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

[showyourself]

...NPCs?

[evocationary]

Fuck - hosts. Leaders. Helpers, whatever name you want to call them.

[showyourself]

Well... why wouldn't we help them?

They've given us no reason to immediately distrust them. On the contrary, they've explained as much as they can, and seem about as nervous and out of it as we do, especially with their missing memories.

We're provided for, we each have something from home... it looks like a cry for help, to me. From the Realm itself.

[evocationary]

[ gross, protag logic ]

Look - they can be as friggin' helpful and informative as they want, but that doesn't change the fact that we got kidnapped. It's not about whether or not they're trustworthy, it's about the fact that all of us got swept up and dumped into whatever little game this is.

[showyourself]

[she smiles, still watching Lup on the floor, arms wrapped around her legs.]

Would you be okay with it if they asked you, first?

[evocationary]

[ a pause. ]

Well. At least I would've had the option to say no. [ so yes, ]

[showyourself]

So, if they asked you now, what would you say?

[evocationary]

No. Because they kidnapped me already.

[showyourself]

Come on. [unwrapping one hand, she reaches over and gives lup a playful little push.]

Are you saying you would leave immediately?

[evocationary]

[ she makes the grouchiest face. ]

... Look, I'll help. I'm not particularly interested in watching an entire world break apart because of something I can help fix, but it would've been nice to be asked.

I'd also like to pass on the memory loss. That's a gimmick I'm not here for.

[showyourself]

Maybe the Realm can't ask. Maybe it doesn't have the ability—the voice—to be able to do so, right now.

Maybe that's why it needs our help.

And maybe, the memory loss is what we're here to stop.

[she's aware she's wheedling a little bit here, but grouchy lup is kind of... cute to tease? so.]

[evocationary]

[ NO BULLY ]

Ugh, stop heroic speeching me, I've already heard it. [ she says - her voice is just... a tad tense. ]

[showyourself]

[elsa smiles, and withdraws her hand again. she's not usually so touchy. well, whatever.]

Is something else on your mind?

[evocationary]

More like something isn't. [ ... she shifts and leans her shoulder against elsa. she likes the touch >:( ]

[showyourself]

[she leans against lup as lup leans against her, the two forces nearly balancing each other out.]

Tell me about it.

[evocationary]

[ she's going to take that in the way that means she doesn't have to spill her guts! ]

Do you know what you lost yet?

[showyourself]

Yes. I knew almost immediately.

[her eyes dart to the side.]

Do you?

[evocationary]

Almost immediately. [ she echoes. ] Not a fan.

[showyourself]

[...]

I'm sorry. I know it must be hard.

[evocationary]

It is. [ she stares down at the ground. ] But I'm not planning on letting it be permanent.

[showyourself]

[it sounds like she doesn't want to talk about it, either. so. elsa just leans here, feeling a little awkward. should she go??]

[evocationary]

[ nah, lup keeps leaning. ]

What do you think collecting nova's going to entail?

[showyourself]

I'm not sure.

Maybe we just have to go looking for it. Maybe it's a puzzle. Or maybe there's more to it that we haven't seen yet.

There's a lot of young people here, though. So whatever it is, I hope it's not dangerous. I don't want to see anyone get hurt.