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

[showyourself]

Everything.

[her voice is much quieter. as izumo moves closer, elsa tilts her head, meeting the girl's eyes with her own, the pained look of someone struggling just below the surface.]

They did. I just didn't think it would be...

[...so soon.]

[sacredchants]

[ there's just something about the way that elsa replies that successfully tugs the strings around her heart to get her to awkwardly take a seat next to her. ]

After speaking to one of them, they hinted that we all might have lost something by now.

[ or at least, it would be earliest that they did. izumo allows a moment of silence to fill the air as there's something she hadn't considered yet. ]

...at least you know what you've lost.

[showyourself]

[...

wordlessly, elsa reaches out, and clasps one hand over izumo's, giving it a tight, fond squeeze. eventually, she speaks, voice quiet, apologetic.]

...You're right. I--Everyone is in the same boat. None of us are untouched by this—I need to keep it in perspective, and move forward.

Thank you.

[sacredchants]

[ the hand holding is all very sudden for her and she immediately flinches at the touch, but doesn't jerk away. ]

You don't have to thank me. [ izumo will look at their joined hands and then avoid eye contact. ] It's just good to know that there's proof that they're not lying.

[ not that this is the kind of thing you want to prove. this is, in fact, the worst kind of canary in the coal mine as they could have. ]

...maybe you should start writing down things.

[showyourself]

Maybe I should.

I'd prefer a journal to our... devices. But I guess, as long as I have something.

[just some quiet girl bonding happening over here. elsa is looking off into the forest thoughtfully.]

It might be good for all of us.

[sacredchants]

[ quiet girl bonding... though one is a tsun. still, izumo isn't against it all. elsa's quiet and noninvasive. harmless, if you will. ]

You could probably make a journal with the papers lying around. [ a Consideration. ] Or ask your leader for one.

[ you know, if she's willing to do that sort of thing. ]

I wish I thought of this when we first got here.

[ NOW THINGS ARE MISSING. things she doesn't know. ]

[showyourself]

That's a good idea.

[...]

...You know, I haven't even told you my name, and yet, you're sitting here, spending time with me. [she turns to izumo properly, smiling apologetically.] I'm Elsa.

[sacredchants]

You could read those profiles—they have all of our names on it.

[ despite saying this, she'll grumble and lower her head for a moment. ]

I'm Izumo Kamiki.

[showyourself]

[she's unphased, and nods in agreement.]

I could. I did. But it's good to connect a picture to a person, don't you think?

[and more polite!]

Nice to meet you, Izumo.

[sacredchants]

It's what I've been told.

[ she sure has been told that multiple times. ]

Same to you—with the exception of the place. [ a moment as she tries to think of something to react with or say... why is it that talking can be so hard? ] Do you remember any other songs?

[showyourself]

I do. But... they don't hold much significance for me, if that makes any sense. If I had to compare it, it's similar to having several pairs of shoes, but managing to somehow misplace the only pair you regularly wear.

[which is silly. she barely wears shoes to begin with? but it's an apt metaphor for the situation.]

I wonder if we can figure out what you lose.

[sacredchants]

No, that makes sense.

[ it's hard to explain but she gets it. that something that brings you comfort for an inexplicable reason... yeah. there are a few things like that for izumo. ]

And I guess we can try, but I wouldn't know where to begin. Hard to tell if something's missing when you don't even know what it is.

[showyourself]

Well, we could write everything you know about yourself down. Or... see if you feel any differently about something suddenly, for some reason or another?

[sacredchants]

[ way ahead of you there but— ]

If I feel differently about anyone, how am I supposed to know if it's different if I've already forgotten it?

[ like isn't the point of it to catch it before so she can know the difference? this is quite literally how am i supposed to know what i don't know if i don't know it. ]

[showyourself]

[okay, well, yes. elsa exhales an amused breath.]

You're right. Of course.

[still.]

...Is there anything I can do? To help.

[sacredchants]

[ ....

and despite her normal answer for this...well, she just modifies it some. ]

Why do you want to help?

[showyourself]

Well...

...I guess, because you helped me.

[sacredchants]

Helped you?

[ had...she? ]

I didn't do anything.

[showyourself]

You sat and spoke with me. You didn't need to do that—but you did, even if I wasn't being very... approachable.

So, thank you.

[sacredchants]

[ oh.

oh......cue tsun mode. ]

Y, you don't have to thank me for that. I just couldn't stand to see you destroy that shawl.

[ ... ]

Something like that must have been expensive right?

[showyourself]

Hmm... I don't know about expensive. It's hand-woven, after all.

But it is priceless.

[she scoots a little closer to izumo, and bumps her with her shoulder in a friendly way.]

All you have to do is say "you're welcome", or I'll keep thanking you, Izumo.

[sacredchants]

Hand-woven? [ color her surprised. well, it makes sense but at the same time?? ] Did you do it?

[ and then the shoulder bump causes her to fluster ever so slightly and look away. ]

And...you're welcome.

[ DESPITE NOT DOING ANYTHING. ]

[showyourself]

[fufu. cute.]

No—my mother's family would have woven it, many years ago. I wish I could weave... but maybe, soon.

[sacredchants]

I doubt there'll be a lot to do here between when we can find these nova. Maybe the leaders could help you with some of that.

[ laughs in murder. ]

[showyourself]

That's an excellent point. I'll look into what I can do.

[she takes a deep breath in—and on the exhale, hops up.]

You know, I think talking to you was exactly what I needed. A little... time, and companionship.