theafflicted | 02

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

[ Miach'll get a nod as Julius goes to work on some coffee. ]

I would say it depends on what you're trying to get out of it. Maliciously complying with an optional task is still compliance.

[ Even if the amount of soap was pretty impressive. ]

I am well aware.

[ If it hadn't been for Flat and his strong excitement, Miach would not have been assed to even attend the pep rally, let alone contribute. ]

If I continue testing the limits without eliciting a response from the Instructor, I'll know that I am just playing into her hands either way. I'd rather not let it come to that...

They both seem to be able to tolerate quite a bit, so long as it meets the brief.

[ Like, they failed to get the bomb done in time, but nothing really came of it. and also. looks at all of flat and sholmes. ]

So unless you decide you're going to start actively working against it, it's all playing into her hands.

The easy and effective way to work against their plans of having us better ourselves would be to simply commit mass suicide and rob them of the very material they are experimenting on.

[ Miach takes another small sip of tea. ]

Are you in the mood to die? I must admit, I'm not. There are too many interesting aspects to this world.

... It's not something I'm particularly interested in, no.

[ adjusts his glasses ]

I have to imagine there's some kind of medium in between "doing as little as possible" and "removing everyone from the experiment forcefully." Especially sine I'm not sure either of them would let it get to that point before intervening.

[ Like, he agrees that playing into this isn't necessarily great because they don't know all the facts, but the sense of self-preservation makes it sort of hard to to contend with. ]

[ That gets her to stare down into her tea for a second. ]

... you're right. As much as I would like to stand proud and proclaim that death is always an option, I've come to know that the reality is a bit more complicated.

[ Always a fun reminder. ]

It is unfortunate that we do not have a good overview on what Lorelei's idea of self-improvement even is. We're sorely lacking in context, both for this university and the social standards of her world in general. There seem to be a lot of communalities between the way minds work across worlds, but it is not enough to intuit a good picture from.

[ He makes a small noise of agreement under his breath, mumbling as he takes a sip from the coffee he's procured. ]

Isn't it always.

[ Hope Rideaux has fun with those feelings of guilt suddenly smacking him for a hot second. ]

I have to imagine that she'll be letting us know before long. With this partner system they've devised, I get the suspicion that it's for more than just party games and subtle reinforcements. There's not much testing to be done with some minor inconveniences.

[ ... hm. ]

My guess is that it will amount to something like a reverse Milgram experiment. Humans are easily pushed towards hurting one another - but in the context of this world, hurting our partner means hurting ourselves. The more we begin to associate the emotional or physical pain we administer to another being with pain we receive ourselves, the less willing we will be to use violence in general.

According to the books that are available here, this is a world that thrives on supernatural empathy. Strong negative emotions can have an averse effect on the environment and other people - if they could find a surefire method of making sure people are disinclined to cause negative emotions in one another, they would benefit greatly.

We are the guinea pigs for this. Whether or not something happens to us outsiders is unlikely to be of concern to the Instructor or her supporters. She can study us at leisure and take any methods that seem functional into further testing.

[ Siiiiips a bit of tea. ]

Though this hypothesis is impacted by familiarity with the way my own world works.

[ Julius doesn't react a whole lot as Miach speaks, mostly just watching her as he drinks his coffee. Nothing she's saying is particularly wrong, especially given what he's seen here and his own past experiences, so the fact he's not really adding is more like an agreement than anything else. It always seems to come back to testing humanity.

Her comment after is interesting, though. ]

How so?

Edited (types??????) 2022-06-03 10:40 (UTC)

There may not be any empathy powers in my world, but it is still one structured around the fear of causing distress in others... lest it be detrimental to their health. Human lives are precious public resources, so everyone is expected to value their well-being above everything so they can effectively contribute to society in turn.

Ultimately, it sees individuals as cogs in the machine. Negative emotion as problems to be fixed, so the person can once again lead a publicly correct life in the service of all. One for all, all for all.

I seem to be the only one with that kind of background, but this place sometimes reminds me of my world to an eerie degree.

I think that "individuals as cogs in the machine" is a recurring theme in most societies if it's any consolation to you.

[ He sets the mug down on the counter and rubs at his left arm. ]

That sort of thing would have to be closely monitored, wouldn't it? That kind of self-reporting doesn't seem particularly likely to happen.

Edited 2022-06-07 04:22 (UTC)

[ It is not any consolation at all, but Miach's not about to argue the point. Her society is just extreme about it. ]

WatchMe.

[ Miach pulls down her shirt collar just a little bit so Julius can see the little port that is installed above her collarbone - it's not actually part of WatchMe specifically but it does serve as a visual confirmation that her body has been meddled with. ]

A software based on nanotechnology that monitors every adult body living in admedistrative society. Your medical data is public, your body is getting fixed up in real time, and how well you take care of yourself is reflected in your Social Assessment score that is displayed via AR to everyone you meet.

[ i meant to add he said that mildly sarcastically i am in shambles sdfsds

He looks at the port with a good amount of interest. ]

That name seems a little on the nose. [ beat ] So the nanotechnology is able to repair bodies if they're injured, for instance?

[ The applications that Miach is talking about is... horrifying, to put it mildly, but even if this is more of Rideaux's thing, the tech bro part of him can't help but be at least interested in the details. ]

Indeed. There are limits, of course. WatchMe cannot repair a broken leg or a stab wound on its own, though the medicules can certainly aid in the recovery process.

A lot of ailments also require you to take pills from the outside to ingest the drugs that the medicules will then guarantee will be used optimally and fix you up real quick.

[ It's not omnipotent by any means, but it is extremely effective. ]

And WatchMe alerts the server of any drugs you might possibly need to nip a problem in the bud.

02 - week two

kitchen

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cw suicide mention...

i love her. (more suicide ment)

more suicide talk cw.... bless julius for humoring her

:3c

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can i avoid going three tags in a row saying "i have to imagine...." stay tuned

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