week four: mingle

[cyclists]

Week Four
22 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.

"We've been asked to open another gateway for you guys, but...it's funny. It sort of feels like things have calmed down. The corruption's temporarily evened out and the universe is stabilized for now, but that doesn't mean we should stop looking. Take a look and see what you can find on the other side. You might even get to learn something new."

When Sol finishes, they turn to face Lune, allowing for the other to speak for themselves.

"A bit of reprieve of welcome, isn't it? Please take this time to recover, even as you make steps forward to continue your good work. Thank you, thank you."

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 be able to hear each other's thoughts whenever they look at one another! They may not hear every single thought that occurs, but the link will partners to hear thoughts as though their partner is speaking out loud. The more private the thought, the more likely the partner will pick up on it.



Welcome to your week three mingle! As a reminder, this is break week! This means no murders and no trial! Your normal schedule will resume next week. We will still be hosting a laid-back mini-event on Tuesday, however.

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

[ cinnabar? cinnabar is doing what they do best.

that is, lurking outside the entrance to the hot springs and looking in shyly, not sure if they belong. ]

[coastal]

[well here's lili, all dressed up in a yukata -

and she'll be approaching to press her hands on cinnabar's back and gently push them closer in]

What are you doing? Head in.

[globs]

[ they yelp at the contact in spite of themself, which only makes them more embarrassed when they scurry away - though they attempt to give her a dirty look, between the yukata (which they're interpreting as pajamas) and the unexpected contact, they end up looking more flustered. ]

W-what? Am I supposed to?

[coastal]

Change into different clothes if you want.

[she gestures to the rack]

You can just stay by the water if you don't want to get in, or you can get in. I don't know how well you can stand hot water, but you can join us if you want.

[globs]

... I'll get the water dirty... The clothes, too.

[ one gets the sense that if Cinnabar was able to physically become smaller, they would be doing so. ]

[coastal]

Then we can replace the clothes and wash them - or ask Sol and Lune to make sure this place is cleansed once we're done.

[she's so matter of fact, but she turns to cinnabar]

It's okay. If you want to join us, then nothing should stop you.

[globs]

... Are you sure?

[ they seem so uncertain. They hate ruining things. But seeing everyone together like that -- and they were invited, too -- it makes them feel lonely. They're sure Shess would tell them to go in... ]

[coastal]

Of course. I wouldn't go out of my way to invite you if I didn't want you here.

[SO PLAINLY - and lili will gesture]

You can let me know if you want to pick out a yukata or need help putting it on.

[globs]

I -- I can dress myself. [ sounding a little defensive. ] Fine.

[ they walk over and snatch up a yukata from the rack, then stalk over to the dressing rooms, their heavy footsteps audible the whole way.

They might have underestimated the mighty yukata, but after a few minutes, they do manage to put it on, and emerge again, looking cute (minus the pigtails.) And embarrassed. They can't meet Lili's eyes. ]

... You're supposed to swim in this?

[coastal]

Oh... lovely.

[look, lili can at least admit things like that?

but she shakes her head]

No, it's just for the atmosphere - it's a little more luxurious than normal clothes? You can sit by the edge of the hot springs, or have snacks... mm, but I suppose you don't eat.

But if you'd just like to sit and talk with the people here, you're welcome to.

[globs]

[ they just feel conscious of the fact that it's probably going to be all stained in an hour or two. They hate their body so much... They shift their focus to the springs, instead, hoping to distract themself at least a little. ]

The water's hot, right? I'd better stay out. I don't want to start eroding. Especially if a bunch of you people are in there.

[ that would be gross and unpleasant for everyone involved. ]

[liversandhyenas]

Don't just stand there! Take one of those silky clothes and get in here.

[Grim Eyes looks a tad more cheerful than usual. It's because of the hot springs, pretty much. Being relaxed does wonders do your mood]

[globs]

Impossible. I'd ruin the clothes and dirty the water.

[ they shrink away a little bit when she notices them, all but out of sight behind the doorframe. ]

Besides, I'm not a "girl..."

[liversandhyenas]

If you were invited then it doesn't matter what you are.

[Lili decided you were good to invite, her word is the law in these hot springs]

[globs]

Maybe there was a mistake...

[ now this is just getting silly ]

[liversandhyenas]

Sure, of course. Lili intended to invite the human with the red spiky hair but she has very bad eyesight.

[Axel, she means, because that was the first person she could think with a hair color close to Cinnabar's]

You're thinking too much, you'll be just fine.

[globs]

[ she's right, and they'd have to be stupid to deny it any further than this. The sense of not belonging doesn't go away, nor does the fear of dipping a toe into that water and turning it dark and muddy for everyone else, but with Grim Eyes prodding them forward, there's not much they can do but advance. ]

...

[ hesitantly, they take a few steps in -- then make a squawking noise in surprise when they notice that most of the girls actually in the hot springs are in a state of undress. Minus Grim Eyes and her soggy yukata. ]

I -- I can't do this...

[liversandhyenas]

Something wrong?

[Grim Eyes leans on the edge of the hot springs. She sounds concerned]

[globs]

Everyone's taking their clothes off... I don't want to.

[ that's EMBARRASSING!! they turn away, crossing their arms. ]

[liversandhyenas]

Then don't take off your clothes.

[Says the hyena with more clothing than anyone in the vicinity except Cinnabar. Once everyone else got into the hot springs with towels and stuff she realized she had been mistaken about the yukata, but she didn't really care]

Mine was a misunderstanding and I barely have gotten any comments about it. You could get in here just like you're right now and nobody will even notice.

[globs]

I don't want to look at a bunch of naked humans, either...

[ their bodies are weird, but also just similar enough to a gem's to be embarrassing, especially to a shy one like Cinnabar. They glance over their shoulder at her, looking uncertain. ]

I guess that doesn't bother you.

[blackcoats]

[ xion's not nearly as hands on as the other partygoers, but even though she looked like a sad puppy when she first arrived at the springs, the water seems to have warmed her up both literally and in terms of her mood.

she's out of the water and wearing her flowery yukata to get snacks when she spots that ronck. ]

Cinnabar? Are you okay?

[globs]

I'm fine.

[ they don't move to enter, though. Instead, they slowly slide down into a sitting position next to the doorway, pulling their knees into their chest.

This counts as participating to the thing they were invited to. ]

[blackcoats]

[ she frowns a little as cinnabar slumps down, and in an attempt to reach out to them... well, she literally extends her hand to them. ]

Come on, you can join everybody. It'll be more fun that way than just sitting all the way over here.

[globs]

[ the outstretched hand is met with nothing more than a wary look. ]

It's better if I don't. I can't go in the water or eat the snacks, anyway.

[ they'd just be troubling the others... ]