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

[cloudalike]

[ AHH REAL GHOSTS - omg Chongyun's so excited and ready to go. Please come at him ghosts!

He has his umbrella folded in his backpack, and as always, some talismans on his person. He'd made do with whatever he could find in the stationary store to make them; some of them might even be lined with washi tape (thanks to Shizuku).

He slaps a couple on his umbrella and - chases after the first ghost he sees. ]

Don't you run from me!

[fabulation]

[ Real ghosts...or are they ghouls?

Xingqiu finds himself without a way to deal with this scenario, for once at a loss of what to do in a situation, or how to help anyone else. In a direct contrast to Chongyun, he's absolutely not excited about them because they seem to be incorporeal and he doesn't have something to deal with them here.

Worst of all, those people who sent them here knew the risk and put innocent people in danger for their results!

...Well, whatever the case, Chongyun gets to see a certain kind of ghost take hold of Xingqiu—one that looks angelic on one side...

Will Chongyun approach? ]

[cloudalike]

[ Beautiful and angelic on one side but twisted on the other side? Uh, hmm.



Either way, it does take Chongyun a moment to realize what exactly has just happened to Xingqiu. Concern and determine drowns out his excitement. He calls out his friend's name and immediately makes for the other boy, umbrella shifting to defend rather than attack.

If he could just get closer to knock Xingqiu out or - ]

[fabulation]

[ How cruel.



Jokes aside, Xingqiu turns immediately to face Chongyun, expression quite inscrutable like this. ]

...Chongyun, have you lost faith in me as well? Hmm, I suppose that isn't too surprising.

[ A shadow comes over his eyes, but he doesn't sound disappointed. If anything, it's uncharacteristically resigned, even as it looks like he's about to pull a fist back, his stance not exactly the most friendliest right now.

What is his good friend's next move? ]

[cloudalike]

There's no one I believe in more than you.

[ There's not even a hint of doubt in his words. ]

To lose that - well, that would imply that it could be lost in the first place, and that's plainly impossible.

[ Serious and steady. He carefully closes the distance even more. If it's just a punch, he'll take it. It might even give him the advantage he needs to grab Xingqiu. ]

[fabulation]

[ ...oh.

There is a ripple amongst the drowning sea of foreign inadequacy in the face of Chongyun's stalwart conviction filtering into his words—a belief that doesn't sound shaken. ]

Why do you say that it's impossible for it to be lost?

[ It's indeed just a punch! It may help that he seems to throw it less harder than he was going to in the face of the other male's words. Though, he will struggle nonetheless, and be prepared to throw another to see if he can get Chongyun away from him. ]

[cloudalike]

Hng - [ He takes the punch with a short grunt, letting his chest absorb the hit, then uses his umbrella to knock Xingqiu's arm aside. He's counting on the move to disorient the other boy enough so he can sweep Xingqiu's legs from under him. ]

Is it possible to lose the sun? Or the moon? How about the rain? If there's one thing I can count on, it's that the rain never truly leaves. It always returns.

1/2

[fabulation]

...!

[ Xingqiu is deffo disoriented! Possession is not necessarily a smooth business either, so down he goes with an undignified yelp that is definitely not befitting a skilled and genius martial artist. But it happened, because alas he is human.

As he lies down there, he's staring up from the ground, not exactly believing in his own skills to put forth any more effort in resisting ... thankfully. ]

2/2

[fabulation]

[ There is a faint image, of something beginning to pull from his body, beginning to climb out. As if being forced from the mortal body this being has invaded.

Indeed, it is evidently the ghost, still trying to cling on...in vain, perhaps. ]

But, the sun may be eclipsed and hidden away from view—you can say the same of the moon.

And a drought can send away the rain long enough that it may never return. But, would you still believe in it even then? Even if that rain will not come back when you wish for it to do so?

[ Even as he says this, the battle is nearing its end. This is the last part of the fight that the ghost is daring to put up. ]

[cloudalike]

[ He slaps - gently - a talisman on Xingqiu's forehead, covering that glimmer of beauty and horror. If Xingqiu begins to move too erratically, he'll hold the other boy down. ]

Wishing doesn't mean we're immediately granted our heart's desire. I always hope it comes back, but it's up to the rain to decide. It's never failed to return before. Never.

Come back to me, Xingqiu.

[fabulation]

[ Well, good thing that Chongyun is doing that because he'll be probably trying to move or twitching as the ghost is being a pain in the ass, but—

There's a moment of silence, and no more movement as for a moment Xingqiu's eyes slide closed. Perhaps unexpectedly. Then, there's a slight jolt, and then he's still once again. Like the dead, and then... ]

...as you predicted, the rain has returned.

[ Sunset eyes open once again, staring up at into cool ones. The strange emotion tinting his irises and expression have left—and so has the ghost. ]

Urgh, that was quite unpleasant. I'm hardly in any interest in repeating that once more.

[cloudalike]

Once was more than enough for me anyway. I was lucky you didn't have your sword on you. You were holding back with that punch, weren't you?

[ His eyes crinkle in a smile, and he settles back on his knees, letting the other boy go. Now that his hands are free, his rubs his chest, gauging if there's bruising - thankfully, none. ]

Welcome back.

[fabulation]

...Yes. It was difficult to maintain my usual self in the midst of all that, but your words acted like a bridge to allow me to pull my punches, so to speak.

[ Xingqiu fixes Chongyun a smile of his own, sitting up, though his gaze does linger, as he watches him check for bruising. When there's no hint or expression of pain, he relaxes a bit. ]

Thanks to you, of course.

It's good to be back.

[unenvying]

Oi, Chongyun!

[ wei wuxian is going to just follow after chongyun because there's no way that he is letting chongyun go ghost hunting alone?! ]

Wait for me!

[ they are so going to kick ghost butt together, probably*.

*citation needed.

anyway: ] Behind you! Ah, careful, careful~

[cloudalike]

[ He flashes a brief smile at Wei Wuxian, grateful and a tinged eager. ]

Glad to have you at my side. [ And watching out for his back! Thanks! ] I have to say it was impressive how quickly you deducted that spirits would be involved.

[ Taking Wei Wuxian's advice, he slows, steps more careful as he surveys the area. Is the ghoul back to lurking in the shadows? It must be. ]

Hmm - it was just here. Come out, coward!

[unenvying]

Tricky. Those that like to hide are the worst...

[ he's fiddling with his tablet until the flashlight at least creates a small circle of light that is a little bit bigger - enough for them to squeeze into it, at least. ]

Think we should lure them to the light? Then you can test out your talismans.

[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.

[goodfaiths]

Chongyun, wait!

[ He shouldn't be running, but he is absolutely running to catch up to him. ]

Let me go with you! I can talk to them-!

[cloudalike]

[ Oh? ]

You can talk to ghosts specifically?

[ He slows to a stop. ]

[goodfaiths]

Yeah. At least, I could back at home, but I don't think it'd hurt to try!

[ It probably will but. He's here! Two good boys are here!! ]

Are you going to try to speak with them, too?

[cloudalike]

Yes - [ If by speak, you mean whack them with his umbrella or slapping talismans all over their faces. ] - I have some questions for them, if... they're real I suppose?

[goodfaiths]

[ valid ]

Yeah, okay! I can see if they'll reason with us!

[ PROBABLY NOT, but you know what it's worth a try anyway. ]

I'll follow you.

[cloudalike]

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

[ He's envious, honestly. ]

[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?

[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.