. . . Hey.

[It's Gold! Looking as serious as Gold can look. His arms are folded, and his expression reads much less boyish-teenager-who-is-excited-by-everything than usual.]

I don't really know what to say, or if I should say anything about all the ... stuff that happened. I know a lot of people are still thinking about it, but I'm sure some people wish everyone would stop talking about it. So I guess I'll just say... I'm still freaked out. And if you're still freaked out, it's probably totally OK to be! ... Is that OK to say?

[Pause.]

Buuuut, on a totally unrelated note... [He brightens up a little bit.] Halloween is coming up! I know it's like not until the end of the month, but still! Is anyone planning any super sick matching costumes!? Or parties!? Or anything cool?

Fall just makes me wish Bobby were here. I wanna carve pumpkins with her. And talk about stuff. She always knew what to say. Or it was easier to sort out my thoughts with her around. I guess that's what you can expect when your best friend is a god?

But, like, hey! We should all totally carve pumpkins together! ... And does anyone wanna do blind dates this year!? [He wiggles his eyebrows. Then shrugs.] That's all I got.

[Normally Samus would be inclined to secrecy and mystery through either text or audio-only messages to the school's network; bounty hunter habits were hard to break and usually for good reason. However, this time she deemed it important to showcase her normalcy for what she was about to request, dry and unamused in delivery as usual;]

If I could get a headcount of who has and hasn't been afflicted with the latest outbreak of whatever strange and wonderful circumstance has befallen the school this week, I would be appreciative. I know it's probably been rough for a lot of you so far... but things like this in the past have never been permanent.

[I dearly hope that remains the case.]

Also...

[Samus squirms a little in her chair, uncomfortable. Been rough was putting it lightly... She has purposefully angled the camera so she and her cleavage the floor occupies the majority of the screen, though some of the background is viewable. Most of it is unassuming brick wall with scattered pieces of highly advanced, almost-alien looking technology along the periphery of the video. A sharp eye could determine she was not currently anywhere at the school.

...And that there was, very unknown to her, a golden feather lodged in her hair, easy to miss among her blonde strands.]

I'm-- [ASKING FOR HELP IS SO HARD] I need information on Pokecare. Of a Blaziken, specifically. And how Pokeballs work in the event of an emergency.

I'll be honest, all this stuff going on in the city is really freaking me out. I just want to say, I love all my friends, human or non-human! Pokemon, robots, werewolves, ghosts, Pikmin, whatever! I think you're all great and I hope you all stay safe.

I'm leaving for a little while. Not because I'm scared or anything like that! I'm just visiting a friend. I'll be in Hyrule and I'll have my PokeGear with me, if any of you guys need to reach me! I'll be back in like a couple of weeks, probably! Everyone, stay safe! I know I already said it, but... I mean it, OK?

I think Alorah and Maisy will be sticking around here at school, since I know they have classes and stuff...

Anyway... Bye guys! I'll see you all soon!

( [Private to Blue] )

Look, we all know this FDC riots business is bullshit. No one needs me tossin' my two cents in, but unfortunately, I feel the need to. All the fuckin' Pokemon trainers on this campus better keep a close eye on their Pokemon, humanized or not. Take it from someone who knows, you don't want to be sitting there, lamenting the fact that you were too late to stop something from happening.

It's not a good feeling.

I know my own can take care of themselves, but it's not stopping me. Bulba, Char, Jolt, Nyx. If you wanna go to the city at any time, I'm coming with you. I don't give a shit, we're going together. Not a single one of you looks especially human, so that's that.

So... Who wants to be my Valentine!?

Alright, alright, I know it's short notice, but, hey...! If you don't have a Valentine yet, you don't have to be Valentine-less!

[Also, on the morning of Valentine's Day:

Alorah and Maisy will receive two Pokemon-themed cardboard Valentines, signed by Gold. As well as a small selection of berries, and a sheet of heart stickers for the two of them to split.

Jon- Gold's roommate- will find himself presented with breakfast in bed. It's not as English as Jon may have wanted, but there's plenty of meat. And he also gets a Pokemon-themed cardboard Valentine.]

I had a bit of doing after the blizzard, fair amount of repairs on the Highwind. What trouble, that was. With it out of the way, however, I would like to thank everyone who helped out with the patrols, and the brave few setting paths between the buildings. Had there been an emergency, sending people out into the snow would've been a nightmare without them. I hope all of you remained safe, and have put that troubling weekend behind you.

Pokemon Trainer Gold, I want to send particular thanks to you and your Maisy. She showed incredible determination. Thank her for me.

[Hello Smash Academy, there is a guy grinning and he looks pretty happy.]

HOOOOOOO!

Christmas isn't really that celebrated in his city, apart from having a small gathering with family, but thanks to this school, Michel's feeling the holiday spirit this year, babes!

In fact, I've decided to do my own rendition of a classical Christmas Song!

[Oh no, why is this happeni--]

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air.

What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away

Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go gliding in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock

Mix and a-mingle in the jingling feet
That's the jingle bell,
That's the jingle bell,
That's the jingle bell rock

[....whyyyyyy]

♪~Happy birthday to me,

Happy birthday to me,

I ate too much ca-ake~♪

and I feel like it too...

[The camera flicks on to show a familiar view of Lyra's big dumb grin, though from what's visible of the background behind her, this is somebody else's room. ...Mac's? Huh. WEIRD.]

Guys! You're never gonna guess who I found! C'mon, Silv-- Rui, he's heading for the door again! Uh, hold on.

[Lyra ducks out of frame. There's some scuffling and some hard-to-make-out grumbling, followed by a few eager remarks from Lyra:]

No, c'mon, it'll be fun! How are you gonna make friends if you don't say hi? Oh man, Gold's gonna be so surprised!

[Finally, with another thump or thud or two, Lyra manages to drag her poor, poor victim lucky friend in front of the computer. Who's that surly-looking redhead? Care to enlighten us, Lyra?]

This is Silver, you guys! We're pretty much best friends. Right, Silver?

[Grumbled:] In your dreams, maybe.

He's a Pokemon trainer from Johto, like me, and he's really strong too. I know he looks grumpy, but don't let that Granbull pout scare you away, 'cause he's great. Dunno how he got here, but I'm pretty sure it's probably because he missed me that much. Oh, but don't let me do all the talking. Silver, here! Say hi to everybody!

[There's just a sigh from the red-head as he realized that with things as they are right now, the only thing possible for him to do is:]

Name's Silver, as she just said, and I'm sorry if my friends made your life a mess, those are things they commonly do, I guess.

[Yes, awkward is his middle name too apparently.]

[Oh look, its that one girl that was looking forward to the blind dates. She looks… well… She looks pretty pissed, honestly.]


Who the hell thought it was an acceptable idea to stand up my team mate for their blind date.


[... oh.]

I guess there's some differing opinions on the matter but... Well! I hope I'm not the only one that's excited about the blind dates! It's such a cute idea, I really need to applaud you on setting the whole thing up, Gold. I bet it's been taking a bit of work!

... It's just nice to have something a little uplifting to look forward to, you know?

[Ron looks very fidgety today. He is clutching a glossy flier in his gloved hands, rolled up and crinkled in the places where his hands rhythmically clenched and unclenched. He gulps, and takes a deep breath.]

G-Guys... um, hey... A-Are we really doing this blind date thing again? Because I don't want to do it, and... and... WHAT IF SOMEBODY SIGNS ME UP AGAINST MY WILL AGAIN!? [This screaming episode took a lot out of him, so he breaths heavily while he tugs at that paper in his hands again.]

I just really don't want to go this time! I didn't sign up, so, um... L-Let that be stated for the record! I refuse! Absolutely refuse!

[His hand slams down on the webcam, successfully turning off the feed.]

Hey, kids, older folk. I've been instructed to introduce myself to the people of this school, so that's what I'm here to do. My name is Cid Highwind. I'm your new transportation officer, to get you to sporting events or relief efforts. Whatever you need, I'm the guy.

But give me any shit on the ride, and you'll be taking your shoes back!

[Hey guess what.
BLIND DATES!
A fine Smash Academy tradition. And this year, after getting over being in a lady body for a week Gold has taken it upon himself to organize the event.

In addition to a really dorky announcement over the intercom during morning classes, Gold also made up some flashy fliers to catch everyone's attention. There's a request for some information, and Gold's school email address for you to send your sign-ups to! Nothing's stopping you from signing someone you don't like your BFF up, too!

Sign-up and get matched up with someone else, and you'll be assigned tables at a fancy restaurant for a very romantic evening.

How Doe:
► You have until November 28th at 11:59 PM PST to sign up. The actual dates will take place on November 30th.
► You'll be getting a PM from Gold's account on November 29th to let you know what your table letter and number is, so you'll know exactly what to do and where to tag the night of the dates!
► Would your dude not sign up, but you really really want to sign them up? Well, then Gold/Crazy Hand/your worst enemy did it, obviously.
► Fill out this form for sign-up and preferences purposes and you are ready to go. I don't want to pair up any couples that muns are uncomfortable with, so let me know what you're okay with.
<b>Character Name:</b> <b>Male/Female/Either:</b> <b>Student/Faculty/Either:</b>

Replies are screeeeeened, save for Gold's sign-up to serve as an example. You can ask OOC questions here, too, and I'll probably unscreen those. THAT'S ALL...!]

Hey! The last time I updated this thing was in May! A lot has happened since then, am I right? Haha! I'm sure there's been a lot of new enrollments since then. So... HI! My name is Gold! I'm a Pokemon trainer from the Johto region.

I'm pretty sure I've told, like, everyone by now! But when we were all staying at that hotel, my room had a bed that was shaped like a sandwich. I sort of wish I had a sandwich bed in my dorm, now! You know? Anyone know how I can make that happen? I'm not kidding!

On another note, Happy Autumn, everyone! Fall's not my favorite season or anything, but I do like all the pumpkin-everything everywhere. I start thinking about everything I like with pumpkin in it. I wonder what a pumpkin sandwich would taste like. I'm gonna ask Nancy to make me one!

REAL TALK: What's everyone's favorite warm autumn-time drink!? This is important stuff.

[ So where was our super star during the Smashperture fiasco? Was he bravely fighting or attempting to solve puzzles, with a friend perhaps? Well, here he is on the network now, I'm sure he's got a great story to-- ]

I was asleep for a really long time, poyo! What happened?

[ oh ._. ]

GRADUATING STUDENTS:

WHEN EVACUATING YOUR DORMS, PLEASE TAKE EVERYTHING WITH YOU. SOMEHOW, IN A SCHOOL WHERE ONE CAN WAKE UP MAGICALLY WITH ALL THEIR SHIT IN A DIFFERENT AREA OF THE BUILDING, IT IS STILL UP TO THE RA'S TO TAKE INVENTORY OF ALL YOUR FORGOTTEN JUNK. IT'S BORING AND I WON'T HAVE IT.

SINCERELY,

GREEN OAK, SPEAKING FOR BOTH VINCENT AND ZELDA WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSIONS.