WEEK ZERO: MINGLE

[retellers]

WEEK ZERO: MINGLE (43 remain) Rise and shine, gremlins. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and it's the start of a new week. Speaking of new, if participants turn on their PHS, they'll notice another section available. There's also an alert for a new message, titled TEAM ASSIGNMENT. Opening it will reveal which Leader they have been assigned to. Furthermore, at the corner of the PHS screen is an icon of an animal, depending on who their Leader is. It is visible only to them and no one else. That's not the only change, though. Participants may not notice at first—or perhaps they will?—but sooner or later, they may realize that they're... missing something? Strange. Three Leaders can be found around the area, open (?) to approach. If participants want to speak to them more privately, or to an absent Leader, it looks like they'll have to go through another channel. Which is to say, the Planetarium is now open! Finally, for the rest of the week, the participants will inexplicably have the urge to be physically affectionate. That person you just met days ago? Time to cuddle! This complete stranger you ran into? It sure is tempting to hold their hand. This urge can range anywhere from minor to impossible to ignore, depending on the situation. Enjoy your bonding!

NAVIGATION locations ₓ˚. statuses *+:｡ ic profiles :ₓo ic rules ･ﾟﾟ･｡ audience requests murder proposals ｡✧o private conversations ･ﾟo｡ curfew ･ﾟ✧ memories

Comments

[papasha]

[This doesn't bother him. He continues to stand there for a moment or two, just to make sure she doesn't suddenly turn around and spot him.]

You have a very nice singing voice, Miss Alex.

[He is already smiling in greeting.

Bold of you to think you can heelie away from me.]

[chanteuser]

[ she's starting to think that maybe the planetarium wasn't the best place to go for some quiet and to sing, given that people keep hiding in the dark and surprising her when her guard is down??



she makes a surprised sound, spinning around in her seat. HELLO? ]

I--?? Thank you?

[papasha]

[WOW, it's the perfect place.]

You're welcome. I didn't mean to startle you, my apologies.

[He holds both hands up in surrender.]

[chanteuser]

[ hello 911? there's a creeper in the planetarium. ]

I think it's kind of a given, with this place being as dark as it is. Even if I hadn't been singing.

[papasha]

I should have announced I was here. But I didn't want to interrupt your singing. It was probably rude of me to listen without your permission.

[He does not seem super upset about this, just... politeness.]

[chanteuser]

[ a sigh. a siiiigggghhhh. ]

No, I'm the one singing away in public. It's not like it should be that surprising someone would hear me.

[ she just really thought people would assume it was still locked... ]

[papasha]

I believe you would be fine if not for so many people being nosy about the building which was locked before. Me included.

[He chuckles.]

It is an honor for anyone to hear such a voice, I think. I would enjoy hearing you sing again some time. On your own terms, of course.

[chanteuser]

Yeah... it was the first place I came to after I knew it was unlocked, so I probably should've realised.

[ sigh. ]

... [ um. hm. she's not really sure what to say? ] I might do again? If we're going to be here a while it probably wouldn't be a good idea not to.

[papasha]

[This gets him to smile some.]

I think eagerness is good. Do you sing professionally, Miss Alex?

[chanteuser]

Sometimes. I have a singing job a few nights a week... it's fairly new though.

[papasha]

Ah. I'm glad to hear. It's a good voice.

[He eases his hands into his pockets and turns a bit to glance up at the "sky" in the room.]

This place is better than I initially thought it might be.

[chanteuser]

[ she looks up at the "sky" as well, tugging her knees up to her chest and resting her chin on them. ]

Because of this place?

[papasha]

Mm.

[He stays peering up at the sky and the stars for a bit, not minding any kind of silence. And then he glances back at Alex.]

Ever dance under the stars?

[chanteuser]

[ anna. anNA. ]

No.

[ she rubs at her forehead. ] At least, I don’t think I have.

[papasha]

[What? I'm not doing anything.]

Would you like to try, Miss Alex? I'm not a good dancer, I'm afraid, but I won't step on your feet.

[He holds out a hand to her in offering.]

[chanteuser]

[ you know what you are doing ]

[ she... eyes his feet a little warily ]

I... might be in trouble if you did. [ sir you’re like a foot taller than she is? ]

[papasha]

[He curls his hand, beckoning, but smiles.]

I will make a promise to you that I will not step on them. In fact, you can put your feet on top of mine instead.

[chanteuser]

[ she just stares at his hand for a moment, supremely uncertain. but after a moment, she takes his hand. ]

Okay...?

[ she still sounds very uncertain. ]

[papasha]

[He closes his hand around hers, and pulls her up with a strong but careful grip. Already, the need to be affectionate feels so much better.]

I must admit I don't know of any particular dances exactly.

[He stays still, in case she wants to step on his feet.]

[chanteuser]

... Well, I've already established I know more about singing than dancing.

[ she... will do her best to do this without stepping on feet intentionally or not. just... uh. remember she's wearing heels. ]

[papasha]

So you did.

[That's fine. He puts one hand behind on her shoulder blade, and then uses the other to take up her opposite hand.]

Has no one really ever danced with you, Miss Alex?

[chanteuser]

[ she keeps tensing when his hands move, even in spite of the weekly effects. ]

I'm not really somewhere where people do a lot of dancing, so. No. [ unless you think of fighting as a dance in which case... still no, but other people are into it. ] Is it normal for people to dance like this where you're from?

[papasha]

[He gives her a bit to settle into the fact their set-up is so close and touchy.]

Oh yes, always. People break out into spontaneous dancing all the time.

[And then he moves, careful not to take large steps so she can follow without struggling.

They don't go very far really. Not unlike an awkward prom dance that ends up swaying back and forth in a little circle.]

Just kidding. Not many dance like this unless it is in private, I imagine.

[chanteuser]

[ she is probably not going to settle completely, sorry m'dude. ]

[ she looks bewildered and then not-exactly amused and then she sighs. ]

I guess this is private. It's kinda formal though? [ she's really not a fancy enough victorian lady for this. ]

[papasha]

You're right, it is.

Would you like something more casual? I can't say I have much rhythm, unfortunately.

[He does not move to try anything more than what they're doing right now, not until she says any differently.]