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

[unfriendliest]

Maybe... aburage?

[ the other animals like it?? ]

[coastal]

... what is aburage....

[unfriendliest]

Fried tofu with rice.

[ it. doesn't sound that appetizing on its own, huh. ]

...The kitsune like it.

[coastal]

... can I watch you make it?

[she might as well make this a learning moment]

[unfriendliest]

[ uhhh why it's not that interesting ]

If you want.

[coastal]

Don't look so wary - I can't keep relying on Nana for food.

[sHE HAS TO LEARN!!]

[unfriendliest]

[ he's less wary than confused, but who's he to clarify? kara can appreciate the initiative, either way. ]

I don't mind.

[ if he were anyone else he might offer to teach her

but nah ]

[coastal]

[to be fair lili asks a lot of questions so as long as he answers, he's still teaching her more or less]

Then let's go.

I haven't eaten yet either...

[sHE WANTS TO BE FED TOO, APPARENTLY]

[unfriendliest]

[ ah

that's fine i guess? not like he hasn't been cooking for everyone anyways

with a roll of his eyes, he'll turn and head toward the kitchen. fate accepted. ]

[coastal]

[neat. she'S COMING WITH

and opening her palms out as she follows along - which ao will notice and leap from kara's shoulder into lili's hands]

How did they put you in a box... Did they take you from Yona...?

[unfriendliest]

[ oh



goodbye ao

kara is a little disappointed, but he couldn't cook with a squirrel on his shoulder anyway, so it's probably for the best. when they reach the kitchen, he'll leave lili to her new squirrel friend while he goes to pull all the ingredients out. ]

[coastal]

[well. ao is not exactly going to have anything to tell lili.

but she is going to wander over closer to kara and observe which ingredients are being grabbed. ao will move from her shoulder up to rest on top of her head, flopping and holding on as she also watches kara move]

I was looking for red miso paste earlier and couldn't find any...

[let's also be clear

she's not entirely sure what she should've been looking for]

[unfriendliest]

[ there's not a lot to aburage, just a handful of ingredients, so he's just gathered everything when lili speaks up again. he pauses, and then moves to the refrigerator to find something else ]

It's here.

[ voila, one container of red miso paste! ]

[coastal]

Oh.

[and she'll reach her hands out for it.

ao, on top of her head, mimics the motion]

... I'm going to make some later.

[she wants to try it since he mentioned it]

[unfriendliest]

[ well if she wants it he'll hand it right over without protest, and go back to the aburage, starting by cutting the tofu ]

I'll try it when you do.

[ if she wants his opinion again that is ]

[coastal]

[hm i do hate this but she did want his opinion! and the fact that he'll offer without her having to come up with some sort of excuse again

actually gets her to smile]

Mm. Good.

[but otherwise she's going to lOOK AT THE ABURAGE INGREDIENTS TO MOVE US RIGHT ALONG]

Is there anything I can do?

[unfriendliest]

[ ofc he's focused on cutting the tofu so he doesn't see it ]

Heat the oil.

[ he'd consider having her make the marinade for the tofu, but kara still doesn't trust 99% of the people here in this kitchen. so. just the oil. ]

[coastal]

Ah... how much?

[she's

really working from the basics here, kara. but she'll at least grab the oil and the -

the pan? did he get a pan?? she's grabbing the nearest pan regardless]

[unfriendliest]

[ and this is exactly why he doesn't trust anyone but nana for this stuff

with a roll of his eyes, he'll glance to see which pot lili is grabbing - and nod. good enough. ]

Fill it halfway. Medium heat.

[coastal]

Don't be rude. I don't even know this recipe.

[shE SAW THAT EYEROLL

but otherwise she'll move as directed!! as long as she has some instruction, it's not going to all go to hell]

[unfriendliest]

[ that was aimed at like everyone in the village but lili can take offense if she wants, he doesn't care ]

It's just fried tofu.

[ which he's done cutting, so he'll set the pieces over by the stove and move onto making the marinade. they've got the dashi, the soy sauce, just a bit of sugar... basic, but it'll do. he starts mixing them all in a small bowl. ]

Put the tofu in when the oil starts to bubble.

[coastal]

I wasn't given permission to enter the kitchen... and no one cared to teach me.

[she's DEFENSIVE but she also figures he doesn't care. but at least she's trying her best to learn?

she watches him once she's done with her own task, tilting her head.

ao will hop from her shoulder onto kara's now]

[unfriendliest]

[ hello again, ao... he can't pet her while cooking, but he's glad to have her anyway. she gets a small smile from him before turning back to the marinade. ]

What you cooked before wasn't bad.

[ basic, but he'd already given his criticism on that, so he won't repeat it. once the marinade ready, he'll set up the rice cooker before moving back to the stove. ]

[coastal]

[oh.... hmm, she's a little proud of that, but.]

... I'll keep getting better.

[she'll keep watching him even as she makes this promise because she's gotta learn somehow, and watching nana and kara do it has been pretty much her education alongside cookbooks]

[unfriendliest]

[ there's not much kara can say to that, so he simply focuses on cooking instead. it doesn't take long for the tofu to finish, and then it gets scooped out of the pot and set on paper towels to drain of oil.

then he'll reach for a second pot, fill it with water and set that on the burner to boil, adding the tofu to that when it's ready. ]