05 - week five

[afflictionmods]

WEEK FIVE

Come Sunday morning, the portals around Estelline fade away, but not all of the oddities hanging around disappear so quickly. The recreations of your dreams and memories are still around, ever changing and shifting. Whatever it is that brought these things here hasn’t ended, not yet.

You don’t have time to worry about all of that, though, even if you know you should exercise caution once two of you found yourselves on the bad end of a monster’s claws. The course still isn’t over, though, even if the portals changed lesson plans. Everything continues on, with new places to explore as the fog pushes back once again. This week still feels a little more like what you’re familiar with, though, after Saturday’s lack of lessons.

...For now.


SETTING TRACKER

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Comments

[partymagician]

Of course it does.

[ Especially considering the fact that Fai has feelings for him. ]

Why wouldn't I be happy about it?

[selfconcept]

I don't think you're usually happy.

[ That's why. ]

Are we still friends?

[partymagician]

[ ...Are they?

He has no idea. He's never navigated anything like this before. ]

I don't know. Do you want to just stay friends? What do you want?

[selfconcept]

Do you like me? Should we date?

[ He wants Fai to answer these questions. ]

[partymagician]

[ Ahhh, this is too much pressure! Fai looks away and down at his tablet in his lap as he tries to get his nerves under control. ]

I do. [ That is easy enough to say. ] I've never dated anyone before, but....

[ He pauses. ]

I think I could try.

[selfconcept]

... It sounds like you're trying to propose to me instead.

[ Commitment? Sounds large. But also he feels like this is treading the love territory. ]

[partymagician]

[ That actually gets him to look mildly embarrassed. Congrats. ]'

I'm not.

[ At least... he doesn't think so??? ]

Do you want to date?

[selfconcept]

[ ............... ]

Yes, but do that again.

[ He's gonna get his camera out— ]

[partymagician]

[ Fai snatches the tablet out of Hien's hands and sets it on his lap next to his own. ]

You do want to? What does dating mean to you?

[ ... ]

Let's finish this conversation and I'll let you take all the pictures you want.

[selfconcept]

[ Oh.

Hm. ]

When two people like each other, they date and do all bunch of couple things. It gives them time to evaluate whether the other person is suitable for a long-term relationship. So, yeah. I'd be fine with you for a long time.

[partymagician]

You already know?

[ He's honestly surprised, even though Fai knows he'd be okay with it too. ]

[selfconcept]

Like I said, dating is when you start evaluating how suitable the other person is for a long-term relationship. I do that regardless of dating if I'm interested.

[ Yeah. ]

So, to me, dating just makes it more official.

[partymagician]

[ Huh. He wonders how long Hien has been evaluating their compatability. ]

Then... I think I'd like to give it a shot.

[ The biggest thing that would be holding him back is his past, but Hien already knows it and Fai knows what Hien's feelings are about all of it too.

And besides, he's given up on the idea of not getting close to anyone by now. It's simply unavoidable. ]

[selfconcept]

Okay. We're no longer friends.

[ ... ]

We're boyfriends.

[ Neat. ]

[partymagician]

[ aaaaaaaa his heart is beating fast. Fai feels too old to feel so nervous over all of this, yet here he is. ]

What do we do now? Do we change how we've been acting?

[ What does it mean???? ]

[selfconcept]

Nothing has to change. Just be yourself.

[ sagenod ]

[partymagician]

Alright.

[ He doesn't fully know what that means, but it's fine. ]

I suppose we're exclusive now too. [ ... ] And that you'll make me more meals.

[selfconcept]

Exclusive...?

[ He's thinking bonuses you get with deals. ]

And I'll cook for you whenever I feel like it.

[partymagician]

Not seeing anyone else... or is that implied?

[ See, he really has not dated.

So he moves on. ]

But I want more of your food...

[ Yes, he's pouting. ]

[selfconcept]

Oh, that. Yeah, I'm monogamous.

[ Mostly. Though he might still unintentionally flirt as a joke, so sorry to Fai. ]

You like my food that much?

[partymagician]

[ Fai flirts for free food, so he can't judge too harshly. ]

Of course I do. I still think about that gazpacho you made.

[selfconcept]

[ While Hien is used to being complimented over the food he makes, there's something about Fai saying that he still thinks about the gazpacho that makes him surprised. Compliments shouldn't be anything new to someone who worked as a professional chef over several lifetimes, but. Hm. ]

... Was there anything special about it?

[partymagician]

Well, it was the first thing you really did for me.

[ So, yes, there was something special about it. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Hien slowly blinks while staring at Fai. ]

... It was?

[ He thought he would have done something earlier than that. ]

[partymagician]

Well, you did help me decorate our room too, but...

[ He smiles a bit, shrugging. ]

I suppose it's the first thing I felt sentimental over.