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

[sicklysweet]

[Oh, progress.]

Ah, so you're just damaged goods with missing pieces. That's disappointing. I guess that means I don't need you anymore, then.

[kaientai]

[ stop that. it's a sudden, intrusive thought ryouma isn't sure even belongs to him. it's hard to tell. it's not like he wants to talk about this either. no one here likes to be perceived. ]

I was s'posed to create a happy world. A better world! That's what everyone was countin' on me to do and I let 'em all down.

[ that's the heart of the problem, really, and why he has so much bitterness and resentment directed inward as much as outward in his situation. ]

[kaientai]

[ he's not a person who reaches for his sword before anything else but he might as well be channelling izō right now because he sets his hand on it in an obvious warning. ]

Wanna bet?

sighs (also death stuff....)

[sicklysweet]

[He laughs, even if it's more of a wheeze with how Gentaro's arm presses into his throat. Eventually, there will be a point of no return.

But Owen is no stranger to that, to falling into that deep, quiet nothingness. It's peaceful, sometimes, and feeling nothing at all could be better than all of this.]

I already know nobody would miss me when I turn to stone and stop coming back.

[His voice is soft - almost a coo, really.]

I don't care about that. But I know if you kill me... that will be a mark on your soul that lasts for a very, very long time. It's hard to forget the people you kill, even if you loathe them. Especially for humans.

[Will he do it? Will he pull away? Either is fine with him, honestly. He's just glad he got to see Gentaro get pushed so far.]

Even if I don't get to see it for myself, I can die happy knowing you won't be able to forget this.

[sicklysweet]

I'll take this bet.

[Better make it count. Better kill him in one shot.]

Let's see who regrets this more, okay?

[sicklysweet]

Well, what's stopping you?

[He is ready to throw fuel on this fire even if it turns on him.]

[selfconcept]

That's okay, because the truly broken people are without rational thought.

[ Hien smiles at Owen. It's fine. Everything is Fine. ]

[partymagician]

But there could surely be worse photos of you, right?

[ Relaxing together on a bed is cute!! ]

[teidaisei]

I remember. I also remember you telling me to follow you, Tamamori-kun. [ He can play at being lazy to take the gamble that Tamamori won't actually give him specific instructions. As usual, his self-preservation instinct is distinctly Kawase. He should ask about the brain manipulation at a later time though, since that does seem useful... ]

If they don't, maybe your army of ants will protect you instead.

[unsinksyourship]

I-I said that you could watch me, not that you didn't have to do anything on your own! Ugh, I'm really not cut out for these things...

[He mostly means this specific thing; where they have to venture into horrors unknown and somehow deal with them through armed combat. Presumably. Why do these instructors suck so much at instructing.

Anyway you get to see him puff up his cheeks like a rodent about it all.]

I eat everything properly before any pests can get to it? I don't waste things like that! Anyway, you've got a bag yourself, help me carry some of these!!

[If Kawase thought he'd get off scot free he's got another think coming. Tamamori starts trying to push packaged goods on him.....]

[herlocksholmes]

[Hah, hey, a five isn't much better when it's about defending. Sholmes doubles over, the punches connecting and winding him for a moment. Oh, there's not much that one can do when you're punched repeatedly. He can pretty much feel himself getting bruised -- reckless those attacks may be, but given how bad his defensive stance got, they do the job well enough!

Until Sholmes pulls his arm back, aims, I roll a natural 20 WHY DO YOU GIVE ME THIS WHEN I ROLL FOR A PUNCH, BOT, and Sholmes throws a right hook to Ace's face]

[teidaisei]

[ Oh, that face. Kawase's still not in a great mood but seeing Tamamori puff up like a chipmunk helps a lot. He's still going to be himself though, which means he isn't going to take the packaged goods immediately, so they might be falling onto the floor if Tamamori doesn't have a good grip on them. ]

My bag is for medical supplies. If I clutter it with your junk, will you take responsibility if someone dies because I couldn't get to the anticoagulant beneath all the potato chips?

[iubar]

[ Luckily Ace isn't a slow man when it comes to fighting, having been in some very intense situations. He's able to fend off most of the punch to the face, only getting lightly scuffed.

That punch toward the face doesn't stop him from going back on the attack. He's determined to keep going. Except his punches amount in a 2. Cool. ]

[herlocksholmes]

[That's a tough face. Ace's experience in fighting shines through! Sholmes pulls back his fist, sweating because that absolutely hurt. It's a miracle he didn't break his fingers, natural 20 or not last time, because this time it was a 1. His right fist is out of commission -- not broken but he can't risk aggravating his already aching hand, hah.

His left hand isn't one he tends to use, but hey, at least he still attempts to pack a punch on that one. Brushing aside Ace's punches with an elbow, Sholmes bends and throws upwards with his remaining hand, to the solar plexus, with the acceptable might of a 14]

[unsinksyourship]

[Can't believe you're making him scramble on the floor for these?? No wait, I can totally believe it, and so can Tamamori because he has no dignity and is in fact scrambling at the floor for these. If he moves fast enough he doesn't have to get down on his knees...!!]

Do your hands not work?! Are those doctor's hands or are they just for show or something??? Just-- [throws a chip bag at Kawase, even if he then has to pick it up again, it's satisfying (sort of) because it's been on the floor so there] --move your anticoolant or something and I'll put these at the bottom, then!

You'll take responsibility if they're all squashed.

dispose of the ghoul lint right away as a biometaphysical hazard--

[unsinksyourship]

I return those words to you with interest! One of us must be the possessed one in this conversation, and I can assure you it's not me. Why, any ghoul that possesses me would have a total mess on their hands.

[He looks very satisfied with himself for stomping on Grimnir's ego, maybe this can be the sacrifice for saving(???) this target from the ghouls. As a ghoul with goals in mind, there are no problems nor contradictions in this at all.]

Hmhmm, you've got all this impressive pedigree and boastful attitude, but I'll bet you the Primarch Raphael and all the primal beasts have never been up against ghouls like this, or a place like this! You're here, after all; just like the rest of us.

Meanwhile, I'm quite used to waking up in places I don't belong! I've insulted all manner of supernatural creature and lived to tell the tale, and even if they insult me back, all insults do is grow your legend and strengthen your spirit. Your mistake is in thinking me an opponent with dignity, because dignity doesn't win!

[unsinksyourship]

I thought you a man with better powers of observation.

I've found the function on this device to distract these things-- [Florence literally showed it to him in front of God and everyone but all right] --and I have all kinds of other ammunition to throw at them! I'm the type of guy who can rise to the occasion in a crisis, and claw my way out of any situation using what's on hand (or not on hand).

[He's absolutely a wonderful ally and not a very annoying blend of ghoul and gumption; Tamamori holds up a handful of candy bars, one between each knuckle like he's planning to start using them as throwing stars. Surely this is fine.]

And because I'm in such a good mood, I may even allow you to allow me to help you without demanding too much tribute!

[vivens]

"All for one, and one for all"...

[ he'll muse quietly about the chest puffing and mull over the motto of these brothers. given how both of his brothers are pirates, they aren't going to be the most noble (they live greedy, selfish, and free), but sabo finds it quite appealing. ]

Great; then once we're done here and whatever happens next, I'll be sure to stop by for this story of your's.

[sicklysweet]

[You SHOT him.]

Are you saying I'm the one being irrational right now?

[selfconcept]

Owen, you were always irrational.

[ Were.

He has a very sickly sweet tone in his voice when he addresses Owen though. ]

But everyone is irrational.

[sicklysweet]

Were?

[Don't like the sound of that, or the way he says it. It's creepy - and if he actually was a rational person, that would probably be a sign to exit this situation he should have left a long time ago.]

What am I now, then? How are you different from me?

[is he going to get stabbed again]

[selfconcept]

Oh, we're different in so many ways. You're not happy, but I am.

[ He says it so convincingly that it has to be the truth, right...? ]

[unsinksyourship]

[So now there are two geniuses staring at the bar on the floor, but only one of them is as forlorn as the bar!! Tamamori really didn't want to have to start sacrificing the critical supplies of the trip, but it's not like he has much else on hand that will help with the supernatural. So!

He's still slowly backing away when Owen looks up, while at the same time looking like he'd like to have dived to get the snack back. Ahhh, this really is a test -- of willpower, of resourcefulness, of strength of character..... He's lamenting things like this in his mind while slowly attempting to recede into the distance.]

E-Even if it wouldn't stop them, it might slow them down the way it did you! Besides, not all of these guys are the same... I'm pretty sure. If they have personalities, maybe they have tastes...

[Watching him beadily......]

[festiverogue]

[Who could even know if Double Face would be the kind of unit Idia would get behind? They're not cute girls, and in fact they've been mostly the "cool" type until recently, but... There was just something about the bond between partners that could bring Madara out of the dark, even this far away. Somehow, somewhere, far, far from where they are now, Kohaku is waiting for his answer. What they have doesn't have a name yet, and that's okay. They still have people cheering for them, no matter what. And so does MaM. Madara has people who need him, who rely on him.

This trickles through Madara's mind until he suddenly shakes his head, looking faintly like he's coming out of a daydream.]

We've got to get everyone out of here. [His eyes grow aware and bright again.] Idia, why are we standing around talking? Have you found Shizuku or Cater yet?

[festiverogue]

At least your family thinks you exist. And maybe you're not second best because you lie to everybody about who you are.

[It seems far too brutally blunt, but Madara chuckles again.]

Like me. You're right, I'm not even second best, either. I'm nobody. I thought maybe that'd change for a minute, being somewhere new, but now...

[He looks at the weapon in his hand.]

...What do they want me to do? Keep running? From what? I'm not scared of this place. I've got absolutely nothing to lose.