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[thesettingsun]

Just a couple of things.

-I'm turning 25 on Monday and it seems like the kind of thing you should do something for. I was going to invite people to the pool until some things happened, but now I don't want to, so. I'm going to be at the Inkwell and will accept all birthday congratulations, gifts, and complaints about how grey water is super weird.

Anyone can come, it's not like I run the bar. Unless you're that guy that threatened me, you have to stay at least ten feet away from me at all times.

[Water being grey now is not actually why the pool party is being called off, but it makes an excellent excuse.]

-Does anyone have any advice about explaining your sudden changes in behavior to people who know you really well but don't know what's going on with Retrospec? I can't not talk to my parents.

Comments

[prometheanflame]

[There's an uncomfortable pause before he begins typing.]

I've been told that before.
I take it as a compliment.

[thesettingsun]

It's a compliment! You seem really mature and capable and like you've got it together!

[Compared to Shuji, anyway.]

[prometheanflame]

[okay that is True]

I'm only doing what I'm expected to do, it's really nothing.

[Haha, someone has confirmed that he is as cool as he thinks he is.]

[thesettingsun]

When you say it like that, it sounds easy.

[prometheanflame]

I'm been doing this for all of my life. I'm used to the responsibility that comes with being a student my parents are proud of.

[thesettingsun]

I could use some advice on the 'student my parents are proud of' thing.

[prometheanflame]

...The first thing is to study hard. Find a place where you can work without being distracted.
Though in my case, my parents made sure I didn't leave homework unfinished and provided books during school breaks when I was young.

[thesettingsun]

Study hard, avoid distractions, got it. What else?

[prometheanflame]

[Would "don't socialize much" count as good advice?]

Talk to your professors if you have trouble with the material. They remember students that talk to them and tend to nominate them for awards.

[thesettingsun]

I can do that... I get embarrassed about how badly I'm doing.

[prometheanflame]

If you don't start, you'll only continue to do badly. You've got to have the motivation to start your journey to improvement.

[thesettingsun]

I'm really trying! I am! It's just that talking to teachers about that kind of stuff is hard.

[prometheanflame]

Then you can go with a friend.

[Wait that sounds a bit like he's talking down to him. Osamu is his age, he needs to change his tone.]

Don't you have classmates that are struggling? Try a study group.

[thesettingsun]

[It's easy to forget that he's an actual adult.]

I'll look into that. There should be flyers on campus for that kind of thing if there's one already.