subdivided | week three: mingle

week three: mingle

Week Three
24 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. I wonder if you'll find the skyline familiar? Do try to be kind to those you find on the other side."

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

"You guys did great minimizing the damage and working together...so keep it up."

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 begin to experience the emotions of one another. The clarity of these emotions enhances with proximity, and they will be able to feel the emotions of their partner's intermingling with their own.

Welcome to your week three mingle! As a reminder, murder proposals are open. We will also be having another CYOA this week! Sign ups are here and will close on Tuesday at 8 AM PST.

In addition, ensure that all of your week two private conversations were reported on the page, and your week three private conversations are reported on that page. If you'll be taking anything from locations, please report that as well.

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[ Shut up Kaoru?? ] Alright. If it’s not going to be a problem or a time sink, then it’d be helpful. [ She could actually specific some extra pockets for smaller items and such rather than just having to make do with what she finds lying around? Amazing. ]

...

They have varying sizes around the library, I think? Not just the A4 paper sizes. Why?

It won't be. It'll give me something to do, I can have it finished by Thursday or sooner. [Idle hands, etc etc. but he shakes his head. ] Just curious. I'll make a pocket for that as well.

[He assumes she'll still want to take notes and stuff. ]

[ If she doesn’t take notes she enters immediate shut down mode and ceases to function. So, yes. ]

I— [ Okay she?? Has a bag now?? ] Thank you. Bags can really be made that quickly? [ She has no clue. ]

I wonder if writing a condensed guide of common first aid to carry with me might be better. But if something happened that wasn’t “common” [ Like splinting legs. ] then there might be a problem...

They can be when I'd rather be doing than than watching another terrible Bruce Lee movie. [So yes. And on Thursday Miki will have a bag. Please assume it's cute and very much her style because he would notice that, but it's also just a basic, sturdy bag.]

You could always write a reference list so you know where to look in the library for less than common ailments? That way you aren't wasting time.

Not a fan of martial arts marathons? [ She’d have thought he’d enjoy it, what with his black belt in that well-known martial art ikebana and everything. ]

Oh. Yeah, that’s a good idea. Keep the essentials with me, and know where to go for the less common things — like the plan for what’s in the bag itself. That’d make it easier to get a plan of action in mind.

[ Basic first aid, information on cleaning and patching smaller wounds or dealing with minor poisons, and then a sub section for the more intense things that might require more people than just her. ]

They all look the same after a while, don't they? But I can admit it's decent background noise so maybe they're not as terrible as they could be.

[But anyway, yeah, it makes sense and he's up and picking out fabrics for this bag.] Thinking ahead is a pretty ideal strategy for a place like this. As long as you keep that in mind, it'll help you focus in times of crisis, won't it?

I guess it depends on whether you're into actions films, or specifically martial arts ones. [ ... ] No interest whatsoever then?

[ She's oddly insistent on that. ]

This places throws so many curve balls I'm not actually sure how much we can plan ahead for. [ She's just going to. Sit back and watch? She has no clue what makes a good bag or not, so it's not like she can help much. ] But not planning at all would be worse.

Do I look like I'm interested? If I have to watch a fight I could just watch Honey-senpai or Mori-senpai. [Maybe earth tones...? He's just mixing and matching and taking measurements.]

There are some things you can't really prepare for even if you read all about it. If I've learned anything here, it's that. It sort of sucks to think about.

[ Just. This grin. ] I would've thought a black-belt in ikebana would be interested in other great forms of martial art.

[ Earth tones would be lovely, thank you. ]

Right? Improvisation, but hopefully we can have a fighting face along the way. At least if someone tears a chunk off their arm, I can sterilise and close it.

Edited 2019-06-27 19:50 (UTC)

[END HIM. He actually pauses and his back goes rigid because unfortunately he can't bullshit her? He's just facing a wall of jackets instead.] I know what I like and it's not Bruce Lee. Isn't that just like saying because you're interested in being a doctor you should be interested in all forms of medicine?

[INTERNAL SHRIEKING.]

I'd rather not think about any of us losing chunks of anything, but I can say I'll be glad we're not quite as clueless now. [He seems to think of something but shakes his head to not mention it.] Consider this good practice.

[ oh my god. She has to cover her mouth so she doesn't outright laugh -- busted, Kaoru. Busted. ] Maybe they'll show some other martial artists at some point, and you might like them more.

[ Even if she stopped the laughing, she does still sound amused, so maybe she wasn't so successful. ] But doctors do study a lot of different sorts before they specialise, in a lot of cases. So maybe focusing on a little judo or taekwundo will only improve your current abilities.

[ Kick a bouquet at 'em, Kaoru. ]

I'd rather not too, but it could happen. At least we can fix it, instead of just bleeding everywhere.

Maybe! [He's going down with this ship, and nobody can stop him.] But so far it's just been those. Perhaps the theater's cursed? I haven't found another answer.

[But he's...embarrassed...so good job Miki. He's pulling down some pieces to use for himself.] So what was a bad example, so what? I'm kind of training with Milla and I've found other things to use to defend myself instead. And I've never really been interested in judo either. Most martial arts require a discipline I don't care to have.

It could. A morbid thought, but still very possible. It would be nicer to assume we'll never have to face another war like that ever again and that our biggest problem will be ghosts. Those are more managable.

That’d be an interesring curse. To only play Bruce Lee movies for the rest of time. [ Very niche too. ]

... [ She just kinda smiles and rests her chin on her hands. ] Just be careful if anyone pushes you to try and fight them with it. Especially if they’re trained in something else, you might get hurt.

Oh. Milla’s very into self defence, huh? She got me sword training and Shess showed me some defensive things early on. Sometimes you do just have to use what you have though.

... I’d probably like it if that was true. It sounds like some people here took to it fine but it was too much. The village was more like what I’m used to, but fighting other people seems just... wrong.

But it's absolutely a curse more than a blessing. [Doot doot doot, selecting some thread as well...stop looking at him and please ignore the fact he's just kind of trying not to melt into the floor.]

You don't think I can defend myself if someone sparred with me? [It's a light question, but also kind of curious. This time he does look at her though, a little wary.] I wasn't aware you were training with a blade as well. Milla's very good at what she does. And I'm not surprised about Shess. It benefits him to keep you safe as well.

The gateways continue to remind me I miss home. [And a few needles.] Nothing like this would even be happening there.

[ No. It’s funny and sort of cute watching him trying his very best to pretend none of this is bothering him. Keep it up. ]

If you tried to fight them with actual Ikebana? Yes. [ Unless they’re allergic to flowers in which case go off I guess. ] You’d probably be fine with anything else. People can do things they wouldn’f ever think they could when their safety is at risk.

Here and there? It’s... a bit weird holding a sword. I feel like a novel protagonist rather than me. And having two sides of a blade to watch out for is a bit overwhelming. [ She sighs. ] I wish it was as simple to keep Shess safe too.

... It’s quieter here, for me. I don’t like it, but I don’t feel quite as on edge.

Edited 2019-06-28 06:13 (UTC)

[He's doing his best.]

I've been teaching myself some other things in place of that. Ikebana could be dangerous if used right. [Like yeeting a pot at someone.] Isn't it all about adrenaline? I think that's how I functioned in the war in the first place.

[There's a little laugh.] It's always books with you, isn't it? I thought Shess would actually be easy to manage though. Not the case?

[But...ah. His expression sobers up a bit.] ...if anyone deserves to relax a little I think you're in the running. Just a thought.

Hayfever is very annoying, yes. [ Miki, stop. ] In part, yeah. I think fear and determination to survive impact it as well. And adrenaline heightens all that — fight or flight. Both are powerful.

[ Hey. ] Well I’m not a big video game player and that’s the other big one for swords and sorcery, isn’t it? He’s fine but he managed to attract Hisoka’s attention, which was a pain. He broke our window. [ And clowned his way through it, like an annoying nightmare. ]

... Feels more like I might get caught out if I relax too much. Funny how that works. [ But she smiles. ] It wasn’t all bad, you know. No matter what’s happening around you, life marches on. It’s just harder to remember to live and not just survive in those situations. I’m still not great at remembering on my own.

...so which are you anyway? I think I can guess, but I'd rather hear it from you. Fight, or flight? [He hums to himself instead.]

Hikaru and I play a lot of games so I think that would be my first go-to as a thought. And what do you mean Hisoka broke your window? What was he even trying to do? [Why does this stupid clown engage with people he likes?]

I really do wonder if you're capable of relaxing too much. [It's not really a sleight against her, but a thought.] I get that life continues and that we're fighting to survive, but at the same time...sometimes here, I think, we have to take time to force ourselves not to think about survival and just live for the day. Is that such a bad thing?

... it depends on the situation. It’s safer to hide and run, or distract in order to keep yourself safe. But sometimes you don’t have any other way but to fight through.

There are arcade games I’ve played, but I never had a console. It was a popular genre though, wasn’t it? [ Hm. Clown. ] He was looking for Shess, and when I told him to go away and wouldn’t let him in he broke the window and came in anyway. Throwing a book at him didn’t make him leave either.

[ There’s a moment, a sort of surprised pause. And then she smiles. ] It took me quite a while to remember that. That if you’re only surviving from day to day and forgetting the parts of life that make it all fun, it isn’t living. So is it really worth it? My friends were much better at it than me, but I think I got there in the end.

Isn't it kind of like cheating to pick both? I meant more of a default, but I think I got my answer.

Hikaru and I have consoles and we played on our laptops. [But he's distracted from talk about his brother to talk more about Hisoka.] Throw something sharper next time. Did he say what he wanted from Shess in the first place?

[Maybe it doesn't matter. Maybe it doesn't, because she says that and he settles for a grin.] That's exactly my point. It's why I try to make everything as normal as possible while I can. We know certain things will be bad, and they'll be about survival of the fittest, but why let that overrule everything else?

Being able to decide which is best can keep you alive, y'know. [ Hmm. Well, he did say he thinks he's got an answer so... ] Oh? What do you think then?

Not really. I think he took an interested in him after last week, and... well. That happened. [ ugh. ] I didn't even hit him with the book, which is the worst part. It was reflex when I saw his face in the window, before he broke it.

[ That's definitely the sort of mantra her friend Yuki seemed to live by. ] Enjoy yourself, so if things do go wrong you haven't wasted your time. Maybe we should be setting up games instead of exploring gateways.

You always pick fight. It's just not always a physical fight. [She's not great at being idle, is what he's noticed.]

Have you considered black out curtains so nobody can see in your window? It's not still broken, is it?

[With that, he's sitting to start working since they're here.] I wouldn't disagree with that. It'll lift everyone's spirits and give them some new fun memories to hold onto rather than the tragedies we're constantly facing.

[ :| ] I don't always pick fight -- [ She says, unintentionally mashing "fight". ] Sometimes running is the only way. There's no shame in it.

No, it's fixed. And Hisoka-proofed. I think Shess was angry he was bothering me. I'm not sure how you "Hisoka-proof" a window, but...

[ Oh. Oh! She's definitely watching this. ] We sort of had a cooking contest in the first week, but maybe not that. [ Seeing as most of them can't cook.] Some kind of question game? It might help us all get to know each other a bit, which could help if this keeps happening.

Perhaps not, but it's in conjunction with how often you run isn't it? I feel like more people would be wary of someone who runs more than fights.

[He'll thread his needle to set aside, starting to measure pieces of fabric to cut and use. This bag will be like dark green and brown and functional.] You could find a way to lock the window from the inside? Or just light him on fire. [Hm.] ...have you ever even been to a party, Miki? You say question games and I think of things like the king game

Oh, really? Why? [ Running to her just seems... smart, sometimes. Knowing when to back off instead of just facing down certain death the whole time. ]

He'd probably think I was challenging him and start bothering me instead if I retaliated too much. Besides, I'm not letting him know anything about my powers.

[ H m. Does she look like someone who parties all the time to you, Kaoru? ]

Isn't that just an excuse to get people to embarrass themselves, rather than asking actual questions?

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