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]

[ Akane seems to be working at her puzzle box very diligently, just sitting down somewhere outside, tinkering with it. Seems peaceful! Seems fine!

Until

she gets frustrated

and just chucks it off into the distance. Someone... please retrieve it and help her solve this box... ]

[autocatalysis]

[ I can say that he sees it land somewhere and just. Gently retrieves it and helps her open it like he probably will Lili, but,

wouldn't it be funnier to say that it just beans him in the head from behind. Like a bolt from the blue, it's......

rude is what, smh.

So he chucks it back at approximately the same angle and heading that it came from. This is happening. ]

[specialdog]

[ She's not that strong... So it's very legit that she would throw it without even looking to make sure she wouldn't hit someone. But also that it wouldn't get far, so she at least can?? dodge when it comes back??

She looks absolutely furious for a minute, picking it back up and scowling, but seems to decide to force a more playfully pouty expression instead before even seeing who it was. ]

... Sorry about that...! This stupid puzzle box is making me mad.

[autocatalysis]

So I've noticed.

[ dryly, and as unfazed as ever. and even more so: ]

How long have you been working at it? [ not as a jab at her puzzlesolving skills or lack thereof or anything, but more- ] I think I've heard that these things end up locking themselves after a certain amount of time.

[specialdog]

[ she... shakes the box as if that would help, or like she could guess what's inside by the sound of it. ... She cannot. Something... Small? ]

Really...? I've been at it for like fifteen minutes, already...

[ which can feel like an absurdly long time when you're frustrated. ]

Did you get one? Were you able to open it?

[autocatalysis]

Don't look at me; I don't know how long it takes before these things decide enough is enough.

[ uhhhh anyway i am making this executive decision now, yes, ]

But I managed to retrieve something of some personal value, yes. I think one showed up for everyone.

[specialdog]

... Then you know how to solve it, right? You've done it before?

[ so do it again..... please....... ]

[moonprisonpower]

[ he's not here to help. he never is. ] Nice throw.

[ thanks saix. ]

[specialdog]

...

[ she needs a moment to compose herself. then: ]

Can you get that for me?

[moonprisonpower]

No.

[ stands there. ]

[specialdog]

...

[ COOL, GOOD TALK. ]

[moonprisonpower]

[ very productive. saix will just continue to stare he down, like the fun creep he is. ]

[specialdog]

[ whatever she can play that game forever!!! someone else will bring it back to her eventually, or maybe she'll go get it when she's not mad anymore.

but!! she's!! mad right now!!!!! ]

[nonbelligerent]

[...

he just watches it fly off... goodbye...

like, are you okay, akane.]

[specialdog]

[ she is not, she is very frustrated. and when she's frustrated, she throws things. ]

[nonbelligerent]

[please...

since she doesn't seem to be in a hurry to retrieve, he'll trundle off to go get it...]

[specialdog]

[ looks up at other threads. thank you Shess, ur my only friend.

... she watches him and waits patiently. ]

[nonbelligerent]

[yw

he comes back and holds it out to her.]

[specialdog]

[ she takes it and offers a tentative smile. ]

Thanks...

Do you think you could solve it for me?

[tothemaxwell]

[One-handed, she catches it--

--and puts it on the ground next to her, resuming fiddling on her own.]

Hmm.

Did someone lose their box?

[specialdog]

[ Akane........... stares............

And probably gives it a good couple minutes of slow breathing to calm herself down before she gets up and approaches. ]

... Have you seen a box, around here?

[ Yes, play it smooth, pretend you didn't just rage-throw it. Definitely, that's convincing. ]

[tothemaxwell]

A box? Does it look like this one?

[She holds up Akane's helpfully.]

[specialdog]

Yeah, I think that's mine!

It slipped away from me. [ really fast and hard and through the air. it's fine. don't worry about it. ]

[tothemaxwell]

In that case, it was good that I was able to catch it.

[She hands it over, still smiling.]

But I would advise against throwing it further. You are working on a time limit, after all.

[specialdog]

[ Milla is so pure....... ]

I don't think I'll be able to solve it in time... It's really hard!