02.50 - week two, saturday

[afflictionmods]

W2 SATURDAY

Like last Saturday, everyone will get an announcement on their tablets; this time, the announcement is preceded with a bell of some sort before Lorelei appears on the screen again.

"Good morning, everyone. This is an announcement to let you know that today's lesson will take place starting at 8:15 tonight. Again, today's lesson will be starting at 8:15. Please meet at the lower campus exit near the lecture by 8:00pm; Florence will be waiting for you there.

If you have a bag for some snacks and, perhaps, an item you can use for self-defense in the case of an emergency, please arrive with those things on you. We will provide you with an overview of what to expect when you arrive at 8pm.

Thank you."

The alert ends.

You have the day to prepare, ask each other what the hell is happening -- Florence and Lorelei do not seem to be available, strangely enough. There's a lot to take in with the information you have now. But before you know it... night falls.

FULL NAV

(CODE)

Comments

[herlocksholmes]

That's correct, it's one of them. You may remember -- the one that stayed with us, attempting to disarm that bomb. A reliable enough young man, don't you think?

[magicam]

I would. I totally would.

[He... probably wouldn't, actually, but - there are ghouls, and his own is yelling, screaming, railing at him that he should be the one to be hurt, not Idia...

So he says insidious things, digs in little barbs to try and make him realize that if he just allowed himself to lash out, then all the tension that he's feeling, all the anxiety, could melt away. He wouldn't be forgotten. He can press his hurt onto his partner's memory, to be remembered forever.

He could be the only one not left as a fleeting, misty shadow of the past.]

Cater leaves everyone behind, yanno? Why would he spend any energy thinking about someone who left him behind first?

[herlocksholmes]

[Oh, there he comes! Looks like there's no further time for trying to figure out anything, he's coming straight at Sholmes! Sholmes raises his arms, intending to block for now, if punches begin happening. Tire him out? Wait for a chance to strike? Keep him talking? Well, regardless of what he can do, letting himself get pummeled is not a viable option, he thinks!]

Go ahead. Once you have tired yourself out you might listen to reason!

[Yeah, Sholmes isn't getting out of this without being sore, at least. He doesn't want to back down either]

[mirrite]

I'd rather jump off a cliff.

[That much, at least, is the truth. Just because Phantom looks like Phil...!

... why do people keep assuming he swings that way, anyway???]

[herlocksholmes]

It will. Step back and allow me.

[Taking the chunk, Sholmes hefts it and slams it against the picture. Cracks appear on it. A good sign! Sholmes hits it two, three times, and then steps back, to see if somehow everything gets fixed in the blink of an eye. You never know!]

Ah, despite this museum's quirks, the damage to these exhibits about us doesn't get repaired!

[cheerfuldays]

( oh that does ring some alarm bells now, but... it's not his fault. just like her not caring wasn't hers. and if he's focused on this, then he can't do something to someone else, right? )

I- okay. Okay.

( give her a moment, she can help him too. she just needs to collect herself. )

[selfconcept]

Anyway, you can't bully Phantom.

[ Yeah!!! ]

That's my job.

[ No!!!! ]

[herlocksholmes]

[Probably forever...

The comment gets a sigh from Sholmes, a sigh of suffering and repressed despair]

What use is someone who can't do anything against these supernatural creatures? Perhaps that's why they're not coming to me now. THey have judged I'm insufficient, even to be possessed. Loathsome ghouls.

[cheerfuldays]

( she cracks a grin and that's something!!! we love progress! )

Did the pep rally not count?

[unsinksyourship]

Ah.

[He hadn't thought that far?? Also he's not super familiar with military physicals and other details still, alas, because sometimes your military friend is a huge BUTTHEAD.

....... BUTTHEAD isn't an emotion but you know what, Kawase can probably get the gist of that one. They're not exactly spiraling but this sure is a series of dark mood flags. Tamamori glances sidelong at him.]

You're going to join the army... Well, I'm pretty sure the army would be less weird than this.

[selfconcept]

I'm glad. I can actually see your face now.

[ Full of life, having her own self and identity... he seems satisfied.

It's certainly a sight Shizuku probably won't see again outside of this situation. ]

I'll be on my way then!

[ Presumably to terrorize more people into being happy and fine. If Shizuku wants to help him, she'll have to stop him now. ]

rest in pieces

[sicklysweet]

[The hook sails into the darkness, and Owen can't bite back the pained noise he lets out when the hooks dig into his arm. Hien might be able to make out the stark white of his coat in the darkness, but he should at least be able to feel it through the gun as Owen tugs at the rope of the grappling hook.

It hurts, and the way he's tugging at the hooks only makes it hurt even more.

But... He can't show that it does. If he's weak like that, then they'll never come back. He'll just get left behind again, so he has to... he has to prove that he's not weak.]

[sicklysweet]

[In that case, he's just going to keep (lightly) kicking Sholmes in the side.]

I didn't think someone like you could be so pathetic.

[They have had all of One (1) conversation.]

Are you sure you're not possessed already?

[ignihidden]

[There's something about the way he says it that gives Idia pause. Like some knock-off with slightly different branding, the third person but without the "Cay," but... it's not like he knew what an original looked like. There wasn't some distinct way to say "this isn't Cater Diamond" even though people seemed fairly sure, in this state, he wasn't just "Idia Shroud."]

E- Eeh?! No-

[He's digging at the right places, at least.]

It's not- it's not like I want to leave people behind-! It- it's not my fault!

[he reaches out with his other hand, grasping onto the fabric of Cater's clothes. While his fist contorts in the material, so does his other hand, rotating the shar and coming close to what Cater wants him to do. But not quite. And not on purpose.]

[mirrite]

Like hell it is.

[Marcus almost looks like he wants to go again despite his injured arm...!]

Owen racking up injuries like no one's business

[selfconcept]

Oh, it looks like I snagged something good.

[ He reels in the rope into his gun, which will pull it taut against Owen's grip. ]

Oh, it's Owen. Hello.

[ He sure looks... genuinely happy. It's a little disturbing when that sort of expression is on his face in this sort of situation. ]

[partymagician]

I'd like a whole concert!

[selfconcept]

You wanna go? I can break your other arm this time, so that you can have a matching pair.

[ No, he isn't possessed. He's just like this sometimes. ]

[fabulation]

...I'm afraid I can't imagine agreeing to that, even if we had less limitations.

[ This Void thing does not seem like something to mess with, even if he had his Vision working. Xingqiu does wonder if it is also a difference in their moral values as well, however. ]

But, you're right about it being wise to make ourselves better prepared for whatever else they decide to throw us at next.

[ That may make them able to claim an advantageous point to better figure out other things about their situation even after being thrown to the wolves once more. ]

[mirrite]

No thanks. I need at least one working one for what I've got planned.

[What does he have planned? It is a mystery~]

[sicklysweet]

Ah?

[Well, now. Isn't this curious. The little author that's like one centimeter shorter than Owen looks angry.

It's an interesting change, and it makes him want to find out why.]

You might be able to.

[He leans in close, eyes bright.]

All I want to know is why you look so angry, right now?

[magicam]

[Surely, this isn't wholly Cater Diamond, but... it's close enough, and he never reveals enough of himself, that it could be, and that little sliver of doubt is enough to sink tooth and claw into, to pick Idia apart.

It's working. Slowly, but it's working. He's being grasped tightly, the makeshift weapon coming closer, too, intentionally or not.

And Cater just continues to stand there, calmly - if anything, his expression only grows a few shades darker.]

No one ever does, you know? Usually he's the one to leave people behind, but... well, isn't it partially their responsibility to keep in touch, too? You know we're probably never gonna see each other again once we graduate, so... why are you so scared to become memorable now?

[cheerfuldays]

( oh! there it goes. after a moment, she lets out a relieved sigh. )

Thank you, Mr. Sholmes. I can rest a little bit easier now.

[selfconcept]

You'd need one hand for a lot of things.

[ As eager as he is for fighting, he'll only do it if Marcus comes at him first. ]

Sorry, but I can't promise the safety of your arm if you wanna fight.

[herlocksholmes]

[Shin and Sholmes are going to come out of this museum trip with a sore spot on the side]

What would a ghoul gain from overtaking me? All I'm doing is lie down here.