week one: mingle

[cyclists]

Week One
30 in Competition

As the sun rises on Monday morning, all participants will find themselves awakening with a sense of purpose. Regardless of where they slept the night before, they’ll find themselves compelled to return to the main meeting hall first thing in the morning.

Approaching the hall, however, they will find a large, swirling mass grey in color looming near the sakura tree. This swirl cannot be approached just yet, but seems to be locked and waiting for something more.

As the last member of the village enters the hall, they will find Lune and Sol at the head of the room. Though they’re together, it’s Sol who speaks up first this time.

“Last night, Lune and I were finally able to get some answers. Or, at least, something we can do to help. The core’s still experiencing fluctuations and some instability, but we’ve figured out a place some of it might be coming from.”

They stop, excitedly holding up a scroll.

“This core is connected to several worlds out there. It’s the heart of the universe and everything that happens here can be affected by the outside, and can affect the worlds you come from. We found somewhere that seems to have a source of darkness lurking around…if we find it and clear the corruption, we can help stabilize the core a little more and help protect yourselves while you’re here.”

With that, they seem to lose steam just a little, looking back at Lune for a moment before nodding.

“So, uh…we were able to open a gateway for you to this world. Checking it out might help us pinpoint the source and get this done faster, so…leave whenever you’re ready. There’ll be another gate on the other side to bring you back here.”

That seems to be it, though Sol looks back to Lune again. “Anything else?”

"Look after one another," they repeat again. "And do not believe it is possible to be over-cautious."

The moment participants leave the hall, they will find that the gateway has changed from grey to white, the opening widening enough for multiple people to step through. The Signs will soon take their leave, and all will remain peaceful once more.

In addition, as the week goes on, partners will find that a simple touch (even accidental) may incite the bond between them to grow stronger for a moment. They will experience a swap of memories through their connection, taking a moment to see a piece of their partner's past without any control over what exactly is being shared.



Welcome to your week one mingle! Please note that as of this week, murder proposals are open. CYOA sign-ups are also live, and will close at Tuesday, 8 AM PST. They will be running on Tuesday afternoon and evening, so please be mindful of your own availability!

In addition, ensure that all of your week zero private conversations were reported on the page, and your week one private conversations are reported on that page. If you'll be taking anything from locations, please report that as well.

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Comments

[unfriendliest]

i. boutique.
[ This is the first, and possibly the last, time that Ookurikara will willingly come in here. While he doesn't know how this place works, and doesn't particularly care, he'd come here for two things, and two things only, so he will address the first person he sees. ]

Is there white fabric? And gold chains - or cord will be fine.

[ He needs something to wrap the pieces of Tsurumaru's sword.

...He probably also needs a change of clothes, as his are looking a bit ragged and burnt, but he'll need convincing (or bullying) to agree to that. ]

ii. fire.
[ Maintaining a flame throughout most of their investigation the other day means he's making some progress with this magic, but he's nowhere near finished training. So here he is again, on one of the higher platforms inside the volcano, practicing with his sword once more.

Unlike before, where he was limited to mostly sparks, now anyone watching will see a steady stream of flame covering the dragon carving on his blade as he flows through the movements. It seems finding Tsurumaru broken has given him a new determination to master this skill, in case that "darkness" comes to threaten someone again. ]

iii. air.
[ Ookurikara is seated near the top of the mountain, not quite venturing into the arena. His eyes are trained upwards to where the string he holds connects to a small, red kite soaring through the air.

He did make a promise. ]

wildcard.
[ hmu if you wanna talk something out or just leave a prompt here, i'm flexible! ]

i

[whitewalls]

White fabric...?

[ it takes her a moment to make the connection between white and gold, but she'll just nod her head. ]

We'll probably have to search for chains, but I can find some fabric.

[unfriendliest]

Which way?

[ he'll follow. the fabric is the most important part - if they can't find gold chains or cord, he'll find something else to finish the wrapping. ]

[whitewalls]

[ she'll wave him over and start walking, leading him to an area with a lot of things that seem to be like scarves, bandanas, etc. ]

We can find something here, I think. Or do you need something bigger...?

[unfriendliest]

[ he follows, eyeing the articles around them thoughtfully. one of the scarves could potentially work, but the bandanas are definitely too small. ]

...A little bigger.

[ scarves can be pretty thin, and tsurumaru may be broken, but he's still sharp. there would be no point if the pieces cut through the wrap. ]

ii.

[compendiem]

[ Minato sits nearby, watching. Sweating, because he hates the heat, but captivated nonetheless as he watches Ookurikara go through the moments. He opens his mouth to say something, but then decides against it and remains quiet. He can be patient, too, sitting here as long as it takes for Ookurikara to get annoyed by his presence and speak first. ]

[unfriendliest]

[ he notices minato when he first arrives, but since he doesn't say anything, kara doesn't acknowledge him. he continues as if no one else is there, until finally finishing the last movement. only then will he look over his shoulder at minato, and speak up. ]

If there's something you want, then say it.

[compendiem]

[ Whatever Minato wanted to say, he swallows down, gaze flickering from Kara to the ground, and then back up at him. He doesn't get up from where he's sitting on a boulder, but at least attempts to sit up a little straighter. ]

I was just... Is there anything I can do for you?

[unfriendliest]

[ what. ookurikara squints at him, bemused. ]

...You came to me.

[ why would he need anything from this kid...? ]

i.

[papawolf]

[ he's here browsing for more shirts and pants when he sees him. there's a moment where he considers walking away, before just gesturing at the clothes. maybe pick something from a shirt to use? ]

[unfriendliest]

[ ookurikara will consider the shirts feral gestures to for just a moment. ]

The fabric is too thin. I need something heavier.

[ so the pieces of tsuru's sword can't cut through. ]

[papawolf]

[ there's a tilt of his head. then he's just going to try to ask why with hand gestures and expressions.

maybe he'll realize there's crayons and paper around here eventually ]

[unfriendliest]

[ don't make him say it... he's just going to wander the boutique in search of something that suits his needs a little better instead of answering because the longer he can avoid this, the better. ]

III

[alitaba]

[ Oh. Well, it looks like Futaba wasn't the only one with the same idea.

Her own hands are full with a newly made flower wreath, staring up at the kite as she steps close to the edge. She breathes, quietly, before releasing it, letting the wind take the offering to a place far away. ]

[unfriendliest]

[ he spots futaba while she's making the climb, but ookurikara doesn't say a word or remove his focus from the kite. they each have their promises to fulfill for that little girl, he figures, and he knows humans use flowers as offerings to the dead. so he'll leave her to her grief, and keep to his own, if she doesn't approach him herself. ]

[alitaba]

[ she's quiet for a while, keeping her sniffles muffled as she can. for someone who has experienced death before and looked it in the face, it's hitting her oddly hard this time around. perhaps it's the circumstances. perhaps it's the age.

whatever it is, futaba takes the moment to grieve quietly, keeping her gaze focused on the kite above. she doesn't mind ookurikara around to do this own thing at the same time, and perhaps in a way, it's nice to have the company without the attempt of comfort. ]

[unfriendliest]

[ maybe she heard mary's comment, at the execution about flying kites. maybe she heard ookurikara make the promise himself, during the trial. either way, it seems he's dedicated himself to this. whatever futaba is up to, he doesn't make any moves to offer comfort or to say a word. ]

iii.

[stillstands]

[ Miki had spotted the kite from a little way away, and makes her way up the mountain to see who's flying it.

It's only when she sees Kara, that she realises this is probably related to. Well. Everything that happened this weekend. So, she doesn't say anything. So just finds herself a rock nearby and sits down on it, watching the kite float in the breeze. ]

[unfriendliest]

[ he doesn't offer miki a greeting, or even look her way as he listens to her settle onto her rock, though he's grateful for the quiet. his eyes stay focused on the kite, watching it somersault through the air, and wonders if mary would have liked it. ]

[stillstands]

[ This is probably so awkward but honestly, she’s somewhat captivated by the kite herself. It looks so stark and bright against the blue sky, looping and swirling lazily. For the moment, she’s happy just to follow it with her eyes, eventually sliding down off the rock so she can lean with her back against it, head tilted back, so she can see it from a different angle. ]

iii

[moonprisonpower]

[ just gonna watch this unfold. ]

What are you doing?

[unfriendliest]

[ he doesn't even glance at saix. ]

What does it look like?

[moonprisonpower]

Flying a kite.

[ thanks saix. ]

i!

[televised]

[She glances over to him once she's addressed, giving him an unreadable look — right before she nods. Slowly.]

... There should be. [Is there a hint of sympathy in her tone? Maybe.] How much do you need?

[unfriendliest]

[ he doesn't want sympathy, so kara turns away, occupying himself with examining the array of clothing here. there's... so much. it's easy to feel overwhelmed.

that's a question he hasn't considered, though. all he knows is that he needs enough to safely wrap the pieces, but... how much is that, exactly? ookurikara has never done this before, so he looks down at his own sword as if it will have the answers. ]

...Enough to wrap a sword.