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

(CODE)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's interesting.

[ Well, Florence said the thing. If no one trusts Florence's words, they'll get nowhere fast. ]

Anyway, you mentioned on Saturday that the lesson had to be stopped before there was a serious casualty. Are you saying it wasnt initially like that somehow?

It was not supposed to be like that, no. However... Camellia has a vested interest in this project.

[...]

Specifically, they want to see if this project will be successful according to their own parameters, and they informed Lorelei that because of a lack of research data, it was impossible to tell how successful this course actually is. They wanted to see what would happen in the worst possible scenario, regarding physical pain and emotional distress.

And so plans changed.

Huh... by lack of research data, I assume you're not the one in charge of getting the data over to them? And for some reason, Lorelei isn't either.

[ He figured with how she doesn't seem to trust them, but then she has her own reasons for doing this... Hm. ]

I assume those weird portal things [ memshares ] wasn't done by Camellia either, since they don't seem to have an interest in relationships outside of bonds.

[ That last part is so spiteful. ]

I am not. I cannot say for certain why the data was not being shared, but I believe it may have been intentional on Lorelei's part. This may be an entirely incorrect assumption, but it seems like the only logical conclusion to withhold data.

[Florence nods.]

Those were an unpredictable phenomenon, and I am unsure if they could be replicated. I am also unsure myself over what caused them.

[...

It looks like they want to say more, but they do not.]

... You know, you're also free to say whatever you want.

[ gestures at their self conversation from earlier ]

I thought that if they weren't done by Camellia, it would have to be those orbs. But if it were the orbs, we would have to accept that they infiltrated campus at some point.

Perhaps later.

[They need to, you know. Run some data and all.]

I believe it is connected to the orbs, but not directly. I have to do more research into it myself, but there are too many unknown or unpredictable factors with the orbs to come to a reasonable conclusion.

[ That's fair. Hien nods in agreement. The timing sure is convenient for the orbs, though. ]

Alright then. What's the thing about the Camellia employee?

The treatment of him suggests that the students are "unpredictable" and "out of control" and that the project is an abject failure that needs to be scrapped unless Lorelei can prove her theory - according to Camellia, that is.

What's her theory?

[ Or are they not allowed to know since they're the subjects, and therefore, would be ruining the experiment. ]

I wanted to have the benefit of the doubt, but it sounds like all of Camellia's employees are dumbasses. Humanoids are generally "unpredictable" to a fault. "Out of control" is an expected consequence considering the situation. Surprised they didn't send a bodyguard or anything. If they're so mad about it, they can come here with an army themselves.

Sharing the burden of pain and emotions would make the impact of those emotions easier to manage, which might then expand to other emotions. If this is capable of being replicated, it could be something that could be applied to the natives of this world who possess environmental empathy.

I cannot confirm this, but I think Camellia wanted to provoke a response like what they got, even if they were unaware of precisely how intense the response would be.

[ Considering Florence's answers to others-- ]

So they can have a good reason to drop Lorelei's project. I see. It makes me want to hope that they at least thought that far ahead.

[ No regrets though. ]

Well, in regards to emotions being easier to manage... I guess it would work if the person cared about who they were bonded to. If not, it could just spiral down into a terrible feedback loop. It would also create a strenuous burden on society, and it would change lifestyles forever. It's very... invasive. If anything, I think the culture has to reform around the necessity of managing emotions easily.

[ People can be easy to manipulate... ]

That would be a much harder feat to achieve, however, and I do not believe most humans have the patience - or lifespans - to manage it.

[Hm.]

I am not sure there is any solution at all, but I have no experience with this.

It would be a harder feat, but it solves the problem at its core. People are easy to manipulate, especially in groups. Mob mentality is strong. You just have to put up a front without saying what it's exactly for.

[ Kinda like this experiment, but with even less "transparency". ]

I've seen human nations change as quick as a week. Some were brainwashed even faster than that. You can even naturally change a person's perspective quickly if they have constant exposure.

It's a little like this: if someone has a problem with standing because there's something wrong with their foot, they can sit so that they can alleviate the pain. However, it doesn't solve the problem at its core. That's what this experiment feels like. Also, if Camellia has intentions on using suppression chips on everyone, that would even solidify my opinion of them really not understanding people at all, let alone emotions.

That sounds...

[How it sounds, Florence doesn't say.]

It may be the case that there is a fundamental misunderstanding on emotions, but I am not sure "emotions" or "people" are an easily quantifiable thing despite how people seem to view them.

Well... psychiatrists exist. So do other people with jobs that need study on the subject of emotions. People are unpredictable as individuals, but very predictable as a group.

[ Just saying... ]

[He's got a point, but also.]

Are individuals not as important as a group, if not more?

Typically in an experiment, you're looking for a general conclusion that applies to a group of people. Camellia already brands us as "out of control", despite not everyone partaking in the employee's kidnapping. It's like that.

[ Hien sighs. ]

If I had my powers, I'd just solve this for you. It's too bad we have to take this in a roundabout way.

I… am grateful for your lack of powers, I think.

[Will they expand on that? Not immediately.]

Why? Afraid that I'll take things into my own hands and it won't be the result that you envision?

[ Because it seems like Florence wants a certain outcome by now. ]

Because... I think it may be cruel to force changes on people who do not have a choice as to whether they wish to change or not...

[Hm. They're not going to unpack this.]

[ Oh?

Oh???

Hien's gaze is locked onto Florence like a predator on a prey. You're not getting away. ]

Is that personal sympathy, Florence? But you've been the assistant under the instructor for that same exact thing in this experiment.

That... may be so, but at the end you are still deciding the actions you will take even with the restrictions of the course and the feedback of the bonds between you...

[...]

What you can do sounds much more absolute than that.

[They sidestep the matter of sympathy, because that's just not the case. Obviously.]

Yeah, that's because it is, but they would still make a choice for themselves.

[ Because he would be altering their personalities. He would be changing what makes them "themselves", after all. ]

At least it wouldn't be like Camellia trying to force suppression chips on everyone, but we already see how it's like. Just look at Lorelei. Even that isn't a sure-fire solution. Intense emotions still leak out, as shown by the effects of Flat's trombone marathon.

[Nyanyanyanyan…]

If you’re changing who they are, can their actions that follow that truly be considered their own choices? Unless I am unclear with how your abilities function…

[Which could very well be the case! Florence doesn’t know everything.

Or do they… hm!!]

Choices are something someone makes for themselves. Changing their personalities don't force them to make a decision. It's still something they chose for themselves.

[ :)!

Maybe Hien was the villain all along. ]

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