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

2

[unfriendliest]

[ ookurikara pauses to watch hisoka shuffle.

then he's going to turn and slowly keep walking into the casino, one hand on his sword, as always. he's never seen a casino, which means he's more interested in exploring to see if there's anything worthwhile here than playing games with a clown.

so that's a no. ]

[wildc4rd]

[Hm. So rude, Kara.]

No? Is it because you only know how to fight with your sword but not your mind? Tsk.

[unfriendliest]

[ if that was meant to provoke him into a game, it fails. the most it will get is an unamused glance before turning back to the casino at large. he stops before a slot machine, frowning and reaching out to give the lever an experimental pull.

he doesn't startle when it does its thing, but kara can't completely hide his surprise. what the fuck is this. ]

[wildc4rd]

[Worth a shot.

He continues to play idly with the cards, watching Kara fiddle with the slot machine. It does its spinning whirl, but Kara doesn't strike anything the first time. He smirks a little.]

Try again.

[unfriendliest]

[ ...does that mean it's supposed to do something different?

hm. while he doesn't really want to take direction from someone else, it has made him curious. so with a frown, he'll reach out to pull it again, this time simply watching in fascination as it spins. ]

[wildc4rd]

[Around and around they go again. A shame he gets two cherries and a diamond. He has more turns, though.]

You want the sevens. All three. And then you're the biggest winner of all.

[unfriendliest]

[ after staring at the machine, mystified, for another minute or two, he finally turns to hisoka. ]

Winner of what?

[wildc4rd]

I don't know. Keep playing and find out. You wouldn't give up so easily, would you?

[He peers over at Kara.]

It's a game of chance. Sort of like the one we're playing, right?

[unfriendliest]

[ actually, he will give up pretty easily if it seems pointless. which it does, so he won't pull the lever a third, instead just watching hisoka from a distance. ]

What do you mean?

[ he can't be referring to mary and tsuru as a game. ]

[wildc4rd]

[oh but surely he is]

This game. The one you're a part of. Trying to help two beings we don't even know stabilize the core of everything. All the while, something else is interfering.

[unfriendliest]

[ kara's eyes narrow. ]

This isn't a game.

[ not if there are lives at stake. ]

[wildc4rd]

It isn't any different than you pulling the handle on that machine.

[His earrings jingle when he tips his head back some.]

Unless you know something the rest of us don't. Do you perhaps?

[unfriendliest]

[ he glances again at the machine through the corner of his eyes, but otherwise doesn't move. ]

People don't die because of that.

[wildc4rd]

Oh, but they do. If they aren't careful. Gambling is a vice that can take anyone away. Pulling the lever once, getting that rush of winning. It's so exciting. Just one more time. Just one more time.

Just one more time.

[He grins.] Before you know it, you don't have any money left at all. You starve, you die. [The cards get an idle shuffle.]

[unfriendliest]

[ gambling...? is that what all this is for? it's nothing like the games ookurikara remembers, but he is also a sword from the sengoku era so this is all pretty new to him. ]

They're not the same.

[ gambling, at least, is a choice. an addiction sometimes, but a choice nonetheless. none of them chose to be here. ]

[wildc4rd]

Aren't they?

[Hisoka is just amused and having a good time. He flips through the cards with one hand when they're fanned out, the other supporting his jaw.]

I'm sure you must gamble in your own life. Fighting? It's a gamble. Like playing a card game, like pulling a lever. You take a chance, hoping you'll come out on top, but not knowing if you really will.

[unfriendliest]

[ well. maybe he's right in that respect. even so... ]

No.

[ it doesn't look like there's much of interest here, so with a shake of his head, kara will turn and head for the door. ]

Risking lives isn't a game.

[ any real warrior knows that. even kara, who lives for a fight, thrives in it, knows that. ]

[wildc4rd]

[Even as a pain in the ass, Hisoka never tries to get anyone to stay unless there's a good reason. People leaving is just as fun sometimes as them hanging around.

He grins after Kara, but doesn't stop the exit. Risking lives isn't a game.

Interesting.]