theafflicted | 02

02 - week two

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

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Why you get the bread when you won't eat it bro ]

Yeah. I wanted to give it a try while waiting here.

[ He really wanted to see Sabo wreck it with a rolling pin. ]

Edited 2022-05-30 23:16 (UTC)

[ because he has an idiot brother who will eat it.

and trust me, sabo would have also loved to go to town on the thing but it's still too early for him to just go feral on some hapless machine. that said, he'll eye the plush, hien, and then the machine. ]

What's the trick to it?

[ he's not jealous just curious. ]

That depends on what you wanna get out of it.

[ Hien walks over to the crane game. ]

The prizes that are more tightly packed, like these plushes in the front are going to be almost impossible to get. You can also try to change the surroundings, like shifting one prize to reposition the prize you want.

[ Though he has to say— ]

I didn't get this in one try. It might take multiple attempts to get the one you want. The most important part of the game is to position the claw carefully. If it's off by even a little, it won't work. My last advice is to look at how the claw moves. This one jiggles a lot so anything smaller than this [ He looks down at the cat plush and then looks back up. ] will fall out even after you lift it up.

[ sabo is listening and taking note of everything that hien is saying but at the same time... why in the world is something so simple as a claw machine this nuanced? he'll look back at the machine under more scrutiny. some things really are deceiving, aren't they?

hmm. nevertheless, all of these tips aside, there is one thing that sabo really wants to know: ]

How did you learn about all of this? A lot of trial and error?

Yeah. It's my main thing, because I have a lot of time.

[ And that he just facetanks consequences most of the time. Facetanking grandpa. ]

[ hmmm... sounds kind of boring to him. like. these are fun but at the same time. ]

Your main thing is playing these games in particular or just games overall?

While I do like playing games, my method of learning is largely by trial and error. Can be anything.

[ He peeks into the glass. ]

You think you got it now?

It's not a bad way to learn few things.

[ not all things because of obvious reasons. sometimes you don't get the chance to learn a few things by trial and error. ]

Well, I doubt I will be able to get things done correctly the few times around, but I'll have a better idea of what to expect.

[ When you have a lot of time, facetank consequences, and can't die, you can afford to do trial and error on everything--that's Hien's way of thinking, so that's just what he's been doing. ]

That's good. It'll probably take a while to get it. For me, it took about several months.

[ sir... have you considered that maybe you don't do those things even if you can't die? that said, sabo will frown when he hears about the length of time. it's no so much an issue of something taking a while to learn as it is the time mentioned in the context. ]

I don't want to be in a situation where I'm here for that amount of time. I'm hoping that we'll be out of here within the next month or so.

[ No. That's why Hien is a dumbass. ]

Two months.

[ Hien says simply, looking into the machine full of prizes. ]

Two months and we'll be out. As long as no one murders anyone on account of volatile emotions.

[ He only believes what Lorelei said about two months because of the other factors he'd seen during his stay--not due to blind optimism. ]

[ longevity in life does not equate to intelligence. got it. but the answer is straight-forward enough that sabo figures where the source is from and just nods. (and i, naru, pray that this wasn't already public knowledge on the npc reveal thread. weep.) ]

I can only speak for myself, but I can't imagine that I'll end up killing anyone here from my emotions alone.

[ now if it's his emotions + a valid reason then. well. :) ]

Guess this means that I have two months to figure out how to win myself a prize on a consistent bases.

You can do it. I believe in you. Are you aiming for the tickets?

[ He has faith in Sabo. Isn't that nice... but also "longevity in life does not equate to intelligence" is very valid. ]

Some are just children, so sometimes you have to keep an eye on them.

[ Though compared to Hien, literally everyone is a child here... ]

Tickets? Why would I aim for tickets? [ he'll look over towards where the ticket exchange was supposed to happen and very casually just... ] Are they for the things behind the counter? I was just going to take whatever seemed interesting.

[ only the glass box is what stops sabo from taking what he wants here, and the comment about children would bother him but he remembers profiles so he'll take it with even strides. ]

Though when you say it that way, does this mean you plan on keeping an eye on the children here?

[ Yeah, Sabo can definitely just take whatever he wants. There's also some sort of a gamer's pride for Hien, so he definitely wouldn't take any for himself for free. Not that he'd scold anyone who would though, like Sabo. ]

... No.

[ But that's only because-- ]

There will be someone who'll do a better job than I can.

[ sadly sabo doesn't have any pride as a gamer seeing that isn't a thing that he concerns himself with. his attitude would be different if there were people actually manning the stands and all of that, of course.

nevertheless he'll muse for a bit at hien's response. ]

Oh? Who is that person supposed to be?

[ he's definitely curious to know. ]

[ He shrugs. ]

Dunno. I'm horrible at taking care of kids, so you'll be better than me. Could be anyone.

[ Just not Owen. ]

Some people just have a soft spot for kids. They'll instantly be drawn to them when they suffer.

[ yeah?

press 1 on your phones to vote owen for affliction babysitter! ]

I don't have a lot of experience taking care of kids myself. There isn't really time for that with all that I'm responsible for back home.

[ hmm. sabo's gonna give the claw machine another go and this time be a little more deliberate and conscientious of his actions. ]

If you could nominate someone here, who would you go with?

Hm... My partner.

[ Fai.

He looks down at the little yellow cat plush that he's still holding in his arms. It kinda resembles him, doesn't it? Completely with the little :3 cat smile. ]

He seems to be good with them. I can trust him.

[ that's cute... sabo will be polite and not point it out just incase that it was unintentional that hien picked up something that resembled fai. ]

I've had a few conversations with him myself and I'd agree. He seems like the type that children would like.

But I wonder if he would also encourage them into doing some questionable behavior.

[ thanks bro ]

Probably to tease someone, but nothing... bad, I think.

[ Like getting all the children to mob someone and beg them for candy. Harmless. Funny and harmless. ]

Would you have any recommendations?

[ anytime. ]

I could believe that.

[ even with the "i think" at the end, sabo would have to agree. though as for someone he'd choose...hmm. he'll think on this a bit. ]

Maybe Mutsuyoshi. I think he'd be a good choice to keep children entertained so they keep out of most trouble.

I feel like he could be one of the children if he wanted to.

[ Though the tone of his voice doesn't make it sound like an insult. Mutsu has his own charm, and Hien thinks that would shine if he played around with the kids. ]

You're not wrong there.

He would probably let them get the best of him if they played him cleverly enough...or gave him a particular look.

[ sabo is starting to understand what kind of a person hien is and it's okay. he knows what it's like to deal with tsunderes. sometimes it's just really hard to talk about your feelings or be honest. ]

He sure could be a softie.

[ He sounds partially amused. ]

I should get going. It was nice talking to you, Sabo. Good luck with the crane game.

[ It's time to take the kitty home... ]

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