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

[compendiem]

[ This is the best either of them can manage and Minato should be grateful for it. Also the gravy was a gift. ]

It's pretty addictive. Maybe you'd like it. You can take over for me while I'm on bathroom breaks, maybe.

[nonbelligerent]

We'll see. First, the bread.

[compendiem]

And the gravy, if it's still there...

[ If nobody's thrown it out yet. He hopes not. ]

[nonbelligerent]

[he nods, before heading off!



later, he returns with the promised bread. and minato's... week-old gravy...]

[compendiem]

[ Shess is the best and Minato's relieved to be able to stand up and stretch his legs— grabs the side of the slot machine because boy does standing suddenly after sitting for 2304985 hours make his head spin— and accept the food with a thank you once everything stabilizes again.

He moves to sit on another slot machine seat, and dips the bread into the gravy. Is that mold or ice? He can't tell. ]

Do you want any?

[nonbelligerent]

[...

he'll just hold up a hand as a polite refusal. no thanks, he's... good...

if minato dies this week from food poisoning he's not taking any responsibility]

[compendiem]

[ Minato's going to choke on fish bones from Shirasu's cooking later in the week so Shess is absolved from all food poisonings. ]

Alright. [ He tilts his head at the free slot machine. ]

Do you think the jackpot will be worth it?

[nonbelligerent]

Is it just going to be money?

[compendiem]

Mmmmmaybe.

[ Most likely, yes. ]

But it could be other stuff. Like a jeep.

[nonbelligerent]

Where would it be storing a jeep?

[compendiem]

Some of the doors here don't open. It could be behind one of those...

[ Maybe the grand prize is opening the doors, and then nobody can say that Minato hasn't wasted the entire week here. ]

[nonbelligerent]

What would you do with a jeep, anyway?

[compendiem]

Drive it up the mountain so I'll never have to climb it again.

[nonbelligerent]

Why do you have to climb the mountain to begin with?

[compendiem]

[ That's a good question, and one that makes Minato pause. He wants to climb it because it's there? It's a reason, but he doesn't know if it's a good one. ]

...The sunset's really pretty from the peak. If possible, I'd like to see that sight again. Before... you know.

[nonbelligerent]

That's true.

[a beat.]

Do you actually know how to drive, though?

[compendiem]

Yeah. I drove the tractor a while ago, but I dunno if it can make it up a mountain.

[ He'd driven it into the gate. He crashed it into the gate. but the important part is, he'd driven it. ]

[nonbelligerent]

[that sounds concerning but okay.]

Well, jeep or not, if you ever want to climb the mountain again, let me know. I can come with you.

[compendiem]

Really? Can you give piggyback rides?

[ That's the level of help Minato would need, not just a shoulder to lean on and moral support. ]

[nonbelligerent]

I'm not as strong here as I usually am, but probably.

[minato... doesn't look very heavy...]

[compendiem]

[ He isn't very heavy, but he might feel exponentially heavier going up a mountain. ]

I'd appreciate the lift, someday. Are you... Did you used to live in a citadel?

[nonbelligerent]

[he tilts his head in confusion.]

[compendiem]

I'll... take that as a no, then. Thought maybe you lived where Four used to. She said the same thing, about not being as strong here as she usually is.

[nonbelligerent]

I don't think we're from the same world.

But it looks like many of us are in the same boat.

[compendiem]

Yeah, that's how it seems... What was your world like, Shess? What do you miss about it most?