theafflicted | 04 - week four

04 - week four

WEEK FOUR

Saturday comes to a close, and it’s time for some rest and recovery. Perhaps the TLC you deserve will come this week, or perhaps the nightmare will continue. It’s hard to say with things being so strange around you, from Wei Wuxian’s disappearance to the sudden addition of objects and places and creatures from your homes. Who knows what this week will bring? Nothing ordinary, that’s for sure.

You wake up on Sunday to an increase in those little glimpses you saw yesterday. What were snippets of songs, locations that might’ve seemed familiar, and creatures that were dormant, are now all alive and whole. When you go to the karaoke bar, the songs you once knew are there. Monsters and animals are alive and sentient. New business are abound. Vehicles are operable, and perhaps some of your old belongings are back, too.

However, some of these things aren’t even things that should exist outside of your dreams. They may be far too strange and unusual to be real, or just things you don't remember ever seeing. The only thing you remember about these things in particular is that they were, quite literally, in your dreams this week.

That being said, every few hours, all of these things from your homes and dreams fade out and get replaced by new sounds, places, beasts….only to maybe come back again at another time.

Well. At least there's one constant here: You’ve got a handful of new locations to look at, with the fog having spread once more, and they aren't going anywhere. There aren’t as many new places that are native to Estelline this time around, but that may be for the best, considering everything going on.

SETTING TRACKER

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

NEWSPAPER SUBMISSIONS + EDITION #1

SAGE / FLORENCE / LORELEI

MEM SHARE DETAILS

OOC NOTE

OOC: Details on this week can be found here!

Also, we have a lot of participants for the news activity from last week. Neat! Everyone who participated in some capacity will have a small polaroid camera delivered to their doorstep. There's limited film, though - 10 photos per camera. It doesn't seem like there's any extra film at this time, either.

Finally, there will not be any weekly tasks this week. You guys are going to be busy with memshare and dreamscape stuff; instead, enjoy the Estelline University Newspaper!

FULL NAV

(CODE)

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[ Chongyun never thought he'd be attending any universities, but here he is, getting pulled into two campuses against his will. It's the disorientation of yet another new place and the heady pain lingering from Wednesday's event that lets this stranger pull him along for a bit. ]

Wha - why would we have to buy drinks?

Because if we're making them wait, they should be compensated, right? At least, that's how they put it... I think they just want someone else to buy the sodas and haul them all over.

[ He laughs a little. ]

Oh, by the way! I'm Hyunjung. They told me that someone was coming for me to pick them up, but they couldn't even give me a description...

[ He sighs. Hyunjung sure shows his emotions very outwardly and obviously. ]

Anyway, what's yours? I'm sure I'll get to know you a lot better once he keep practicing and stuff together.

[ Huh... ]

... Well met. My name is Chongyun. [ He's confused, but he can at least strive to be polite until he figures this situation out. ] Don't worry, I'm just as confused as you are about all this.

Instead of playing games with words, I think we should tell them directly that we're all capable of providing our own drinks.

[ He slightly tilts his head. ]

I think that's because they don't want anyone to be late.

[ The library wasn't that far from the ballroom, so once they climb up the stairs to the second floor of the near building, they'll be right there.

It's a ballroom, but it looks plain. There's nothing grandeur about it other than the size, despite it not being an auditorium. The floors are polished, even if there are skid marks every now and then. All the tables and chairs have been pushed off to the side.

"Hyunny, you're late!" ]

Sorry—don't call me that!

[ But if they are plain about their intentions, then surely their orders would be respected! That's how it works, right? That's how Chongyun sees it anyway. ]

Hyunny? [ Even Chongyun can admit that's a cute nickname and he smiles a little when Hyunjung reacts so expressively. ] You know, you look a little familiar. Are you related to Hien?

Huh?

[ He's done being mad about the nickname as he turns to look at Chongyun. ]

I dunno anyone by that name though.

[ Suddenly, an epiphany. ]

Maybe you got tricked by Seungmin! He just... does that sometimes. I'm sorry if that's the case.

[ "Ah, Minnie... what a riot. Too bad he couldn't come to practice today. He and Hyunny are distantly related and they kinda look similar, so I can bank it's him."

If Chongyun remembers the profile, "Hyunjung" was one of Hien's "nicknames". ]

Anyway, let's get started! You know your steps, right?

[ Though maybe Chongyun has better things to worry about right now. ]

[ The more Hyunjung speaks, the more mystified Chongyun seems. He should probably keep track of all these names, but his memory isn't the best sometimes. He'd read all the profiles briefly, sure, but definitely did not memorize all the names and nicknames.

When Hyunjung mentions steps, Chongyun's eyes widen. Slowly, he puts two and two together. Ballroom + steps = panic. ]

Um! About that........................................................................

Yeah?

[ Hyunjung turns to him with a smile. ]

If you forgot, it's okay! I'll teach you along the way. Heard you were really great at the windmill.

[ The what? Is that like a flying kick... or maybe a dropkick...? A spin in the air? A flip? Chongyun runs though all of the martial arts moves he knows. Which one sounds the closest to a windmill motion... ]

I don't... suppose... that's just us spinning our arms?

[ Hyunjung gives Chongyun a blank stare, but his smile stays on his face. ]

... Ah?

[ "Oi, Hyunny. Did you like, get the wrong person...?"

Hyunjung was about to bite back about the nickname again, but then. It hits him. ]

You didn't even give me a name! General description or anything!

[ He turns back to Chongyun. ]

I'm sorry! I thought you were someone my friends recruited for the dance team...

Oh, no, apology completely unnecessary. Communication goes both ways, doesn't it?

[ He's as much at fault. ]

You were like an Anemo swirl of energy, and I went with it. But I could have said something earlier. That's my bad, too.

What's an Anemo...?

[ "Stop pondering on the meaning of your life choices and at least escort him back." ]

Fine! Let's go, Chongyun.

[ He laughs anyway, still cheerful. ]

The wind.

[ He nods goodbye at the others, gaze a little curious like he'd like to know more about them, but oh well. He's much more interested in Hyunjung anyway. ]

I'm afraid I don't know where we're going. I'm not from here.

Huh? Are you an exchange student...?

[ Hyunjung doesn't seem to notice, but maybe Chongyun will. They're being watched. ]

Yes, I think that’s the closest term for it.

[ He has a keen intuition when it comes to sensing anything off about his surroundings, so he does indeed notice. He doesn’t try to look around for the source just yet, but he does lower his voice. ]

I think… we’re being watched.

[ But is the source radiating any sort of malicious intent? Chongyun focuses his senses to find out. ]

[ It's very malicious. In fact, it seems to be murderous and it doesn't do a good job of hiding it... if it even wanted to.

Hyunjung is just a normie though, who hasn't been trained in these sorts of things. Or maybe his radar is just dull. Either way, he doesn't know, so he looks surprised when Chongyun mentions it. ]

Ah, really? Maybe it's because you look cool.

Eheh… Not really… But it’s kind of you to say so.

[ As he says that, he shifts over so that his back is to where he thinks the source is, hoping to block most of Hyunjung from its line of sight. His words are sincere, but smile is vague, distracted. ]

[ While Hyunjung doesn't notice the feeling of being watched, he notices how Chongyun seems distracted. ]

Hey, what's the matter? Is it scary?

Yes.

[ No other way, but to be blunt about this. ]

We're... no. [ That's right. This place doesn't belong to Chongyun, does it? ] You're in danger. Do you see anyone behind me? Try not to make eye contact with them.

Hm? Um...

[ He looks behind Chongyun, but tries really hard not to look obvious that he's looking at anyone. ]

I don't see anyone... Why am I in danger?

Because no one knows me here. It's less likely that anyone here would want to cause me harm.

[ If Hyunjung doesn't see anyone, then... ]

Could you lead us to an open area in the opposite direction?

I can, but it's darker over there compared to the rest. Are you sure?

[ He does seem a little frightened right now and stands closer to Chongyun. ]

[ A brighter area would be better, but at this time of day, there are probably students milling about everywhere. ]

... If that's our only option. If it's one person - or even a couple of people - I can handle them. I'll protect you.

[ Hyunjung's expression definitely brightens at that. ]

Wow, you're so cool, Chongyun!

[ He definitely feels like he's in capable hands. ]

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04 - week four

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