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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[dianxias]

Much like ourselves.

[ what a sad thought. ] ...Are there constellations you recognize, my lady?

[showyourself]

...Just like ourselves. [she stares straight up, her long hair cascading over the back of her dress, the crystals of her bodice catching the starlight.]

Yes, several—both of my mother's and father's people.

[and looking back to her companion with a small smile.] And yourself?

[dianxias]

[ goddamn what an aesthetic sight

i mean! xie lian looks upwards, scanning the sky. it reminds him for a moment of standing in banyue; the desert had been so vast, and the stars had stretched on for what seemed like centuries. ]

...Mm. I wonder if they are so different? [ searching the sky for a moment, he points upwards, and finds a familiar, northern star. ] That's the Big Dipper, as I know it.

[showyourself]

Oh? [she shifts closer to him, until they're almost side to side, and follows his finger up, tilting her head at the sky.

when she spots his point, she smiles in the dark.]

The great wagon.

[dianxias]

[ !! ]

Can you tell me why it's called that?

[showyourself]

Look. [she points at the "ladle" and connects the four stars with a finger.] That's the cart—and those three are the wagon's tongue and yoke, connected to the horse.

Can you see it, now?

[dianxias]

I see it! [ oh!! that makes sense! what a nice descriptor. xie lian smiles at her, pleased. ] You know, I've never even thought of it as anything but the Big Dipper. In the place that I am from, there is a former kingdom that is said to be found at the very end of the constellation. When you walk through the desert, and you can see millions and millions of stars over head, you simply keep your eyes on the ladle and it will lead you directly to Banyue.

So many cultures and places have stories about the stars. [ his voice carries a fondness, now, a bit further away. ] The constellations are the same, even if our worlds and stories are so different. That's a bit reassuring, I think.

[showyourself]

[elsa is nodding along as he speaks, clearly agreeing, even if he can't wholly seeing her doing it—so instead, she lifts her voice again.]

Among my mother's people, your ladle's handle and my wagon tongue are known as something else, too—the hunter and his bow.

The way that all our cultures all connect to one another... it makes me think your story must be true, don't you think? At the end of our own beliefs, we find another way of looking at it, just as true as our own.

[looking towards xie lian, elsa takes a few steps forward in the dark, and smiles, eyes reflecting the distant light.]

I'm Elsa, by the way. I apologize for not introducing myself sooner.

[dianxias]

[ this beautiful disney princess!!

xie lian smiles, even if she can't see him that well either, bowing politely. ] My name is Xie Lian - there's no need to apologize. It seems as though none of us here are meant to be strangers, either.

Thank you for sharing your story with me.

[showyourself]

You're welcome. I'm glad I could.

[she stands quiet, contented in the dark, the narrow space between them.]

I wonder what this room is for—other than... this.

[stargazing.]

[dianxias]

Now that you mention it... I hadn't even thought about that.

This place is full of so many strange mysteries, it didn't even occur to me think of their larger purpose. [ xie lian taps his chin, thoughtfully. ] For now, I suppose it's easier to enjoy the good little things shown to us, than anything else...

[showyourself]

I suppose that's all we can do for the moment, really.

But I wonder. The... castle in the distance. Do you suppose we'll be able to approach it?

[dianxias]

I'm not sure. Were it not for the three helpers who came, I would have only thought it was merely an illusion, but...

[ ... ] Whatever it is, there must be a reason it exists in such a manner.

[showyourself]

There has to be a reason for all of this. It's too constructed... there has to be... something larger behind all of it.

[hmm]

I just hope that whatever it is, isn't dangerous. We have so many young people here.