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]

…

[ 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 ]

[partymagician]

[ Actually— ]

That's because I wanted to rid you of your possession. I can't die when I'm trying to do that, can I?

[selfconcept]

[ Hien isn't sure whether to be glad or mad. But he sits up either way and slaps Fai across the face. ]

You're so fucking stupid.

[partymagician]

[ It stings in more ways than one, but Fai smiles anyway. ]

I never claimed that I wasn't, Hien. Honestly, I'm probably the kind of person you hate. I'm weak-willed and have always waited for someone to come save me.

[ .......the fact that he is not possessed rn is Concerning ]

[selfconcept]

[ Hien understands. For a while, he wanted someone to save him too. Those days were so miserable. He kept hoping, but no one came. No one. His assumed mentor got him out of a slump, but he never saved him.

He had to save himself.

And this is the best he can do.

He slaps Fai on the other cheek with his injured right hand, covered in bandages that Fai wrapped for him. The shared pain hurts, but he doesn't care right now. ]

[partymagician]

...

[ Fai just stares at the ground. ]

I meant it when I said I want to help you. I know it makes no sense coming from me, but I've never made much sense in the first place.

[selfconcept]

People are illogical. They're not supposed to make sense.

[ He says it calmly like he usually does. Looks like the ghoul is gone out of Hien's system. ]

[partymagician]

[ His shoulders relax as he realizes that Hien is back to himself, but Fai still doesn't look up. ]

No, they're not.

[ ...

He doesn't know what else to say. There's a certain relief in knowing Hien is better, but he can't help but feel a little bit empty and exhausted. ]

[selfconcept]

[ ...

Hien raises his hands to rub Fai's cheeks gently. ]

Sorry.

[ He wants to say something more, but nothing comes out. Hien is also exhausted. ]