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

[magicam]

[Staring... bad. Cuddling is much better. Good job going with that option, instead, Idia.]

Totes don't wanna cash that one in, though...

[So, whether it's deserved or not... He's not planning on holding a grudge over this one.

No promises it won't come up in a self-loathing spiral argument in the future, though. Such is life.]

[unsinksyourship]

You know, Kawase...

[....... it's not like him becoming a military physician is a terrible thing or anything -- doctors are incredibly useful, and their only other medic is currently a literal robot of unknown aptitude, so even more so. Just -- ugh, he can't tell if he wants to complain right now or actually have this discussion.

To Kawase it probably just looks like he goes through a series of scowls in return and settles on a grumble.]

Dahh, never mind, never mind!! Let's not think about the military right now, it makes me start wondering if this is better after all.

[kaientai]

Nothing! None of your business. Don't make a choice you're gonna regret later.

[ he is a man with a sword, after all. ]

[teidaisei]

Huh? [ Tamamori what. Kawase pauses only to oogle at the feedback he gets, their mental standoff being something akin to . In the end he decides to drop it because today feels like it's going to be headache and it's barely begun. ]

If even you don't want to talk about what's going in that brain of yours, this is going to be a long day.

[cheerfuldays]

Ehehe, hopefully! But maybe it won't be so bad if we just... take a deck for ourselves, just to be safe. Andddd we can all have drinks. I'd suggest cocoa, but I've noticed you don't tend to go for sweet things, right? So I'll find an alternative for you.

[exofractured]

[It had better be foolproof, because at least one of them is a fool. Although Phantom pauses Operation Hiding Spot for a second at that.]

Unless you have shield magic as well, that's questionable. Outside seems... less than hospitable to humans.

[festiverogue]

[He should know better than to say things like this. It's not like they'll help. He'll be abandoned, regardless of what he does. Because he isn't enough. Because there's nothing that can be done to make him more. He should stick to what he knows.

But Idia's hero-like line makes Madara's head turn, and he looks at him with blurry vision.]

Still... standing, huh...

[He's listening.]

[festiverogue]

Nobody here has even tried to get to know me. And you know what? It's better that way. The sooner they see what I am, the sooner you'll look like an idiot for trusting me, and we can't have that.

[He laughs, but a shake creeps into his voice. Her hands feel... nice. Warm. Familiar, though they shouldn't. He stumbles into the next section of the tirade.]

Imagine what they'll say! Poor Shizuku, with her awful partner. Poor Shizuku, who shouldn't have to sleep near a monster. Poor Shizuku, always being let down... Isn't it funny? I'm so used to it I don't even care anymore. I should've gone through with asking for the partner swap. Can't leave if I leave first...

[kaientai]

That what you think? That I'm angry 'cause I settled? I didn't. I've never settled, not ever. And that was fine, only I used t' think it meant something.

[ this sort of thing was never going to be able to come out without a certain degree of splashback. he hates himself for it more than anything because who else is there to blame? humanity? the counterforce? the world? the only person to blame is himself. that's just taking responsibility. ]

I made a deal. "Guardian", is what I'm supposed to be, only I don't save anything or anyone. I've been doin' this for a very long time without a thing to show for it. Know what that makes me? A liar. Best ya quit wastin' your time.

[cheerfuldays]

( --partner swap? he...

tried to leave her.

... did last week even matter, then? or... ...

if she asks about 'what' he is, would it help? or would it be learning a secret while he's in no state to be telling them? would that hurt him more? )

Look at me, Madara. I'm here. I'm still here. I want to be. You're upset, and you've got every right to be- but I'm here now. So please, let me help. You don't have to shoulder it all. What you've done... what you're feeling. Let me carry some of it too.

[festiverogue]

[He tried to leave her so she'd be with someone better. He had it all figured out. Put him with someone horrible because he's horrible; put her with someone safe. But it didn't work out, so he's left with this. And left revealing this in the worst of times.

He finally looks at her, really looks, and what he sees twists something up inside of him in the worst way possible. What is he saying?]

Shizuku...?

[Like he's not sure this is really happening. And after a moment, when he feels the depth of what he's been saying:]

Why would you help me?

[cheerfuldays]

Because I care about you, silly.

( no hesitation, no trying to bargain with the beast possessing him. just a simple, affectionate truth. she presses her hand against his cheek a little firmer before moving into his hair, pulling him a little closer. )

You're very dear to me. I wanted to respect your privacy because... I got the feeling you didn't want to talk about yourself. But I want to know you. And I want to help you, like you've protected me.

[festiverogue]

[Something in him snaps, something he doesn't recognize as the ghost loosening its hold slightly, and he drags his hand down the wall. He slides it behind Shizuku and moves in close, his head dropping so his forehead rests on hers.]

You're going to leave me. I know that's how this has to work. Don't you want to go back knowing only the best part of me?

[Maybe this time it won't hurt to be left behind, if he's simply not scorned.]

[unsinksyourship]

[It sure is a mental standnyaff, but Tamamori is stubborn about it even when he isn't completely sure what he's being stubborn about; there's time and place and also he definitely doesn't have the attention span to really give the topic the consideration it needs.

So, in a bout of rare crisis-time consideration:]

Nyahaha... Don't think you've escaped, I'm just saving it for later! Later once we don't have to deal with something that might eat us or-- I don't know. Our grades.

[Why do those two things feel equivalent here.]

[cheerfuldays]

... If all I wanted was the beautiful side of things, would I still be an idol, knowing how awful it's underbelly is? People can be messy. That doesn't make you unworthy.

( let her just play with his hair softly, unfazed by the close contact. it's a soothing moment, just the two of them. something the ghoul has no right to be part of, had no right to instigate- but she can finish it, at the very least. )

I want to have you in my life, Madara. I wouldn't let anyone else this close, you know...?

[sicklysweet]

I don’t want the things I need to get broken. Wouldn’t you agree with that? Or do you like broken toys?

[selfconcept]

Unfortunately for you, I was already broken.

[ But that means admitting that he isn't fine, so the ghoul's influence starts slipping up. ]

But I will always put my pieces back together again and again and again—

[festiverogue]

[He doesn't know if he believes it, but he wants to believe it. He wants to believe so, so badly that she cares, and wants him there, and wouldn't let anyone else take his place. It may be for only a few weeks, for a meager portion of a life, but he wants this.

And maybe it's the truth about the idol industry that is the last straw, but he suddenly feels more simply sad than despondent or angry. The ghoul gives up on him entirely, just as he tips his chin up and presses his lips to Shizuku's forehead.]

I'm sorry, Shizuku. You really do deserve a lot better.

[sicklysweet]

[What's a guy gotta do to get wrecked around here?]

Of course I am. Do you think I can't handle it? Do you think I'm some weak, delicate thing that needs to be protected?

[He sounds way too gleeful right now.]

I'd like to feel you end my life. I wonder how guilty you would feel?

[cheerfuldays]

( her eyes flutter shut at the kiss to her forehead and- with the soft moment confirming he's him, shizuku doesn't hesitate to hug him around the chest- holding on tight, like it could possibly protect them both from all of this. )

I want you.

[festiverogue]

[He doesn't understand where this caring comes from, this desire to specifically have him in her life, but for the moment he accepts it for what it is. And he tries to forget that it'll be gone just as quickly as it began.

With a little self-deprecating sigh, he puts his arms around her as well.]

Yeah, well... I think maybe I need you.

[cloudalike]

Whoa - that's incredible! Your sister must be quite the genius. It is no small feat for a toddler to speak that many syllables.

[cloudalike]

Have you always been able to communicate with spirits? How many have you met?

[ He's envious, honestly. ]

[cloudalike]

No doubt we'll do everything we can do help.

[ A sigh, short and... not quite frustrated, but close to it. If anything, it's entirely his fault for not being more prepared. It won't happen again; a silent promise he makes to himself and Xingqiu. ]

Why they did not prepare us more for this venture, I can't begin to guess.

[ He lets go of Xingqiu's hand, but stays close, just in case the other boy needs support. ]

[cloudalike]

-- !? You have experience with chasing spirits?

[ ENVY... Usually, Chongyun's version of chasing spirits is walking into a room and finding nothing. ]

Ah - sorry for the tangent. Yes, I think we could try that. Hopefully, that light will let us know which ghost we're up against.