mingle: farewell

[cyclists]

Farewell
34 Revived

As the sun rises on Saturday morning, all will be quiet and still in the village. Not a single soul stirs as the sun and the moon linger in the sky, visible should anyone look.

A shimmer of stars spark through the air as a swirl of darkness lifts from the village. Everything has returned to as it once was, all 16 houses in-tact and all buildings precisely as they were before. Beams of light follow, soaring through the air and delivering every single participant back to this plane of existence.

As participants gather their wits and take in their surroundings, they'll find that a celebratory banquet has been prepared for them not unlike the one that originally greeted them. Decorations hang from the rafters and windows as lively music plays and can be heard in every part of the village. Some may even be able to trace the source to a gathering of musical instruments, and even...a turntable? Strange. All manner of fruits and vegetables appear to be perfect for harvest, and a variety of freshly cooked dishes from across many worlds can be found on display at the tables in the center. If you don't see your favorite dish? All of the ingredients can be found, along with amenities to make it yourself.

Surrounding the center of the village, several gateways open one by one, a soft gold glow emitting from them. No dangers linger in these parts, but adventure awaits those who wish to find it. Likewise, silver gateways open alongside these and serve as portals that allow participants to return to their homeworlds whenever they're ready.

Your Oracle Bells are in working condition, all messages saved from your time here and featuring a new network feature. Even as you leave this world, you're only 140 characters away from the friends you've come to cherish. Look around at those who join you today. Look hard enough, and you may even find some familiar faces you haven't seen for a very, very long time.

Though your time in this village draws to a close, the universe has settled and found a path to follow. You will always have a place here should you wish to return, and even when you depart for your next destination, your strength and power will follow you.

Your gratitude will be remembered, participants. Congratulations.



Happy endgame, friends! Thank you guys for a fun nine weeks! Here's a breakdown of what's happening in this post.

-All participants have been revived.
-All locations from the game have been opened, including the locations of the CYOAs.
-All characters' homeworlds can be visited.
-Castmates will be able to come through these world portals and play with the game's cast! So feel free to tag each other, etc.
-The Oracle Bells now have a universal network! We have a post over in the free-for-all meme comm so please just spam each other to your heart's content.
-All elemental powers will remain with characters when they leave! This includes their special skills.
-And yes, all injuries are healed and all characters will remember their time here.

In addition, we have a feedback post, love meme/friending meme, and tl;cr meme for your endgame needs. Your final CR chart is also up.

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[compendiem]

[ He sort of cares. Once he starts, it's so hard to stop, like a dam breaking because it can not long hold ten years worth of tears he never allowed himself to shed. ]

It'll be gross, and I don't want that to be the last thing you see of me.

[ So, no tears. But he gets it, the fact that he won't live long— not only humans in general, but him personally. Even if he starts taking care of himself now, all his bad habits from before will surely take their toll in the future. ]

Let's go to the beach?

[globs]

[ they snort at "it'll be gross." How many times have they said that phrase to him? He never seemed to care; it'd be hypocritical if they did. But they don't argue. They're distracted by the proposition. Going back there makes them feel... they don't know. ]

... Fine.

[ If it'll keep him from leaving just yet, then whatever is fine. They step towards him, waiting for him to lead the way, looking a little bit shy beneath the annoyance. ]

[compendiem]

[ ...People stepping towards him usually mean one thing, so Minato holds his hand out for Cinnabar to take. ]

[globs]

[ ... It's the last time, probably. For a long time. That's what they thought before, too, but now they're getting a second time. So it's fine, just a little. Right?

They hesitate for a solid few seconds - then, shyly, cautiously, they put their hand in his. This time, they're not wearing gloves, but no poison comes out, either. Their skin is hard, cold, despite the warm blush that spreads over their face, and they say nothing, glaring off to the side. ]

[compendiem]

[ It's the last time, probably, and Minato... is glad that he stayed, that he gets to hold Cinnabar's hand in his and warm their hand with his own, even if Cinnabar can't feel the heat.

And, well, it's okay if Cinnabar doesn't look at him, because he'll just tug their hand and lead the way to the beach, walking slightly up in front. He's still pretty slouchy when he walks, but there's more confidence in his steps now, almost like he wants to break into a jog. Having non-broken legs is great, actually. ]

[globs]

... Shess made a wish for me.

[ they comment, after a while, because they feel like they should say something. ]

He gave me control over my poison.

[ so they can do things like this now - touch people. They don't say it in as many words, because saying it aloud feels too revealing. Cinnabar keeps pace with him, mostly, staying just a few steps behind, but never further then their arms can reach. ]

[compendiem]

[ As much as Minato stans North, he can admit that Shess would have been the only one out of everybody left who would have thought things through to that extent. Cinnabar, to Minato at least, didn't seem like the sort to wish for something like that for himself... ]

...I'm glad it wasn't completely removed. [ is all Minato can say in the end, knowing that Cinnabar doesn't like their poison, thinks it gross and harmful and messy. ]

I always thought it was cool. It's a part of you, after all, so taking that away would've seemed a bit...

[ Anyways. Minato's always been a bit off-beat, and he's the sort of person who gravitates towards danger anyways, so... it was always cool to watch Cinnabar, even from afar. ]

[globs]

... You don't get it, do you?

[ they still feel strange when he says things like that. That the worst part of them was "cool." It's flattering, sure, but this time around, Cinnabar thinks it's born less of acceptance and more of ignorance. ]

You take it for granted. Being able to be around others... Being able to touch. [ do they sound bitter? maybe! ] You don't understand... I've never even been able to feel someone else's hand like this before...

[ before, they'd had their gloves on. This time, the softness of his skin is transmitted directly to their own, the odd sensation of bone beneath flesh. His hand is a little bigger than a gem's. They don't dislike it. Even as they frown, their red coloring seeps through their cheeks. ]

[compendiem]

[ Minato slows to a stop, because that's true, isn't it? He's used to being alone and secluding himself, but it really was all by choice. He was always capable of being around others, being friends and holding hands and all this stuff that makes him happy now, but he never gave it a second thought before. Never cared about it, like he doesn't care about anything. ]

...Sorry.

[ He whispers, head bowed. ]

I kept always wanting to show you new things. Fireworks, or whatever. I forget about what's normal to me.

[globs]

[ They stop, too, not quite standing beside him, but still lingering behind. Despite their scolding, their fingers stay linked with his. ]

... There are things you should apologize for, and yet that's what you choose.

[ spoken in an exasperated tone of voice. No, they don't want him to apologize for this. They just want him to understand - understand how momentous this is for someone like them, and understand that they've decided to share this momentous occasion with him by letting him hold their hand. Cinnabar doubts he'll understand any of that, because he's a fool. And perhaps that's exactly why they don't let go. ]

This is a new thing, you know...

[ and they treasured those fireworks, too, but telling him that feels like showing a bit too much vulnerability. ]

[compendiem]

[ Yeah, there's a lot he should be apologizing for!! But it's a lot that... even if he knows they're bad, they're things he wouldn't take back, and thus wouldn't apologize for. Like [redacted]. Like how he squeezes Cinnabar's hand a little tighter even if he knows they're probably uncomfortable with it. ]

...I tend to like new things, 'cause it means I have so much to learn about them. But old, familiar things are nice too... I guess whatever's fine, if it means I get to be with somebody I like.

[ That's just how he is, though, he tends to find enjoyment in anything and everything. He can always find something. ]

It doesn't have to be the beach. What's something that makes you happy?

[globs]

[ they flinch a little at the squeeze, if only because they don't know what it means. They can't feel it all that well, anyway - it's not like their skin has much give. At the question, Cinnabar lifts their eyes, staring back at him for a few seconds without answering before looking off once more. ]

The beach is fine.

[ They don't really know what makes them happy, either. Being with someone who says they like them is a good start, though. ]

[compendiem]

[ It's fine but reminds them both of home— for Minato, it's a nostalgic feeling, a little more sad than happy but there's so much fondness wrapped up in it all that he ends up liking the beach anyways. He has no idea what it's like for Cinnabar. But at least it's familiar territory. ]

The beach it is, then.

[ He lets their hands swing a little in between them, a motion even Cinnabar will be able to feel even if they probably won't understand it ]

I hope the crabs are still around... I should collect some sand to make another charm, too.