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

[selfconcept]

[ 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... ]

[affligere]

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.

[selfconcept]

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.

[affligere]

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.

[selfconcept]

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... ]

[affligere]

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

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

[selfconcept]

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.

[affligere]

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

[Will they expand on that? Not immediately.]

[selfconcept]

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. ]

[affligere]

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.]

[selfconcept]

[ 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.

[affligere]

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.]

[selfconcept]

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.

[affligere]

[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!!]

[selfconcept]

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. ]

1/2

[affligere]

[Well.]

2/2

[affligere]

Is this truly a course of action you would recommend, Mr. Callias...?

[selfconcept]

Only if I'm the one doing it. Otherwise, no. Yes, there's a difference.

[ He shrugs. ]

Either way, it looks like you have preferences now. Congratulations on your development.

[ Was Hien serious about the whole thing or was he just trying to bait Florence... who knows. ]

[affligere]

That… seems quite arrogant, Mr. Callias.

[Hm. Hm!!

This sure was a conversation.]

I also do not know if this is something to congratulate, as it not supposed to happen.

[selfconcept]

Yeah, I'm pretty arrogant. I won't deny it. I'm not as nice as people think either.

[ Did Florence know that?? Maybe. Maybe not. ]

Whether it was intentional, it happened.

[ Rejoice, android-san. ]

[affligere]

That much is apparent.

[They’re not gonna disagree with that.]

It did, though it is not supposed to…

[selfconcept]

[ Hien wonders if Florence is caught up with the fact that it's not supposed to. ]

Are you disappointed?

[affligere]

With what? You?

[Hmmmmmm.]

[selfconcept]

Yes, Florence.

[ Tell him how you feel. ]

[affligere]

[They could just reiterate they are incapable of feeling disappointed, but they don't.]

...I do not know. On the one hand, I believe most people would find a claim and your outlook to be upsetting, but on the other hand you are truthful about it.