Week Five

[stagemanagers]

[Last week, you had your very first minor body pileup! Granted, the Balladeer's death was entirely unrelated to anything, but at least he died as he lived - getting completely fucked up in some kind of carnival-themed hellscape. Only two days later, another terrible accident took Rina and Varian both from you. It's just been one of those weeks, huh? At least you got to add both of their corpses to your weird growing collection!

Again, you'll wake up this morning with another new snippet of memory. You'll also find that the stairs in the lobby are no longer blocked. You can only access one part of the second floor, but it seems like there's some neat stuff up there!

Outside, a few things seem to have changed. For one, the weather has turned - it'll be overcast this week, with periodic rain and even scattered thunderstorms. For another, the bushes around that rock out by the football field have bloomed. That's nice.

Get to it, friends! I'm sure everything will be fine this week!]


Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

(( Be sure to submit your memory regain and your AC for this week! As always, Hester's office hours and the merch booth remain available. ))

Comments

[mcfife]

I'm sure the water won't hurt you in your human form.

...The way you look now, of course. [But that might not even be the issue. Angus is no marine biologist.] Are you just here to think?

[employeeoftheyear]

It would hurt me if I drown.

[He fidgets, regretting having said that.]

I'm kinda here to think. I... I wanna get over my fears but I'm not great at it yet. I don't know how people can do it so easily.

[mcfife]

[Okay, fair, humans are weaker to water than sponges are.]

Fear of death is extremely common, Spongebob. [Angus takes a seat on the pool deck next to him, eyeing the water.] It's not easy getting any other sort of fear as well. It just...happens, sometimes.

[employeeoftheyear]

I know but... I wanna be stronger! For you guys. I don't wanna be crying every time someone dies and make people more sad than they already are. I-I wanna be able to support my friends too!

[mcfife]

You already help us. You've been there for your friends, and you make us actually decent meals. [But the crying...Angus can't help with that.] Not all of us are fighters, and I am no planner. A touch of humanity and caring is what we all need now, before we can even fight the Wizard.

[employeeoftheyear]

You're right. We can't fight the Wizard if we're all sad and believe we're gonna die. I know that's what he wants, but I'm not gonna give it to him.

[But the idea of fighting the Wizard... makes him uncertain.]

I just hope I can stand a chance against him once we do fight him.

[mcfife]

You said you know karate, don't you? [Angus plants a hand on Spongebob's shoulders.] You can fight, with the right practice.

[You're not useless, Angus wants to say.]

You just need faith in yourself. It's what will keep you from making a terrible mistake.

[employeeoftheyear]

[Spongebob is genuinely touched by that, to the point he's not sure what to say for a moment.

Soon enough however, he gently places a hand on Angus's and gives him a smile.]

Maybe you can help train me!

[mcfife]

[Angus relaxes. This is what a prince does. As long as Spongebob is happy and has his friends to support him, he won't give into the Wizard's machinations. He won't lose him, too.]

Of course I can. I've been helping Eurydice train to become stronger, and LSP has been working as well. Hell, with Maya and Cassandra, we are on the way of forming our own army.

[Lots of ladies, a sponge, and a dude.]

I've never gotten to see your moves. Why don't you teach me as well?

[employeeoftheyear]

[Spongebob is practically giddy between hearing that Angus wants to train him and him wanting to see his fighting.]

I'd love to! Karate is so much fun and Sandy would be so proud of me if I started teaching others! I betcha The Wizard is gonna be so shocked when we all start fighting him!

[mcfife]

We have space in the gym. Shall we meet again in the afternoon?

[employeeoftheyear]

I'd love to! Really the sooner the better; I wanna impress Sandy when we get home!

[mcfife]

[He nods, and turns to the exit.]

Meet me in the weight room. Bring good fighting clothes. Until then, enjoy your pool of liquid water. [And leaves with a swoosh of his cape.]

[employeeoftheyear]

Aye-aye Angus! I'll see you this afternoon!

[When afternoon rolls around, Spongebob is already there in a karate uniform, positively antsy to to this training.]

[mcfife]

[Angus awaits in the realm of weights and iron, wearing an appropriate relaxing outfit for a warrior prince. He stands at attention and salutes his new recruit.]

Alright! Karate! [He punches a palm with his fist.]

What are the basic stances!

[employeeoftheyear]

[Spongebob looks absolutely pumped up as he starts listing.]

Well there's the Kneeling stance, Closed Leg stance, Immovable stance, Parallel stance, the Seahorse stance...

[As he lists them he pulls off each stance perfectly.]

[mcfife]

[Angus quickly copies Spongebob, not perfectly of course, but hes managing not to trip over his own feet.]

Okay, okay, one at at time. What's the Seahorse stance and how do you fight with that?