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theafflicted2022-06-11 05:38 am
afflictionmods) wrote in theafflicted2022-06-11 05:38 am
03.50 - week three, saturday
W3 SATURDAY
Another Saturday rolls around. Some of you had an… interesting night, perhaps, but that’s still no excuse to sit out on your lessons. There’s another announcement, another time to meet before your lessons start today. This time is just a bit different, though. This time you’re not meeting up at campus. You’re told to meet up at the park in the Museum District - and, as always, you’re expected to show up. How you get there is irrelevant, but you better try to be on time.
Florence is waiting at the park, and behind them is another dark, ominous orb. Even as far away as you are, you can hear its whispers. It’s calling to you with promises it can show you a new life, a better life, it can make you someone better… But then Florence is speaking, as if they cannot feel the hear the whispers.
“I will be accompanying you on this lesson, as I said in the brochure I handed out on Thursday. I will do my best to assist you.” There is a pause, though their face voice remains emotionless. “It is hard to say what it will be like inside - however, your goal for this lesson is to close this place for good. I may be unable to assist with that personally, so we are relying on you.”
They take a step back, turning towards the orb.
“I would advise you to do what is asked of you while you are in there - and a word of warning. Through our observations, we have noticed something strange. This seems capable of creating replications of those who enter it.” They let that information hang for a moment, before continuing. “We are unsure what these replications are truly capable of, but please be careful.”
Then Florence gestures for you to follow, and they’re stepping into the orb.
Florence is waiting at the park, and behind them is another dark, ominous orb. Even as far away as you are, you can hear its whispers. It’s calling to you with promises it can show you a new life, a better life, it can make you someone better… But then Florence is speaking, as if they cannot feel the hear the whispers.
“I will be accompanying you on this lesson, as I said in the brochure I handed out on Thursday. I will do my best to assist you.” There is a pause, though their face voice remains emotionless. “It is hard to say what it will be like inside - however, your goal for this lesson is to close this place for good. I may be unable to assist with that personally, so we are relying on you.”
They take a step back, turning towards the orb.
“I would advise you to do what is asked of you while you are in there - and a word of warning. Through our observations, we have noticed something strange. This seems capable of creating replications of those who enter it.” They let that information hang for a moment, before continuing. “We are unsure what these replications are truly capable of, but please be careful.”
Then Florence gestures for you to follow, and they’re stepping into the orb.
THE RINGMASTER
The inside is still the same park, but it has been transformed into a carnival. There are booths with games and food set up everywhere, a large ferris wheel, a tent. It will be a familiar carnival, to some of you, but all the lights are off and there are no people there. There’s a tug, a pull, that draws you towards the main tent - to center stage. Stepping inside you will be greeted by someone dressed as a ringmaster, whose voice is lively and energetic despite how hollow they seem on the outside:
“Hello and welcome! It’s time for your performance! And every good performer wants to do what the people want, don’t they? There’s a list on those little tablets of yours, and you need to do whatever’s asked of you!”
The ringmaster laughs brightly, and it echoes throughout the tent. “The more you do, the more we’ll all enjoy it, and the better chance you will get to stay you! But if you refuse… Well, that won’t be any good, right?”
The ringmaster makes a wide, sweeping gesture with their cane.
“We’re very generous here, though, and realize some things are easier to do with others! That’s why one refusal won’t be an instant loss. We’re assigning task cards, you see. Kinda like bingo cards! Each time you do a task for someone or someone does one for you, you get 50 points! The more you do, the higher the score, and once you reach 200 points, you're capped! But every time you refuse to do something people ask you to do, even if you're at 200 points… you lose 100 points ! And if you don’t do anything, well, you get no points and you lose automatically! You also can’t just sit around doing the same thing with the same person over and over again! Gotta spice it up! The same thing over and over again is just boring.”
There’s a click, and noise starts up outside of the tent. It sounds like the carnival’s come alive.
“Your little tablets will track your points. I really do recommend playing along, because if you fail… You’ll lose something. Something that makes you you! A memory, a precious item, something that makes you who you are and can’t be replaced so easily… Who knows what’s at risk, here! Though who am I kidding, it might be more fun to see what you'll lose. Don't ya think? Maybe you should just give up now and we can all laugh about it!
Anyways, all you gotta do is live until the timer runs out. The timer, by the way, is gonna be at the top of your tablet thingamajigs.”
There’s a tip of the ringmaster’s hat. The timer reads 90 minutes.
“That’s all for now! Go find that pesky little robot who’s been snooping around if you want more answers, because I am very busy.”
“Hello and welcome! It’s time for your performance! And every good performer wants to do what the people want, don’t they? There’s a list on those little tablets of yours, and you need to do whatever’s asked of you!”
The ringmaster laughs brightly, and it echoes throughout the tent. “The more you do, the more we’ll all enjoy it, and the better chance you will get to stay you! But if you refuse… Well, that won’t be any good, right?”
The ringmaster makes a wide, sweeping gesture with their cane.
“We’re very generous here, though, and realize some things are easier to do with others! That’s why one refusal won’t be an instant loss. We’re assigning task cards, you see. Kinda like bingo cards! Each time you do a task for someone or someone does one for you, you get 50 points! The more you do, the higher the score, and once you reach 200 points, you're capped! But every time you refuse to do something people ask you to do, even if you're at 200 points… you lose 100 points ! And if you don’t do anything, well, you get no points and you lose automatically! You also can’t just sit around doing the same thing with the same person over and over again! Gotta spice it up! The same thing over and over again is just boring.”
There’s a click, and noise starts up outside of the tent. It sounds like the carnival’s come alive.
“Your little tablets will track your points. I really do recommend playing along, because if you fail… You’ll lose something. Something that makes you you! A memory, a precious item, something that makes you who you are and can’t be replaced so easily… Who knows what’s at risk, here! Though who am I kidding, it might be more fun to see what you'll lose. Don't ya think? Maybe you should just give up now and we can all laugh about it!
Anyways, all you gotta do is live until the timer runs out. The timer, by the way, is gonna be at the top of your tablet thingamajigs.”
There’s a tip of the ringmaster’s hat. The timer reads 90 minutes.
“That’s all for now! Go find that pesky little robot who’s been snooping around if you want more answers, because I am very busy.”
THE AUDIENCE
Once the ringmaster’s done with their speech, you’re free to travel around the carnival and explore it. It’s an eerie, quiet place, but… you’re not alone, and it won’t take you long to realize that. Those of you who had seen this carnival before - Miach, Shinei, Herlock, and Xingqiu - probably won’t be surprised when the doubles show up. They’re near perfect recreations of you - but near perfect doesn’t mean perfect. Their mannerisms might be odd, or their movements might be jerky and uncanny… but at a glance, it’s impossible to tell who is the real one and who isn’t.
And this is something that makes these doubles very, very angry.
They want you to fail, and they’ll do anything they can to ensure that happens. They’ll sabotage you - or your partner - all in an effort to make you lose points. They'll taunt you if it seems like you're ready to open up, they'll tell you about all the reasons why being honest is a bad idea. For physical prompts, they'll taunt you, call you a monster... They also seem to believe that if you fail, they’ll get to replace you. They will get a chance to get out of here and be the real one. They’re not always convincing, but they are dangerous, and there’s just as many of them as there are of you.
And this is something that makes these doubles very, very angry.
They want you to fail, and they’ll do anything they can to ensure that happens. They’ll sabotage you - or your partner - all in an effort to make you lose points. They'll taunt you if it seems like you're ready to open up, they'll tell you about all the reasons why being honest is a bad idea. For physical prompts, they'll taunt you, call you a monster... They also seem to believe that if you fail, they’ll get to replace you. They will get a chance to get out of here and be the real one. They’re not always convincing, but they are dangerous, and there’s just as many of them as there are of you.
OOC NOTES
OOC: Here are some important things to note for today’s event:
- A simple breakdown of the rules is as follows:
- The cards know, meaning that they'll know if something is not answered earnestly. Prompts that are answered falsely will not go away on your tablets. They will only go away if they are answered truthfully.
- Failure is NOT a bad end! In fact, we have some plans in the instance where not enough people pass the exercise. If 5 or more people fail the exercise, that is considered a group failure. Those who failed individually will face the consequences of losing the important memory/item/etc.
- We are asking people to make their own task cards. Here is a list of prompts:
You may also add one custom prompt tailored to your character, if you wish.
Please toss the prompts into the textbox at the top of this site. Under "Configuration Options", the card size should be 3x3 and the center space should have Normal selected. All characters will get a total of 9 prompts on their cards. It is okay to have prompts that your character would not do; it would just increase their chances of failure.
- A simple breakdown of the rules is as follows:
You cap at 200 points, but you must maintain those 200 points until the timer runs out.
Mutual agreement on completing a task nets each person 50 points.
Getting turned down or refusing to do one makes you lose 100 points.
You cannot use the same person to complete all your tasks. You must have only one prompt per character that you cooperate with.
- The cards know, meaning that they'll know if something is not answered earnestly. Prompts that are answered falsely will not go away on your tablets. They will only go away if they are answered truthfully.
- Failure is NOT a bad end! In fact, we have some plans in the instance where not enough people pass the exercise. If 5 or more people fail the exercise, that is considered a group failure. Those who failed individually will face the consequences of losing the important memory/item/etc.
- We are asking people to make their own task cards. Here is a list of prompts:
You may also add one custom prompt tailored to your character, if you wish.
Please toss the prompts into the textbox at the top of this site. Under "Configuration Options", the card size should be 3x3 and the center space should have Normal selected. All characters will get a total of 9 prompts on their cards. It is okay to have prompts that your character would not do; it would just increase their chances of failure.
electric boogaloo
[Back at the ring toss, Idia can feel the pain. It's an ache. If it were something sharp, he might worry. Instead, he has time to ruminate with his thoughts. In the end, he just let Cater handle it. What kind of partner was he? What kind of partners were they? He barely even knew what Cater liked or wanted. And, inevitably...]
[... it's a lot of work, for something that couldn't last. He closes his eyes, thinking over the conversations he'd had. Don't tell him. I hate that part of myself, too. He clearly didn't hate himself enough to hurt "himself" though. He clearly didn't love himself enough to assert that he couldn't be replaced.]
[There's the sound of footsteps and Idia pulls his head up from where he was hanging it.]
... u- um. ... Good work.
[Is that what you say in a situation like this?]
no subject
Well, that never lasted, either.
Idia couldn't hurt "himself". Cater could hurt "himself" and something he could pretend was another like it. He could claim it was all an insult - how dare they take his magic and then present him with a poor copy of it? - while knowing the truth was something... deeper, more ugly. And people would probably believe it, too, even when the veneer of his usual facade was just beginning to crack under the stress of being here.
Case in point: when he returns to Idia, he just kind of... slumps against him, putting his forehead on his shoulder.
They're not affectionate. Not really. But sometimes... sometimes he just wants a physical presence. He just has to hope Idia understands just enough to not shove him away.]
Thanks~
no subject
[He looks both ways, just to make sure there's no one looking at them.]
[Then he brings up his arms to give Cater a hug. He doesn't really care if there's excess ichor. He doesn't care if it gets on his newer, stylish clothes. Something about this helped last time. It's something he can do. And it seems like Cater needs it.]
... there, there...
[he mumbles, weakly, rubbing his hand up and down against the other's back like he were a small child]
no subject
The hug is a surprise, though, when he expected Idia to freeze, to tense up, maybe do that little 'eep!' he did whenever he was around and grabbed his arm to drag him off to do something back at school... Instead, he's being... comforted.
Sure he'd asked for support, but comfort was unexpected, instead of hugging back, he just kind of brings his arms up and grips Idia's jacket, in a surprisingly childish gesture of accepting that comfort.]
Thanks...
no subject
[(Ah, that's the same as last week, wasn't it? He kept putting Cater in a position to be hurt. And Cater's not invincible. He's a person who feels that hurt acutely. He really did hate that part of himself. It was a black, inky, thick hate.)]
[but for now, gently rubbing a circle on Cater's back]
[They didn't need to move until Cater was ready. And he doesn't even say that aloud. No rushing.]
no subject
...That required opening up and talking to each other, though, which was... difficult.
For now, though, he'll accept comfort, and Idia will be able to feel tenseness melt off of him - if not through their bond, then under his hand.
He stays put until the voice echoes out that they've all won and then whatever anxiety he was still feeling over the whole ordeal shatters. They're fine. Everyone's still themselves. It wasn't all for nothing.
Never mind the spooky carnival is also falling to pieces around them. He stays close as he peeks up at Idia, not pulling away just yet, but not seeming to need quite as much support as before, either.]
We should head back... right?
no subject
Eek-! [on brand]
[He glances back down at Cater and, again, is a little embarrassed for being the less-cool one in the situation.]
... yeah. Let's go back. Um, y- you can...
[He wants to at least offer something back,]
You can use this shoulder... i- if you need to...
[He raises his left shoulder a bit. The left one had a burn mark he's really rather not aggravate more, no matter how small, precise, and unobstrusive it was designed to be.]
no subject
And, well, he might be thinking he's the less-cool one, but. The offer is pretty cool, anyway.]
Um. Well. Can I just... sleep in your bed tonight instead...?
[Tug, tug at Idia's sleeve, pulling him back towards campus...]
Cay has a few things to do before sleep, but... sleeping alone doesn't sound... nice. Just for tonight, though...!
no subject
[Well, he stumbles along with Cater's tug at his sleeve, definitely baffled by the request. It's a little more like the expression Cater had feared when he leaned on Idia at first. He's got enough thoughts swirling in his head to be nervous.]
... Y- You really- me- making it- better?
[a stumbling, jumbling reply]
no subject
[He'd just hugged him, and it felt a little better, made him feel a lot calmer, so it stood to reason that a cozy full body cuddle under some blankets would be at least twice as good. Yep. Perfect logic.]
Totally unfair you never let on that you give such good hugs, yanno? Gonna have to pout at Ortho for hogging them all when we get home.
no subject
... If, [he glances away, then back]
... If you think it would help.
[he was grateful for what Cater had done. He knew how badly they were both jostled after last weekend.]
J- Just don't go- telling- people... [he flushes pink, dipping his head down a bit]
no subject
[Technically he is a little brother, Idia! Just, you know, not yours. He's your cute, normie classmate.
Who just asked to snuggle in bed, it's fine.]
Eeh... Why would I tell anyone? [Gonna reach up and pat Idia's head, now that it's dropped down somewhat... Gotta be affectionate to maybe stave off some of the "of course he wouldn't tell anyone he bedshared with a gross nerd" self-deprecating thoughts. Maybe.] It's totally not their business what we do in our room alone, right?
no subject
[He ducks down a little lower at Cater's pat.]
... wh- when you say it that way it sounds...
[... lewd ...]
D- Don't go telling people it's totally not their business what we do a- alone in our room, either...!
[They'll definitely assume things!!]
no subject
[He absolutely knows how it sounds.]
It isn't their business, so, like, why shouldn't I tell them that if they ask~?
[This may be just some scheme to lighten the tension somewhat. Hopefully it's working... possibly at the expense of Idia's lewd-senses.]
no subject
J- Just tell them we sleep normally! Norm-al!
[he grasps onto Cater's sleeve, like he's the whining little brother here]
O- Our normal for after these classes is- is j-just a little different!
no subject
Eh, but it's not exactly normal at all, is it~?
[Still gonna lean into Idia's arm when his sleeve is grasped. Cute Deito Pose: activate.]
no subject
... eh... are you fine being... n- not normal?
[It's a question with a surprising depth to it. From his mind, if you wanted to fly outside the lines of "normal" you had to have a certain amount of strength. He managed it be flying in the face of normal but... Cater...]
[... well, Cater did just take a pipe to a couple of doubles, maybe "normal" is a bit too far gone for both of them.]