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

[nonbelligerent]

One common method is to overcome what it tries to throw at you—your insecurities, trauma, etc. Get hit with them often enough and you'll eventually build up a resistance.

But in the end, transcendentals are merely abilities of other living beings, no matter how powerful. I'd say the corruption here is probably a little different.

[compendiem]

[ Huh... He wouldn't mind being put through the wringer like that, but to ask others to go through the same thing to build up resistance sounds a bit much. He rubs at the back of his neck, thinking... ]

...Have you been able to build up resistance?

[nonbelligerent]

Yes.

Though of course, I wouldn't be surprised if things operate by different rules here.

[so it might not work here ): ]

[compendiem]

[ It makes sense that things would be different, but that's not why he asked. He was just being nosy. ]

So you've had to face that a lot. Insecurities and traumas... Must've been tough.

[ But he came out of it okay. Calm and kind and reassuring. Not like Minato himself, who's only lived 17 short years, and he's so tired. ]

[nonbelligerent]

A lot happens when you've lived for a while. That kind of thing isn't uncommon in my society, anyway.

[compendiem]

[ That's even more concerning..... why is that uncommon, that's terrible ]

How many years have you lived for, Shess?

[nonbelligerent]

[he pauses.]

A few billion years, give or take?

[compendiem]

[ Plus or minus how many million years??? ]

Can you not die?

[nonbelligerent]

[shrugs]

Not of age, no.

[compendiem]

...How do you get by the day to day...

[ For billions of years, it's incomprehensible. Just one year is a marathon for Minato; he can't imagine billions. ]

[nonbelligerent]

Well, the days can be rather busy. There isn't much time to stop and reflect over the past.

[compendiem]

[ That reminds him- ]

Oh. I was supposed to ask: do you sleep at night?

[nonbelligerent]

[he blinks in surprise.]

No.

[compendiem]

[ Minato looks somewhat relieved. ]

Do you stay in house with Miki at night?

[nonbelligerent]

Is that how this came up? No. My assumption was she'd be uncomfortable sharing quarters with a strange man, especially at night.

[compendiem]

[ Minato nods, because yeah, that's what they were talking about. They didn't get much into sharing quarters, though, it was more- ]

So if I were to go up to the house in the middle of the night and flash light through the window, it wouldn't disturb you at all?

[nonbelligerent]

[... wh

shess pauses, but he'll answer the question...?]

No, I probably won't be around.

[compendiem]

Okay. Then, I'll proceed with the plan as intended.

[nonbelligerent]

Plan?

[compendiem]

[ He lifts a fist up, and opens and closes it. ]

Morse code.

[ Flashing lights to talk to each other from house to house, or something. Miki thinks it's a bad idea. Minato wants to try. ]

[nonbelligerent]

[uh okay]

As long as Miki's fine with it.

[compendiem]

I'll do my best to convince her. [ He's going to pester her until she gives in. ]

You two are getting along, otherwise?

[nonbelligerent]

[oh dear]

Yes, we are.

[compendiem]

I'm glad. Can I ask you for a favor?

[nonbelligerent]

I can't say I'll do it until I know what it is, but go ahead.