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

[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.

[supremity]

I have no idea what that is, but I'll take your word for it. [ He is absolutely unconcerned about being polite. ] Good luck, hero.

[ Then, calmly to Hansa: ] Don't worry, I have a feeling you'll be able to fight it. But this is going to be entertaining to watch until then.

[reconnective]

I heard that! [he doesn't turn around, but instead he waves a hand behind him as he continues to walk. given that this bear is only twentyish feet away, it's a very short walk before he's at the base of the tree and he stops to peer up into the branches.

the bear peers back with its uno eye.]

Hey! [it's a little louder to make sure the bear can hear him.] Can you maybe do me a favor and give that back?

[rip in pieces, probably, because this bear is still a real-ass bear.]

[robopriest]

Entertaining? Maybe...

[But he smiles over at Hua Cheng before he turns to watch the show. Sora, walking up to a bear. A very big, very real bear, that is unfortunately not a cute anthropomorphic animated animal from any D*sney film and therefore does not react to Sora with any amount of friendliness. The bear, seeing an approaching person speaking loudly, takes it as a threat. Hackles raising, its jaws draw back in a deep snarl, and it draws back a giant paw to smack the young man in front of it-]

Annnnnd that's enough of that. Here goes!

[Says a remarkably casual, light voice - and here comes Hansa, almost abnormally too fast as he brushes past Sora and just. Socks the bear right in the jaw with a fist.]

[This is really happening.]

[supremity]

[ And he ope.

To say that he isn't even a little bit shocked is - probably, frankly, an understatement. Hua Cheng follows after at a much more leisurely pace, leaving room for the flying Spanish whirlwind that is Hansa. ]

Try to leave the eyepatch in one piece, would you? [ Nothing on the bear. Go apeshit my man. ] You did your best, Sora.

[reconnective]

[the only reason sora isn't the w0 casualty is an impressive dodgeroll away from this bear and hansa coming in for the uppercut. there he go. as he bounces back up to his feet and immediately finds himself in a fighting stands with his right hand thrown out. he still can't summon his keyblade, but it's habit.

...in the end though, he walks back over to hua cheng and stands next to him, folding his arms over his chest and frowning.]

It was worth a try. [he tilts his head as he watches hansa go. hansa can get the eyepatch, it's fine.] Think we should save him from Hansa though?

[robopriest]

Yeah, yeah.

[He remarks over his shoulder. Eyepatch! Yeah! He'll...get that. Bear first. The beast is stunned, but clearly ready for a fight, as it shakes its head and moves in to try to slam its whole weight into this strange man in black...]

[And Hansa slams it in the head again with a right hook. A left hook. A fist to the ribs. And finally, he bends his body, arms encircling the creature's torso, and with some amount of effort, just...]

[Suplexes it.]

Haha! [Yeah, that bear is still moving, but a blow like that is going to knock it out cold for a minute or two. Hansa straightens himself, shaking his arms as if to loosen them, before he bends down to rip the eyepatch off of the beast. He's breathing a little heavily, but his expression is filled with nothing but unadulterated joy.] Say, do you guys want some bear jerky?

[HANSA NO]