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]

Hm... You know as well as I do that lying about who you are makes it hurt less when people don't care.

[It's equally blunt, but... that's his worldview. Simple, cut and dry.]

I'm nobody there. I'm less than nobody here, since I'm not even half as capable as most people here... even if I had my magic, I'm still a coward.

[He glances at the weapon in Madara's hand, too, and then looks back to his face with a sigh.]

They're never going to tell us what they want with us, here.

[festiverogue]

They're never going to tell us what's really going on. It's not like they really want us to learn from each other. That part was a huge lie. Total bullshit.

[He puts the weapon down on the floor, then takes a seat.]

You're a coward, but you could at least try to look out for people who're trying to help you. You hide from everything.

[magicam]

Mhm.

[There's no way they'll actually tell them what's going on. They barely told them what was in store here, before they were sent away on the spooky bus orb, so the idea of them spilling their whole plan is laughable.]

Is that such a bad thing? If I'm out of the way, no one will have to help me.

[And yet. Here they both are. Possessed.]

[magicam]

...You wouldn't understand.

[It's... well, it's not a long story, but it's a story, and one that he doubts Owen would especially care about.]

It isn't. If someone likes... this... then they're lying or... are you. And we've established you have bad taste. I... am honest, with myself, at least.

[iubar]

You make a brother proud.

[ it's teasing, but it's also true. it's so good that sabo is alive and able to do all these things. even if it's such a heavy weight, too. though, luffy will always be there with him. that is a huge relief. ]

[cheerfuldays]

When you had game night- there wasn't anything sweet... but I know Idia does like sweets, so it felt a little strange to think he'd arrange for that, unless he was hoarding?

[iubar]

I guess. I shouldn't complain too much.

[ Maybe, but he doesn't want to be called cute, so shh. ]

[cheerfuldays]

You know... she's not the best with her emotions either. But she has music... and watching her grow every day is the best feeling. I- I don't know what I'd do without her...

( is that a ghoul loosening its grip more? it sure is. )

[goodfaiths]

Mm, it's been like this for a while. I've met a lot back at home, so I hope I can talk some sense into the ones stuck here.

[ But!! ]

Wait, so you usually can't talk to them?

[ignihidden]

[Got it!! Man, it would be a lot easier if possession had some sort of visual tell, talk about bad game design.]

M- M'lady Shizuku saved me earlier but we ended up getting separated...

[Which, like, he doesn't have the mental fortitude to also feel bad about that. Too much was happening! And, besides, what could he do to protect her? Dramatically jump in front of her to take a posession?]

... as for Cater... uhm... ... well, nothing hurts, s- so he's not in pain, wherever he is...

[vivens]

And I'm a proud brother, too.

[ said light-heartedly but also with some heaviness. it's the constant state of himself—he wants to be someone that his brothers can be proud of but also wants to be proud of the things that they've done. and, well, some of that can be rather difficult depending on which angle. ]

[partymagician]

[ He laughs. ]

Well, if you still have any complaints, I don’t mind listening.

if i could quit napping before i hit enter that'd be great

[kaientai]

[ it will probably be ryouma who regrets this severely later on, but for now...

the click of the blade opening sounds too loud to his ear suddenly and maybe that's why it's not as bad as it could be. it connects somewhere that this shouldn't be happening because this is never his first choice and something changes. it's little, subtle things, but to a swordsman with his level of mastery, that matters.

that's why it's across owen's thigh as opposed to a more lethal alternative and the sword shakes in ryouma's hand now that it's drawn because he'd probably like to kill owen instead. whatever's in his head would love for that to happen. he resists because his ideals are everything to him, but the fact that he's struggling only feeds back into what's causing this in the first place. ]

Stupid! Why didn't you run away?! What's the point of rushing into things you can't win?!

[ this complaint is obviously rooted in something owen's only reminded him of, but right now that hardly matters. ]

[exofractured]

A pity. Neither do I. And there appears to be a Void outside.

[Yes, he capitalized it. Don't worry about it. They're doing great!!]

We'll have to make do with what's in here.

[cloudalike]

[ He droops a little. ]

I've... never met one face-to-face before now. My pure yang condition usually has them running before I even enter the room.

[cloudalike]

[ He blinks, confused. ]

Do you really think you're not good with your emotions Shizuku? It seems like the opposite to me.

[tosa]

(Is that it? He wonders how much Ryouma knows. It sounds like he doesn't know anything about his impact on the world at all which... well, if he thinks about it, it makes sense. Ryouma died so why would he be able to perceive the world after his death? It's not like him, a sword spirit, that continues to exist and observe the world even from the darkness of a museum case.)

Ya don't know?

(He's calm when he speaks,)

Don't ya know how much ya did, Ryouma?

[sicklysweet]

You're not happy.

[you're full of shit, sir.]

You're a liar who enjoys seeing others in pain, maybe, but that just makes you as happy as I am.

cw hallucination

[selfconcept]

[ While Hien doesn't mind being called out usually, this particular callout rather stings, because he doesn't think it's his fault with how his mindset is at now. It's not his fault that he was converted from Destruction, in which he can hear his laugh every time he gets into a violent and sadistic streak. He hears him laugh at him and he hates it. He hates it so much that his gaze just drops into absolute zero status.

And he drops Owen to the ground. ]

I'll kill you.

[catarou]

[ Something about what Owen says cuts deep, right through the source of his resentment. Gentaro already has enough marks on his soul. He doesn't need any more. For a moment, he's aware that the resentment is not all his, but that moment is all it takes.

Dice, Ramuda, and-- him, too. What would they say, what would they think if they found out he'd taken a life? It's that love for them that burns right through the resentment.

He steps back, releasing Owen. Once the ghoul exits his body, Gentaro looks shaken. It doesn't last long; he doesn't want to give Owen even more ammo. The mask returns, unreadable as ever, but he knows it can't be as convincing as he would like. ]

... I'm afraid I cannot allow you the satisfaction.

[sicklysweet]

[Owen doesn't seem particularly interested in pursuing Tamamori right now, unless he has more candy in his bag...]

Are you calling me a ghost?

[He is much worse than a ghost. Probably.

Well. Probably not, now that he's nerfed. His ego refuses to believe that, though.]

I'm pretty sure all of these spirits have a taste for human flesh, so I'm not sure throwing chocolate at them will make them stop. You might have a better chance throwing salt.

[sicklysweet]

It's very hurtful that you keep saying I have bad taste... Is that what the real Cater is like? Someone who just wants to hurt older, wiser wizards who just want to help?

[Owen is, unfortunately, still Owen.]

I also don't know that this is being honest, Caycay.

[sicklysweet]

[Well, Owen might regret this when it takes a while to recover for this.

He crumples once the blade draws across his thigh, though the pain takes a moment to sink in fully. Even still, the pain isn't a deterrent to Owen. He's had worse. He's had much, much worse, and the words Ryouma shouts are much, much more interesting.]

Oh? Are you talking to me? Or is it at what they want you to see?

[He laughs, just a little unhinged.]

There doesn't need to be a point to watching people struggle with what they want versus what their instinct demands of them.

[sicklysweet]

[Owen hits the ground, and Hien's threat actually gets him to laugh. He hisses as he pushes himself upright, arm throbbing. It hurts like a bitch, but he ignores it as he pulls his legs underneath him.]

You're welcome to. You wouldn't be the first and you won't be the last.

[Self-preservation? Not even once.]

[sicklysweet]

[Ah.

He's not sure if he's disappointed or not when Gentaro steps away. He's alive, for now, and what's a guy got to do to shove people off the deep end?]

So you're back to being yourself.

[He sighs, pushing off from the wall.]

I thought you were a worse person than this.

[Is that... a compliment????]