01.50 - week one, saturday

[afflictionmods]

W1 SATURDAY

The first week of the Personal Enrichment Course draws to a close, which means it’s time for the first lesson. Hopefully by now you’ve gotten to know your classmates a bit better - but if you haven’t, that’s okay.

This first lesson is just going to be teamwork exercises, after all.

Bright and early Saturday morning, you wake up. Maybe you had a good night’s rest, or maybe you hardly got any sleep... Either way, the sun is shining, the day is beginning, and Lorelei's voice suddenly comes through everyone's tablets as well as the P.A. system on campus.

”Good morning. All students must report to the lecture hall by 8 o’clock for their first lesson. Lessons are mandatory. Please report to the classroom with its doors open.”

Which gives you about thirty minutes, so it’d be best to hurry. Do you want to be tardy? And if you think about bailing, well… you know what might happen if you fail the course.

When everyone gathers in the same hall they awoke in, Florence is there to greet you. They will gesture for everyone to take a seat, and once seated, the projector in the room turns on. Say hello to Lorelei and her usual cup of coffee.

“Good morning, everyone. Welcome to your first official exercise; today’s activities are designed to emphasize teamwork and cooperation so you are all more prepared for dealing with what’s yet to come. I have already split you into teams for the day, via raffle. There will be two activities total, and you will be completing them in the same teams. Regardless of whether you get along with your teammates or not, you’re going to have to figure out a way to finish each exercise successfully.”

She keeps that same calm, collected smile on her lips as she props up what appears to be a tablet of her own on her desk.

FULL NAV

(CODE)

Comments

[imitationsoul]

Isn't reading almost always both?

[ If Gentaro checks the book, he'll find it's a book on biology. ]

[catarou]

As an author and an avid reader, I quite agree.

[ Biology, huh. He inclines his head toward her. ]

Perhaps you could use what you have learned from your reading for our project. What you have read doubtless provides you a unique perspective. Your input would be invaluable and very much appreciated. After all, where one of us may not have insight about one thing, you may be able to fill in the gaps.

[imitationsoul]

[ This was spoken with great didactic talent....... which basically just ensured that Miach's impression of Gentaro is -15 right now........ ]

And the point of that would be what...? What are we gaining from compliance other than being good little boys and girls?

[pr159]

The ideal supply bag. That's what we're getting out of this.

[imitationsoul]

Which I am in no way sabotaging you in by reading quietly. Seems like you already have a good thing going.

[pr159]

We do. Just answering your question, as that is factually and precisely what our group has to gain.

[imitationsoul]

[ Okay, that gets a smile. ]

I appreciate the straight forward pragmatism.

[catarou]

[ Welp.

That backfired magnificently, didn't it? ]

While we may comply in the present moment, that does not mean we must sustain that compliance. If we play along now, then when we stop, it may prove far more fruitful and satisfying.

Revenge is much sweeter when given time to build. [ A pause, one that's far too long for the next part to be the actual truth-- ] So I've heard.

[pr159]

[ Shrug. ]

Also fair.

[catarou]

Thank you. Your argument is more than fair as well.

[pr159]

[ his argument was "a bag" but thanks ]

[catarou]

[ if the bag is big enough you can stuff your enemies inside though ]

[imitationsoul]

... that's a better argument, but I'm still not going to help with the Super Adventurer Bag.

It can already store books and that's all I'll need from it.

[catarou]

Very well, then. I am not in the business of forcing someone to partake in something.

[ Because, like, mood. ]

Should you ever be interested in speaking about books, however, I would be glad to join you.

[imitationsoul]

... show me your writing sometime.


[ Right now she thinks it'd suck, but... might as well confirm. ]

[catarou]

I would be honored to.

[ He doesn't have any of his works here, naturally, but it's not a problem to write something here. ]

[unluckyday]

If we're stuck here anyway we should try to get along with everyone else, right?

[imitationsoul]

I'm not interested in getting along with ordinary people.

[ Sorry Bennett.... ]

[unluckyday]

[ ? ]

You think most people here are ordinary?

[imitationsoul]

Maybe about half. It's a better quota than elsewhere, I'll give it that.

[ Which Bennett tragically falls under so far and which Gentaro has just taken a flying leap into... ]

[unluckyday]

I guess so...

What's wrong with ordinary? I think being ordinary wouldn't be so bad.

[imitationsoul]

I'm sure that's your perspective a an ordinary person, yes. In a lot of ways being ordinary is the most convenient way to be - it means society is structured towards your needs by default. It means not having to question. It's a position that feels secure.

You can comfortably become part of the steamroller that crushes dissidents with the sheer power of majority.

[unluckyday]

[ Uh... ]

Sorry, I guess I don't know what you mean by ordinary... You think the people that just live in towns and farms and stuff would really do that?

[imitationsoul]

Yes. It's a default outcome of socially dominant belief systems. Some societies are less egregious about it than others, but the basic principle always applies.

[unluckyday]

[ UHHH.... ]

You mean like - worshiping gods and stuff like that?