04 - week four

[afflictionmods]

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)

Comments

[partymagician]

[ Fai doesn’t react immediately, but he does wrap his arms around Hien in turn after a few seconds. ]

It’s alright. You were a huge jerk, but I know things like that aren’t easy to talk about.

[selfconcept]

Yeah... thanks for understanding. I'm still sorry anyway.

[ He squeezes Fai in his hug. ]

[partymagician]

[ He lightly rubs Hien’s back. ]

I wasn’t exactly the most tactful either, you know. I’m sorry about that myself.

[selfconcept]

... Okay.

[ He can accept that. Hien's strength eventually leaves him, causing him to slump against Fai. ]

Can I still... visit the tent sometimes?

[ He's assuming it's here forever. ]

I'll come back.

[partymagician]

As long as you come back.

[ Fai wasn’t lying or exaggerating when he said he slept easier with Hien here. Having someone simply present in the room is a nice comfort that he didn’t know he needed. ]

Can I visit with you from time to time?

1/2

[selfconcept]

[ Hopefully he put that pillow or candle to good use... ]

Yeah.

[ He doesn't hesitate on answering that. ]

You can. You can go anytime you want.

[selfconcept]

[ Oh. Wait. ]

I... was sad and shit, so I ended up taming a wolf.

[ With food and lots of care. His eyes seem to be pleading despite the blank look. Can we keep it please... ]

[partymagician]

We are not having a wolf sleep in our room.

[ Hien???? Way to ruin the nice moment too!!! ]

[selfconcept]

[ Sorry he's a mood ruiner. ]

Why not... it's cute.

[partymagician]

[ Fai extracts himself from the hug and picks up his mug to have a sip of coffee. ]

Outside of the room is fine, but I don’t want something like that in here when I’m sleeping.

[selfconcept]

He won't bite you. I'll make sure he won't.

[ pleeeeeease ]

[partymagician]

[ Fai turns away, sipping on more of his coffee.

With how much Hien gets injured, Fai doesn’t trust that Hien will protect him in turn. Why should he, when Hien doesn’t take care to keep Fai from feeling pain?

But now is not the time to say that exact thing, and they’ve already talked about it, so… ]

Prove to me that you actually would make sure of it and I’ll think about it.

[selfconcept]

How do I prove it?

[ ... ]

Should I ask Miss Instructor for thick gloves? Or a muzzle?

[partymagician]

[ Well. Might as well say it anyway. He needs to internalize the fact that he needs to just outright say things when it comes to Hien. ]

Stop getting yourself hurt for no reason.

[selfconcept]

... I think I've been good about that for the last week or so.

[ He didn't even get hurt with the wolf and he left his gauze and sweater here. He's been making an effort, but that Saturday carnival event was... he thinks it couldn't be helped, but he still did his best to minimize pain to Fai. ]

[partymagician]

You’ve been better.

[ He’ll acknowledge that, at least. ]

I know that Saturday couldn’t be helped.

[ Fai pauses. It looks like he debated whether or not he should add to that, but he decides to. It really is best to be straightforward with Hien, which is largely uncharted territory for Fai. ]

But I’m sure you can understand why I can’t fully trust that you’ll protect me, when you didn’t make an effort for two weeks to protect me from unnecessary pain.

[ His words might be on the harsher side, but he still speaks in his normal, soft tone. This isn’t necessarily a scolding—he’s telling Hien how he feels. ]

[selfconcept]

... Yeah.

[ He knows nothing excuses his actions no matter what--that's just how he accepted living his life. That's why he always facetanked consequences. Consequences brought him here, so-- ]

Alright.

[partymagician]

[ His eyes widen ever so slightly in surprise. ]

…And here I was, expecting you to fight back.

[selfconcept]

What was it... "I reap what I sow" or something like that?

[ He'd normally hate the idea of someone trying to tame him. That's why he said he'd stab Owen when he said something similar. That's why he always lashed out against Renatus. That's why he abhorred Destruction-- ]

It's consequences of my actions.

[ ...

But maybe if it's Fai, he wouldn't mind. He quietly sighs. He knows that isn't the intention here, but Hien is willing to cooperate at least. ]

[partymagician]

…

[ He smiles a little as he looks down at the floor. ]

I’m a little relieved. I was afraid that saying it would cause another argument.

[ And Fai doesn’t know what he would’ve done then. Live with not getting along with his partner, he supposes.

…

The thought hurts more than he wants it to. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Hien feels something inside him and it's not relief. He looks over at Fai. ]

Then what are you feeling?

[partymagician]

[ …Oh. Right. Hien can feel anything negative that he feels.

Fai looks off to the side and away. ]

The thought of not getting along makes me sad.

[selfconcept]

[ They're no longer hugging, so Hien reaches out for Fai's hand and gently hooks his pinky with Fai's. ]

Look at me in the eyes and say it.

[partymagician]

[ Fai stares down at their hooked pinkies for a long moment before he finally looks up at Hien. ]

The thought of not getting along… makes me sad.

[selfconcept]

... Good job.

[ He lightly pats Fai's head with his free left (healed!!) hand and gives him a small forehead kiss. ]

You did well. Thanks for telling me.