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

2

[lionson]

[He hears that, and he looks directly at the entire pot of cocoa.]

I'd say. Don't you usually microwave a single cup of this stuff at a time?

[he won't say no to a cup of it, though.]

[showyourself]

Micro...wave...?

[??????]

Is that a... method of cooking hot chocolate, in your country?

[lionson]

It's a method of cooking a lot of things, actually.

[Actually, since the kitchen has a microwave, he'll go ahead and point it out.]

[showyourself]

[she makes a very blank expression at it.]

...If I asked you to explain it to me, would it make any sense?

[lionson]

A physical demonstration might be better.

[He's going to fill up an empty mug with water, pop it into the microwave, and set it for 2 minutes. Microwave turns on, whirring sounds are to be had, the little plate inside spins.]

You know how an oven works by getting the metal sides around the food hot and cooking it from all sides at once? It's like that, but it heats up way faster than an oven does.

Also, never put anything metal into a microwave. That's how you break microwaves. Use porcelain, paper dishes, treated ceramic, or glass.

[showyourself]

[an oven she can deal with. the castle has ovens. she can make cookies. she nods along—then pauses, staring at the whirring box.]

But you can put metal things in an oven.

[lionson]

Yeah, because ovens use fire to cook. Metal and fire can mix without damaging either. Microwaves use electricity. If you mix metal and electricity, you get explosions.

[showyourself]

Electricity...?

[okay, well, now she's putting down her hot chocolate things for a closer look at the box.]

Like from lightning. Are you telling me this thing harnesses the power of electricity to heat things?

[she's clearly very aware that what she's seeing is some next-level technology.]

[lionson]

Pretty much, yeah. The wonders of the modern world are amazing, aren't they?

[showyourself]

[the microwave goes ding! cheerfully. tentatively, quizzically, she opens the door—touches the side of the mug—and pulls her hands back. hot. way hotter than she expected.]

...They certainly are. I wonder if we'll ever see such a device in my lifetime.

[what was it that olaf was always saying about technology...?]

[lionson]

Grab it by the handle, that way you don't burn yourself. And be careful not to spill it.

[He's going to grab a packet of cocoa powder for her to use.]

I guess it depends on what time you live in.

[showyourself]

[eyeing the mug, she touches the handle with a finger—then, once she's deemed that safe, wraps the rest of her slender hand around it, withdrawing it fully to the countertop.]

What's that? [the packet.]

[lionson]

This is the hot chocolate.

[He holds the package up between his thumb and index finger and shakes it a little, both to indicate to it and to shake the powder down to the bottom. Then he tears open the top and offers her the open package so she can see the powder inside.]

It's even got marshmallows in it.

[showyourself]

[!

she peers into the package with polite inquisitiveness, giving it a little sniff.]

Well, it certainly smells chocolatey. Are you going to mix it into the hot water? Won't it just taste like... [well, someone has to say it] ...sweetened water?

[there's no way, right?]

[lionson]

Isn't that what hot chocolate is anyway? Sweetened liquid?

[showyourself]

[THIS IS HOT CHOCOLATE SACRILIDGE!!]

Never.

Good hot chocolate is thick, rich, and creamy—almost like a hot pudding that warms you up from the inside out.

[she's eyeing the packet!!!]

[lionson]

'Good hot chocolate' sounds like a dessert, not a drink. If I gave that to my kids, they'd be bouncing off the walls all night.

If you want creamy hot chocolate, you use this with milk instead of water. This is just cocoa powder and sugar.

[showyourself]

[she shakes her head.] Kids bounce off the walls at night no matter what they eat—or drink. Trust me, I was one. [elsa, defender of children's midnight bouncies. sure, hers had a tragic conclusion, but... gosh, if it wasn't the best time of her life.]

Let's see it, then. [your lameass cocoa.................]

[lionson]

We all were kids once, you know. Just because it was a little further away for me doesn't mean I've forgotten it yet.

[If she'll hand over the cup, he'll go about mixing it up. It is absolutely not as sweet as what she made, but it's passable. In that 'at least it taste like chocolate kind of' way.]

[showyourself]

Oh? Imagine that. Two former kids.

[she doesn't quite deadpan it, but it's clear she's just poking fun. elsa hands the mug over, and watches curiously as he mixes it in. it's... a better consistency and color than she thought, but still pretty... hm.]

Can I taste it?

[lionson]

[He appreciates that level of sass, it's okay. And he'll hand the mug over to her.]

Go for it. It's not gonna be as creamy as yours, fair warning. "Microwave water and add powder" is the short way, not the tastiest way.

[showyourself]

[she sippy.

...

she's not making a face, but you get the feeling she wants to make a face. she stares down into the mug.]

The... marshmallows are pretty small, aren't they? [carefully! not commenting! on the drink!!]