[With this murderer business wrapped up, media interest is going to wane - and fast. Luckily, somebody knows how to keep money in his pockets for a little while longer. Even if it means stooping to awful levels.]

With all these hearts plastered all over the walls, I'd say love is in the air. So if any happy couples want a little something special to remember their Valentine's Day by, I'll be having a little makeshift studio set up in my classroom. Buy a romantic picture of you and your sweetheart and cherish it always. All that bullshit.

So stop on by for a photo shoot tomorrow between noon and 4 pm, and make some memories.

[Never let it be said that Frank West isn't a huge sellout.]

( This might get long.. Also, it could be contrived as gory. Read at your own discretion. )


[OoC Notes!

Long story short: Caim killed the Kraken and pretty much displayed his killing by leaving pieces of it everywhere for people to find. So the dormitory halls, the classroom halls, the unlocked classrooms, the cafeteria, the bathrooms? Yeah. They all have at least something, even if it's really small. If you skimmed the narrative (which I wouldn't blame you for), then just note that the head of the Kraken can be found put on display in front of the main office for the Hands.

For those who did read the narrative, Caim's reference to the Seed of Destruction can be seen here. It might be a bit spoileriffic for anyone who doesn't want to know, so don't click it if you're trying to avoid everything. (Also, it's a bit graphic and not for the faint of heart, I suppose.) This is one of the last things Caim actually saw before he came to the academy. /useful tidbits of information

Also, for those who don't know who the Kraken is, you can take a look at this here, which I used to reference a lot of stuff in this narrative.

For those who may wish to confront Caim (as he didn't go in disguise for this) once they've discovered it's him (or if they've known all along), you can either contact me about it, or form up a mob (as I'm sure more than one person would like to give Caim his just desserts). I'd be happy to work with anything as long as I know beforehand.

Additional Notes:
I understand this may come as a shock to a lot of characters (and possibly players). If you have any issues with it or questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. You can leave a note on my HMD, or send me a PM, or contact me over AIM (afkmkdirarf).]

[With all the DEAD BODY STUFF going on this might be a bad time. Or the perfect time. Either way, someone has to keep the school going on through a time of discomfort. FRANK'S HERE TO TAKE CARE OF IT until he can but this dead body case wide open and get all the scoops.]

It took a little longer than I was hoping, what with getting my dorm patched up after those pranksters trashed it, but I got the photos from the masquerade up. The good news is everyone looks great in them, which is only natural when you have the right photographer. The bad news is some wise-ass photobombed every single one of them. I don't even remember seeing this guy anywhere. Anyone know who to thank for that?

Here's the gallery. Anyone with a school network account should be able to access it.

[And who is the mystery photobomber? Some tall guy in a suit and tie. His mask is pretty unusual as it makes him look totally bald and faceless... But maybe it's just a bit of motion blur. Who knows.]

[Oh, a video of everyone's favorite hyperactive, idiot trainer boy. But something clearly isn't right. His cheeks are tear-stained, there's a bright streak of blood across his forehead, and most disturbingly, his hat is missing. Something clearly is not right.]

There's something everyone needs to know! I'll tell you what happened, alright?

This afternoon, I took my Jumpluff out to go train in the forest near the school. While we were out there, I found something really, really disturbing. If you're sensitive to stuff usually, you might wanna not listen...

[Gold leans in towards the camera with wide eyes.]

I FOUND A DEAD BODY.

That's right! I really did. Deep in the heart of the forest, just leaning up against a tree. He had a big... gash in his stomach and he had bled so much. I didn't know he was dead or if he was just unconscious and I don't know how to check. My Pokemon and I, we carried him into the city and to the hospital.

[He starts tearing up a little bit.]

It's sad... I started thinking about if he had a family or who was gonna miss him now. They told me that someone probably killed him and he was probably... that he had probably been dead for a couple of days. [Deep breath.] I'm really freaked out. I just want everyone to know SOMEONE DANGEROUS IS OUT THERE!

( This part is private, sent to his followers in Sinnoh )




...The symphony "The Planets" refered to the titular celestial bodies by traits associated with their mythical namesakes. The suites bear those as names. Bringer of Aging, Bringer of Contentment, Bringer of War...

According to legend, humans knew not of war before the god of war introduced it to them. We know this is false. And yet it speaks of much. Through this we know that humans have long believed themselves to be incapable of creating something so horrific. That they wish to view themselves as inherently innocent, despite consigning themselves to willingly worship the one who brought them such terrifying knowledge. They simultaneously saw themselves as above and far below that god.

And now it plagues us. All that we do, all that we are has been touched by violence. Peace is considered impossible. Oftentimes, the very thought of peace is ridiculed as a dream, a fantasy. And because of this complaciency, war is accepted. The slaughter of millions, billions through history. What discoveries have been lost? What countless stories have been silenced forever?

We want to believe that we are acceptable. That we are moral. Yet there can be no morality when such things are only clucked at with a muttered "somebody should do something" and no attempt to be that person. When we are taught that we must serve our countries and that such servitude is the utmost honor, that those who do are automatically "heroes" regardless of their behavior. No, I say! A hero cannot be one who takes lives because they are ordered to! That is nothing but a common villain!

And yet we have not yet realized that as a species. As a world. We still consider ourselves willful slaves of that imaginary god. The Bringer of War...that is only us.

[The video feed shows the aftermath of some kind of war zone, involving eggs and condoms and rubble everywhere. It pans slowly over the carnage, silent but for the distant sounds of night traffic, and then turns around to the holder of the camera. He looks. Kinda pissed. And still in his tuxedo from the Masquerade, as he just got in.]

Pardon my French here but what the fuck is this?

[END VIDEO.]

If anyone's planning on dressing as a zombie for Halloween, give me fair warning. Or wear reflective tape or something. The undead and I kind of have a history and I don't want to be responsible for any unwanted decapitation.

You know, just a precaution.

( Well no one said it was easy, all of this is private action-ing )

Hey does anyone know a way to get real good at public speakin'? Or makin' speeches? Real fast?

Like, seriously. I think I need 'em stat.

Uh, hi! I'm Mr. Wright, your new political science teacher. I transferred from Capcom, though I was only working part-time there. I'll be working full-time here. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

I look forward to teaching political science here. I'll try to have office hours open every week, or you can e-mail me to set up an appointment.

Umm, okay, I'm not sure how to go about saying this... Did anybody else get an invitation to a blind date?

Maybe nobody here minds, but... I do! I can't go on a blind date! I'M MARRIED!!

But the way they're phrasing this makes it seem as though it's a mandatory event if you were given the slip, so I'm not sure what I should do, but I'm thinking I should contact someone and let them know that I can't date someone if I'm actually married and definitely in love...

I DON'T WANT TO GOOOOOO!!!

[Vianca, as per usual, has not been using her network account very much. She checks it frequently, but her replies are few and far between. This is not a surprise.

She's taken to something new now, when she's not tucked away in the dustiest corners of the library or putting bandaids on people in the nurse's office.

Sometimes you can find her outside sitting on a bench somewhere on campus. On one side of her there is usually a tall stack of books. (If you look closer, they seem to be about ~*~magic~*~ and things like that.) On the other side, there is a peculiar little staff, though it probably looks familiar if you've ever gone to see Rhys. She picks it up sometimes and tries to do something with it, but often ends up going back to her books after a short while.

Being in the middle of campus sure is prime for botherings. WHAT UP.]

[Hey, who's this guy on the network? He's got the look and feel of some kind of big-shot celebrity. Maybe he is, somewhere, in some time period. He's known well enough to the Capcom kids, anyway.

Probably.

Behold! He speaks!]

Hey, Smash Academy. Name's Frank West. I'm the new photography teacher. You might recognize me as one of the reporters who hung around after that alien invasion back in '09. Just because I transfered over from Capcom doesn't mean I want any trouble, got it?