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

[partymagician]

You are a nerd.

[ And a weirdo.

He just looks at Hien. ]

It’s probably just convenience. Or a bad joke.

[selfconcept]

It's just a pillow.

[ Hien doesn't seen to care much about it... he finally sits back up with the pillow out of his face. ]

Does it bother you that much?

[partymagician]

…I don’t know. It bothers me a little, I suppose.

[ Ugh. And it’s weird they both got one. ]

[selfconcept]

Why?

[ Let it out, Fai. ]

Having second thoughts on your regret?

[partymagician]

No.

[ He pauses. ]

I worry that it was a mistake, but I don’t regret it.

[selfconcept]

[ Hien stares at Fai. ]

Isn't that basically regret?

[ ??? ]

[partymagician]

…

[ Ugh. Now he has to say what he actually means. ]

I… I just worry that we skipped over staying reasonably distant.

[ They got too involved. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Hien blinks and then rests his chin on his hand with his elbow propping up on his knee. He sure is slouching. ]

We got a forced empathy connection. There was no chance of "staying reasonably distant".

[partymagician]

…You’re right.

[ Despire his best hopes that he could stay acquaintances only with Hien, he was doomed from the start.

Fai falls quiet for a little while, lost in thought. ]

It’s also strange for me to actually interact with someone like this after spending a night with them.

[selfconcept]

You ditch in the mornings?

[ Hien lies down on his bed now and gets comfortable. ]

[partymagician]

Yes. Or a few minutes after.

[ Fai grabs his own yes/no pillow and holds onto it. ]

It’s never a surprise to the other person.

[selfconcept]

[ He certainly didn't enjoy being ditched in the morning, but Fai had his coffee ready for him, so he wasn't mad. ]

You do this often, huh?

[partymagician]

I used to. Not as often anymore.

[ He’s got kids now. Fai glances up at Hien. ]

And I presume that you don’t? At least, you don’t seem like the kind of guy who would.

[selfconcept]

[ Hien slowly blinks, his gaze on Fai unwavering. ]

I told you I've never done it before.

[partymagician]

…

[ …

…

… ]

I thought you meant with a man.

[selfconcept]

Does that still invalidate my statement?

[ No. ]

cw alcohol mention

[partymagician]

No, but it makes a difference to me.

[ He swaps the pillow out for the kitty plush. ]

I’m sorry that we were both drunk.

[selfconcept]

I don't hold "first times" as sacred as you guys do.

[ It sure sounds sacred with how much of a big deal is made out of it. ]

I started it. So stop making it sound like it's your fault.

[partymagician]

[ He breathes out, relaxing. Some of the anxiety Hien might have felt ebbs away. ]

Alright.

[ Fai falls quiet again, looking down at the little plush kitty’s face. ]

As long as it was a good experience, that’s all that matters. [ … ] I wouldn’t say no if you initiated it again.

[selfconcept]

You're not gonna regret it again, are you?

[ Hien stares at him. Fai said he didn't regret it, but.

gestures to everything ]

[partymagician]

[ hien is valid for asking

Fai shakes his head. ]

We've already crossed that line, and you don't seem to regret it much. I like your company and you're nice to look at.

[ ... ]

So, no.

[ Is it a good idea? No, not really, but Fai doesn't always make good decisions anyway. ]

[selfconcept]

You say that, but your face says differently. It's not really reassuring.

[ Hien knows he does this all the time, but that's the usual for him. He doesn't think it's the usual for Fai. ]

[partymagician]

[ Hien's right... it really isn't reassuring at all. But that's because Fai's caught between two things—what he wants and what he knows he should do. He knows he should keep things strictly platonic between them from now on, but that's the opposite of what he wants. Although he won't admit it to himself, he likes this strange line they're treading. ]

...

[ Which is why Fai hops down from his bed and walks over to Hien's, climbing up onto the bed. Fai grabs onto his hand so that he can pull Hien up. Once he's properly sitting up, Fai leans forward, capturing his lips in a kiss.

There's a certain decisiveness behind his actions. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Oh.

As dense as Hien may be sometimes, the decisiveness of the kiss definitely gets through to him. He returns the kiss as a quick one and pulls away. ]

You might get hurt. Are you okay with that?

[ Hien told Fai what he is and what he'll eventually become. Normally, that would be a deterrent. ]

[partymagician]

We all have the capability to hurt one another. I could hurt you too.

[ What Hien told him is not a deterrent at all. In fact, it made Fai more interested in him. ]

I already told you that was fine with me, didn't I?