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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[ 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?

Depends on what you're running from. People who take the easy way out all the time seem less reliable to me. But again, circumstances. With Hisoka, for example, retaliation is good to a point but I hadn't thought about the fact he'd like challenge you back. So maybe, yes, keep everything to yourself. Shess seems to have a handle on it.

[No, but clearly they should change that.] It's not an entire excuse, but why can't you do both? You learn the most about people when they're put in situations they can't get out of.

... I wish he didn't keep acting like he's got a handle on it. I'm worried that Hisoka really won't leave him alone. He's probably the sort of guy who thinks "no" is a "maybe".

[ Oh no. ] ... You just want to play King's Game, don't you?

You're probably not wrong. That's the worst part...but I would trust Shess more than, say, Minato when it comes to something like this.

[Damn clowns. But...he grins.] What an excellent suggestion.

I don't think Shess would do something like put his hand in a lava bowling ball like Minato did the other week, so that's probably a legitimate assumption. He has his moments though.

[ Oh. Bad. ] You-- [ Ugh. ] We're not just going to play King's Game all week. We're going to think of other things too.

Wait Minato did what? [THIS IS NEW. There's an exhausted sigh.] I hate that I can imagine this.

[But he still looks very amused.] Other things liiike what? I suppose I could run a host club if you're looking for something that allows people to ask questions of one another. Or is it that you don't know how to play? I could teach you.

[Now he's just being a dick.]

His hand was all messed up, remember? I kinda feel like he spent most of last week just trying to outdo his last injury...

[ ring ring yes hello miki would like to request HELP ] How would running a host club here let people ask questions? You could do that sitting around a table, or by spinning a pointer at someone. Or... [ there's another one?? ] that one where you say things you've never done.

[ she absolutely does not know how to play outside of seeing it on tv shows. ]

I've learned not to question his injuries though maybe now I should...

Anyway, didn't I tell you? We throw parties and play games with our customers all the time. We entertain in small groups. [But...he's just laughing now, sorry.] Never Have I Ever and Spin the Bottle are popular, but to get this crowd to play? You'll have to be convincing.

[Though he seems to be thinking...] It's worth a thought though.

We might need to wrap him in cotton wool, honestly.

No, you told me plenty about the other things though. [ stares into the distance. ] Some of them probably would. But we could just do something fun without other motivations like information gathering. Work up to it.

That's easy enough to get blood out of, at least. [He's finished cutting and moves on to lining up pieces for her bag.] I'd like to see what happens if we tried without motivations at all. Something just to have fun in general. That seems more agreeable.

[ ... ] Why do you know that? [ KAORU... she just looks a bit tired. ]

... Just for fun. [ ... There's a smile. ] Why not? Something to take our mind off things.

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