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

sora sees double (hc and hc)

[robopriest]

Hey, hey, hey. Guess we have some things to hunt down.

[Says Hansa - he looks a little tired, rubbing at his forehead a little as looks over at the other two he's been assigned to. Today, his look is a little different - he must have found a scrunchie somewhere, because his hair is up in a little ponytail.]

Aw, and Sora, looks like you're missing out on the eyepatch club...though I guess we'll get you the one from the list we have to find. Can't be part of the club without it.

[supremity]

We should probably have him put it on the opposite eye, or else we're all going to have the same blindspot.

[ Hua Cheng makes no comment of Hansa's scrunchie, although it's. A very amusing sight. Instead, he's more interested in their little scavenger hunt. ]

Might be funny to try out, though.

[reconnective]

Ha. Ha. We'll see about that. [he says this but also he will 100% put on the eyepatch. they don't need to know that though? either way, sora's looking at his phs once more to get a better idea of what it is they're going after before he looks up at the two of them once more.]

We should try to find that first then. How hard can it be? Eyepatches aren't really that subtle. [...no offense.] Any ideas where to start looking?

[robopriest]

Good point, other me.

[Obviously a tease at Hua Cheng. He looks down at the list, squinting.]

A carrot...maybe the dining hall? Don't know where you'd go specifically to find venom, though.

[supremity]

Of course, Spanish copy.

[ It's still moot that he doesn't know what Spain is. But he moves to flank Sora, arms folded behind his back and head cocked as he considers the list. ]

I would also wager the kitchen for that, if it's in a bottle, but I doubt this would be much of a "game" if we were meant to be looking in the obvious places. Other than the eyepatches on faces, though...

[reconnective]

Hmm...[he's just going to let them be the way they are because sometimes people look alike and have similar name schemes and you just accept it.] He's right, a carrot in the dining hall would be way too easy. The venom might be in that item shop though or something, but if an eyepatch is on a face...what else has a big enough face?

[robopriest]

Why do you need a big face to have an eyepatch?

[ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING, SORA]

Besides, how do we know if someone's wearing it? It could just be hanging out somewhere. Maybe we should just start looking and see what we see?

[supremity]

[ Sora just vibing is probably the best option here, but Hua Cheng laughs. Stop, that's the thing they're sensitive about!!! ]

By that logic we could very well be looking in the river, for all we know. And it doesn't specify the size of the eyepatch, either, so if it were worn... [ A hum. ] There are animals here, aren't there? Rocks. Those toys in the shop. Strap it on one of those.

[reconnective]

Hey, I'm just saying. [but he's also holding up the phs to show them the screen. mods said there are pictures, so picture this!] Does that look like a small eyepatch to you? It wouldn't fit on a little face.

[but they both bring up a point and he makes a face.] It could just be on the ground somewhere, but do you really think they'd put it on one of the animals in the forest?

[robopriest]

Animals in the forest?

[Now that makes him let out a scoff.]

You'd think they'd do something that dangerous? I mean, it would be funny, but do you really think so? I guess they could choose a deer or a bunny though, now that I think about it...

[supremity]

[ Pictured! Hm. ]

Would you expect to find yourself having to catch a rabbit just to locate an eyepatch? No. And they would get a laugh at watching you chase after it. [ He shrugs, looking around a bit. ] Might as well check the forest and river as much as the buildings.

[reconnective]

Then let's get going. [he is here for a scavenger hunt! granted his data sure does say fetch-questing is one of his skills so maybe this is no surprise.] Which way? River's on one end and the forest is the other.

[robopriest]

You'd think they'd use us as their own entertainment? How cynical of you, Hua Cheng, tsk tsk.

[But he's merely teasing, glancing towards the direction of the forest.]

Let's quickly go through the forest and check it out.

[supremity]

I know, it's so cynical of me, Hansa. I should set a better example for our most optimistic group.

[ Pleasantly sarcastic, but he reaches and - pats Sora between the shoulders, patting him on the head seems like it would result in spikes ]

Off we go, then.

[reconnective]

[i had to check and they are both so much taller than he is. that is to say the pat on the back is met with a grin, oblivious to the fact that maybe being optimistic about this isn't really the smartest idea as he begins to walk in the direction of the forest.]

You don't really think they'd make it impossible, do you?

[robopriest]

Come now. What wouldn't be fun about dangling a perfectly obtainable carrot on a stick in front of our faces, hm?

[He's also going to pat Sora on the other shoulder before they move along.]

Maybe it'll be a fox with an eyepatch. That could look pretty good.

[supremity]

[ ( sisi voice ) I hope they're on either side of him, like an M. ]

They'll make it challenging, at least. That seems to be the going trend here, considering, well, everything that "the Realm" is making us do in the first place. [ ... there's something personally funny about a fox with an eyepatch, which he laughs at. dw about it. ] It'll be fine.

[reconnective]

Guess the Realm's really just testing us before we start the competition. [hm. concern about your fox there, my guy. but moving along.] I haven't seen any foxes so far, but we should probably be careful about the bears.

[sometimes. you just casually mention large angry animals are out there.]

[robopriest]

Hey, don't jinx us about the bears, haha!

[He lets out a hearty laugh, turning his head. Bears with eyepatchs. That totally won't be a thing. It's not like that bear that's climbing up a tree like twenty feet ahead of them is wearing an eyepatch! It definitely is totally wearing an eyepatch over its right eye as it turns to glance back at this weird crew!]

[...]

[Wait a second its wearing an eypatch.]

Holy... [Hansa starts, stops. He blinks.] Uh. You...you sure did jinx us.

[supremity]

Oh, bears? [ Haha, wouldn't that be funny?






The noise draws his attention, and Hua Cheng. Slowly. Looks up. And then he stops, raising both brows with an otherwise deadpan expression on his face. Because that sure is a bear, looking at them, as if it was summoned by Sora's protagonist aura. ]

... I'm not sure if that was lucky or unfortunate, Sora.

[reconnective]

[why is it always bears. why. the noise draws sora's attention as well and he stops in between the two of them, staring at this bear in exasperation.]

Come on! I'm not the one who picked the bear. [at least he has enough sense to keep his voice down but now there's a problem and that problem is they need that eyepatch.] Maybe...we can just ask if it'll give it back.

[robopriest]

...Ask the bear.

[............Really.]

[Anyways, after the initial surprise, there's...a strange look on Hansa's face. He almost looks...excited?]

Goodness, how long has it been since I fought one...? [He seems to say that more to himself than the other two, but he does turn back to Sora.] I mean, I don't think it's going to suddenly learn human language on you there, Sora. You should let me handle it.

[supremity]

Isn't there some sort of yellow talking rabbit running around? I saw it when those masked morons came from the castle. You never know.

[ Hua "arbiter of chaos" Cheng, arms crossed over his chest as he looks up at the bear. He wants to see Hansa fight it, but he also wants to see Sora try to reason with it. ]

I say give talking to it a shot. Then you can fight it if it doesn't work.

[reconnective]

Pikachu's a Pokemon. [this is an automatic response because that's his friend. be nice to his friend.] Even when he couldn't talk, he understood us just fine.

[also hansa's getting a curious look because now sora has to wonder just how often he fights bears. but the compromise seems to be promising and he nods.]

But sounds good to me. Can we all agree on that? [too bad he doesn't entirely wait for an answer before he begins to slowly approach the tree with their bear friend.]

[robopriest]

...

[Is that a flicker of disappointment? He almost looks like a kid who was told they can't have candy until after dinner. He lets out a short sigh, giving a dismissive wave.]

Fine. Be my guest. If you look like you're going to get mauled, please let me know. I'll be nice enough to step in. Maybe I'll throw in some rites as a treat.