine what did they do next...?
( two steps forward, and a hop, he reaches out to grab alice's wrist, a gentle tug so they're finally walking into the depths of the forest. just like the map states, this area is lighter, and so the sun peeks through against them. )
Amami-kun takes the initiative for both their lives by pulling Sakasaki-kun towards the glowing blue— he holds no trust in the gold for it had always brought disaster, and so his adventurer gut thought to follow the brilliant shade like the sea... and to him, that's what's safest! They make their move by going further and further until...
( his eyes glance over to alice wanting the other to guess... )
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At Komaeda's prompting, Alice offers his guess, trying to match the story's tone. It needs to be appropriately epic! ]
Until they came face to face with their foes, lying in wait to ambush them?! A blue betrayal!
[ That makes the deer gang from hell sound like a pack of predators, which doesn't sound right, but this isn't a normal forest, and its wildlife is undoubtedly just as bizarre. For all they know, those very same creatures are lurking among the trees as they speak, seeking their opening to strike!
As he and Komaeda head onward, deeper into the woods, Alice can't help but cast a more nervous look around, though he sees nothing shimmering gold or flashing blue. The dead leaves under their soles produce the only rustling that he hears. ]
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( it makes alice sound like he's soooo close, that he's almost right in what was found by amami and natsume. with komaeda here, the ultimate turns around on his heel so that he's walking backwards in front of alice. luckily with every tree they pass, somehow komaeda manages to avoid walking into them even with his eyes steady on alice. like a cat trained to watch what interests them, pale green never move away from the other, but sometimes they flick down to the map curious if they're still going the right way. )
A solid white deer covered in thousands of eyes, their burning gaze fell on both Amami-kun and Sakasaki-kun... like an angel you'd see out of the bible... Ophanim! Legs like an arachnid, antlers that stuck up like antennas that could sense your fear... there's no way they could outrun it!
( the wind blows making the leaves rustle, and it gives the illusion that something is chasing them, or steadily following. alice will hear the crunch of twigs by his direction, but komaeda can see behind him but not hear as well as he can since he's too busy narrating the story, but with alice so attentive... there's no way for him not to hear what's off with the forest around them. )
That legendary beast stands in there way! Posing a problem by blocking their path...
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A-And then?
[ He whispers it, speaking in hushed tones because he's certain that he heard something out there just now — rustling leaves signaling a presence pursuing them, the sound of snapping twigs that give away its approach. The edges of the map crease in Alice's hands. ]
Wait— Did you hear that...?!
[ It's absolutely impossible for his ears to be mistaken! He and Komaeda aren't alone out here, are they? It's just like the story, as if they really are retracing Rantarou Amami's steps exactly!
What should he do — pick Komaeda up and run...? ]
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( grand storytelling at it's finest, a wish to continue so that they can reach what could be the climax of the story, and what the biblical deer did to them, or what they did to it! amami is the hero of this tale, and natsume his lackey, so they can only wonder what amazing acts the other were able to do together. sadly, his story comes to a close for a moment as alice begins to worry, filled to the brim with ... fear? it can't be because komaeda just told him they're not supposed to show fear.
he stops with a branch cracking under his heel. )
Huh? I didn't hear anything... ah! You're so attuned with the story, you're a physical empath! Such an ability could come handy here... Don't do that with Amami-kun though, you can share with Sakasaki-kun!
( he's still protective over his ultimates as he walks over to pat alice's shoulder to change victims or well, hero to victim, in this case. there's only so many people that komaeda will allow to take an ultimate's place, but he doesn't want alice to do so— that overwhelming love, lack of freedom, and weight on his shoulders of carrying everyone's burdens doesn't suit the other.
from all the talking, alice will be able to tell the sounds from before are no longer there, but doesn't mean that they're gone. )
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Alice lets go of a breath held too long, shoulders slumping. ]
...Since I don't see anything that looks like a legendary beast, either, perhaps you're right. You can continue telling your story — I was paying attention to every word, even if I won't forget to observe our surroundings diligently!
[ Instead of lifting Komaeda up to sprint off with him without warning, Alice smooths out the creases in the map as he examines the dotted line leading to Komaeda's planned destination. What will they find...? That creature? Or was the deer guarding something? ]
We won't encounter more worms and mud as well, will we?
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( "okay the monster i had envisioned is a cross between https://yokai.com/oomukade/ and https://oceana.org/marine-life/giant-pyrosome/ both alluded to by the worm/centipedes in the murky void school. in the void school version it'll look like the oomukade (giant centipede, aggressive, venomous bite, impervious exoskeleton) and i didn't expect any of them to kill it or anything but if they hurt it in any way and return to the normal school that could be a way to get it to rise up from the depths and it'll look like the pyrosome, this giant tube with 35894023 or however many student corpses all bunched up inside and it's just very very slowly digesting students and squeezing blood out bit by bit, it also can't be killed unless every one of its cells is destroyed all at the same time but also don't hurt the pool monster it's only eating already dead people, it doesn't come up to hunt people swimming on the surface." this was the information said by ori at the time. )
I was thinking about dealing with it... since it's what turns the water here red.
( turning around, he's facing the same direction as alice, and standing right beside him so that he can see the map. they're almost close to where they need to be, and on the map there's three tildes that overlap one another, and it's a few ways off of where they are. perhaps it's inscribed in a tree, or a rock, but of course it is. a marker much like the cairns around here from time to time, and as soon as they find it then they'll find the giant red X.
as they move, it's the same as when they were at disney— this time, it's not komaeda's coordinated steps. these are out of sync, and the rustle of leaves makes it sound as if whatever it is is trying to catch up to them.
...
out the corner of alice's eye he'll be able to see something out of the ordinary which seems like a bone that protruding through one of the bushes, pretending to be a branch.
or maybe it is one.
... )
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The... giant centipede creature? But we don't stand a chance, trying to defeat something like thaaaat!!
[ It's a noble cause, but that creature is huge and deadly... Physical strength isn't enough to overpower it! And it probably isn't picky — even someone as thin and sickly as Komaeda could look edible to a hungry monster! Smoothing out the creased map becomes pointless as its edges scrunch together in Alice's grip again, though it fortunately doesn't obscure the important points marked on the page. Preoccupied with the thought of the horrors that await them, if they return to the mud-filled version of the pool sooner or later, Alice isn't scanning the map anymore, not at the moment.
He's staring at Komaeda's fluffy head, hunting in vain for something to say that would persuade Komaeda to take greater care, an echo of smothered worries. It's then that those ominous sounds reach his ears again, closer and closer, gaining on them. He glimpses something that his mind likens to powerful antlers, not harmless branches.
Now he does spread his arms wide with the intention of dashing through the forest carrying Komaeda the whole way if he must, for fear that they'll risk getting separated if someone falls behind. They won't show any fear, of course, and they have a head start! His voice sounds strained from the effort of keeping it steady and quiet, but he isn't afraid that they'll end up gored by some kind of mutant beast at this rate, worse than a stab wound! ]
W-We're almost there... yes? I've been jogging with Jou Tazuna and the others lately, so if you hold the map, I'll run like the wind!
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komaeda laughs at alice's concerns, taking a few steps closer to him as his arms are spread open to what seems to be his fear leaking through. he guesses that the worm is one frightening tale, and then already having to hear about a gigantic deer with too many eyes and too many legs, and way too many antlers.
it lingers in the corner of alice's eye, the appendage that stands out could be compared to an antler, but there's no visible velvet along the lengths of it. the extension is rough in appearance with a worn cream color, discolored shades of brown around the curve, and a dip in the surface. it's bone, there's something with bone here. )
You want to carry me? I can tell you the rest of the story, sure! Or maybe my plan with the centipede! Hm... but yes, we're almost close... just straight through and left!
( his arms part open, close again like a child making an attempt at flying as he instead reaches for the map. with it in his hand, his eyes drop down to the contents of it. )
In Amami-kun and Sakasaki-kun's story, it was a skeletal wolf that jumped through the bushes, attacking the deer by the neck!
( as if on cue, a snarling noise erupts from the bushes that shudder from movement, revealing a bone-like creature with sharp pieces of cartilage digging into the ground. it's like green electroplasm that contorts and wraps around the entity, making up the wolf's appearance. the jaws raise up to show a crown of teeth despite the ethereal body see through. it's back body reared, helping it so that the moment it jumps it can take at least one of the two down.
it's found two snacks. )
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Uttering an odd strangled squawk, Alice springs into action, whirling around to scoop Komaeda into his arms bridal style before breaking into the fastest run he can manage, whether or not it makes any difference. Standing around frozen in fear even a moment longer would cost them dearly, and it seems that he's the only one shaken by this latest unpleasant surprise, but he refuses to let the wolf have them for breakfast! No doubt it's thinking that they would be plenty to feast upon, one after the other... ]
Yes! Tell me everything!
[ The story, the plan — as long as they live to get through the morning and make it back to the school, Alice would even agree to visit that disgusting pool again. He'll dig a thousand holes!
He doesn't dare look over his shoulder, and he can't hear anything besides his own footsteps now as they thud against the ground, their pace frantic. But then, if that wolf is close behind, snapping at his heels and seconds from pouncing on its prey, he'll find out soon enough. All he can do is implore whatever luck might be on their side to hold out, to lead them to a diversion, safety... Anything!
Straight through and left — that's where they need to go, right? Hoping against hope that they'll reach the spot with their limbs and everything else intact, Alice repeats the directions to himself over and over. ]
no subject
this is actually exciting! )
What good luck! We got to see it up close! Look, look!
( he wants to share the sight of the wolf snapping at heels, the sound of bone knocking together every time it feels close enough to clamp down on alice's legs. this is truly a sight to behold as komaeda throws his arms up, amazed by what's taking place. )
This could become part two of the story! Getting the chance to live in Sakasaki-kun and an Ultimate's adventure... this doesn't happen every day! Actually, this didn't happen to them...
( as alice keeps distance between him and the wolf, the creature jumps up in order to use the trees as boosters in speed by pushing itself off them to catch up quicker— alice can hear a loud snap behind him, something wet hitting against the back of his neck.
is that sweat, saliva, or just rain? take a wild guess.
looking up, komaeda notices a few hanging limbs in front of them, and so he reaches up to grab one (which breaks off easily into his hand), and he leans forward to smack at the wolf's muzzle. there's an annoyed cry, but it's growling grows wider—
alice will notice a tree with three tildes, just like on the map.
...roll a d20 for me. )
roll: 15
[ What part of this is good?! Yes, Komaeda seems to be having fun, apparently excited to see that wolf, but as far as Alice is concerned, the beast is much too close for comfort, going by the relentless alarming noises right behind them, and he isn't interested in seeing it up close any more than that. If such an encounter didn't happen during Rantarou Amami's epic adventure, why is it happening to them?!
"Straight through and left" feels out of reach; Alice knows that he can't keep up running at this speed indefinitely, but they can't afford to slow down, least of all when the wolf's sharp teeth almost sink into an extremely unwilling neck. It's even slobbering, isn't it...? It's getting ahead of itself!
There's barely a second to rejoice, and Alice doesn't have the breath left to thank Komaeda for his quick thinking to distract the wolf, buying them some time. Three tildes... Through his hair, Alice squints at the tree bearing those markings — it clicks then. They're nearing their destination at last, which acts as a push, lending him renewed energy to escape the wolf's wrath.
If only the map indicated that some nearby landmark would provide shelter. ]
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terrifying growls come from behind, the wolf wanting to come closer as teeth snap together, but there's a loud whine as it looks at the pooling land before it. reaching out with a paw to step down, but find the quagmire to be too much as takes a few steps back as though ready to use its back legs to jump. it's at that exact moment there's a loud crack coming from the trees, and the one with the marking begins to lean... and lean... and lead until the middle of it snaps where the tilde like drawings were (which must have been someone cutting into it) and... timbeeeer!
the tree collapses down on it's side, barely missing the wolf which is quick to jump back, and the ground shakes underneath them dangerously as if it's ready to split between them. it doesn't cause alice to sink any faster, luckily, but komaeda is concerned about being in his grasp when they're stuck in this situation...
out in the distance however alice can see what appears to be a military truck parked next to a few trees, and various leaves covering the bulk of it but the front lights bulging out like proptosis, but they should be happy it's not a giant insect which komaeda claps his hands together as he drops the stick onto the ground; sinking into the muck.
...
... )
You should put me down...
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The wolf must be thinking along the same lines, reluctant to follow them across the wetter terrain, at least, and deterred entirely once that tree topples over onto the path, so that is good luck, in Alice's view. All that matters now is that they don't sink all the way into the bog, and he'll gladly take it over getting closely acquainted with the wolf's teeth! He stops to look at Komaeda, now that he can, hesitating.
The chance to catch his breath isn't unwelcome while his lungs burn; the rise and fall of his chest is too rapid, much like his racing pulse, and discomfort pinches at his side. Swallowing against a wave of mild nausea, he's aware that he's sweating, and the stretch of ground left to cross looks no firmer or drier than what he's waded through so far. Komaeda really wants to be released here? Right now? ]
But you'll... Your feet...
[ Wouldn't Komaeda prefer to stay clean? The ground is almost as bad as the pool!
One thing is a reassuring realization: the large leaf-laden shape standing out among the trees up ahead doesn't appear to be anywhere near submerged. Why a military truck would be sitting abandoned in this forest, however, is a new mystery. ]
...Ah— I honestly hate this, but there! I'll put you down over there!
[ And with that, sufficiently recovered, Alice trudges towards the truck. ]
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( opposed to the fright and terror that alice was susceptible to, like a rat in a maze with a cat attached to his scent. he's sure that's how they appeared to the wolf, dying to eat, forcing its bone-like body to move through the underbrush to catch the prey that manages to get away. the creatures here are smart, brighter than most people that komaeda has met so far with how it thinks a few steps ahead and using its instinct to try and catch up with them.
it really is like they've chosen a lucky path, narrowly escaping the maw of a terrifying beast that couldn't wait to break skin and bone with a muzzle clamped against their thin bodies. alice must have been the main course, and komaeda the appetizer with their builds so vastly different— if giving credit to the creature's smarts works in komaeda's favor, indulging in bilious flesh would make the creature sick, and at least it would lurch violently in hopes to throw up what's left of komaeda's rotting corpse.
that's a good thing, alice could get away, and practically be past the bog they're wading through as the world continues to draw them deeper into its stomach. what was there to fear of a wolf when they're met with the true belly of the beast? alice the first meal, komaeda next unless alice switches positions, but that seems to be the last thing on his mind as komaeda laughs to himself. someone has to stay positive during the small chance that this is their last moment in life. )
Wasn't that amazing! You managed to avoid death's grasp! For someone who lacks talent, you are interesting!
( thrilled, he does frown at how far alice's body has sunk into the pit, and he smacks his shoulder to stop him. )
You have to stop moving... you'll get stuck, and I'm too weak to pull you out. There's other ways to defeat this enemy...
( yet, alice is so close to land...
can he make it or will he heed komaeda's warning? )
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Indeed...! I told you that I would run like the wind, and we've survived. It wouldn't do to sink into a swamp now...
[ It definitely seems rather deep... By the sound of it, Komaeda knows what he's talking about, and getting stuck would be a problem. It's already become harder and harder to move through the muck, which threatens to reach too far up Alice's body for his liking.
He stays still, expectantly. The sooner they defeat this cold, wet, squelching enemy, the better! And the sooner they complete Komaeda's search, the sooner they can return to the school, where they can shower and wash their garments. ]
Well? I've stopped moving, so I'm ready to listen to your idea!
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( his smile appears genuine, how he grins from side to side as he looks at alice to reassure his worries. it's terrifying knowing this bog could swallow them whole, but it's kind of like quicksand due to how weird purgatory works, and komaeda understands what they should do. he's been trapped before in its grasp before, so if the same rules apply to komaeda then they should for alice.
komaeda points up to the trees that dangle above them, limbs and large leaves and among other little business cocoons, and blue butterflies attached to them. they're nothing to worry about yet, komaeda staring up at them for longer than normal before explaining his idea. )
You have to pull down sticks and pieces of wood to place under you, and you have to lay on top.
( he reaches up, pulling at the thick limb that hangs down. a few more shakes, and the butterflies casually flutter off to the trunk of the tree— it's not that odd how they move in about fifty. it doesn't take long until there's a crack heard about them, and the limb drops right behind alice onto the swamp.
it hasn't sunk down yet. )
Make a path to where you need to go... you can roll against them to the other side! It'll swallow up the wood first before you, but in your case... you can to sit on the pieces and pull your lower body up.
( and out, but that seems tedious with komaeda in his arms, so he plays dangerously as much as he'd rather not— tries to pulls himself out alice's arms so that he can get into the swamp too. )
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[ That's right — Shin Tsukimi mentioned the Outdoor Survival Club as well, and it sounds like Komaeda has experienced its benefits. Such information could be very handy indeed! For one, the ill-fated detour a while back might have had a better outcome, with the right preparations... ]
What useful knowledge!
[ If it works, they're saved, close to making it out onto dry land! Following the movement of Komaeda's hand, Alice tilts his head back to watch the demonstration, albeit a little skeptically once the branch drops down. It's resting atop the surface of the swamp, but how many will it take to support his weight like a raft or a bridge? How big do they need to be for him to lie down on them without breaking them and falling face-first into this bog?!
Whatever the answers are, he can't take too long — they'll sink deeper and deeper. With Komaeda wriggling about to free himself, Alice finally sets him down, depositing him on the fallen branch. ]
...V-Very well... I'll make a path!
[ He reaches for branch after branch to pull down around them, taking care not to let the thick limbs strike Komaeda or himself in the head as they fall. ]
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Make a path for yourself first, I'm not as heavy as you so... I'd sink slower.
( which is to their benefit, and extends the time that they have in getting alice to safety. after a bit of shaking of another branch, there's a few nice sized leaves that fall down onto the surface, good enough for them to use to place on top of the branches.
he grabs a few, placing them om what alice has sat down so maybe it'll be easier for him to roll. )
Then you can tell people about your amazing tale of narrowly avoiding death!
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But there's no time to lose, and Komaeda sounds confident — it's worth a try, far better than staying where they are. ]
Three...
[ Finishing his countdown in silence, Alice positions himself to sit on the first few branches, and from there, he slides his body forward across the others before him. The rolling has begun... As Komaeda assured him, his legs are no longer lodged in the bog! ]
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he stretches his arms out in an attempt to balance himself, wobbling to and fro' while watching alice roll with all his might. some sticks sink into the bog, swallowing it hold when he notices alice pass one, and komaeda's only decisions is to jump just a bit so that he doesn't get himself stuck in the b—
yeah, that's not what's happening because one log turns under his foot, and he goes crashing left into the dark void of chunky dirt and water mixed — it swallows him whole.
...
whoops!
maybe the bog was waiting for this one...? )
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Fingers closing around air, Alice stares at the space where the swamp still shifts and squelches, but there's no sign of Komaeda emerging from it. The weight of the sludge might be too great, bearing down on his frail body. The unexpected fall might have been too much even for him.
Over the panicked thumping of his heartbeat, Alice urges himself to act now, or else—
It's not like diving into a pool to rescue someone; he can't see anything, and he can't determine how deep it is. If he gets back in, how can he be sure that he'll ever get out again? But he tries it carefully, slipping down from his muddy raft, reaching into the muck below to feel around for something solid — preferably Komaeda, preferably alive. ]
Y-You said you'd sink slower...!!
[ If he's conscious, can Komaeda even hear him? ]
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