SPRINGLE - WEEK 4

[dormheads]

common room.

In the common room, the walls have been painted with photo-like pictures of forests and lakes, and spread across the ceiling is a depiction of the night sky. One wall is lined with bookcases, the books ranging from fiction to non-fiction as well used course textbooks. More bookcases have been used to section off one corner for a study area, with a desk and chair provided.

Elsewhere, there are a few couches (one looks as though it doesn't quite belong) and chairs, most seated around a coffee table and with throw blankets tossed over them if you need the extra warmth. On the table is a bowl of healthy and semi-healthy snacks, regularly stocked. (Nearby is a garbage can.)

This week, there's something.

specialty room.

Past an entrance in the common room, a mini coffeehouse has been set up, with express machines for those who just want their coffee now and slightly more advanced equipment for aficionados. It offers a variety of strength levels and flavors to accommodate tastes all across the spectrum, along with a teapot and packets of caffeinated and non-caffeinated tea for those who prefer a different drink. There's a sink if you want to use your own mug, but otherwise, disposable cups are provided for you to use.

Pasted on the wall by the coffee machines is a detailed but clear handwritten guide on how to use said machines, complete with illustrations. There are also cute little doodles of Spring Dorm residents using the machines and drinking coffee, though they look as though they were done by someone else.

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Please use this as an open post for members of Spring Dorm. You may post top-levels whenever you'd like and go wild. A new post will go up at the start of each week.

Comments

[shaft]

... Maybe? It's just a circle, isn't it?

[ ... ]

By the way, how many enemies did you face off with in there? Leo told me about the man with the tree.

[feytality]

I wonder if the other group has the other half of this....

[ ... ]

Uhm, well... I guess, technically, he was our only real enemy.... kind of... we went on a quest to get his sanity back, because he was basically threatening everyone.

[ she knows what he's asking though, and she bites her lip. ]

It's... kinda complicated.

[shaft]

[ Other group... he glances over at Lucretia and Malik who are definitely Not Okay.

But for now, he focuses on Maya, hazarding a guess: ] Illusions?

[feytality]

[ yeah.... they're doing fine. clearly ]

[ anyway, maya is uncomfortable, but more about the prospect of sharing in front of the dorm and god and everyone than telling him. but im too lazy to move this to pc so she has to suffer ]

One part was a test. It was... very real, though.

[ a little flicker of pain, here, as she reminds herself that this is claude. ]

... Edualc was there.

[shaft]

[ me: who the hell is edula-- OHHHH

Claude is closer on the uptake than his player, and there's a very prominent flare of anger, though he remains outwardly calm. ]

I'm guessing that he wasn't there to be charming and handsome.

[feytality]

[ this idiot should know claude's anger isnt directed at her but ]

[ she still hangs her head, apologetically ]

He... acted so much like you. He said things that you said to me before. Except...

[ for trying to murder her a lot ]

[shaft]

A nasty trick.

[ He knows. He remembers. Though it had been barely two weeks since they'd known each other then, he'd been prepared to do what he needed to do to save his person from home.

He squeezes her shoulder. ]

You can give me a good slap if you want.

[feytality]

[ strong no vibes!! she doesn't want to hit him, even as a joke ]

It's not your fault. And I... I managed to get through to him in the end, anyway.

[ she just got her ass kicked a ton first ]

He said it was for his country. I can understand that, you know?

[shaft]

You did? [ that's actually surprising? ] Of course you did.

And you're not wrong. [ ... ] I have killed people for the sake of my country before.

[feytality]

[ she gives a small laugh but it's got a hysterical edge to it, sounding closer to a sob than a laugh. she's doing her best to keep her emotions tampered down but something close to anguish leaks out ]

He said that, too.

I wouldn't.... I'd never want to come between you and something you love, Claude.

[shaft]

[ Wow, he really hates that! But he'll hold her close if she lets him. ]

You couldn't, Maya. Because you are one of those things. [ ... ] Well, I mean. At least someone I like very, very much.

[feytality]

[ is she lowkey telling him she'd understand if he killed her? or is she just still kind of delirious from blood loss? who can say ]

[ she does let him, but she starts trembling pretty violently, especially since he basically admits he loves her like a nerd ]

[ her breath hitches. the feeling of unworthiness breaks through the surface ]

Why?

[shaft]

[ There's sadness that wells up at her response, and he doesn't understand how he could possibly ask him that. When she's consistently shown care and concern for him, tried to cheer him up or comfort him. When he's seen how hard she works at trials, and how fiercely she cares for others.

He just rubs her shoulder gently. ]

I'd be a jerk if I didn't care about my little sister.

[feytality]

[ that's what a lifetime of abandonment, betrayal and abuse leads to for girls since they're not allowed to have feral hobo arcs ]

[ that does it, though. ]

C-Claude....

[ she breaks down into tears ]

[ i'm so happy i can finally use this icon ]

[shaft]

[ His chest goes tight when she just starts crying, but there's a sense of relief too. He hopes that it'll be cathartic, and that she'll be able to let go of some of the heartache she's been holding onto.

He's just going to hold onto her like a loser. ]

Yeah, I know.

[feytality]

[ i hope jan isn't reading this thread ]

[ it's a really big mess, though. both physically -- because this is full on ugly crying on his chest with the chihuahua shakes -- and emotionally, because there's a lot and most of it makes no sense. she's still afraid of him, while being terrified of losing him tomorrow, while never wanting him to let go. it's more than just the test, things she can't even verbalize because it's too raw and painful. ]

[ how close she got to reuniting with her sister. how easy it would have been, to succumb and die. how she's still wondering now, if everyone would be better off if she was dead. it's guilt, that she somehow tricked all these people into caring about her and she let them down now. it's basically a cacophony of incomprehensible emotions ]

[ a few rise to the top, and are actually distinguishable. she feels small, she feels completely alone, and she feels crushing despair ]

[ ... except that the longer this hug goes on, the more those last two start to fade away. ]