subdivided | week zero: mingle

week zero: mingle

Week Zero
32 in Competition

On Monday morning, the sun rises on the sleepy village, and when the first ray of light touches the gates at each corner of the village, the previously tightly sealed doors open.

The barriers around the village fall, and leave it entirely open. Each cardinal direction will have a path exiting the village, taking the curious explorers who follow it on an adventure to new territories to be explored. They’ll find that each location that they arrive in appears to be associated with one of the elements. As the Signs had explained the day before, each of the participants in the game possesses an elemental assignment, whether they are aware of it or not.

When they approach the elemental areas, they’ll find themselves more in tune with their new powerset, as if the location invites them to take them out for a spin. The new areas appear to be perfect for training and learning how to use the new skills, or maybe if you’re curious you can discover which of those listed powers you’ve been granted.

Just try not to hurt yourself while you’re out there.

In addition, it seems now that more pieces of the core are being revealed, the river that runs through the village will begin to be dotted with small lanterns floating on the water. Some of them seem to be holding small notes. Try as you might to grab one, they’ll always just barely float out of reach.

Perhaps try sending one yourself and see what results you might get?

Occasionally in the village, you might hear the sound of drums and flutes - is that festival music? - though no matter how you search, you can’t find the source… yet.

Welcome to your tutorial week mingle log! Please see all the links within the log to check out the new updates. In addition, your status page has been updated. In case you missed it, please report all item theft to this top-level where all comments are screened. Private conversations are also open and should be reported under the Week 0 top-level.

A mini-event will also be posted on Wednesday, June 5th, so please keep an eye out for that!

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Something like that. [For a moment, he looks thoughtful, and then he gives a wistful sigh.] The look on their faces... The shock and the fear... They want the worst because it can't be real. They're so determined to see it all go bad.

It really gets me excited... when they're looking at you that way.

And then you prove them wrong, and they're amazed. But I haven't been in the circus for a long time.

[ Minato gives him somewhat of a blank look, because while he can very clearly imagine the astonishment and tension of an audience holding their breath, it's a bit harder to imagine feeling those same feelings.

What does shock feel like? What does fear feel like. Excitement.

Like putting that gun to his head and pulling the trigger, he imagines. ]

It's thrilling, isn't it... staring death in the face, having people react to that. Why did you leave?

Yes.

[Eyes alight, he peers at Minato over the grin on his lips. Someone gets him? Amazing.] People’s fear is something I can almost taste. [What an interesting boy!]

I learned what I needed. I was getting bored.

[ He wants to ask what fear tastes like, curious and somewhat disappointed in that he suspects it isn't literal. ]

I kinda get that. The feeling that there's nothing more for you, in a place. Here, though... Have you learned anything new here? Are you bored here?

The people are interesting... for now. I suppose I can wait to see what happens. It’s a game, after all. We’re learning how it works.

[He’s still amused and smiling.]

I was growing a bit bored until today. Were you?

[ Is it a game... Well, life is a game; it's best to think of it that way, to not get caught up with the end but to enjoy the process.

Minato shakes his head. ]

I've been keeping busy. Meeting people, learning new things. Suffocating on a mountainside. I did get to practice more with the knives, though.

[One very arched eyebrow rises at "suffocating on a mountainside" because???]

Ah, what a good kitten. I like your spirit. [Delectable.] Air is thinner the higher you go. Is that how you got in trouble...?

[ It kept him occupied for a good while, okay. ]

Ah... That might've been it? Less oxygen, greater air pressure, the incline was pretty steep... Kept getting rocks in my shoes...

[ No, he just got in trouble because he's weak and can't handle physical exertion for longer than half an hour at a time. ]

[They're going to have to work on your stamina, Minato.................]

You won't be able to hit me with a knife if you let yourself die so simply. It would be such a disappointment. Try not to disappoint me, hm?

I know you can last longer.

[ Minato had all year to work on his stamina and he catches a cold after being active for one hour straight. ]

I won't die. I don't want to be a disappointment, either... Why do I have to hit you with a knife?

I would commend you if you could. Very rarely does anyone have the chance to hit me. If you can juggle them, you can throw them, right?

[One hand settles on his hip.]

Why do you want to learn so badly?

[ Well. If there's one thing Minato thrives off of, it's praise, rare as it is. Throwing and juggling seem somewhat different to him, but in the end, it's a knife in the air and he's sure he can do it; he's picked up larger and more cumbersome things and have made it work, it's not like he has to be the fastest or stealthiest knifesman to hit Hisoka. ]

Because I don't know how to juggle, and you were willing to teach. Something like that?

[ It's as simple as that. A new experience, a challenge, and the confidence that he will conquer it, like he always has. ]

Ah. [It seems he accepts this answer for the most part.] I hope you show me your juggling by the end.

I think you're hiding something else from me, too.

I won't disappoint you. [ He'll be good at juggling, whether it's 230958 social links or 13538 personas, trying to manage a social life along with saving the world, juggling has to be easier compared to those things. Though, he does always have a slow start, and he rubs at the corner of his eye with the heel of his palm. ]

What do you think I'm hiding from you?

[Reaching out, the tips of the nailed fingers curl just inside the lapel of Minato's jacket, starting from the stomach and running very slowly upward to the collar where they stop.

Suddenly, he withdraws his hand, pulling a red-checkered, black playing card from inside. Ah! He flips it fluidly over between two fingers to show Minato the face side.

Ace of Clubs.]

[ Minato doesn't move the entire time Hisoka does... whatever he's doing... choosing to watch Hisoka's face rather than the progression of his hand—- until he pulls out the playing card and Minato's eyes drift down to see what it is.

Ace of Clubs.

... ]

My nailbat? It's not a secret.

[Interesting. One brow rises curiously, and then a smile appears.] I know about the bat. [He wiggles the card up and down.]

Hiding my cards in your jacket.

Oh, that.

[ He places a hand on his collar like he's trying to cover up any other potential cards he's hiding under the fabric. ]

You caught me. Was hoping to get away with it, but I'm no match for you yet, huh?

Oh, not yet. You've got a long way to go.

[But he loves watching Minato try. It's exciting. He draws the card into his palm by the two fingers, seeming to crumple it up, but when he opens his hand and drops his arm by his side, there's nothing in it.]

[ If I played the other Persona protag, Souji would be losing his mind having somebody to do magic tricks with, but Minato just stares hard at Hisoka's face and only watches the card and hand in his periphery; he won't figure this out because he's not looking at the right place, probably.

He could stand to look more excited, but at least he thinks it's cool? And he also wants to impress, so he stands back a little, and also holds palm out flat. ]

Watch this. For my next trick, I'll pull an animal out of my hat.

[ That he's not wearing, but he has cat ears and that'll do. He closes his fingers into a fist and holds it up over his head, and then lets his arm drop like dead weight— his hand passes by his pockets, and he not so subtly reaches inside and digs out a frozen sardine.

He holds the fish out to Hisoka. ]

[For the hell of being entertained, Hisoka looks intrigued? He really wants to see what Minato can do, knowing it's probably not going to be some astounding show, though... an attempt means more to him than anything else.

And then he gets... a sardine? minato pls

He peers at it before gingerly lifting it up by the tail.] Did you steal this from the vampire? [Val has told him a small amount but too much information about sardines.]

No.

[ Minato lets Hisoka take the fish, sliding both hands back into his pockets so Hisoka can't push it back on him, it's Hisoka's trash to deal with now. ]

It was a gift. And I'm regifting.

Ah...

[Hm. He keeps looking at the sardine for a moment or two, trying to decide its fate. Finally, he lifts it up and slides it into his mouth, head first, over his tongue. It doesn't look like he swallows.]

He might be upset you gave away his gift.

[ That's a terrible fate, sorry for abandoning you, sardine. ]

Hm... Gifts make people happy, and I was happy to receive it. So it's already served its purpose. But I promised Lea I wouldn't eat it, so...

[ Hence, regifting. That fish has been in and out of Minato's pockets for the better part of a day already, it probably tastes fishy with subtle hints of pocket lint and face paint. ]

If you do, I bet Vally would be happy.

Hmm.

[Hisoka just likes the taste of fish, pocket lint, and face paint. Worst fates could have awaited it. Maybe.]

The man with red hair didn't want you to eat it? Why?

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