week 4

[airlockedmods]

[Just like the previous week the status quo is restored with frighteningly quick efficiency. PAL still makes the morning and night time announcements through the PIP on each Champion's arm, and still the Champion unitards are freshly laundered and re-hung each morning in their closets. Even the glass roses Choromatsu and Takumi broke after the trial in their fit of anger have been replaced with fresh ones. All signs that there was anything amiss this weekend are completely gone.

There's a new floor to explore, their "reward" for a job well done.]

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday



[ooc: Don't forget to to turn in your AC for week 3, submit your memory regains and put in your threads for the Benefactors!]

Comments

[scourgingstars]

No, not ordinarily--this is unusual at best. I think whatever PAL did earlier might be having some sort of effect on me.

[misanthropicprinciple]

He made you... sleepy.

[scourgingstars]

...I don't think it's that simple.

[misanthropicprinciple]

Well, he just kind of made my eyes hurt. Maybe it's some chemical that affects everyone in different ways.

[scourgingstars]

...

[RECORD SCRATCH]

It...what, sorry?

[misanthropicprinciple]

Chemicals? They're a thing. You know, like bleach. That's a chemical.

[scourgingstars]

I know what a chemical is, Junpei.

[internally screaming]

I think...I have some very slight suspicion as to what may be going on.

[misanthropicprinciple]

Do you?

[...He cares. He knows he does. But it doesn't feel like he cares very much.]

[scourgingstars]

[And then on the other end of things was Ardyn, who was very visibly alarmed and trying to stay calm.]

[If he was correct and he was missing something, it stood to reason that 'something' may not have just completely disappeared. That was far too easy, and there was no way PAL would have been that merciful.]

[And that general tone of indifference was only helping the unfortunate theory forming in his head.]

Junpei, I...do the lights around here seem unusually bright to you?

[misanthropicprinciple]

...Yyyeeeaaah...? After whatever PAL did, anyway.

[scourgingstars]

...I think we may have a very slight problem.

[misanthropicprinciple]

The hell are you getting at, Ardyn? I don't do cryptic well.

[scourgingstars]

[junpei you're a detective...]

I think I'm human right now. And I think that whatever quality I have that made me otherwise may be something PAL gave to someone else.

[misanthropicprinciple]

[Yeah but he's an ANGRY detective.

Still, he picks up what Ardyn's putting down. After a hesitation, he rubs the back of his neck. Normally, his skin would be prickling, but...]

That doesn't sound like a thing that should be possible.

[scourgingstars]

Does any of this seem possible? At this point something like that is 'unlikely' at worst.

[...]

Tell me the truth: how are you feeling right now? Or more accurately, what are you feeling?

[misanthropicprinciple]

Nor...mal...?

[Except it wouldn't be normal to feel normal when Ardyn's obviously so stressed. Not when Junpei's usual ability to regulate his emotions is in the shounen anime tiers of weak, at best.]

Ardyn, what the hell magic bullshit did you trade me.

[scourgingstars]

I didn't...I don't know yet.

[It would have been nigh impossible to really lie about that right now--whether he had an idea or not, he didn't know for sure.]

[misanthropicprinciple]

...Does this mean I can't get drunk.

[#priorities]

[scourgingstars]

Junpei.

[PRIORITIES]

[misanthropicprinciple]

Can you at least give me an idea about what I should expect? Uh, I remember the glowy lighty thing when you tried to help me. And the army thing? Also, why does your magic fuck up your emotions, I haven't been this... calm... [He's not sure that's the right word, but whatever.] ...since. Since ever, probably.

[Fun facts: Junpei Tenmyouji was born without an ounce of chill in his body.]

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn shifted uncomfortably and folded his arms; of all the ways he would have preferred all of this to come out, the current situation was well past the bottom of the list.]

I don't know what will or won't function. When last I looked I couldn't heal, draw elemental energy, warp, or summon the Armiger. We can attempt a couple of those to see if there's more to it now, but...

[He trailed off, clearly not answering Junpei's question.]

Just try to keep your composure for now, whatever might happen.

[misanthropicprinciple]

...Whyyyy?

[Even at 10% emo-tinos, you are doing him a Concern, Ardyn. Junpei does not! Like! Secrets! Especially secrets that are obviously being kept from him.]

[scourgingstars]

When I understand it, I'll explain it. Just...trust me, for a little longer until then.

[misanthropicprinciple]

If you want me to keep my composure, Ardyn, you have to tell me what's going on with my own damn body!

[scourgingstars]

I'm telling you that I don't know yet. I don't know what I am or why you're stuck with it, and I don't understand why--

[...]

I don't understand why the only emotion I can clearly feel is anger.