🎉🎉🎉

[selfconcept]

Congratulations! You survived the first week of Personal Enrichment Class! Or at least, your body did if you feel like astral projecting. It's time to mingle with your fellow students after the Saturday lesson. Maybe get revenge. Or maybe you're going to your room right away. Either way, it's free time! Let loose. Go wild.

Comments

[exofractured]

You've almost exhausted my supply. There's very little to know about me.

[It's almost true, in a sense.

...Well, he supposes maybe that counts. So he'll volunteer it.]

Despite my age, I've only existed for a few years.

[selfconcept]

[ Young one. ]

That's not true. It doesn't have to be secrets, so tell me what you do in your every day life.

[ Does he want to get to know Phantom better? Yeah. ]

As for my other selves, the two that I talked about... one of them really hates me, but it's justified. The other is too nice to hate someone. Each of them controls the concept of Memory and Life in their respective worlds.

[exofractured]

You're rather unaffected by it. I suppose even humans are familiar with the concept of hating themselves. Let alone a concept of the Self.

[It's not a question, yet. Phantom is still thinking aloud as he's trying to process all of this... everything. But since Hien started he owes the answer to that fairly benign question. Which is actually still slightly difficult for him.]

...I don't know what constitutes "everyday life." If you mean here, I mostly read. There's very little else to do.

[He needs enrichment so badly.]

[selfconcept]

Just tell me what you do in your home world.

[ And. Well. ]

Humans are very familiar with the concept of hating themselves.

[exofractured]

[Is it luck or just the 'it's complicated' that kept Phantom from appearing on his own list of dislikes? He loses the battle of self-control to a bitter little smile at that. But, the question:]

I run a militia group that operates in opposition to the prime minister. Well, Marcus handles the physical labor. Most of what I do is magical research. If you're so curious to hear the details of mirristry at length, then...

[He tries to pitch it to sound like a threat, but, honestly. He would keep going. Indefinitely.]

[selfconcept]

Yeah.

[ Hien says without hesitation. Let it all out, Phantom. Hien will keep petting his head too. ]

[exofractured]

[He probably should have expected Hien to say yes to that? Hien is the type to go along with anything. But it still takes him a second to rally.

...He should probably protest the petting at some point.]

I intend to count this towards the balance of information shared. [...] It would take too much time to explain from the beginning. My research was mostly on the fundamental energy that makes up life and our world, as well as... applications of energy pulled from other worlds. I did a great deal of field study.

[selfconcept]

Another world study... that sounds interesting. And yeah, it can count.

[ That's some good info. His curiosity has been sated for now. ]

What else would you like to ask me?

[exofractured]

The last question, then.

[Because even Phantom's running up against too many things that are more sore to talk about than he expected. By his count, one more will make them even.

He knows what he wants to ask. But at the same time, he's too tired to put himself on that train of thought.]

The same to you in return. What do you do in your everyday life?

[selfconcept]

That depends on what world I'm in.

[ The question is unfortunately too broad for Hien to answer... ]

Wanna specify or reword that?

[exofractured]

[Geh. Still calibrating for beings of countless age and infinite worlds.]

...The most recent one will do, then. Or the one of the most interest to you.

1/2

[selfconcept]

[ Hien's hand finally pauses on the petting. His expression seems neutral as usual, but there's some sort of cold, deep, void-like h▓llo▓▓es▓ ]

[selfconcept]

[ It's gone in the blink of an eye. His hand resumes petting Phantom as if nothing happened. ]

The most interest to me, huh? There was a fun world once. There was a school a little like this and I was the only person there and everyone were small animals. I encountered a version of myself that was a small pomeranian and chihuahua mix. That's where the "as a dog" comes from in my profile.

[exofractured]

[Oh. Hm. Whether it's the familiarity or just because that that's very deeply unsettling, Phantom goes completely still for a moment. He's still frozen for a little longer after petting resumes.]

I see. So that's why you can transform into one.

[Normal... conversation...]

[selfconcept]

[ Yup... totally normal. ]

Yeah. People are much willing to interact with me if I'm cute.

[ ☆ ]

[exofractured]

That explains your present form as well. People everywhere are simple. They like things that seem cute or safe, largely.

[Does Phantom agree? A mystery. Anyway, he finally collects his dignity enough to step away from the patting and smooth his ponytail back over his shoulder.

Ugh, hairspray.]

[selfconcept]

[ Hien finally withdraws his hand. It has worked hard for all the petting it did. ]

Are you calling me cute?

[ If he wants to run away, he can... ]

[exofractured]

I assumed that was the intention of the way you present yourself.

[It's a lot of words to say 'basically yes' but he wasn't expecting the callout??]

[selfconcept]

No, I don't present myself as others to be cute at a default state.

[ Hien's expression looks blank but it definitely has the vibe of this smiley:

:) ]

[exofractured]

Then it was my miscalculation. I'm not a judge of such things.

[f in the chat for his dignity.]

...At any rate, I should get this out of my hair. As much of a shame as it doubtless is to waste your efforts...

[He looks like someone asked Phil to prom and he hates it. Also he needs a quick excuse to move to another country and change his identity now.]

[selfconcept]

It's fine. Next time, let me play with your hair without the hair spray.

[ Byeeee phantom... Hien will let him go now. ]

[exofractured]

[You know what. Wounded dignity isn't going to keep him from securing future petting.]

Fine. Next time.

[ESCAPE.]