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

[bisouled]

EMPORIUM

[ anyone passing through the emporium around noontime will probably notice Fiora trying her best not to make a racket. She's in the aisle where all the new animal merchandise is lined up, removing stuffed animals and action figures and whatever else is there and placing them on the floor neatly. ]

Oh... Where is it?

[ she's looking for something, apparently. and struggling to reach the top shelf at this moment. The heels aren't cutting it. ]

KITCHEN

[ later, she can be found in the dining hall - not eating anything, but simply sitting with a glass of water. Fitting into the chairs with the two wing-like structures jutting from her back proved a little too difficult, so she's just on the floor by one of the walls, cup in one hand, PHS in the other. It looks like she's reading through the profiles. And having some opinions, judging by her furrowed brow. ]

"Poisoning himself?"

[ it's a mutter under her breath, spoken extremely skeptically before she goes to take a sip of her water. But instead of taking a sip, somehow, she splashes herself square in the face with every drop of water in there, leaving her totally soaked and sputtering. ]

Ugh...!

WILDCARD

[ Fiora can also be found hanging around the kitchen! If you ask nicely, she might cook you something. Alternatively, she can be found trying to see how far into the forest she can get without hitting a barrier and snooping around that locked office at the railroad station. ]

kitchen

[suddenlybees]

[ WHAT IS GOING ON

Kano sees this and just starts

laughing

he literally cannot help himself, oh my god, it's just this icon of him standing in the doorway pointing at Fiora and laughing ]

[bisouled]

Oh, shut up!

[ she does not feel like looking at this guy's face right now so she HUCKS THE CUP AT HIM (it's plastic, it's fine) ]

[suddenlybees]

[ It's plastic, but it's still wet plastic and Fiona spit and it hits Kano squarely on the forehead, at which he yelps and both simultaneously jumps back and tries to catch the cup before it hits the ground and the end result is the cup falls on the ground and rolls at his feet.

...

He picks it up. ]

Haha, wow. Wanna try again?

[bisouled]

Try what again? Hitting you?

[ she is soggy, but she's also mostly made of steel, so the majority of the water is just running off of her. only her face is damp, and she glares at him wetly. ]

I think you owe me an apology.

emporium

[arcsplainist]

[ Alphinaud also walks in some time after her to find something, only to come right into Fiora's Ultimate Struggle. He watches her briefly, then: ]

Is aught amiss?

[bisouled]

[ yeah you can't help can you alphinaud ]

Oh, Alphinaud... Sort of. [ she sets back down on her feet again, turning partially to look at him. ] I'm missing one of my daggers - and since all these new things appeared in the store, I thought it would be the best place to look.

[ she's probably talking about one of the large blades hanging from a built-in holster at her waist and not something from the kitchen - there's a pair of sheaths, but only one is full at the moment. ]

But I think this is a total wild goose chase.

[arcsplainist]

Hmm... 'Tis true it may come as too convenient to be stashed along with these items...

[ He takes a look around. ]

But I would be happy to assist, if you have a mind to continue searching.

[bisouled]

It's more like... this isn't the sort of place you'd put a weapon. I feel a bit silly looking now. [ a beat; then she shrugs, offering a smile. ] But it's sweet of you to offer. The more, the merrier, right?

[ she taps the weapon hilt at her hip. ]

It looks just like this one. You'd think something this big would be hard to lose.

kitchen lmao

[dianxias]

[ you know who was walking behind fiora as she splashes herself in the face? it was xie lian, who is now also wet! he didn't get as much on him as this poor girl but nevertheless, it was a bit surprising. ]

Oh! [ whoops. he reaches up to rub at his face briefly, and then looks at where the water came from... ] ...Miss? Oh, you're soaked... Um, here -

[ let him fetch her a roll of paper towels!!! ]

[bisouled]

Oh! [ immediately looking embarrassed, she picks herself up off the floor. ] Did I get you, too? Oh, I'm so sorry! I don't know what happened! I must be more tired than I realized, or something...

[ he can't fret if she frets first! most of the water seems to have ended up on the floor, anyway, thanks to her metallic body. ]

[dianxias]

Ah, it's alright, it's alright... accidents happen. [ he's not too worried about being wet, either: xie lian lifts his sleeve to rub his face clean. no harm done!! ]

You should rest, if you're not feeling well, miss.

[bisouled]

[ wow, what a beautiful man... she's even more embarrassed now. ]

I'm okay, really! It was just an accident. I'm more bothered that people saw that than anything else.

kitchen

[uhhhmagic]

[Snorting a laugh, a little meanly, when she douses herself in water . . . not offering to help, either. it's fine.]

Oh, karma for gossiping.

[bisouled]

[ so mean... she has to admit she looked kind of stupid, though. ]

Here I was hoping nobody saw that, [ she replies dryly before rubbing at her face in vain. Her metal chassis does basically nothing to absorb the water, so... her face is still wet, which she notices a second later and sighs about. ]

[uhhhmagic]

We're crammed in here like sardines. Assume everyone will see everything embarrassing you ever do.

[He . . . he isn't checking out her chassis, so honestly he doesn't notice that.]

Anyone else you got dirt on?

emporium

[soulus]

[She's very visibly on a mission and struggling, so Rufus finds himself pulled to her against his better judgment, given some troublesome urges.]

What brings you here?

[bisouled]

[ oh! it's the guy from before. When he speaks up, she steps back from the shelf, shaking her head. ]

Oh, nothing... I'm trying to find my other dagger. All these new items are in this shop, so I thought maybe it would show up here, too. [ a sigh. ] It was a long shot.

[ a pause... Fiora's gaze lingers on him, and she frowns, looking like she wants to say something. ]

... I'm sorry for being a bit rude to you the other day, by the way. I was confused, but that's no excuse.

[soulus]

Apologies are unnecessary.

[While she frowns, he doesn't look particularly bothered—that is, until his hand moves like it's possessed and comes down to pat her on the head. Then he scowls, pats her one more time, and withdraws his hand.

Acting like none of that just happened, he glances at the topmost shelf. It's far from a proper sweep.]

It's doubtful that you'll find weapons here. Was your dagger returned to you at the inn?

emporium!

[siblingless]

[Uhhh... Well, guess she's walking into this just as Fiora is struggling to reach the top shelf.]

Hey, do you need help?

[She's 2cm taller but maybe that will be enough? (Spoilers: It might not be enough.)]

[bisouled]

[ Fiora steps back when she hears the voice, glancing over at Yoshizawa. Hmm... ]

I do, but... are you sure you could reach it? [ a beat. ] Maybe I could give you a boost? Then you could tell me if you see anything out of place up there.

[siblingless]

Oh, that could work...! [She was just planning to jump and reach whatever she was looking for. This seems like a better plan.] But, are you sure it's safe? I wouldn't want you to get hurt while giving me a boost.

kitchen

[sacredchants]

[ izumo is kind enough to not burst out into laughter when she sees fiora splash herself in the face with the water that she was trying to drink, but she's not kind enough not to snicker at the very least.

look, it's funny okay? she hasn't seen someone who looks like they'd be competent do that. maybe she was that into the profiles?? who knows. either way, izumo is snickering on the other side of the room. ]

[bisouled]

Don't laugh! That's rude.

[ she whines, embarrassed. ]

[sacredchants]

Sorry, sorry.

[ she's not sorry. ]

Did you forget you had something to drink in your hand?