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

[globs]

I can probably break it open.

[ they don't want someone to die! They don't really understand the "running out of air" thing, seeing as they don't have to breathe, but they've seen other animals drown - it has to be something like that, and it looks unpleasant. ]

[coastal]

As long as you're careful - that might be the fastest.

[why does lili encourage property damage]

[globs]

I'll aim for one of the edges. It's fine.

[ take them to the box, lili!! ]

[coastal]

[sure

she'LL KEEP RUNNING SO THEY CAN FINALLY ARRIVE AT THE COFFIN

points!!]

Here - but be careful.

[globs]

[ oh, there is a knocking noise coming from this box! They're not sure what they were imagining when they heard "coffin," but this seems very doable. ]

Shut up. I said it's fine.

[ famous last words!!

because, after touching a hand to the edge of the coffin (and leaving a dark, ink-like handprint where their skin touched), they take a step back, then wind up to punch the coffin. It is Very Loud, and leaves a considerable dent - but, to their dismay, the coffin is somehow still in one piece.

Then what was that cracking noise? Why, Cinnabar's arm, of course. There's a split second of silence - then, a huge red crack runs up the length of their forearm, and the top half of their forearm, along with their knuckles and fingers aside from their thumb, simply slides off, falling to the ground with a clatter. What remains is the raw maroon crystal that makes up their body, unhidden by the powder - and a few rivulets of quicksilver running out of the "wound" and dripping onto the ground. ]

-- Damn it, [ they growl, more exasperated than upset... ]

[coastal]

[you'll have to excuse lili because she yelps - only just barely covering her mouth so she doesn't outright scream when she sees what becomes of cinnabar's arm. despite the fact that cinnabar looks frustrated, lili looks absolutely distraught, eyes wide as she rushes forward and immediately goes to pick up cinnabar's fallen arm from where it was laying]

I - You—

I told you to be careful!! Why were you still so reckless?!

[globs]

[ her yelping seems to freak Cinnabar out more than losing their arm! They jump a little when she does, then look annoyed. ]

It's not -- d-don't touch that! You'll get dirty!

[ annoyed switching swiftly into panic when she picks up their arm. (It's pretty heavy, for the record.) She'll find that if she grips it too hard, it'll leave a sort of dark, greasy residue on her hands - the poison is still inside them, even if it's inert. They reach their hands out as if to grab it, but freeze up, unable to make such a bold movement. ]

[coastal]

Who cares about getting dirty - you lost your arm!

[lili is clearly?? not the one to be worried about in this situation?? but regardless she's also not that worried about the residue on her hands. she's still going to try to lift it up, even if it's heavy, to bring it over to them]

I'm sorry - you're alright? It doesn't hurt?

[DEEP CONCERN]

[globs]

[ Since it's just an arm, it's not impossibly heavy, but it's definitely not a walk in the park. It's a two-hand job. And they snatch it away from her with just one as soon as it's within arms reach, as if they're snatching it from the jaws of a crocodile, holding it close to their chest afterwards. ]

I'm fine.

[ they don't seem to be in pain, anyway. There's some mercury welling up and dripping out from the dark red crystal exposed on their arm, adding even more stains to the floor - something which seems to stress Cinnabar out further, if the way their brow creases means anything. ]

[coastal]

How can you be fine....?!

[don't mind her, she's just stubborn and insistent - and incredibly concerned. she's not mindful at all of the substance that's on her hands, already having heard enough about cinnabar's poison, but she frowns at her anyway]

Tell me how to help!

[globs]

Stop -- shouting at me!

[ she's freaking them out a little!! They're not used to all the attention. They almost hide behind their disembodied arm, defensively holding it against themself. Lili might notice that their punch did actually open a small hole in the corner of the coffin, and there's what looks like red and black fabric of some kind inside... but that's only if she actually looks closely. ]

... I just need to find glue. Before I make a bigger mess...

[coastal]

[sorry she's uhhhh kind of busy - though the return yell manages to get her to shut up a little bit, shrinking back only a little. but that little is enough to get her to pause even though a deep frown etches itself onto her mouth]

Then we're leaving immediately to get glue -

[wait. she pauses to glance back at the coffin]

Wait - hold on. I have to make sure that no one's in here...

[globs]

[ they just shy away more, retreating a couple inches further like a scared stray. ]

I can do it myself.

[ as for whether someone's in there or not... you'll have to ask ty because she didn't tell me anything other than fabric!! ]