theafflicted | 06

06 - week six

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

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[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?

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. ]

That explains even less.

[But he turns around cooperatively to raise an eyebrow at Hien. It's been a bit since Hien played any pranks on him.

...Discounting the memory.]

[ Fortunately for Phantom, it won't be a prank this time. When he turns around, he'll see something that resembles an average sized book.

It's a wooden secret compartment that looks like a book painted with neutral colors that are usually associated with Phantom—his default clothes, his eyes... it's nicely colored. If he opens it, it's hollowed out. Phantom can store things inside it! Or whack people with it. Whatever he wants. ]

Happy birthday.

[This is worse than a prank. This is something nice, prepared with special effort for him personally. He accepts the book reflexively, turning it over curiously in his hands. And indeed, he opens it! He's kind of fascinated.]

You remembered my birthday?

[Well, it is close to Fai's. He feels better to have a reason like that for it. Unfortunately, it doesn't diminish the fact that Hien got him something. The cozy sweater probably can't save Phantom from the achy throat feeling of imminent tears.]

...Did you make this?

Yeah. The home improvement store has a lot of crafting stuff available, and this sort of thing... I'd probably put it as secret talent number two. You like reading, so I thought this would have been good for you. It has practical use... sorta.

[ He doesn't know, but at least Phantom is now equipped with a fake tome. ]

It's...

[Very cool! And pretty! And Phantom is blinking rapidly, probably clearly a little emotionally overwhelmed by this as he tries to find the right word. He finally clears his throat.]

...I didn't know you could do this kind of thing. It's very nice. I'll put it to good use. Thank you, Hien.

Sure. I'm glad.

[ It's always nice seeing people appreciate his work, and... well, he won't tell Phantom not to cry. He should be allowed to cry all he wants. ]

Hope you have a good birthday. You should probably see Fai some time today too.

[ No matter where he is, Phantom will be found. (Ominous) ]

[Phantom absolutely does not want to cry in the middle of the supermarket, in front of witnesses. Even if the witness is Hien. Damn Phil for being such a crybaby. He rubs one sweater sleeve briskly over his face as he tries to get his expression under control.]

Should I? And what is your boyfriend up to?

[How dare Phantom be threatened with Perceiving more than once on this day, time to deflect.]

Hm? I dunno, but it'll definitely be a treat, I'm sure.

[ Whatever Fai will do would probably be nice. ]

Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you.

Another surprise? I suppose that's traditional. ...You both should have been resting instead of going to all this trouble, though. I was created to begin with. It's stretching the truth a little to say it's "my" birthday.

[But he hugs his new fake book closer to his chest anyway.]

Whether you're created or born doesn't matter. You're still here, and that's what a birthday is—to celebrate that you're here, because you were made in the first place.

... I would just say to pay me back you should just accept the present, but you already are, so that's enough debt repaid today.

[ sagenod ]

[Actually, the idea of other people being glad he's here is a bit upsetting all on its own. Phantom clears his throat just a little. He's definitely not going to cry over this.]

I won't quibble with that. ...Thank you.

[He occupies himself for a moment putting the book carefully in his bag before he hugs it too hard.]

Fortunately or unfortunately, I doubt we'll all still be here in time for your birthday. But I'll remember this.

[And he didn't get Fai anything either, and he can't make anything without magic... he'll have to brainstorm later.]

Yeah? That's good. Remember me fondly.

[ He personally doesn't care for his birthday, because his existence just means the eventual end of worlds and he hasn't celebrated his birthday in such a long time. His existence... doesn't call for a celebration. ]

Were you trying to decide which soda to get?

I will, if I'm able.

[He curls both his hands around the strap of his bag, holding on tightly to try to curb any more emotional outbursts. He's got this.]

That's right. We don't have any equivalent to most of this in the world I'm from. It didn't seem worth carrying very many, but I was curious.

It's very... fizzy.

[ Hm. He thinks back on Ryouma's soda abomination. ]

Just don't mix too many. It'll taste awful and probably give you a stomachache.

Mixing them in the first place doesn't sound terribly appealing.

[Wait, he's having a flashback to a terrible Tamamori memory.]

...Are there actually ramen-flavored ones?

Ramen flavor...?

[ Hien hasn't heard of that, but he'll try to be understanding about it. ]

Do you mean ramune?

Possibly. It's something that eccentric writer mentioned. He may have invented it.

[But apparently like half the time it sounded like he was lying it was Not so, what does Phantom think, really.]

Oh. Tamatama.

[ He misses his neighbors already... they were so loud but always interesting to listen in on. ]

I'm pretty sure he didn't invent ramune. I actually tried once, but it didn't work out.

[ Funny thing about going to worlds that don't recognize a product is when Hien tries to claim he's the inventor of all sorts of stuff and patent them. Worst. ]

[Phantom would need something as painful as the last Saturday to admit he misses Tamamori, probably. So he won't.

Sadly he also lacks the context to fully recognize Hien's crimes.]

...Why not? And why would you try to invent a drink like that in the first place?

It makes it my property. Also, ramune is fairly popular drink in the region, so I'd make a ton of money.

[ Yeah. Is that enough context for his crimes yet. ]

[Phantom is going to live the rest of his life thinking ramune tastes like ramen, but at least he understands Hien's crimes now.

It startles a laugh out of him when it finally sinks in.]

You're surprisingly petty for someone so powerful.

I usually don't have the related currency when I go to a new world. The fact that we started with comfortable living spaces assigned to us was a blessing, honestly. I thought I'd have to sleep under the chairs.

[ Where he first met Marcus. ]

So I do things in whatever ways I feel like.

[A little shrug, he's not judging!]

It's a convenient way to make use of your powers. Although if they hadn't blocked our abilities here in the first place, I would have made more comfortable living arrangements than this.

[Pocket dimension with a "no Marcuses allowed" sign on the door.]

But I suppose what we have was better than nothing.

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