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

[nonbelligerent]

[he smiles.]

I'm just glad you're safe.

[globs]

[ they never know what to do when he says things like that - those words never sound like they should be meant for someone like them. At this point, though, even Cinnabar can't find it in themself to doubt that he means it. They go quiet for a few moments, shame and comfort dueling it out in their chest; in the end, it's easier to ignore both. ]

What about you?

[ he'd been struck, too, by the thing - not physically, but emotionally. They could tell. Not that it was hard; Shess so rarely shows any kind of negative emotion. They should have done a better job protecting him from that monster, so he wouldn't have had to feel that way, they find themself thinking. ]

[nonbelligerent]

[...]

I'm fine. Psychological attacks are common for suras, so I've dealt with this kind of thing many times before.

[globs]

I see...

[ they feel themself calming down a little, and they're grateful for that. The shame of failing to protect him and defeat the enemy still looms over them, even with Shess's kind reassurances; they do their best to distract themself from it, focusing on him and his condition. ]

... You really are strong. [ in their world, they'd never be partnered with someone like him. But they're glad they brought him for this. If they'd gone in alone, they don't think they'd have won. ] Thank you.

[nonbelligerent]

Thank you too. You tried to protect me, didn't you?

[globs]

Yet you ended up protecting me.

[ they're not going to seek praise for something they failed to accomplish. Not only had he protected them, he'd had to comfort them like they were a junior gem, barely fit for duty. They remember suddenly the feeling of his arms around them, how oddly soft his body felt, and realize that's probably the closest anyone's ever been to them, save for Sensei, perhaps, when they were much younger; belatedly, they feel a wave of shyness, and they stare down at their feet.

They really are pathetic - needing to be treated like that. Worst of all, the loneliest parts of them are grateful for the fleeting moment of contact. ]

I'm sorry...

[nonbelligerent]

Don't be. [...] It means something that you tried. And I was the one who needed protecting, a long time ago, so I'm glad now to be on the other side of things.

[globs]

... I don't want to be protected.

[ The response is a mumble. They're enough of a burden as is. But going on about it would only trouble Shess more. Rubbing a thumb along the spidery crack in their face, they walk over to him, looking at the key. ]

That must be what we need.

[nonbelligerent]

Seems like it. And neither of us particularly injured, so in the end, a success.

[globs]

[ they nod. Right. Focus on the task at hand. ]

... Then let's bring it back to that one with frizzy hair. There must be some point to all of this.

[ they hope there was, anyway... ]

[nonbelligerent]

Yes. It's probably something similar to the war a few weeks ago.

[globs]

... I wonder if they're all going to be violent.

[ they still hate fighting - and they're more of a liability than an asset without their poison or their usual control over it. They turn to start walking back, checking to make sure Shess is coming with them. ]