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

[antaressnipe]

[That is a place he actually recognizes for Reasons and the novelty has his head tilting. Apparently, he'd grown accustomed to everyone being from different planets or just strange variation of Earth.]

Then being here must bring you as much excitement as it does trepidation?

[heartablaze]

[...

Her face falls, just a little bit.]

Not really. There's a big difference between choosing to do something and being chosen.

It doesn't mean I'll regret my time here, if this is where we're needed. But... excited is kind of the wrong word.

[antaressnipe]

That is fair. To be robbed of your freedom is criminal enough, even if the conditions for such a thing might be necessary.

[he remains rather neutral in all things, both words and tone, though he does watch her with some assessment]

[heartablaze]

[She nods.... that just reminds her of Satoru a bit, which makes her chest tighten a little.]

I'm not mad at the Realm if this is what it needed to do to survive. But if Wolf-san and the others were telling the truth, then there's a whole lot at stake, and a lot we don't know, and a task we have to do without knowing how to do it. It's...

[--worrying. But she bites her tongue, shaking her head as she adjusts her words.]

I want to be able to make a firm decision, and know it's something that I can believe is right. I don't know what to call that, but... that's... what I feel. Not excitement.

[antaressnipe]

I believe I would call that a form of integrity.

[Perhaps not an emotion, but he can at least concur with the desire to make a wise decision despite being low on information. Their hands are still linked, and so he gives her a very light squeeze]

I have talked recently with one of our Guides, and they believe more will be revealed to us soon. It might only be a small comfort, but eventually you will have what you need to make a decision you'll be satisfied with.

i'll take "tags that will age poorly in about two days" for $600, alex

[heartablaze]

[Aw. That little squeeze of her hand quirks her mouth back up, even if her tone stays serious.]

I hope so.

Wolf-san and Fox san have said that the longer that we're here, the more our memories might be affected, you know? I...

I just hope we can find out what's truly going on, and what it's going to really take to save everyone's worlds. I don't want anything horrible to happen to anyone here.

[antaressnipe]

I too would prefer if we were able to leave this realm unscathed... though from my conversation with our Guides, it will be... best to brace ourselves.

[Since... yes, their memories are going to be affected, but he's been through too much in his life to assume saving everyone's worlds will be uneventful.]

Though I've been told we will be able to return home once we finish our duties here; assumedly, no one will be left behind. We need only address the task at hand and do everything we can to retain our sense of selves.

[heartablaze]

Yeah. I wanna make sure we can bring the team leaders home, too... They don't seem to remember anything at all, and if they get left behind...

[...

She trails off, shaking her head. No, this was getting too sad. She needed to cheer up a little or this poor stranger would start to worry.]

Mm, I'm really sorry, I got so caught up -- My name's Hikaru! Shidou Hikaru.

What's your name, sir? [To call him Mister Centaur seems very silly.]