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

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A good neurologist, then.

[THANK YOU HIEN. He gets a relieved little smile from Phantom for that, and for the fact that apparently magic isn't too weird.]

So you want to find out why people's brains work the way they do? You'll have to study hard.

[Although if he can't go to school for it, then... actually, if this is the boy Hien talked about, there are bigger problems than that.]

[ "Hien says I'm smart to learn, so I'm confident... a little."

He's still shy. ]

Ren is the smartest kid in this entire country. He'll be fine and become a great neurologist.

If he's reading such difficult books already, I believe it.

[Phantom feels such a resonance with this kid. He gives him an encouraging little smile.]

Hien would know. You will be. And if you're confident in yourself, then your patients will feel at ease, too.

[ Ren's face turns a little red from embarrassment, but he feels much more encouraged than embarrassed.

"Thank you, Phillip!"

He looks very happy about it, and it seems he warmed up a little to Phantom already. He seems pretty easy to sway, huh...

"I'll work hard. I know they'll look down on me because I didn't go to school, but I'll pass all their exams." ]

That's my boy.

[ Hien reaches out to lovingly ruffle Ren's hair. There's an obvious fondness in his voice. ]

Not to worry. When they see how much you've learned all on your own, they won't think that way for long.

[What a good kid. Like this, he and Hien really do look like parent and child. Phantom has to smile at the two of them.]

How long have you two been living here, anyway?

[Can he ask how they met, or would it make more sense for him to assume they're brothers... He's a perfectly adequate liar, but it's much harder around people he likes.]

Hm... think it's been more than five years at the very least.

[ Time is always ??? for Hien and this isn't an exception.

"A long time. Hien found me when I was really little."

He's already shorter than Tamamori... ]

[Ren, you're still really little...]

Really? How did that happen?

[ Ren has yet to hit his growth spurt... Hien opens his mouth to talk, but Ren cuts in.

"Hien saved me. I almost died."

Ren smiles a little. ]

And he's been taking care of you ever since? You have a very reliable protector.

[That sounds like Hien, though. Phantom smiles back at Ren, encouraging more of this rapport. Tell him all about this.]

[ Hien is fine with letting Ren talk, because he hasn't talked to other people much. This is a good time for him, Hien thinks.

"Yeah. Hien is the best. I didn't like him at first, but he was really bent on taking care of me and nursed me back to health. He also protects me from everyone else in town." ]

You didn't? Even though he saved you?

[That has some shadings that... well, he won't jump to conclusions. Hmm.]

If this town isn't safe for you, why not leave? You could study anywhere.

[Not another one-town world, he hopes.]

[ It's Hien's turn to cut Ren off. ]

Despite its people, it holds a very important place in Ren's heart.

[ His eyes suggest that if Phantom really wants to know, it'll have to be when they're alone. It's not something he'll say in front of Ren.

Despite Hien trying to be careful, Ren pipes up:

"I didn't like Hien at first because he kept trying to take care of me when I wanted to die. I don't feel that way anymore though." ]

[Phantom catches that look, and he nods very slightly. He won't press just at this moment, then.]

...That's good. It's just like you said. Sometimes our brains make us feel bad about things, but we know it isn't as bad as it feels. Especially with him here for you.

[He really, really hopes this isn't how Hien lost his kid.]

[ Ren nods and smiles a little.

"He saved my life, so I want to repay him by living it well. With Hien here, I think I'll live a good life." ]

I'm sure you will. You have a lot of big dreams to accomplish.

[Knowing nothing here can really be changed is kind of the worst, but Phantom smiles back anyway.]

[ "Yeah! Oh, Philip. If it's okay... can you stay tomorrow? Tomorrow is my birthday and I wanna spend it with more people I like."

Ren already likes Phantom. Good job. Hien doesn't seem opposed to it either, since that's what Ren wants.

"Besides, Hien is being mean and not telling me what my present is." ]

You'll get to know tomorrow, like any other birthdays.

...Well, if Hien doesn't object. I'm glad to spend time with the two of you as well.

[A little carefully, he reaches over to ruffle Ren's hair too. That should be fine, right?]

A surprise is half the fun, isn't it?

[ Ren pouts a little. He likes the affectionate gesture of people ruffling his hair, so he doesn't mind.

"I guess. It better be a really good surprise then!"

if phantom wants to ask hien or ren anything, this is his chance before the memory starts being weird ]

He doesn't seem the type to disappoint.

[Phantom does want to ask about the town, but not with Ren right there. Maybe if he gets a change after Ren falls asleep. Otherwise, braced for weird.]

[ Hien ushers Ren that it's about time for his nap, so Ren goes to curl up next to Goldie and they sleep together with a blanket over them.

Hien pulls out a jacket and hands it to Phantom. ]

You wanna talk outside?

[Phantom nods and takes the jacket. Unfortunately he hasn't yet realized he can just magic things into existence again.]

Thank you.

[And once they're safely outside:]

So why do you stay? It's clear you don't think much of this place.

You're right. I don't like this town.

[ When they're out of the tent, Hien gestures to the scorched townhouse. The tent is right on its driveway. ]

That was his home. Ren accidentally caused a fire that burned it down. His parents died in the fire. His older brother traumatized him before leaving. The townspeople think Ren is a murderer and ostracize him. They're trying to get him to leave the neighborhood, but Ren doesn't want to leave.

[ Therefore, tent right in the driveway. ]

I have to protect him from the townspeople. He was already getting bullied for his eyes at school before this happened, so I'm not letting him go there either.

[That explanation just makes Phantom's frown deepen. He looks at the remains of the house, tilting his head a little.]

I can understand why it's too important to him to leave. But living right next to a reminder of this... do you really think he'll be able to heal when he sees that every day?

[But then, running away is just Phantom's preferred solution to things. Hmmm.]

Are his eyes so unusual here?

He actually... finds comfort in being next to it.

[ Ren's weird, but also. ]

He's also really scared of his brother, and sometimes hallucinates seeing him instead of other people--especially if they have anything in common with their appearances. Luckily, you don't. His eyes are rare here and that only adds to people calling him a monster.

[Phantom grimaces a little at that. Which part? All of that, honestly.]

I suppose... by the time he finishes his studies, he'll be ready to move on.

[Every part of this is worrying, honestly.]

When you said he traumatized him... so his brother blames him for the accident?

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cw suicidal ideation, attempted suicide

cw suicidal ideation

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cw hallucination mention

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