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

[undertakings]

[He's been alert this whole time in anticipation of something happening, but when it does, he's still somewhat struck with the strangeness of it all. Either way, they're not particularly organized for this, nor are they coordinated at all, so that makes it all the harder to notice and avoid the ghosts, especially if one of them already has a penchant for hiding in the shadows anyway.

So, honestly it's probably pretty difficult to discern much of a difference with Shin as he heads straight to the entrance to try to kick the door down when it's apparent normal means of opening it aren't working. But unlike his usual indifference, his red eyes are completely frozen over as he concentrates on this task.]

[afflictionmods]

[ Oh, Shin...

He can keep going if he'd like, but it's going to take more than a couple of kicks. This thing is pretty sturdy. (Careful not to break anything.)

Is he going to try to use something else or is he going to keep kicking? ]

[undertakings]

[Still kicking, but he's going to try aiming for the door handle to try and break that off in case it is a lock-related issue! If that doesn't work though, then yeah, we'll need to do this with more finesse.]

rolled a 1 for the door, g

[afflictionmods]

[ It is a lock-related issue, in fact, and the door handle comes off quite easily! It snaps off with a couple of kicks and drops to the ground.

Nice job. What's up next? ]

[undertakings]

[Rest in pieces, door handle.

Does the door actually open now if he pushes it (is this a push or pull door, i don't know)? Otherwise I guess he can (very very) carefully stick a knife between the doors to see if he can wedge some kind of gap open.]

[afflictionmods]

[ He can push it open, and...

It isn't the escape he's hoping for, sadly, but perhaps it's more knowledge that he can bring back with him. Because a ton of real bad energy creeps into the area, and it will keep doing so until he closes the door. It's negative energy that causes one to just feel bad when it comes into contact with them, almost like it's purposefully trying to drag it in with them. If Shin is possessed by hollowness, it won't quite be enough to snap him out of it, but.

There's a glimpse of the same figures Xingqiu saw in his hole, wandering about in what appears to be some kind of dark void of sorts. ]

[undertakings]

[Huh, well that doesn't seem good.


........

so what happens if he tries to leave anyway, is there any kind of path or is the ground just like... void]

[afflictionmods]

[ It is void. Void he can step on, but void.

He may want to consider this carefully. ]

[undertakings]

[Okay, you know what. If there's some shattered glass lying around from some of the broken cases, he'll take that and just yeet it out into the void first.

Can't believe more void experiments are happening in another game.]

[fabulation]

...Shin?

[ Here is (1) martial artist, coming over with some items in his hand from earlier, yep. And after his possession escapades, probably??

Something about him seems odd from what Xingqiu can tell, though. ]

You're going at it rather hard, aren't you?

[ Not that he'd normally blame him and he has been, uh, busy doing something similar of his own... ]

[undertakings]

[The approach is level enough that he's not setting him off at the moment, so Shin will just turn around and face him with his frigid gaze, giving the impression he's not all entirely... looking at Xingqiu.]

This is the only thing cutting off our route of escape. The faster we remove it, the better.

[fabulation]

[ ...That's odd. Xingqiu doesn't know Shin well enough, but he has made his observations from not only speaking to him a couple of times but due to working on a team with him before—that this may not be normal for him. ]

That's true.

But, you seem a little off. Is something bothering you?

[undertakings]

...No. If anything, it's been easier since we got here.

[No need worry about any unnecessary emotions getting in the way, and no need to think about anything except what's in front of him... it's a cold clarity that isn't unwelcome, in many ways.]

[fabulation]

[ . . .

Yeah, that is strange because if anything Xingqiu has to say that things have grown even more difficult for them as of now. ]

How so, exactly?

[undertakings]

[There's a pause as he considers how to articulate what he's (not) feeling.]

I can focus on what needs to be done without anything getting in the way... and I don't need to think about anything pointless.

[fabulation]

It's not bad to focus on what needs to be done, but I'd hardly think things are easier now than they were before.

[ Which to him may be the red flag he's looking for, he thinks. It's very subtle, though. As if very hard to grasp, like trying to pull someone out of quicksand. ]

But, what would you consider to be 'pointless'?

[undertakings]

[There's something of a blank stare back at Xingqiu, like he can't resonate with that statement at all. Nevertheless, his brows furrow slightly at the question, like he's partially puzzling it out himself. And while he normally wouldn't air out his thoughts like this, he can't find it in himself to care much about that either.]

Questions I don't have the answer to, and emotions that aren't necessary... in the end, they don't accomplish anything, so isn't it better to go without?

[herlocksholmes]

[Oh, now this is something. Here' Shin, trying to kick the door down. Sholmes watches for a moment, trying to determine if this is normal behavior or not.

.........

It's hard to tell. He can easily envision Shin doing something like this, somehow. Whether it's accurate or not is something else, haha]

I must ask you to stop, Mr. Nouzen. You'll attract the attention of some wicked creatures if you continue.

[undertakings]

[In fairness, his perception of Shin isn't entirely wrong because he would absolutely kick down a door if necessary. But at any rate, there's certainly a cold emptiness that radiates from Shin that can be felt through the connection, and it's only all the more apparent when he turns away from the door to face Sholmes with a hollow gaze.]

Detective. ...With all due respect, we're already locked in with these ghosts anyway. Without anywhere to shelter in, it's more important to secure an escape route so we can evacuate as soon as possible.

[herlocksholmes]

In that case, allow me to try to open them. I can open any lock in five seconds.

[Not bluffing, he indeed can, as long as it's not a combination lock. Still, that gaze...it brings him pause. Strategy: buy some time while he tries to figure out how to deal with this. Chances are, a ghoul got ahold of Shin, he decides, and that will be by fumbling the lock opening and observe Shin for a bit]

[undertakings]

All right. I'll keep an eye on the surroundings.

[In the end, what matters is that the door gets open, not the method. As such, he'll move out of Sholmes' way and take out a knife in case anyone tries to attack either of them. ...This is likely not the type of teamwork that was intended but meh!!]

[herlocksholmes]

[The sight of a knife in the hands of someone who may be possessed by something is very disquieting! Sholmes looks at Shin from the corner of his eye and crouches until he's at eye-level, taking a good look at the lock of the door.

Sholmes works on the lock for a moment, finding out that yeah, it could be opened, but...should they step outside while someone is invaded by something? Yeah, no, keep it locked]

...wha...it seems in these "modern times", locks have turned safer!

[As if he hadn't gotten into bedrooms by forcing open the doors in the college!]

How emasculating!

[Having said that, he focuses on Shin., half-expecting a violent reaction, given how he was kicking this door open. Was it a violent ghoul, he wondered. Inwardly he really hoped he wouldn't have to take physical action]

[undertakings]

[There's a reaction all right, but not quite a violent one at least. Shin turns to look at the unsuccessful attempt and narrows his eyes at the display of frustration.]

If you can't handle it, then leave and hide somewhere. I can take care of it on my own.

[Better than Sholmes staying and getting his icky emotions everywhere!!]

[herlocksholmes]

I hardly am the kind to hide anywhere, my good fellow. Besides, as much as may irritate you, I don't intend to leave. Not while a few others have been invaded by spirits and abominations -- one could come and attack you.

[But Sholmes does step away from the door, intending to allow Shin to continue kicking them. The doors are sturdy, it will take quite a whiiiiile for it to break]

[undertakings]

[Hmm, he could probably try to knock out Sholmes, but since he's back to being reasonable, Shin's expression reverts back to that frigid blankness instead.]

I'll be fine... I can defend myself. [knife sharpening sounds intensifies--] You ought to worry about some of the others instead. Aren't there people who can't fight?

[Not that he sounds like he cares all that much if Sholmes goes and helps them or not.

Also thankfully for their legs, Shin has enough sense to change targets when it's apparent the door is solid enough to withstand direct kicks. And since rp timelines are fake anyway, we can pretend this is when he started kicking the door handle so they can actually get the stupid thing open (and then Sholmes can later watch him lose his tablet oops)]