02 - week two

[afflictionmods]

WEEK TWO

When the glitter settles and everyone returns to their dorms - or wherever they intend to sleep for the night, if you’re planning on sleeping at all - your first week of school officially ends. Perhaps it was better than you expected, perhaps it was worse.

Hopefully you learned a bit more about teamwork and school spirit.

Still, this course is going to run for longer than a full week, and come Sunday morning you’re still exactly as you were when you settled down for the night. Still in Estelline, still with that mark on your wrist, still connected to your partner. There are some changes, though. The bookstore has received quite a few books, and those of you who added to the bulletin board and pep rally tasks in the first week will find an envelope taped to their dorm door (or themselves, if they spent the night elsewhere). Inside of the envelope is some kind of voucher! Furthermore, the common area is covered in a bunch of glitter.

Also, there are a ton of eggs in the kitchen – at least 10 dozens.

Florence or Lorelei are still available, should you wish to speak to them.

Finally, you've got some new locations to explore.


SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

TASK LIST

CLUMSINESS AFFECT DETAILS (BEGINS TUESDAY ICLY)

W2 CYOA SIGNUPS
CYOA Signups for Week 2 close Sunday, May 29th at 6pm EST.

THREAD SURVEY
Google form for partner threads, due by Friday, June 3rd at 6pm EST. Optional.

W3 CYOA SIGNUPS
CYOA Signups for Week 3 close Friday, June 3rd at 6pm EST.

OOC NOTE

OOC: Anyone who performed in the Pep Rally (Sabo, Madara, Riku, Shizuku, Herlock, Idia, Flat, Miach) task will be able to redeem a voucher for a prize with one of the NPCs. This can be handwaved, and the prize selection is below.

-Single-serve coffee machine wither a selection of creamer. Comes with packs of coffee beans.
-Popcorn maker and kernels.
-High-quality tea kettle with a selection of just as high-quality tea.
-Carbonation machine (think Sodastream, etc) with flavored syrup.

Any coffee, tea, popcorn, etc. will last characters up to two weeks.

Anyone who participated in the Bulletin Board task will receive a voucher for your choice of two pairs colorful socks with cute animal designs. (Worry frog design available.)

FULL NAV

(CODE)

Comments

just owen™

[selfconcept]

[ On Sunday, Hien goes to check out the mall. It's basically what he expected of a ghost city like Estelline, so that must mean free food. So he heads over to the bakery and... sees Owen eating the frosting. Off the pastries? From a frosting squeezing thing? Hien has no idea. ]

Eating all that frosting isn't gonna make you any sweeter, princess.

[ Anyway, let him waltz into this bakery and reach out for a stale banana bread. ]

the owen and only.............

[sicklysweet]

[He's eating it out of a bowl, like a civilized person?? Mostly because he made it himself.

He is not testing his newly-human constitution on old frosting. He's not as stupid as some wizards.

He scowls at Hien, shoving another spoonful of frosting into his mouth.]

I don't care about getting any sweeter.

[He is... still in a Mood.]

[selfconcept]

Aren't you moody.

[ With that single banana bread, he sits across from Owen without even asking him if he could sit there. ]

What are you stewing about? Heard you and Riku got into another argument or were fed up.

[sicklysweet]

Shut up.

[Though... a lot of the heat that he had from Saturday is gone, so it's more like he's putting on airs than anything else. Whatever's gotten him in a mood is, obviously, not because of Hien.]

Oh? Are you worried about him? That's so nice of you.

[selfconcept]

Yeah, of course I'm worried.

[ He says with no hesitation and takes a bite out of his bread. ]

You know I'm not that nice though.

[sicklysweet]

You're nicer than me.

[Owen says this like it's an indisputable fact.

Spoonfuls of frosting are probably not the best for you but... There's a lot in the bowl he needs to get through.]

Is that all you want? You can go now.

[He didn't even answer Hien's question.]

[selfconcept]

[ Hien doesn't leave. He stays seated in that seat and if Owen moves to another table, Hien will just follow. That said, he takes a bite out of his banana bread and ponders whether he should dip it in Owen's frosting in a bowl.

Hm. ]

The difference between us is that I have better discretion at being nice than you do.

[ Anyway. ]

So, what happened? You really gonna act the part of a spoiled princess too?

[sicklysweet]

[He doesn't move, because he's too stubborn to back down.

Unfortunately.]

Nothing happened. I just don't like him.

[Asides from the fact that Riku Has Done Nothing Wrong, it's pretty obvious this time that Owen is trying to hide something.]

[selfconcept]

Yeah? He's the one that said you two keep annoying each other that it becomes a horrible feedback loop until you can't stand it anymore.

[ aka spit it out

but not the frosting ]

[sicklysweet]

[licks the spoon while staring dead into hien's eyes

enjoy his weird tongue tattoo, bucko]

Why do you need to know anything more than that? That's enough, isn't it?

[selfconcept]

[ That's kinda hot.

...

Anyway. ]

Because you're obviously not doing anything about it. You seem so independent, but situations like these are pretty hard to solve for you alone, huh?

[sicklysweet]

[Not the reaction he would expect but.

He'll take it?]

What do you know about me?

[He gives Hien a thin smile.]

Why should I do anything? I'll be gone in a few weeks anyways. I don't need anyone to like me, especially not him.

[selfconcept]

I don't know anything about you other than what says on your profile and that you're probably a little masochistic.

[ A little. Sure, Hien. ]

But Riku is liked and you're probably not. They're gonna go after you because they're on Riku's side and then it'll be your problem. Then you're probably gonna throw more shitfits like this.

[ So it's a warning.

Yeah, let's call it that. ]

Can't have you mangled before I can stab you.

[sicklysweet]

You're making a lot of assumptions for someone who knows nothing, then.

[A little masochistic is hilariously generous but. Sure. He's not going to correct him.]

I don't care if people like me. I don't care if they try to kill me, either, but would they do that when they care so much about Riku?

[Hah. It's almost ironic he's in a place where he might finally die for good and nobody will try as long as he's connected to someone he wants nothing to do with.]

If you want to stab me before anyone else you might just have to do it now.

[selfconcept]

I assume a lot. I also judge a lot. I may not know you, but I know how people generally work. I think you do care to an extent if people like you. You denied Riku during our bomb lesson when he showed you some of that. If you didn't truly care, you would have brushed it off like it was nothing.

[ He takes another bite out of his banana bread. ]

You've lived around long enough, so you should know, princess. Death isn't the worst thing someone can do to you.

[sicklysweet]

People's care is disgusting. Nobody ever means any of it - it's all just a farce, something that put on and fake to make themselves feel better and seem like better people. I don't want to bother with all of that. I would rather people stop pretending and hate me already.

[Hatred is what he knows best, after all. It's the feeling humans default to when dealing with wizards like him, and he'd much prefer it.]

What's the worst thing that's happened to you? You've lived for much, much longer than I have, Hien. How much of your life do you remember? Do you remember every pathetic, miserable moment of it? I'd love to hear all about how you've suffered.

[selfconcept]

By claiming that you don't want to bother with that, you're the one who's trying to make themselves feel better and seem like the better person--the one that's higher on the pedestal and looking down on people.

[ Just. Pointing that out. Better get used to other emotions, Owen. ]

I remember a lot of it and I sure remember most pathetic, miserable moments that's ever happened in my life. I know you want to get off on my suffering, but tell me what happened between you and Riku first. Then I'll tell you one of those moments.

[ His past isn't for free. ]

[sicklysweet]

[Owen takes a long moment to answer, spoon between his lips and face blank. It's like he doesn't know what to say to Hien now that he's on the backfoot, and he needs a moment to sort out his thoughts.

He really doesn't want to get used to other emotions, though.]

He's not good at controlling his emotions. It's annoying. I don't want to be partnered with a brat like him, but I don't have a choice.

[Clearly that's the only reason he's so moody and kicked the door. Nothing deeper to it!!]

[selfconcept]

To be fair, you're not really great at controlling them either. So doesn't that make you two the perfect pair?

[ Let him take this shot at Owen, because he likes doing that. ]

[sicklysweet]

[He's not going to respond to that.

Which is probably telling in and of itself.]

Just tell me what you told me you would. I'm waiting.

[selfconcept]

[ He tries not to laugh at Owen's lack of response to his question, but. Right. Yeah. ]

The worst was being converted into an Overseer. If you don't know what that is, that's fine. If you want more information on that, you'll have to pay up with information yourself... Though I'll say that the secret talent was really interesting in terms of what they could have picked.

[ It may have been the worst thing ever, but Hien doesn't show it on the face. Maybe he's lying with how calm he is, but he's been stupidly sincere with most of his words so far. ]

[sicklysweet]

[The worst part is he doesn't think Hien is lying about it being the worst. Can't he emote a little bit more?

For Owen's sake?]

Of course I don't know what it is.

[Anyways, information...]

I can talk to animals. That's why they come to me.

[Is this enough for more exposition...]

[selfconcept]

[ Fair enough. Hien actually doesn't mind divulging this sort of information, but he wants to know Owen a little better, if not for his own curiosity. ]

Still calling you princess.

[ Anyway. ]

An Overseer is something akin to a god who watches over the omniverse that houses every single world within it.

[ And as a bonus, he'll add something else: ]

Despite that, I'm a world eater.

[ No satisfying emoting for Owen, apparently. If they put "eating worlds" as a secret talent, then :sweat: ]

[sicklysweet]

[Just wait. If they ever get their powers back Owen will show him a real princess.]

A world eater.

[Omniverse and multiple words is, apparently, not something that Owen feels needs explaining.

Isekai setting life ig.]

Will you explain that or do I need to tell you more about myself?

[selfconcept]

[ okay but will the princess be hot ]

I won't have to. It's what it says on the tin.

[ Maybe it's good timing, but he eats the rest of the banana bread whole. Chomp. ]