Week 6, Saturday

[foundationmods]

[After a tense night and a quiet morning, everyone will get an email at 11 am. The email comes straight from MC.]

Meet me in the studio at noon.

[It's probably best to follow those instructions.

When they get to the studio, they will find that twelve podiums have been arranged in a semi-circle on the stage. Each person can take whichever one they want, they aren't assigned.

There is the box of prinny jurors once more, but this time the twelve prinnies seated there might look familiar. In addition, there is a new spot next to the prinnies where a single stool behind a small table is left empty.

Given that the seat John used previously is taken up by MC, John looks at the group awkwardly before going to sit on that stool.

It's time to begin the final trial.]

VOTE HERE

Comments

[merirut]

[There is an unimpressed look at Alcor that clearly says, 'No because that's just a synonym for hug' but he'll let that one go otherwise.]

Meaning or not, I don't see why we have to perform such an act out of a sense of sentimentality...

[However, his expression changes to one of contemplation, and after about half a minute's pause, he sighs and looks back up.]

...Well, if you insist.

[visionem]

[ Clearly Alcor's patience (demonstrated with a placement on cyan and an explosion) pays off in spades once Sandy finally answers. Truly, this is what being patient is all about. He almost opens his mouth to say that he wasn't insisting because that's not the type of being he is, but he decides for once to keep his mouth shut. He'll take this victory and just roll with it.

Like before he opts to teleport closer rather than step or float forward (the former would be disastrous even with his prinny training), and wraps his arms around the archangel. He knows what to expect now and hugging armor doesn't particularly make for a great hug experience but that's alright. Notably, though his touch is still light, he does hold the hug for several seconds longer. Maybe he just wants to be thorough about this sentimental thing.

Teleporting back to his usual distance, his smile is dazzling and mischievous. ]

Hmm...

[merirut]

[Asking more than once counts as insisting in his mind!! Or something. But indeed, it's another victory for Alcor because he never thought he'd agree to being hugged again a few weeks later. It almost feels surreal in that sense, considering how much everything around them had changed. Maybe that's also why he's agreeing now.

But just like before, Sandalphon only stands stock still as Alcor initiates the hug, body still tensed up beneath the plates of armor. However, unlike last time, he relaxes slightly after the initial touch, shoulders lowering visibly as he waits out the rest of the hug. It's still a ways away from anything remotely resembling reciprocation, but it's there. And maybe, just for an instant, there is something vaguely wistful about Sandalphon's expression before the moment is over and they're back at a normal speaking distance.

He raises an eyebrow at the smile, mild suspicion coloring his features.]

...And just what is it now? Don't tell me there's something else you want to do.

[visionem]

[ It's a step in the right direction no matter how small, and Alcor knows it. The victory however minute accounts for some of the smile on his face, hand drawn up so only a half crescent is visible. ]

Not right now, no. But I was thinking...I enjoyed the experience more than last time, and I wouldn't mind doing so again. When the situation called for it of course, and perhaps not in a nostalgic setting so I am able to deduce whether that was the deciding factor in my experience.

[merirut]

[How many hugs must he allow before Alcor is satisfied...!? An exasperated sigh escapes his lips as he gives Alcor a sour look, although it's probably easy to tell at this point that Sandalphon's just being his usual grumpy self.]

That makes it sound like you intend on letting this turn into a habit. Besides, what other occasions would warrant such an excessively affectionate gesture?

[visionem]

Rest assured, I would not want these moments between us to become mundane. [ So there's that along with a smile he hopes is sufficient to parry the grump. He grows thoughtful at the rest of Sandalphon's questioning though, his hand sliding under his chin. ]

Is a hug really excessively affectionate?