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]

From... you?

[Hm. That wasn't right... but it wasn't wrong, either. He was hiding from the ghouls, but also from everyone who was possessed by them, and, in a way, from himself and his own intense feelings, as well.

Or, in this case, to wallow in his numbed feelings, instead.]

I suppose I was, if you want to think so. And when has Cay implied he wasn't a coward?

[magicam]

[They're both fools. Rest in pieces, Operation Hiding Spot.]

Eh, no, Cay doesn't have shield magic. That's one of his classmates.

[Truly a tragedy.]

[festiverogue]

[He crouches down beside Cater, looking at him closer to the same level. There's something dull and cruel in his eyes.]

You definitely never said you weren't one, but maybe I had a little hope after the bomb test. You're just like the rest of them, though. You're scared of me, too. Is that why you were working so hard last week? Was it because you were scared I was going to go off on you?

[magicam]

[Dull cruelty meets a blank void. Something inside him aches at the accusation, but it's so distant, so far away, that he can't muster a reaction to it.]

Why would Cay be scared of you? You're like him, you don't let anyone see who you actually are. As far as he knows, there's nothing to be scared of. Is he wrong?

[festiverogue]

[Madara barks a vicious little laugh.]

Because! Because I'm an unknown, just like you! So aren't you scared of what I really am? Would you run away if I was a manipulative bastard? Or a killer?

[magicam]

Hm... Are you scared of what Cay really is?

[Somehow, he doubts it. There's nothing especially special or scary about him, and that much is terribly obvious. And as Madara gives him options to his own true self, he looks him over, seems to consider it for a moment.]

I know too many manipulative bastards to run away from one who is fun in all other ways, you know? And one of Cay's dormmates tried to kill him once already, so a killer might be scary, but... it's not like it'll matter once we go back to our worlds, right?

[festiverogue]

I'm not scared of anything.

[It's close to true. Very few things scare Madara.

Still, it's kind of impressive how coolly he's analyzing things. Madara is actually impressed, in the state that he's in.]

Oh, wow... You're already ready to leave me behind and go home. Typical. I guess I shouldn't have thought we were getting to be friends. You're just like the rest.

[iubar]

[ hm. that's fair enough. ]

I'm sure you'll be making a name for yourself, whatever you end up doing.

[ someday, when he's not just working in secret or what have you. ]

[magicam]

That's a lie.

[No one's scared of nothing, and in this state, cold and numb, he can easily pick apart every word coming from Madara's mouth.

Even - especially - the ones that hit too close to home.]

Cay always leaves people behind, yanno? He's really, really good at faking being super friendly with everyone. Aren't happy memories better to leave behind anyway? And wasn't mama ready to leave everyone behind as soon as he got here, too? He has something better to do than all this, right? So you're no better than the rest, either.

[festiverogue]

[He laughs so hard he falls back to a seated position, heedless of the ghouls.]

You think I have something better to do? People here like me compared to everyone back home. Everyone at home leaves me behind. Kanata couldn't care less, Chiaki's too busy with Kanata, Leo has his music, Kuro's more loyal to Keito, Kohaku's more loyal to Rinne... I'm second best, at best. Even my own family threw me away. So why wouldn't I like it here better?

[iubar]

[ FAI PLEASE... ]

Ah, I don't know if mind is the word... Just seems a bit too much?

[ He'd rather not be exposed like this, okay. ]

[unsinksyourship]

Nyahaha... After everything, after all those times, it's kind of nice to have something actually scary to share with everybody else. Not that I'm scared, this is nothing compared to the body of my work!

[There's a half-smile from him, scrunching his eyes to half-moons that make him look almost sly for once -- it doesn't quite make it there, because Tamamori's face doesn't quite work that way unless he's trying to wring small change or petty favors out of people, but it gets somewhat close.

The amusement itself is strangely diluted, all of his emotions coming across blurry like bleeding watercolors -- it's definitely Tamamori-colored, tacky like Calspi to the soul, but there's something just a touch off about it.]

But, Kawase. [it sounds a little more like him this time, like approaching steps, like cajoling] If we don't get out of here, it won't stop at just a haunting. So let's be -- a team, for once. You don't want to deal with this anymore either, right?

[Well, there sure are people beating each other up and getting hit with various implements in the background. Also possibly people and things looking at getting yeeted into the void. Go team......]

[magicam]

But you've got all those people, right? Cay's not even close to second best to anyone. Even people who think say they're his friend will leave him behind as soon as someone they actually care about so much as glances their way. His family doesn't even really see him as a person, yanno? Just a cute little doll for his mom and sisters to have their way with.

[And while Madara can laugh at all this, all Cater does is present it matter-of-fact with an even tone and a sigh to punctuate the end.

...He's probably going to regret saying this once he's back to himself, but when opening up is the easiest way of lashing out, of course a ghoul would go for such things.]

[ignihidden]

[When Shizuku had talked about MMJ!'s members, her face had lit up. He kenw it couldn't be the case for every idol but, as a fan, he sincerely hoped... for a world where every unit could have that kind of connection. That was the kind of thing that inspired slime-based fans like him to support them. It was the thing that kept them going, even when they assumed such a thing would be impossible for them!]

[Idia still assumes he's just moss growing on the wall somewhere but, well...]

[if his status as a "fan" helps him help others, he can manage that.]

That's right! S- so, it's no time to be saying the fight is over! We've got to get everyone out of this place!

[Just please don't ask him how they're going to accomplish it or what he plans to do about it! He's applied all his buffs and his MP is low, thx.]

[iubar]

I don't really care what they put up there, but they sure as hell didn't have to put it up without permission.

[ It really is irritating that everything is out there for anyone to see. Who's even doing this? He doesn't like it. ]

This whole place should be wrecked.

[iubar]

I'd like to see you try.

[ This might not be the best of ideas. But given his rage that's making him a lot more reckless, he's just going for more punches here. I ROLLED A 1? Why won't dice let me beat up Sholmes in ANY game?? ]

MY BRACKET...

[vivens]

You say that as if I haven't already. My bounty's higher than your's, you know.

[ of course this is him as the chief of staff for the revolutionary army but, you know, if he ever gets the chance to do anything after this—there's nothing wrong with just vibing through the grand line. ]

SORRY, should have mentioned it

[iubar]

It's not fair when you've got two years on me.

[ it would be a wonder what kind of bounty ace might have these days, if he were alive. though, sabo's position does lend for a hefty bounty, it's true. ]

it's okay.

[vivens]

I bet it was still higher two years ago.

[ MAINLY BC I DON'T KNOW HOW RECENT SABO'S BOUNTY WAS MADE...... closes eyes. ]

But if I do want to be remembered as anything, then I hope it's alongside whatever gets passed on along you and Luffy.

[iubar]

Doesn't mean it would have stayed that way.

[ it's strange to be talking so casually about the fact that there are those two missing years, that ace had died and that's another reason they had no way to compare. then again, who knows if sabo would have ever remembered if that hadn't happened... ]

We'll leave quite a legacy behind, huh?

[vivens]

I'd be embarrassed if we didn't.

[ it's really a painful concept but it's strangely more comforting being able to talk to ace than thinking he could take to ace about these matters. ]

Compared to everyone before us, there's still plenty of time for Luffy and I to make a mess of everything. Our little brother is already making waves himself.

[iubar]

I'd love to be right there with you. You better raise some extra hell for me.

[ it does make him a bit sad that he couldn't see luffy making these waves. but hearing sabo talking about him does warm his heart. not that he doubted luffy's conviction after everything in marineford. ]

[vivens]

That goes without saying.

[ honestly, knowing that he's going to have to carry this alone does sting but he can't ever forget that there's still luffy. no matter what. he still has one brother left.

AND HE'S GOING TO TEAR DOWN THE ENTIRE SYSTEM THAT DECIDED TO PUBLICALLY MURDER HIS BROTHER SO?? he wanted to do that before he remembered ace so it's just doubly so now. ]

[sicklysweet]

What's wrong with sweets?

[That's not the point right now.]

Someone having different tastes than you doesn't mean it's bad. Isn't it good someone wants to see the worst side of you? That someone might like seeing you how you are? Being honest is good for your heart, which would be better for your magic.

[sicklysweet]

[]

How do you know what I'm going to regret? I don't think you get to decide that for me. So come on, talk to me. I'm here to listen.