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

b

[papasha]

[Quickly (but slowly?), Blanca raises both of his hands to his shoulders in surrender, palms out. But he strangely does not seem startled by this display.

He offers a small, reassuring smile. In Russian, he says,]

I don't mean any harm.

[frostythehitman]

[ The language shift startles him out of his defensive position. He lowers the shield to his side in confusion.

He likewise responds in Russian. ]

You know Russian?

[ ...no wait, dumb question. ]

How did you know I know Russian?

[papasha]

[This gets Blanca to smile a bit more, and he lowers his hands.]

I know Russian. [Bucky's is good, but he's not sure if it's a hassle or not, so he switches back to English.] Your profile said you were fluent in different ones.

I was curious if one happened to be Russian.

[frostythehitman]

[ Oh yeah. The profiles. The one with his name on it that he inexplicably can't read anymore. ]

You're in luck. Russian's the one I speak most frequently after English.

[papasha]

Likewise, though I do know a little Kazakh as well. I'm sorry for springing it on you suddenly. I suppose I could have simply asked.

[He nods at Bucky and the shield.]

Are you all right?

[frostythehitman]

Wow. Never got around to Kazakh myself. Didn't have much need for it. But I'm not so sensitive I'll get upset at hearing a little Russian. Usually.

[ Sometimes he has activation codewords that brainwash him, and they're usually in Russian. They're supposed to be out of his head now, but the nature of being him is such that there's always some manner of bullshit hidden deep in his brain somewhere, no matter how much he thinks he's rooted it all out. ]

I'm fine. Aside from all the hugging going around.

[papasha]

[Hehe. :)]

Ah. Not a fan of the hugging? [He makes a motion with his hand to gesture around them.] There are some nice, good-looking women who might be interested in giving you a hug.

Well, unless women aren't your thing.

[frostythehitman]

Hugging or getting close to people in general isn't my thing.

[papasha]

[He cracks a bit of a grin at that.]

They aren't so bad. Sometimes. How about a handshake instead?

[frostythehitman]

[ He glances at Blanca's face. Then his hand. Face again, hand again.

Then he holds the shield up once more for protection, but slides out his arm for a handshake. He'll engage in your pleasantries, but he's going to be careful about it. ]

[papasha]

[Blanca just stands there and allows Bucky to look him over skeptically. He doesn't seem bothered.

The reluctance is amusing, but he doesn't mind. When the arm comes out, he carefully extends his own to clasp Bucky's in a firm grip. A simply handshake!! He doesn't even make it last long for Bucky's sake.]

A pleasure.

[frostythehitman]

Right. [ He nods and thank god, nothing touchy-feely came of it. ]

What's your name, anyway?

[papasha]

You can call me Blanca.

[Bucky, remember your name challenge.]

Yours?

[frostythehitman]

...Good question. [ He looks away. ] Don't remember it.

[papasha]

[Bucky...]

Ah. [He sound sympathetic.] I suppose if I say "Bucky Barnes," this doesn't mean much to you, does it?

[frostythehitman]

No.

Is that supposed to be someone? Am I supposed to know who that is?

[papasha]

[Hm. Well.]

In that case, in there any other name you go by? Or one you'd like to go by? A nickname, or an alias. You can make up your own. We'll see if we can get your other one back.

[frostythehitman]

Mmm. I go by the Winter Soldier, but that's a mouthful. Plus, I only really use it on the job. It's not much of a name, really.

[papasha]

[Winter Soldier, huh?]

I can't say it's any more of a mouthful than others. How about we drop the "Soldier" and keep the "Winter" to make it less of a title then?

"Zima"?

[frostythehitman]

[ He scrunches his nose. ]

In English, it just makes me sound like a bottle of wine. Or a disease.

[papasha]

[He laughs.]

I would maybe try a bottle of vintage Winter, it doesn't sound so bad. [He says this with a straight face and no hesitation, so who knows.] We can soften it up.

Snezhinka?

[frostythehitman]

That's barely one step away from Snegurochka.

[papasha]

You may have to fight the Snow Queen for that title.

Surely there's something you want to go by, if Winter Soldier is too business. If not, there's some colorful characters here who will give you something you won't be rid of, I'm sure.

[frostythehitman]

[ drags hand down face, sighs ]

Yeah, I've seen some of their attempts.

I was thinking something to do with star. You know, zvezda.

[ He'd show the star on his left shoulder, but unfortunately he is wearing long sleeves right now. ]

[papasha]

[This is what happens, Bucky.]

Star, hm? Zvezda. It has a ring to it. It's easy to remember.