week two: mingle

[cyclists]

Week Two
26 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 Lune who speaks up first this time.

"Good morning, good morning. You've done well to purge the corruption in the previous gateway - allow us to assist with the finishing touches. For the time being, it would appear as though we've been able to locate another. The land might appear a bit familiar to some however... I only advise you watch your step."

When Lune finishes, Sol chimes in from their place at Lune's side.

"The corruption is still out there, and we're going to do all that we can to find a way to contain it. But until then... stick close to others this week. Do your best to protect yourselves and look after each other. Okay?"

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.

The only oddity is that throughout the week, in a noise that extends past the portal but seems to resound even through the village, there will be the occasional, resounding call of a war horn.

In addition, as the week goes on, partners will find ever-growing feelings of anxiety and nervousness dwelling within them the longer they are separated from one another. They will feel compelled to be very close to their partners at all times, and will be on edge if separated for more than an hour by the end of the week. Welcome to surprise codependence at its finest.



Welcome to your week two mingle! As a reminder, murder proposals are open. We will also be hosting a mini-event on Tuesday, so please be on the lookout for that.

In addition, ensure that all of your week one private conversations were reported on the page, and your week two 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]

[ they stare at the bag for a few seconds. It is an excellent topic to use to avoid talking about their feelings. ]

It'll ruin your bag.

[ all the pieces of their leg are leaking mercury, even as they speak - there's a puddle of it on the ground where it shattered, and another one forming under Cinnabar's arms as they hold the pieces. ]

[compendiem]

[ Minato takes the bait and looks down at his bag. ]

I can always make a new one. I can make one for you too, if you give me a couple days.

[ There's like... a notebook, a pencil, and some apples inside along with his knives, but most of those things he can carry in his arms while Cinnabar gets the bag. ]

[globs]

Don't bother... I'll just ruin that, too.

[ they're still sounding touchy, but at least this time, there's a hint of melancholy in it, too. He really doesn't care if they get his bag filthy? It's true that it's the best option right now... After a long few seconds of hesitation, they gingerly hold an arm out, pausing yet again before taking it delicately in one hand the way one might handle a wet painting or a nice photograph. Something of value they don't want to ruin. Not that they have a choice - they dump the leg-shaped bits of red and white crystal in the bag. ]

I'll carry it. You already hurt your arm.

[ how will they walk?? who knows... they don't, either. Which is why they haven't gotten up yet. ]

[compendiem]

[ Being told not to do something, Minato just sees it as a challenge. He'll find a way. Kaoru might know. ]

Thanks. Can you stand? You can lean on my shoulder.

[ and crush the entire right side of his body before the war destroys the rest ]

[globs]

[ they give him a "are you serious" look. ]

You got broken just trying to lift my leg. You really think I can lean on you?

[ they don't want to touch him, anyway. Getting his bag dirty is embarrassing enough. ]

[compendiem]

[ Yes, but Cinnabar isn't going to lean on him going 1234094853 mph ]

Worth a try, right?

[globs]

No way. You'd get the toxin all over you, too, you know.

[ frankly, the idea of touching somebody like that is extremely spooky to Cinnabar... but they have to admit they're not coming up with any other way to get home. ]

[compendiem]

[ You don't want to hear Minato's other bad ideas about how to get Cinnabar out, and this feels feasible enough for him, at the moment. ]

Clothes can be changed. As long as I don't lick it, I'll be fine, right?

[globs]

-- Why would you lick it?!

[ they sound completely repulsed... understandably.

However, they can't think of any other way to get home, outside of crawling all the way there on their belly, which is a hundred times more humiliating than going back with Minato is. After a few seconds, they sigh, reaching into a pocket and pulling out their gloves to begin slipping them on. ]

Fine... But only because there's no other way. Don't do anything stupid. I'm not going to help you again.

[compendiem]

[ How else would you get poisoned?? Minato carefully holds his tongue and doesn't say anything, just sliding his right hand in his pocket so that broken arm doesn't jostle around, and steps closer to Cinnabar. ]

I won't do anything stupid. We'll take it slow and easy back. Just let me know any time you need to stop.

[globs]

[ cinnabar does not want any licking of any kind to occur

they set the bag on one shoulder - for how heavy it is, they seem to be carrying it easily - then, after a great deal of hesitation, they hold a hand out to Minato, looking away as their cheeks color faintly. ]

You take it slow. You're the one who already got broken trying to carry just a part of me.

[ they're hoping he'll tug on their hand and see how much he can handle before trying to hold up all of them - but they will start carefully getting to their feet (or foot, rather) once he takes it. ]

[compendiem]

I wanted to do something for you. I don't mind if I break.

[ He might mind if he's breaking a spine, though, because Minato looks at Cinnabar's hand and takes it- doesn't lift their hand but just holds it while moving to wrap their arm around his shoulder so he can lift them to their feet just like that. ]

[globs]

Stupid. I know you c-- can't get put back together...

[ they're trying to sound cold, but they can't help stuttering a little in embarrassment as he moves to put their arm around his shoulder. This feels unbelievably intimate to someone who's essentially lived their entire life with zero physical contact, and they grimace, their flush turning a darker, more obvious red.

Cinnabar is heavy, but they're making an enormous effort not to put any weight on him, despite their frigid words. ]

I hate this... W-walk fast so we can just get it over with...!

[compendiem]

I can, though? Be put back together.

[ With surgery and stuff... nothing that can be done here in this place, but he doesn't seem to care much about the prospect of never being put back together again.

He doesn't walk particularly fast, but just lengthens his stride so that they cover more ground with each step, keeping a steady pace and making sure to look out for any traps because if they get caught, they're both going to die. ]

[globs]

How? If they break you open to reseal that broken part, it'll only be hurting you more...

[ their complaints are missing some bite when they're distracted by this close contact - mercury starts beading on their face out of nerves, much to their chagrin, and although they will it to stop, it's never been that easy. ]

[compendiem]

Yeah... Being human like that is a pain. It takes a long time to heal, and sometimes it keeps hurting long after you're supposed to have healed. But pain is the body's way of protecting you, so it's not all bad.

[globs]

It sounds bad. I'd rather be a gem.

[ even if it means doing stuff like this. ]

[compendiem]

What's it like being a gem? Are you happy?

[globs]

What do you think?

[ do they seem happy... they're not going to pretend otherwise. ]

How am I supposed to answer that, anyway? A gem is all I've ever been. I don't know how to explain it when I have nothing to compare it to you.

[compendiem]

I guess it's kinda difficult, huh? I don't think we're that different... but even between people, there's lots of differences. Things that make people happy are very different too, but sometimes they overlap. I was hoping for something like that.

[ What makes you stop being a sad gem, Cinnabar ): ]

[globs]

[ they thought being with others would make them happy, but they've been alone for so long that it just makes them feel nervous and out of place. Cinnabar truly feels like they're trapped in the night - even without their poison, they just can't fit in. ]

... You'd have better luck asking one of the others about something like that. I'm not normal.

[compendiem]

Neither am I.

[ Surely Cinnabar's noticed that about Minato, finding him as strange as they do, how everybody just sort of regards Minato strangely. ]

But it's not like I want to know about happiness in general. I'm interested in your happiness.

[globs]

[ to be fair, most of the humans here are weird to them... ]

I'm supposed to believe that?

[compendiem]

I can't force you to believe anything. That's up to you.