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!

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Comments

[chanteuser]

Isn't that the underbelly? They have like... silver-grey scales. I think?

[ they're both doing amazing at this. it's great. ]

[retellers]

[ they nod. ]

That sounds right!

[ no ]

[chanteuser]

[ absolutely not ]

...

I wonder if someone here knows more than we do.

[retellers]

... maybe we can ask?

[chanteuser]

Maybe... someone here must enjoy fishing...

[ collective brain cell use: none. ]

[retellers]

I wonder if I can send out a message asking...

[ please don't use the phs system like that ]

[chanteuser]

[ they should absolutely use the phs system like that ]

Are they big enough to be salmon, though...?

[retellers]

Maybe they're young salmon.

[chanteuser]

Do they look really different?

[retellers]

... I think so?

[chanteuser]

...

[ she leans almost worryingly far over the water, squinting at the different fish like she's trying to see all the differences.

maybe catch one out as being Not Salmon. the imposter fish. very sus. ]

[retellers]

Ah... Alex, you should be careful.

[ they will quietly reach over to grab onto the end of her shirt in case they have to yank her back. ]

[chanteuser]

[ she tenses a little at the sudden tug on the back of her clothes, wobbling a little. ]

-- Right, there's, uh... other things living in there? Besides the fish.

[retellers]

Other things?

[ they look back to the river. ]

It's fine now.

[chanteuser]

Is it?

[ hits doubt. there be mermaids down there? ]

[retellers]

If you mean the creatures that showed up recently, they won't be there during the day.

[chanteuser]

So... no night swimming and we'll be fine.

[retellers]

That's right.

I'm not really sure where they came from though... they weren't there before.

[chanteuser]

So they got pulled into this too...?

[ wild. poor mermaids. ]

They must be as confused as we are.

[retellers]

It's hard to say. Maybe they just slipped through somehow, or...

[ hmmm. ]

I have no idea.

[chanteuser]

[ mystery mermaids... ]

I hope we can help them get home too.

[retellers]

[ a nod. ]

Me too. They shouldn't be here either... none of the animals, actually.

[chanteuser]

So even the animals are stuck here...

No pressure on us to get this right then.

[retellers]

I... you can do it! It'll work out!

[ nervous cheerleading. ]

[chanteuser]

[ she does a slightly defeated fist pump. ]

Yaaaay.

I'll do my best. [ the enthusiasm. ]