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

[twinsightful]

Gateway;

[While everyone else is having a Time, Kaoru has actually made his way to the casino and is seated behind a poker table, shuffling cards in his hand. Does he know how to play poker? No, probably not, but that doesn't stop him from grinning at whoever approaches.]

Want to play a hand?

[What is he up to…]


Fire;

[Anyone who ventures into the fire training area for some reason will find Kaoru perched on a stone slab a little higher above the rest. He doesn't seem to be bothered by anyone coming in and out, but he's also focusing on generating a small, palm-sized ball of flame in his hands.

Granted, by the time he does generate it, he's a little too surprised by the size and promptly drops it? Straight down. Right about where you're standing.

Whoops?]

Wildcard;

[You can also find him in the boutique reorganizing clothes by fabric type and color, in the library with a fictional book of some sort, or in the garden feeding the koi.]

gateway;

[daibanana]

Eeeh...?

[Nana stops, pauses, and then swivels on her feet in one smooth motion, hands behind her back as she approaches. She hadn't meant to stay in the casino long when there's very little to entice her, but this?

This looks interesting]

You'll have to teach me the rules! I've never played poker before.

[twinsightful]

Really? It's pretty easy. [It's Nana which means he's maybe not going to be as mean as he could be, but he does shuffle the cards one last time before dealing out five to her.] Have you played any card games before at all?

[daibanana]

I've played Go-Fish for a role, once!

[So that's a negative right there, try not to swindle her too badly, Kaoru.

She looks excited though as she sits opposite of him, her elbows on the table and her eyes bright with curiosity.]

fire

[unfriendliest]

[ See, things like this are why Ookurikara's clothes are perpetually singed nowadays. Thank the saniwa for good reflexes, because he barely notices the fireball in time to dodge... but he does.

Then he just follows its path with his eyes up to where Kaoru sits, and gives him a flat stare.

Well. Guess he can't be mad at the kid for trying, can he? ]

[twinsightful]

[This is maybe not great? This is actually bad and for a moment Kaoru blinks from his place hovering above Ookurikara. At least he looks fairly apologetic.]

It doesn't always happen like this.

[unfriendliest]

[ Uh huh. Sure. Kara looks very convinced by that. ]

Don't sit so high up if you're just going to drop it.

[ He says this like he can control his own magic without using his sword to focus it. ]

garden

[compendiem]

[ Early Monday before Minato permanently lives inside the casino, he wanders by the koi pond and slows to a stop as he sees Kaoru there with the fish. He looks deep in thought for a moment, and then bridges the rest of the way until he's at the edge of the pond, lowering himself into a crouch so he can stare into the water. ]

...You're right... [ he mumbles, mostly to himself, but with his chin turned slightly Kaoru's direction. ]

It'll be much easier to fatten these up, instead of fishing in the ocean.

[twinsightful]

[MINATO?????? Kaoru has his hand in the water and he's feeding the fish which means when he looks up he looks mildly scandalized by this idea.]

You are not allowed to eat the koi. I'm pretty sure that's bad luck anyway.

[compendiem]

[ This is about the reaction he expected, so he nods solemnly in promise not to eat the koi. A pity. They're nice and plump already. ]

Is it bad luck to eat a koi? I never knew that.

[ They're sacred animals but... A fish is a fish. Nobody needs to know. ]

Fire

[omegathree]

[He might enjoy being here the most, but he's also very easily hurt by flame. Since it hits him in the arm, he hisses in pain and does his best to pat it out. Oh, but he's going to be burnt.

Looking up doesn't cross his mind.]

[twinsightful]

[Well. Crap. That's bad? That's bad, and so Kaoru's...going to start to sneak away and maybe hope that Val doesn't notice. There's hardly a chance of that happening given a little bit of ash also falls from the ledge he's on and down toward the vampire, but it's worth a try.]

[omegathree]

[He's definitely preoccupied with getting the fire out. It hurts, he's burning, he hates getting targeted by fire. Where's Fenrich when he needs him?

But there's enough disturbance that he's looking up.]

You there!

fire

[nonbelligerent]

[kaoru, why.

shess promptly dodges, though he then looks up with a slight frown.]

[twinsightful]

[Hello Shess, please end him.]

If it helps, that wasn't on purpose.

[nonbelligerent]

Perhaps you should think about exercising more caution.

gateway

[whitewalls]

I don't know how to play.

[ she's just going to be upfront about that immediately ]

[twinsightful]

Oh, Naminé. [He looks pleased.] I can teach you if you'd like.

[whitewalls]

Sure. Is it difficult?

[ even if he says yes she'd still do it anyway but ]

fire

[wagashis]

[He frequents this area less than the others, but Shirasu still tends to visit each of them-- so he's just here to have a look around, aware enough that someone's up there to get the hell out of the way when that fireball abruptly falls. A quick duck to the side, and he glances up--

Then relaxes with a slight sigh as he notices who the culprit is.]

Please be a little more cautious, Kaoru-kun?

[twinsightful]

[He peers over the edge of the rock to glance down at Shirasu.]

Can you blame me for dropping it? It's still surprising that I can do this at all.

i.

[stillstands]

[ Miki's just immediately giving him A Look. A Look that says "I'm not entirely sure I trust this situation right now." ]

... Most of us are too young to even be in here, let alone playing poker. Or acting as the dealer.

[twinsightful]

Spoilsport. [He's also just sticking his tongue out.] I don't see anyone enforcing the rules here, do you?

gateway

[hashtaghelping]

Sure!

[...]

Wait, I don't have hands.

[twinsightful]

[...hmmm...]

You know how to count, don't you? "Playing a hoof" sounds silly but we can at least prop up your cards.

[Is he fascinated by the idea of gambling against a magic horse? Yes.]