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

[partymagician]

[ Hm. He doesn't like that peppiness right now. It feels wrong. ]

That's a lot of confidence to have in me. How did you know it would be me anyway?

[selfconcept]

Because you're probably one of the better skilled people here regarding nonmagic combat. People are trying to defend or save the others... of course they would be able to hit it away in time. Of course.

Of course—

[ He winds up the hook and shoots it again, but meaningfully at Fai this time. ]

[partymagician]

[ He frowns, batting it out of the way with the rolling pin more easily this time because he sees it coming. ]

Hien... What are you doing? Are you trying to hurt me?

[selfconcept]

I'm always the one getting hurt and transferring it to you. Maybe it should be the other way around this time! But it's okay. You won't die. It'll be fine! It'll be like sparring all over again! It'll be fun!

[ The gun is reeled back in and shot again. If Fai uses it to block with the rolling pin or hit it away, Hien will abruptly change the projected direction to disarm Fai from the rolling pin. ]

[partymagician]

[ The rolling pin gets knocked out of Fai’s hand, clambering to the floor and rolling a few feet away. Fai just barely manages to avoid getting clipped by the grappling hook. ]

Don’t do something you would regret.

[ Unless Hien actually doesn’t care about Fai getting hurt. Maybe that’s why he’s so reckless.

…

Hm. ]

[selfconcept]

I won't, because everything will be okay! You won't die, and I get to have some fun!

[ Hien laughs, and sorry to the nearby people but the distortions and static that usually accompany his voice make him sound like a demon. Maybe that's why he doesn't go all out on laughing normally. ]

Why are you so unsure? You told me to try my best, so here I am, doing my best that nothing will ever go wrong again! Ren won't ever have to die again, I won't have to remember him dying, and I can start over! Again and again—

[ He reels the hook in and shoots at Fai again. For someone who's very used to manipulating wires and strings, he changes the course of the hook so that it's not too easy to follow. ]

—and again and again and again—

[partymagician]

[ It’s not easy to follow at all, and Fai feels himself distressed enough that the grappling hook ends up hitting him in the side.

He hisses, crouching down and holding his hand over the injury. If Hien aims for him again, though, Fai will roll out of the way. ]

How many times… have you tried?

[selfconcept]

[ Hien feels that pain being shared and he inhales sharply. He still has a smile on his face. ]

I dunno. Why should I count?

[ The last one was especially hard hitting because he remembered every single failure. He wanted to forget it. He wanted the erase those memories—

He didn't get to.

Maybe it's karma. ]

I'll save Ren next time. I'm sure of it. Everything will turn out just fine.

[ He's like a broken record at this point, constantly repeating that things will be okay.

Hien quietly watches Fai roll over and giggles. ]

You're so funny.

[partymagician]

…

[ Fai stares at Hien in silence for a few long seconds. ]

Will it? You’ve had to do it so many times, and you haven’t been successful.

[ He isn’t trying to make a dig at Hien. It’s an honest question. ]

[selfconcept]

It will be okay. I can do it. I can do it this time. This time will be the last time. It will work out. It will be fine.

[ Hien starts walking over to Fai. ]

It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine.

[ He tries to grab him by the collar. ]

I can do it this time. Everyone will be happy.

[ Know your pla▓▓▓▓ ]

[partymagician]

[ Fai doesn't react when Hien pulls him by the collar, simply staring into his eyes for a long moment. ]

Some things are not meant to be, Hien. There are certain things you cannot change no matter how many times you try.

[selfconcept]

[ Some things aren't meant to be. ]

Some things... aren't meant to be?

[ Hien giggles, which ends up to be a full laughter. He has a knife that he pulls out of his pants pocket and immediately tries to stab Fai's neck. ]

Things will change. It has to change. Don't you dare say that it'll stay like this forever. Ren won't die. Not this time. Never again.

[ He needs to silence Fai. Shut his mouth from saying such horrible things again. Of course he'll be successful. Everything will be fine if he keeps doing it over and over and over and over and over and over and ove▓▓▓▓ ]

[partymagician]

[ Fai uses the side of his hand to knock Hien's arm away, his hit much harder than anything he's done to Hien so far. He then tries to reach for Hien's arm but misses, forcing himself to jump back and out of the way. ]

What evidence do you have that you can change it?

[selfconcept]

[ The moment the arm with the knife is knocked away, Hien effortlessly switches to the hook gun and shoots it at Fai.

He knows this trick.

He doesn't get an answer. ]

[partymagician]

[ Fai just barely dodges that and he takes an opportunity to try and sweep at Hien's feet to knock him down. ]

You didn't answer my question.

[selfconcept]

[ Hien was just so angry and seething at what Fai said that he's distracted enough to be knocked down. ]

I don't want to hear anything else. It hurts. It hurts me. It'll be fine if I try again and you just try to strike me down?

[ He grabs the knife again and tries to stab Fai wherever he can reach. ]

[partymagician]

[ Fai reaches out to knock Hien's wrist out of the way as he gets down on his knees. If he can get the knife, he throws it off to the side. ]

Of course it hurts, Hien. But sometimes, there's nothing we can do.

[ ... ]

I wasn't able to stop the only person who has ever cared for me from turning into the kind of person that would kill his entire kingdom, but there's nothing I could have done to prevent it. Nothing.

[ He lets out a slow breath. ]

So, sometimes... you need to let yourself feel that pain.

[ Is he being a hypocrite? Yes, but it's for Hien's own good. ]

[selfconcept]

[ The knife is knocked out of his hand. He's about to grab his hook gun, but then Fai goes ahead and says that. ]

That's painful, but the fact that I eventually turn into a monster and devour entire worlds isn't? They're basically the same thing!!

I'm gonna force things to be okay if I have to! It's all I can do! Stop getting in my way!!

[ He actually screams that last bit. There's so much anger and desperation in wanting things to be fine. ]

[partymagician]

[ Fai frowns, but he doesn't flinch when Hien screams. It's... honestly the most emotion he's seen from him in two weeks.

But he needs to hold firm. He needs to figure out a way to get rid of this possession. It's probably his fault that Hien got possessed in the first place, because they weren't sticking together. ]

No.

[ His voice is calm and soft. ]

I never said it wasn't painful. Of course it's painful, Hien. That's why you can't just bury those emotions like I know you are. All that will accomplish is making you feel worse in the long run.

[selfconcept]

[ Hien forces a laugh out of himself. ]

Me? Feel worse? How long do you think I've been at this? At this point, it's even genuinely hard to feel anything! I hate having to express myself so obviously outward because it's the one thing no one will ever question! If I don't even do that, all I get are concerned questions. It's annoying!

[ It's... kinda working, but Hien still seems really angry. ]

So just shut up about me burying emotions and just fucking work on yourself!

[partymagician]

[ That stings. It makes him angry and it takes a lot of effort for Fai to remain calm. ]

So the fact that I need to work on myself means that I must not be able to see that you're struggling too? Am I not allowed to help you? Is that it?

[ Fai takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly. ]

It's because you've been at this for so long that it's important for you to let yourself feel.

cw suicidal ideation? mention

[selfconcept]

Don't tell me how to live my life when you don't even look like you want to live yours.

1/2

[partymagician]

[ Fai stills completely when Hien says that, his expression stricken. It's probably the most real expression Hien has seen from him. ]

cw suicidal ideation

[partymagician]

[ His gaze falls to the ground. ]

I told you before, Hien. I only cause other people's misery. That's why it's better for everyone if I die.

But is it so wrong that I want to help you with yours?

Cw suicidal ideation

[selfconcept]

You didn't want to die when I tried stabbing you twice.

[ Can Fai refute that... but either way, the ghoul retreats. Holy shit this guy is way too intense ]