07 - the final week

[afflictionmods]

FINAL WEEK

You returned safely from the island, with fresh fruit and plenty of seafood, and your Saturday comes to an end. There was much less betrayal, much less turmoil, this past lesson… but does that mean you’ll have time to relax?

The fog has pulled back, revealing the rest of the university’s campus. ... Actually, the fog is completely gone. Interesting, that. You'll also notice that at night, there are no orbs to be found. It looks like Lorelei was true to her word regarding Saturday's activity being the final orb.

There are also, occasionally, other figures that come into view when you look around. Other figures that look like...people. People you haven't seen before, roaming the streets. Some of them look like they're seeing Estelline for the first time in a long while. Others look like they're exhausted and seem to be making their way towards the Residential Area, presumably to rest. There aren't many of them, come Sunday...but they're here.

The end is finally near – and Lorelei confirms that with another 8am announcement on Sunday. She is also, notably, wearing a more visible set of earrings.

"Good morning, students. I would like to formally congratulate you on surviving these last few weeks. This week should be your last, and I will be dedicating it to your evaluations. I'm aware that you know the nature of this "course" by now, but you will be able to return home soon. Regardless, I thank you for your participation.

You are free to contact me through the phone booth for the next few days. Thank you."



SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY

FLORENCE / LORELEI

FULL NAV

(CODE)

Comments

[selfconcept]

Yeah. I can feel it.

[ It's not like he can't imagine Ren being electrocuted too—he doesn't have to. One of his many deaths just happened to be that.

He doesn't feel anything about it anymore. ]

But it's okay. That won't happen to her. Everyone is strong in their own way, and there's no way they'll let them do what they want.

[partymagician]

I want to do whatever I can to prevent that from happening to her.

[ And he'll fight to do that. ]

Having kids... is troublesome.

[selfconcept]

[ Hien won't say anything. He'd know best, after having done this for so long. That's why he hugs Fai tighter instead. ]

[partymagician]

[ His heart calms when Hien's hold on him tightens. It's warm and comforting, and he knows Hien understands the feeling well. ]

I don't regret it, though.

[ Fai lifts their hands up so he can press his lips against Hien's fingers. ]

Thank you for being here.

[selfconcept]

... Yeah. I know you love them a lot.

[ He quietly breathes out when he feels Fai's lips against his fingers. ]

Like I love you.

[partymagician]

So you love me a lot now?

[ It's an easy thing to latch onto and make a slight joke about, something that'll lift his spirits. ]

[selfconcept]

Yeah.

[ He nuzzles the back of his neck. ]

Do you feel better?

[partymagician]

I do.

[ He smiles a little. ]

I feel even better when you do that.

[selfconcept]

... Like this?

[ Hien power nuzzles on the nape of Fai's neck. ]

[partymagician]

[ He laughs, letting out a soft little huff. ]

Heh... just like that.

[ It does tickle a little bit when Hien does it like that, though. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Hien does that a little more until he feels slightly dizzy from shaking his head so much. His hair is a mess too. ]

I hope you feel... at your best.

[ Dizzy... ]

[partymagician]

[ Fai turns around in Hien's hold so he can look at him. He laughs when he sees the mess that is now Hien's hair. ]

Hien...

[ He starts fixing it, brushing his fingers through the strands. ]

[selfconcept]

Mm... thanks.

[ He buries his face into Fai's shoulder after he turned around. The feeling of his fingers in his hair is soothing. ]

[partymagician]

I really like how cuddly you are... it's so unexpected.

[ Fai didn't think he would actually like it as much as he does either, though. ]

[selfconcept]

Why? Because I'm so distant and aloof?

[ The stereotypical bad boy?? ]

[partymagician]

[ He laughs. ]

Just a little. You weren’t for very long, though.

[ … ]

Most of the time.

[selfconcept]

Yeah, I like giving hugs and headpats.

[ Getting them is another thing entirely. ]

Usually, situations don't let me.

[partymagician]

Why’s that?

[ He thinks he knows the answer, since Hien has mentioned that people are afraid of him, but Fai figures he’ll ask anyway.

Meanwhile, he continues to run his fingers through Hien’s hair. ]

[selfconcept]

People don't like me, or I'm never remotely close to even do it.

[ People don't like him for good reasons, though... ]

Well, I asked for it anyway—being hated and all.

[partymagician]

You asked for it?

[ He tilts his head slightly. Being hated purposefully… he can see Hien doing that. ]

[selfconcept]

Yeah. I'm usually the bad guy in many scenarios.

[ He doesn't seem so bothered with it either. Hien antagonized some people while he was here anyway, so he's definitely used to it. ]

In a way, I do care about what people think of me, so that I can behave accordingly and get what I want from them.

[partymagician]

[ Hm. It makes sense (and also sheds more light on Hien’s talent of manipulation outside of his dog form) with his age, so that outlook doesn’t bother Fai much.

He’s a little curious though… ]

What did you want from me?

[selfconcept]

At first, I didn't expect to want anything from you. I didn't expect anything from anyone when I got here.

[ For reasons that Fai knows by now. ]

Now, I just want my feelings returned. And hugs. I don't need manipulation to do that.

[partymagician]

[ Fai was the same. Well… he did expect to stay relatively distant from everyone.

That definitely did not happen. ]

Just hugs?

[selfconcept]

Cuddling is the best.

[ As... Fai has seen every time they sleep on the same bed together. ]

What about you? What did you want from me? ... Other than stop getting hurt because of the link.