week six: mingle

[cyclists]

Week Six
16 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.

"Morning. You've done well purging the corruption in the previous gateway, and we'll be doing the finishing touches ourselves. Thank you for your help. In the meantime, we've got another one for you to explore. It's... kind of huge, so stick together when you can."

When Sol finishes, Lune picks up where they left off.

"Hm... There also appears to be something of a change on the horizon. If you are no longer obligated to those you have been attached to - will you stay by their sides?"

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, everyone will find themselves capable of seeing one another's memories at the simplest form of contact. For those who are closer to one another, they may see a memory the moment they make eye contact, while those who are less familiar may require a slight touch. The memories will feel as though the viewer is experiencing the event themselves.

While it may not be made immediately obvious - there is no partner effect for the week. The houses of the departed partners may disappear, but there is otherwise no bond attaching pairs.



Welcome to your week six mingle! As a reminder, murder proposals are open. We will also have a mini-event this week on Tuesday at 12pm PST.

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

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Comments

[globs]

i - docks

[ this place is a lot easier for them to traverse than the last few have been - thank goodness. Cinnabar, as always, keeps to themself, but they can be found out and about exploring the new area, if only to keep themself educated about what's around. Walking far enough eventually leads them to the docks, and the boats; the gem looks a little apprehensive about walking around above water supported only by wood, but the beams hold, at least for the time being.

That said, they're not quite courageous enough to step onto one of the sailboats. They just stand there next to it, squinting at it suspiciously, their floating mercury rotating around in circles as if reflecting their thought process. ]

... No way.

ii - water

[ alternatively, Cinnabar can be found way out in the water area, sitting crouched at the very edge of a thin rock peninsula jutting out into the waves. They're likely there because they didn't want anyone to bother them, but that's never stopped anyone!! A bunch of the colorful pumpkins they grew a few weeks ago are sitting around them. They're gazing into the water - and, strangely, talking to it, if one gets close enough to hear. ]

You have to stop biting people. They're soft, and they'll die. Someday, they'll come take revenge on you. [ ... ] ... I know it's hard... it's just the way you are. But the way you are... it isn't compatible with anyone else. So you have to stop, and go away.

[ they sigh, and toss one of the pumpkins out into the water. It floats along the surface; then, suddenly, a triangular fin breaches the water and bumps against it before disappearing back under the waves. ]

iii. wildcard

[ other places Cinnabar can be found:

1. In the library, reading a book. They will immediately hide this book as soon as they realize anyone is looking at them.

2. Sitting near the fire pit in the gateway, since the light keeps them awake. When they think no one is watching, they idly play with their mercury, making tiny sculptures from their hands. They might look vaguely familiar...

3. Other! I'm super open for memory-sharing as well, so let me know if you want to do that in a thread here. (or dm me whatever works) ]

wildcard 2!

[unfriendliest]

[ of all the people kara may be expecting to see here, it's... not cinnabar, for some reason? he doesn't have anything new to tell them, not yet, but he slowly approaches them anyway, eyeing the mercury until he's close enough to see what it is. and when he does, he freezes a few steps away. ]

Is that...?

[globs]

[ they clench their fist over the tiny figure with a splat, glaring over at Ookurikara once he makes himself known. ]

What?

[ it was definitely minato ]

[unfriendliest]

It looked like Minato.

[ there's no judgment in kara's expression, only curiosity. ]

...Is that part of earth powers? Being able to manipulate metal?

[ he thinks?? that it's metal?? ]

[globs]

Shut up.

[ no it DIDN'T look like minato absolutely not. anyway. ]

No. It's my poison. It's part of me. [ some of it even follows them around everywhere in the form of little silvery blobs, usually. ] ... I can't control it very well here. It's weak.

[unfriendliest]

[ well, if they don't want to talk about it, kara isn't one to press. ]

It looked like you were doing fine, just now.

[globs]

[ kara you're already the best...

they shake their head with a sigh. ]

You don't understand. There used to be a lot more of it inside me... I can't hold a weapon, so it's how I would defend myself.

ii

[nonbelligerent]

[yo.

shess stops a short distance away.]

Talking to the shark?

[globs]

[ they jump a little with a start and a little yelp, clearly not having expected anyone to be there - certainly not Shess, who they can't even bring themself to lie to. Not directly, anyway. ]

I-I -- you were listening?!

[nonbelligerent]

Sorry. I overheard.

[globs]

[ they click their tongue, curling up into a slightly tighter ball where they're crouching. Mostly to hide their embarrassment. ]

Laugh at me if you want. I know it's stupid.

[nonbelligerent]

No, it's kind of you. Most people would just see the shark as a predator and a threat—they wouldn't consider its point of view.

[globs]

[ as ever, they don't really know how to react when he's nice to them instead of defensive or dismissive. ]

... You're probably the only one who would say that.

II

[liversandhyenas]

...are you trying to convince the shark to eat pumpkins instead of meat?

[Godspeed, Cinnabar]

[globs]

[ the voice seems to startle them, and they jump to their feet, knocking a few pumpkins around in the process. ]

Don't be stupid.

[liversandhyenas]

Sure looked like that's what you were trying.

[Grim Eyes crouches near the water some distance away, staring at the pumpkin floating in the water]

I didn't think anyone would just approach it again after what happened.

[The shark, she means]

[globs]

... Well, it's my fault. I'm not so irresponsible as to pretend nothing happened.

[ they feel guilty, even now. Lili was right. ]

[liversandhyenas]

You can't be blamed for what happened. Feral animals will bite and eat anything they can get, the victims were at the wrong place at the wrong time.

[She knows that's not true, that socializing with the shark likely did contribute in some manner to what happened, if only because it meant the shark would be in the area more often than it would otherwise.

But Grim Eyes, although she's flippant about many things, isn't going to kick Cinnabar while she's down]

[globs]

Even so, the reason the shark was there at that "wrong time" was because of me.

[ they're not entirely dismissive of what she says, but they still seem unconvinced. ]

To pretend otherwise is ignorance.

ii

[whitewalls]

[ oh it's cinnabar.....

naminé does not approach them outright, but she'll quietly watch the interaction with the shark. ]

[globs]

[ They don't seem to notice her presence, either, distracted by the shark. Idly, they toss another pumpkin in; this time, there's no reaction for a few seconds, before it breaches the water, snapping it up in its jaws and disappearing under the waves with it.

Cinnabar huffs a breath through their nose that might be the first 15% of a laugh. ]

Like an animal could understand me...

[whitewalls]

It could have. Animals can be very intelligent.

[ hey. ]

[globs]

[ HEY. Obviously not expecting anyone to be around, they make a not-so-graceful squawking sound and almost fall forward into the water - fortunately, they end up turning so they just fall backwards onto their butt instead. ]

W-what are you doing here?! Don't eavesdrop on me!

[whitewalls]

Oh, sorry. I was just taking a walk and saw the shark.

[ well, she saw the shark and pumpkins, which is weird. ]

[globs]

And not me?