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

[specialdog]

[ for a girl who hesitated to answer for so long, she sure sounds confused about why he would need to ask??? ]

Of course we are.

[compendiem]

[ Because she's bullying him?????? To be fair, though, his teammates and classmates also bully him, so it's nothing new. ]

I'm glad.

[ Relieved, really. Sort of happy.

He touches the cat ears on his head, that were absolutely here the entire time. ]

You still don't want to wear yours?

[ That's what friends do, right? Be matchy-matchy. ]

[specialdog]

[ whaaaaaaaaat?? noo. whaaat????

... she's being more sincere than usual when she says: ]

It's still just... A little embarrassing, you know? Why do you even want me to wear them?

[compendiem]

[ "Because I made them especially for you" sounds selfish, so all Minato does is shrug. ]

Because you look cute in them.

[ Because nobody would kill a cute girl in cat ears?? how to say this ]

[specialdog]

[ Akane considers. And takes her time getting them out from... I don't know a purse or something, whatever. She fiddles with the headband, turning it over in her fingers. ]

... How cute?

[compendiem]

...Cuter than me?

[ A LOW BAR ]

[specialdog]

...

[ blatant disappointment ]

[compendiem]

Name one other person who's cuter than me.

[ She can't, because he's cute. And with cat ears, she'd be cuter. ]

[specialdog]

Hmm... Nanaki-kun.

[ I'm sorry Minato, but you can't compete with a button quail. ]

[compendiem]

-—that's true. I can't beat Kazuaki.

[ Unfortunately, neither can she. ]

...I see. There's no reason to wear the headband, then.

[specialdog]

[ ... she turns it over in her hands some more... ]

I didn't say that.

[compendiem]

[ He looks at her, somewhat surprised, somewhat expectant. ]

Then, you will?

[specialdog]

If you give me a more convincing reason.

[ does she mean 'better than being cute' or does she mean 'give me a better compliment than just cuter than you'? who knows. ]

[compendiem]

[ Hmmmmmmmmm ]

If you wear the cat ears, I'll do a favor for you?

[ He will resort to bribes, yes. ]

[specialdog]

Hmm... You always do whatever anyone tells you, so that's not very valuable.

[compendiem]

...If you wear the cat ears, I'll refuse to do a favor for you?

[ What is it that you want from him!!! ]

[specialdog]

That isn't any different from doing a favor...

[compendiem]

[ It's a lot different, and a lot harder, but these are also Akane's terms and not his, so he thinks a little harder. What is it that he's good for... ]

...I can teach you how to use my nailbat, so you'll be able to keep safe when I'm not around?

[specialdog]

Hmmm. Rejected! I already have a couple people teaching me to fight.

[compendiem]

A couple....... [ He can't help but laugh, a surprised breath of air. ]

You really don't need me at all, huh?

[specialdog]

Why do you say that?

[ like, what makes you jump to such an extreme? is it the bullying? is it that she's been bullying you??? ]

[compendiem]

[ It's the bullying!!!!! Also because there's nothing more he can do for her, that's unique to just him and nobody else. So he just gives her a small smile and shrugs. ]

I want to help you, but I don't know how.

[specialdog]

I'll tell you. When I want your help, I'll let you know. So you don't need to guess.

[ She's not exactly secretive about telling obedient kids what to do, after all. ........ But this doesn't solve? The motivation dilemma???? But she's moved onto this now. ]

Would it make you happy if I needed you?

[compendiem]

Yeah.

[ Motivation doesn't matter; this is where his motivation stems from, being useful and being needed, already looking more bright and eager- and relieved- at the prospect of Akane taking the guesswork out of everything. ]

That'd make me really happy.

[specialdog]

[ Akane reaches out with both hands and slowly runs her fingers down Minato's arms...

... To take her hoodie back. You've warmed up by now, right? She smiles at him softly. ]

I do need you.