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

[tothemaxwell]

Hmm...? Ideal places for myself?

[She pauses and considers, quill still poised over the paper—and then shakes her head, continuing to talk as she writes.]

No, I don't think so. If I wish to create a world I love in my life, then it must be real—and it is wholly upon me to do so. A fictional world would never suffice.

I have a duty to everyone to uphold my word, and continue working hard to fulfil it.

[specialdog]

[ Akane thinks, sort of aggressive and sort of bitter, "Who cares about that?" Which, uh. She'd wanted to be a private thought, but the partner effect this week is shared-thoughts, so. Welp.

But she doesn't seem aware that it was projected out to Milla, so she still sounds cheerful out loud. ]

Hmm... I see. Well then, how about the story about me?

[tothemaxwell]

Well, I certainly care about that.

[But there's a frown. Akane didn't move her lips. More of this.]

...Just of yourself?

[specialdog]

[ ... ??? Hm???

Akane... Just... Brushes that weirdness off... It's fine, let's not talk about it. ]

Well, myself and anyone else you put in the story.

[tothemaxwell]

Oh, certainly.

Do you have a preference to theme? I could read you what I've just written.

[specialdog]

Anything is fine. I just want to hear what you wrote.

[tothemaxwell]

Of course.

Ahem.

[She picks up the book.]

"Akane and Minato had settled into the hospital room together, and Akane was carrying a basket of fruit. Minato was covered in charms and also wearing some ears of a cat. They were in love, and stared at each other with the love they were in, which was true.

'Akane, please pat my head' said Minato, who was feeling very weak from the sick illness. 'And I want to eat chicken soup'.

Akane brought Minato some chicken soup, and fed it to him with noodles. After he ate some, she patted him kindly and with love.

'Minato, you are a simple soul and that is what I love' said Akane, and they hugged romantically with a lot of passion and love."

[specialdog]

[ Akane just bursts out laughing.

Which makes it easy to tell that it's not her speaking voice that Milla will hear saying, "What a limited vocabulary!" ]

[tothemaxwell]

[This time, Milla gives Akane a long look of genuine curiosity. It's not hard to see where her mind is going with this.

So it's hardly a surprise when there's a background echo of "how is she doing that?"]

Akane, are we still emotionally connected, perhaps?

[specialdog]

[ Akane blinks. How is she doing... What? ]

I don't... Think so? Can you feel what I'm feeling?

[ Well, no, but right now it's only confusion anyway, so that might be a hard way to verify if Milla is confused too. Oops. ]

[tothemaxwell]

No. Not... feelings.

But I can hear you, even when you're not... speaking.

[???]

[specialdog]

Those are called thoughts.

[ Is she calling Milla stupid? Rude...

She's kidding, but... Rude... ]

[tothemaxwell]

One doesn't normally hear another's thoughts!

[harumph]

Perhaps this is some new partnership effect. I will think something. Try to hear it.

[...



It's faint, as it is completely unsecretive beyond her own attempts to hide it, but it's there.

I would very much like to eat something unusually delicious.]

[specialdog]

[ Oooh! Akane claps! ]

"I would very much like to eat something unusually delicious!"

... Me too!

[tothemaxwell]

Oh? Well done—and what a coincidence!

I was just beginning to feel the library was becoming stuffy. Perhaps we could enjoy some fruit in the dining area.

[specialdog]

... You sure you're alright to step away from your writing? Sometimes when you get into a good rhythm it's hard to stop.

[tothemaxwell]

Hmm. It may be as you say.

I am loathe to abandon a good streak.

[specialdog]

How's this? I'll go grab us something to snack on, and when I get back, you can read me some more of what you've written!

[tothemaxwell]

Oh! Would you?

I would be delighted, Akane.

[specialdog]

[ Akane leaves, and comes back in a couple minutes with... Cup noodles??

She passes one over to Milla. ]

It's not particularly unusual, but...

[tothemaxwell]

[Milla is staring at the cup with perplexed fascination.]

What is this?

[Take off the top Milla???]

It smells... heavenly!

[SHE'S... DROOLING...]

[specialdog]

It's about as nutritious as salted cardboard, but...

It's yummy, so it's fine!

[ Akane settles in and starts eating hers. ]

[tothemaxwell]

[she peels back the lid

and is assaulted by a cacophony of the finest carby goodness two hundred yen and change can buy.]

Incredible!

I've never smelled something so alluring!

[She's smashing these noodles at lightning speed, and that's the way it is.]

[specialdog]

[ I guess you could call that Akane is feeling... Being impressed? ]

You don't eat much instant food, huh? It's always like this.

[ Strong smells and flavors and high in sodium or sugar... Or both... ]

[tothemaxwell]

[The noodles are nearly gone, now—but that doesn't stop her from attempting to fish all the tiny bits out of the bottom of the cup with her chopsticks.]

I can rightfully say that I have never experienced such "instant food" in my life! I would definitely know if I had!

[because they are the most delicious thing ever]

Is there more of these? Other varieties? Other flavors?