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

(CODE)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Despite Idia being the nerd supreme, it's still a bit strange to be in an actual, physical arcade. It's not like they ever had them on the Islands of Lamentation. There were none on the same island as Night Raven College either. So, while he had a deep respect for the concept of an "arcade" it's not like he'd ever really... been in one.]

Ah.

[In entering, he spots one of his partners from the weekend event and-]

[-while he remembers this one as "more trustworthy" he still has to pull his tablet up and double check the profiles. Sorry, buddy.]

[Honestly, he does still kind of want to avoid chatting but... it's not like there's a big crowd of people here. He'd have to majorly crank his sneak stat to try and wholly avoid it.]

"Sir Sabo,"

[... he's back to the tablet talking. He proved he could during the defusing but hey, new week reset.]

"You like stuffed toys that much?"

[his expression doesn't look super judgy but, hey, depends on how the TTS voice is interpretted.]

[ it's fine, he doesn't take it as judgy mainly because it isn't on idia's face. obviously things can be lost in translation. ]

Talking through the machine again? You did so well over the weekend.

[ not that he will drag idia for using the TTS option but it's just... he had made such a huge deal of it and yet sabo failed to see anything wrong. (embrace the progress you made, idia!!) either way, he'll let it go as he crosses his arms. ]

I wouldn't say that I like them that much but— [ there is a temptation to kick the machine again but he won't. ] I just don't want to give in at this point.

[Again, a stubborn pout at Sabo suggesting he could just?? Make progress? Like a functional human being? Anyways, he spoke normally when they were playing a game. They're not currently playing a game. Ergo! He can't talk normally.]

"I get it. That 'no way is a machine getting the better of me!' ... feeling."

[he sets the tablet down on a ridge of the machine and starts looking around at the offerings. he pauses to type in another phrase,]

"It's a good thing you don't have to pay per try. At least."

[It sure is inconvenient for his tablet to not float and for all the text entry to have to be manually on the screen... why can't he just pull up his own screens, stupid lack of magitech...]

[ yeah?? you can just make progress!! humans (and non-humans) are capable of doing these very things!!! sabo will keep suggesting it whenever he gets the chance but will never pressure him. not outright.

nevertheless, he'll nod at idia's description. ]

Exactly! That's the exact feeling. A matter of pride.

[ to lose to a machine (that cheats) though idia mentions something that stands out to him. ]

Normally is that what you'd have to do? How do people not lose their temper at these things?

[ and not destroy them.... ]

[Idia nods as the quick answer while typing up his longer one,]

"An arcade has to make money somewhere. Sometimes people will spend ten times more than the actual plush is worth."

"But there's the allure. The chance that maybe you could get it for way less money than it costs. That sort of thing drives humans... the "gachapon" effect."

[The human condition to lose money!!!]

I've never thought of things like that too deeply but when you put it that way, it makes sense.

[ truly the things that do not change no matter where you are. capitalism and the greed of man. still, there is one thing that he hasn't heard of. ]

But the "gachapon effect"? I don't think I've heard of that before. From how you describe it, isn't it the same as gambling?

[Capitalism, the greed of humans, and the lust for... anime girl PNGs!]

"In essence yes. If there is a machine full of toys, 100 toys, and there's only one of the actual toy you want then it's possible to get it in a single try

and it's possible to only get it on the 100th try."

[He grins because, like, obviously when you're in a system like that you just have to laugh at it.]

"And those are just hypothetical numbers! Sometimes it's less than that."

[ the lust for an anime girl png is so fucking real. shame sabo has no idea about what any of that is. truly a shame. ]

I see.

[ thank you idia for breaking it down for him but as sabo mulls over it, it just sounds... silly? why would anyone do this?? like okay the claw machine is frustrating but imagining doing what he's doing but attaching money seems stupid—at best. ]

And the prize that are valued at those odds—are they really that worth it? It sounds like you'd have better luck with trying to get the toy in a more direct manner.

[A normal person coming up against the wall of manipulative money-making tactics used on nerds and shut-ins.]

"Some places do special collabs so you either have to win it or buy it online. And of course the people fortunate enough to get one sell at a huge mark-up."

[And, yeah, Idia's expression is very neutral. This is just a normal thing!]

"But if it's a plush or figure of your fav then any amount is worth it!"

[... yeah people like Idia are how these places make money.]

[ these are most definitely words that idia is saying to him. they are words and explanations that he is listening to and frowning because. hmm... a fair number of choice things are happening here.

in the most non-judgmental way possible: ]

Why does it sound like you're speaking from a personal place. Have you fallen into this "gachapon" effect?

[ it's okay if you have. ]

[There's a pause, then he dips his shoulders down a bit, picking his tablet back up to hold it up defensively over his chest.]

"Well, when it comes to the things I love money is no object."

[it's said with that complete obliviousness of a kid who uses their parents' money]

[(or, you know, maybe some of his own, too, but in a very sillicon valley sort of way)]

[ sir.

well, sabo's going to do his very best not to judge idia for the confession because, well, say a certain someone gave him that look about something they wanted but could only get in one particular way...

he sighs. ]

I can understand the sentiment.

[ sadly he still does not understand the importance of whaling for your waifu. ]

However, surely there must be other ways—more reasonable ways—to get the items that you're wanting.

[There were things in life that were more precious than money, a lot of them, but you also needed a certain amount of money to be able to say that. Idia had always had that degree of security, regardless of anything else.]

"Well, yeah, and sometimes the charas you like don't even get merch. Then you're buying fan stuff or making it yourself!"

[he stops to consider the machine again]

"I could make the pattern for a plushie but I don't sew..."

[as if this is still wholly about sabo's desire to not lose]

[ "charas"...right. sabo will just let that one go and focus on the core of their talk now, which is definitely NOT about sabo's pride but it's fine because this might be more important in the long term. ]

Have you thought about learning how to sew? Obviously you likely wouldn't be able to make what you're spending your money on right away but you could get there in due time.

[ ... ]

Maybe turn it around into a business of your own if that's an interest of your's.

[Woah, check out Mr. Monetization of Hobbies over here! ... No, Sabo's attempts are well-meaning but Idia regards like as if he had just suggested he pick up and join the circus or something.]

"I could probably sew, if I wanted to. I'm fairly good at delicate tasks."

[He has a surprising amount of confidence in his ability, it's just the motivation that entirely shot.]

"But, given that time, I'd much rather play a game. Or maybe program a fangame."

[ it's fine. sometimes people aren't ready to make changes in their lives and sabo's used to it. it doesn't mean that he'll stop or take offense to any of it. if anything he'll continue to just quietly encourage. ]

I can believe that; you look like someone who would be good with that kind of detail work. I bet you could really impress some people with whatever you decide to create.

[ like idols. ]

...and what's a "fangame"? Is it related to HP?

[ closes my eyes. ]

[Idia turns away slightly, if only to try and hide the fact that his lips do turn up in a smile at the praise. That's right! If he had everything he had access to at home, he could make something that would blow everyone away! Hihihi!]

[... even when he glances back to the conversation, he still looks a little pleased.]

"Let's say that you really love a certain story or charas. A fangame is where you take the characters and create a new adventure for them! Sometimes it's radically different, too, like a dating sim for a deadly serious wartime series, or a mystery dungeon game for SHMUP girls!"

[i'm so sorry he's only introducing more questionable terms]

[ i'm glad idia is teaching sabo the bases of how to create "friend fiction" for next week. thank you for providing this to me icly. also idia being pleased with himself from the praise is cute. pats him on the head. ]

Oh, I think I understand the concept. [ is he just accepting certain terminology that is most definitely going over his head? yes. hopefully the context clues will be enough. ] It's not something I've ever thought about doing before; most of the time if there was ever a character I really liked I just tried to emulate them. Well, as a child.

[ though there is just one thing that doesn't make sense in context— ]

Are "SHMUP" girls different from other girls?

[my god, you're right, idia's doing a public service here]

[There's a bit of sparkle to Idia's eyes at Sabo's description, at least. While there was still a huge gap between a nerd and a non-nerd, he can relate to the basic idea. You see a character as a kid and think, "ah, I wanna be like them!" Something like that is one of the core conceits of fandom!]

[(even when you grow up and become pessimistic so you stop believing you can be like that)]

"SHMUP. Abbreviated form of Shoot 'Em Up. It's a type of game about firing and dodging as many bullets as humanly possible! Usually it's about spaceships and beams but there's a pretty popular series that uses mages and mythological figures. Hence, SHMUP Girls!"

[They're not like other girls!™]

"So, the gameplay is really different but because we're already invested in the characters it's OK!"

[ i'll be sure to write some "friend fiction" about idia...or something. we'll see.

also wow; sabo was doing SO well and then idia just dumped on a lot of words onto him that he does not understand whatsoever. rather it's like they make sense but when he stops to try to parse it all it falls to pieces because no.

no, none of it actually makes sense in reality if he tries to reason with it against what he knows. which, you know, spaceships?? (he prob looked them up while being here but you know.) sabo does not grasp the idea of bullet hells and there are parts of it that almost reach him but ultimately fail. kind of?

uhh. ]

I...see.

[ HE'S TRYING. ]

[Sabo has tried very hard and deserves a medal for it, ok. Idia continues talking because, well, it's clear that even though this is the most animated he's been with his tablet, he's still not... a good conversationalist who also cares about the other person understanding. He's 18, sorry.]

"So, someone with the skills might end up playing a plush doll of the broke priestess chara~! Other people might sew and wear the outfit of the ordinary mage to a con. Everyone in the swamp has something to contribute!"

[not the shrok swamp, that's still in the future]

"And TBH" [vocalized as "teebeeach" good fucking luck sabo] "plenty of fans make that sort of thing to sell at a loss anyways. It's a public service to buy a fan product since we're all in this together~"

[And he's swung back to how it's totally okay for him to be spending money.]

[ IT'S FINE... he is really just glad that idia seems to be talking about something that interests him to a great deal. or, well, "talking"?? the fact that he's still typing his responses seems silly at this point given all that he's saying verses what he could say but sabo is still trying to catch up.

because why are swamps involved in this? at what point were they brought into this conversation?? ]

I see.

[ the "tbh" or "teebeeach" will just fly over his head and he'll casually assume it to be some sort of slang. however, even though idia's speaking another language to him, there is definitely one thing he's noticing. ]

I never would have thought something like this would have this much depth to it. It's kind of as though it has its own mini economy.

It's impressive.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

02 - week two

we are all harassing sabo for his crane game skills

i thank all of you for doing this

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