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

SOL

[cyclists]

[Sol seems to be seated at the foot of one of the coffins. They won't speak immediately, but should someone approach they'll look up, the dark void of their hood still obscuring them.

Yes?]

[nonbelligerent]

[look shess will talk to not lune for once]

At least three people without partners, but the ability used to arrange partnerships can only be used once, correct?

[cyclists]

Right. [They sound pretty unhappy, too.] Which means...pretty much what you think it might mean.

[nonbelligerent]

[...]

I see. That's unfortunate.

[cyclists]

Tell me about it. [Ugh.] And that still doesn't stop us from proceeding with tomorrow, too.

[nonbelligerent]

Same procedure?

[cyclists]

Exactly the same. Lune and I will be there to help, but it's up to you guys to find where it's hiding this time.

[nonbelligerent]

Another few difficult days ahead of us, then. I don't know if this group will be able to hold itself together.

[cyclists]

[A pause. And they look up seemingly staring straight at Shess.]

Then help them. I know that you can.

[compendiem]

[ Closes his eyes. Maybe if he goes back to sleep, this whole nightmare will reset and three people won't be dead, wth. ]

...Was this because we couldn't figure out where the source of the darkness was...?

[ All they did was poke around the place, play some slots. Maybe Darkness got pissed. ]

[cyclists]

I don't know if that was the only reason. [...] Darkness manifests in ways that are hard to track sometimes. If someone's heart is open to it...it could make the corruption a little easier.

[compendiem]

Three people, though...

[ With Mary, it was just one- and he doesn't want to think about her heart being open to darkness. Not because he doesn't believe she's capable of it, but because he knows he's capable of it. ]

Can the darkness corrupt more than one person?

[cyclists]

...unfortunately yes. And that's why we're doing what we can to try and sense it beforehand. It's why we opened the gateway to clear out the corruption here and help stabilize the core.

But it still bypassed us.

[compendiem]

Did we manage to do anything to stabilize the core?

[ Honestly, instructions were fuzzy at best. Minato was hoping winning at the slots would change things one way or another, but. Unlikely. ]

[cyclists]

You did. But to that...I can't say anything else yet. But you did.

That's why this is so hard now.

[compendiem]

We stabilized the core but three people were murdered..........

[ are you sure they fixed anything, Sol? really?? ]

[unfriendliest]

[ Yes hello it's your favorite abductee! He draws his sword as he approaches with a flare of fire that runs down the blade and disappears just as quickly. The point is aimed at the darkness under the hood as Kara stands before them. When he speaks, his voice is a low, angry growl. There's no doubt where he's placing the blame. ]

How did this happen again?

[ It was supposed to end with Mary... ]

[cyclists]

[Hey Kara. Sol doesn't do anything but they seem to grow rigid, staring up at him through the void of their hood. That sword is a little too close, but...does it matter now?]

It's spreading. That's how.

[unfriendliest]

How? Wasn't the point of killing Mary to stop this?

[ He doesn't even know any of these people, not well, but doesn't that make Mary's death pointless? Why did she have to die if it changed nothing? ]

[cyclists]

The point was to stop what had already corrupted her. This doesn't change that that still needed to happen even if it's something none of us wanted to do! [Please get your sword out of their face?]

We're doing the best that we can in pinpointing where it's coming from.

[unfriendliest]

So you still can't help.

[ Still useless, then. His sword doesn't waver. ]

How many will have to die before you make yourselves useful?

[cyclists]

[WHERE DID LUNE COME FROM, WHERE DID LUNE GO - but apparently they're much closer now all of a sudden, hand out, palm first to hover in front of ookurikara's blade]

I assure you we are just as displeased with this turn of events as you are - the young one has lost a friend this week as well.

[the robe of lune's sleeve shifts, the glint of tsurumaru's necklace around their neck]

If nothing else, might I ask you lower your sword before you continue to speak with him? Or you may direct it to me.

[please stop hurting lune's grandchild]

[unfriendliest]

[ His eyes move from Sol to Lune, no less angry for the change of target. ]

What have either of you done to stop this?

[ Nothing but stand around and talk about this "darkness" and "corruption" and "purification," as far as Ookurikara can tell. They'd "purified" Mary, and for what? For more people to die, because the "darkness" is still here? And they think they have the right to be upset about this?

Are their lives in danger too, or are they just leaving the rest of the people here to do the work for them while they watch from a safe distance? ]

[televised]

[...]

Is it only going to get worse from here on out?

[cyclists]

If we don't find a better answer and clear what's manifesting? [...] There's still time to fix this.