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

Sorry?

[Weird... They're both just apologizing. Madara thinks that's funny, and offers a hollow, quiet chuckle.]

Look, I know when I'm beat... You should go. Maybe if they all go for me, the rest of you can... make it a little further.

[Well, he can't be impolite... to an idol.]

... eh, what's that sort of mentor-character dialogue...

[Look, he's taking up no one's mantle, so no one's allowed to say that they'll hold them back so the rest of them can get a little further! S- So, what does he say, what does he say...]

... u- um... How- [in character, Idia, in character]

How can you say you're beat when you're s- still standing?!

[He manages it with surprising firmness. Come on, Tropes, he can do this!]

[He should know better than to say things like this. It's not like they'll help. He'll be abandoned, regardless of what he does. Because he isn't enough. Because there's nothing that can be done to make him more. He should stick to what he knows.

But Idia's hero-like line makes Madara's head turn, and he looks at him with blurry vision.]

Still... standing, huh...

[He's listening.]

[Yosh! He got him to look away from the mirror a little!]

Th- That's right! It's one thing i- if every ounce of your energy were gone b- but you're still standing!

[He reaches out and- gingerly grabs Madara's hand. He had to appeal to him as a hero and an idol, so he holds the other's hands like this is a meet-and-greet in a haunted museum.]

A- And you've still got plenty to do, right?! L- Like another performance!

[How long has it been since he's had a proper meet and greet? It feels like forever, even though it's only been months... How long since people lined up to see him? He can't remember right now, though it's fuzzy on the edges of his memory.

He's still standing. After everything. After Kanata. After Eichi. After his family. He's still standing. The sentiment echoes in his head and distorts, reminding him of his reality outside of this. He has to perform again. This hero speech is working; the delivery reminds him of--]

Chiaki?

[No. No, Chiaki is red. Kanata is blue.

And suddenly he's back in Rio, in borrowed purple, helplessly watching as they tear Kanata proverbially to shreds a million miles away.

He grips the hand holding his.]

Sorry... I can't save anybody.

[Uwah... he felt like he was making progress but then suddenly it seemed like a backlash happened? Was it because he hit an HP threshold? F- Focus, Idia, focus! Any bossfight was going to have a few wrenches thrown in it to test your build!]

[... and a real gamer could power through with a niche build just by paying attention to mechanics!]

[(Hey, Idia, isn't this supposed to be about emotional connection? Idia??)]

Eh? What kind of talk is that? Even in a group of 50+ people, the great thing about idols is...

[grip]

Even if you were the idol ranked 50 out of 50, that's still someone's fav! Someone's only waking up because they're thinking that their fav is trying their hardest, too!

[Madara is the final emotional inadequacy boss, it's true.

But Idia has done something most people Madara knows--even at home--can't do. They've mentioned that thing that keeps him going. Even if he's the lowest of the low, the worst of the worst, he still has his fans. And as he was reminded during the SS Tournament, those fans rely on him to find their will to smile. They get sad when he's inactive. They were happy to see him perform.

And so were countless peers. And his partner.

And one person, who matters more than the rest in their current situation, has let him know that he makes her feel safe.

He smiles, slowly, like a flower blooming.]

That's right... They're counting on me, aren't they?

[When Shizuku had talked about MMJ!'s members, her face had lit up. He kenw it couldn't be the case for every idol but, as a fan, he sincerely hoped... for a world where every unit could have that kind of connection. That was the kind of thing that inspired slime-based fans like him to support them. It was the thing that kept them going, even when they assumed such a thing would be impossible for them!]

[Idia still assumes he's just moss growing on the wall somewhere but, well...]

[if his status as a "fan" helps him help others, he can manage that.]

That's right! S- so, it's no time to be saying the fight is over! We've got to get everyone out of this place!

[Just please don't ask him how they're going to accomplish it or what he plans to do about it! He's applied all his buffs and his MP is low, thx.]

[Who could even know if Double Face would be the kind of unit Idia would get behind? They're not cute girls, and in fact they've been mostly the "cool" type until recently, but... There was just something about the bond between partners that could bring Madara out of the dark, even this far away. Somehow, somewhere, far, far from where they are now, Kohaku is waiting for his answer. What they have doesn't have a name yet, and that's okay. They still have people cheering for them, no matter what. And so does MaM. Madara has people who need him, who rely on him.

This trickles through Madara's mind until he suddenly shakes his head, looking faintly like he's coming out of a daydream.]

We've got to get everyone out of here. [His eyes grow aware and bright again.] Idia, why are we standing around talking? Have you found Shizuku or Cater yet?

[Got it!! Man, it would be a lot easier if possession had some sort of visual tell, talk about bad game design.]

M- M'lady Shizuku saved me earlier but we ended up getting separated...

[Which, like, he doesn't have the mental fortitude to also feel bad about that. Too much was happening! And, besides, what could he do to protect her? Dramatically jump in front of her to take a posession?]

... as for Cater... uhm... ... well, nothing hurts, s- so he's not in pain, wherever he is...

But you don't know where he is?

[He's heartened just a bit to hear Shizuku did her own bout of saving, considering he believes wholly in the strength of her heart, but... Cater. Now he's worried about Cater. And just as he's coming out of this, too.]

Guess I don't know where Shizuku is, either. I spent too much time hunting those ghost things down.

02.50 - week two, saturday

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