06 - week six

[afflictionmods]

WEEK SIX

Sunday starts with more aches and pains than you might be used to. Florence patched people up after Saturday’s lesson, sure, but it’s not a complete cure - not to mention it doesn’t ease the sting of betrayal. Some classmates that you thought would cooperate wound up breaking your trust in the end, and this week will be interesting with the fallout.

It’s hard to say what this week will have in store otherwise. Things are changing, and it’s not clear what this means for all of you. On the bright side, however, the creatures and places you once knew from home have suddenly disappeared, so that's less that you need to worry about. There are new areas for you to look at as well.

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

FLORENCE / LORELEI

FULL NAV

(CODE)

Comments

[exofractured]

[Does Phantom want to be up and about two days after the lesson? Not really. But spending too much time cooped up in proximity to Marcus isn't his idea of a good time, particularly after certain things that were said on Saturday. So! Fortified with a comfy sweater he's up and about exploring the new shopping area.

None of these things look like a bookstore, which is inherently disappointing. But he settles for a little while in the tea house, spending some time scrutinizing the questionable pastries and the elaborate tea setup. When he's done with that he'll be curled up on the couch with a purloined book on programming and a cup of tea. If anyone enters, he'll glance up briefly.]

I wouldn't recommend any of the food in the case.

[Later on, he stops by the supermarket since he's here anyway. He's not taking that much time browsing - not when he has to take the sweater on and off every halfhour - but he puts a few semi-random things like dried fruit and lightweight snacks into the bag he has with him. He spends a while in moderately bemused contemplation of the sodas, too.]

[He absolutely won't be volunteering that it's his birthday but feel free to wildcard!]

tea house

[imitationsoul]

[ Miach should probably be apologetic towards Phantom after the events of the weekend, but when she approaches him she's as jovial towards him as ever. As if nothing happened, though she very well knows it did. She's just not going to be the one to bring it up. ]

Another disappointment, huh... At this point we probably shouldn't be surprised.

[ She glances at his choice of reading material: ] Getting up to speed with this world's tech?

[exofractured]

[Oh no, Miach... Phantom raises an eyebrow when he sees who he inadvertently addressed, and he doesn't make any effort to hide his irritation.]

This place is consistent, if nothing else. Yes. Did you need something?

[It is not asked in a helpful way!]

[imitationsoul]

Nothing at all.

[ And with that, she just sits down across from him. Because as paradoxical as that might seem right now, Miach still likes Phantom just fine.

They're Hanging Out now, whether he wants to or not.]

[exofractured]

[He frowns at her in some confusion before he attempts to go back to his book. It is good and distracting. And he's actually less annoyed by this than if she'd tried to apologize.

...Still a little strange though. When the sweater effects start wearing off and he has to put the book down to take it off and pull it on again, he sighs a little.]

Are you going to explain what you're doing here?

[He does not yet know about Hanging Out.]

[imitationsoul]

[ She is delighted when he goes back to his book and ignores her. It's nice and comfortable to just sit in silence with somebody even if that somebody has absolutely no interest in doing just that.

As he reads, Miach starts folding the table napkins into flowers. ]

Did I need a particular cause to be here?

[ She makes a small gesture at the room, because it is objectively cute and relaxing, she'd say. But then she offers a bit more: ]

I like seeing people read. You can be alone even in the most crowded place if you have a book with you. In my world, paper books are a rarity so I'd be the only one doing it.

Supermarket

[selfconcept]

[ It's so funny to see Phantom having to take off and put on the sweater every half hour, and. Well. He's actually been in the area for quite a while since he was snooping around. When he's at the soda section, he tries to sneak up on Phantom from the back and covers his eyes with his hands. ]

[exofractured]

[Phantom yelps a little, flailing in a way that might result in some elbowing. He is a noodle, this is not dangerous.]

What-

[selfconcept]

[ Ow... this is fine. ]

Relax. It's me.

[ Who else has this garbled up voice... but he doesn't let go though. ]

[exofractured]

[Oh. Hien. Phantom does in fact relax immediately for that, no further attempts to free himself.]

I suppose that half explains it. ...Sorry. Did I hurt you?

[selfconcept]

No, it's fine.

[ He always says that though, but he has a cozy sweater of his own. ]

Anyway, turn around when I uncover your eyes.

[ And he slowly withdraws his hands. ]

tea house

[partymagician]

[ When Fai walks in and finds Phantom there reading, he claps his hands together. ]

Oh, great! You're already here!

[ Without any further explanation, Fai heads into the kitchen. Eventually, Phantom might start to smell something that seems like cake... ]

[exofractured]

[What... a strange and enigmatic thing to say. Phantom puts down his book to see if Fai is going to expand on that and??? No???

It's a few minutes before he rallies to follow into the kitchen.]

Were you looking for me for some reason?

[partymagician]

[ He'll find Fai busy with making some cake batter. ]

Well, I was going to look for you once I was done in here. So, it's even better that you're already where I needed to be!

[exofractured]

[To be honest, most kitchen things are a little mystifying to Phantom. But he can infer well enough what Fai is doing, though why remains a mystery.]

I can't claim any particular skill at this. But I suppose if you need another pair of hands, I can do that much.

[Does Fai even have a recipe... witchcraft.]

[partymagician]

[ He sure doesn't! But it seems like he has no trouble getting the proportions he wants just right. ]

Nope! What I want you to do is go enjoy your book along with some tea.

tea house;

[fabulation]

[ Xingqiu is in here, yep. Some tea can be nice to have, he decides, after you know, everything, and perhaps he had his eye on the pastries display as well. ]

Oh, really? That's a shame...though, I guess it wouldn't be too hard to whip up something I like well enough.

[exofractured]

[For Xingqiu he'll actually put his book down, a complicated little look flickering over his expression. Hm, memory share was awkward. Maybe he should just pretend that didn't happen.]

Ah, Xingqiu. So you're another one that knows how to bake?

[fabulation]

When I put my mind to it, yes. I won't be making something just for myself if you're in the mood for it.

[ He is used to people having do it for him, but cooking is essentially a little fun hobby for him. Not so much as reading and writing books, mind you. But, you know. If Xingqiu can make something like this, then his skill level is definitely more than decent on both ends. ]

Might I ask how you have been holding up, Phantom?

[ Xingqiu was busy fretting and worrying over Chongyun for awhile even after the "event", so he is not sure of how everyone has been...Holding Up, so to speak. ]

[exofractured]

I wouldn't say no. I'll lend a hand, if I can.

[Phantom's not terribly food-motivated, but he's not going to turn that down. And not because he's still feeling guilty over Marcus and looking ahead to bring something back with him. Definitely not that.]

...As well as anyone, I suppose. I'm less injured than some. [Marcus,] But I can't say I'm pleased to still be feeling the aftereffects of the electrocution. And you?

[He hadn't been able to observe all the other groups very well while distracted, but Xingqiu and Chongyun were two he hoped made it out well.]

[fabulation]

I think going for something like cake should be simple enough. If you'd like, you can help with gathering some ingredients.

[ Sure, Phantom, sure. Xingqiu will definitely not make a comment about Phantom taking an extra piece of cake at the least. Even if he might have some ideas. :3c

That being said, he is glad to hear the man is not as injured as some of the others. Though he is admittedly concerned about the others who have suffered such a fate as well. ]

I'm glad to hear that you're not too worse off. As for me...it's a nasty surprise, and I'm not too fond of the element, but unlike my partner, I think I have a better tolerance.

[ His voice is forcibly even here, as he's trying to hold back a resurgence of that anger. He has nothing to say to the other group because he doesn't even know what to say to them; if he does figure something out, it would be bad anyway. If when he goes to get ingredients he's grabbing things more roughly, it's not to the imagination. ]

wildcard

[goodfaiths]

Phantom-san!

[ Riku calls over to him just before he heads over to the tea house. Riku has a little something in his hands, and he's panting when he approaches, like he was in a hurry.

That little something is a Rubik's cube-like toy from the museum. ]

Um... I hope it's okay if I give you this. I know it's your birthday today, but...

[ Well. Being on the team that betrayed people in the end and all... ]

If you don't want it, I understand, but I hope you'll accept it.

[exofractured]

[Phantom raises an eyebrow at Riku's approach, but something flickers briefly in his expression and he pauses for a moment.]

...If you mean Saturday, I assume you were outvoted.

[Honestly, it feels a little foolish to give a concession like that for free immediately. But, well. Riku's teammates weren't subtle.

He hesitates a moment longer and then reaches for the toy.]

[goodfaiths]

[ There's something akin to relief on his face when Phantom takes the cube. ]

Something like that, but...more importantly, happy birthday, Phantom-san. I remember when we ran into each other at the museum, so I thought you might like something like this.

[ He didn't forget!!! ]

I know that this is a terrible place, but I'm really glad I got to meet you!

[exofractured]

[That's not the more important part at all??

But, argh. Riku remembering something like that makes it conversely hard to admit that Phantom had been perfectly willing* to betray Riku's group.]

I can't imagine why. ...You didn't need to trouble yourself. At this age, birthdays aren't particularly notable.

[Except with RP time ambiguity this is possibly the first birthday present he's ever received, and he can't help but look a little pleased as he fiddles with the cube.]