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

3

[horologia]

It... um, isn't cold enough to warrant the shawl, is it?

[ plus with a profile like hers it doesn't seem like she'd be bothered by the cold, but assuming is rude. ]

[showyourself]

[the voice is far and quiet enough for her not to jump. instead, she just turns gazing back at the younger girl—and twitches a smile, a beat of sadness flitting out of her eyes.]

No. I guess it's not.

But comfort comes in all shapes and sizes.

[horologia]

Oh. Did that belong to someone you know, then?

[ it must be sad, being separated from them here... ]

[showyourself]

It did. [she nods as she replies, turning her body to face homura, sliding her legs over the side of the log.] My mother.

When I'm... thinking, I often find myself touching it. So, it's nice to have it here, right now. Comforting.

[horologia]

Thinking?

[ that was a longer pause than she would have thought necessary, but... ]

What about? If that's not too prying.

[showyourself]

...My loved ones, at the moment. [her voice is soft, but not necessarily sad.] It feels like I'm a long way from home.

[horologia]

... It's a reminder, then. Something to help you remember, even when...

[ well. ]

You've... heard about what's been happening to some of us, right?

[showyourself]

The forgetting? Yes.

It's already happened to me.

[horologia]

And you know what it is you've forgotten?

[ family, or something, if what she's been doing means anything, but... it's rude to assume. ]

[showyourself]

[elsa nods, running a finger down the patterned lines of the shawl.]

A lullaby. My mother's.

Just like the shawl.

[horologia]

... I'm sorry. It... must mean quite a bit to you.

[ what else do you say to that? ]

I wonder what's worse. Knowing what it is you've forgotten, just out of reach, or not even knowing the shape of what it is you've lost.

The sacrifices they made... it didn't last very long, did it?

[showyourself]

No, it seems not.

[...]

Are you aware of what you've lost?