theafflicted | 02.50 - week two, saturday

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)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ He doesn't know if doing that got the ghost out of Idia, but seeing him like this makes him put a hand to his shoulder. ]

I won't hate you, but I'll remember you.

[ There are very little reasons to hate Idia for Hien, but he can't be bothered to hate people in the first place. ]

There will be other things you can make memories with, like the time when you drew a character that was based on me. Remember that? I thought that was pretty cool.

[Idia's all curled up, face buried in his knees, trying to process the emotions of it all. All the usual things he can do when things are overwhelming are gone. He can't bury himself in anything except his jacket.]

[he does look up a little, when Hien reminds him about the character, and it's clear that his eyes are red and watery]

... eh, if M'lord Static remembers me, th- [hic] that's about as many as back home, too.

[One.]

What's wrong? Is there something in the way of people remembering who you are?

[ He gently rubs Idia's back. ]

Do you want to talk about it?

[ In the midst of the ghoul chaos? Sure. ]

[Eh, how mature, how cool (says the guy who didn't see Hien chasing people with a grappling hook).]

... wh- what's there really to say?... [he says, with his shoulders shaking]

No one cares if I get home safely. P- Providing it doesn't hurt him, I don't think... ... Cater probably thinks it's better if I don't make it back.

That's who I am! [he says with some pitiful amount of faked cheer] A useless person who is only needed because of their bloodline.

[ Hm. ]

Well, I care. Pretty sure Fai does too, and some others here. Shizu too. There are many kindhearted people here, Idia. We don't give a shit about your bloodline here. Hell, I look really fucking weird and sound terrible, which usually gets people scared of me, but you didn't care about that, did you? It's pretty much how we feel.

Besides... I'm sure Cater cares, so that'll be one more person when you go back home.

[There's at least some effort there, a little bit of actual understanding that maybe people could feel about him the way he feels about Hien- that the things that defined them, made them stand out, made them capable of fulfilling their role were actually cool. He seems to be listening.]

[Until the last bit, where he starts to sulk again, turning his face away.]

... No, he agreed. Only Ortho cares about me... and I shouldn't talk about anything when we get back. He wanted us to forget from the first moment.

Why is that?

[ Here is Hien, hoping that if Idia explains it himself, he'll realize that something is wrong or Hien will just have to take this into his own hands. ]

... honestly...

[his tone is shifting to something more spiteful but it loses a lot of its impact when it's said through a runny nose and tears]

... he played his cards too early, that he had something to hide, it's not even like I've figured it out...

[he grumbles, bitterly]

Whatever he cares about, it's clearly not me.

Is him caring about you more important than how the rest of us care about you?

[ It's not said in an accusatory tone, but he wonders if this is what Idia wants. ]

[That is a question that makes him think. There was some part of him that thought, well, Cater was the person from his own world...]

[... but it's not like that made it any more probably for Cater to remember him. They were "just classmates."]

[... but maybe it hurt less to have "just classmates" if there were other people.]

... w- well, if he doesn't want to be friends they he doesn't... need to act friend...ly.

Have you ever talked about this with him? Aside from hurting yourself with the shard. People tend to be on guard if you start hurting them to get their attention. I'll even come and mediate if you want me to be there for you.

[ He sounds sincere about it, at least. ]

... h- how does that even work...

[he sniffles and rubs his nose with his sleeve, he mimics someone "popular" with a high, nasally voice]

"Hey, stop being so fake please I'm allergic to it~"

[Idia, that's just the social version of hurting someone to get their attention.]

[ ... ... ... ]

No, Idia. I'm telling you that if you wanna be friends with Cater, you should just tell him. If you want to make things happen, you have to learn how to compromise.

... Eh, but...

[It's a horrible, terrible, teenage boy game of chicken. The first person to admit they wanted to be friends showed a vulnerability.]

... what if he doesn't want to?...

... Then I'll ask him for you.

... r- right, and... if he laughs, play it off as a joke...

[the boy keeps swerving away from any form of actual emotional vulnerability]

Compromise, Idia.

[ Show the vulnerability once in a while?? ]

02.50 - week two, saturday

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cw mentions of self harm

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