[SO THIS POST SHOULD HAVE IDEALLY GONE UP like a few weeks ago--maybe this is backdated maybe there was a time anomaly maybe I'm a bum maybe he was sick and got better then got sick all over again--whatever doesn't matter: POINT BEING... Here is a video of a scruffy blonde man with bright green eyes that upon very close inspection have decidedly rectangular pupils. You probably aren't looking at that minute detail though since the general state of this man looks very obviously ill. He has bags under his eyes, a faint sheen of sweat on his brow, and snot running down his pinkish-red nose. His voice is rasped and stuffy but that's okay he's going to pretend like nothing is wrong.]

HEY EVVE. [There's a long sniff as he tames some nasal drippage with the back of his shirt sleeve. Rick that's gross.] I tallied up the score and I'm pretty sure I got you beat. You can ask everyone I kissed over the holidays for proof.

Based on our previous--[Hold on he's gotta sneeze. Sneeze he does and he makes absolutely no effort to cover it. Rick that's gross.]--'scuse me. Our previous arrangements I believe that means you owe me a whatever I want.

[While very pleased with himself, the feed tapers off with Rick coughing up a huge wad of phlegm and spitting it off screen. Rick that's gross.

Yes that's right. Everyone Rick (or Ishimaru for that matter) kissed... or touched whatever he might have touched... you might want check yourself for some sweet sweet mono or wintertime ick. It's going around.]

It's rare to see an institution that caters to all levels of education. I remember hearing that years ago this academy was only for high school students, but since then they've offered classes for younger and older students. Maybe for some people, staying in one place all the time is what's comfortable for them. I don't know if I could stand doing that, though.

Anyway, to get to the real meat of this post: Would anyone like to eat out with me next weekend? It's my nineteenth birthday on the 22nd. It's an unusual year to celebrate, I admit, but turning nineteen does earn me a few privleges in the city.

((spoiler alert: the outing gets relocated to within the school due to ice cream blizzards))

[As far as Christmas is concerned, Aoi is KIND OF POOR but she tried. Most everyone she is at least vaguely friendly with got donuts. Really awesome ones from a specialty bakery (it has probably become her favorite place in the entire world). Hope's Peak kids got nice cards to go with their nice donuts. Isn't that nice.

AND THEN she came down with Ishimaru's death flu how did that happen.

The death flu is, of course, the reason this very important post is all text. Nobody wants to see or hear someone with the death flu over the network.]

If you hang out with someone and study and watch movies and things on a regular basis, are those dates? When it's just the two of you and you think you might be more than friends, I mean.

How many dates before he is your boyfriend? I'm not very good at this.

Francine leaves to visit family on the afternoon of the 24th and does not return until noon on the 26th, but before she goes she sends her presents out (or if you're Aoi, delivers in person because mailing something to your own dorm room is silly). Her presents are as follows:

( Chihiro, Aoi, Sable, Clear )

[ Francine very nearly opened her post with "Since when did we have ghosts on campus?". Thankfully, by the time she finished writing the whole thing up, she realized that, hey, maybe there actually were ghost students enrolled in the school, and she edited the opening to be something a little less ignorant. ]

What happened the other day? There was a large influx of ghosts for a while, but then they vanished as quickly as they came. Should I expecting that sort of thing for other upcoming holidays as well?

Apparitions aside, I've been making my candy haul last throughout this whole week. I've seen people gorge themselves in one night and get utterly sick the next day, and that is not an experience I wish to go through.

With all these holidays coming up, the weeks leading up to them are going to feel empty. I trust that the academy will find some way to fill the time with excitement? Preferably without floating desserts and spirits.


( Letter to Max, via school mailbox )

[Voile has probably never looked so 'deadpan' when addressing the network, but in all honesty, it hasn't been the easiest time. In spite of raining donuts, which she went out of her way to avoid to the best of her ability.]

I have two things to bring up, which I'd meant to sooner, however wasn't sure when would be the right time.

I would like to host a contest for the end of this year, consisting of winter fashions, much the way the first contest was held. Based on various strengths of the competitors and featuring prizes this time around that will be more appropriate than some of what was offered previously.

For this, I'd like to enlist the assistance of one tall and somewhat muscular person, and one smaller, petite frame for some tailoring and advertisement purposes.

I'm also curious to know if there's anyone who continues to be interested in occasional Host Club gatherings. If so, I'd like to be responsible for those if no one has any objections.

[Were you having a nice, quiet morning, Smash Academy? Well, you're not anymore, because at some ungodly hour only utilized by people who wake up at balls o' clock to work out, a shriek comes over the network.]

EVERYBODY NEEDS TO WAKE UP RIGHT NOW.

IT'S RAINING DONUTS.

[That's it, that's the post.]

I really do miss Nabooru... She was such a great friend to me. I really wish she were still around to hear this, and since we got back from Angel Island just as all the bad stuff was happening around here I couldn't tell her. But...

Knuckles proposed to me. We're getting married!

[ For the first few seconds of the video feed, the blue and white rabbit sitting at the computer is briefly distracted by her hair, lightly brushing it into shape with a paw. Francine's not entirely sure if any stray hairs would even be visible in the feed, but she'd rather be safe than sorry. Quickly, she turns her attention to her audience, sliding her paws to her chin as she begins speaking. Though she seems to be trying to act casual, there's a hint of an annoyed nervousness in her body language. ]

...My. I did not expect the school to erupt in an uproar only hours after I arrived. If this is what I can expect from this academy on a regular basis, perhaps I've gone in over my head by coming here!

[ She laughs this off as a joke, though her tone is not entirely convincing. ]

But I should reserve my judgement for when classes begin. It feels surreal to have to return to school life so soon. Karat, I've been spending this week just regaining my wits and preparing for class. Invasion or not, it's no good to be a disorganized wreck right before classes start.

Anyway, my name is Francine, and I'll be attending this school as a college student, karat. I'm not quite so busy today, but I think I'll be staying in my room tonight. I suppose I could spare some time to chat if you drop by, however. Otherwise, you'll be seeing me in classes tomorrow. I'll be the one with the stylish blue hood. Until then, ta!

[ With a wave of one paw, Francine turns the camera off with the other. ]