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

[goodfaiths]

...Can you at least tell me why you got hurt?

[ He fully expects a non-answer from Owen at this point, but who knows... He's hoping he'll be pleasantly surprised? At least Owen's not telling him to shut up or something. ]

[sicklysweet]

I got stabbed.

[It's not a why but a how, but he finds himself hesitating when it comes to the truth. Normally he'd be more than happy to say that he did it himself, but...

It's been strange, this past week and a half. Nobody knows who he is and he has no magic - so he's not a threat. He doesn't have the reputation he had back home, so everybody has been treating him so strangely. Nobody's repulsed by him, even if they keep saying he should be kind to Riku.

So he's quiet for a moment, staring down at his hands, before he looks up at Riku and squints.]

...Have you just been in bed here this whole time?

[goodfaiths]

Eh?!

[ He...immediately regrets that outburst because he's starting to feel sore again. Owen is also showing concern...? Is this concern? He's not sure.

But he nods. ]

Mhm. I don't remember much about Tuesday, because I slept a lot of it off... Aren't you going to change your clothes?

[sicklysweet]

[Riku?? Stop that? The twinge of pain makes Owen look annoyed, but he takes a slow breath.]

You need to work on controlling your emotions.

[Or at least not flailing around so much! That's not good for recovery, you know!]

It would be easier if we had magic, this is the worst... I'm looking for clothes. I thought I grabbed some from that "gift shop", and I don't want to go out and have someone start lecturing me again.

[goodfaiths]

Huh? What did I do -- wait, why are you lecturing me?! You got stabbed!

[ He doesn't recognize this as an emotional outburst, but it absolutely is one? Help. ]

Do you want me to get them for you?

[sicklysweet]

Did you not just here what I said?

[He's annoyed, and Riku can feel that much, but beyond that he's just... tired.]

You don't have to. You should rest up. You're human, aren't you? And you're young. I can handle something like this more than you can.

[Even if Riku is way too emotional.]

[goodfaiths]

...Oh.

[ Hien did say that Owen wasn't good with these things, and now he's kind of starting to realize why, perhaps, the dude doesn't like him. Hm...

Owen is also being weirdly concerned for him. It's not a bad thing, but Riku wonders what might've happened to cause this. ]

Um, yeah, I guess...to all those things. But I do want to help out, since you're the one who has to deal with the injury.

[ He goes quiet for a moment. ]

Owen-san, do you prefer it if people don't like you?

[sicklysweet]

[The way Owen goes still for a moment before he turns to look at Riku is probably proof enough he wasn't expecting that question.]

...

[He leans back on his heels, his hunt for pants put on pause for the moment.]

Of course.

[goodfaiths]

But...why?

[ He is so confused. Help this poor boy. ]

[sicklysweet]

Why would I want anyone to like me? People will hate me no matter what and there's nothing I can do about that, so isn't it easier this way? I don't need anyone in my life.

[Poor Riku. He doesn't deserve this, but at least it's? A relatively calm conversation?]

It would just be a weakness.

[goodfaiths]

[ Hien's words feel truer than ever before, and Riku's frown deepens. He feels...sad? Like Owen's really just doing this to himself even though he doesn't have to, and he only manages to catch himself being emotional at the tail end of it. He shakes his head and there's an effort to try to be more neutral, at least, but it's only so successful... ]

Um...I don't hate you. Even if you're not very nice, you shouldn't be here, just like the rest of us. You didn't choose to be stuck with me...

[ Now he's making himself sad all over again. ]

I know what it's like to have people hate you no matter what you do, but I don't think it's fair to yourself or anyone else if you keep pushing people away.

[sicklysweet]

If you know that people would hate you no matter what...

[...]

Wouldn't you understand that it's easier if you give them a reason to hate you?

[goodfaiths]

Aha, well... I didn't say everyone would hate me. I have my family, friends and fans that I care about a lot, and it's the same in reverse...mostly, I think.

[ looking at you tenn-- ]

But it's a lot easier, for me anyway, to give them a reason to like me. Even if it's a small one, it can go a really long way. Because...wouldn't it be nicer to not feel so alone?

[sicklysweet]

[…]

I don’t have a family.

[There’s a bitterness and an anger that comes across their bond, but it’s not directed at Riku and it’s tied up with a feeling Owen can’t articulate but it’s… deeply, deeply sad.

It doesn’t linger for long, though, as Owen reigns himself quite quickly.]

And I’ve been alone for a very, very long time. Being alone means I could do what I want, when I want, without worrying about anyone else. And it’s not like I’m lonely.

[goodfaiths]

...You know I can feel that, right?

[ What, exactly, isn't specified, but Riku looks pretty sad, if that's any indication of what came through their connection. ]

Either way, even if you're not lonely, it's better to at least count on one other person here. It doesn't matter if it's me or not...but I don't think things should stay as they are, or this place might really get the best of us.

[sicklysweet]

[He needs to get better at this conceal, don't feel thing, dammit.]

...

[That's not a million miles away from what Madara said, but he can't find it in himself to be annoyed about that right now. In a way, it's true. He can't just take care of things by himself in this situation - he's never been as weak as he is in this moment.]

Fine. But if I try to play along, I'm going to need you to work on staying calmer than you do right now. It's...

[How does he say this without annoying Riku and starting that feedback loop all over again......................................]

In a dangerous situation, it's always safer to be able to keep a level head.

[goodfaiths]

Ah, yeah... You have a point.

[ He won't even bother arguing with that, because it's true. And given the type of person Owen is, being too free with his emotions won't do them any good. ]

How do you control it, then? I've never had to do such a thing before, but you sound like you know what you're doing.

[sicklysweet]

I had to learn, or I wouldn't be a very good wizard.

[Wizards use magic with their heart, after all, and a steady heart means steadier magic.]

One of the best things to do, if you can, is take a moment to assess the situation around you. Take a breath. Take a moment to pause and reflect because chances are whatever's pissed you off isn't worth being angry about. And the more you do that, the easier it is to do that without even needing to take that moment. Things will be less frustrating the more you practice.

[goodfaiths]

Oh-! That's really good advice, actually. I have to do something like that before I perform so I don't get nervous, so I'll make the effort to do it here, too, for my emotions.

[ Breathing exercises. ]

Aha, I didn't know Owen-san could give such good advice, but I appreciate it. I'll be careful from now on.

[sicklysweet]

Don't say something so gross. It's not advice.

[A beat.]

And it's for my own interests you don't keep getting angry all the time.

[tsuns]

[goodfaiths]

It is!

[ :D ]

But, you know, this is a side of Owen-san that I want to see more often. Even if I have to work for it. I'll do my best to control how I feel, in return.

[sicklysweet]

[CAT NO BANANA THIS ISN'T WHAT HE SIGNED UP FOR]

Good. I'm sure you're not entirely useless and can do that much.