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

[suddenlybees]

Yeah.

[ Dog Drug.

Kano leans back against the wall too, a little slouchy, looking over the crowd. ]

It's a lot, huh? So many people in one place. Acting all happy.

[showyourself]

Acting? I mean, I assume they are happy.

[...]

Probably.

[suddenlybees]

[ Kano gives Elsa a look. You really think all these people are this happy? Really really? ]

[showyourself]

...Maybe?

[argh]

I don't know. I only know that I'm not—but that I'm not everyone. So... some of them must be enjoying themselves, right?

[suddenlybees]

You're not having fun? It's alright to leave and go to bed if you're not feeling it. If you're not happy, you don't gotta pretend either.

[ That is a specific you and not a general you. Shuuya Kano will pretend to be happy until he dies. ]

[showyourself]

...And what about you?

[suddenlybees]

Sure, I'm happy! Don't I always look it?

[ smile smile, as he does... ]

[showyourself]

...Well...

[...]

No.

[suddenlybees]

...Don't I look it at least 80% of the time?

[showyourself]

You do. Look it, that is.

[she's wringing her hands. she probably shouldn't have said anything.]

I'm sorry, forget what I said. It was rude of me.

[suddenlybees]

Sure was, doubting people's happiness!

[ Calling people out? Wow, don't do that, even if it's true. ]

It's okay, it's okay~ See, if you don't feel it, you just sorta... make it happen! Whenever you need me to, I can make that happen.

[showyourself]

[she feels bad? but. as he talks, she just sort of. stares. if anything, it's a little bit concerned.]

I don't... [she shakes her head, still wringing her hands. how could she talk about what she wanted to without him brushing it off? it wasn't even any of her business.

...]

Do you have a favorite... food? Or hobby? Or thing?

[suddenlybees]

No. What does that matter?

[ We're talking about your happiness, Elsa. Yours. Who cares about him. ]

[showyourself]

Because I'm interested in you.

[suddenlybees]

Uh. Why?

[ Why the fuck, Elsa. ]

That's gonna be, like, the opposite of happiness.

[showyourself]

Why?

[she steps towards him, turning the question back around, as both a reply and a question itself. why was she interested? why was it the opposite of happiness?]

Because... you remind me of a spirit. Maybe.

[suddenlybees]

I remind you of a dead person...

[ They can continue to not answer each others' questions, yeah. It doesn't make any sense, but it also does? Dead people are boring; they have nothing going for them anymore. They're time is already up. ]

I guess, yeah! That's 'cause I am.

[showyourself]

[she opens her mouth to say no, that's not at all what she meant?? but--]

--You're... dead?

[suddenlybees]

[ "all" means she was thinking it, though?? ]

Haha~ Do you believe me?

[showyourself]

No! You're standing in front of me, very much alive!

If you were dead, then you're not. [firmly.] Not anymore.

And that's not what I meant by a spirit.

[suddenlybees]

Uh huh. Okay.

[ Dead's supposed to be dead, Elsa. Even if he's what he is... an abomination, if anything. ]

What'd you mean by "spirit" if not a ghostie, then?

[showyourself]

A... spirit.

[she's not sure where to go from there, so she tries again.]

Spirits are an important part of nature, a part of everything around us. We live in balance with them—but when they're upset, things go out of balance. Life can still continue, but it's...

...a little chaotic.

[hmm.]

Something can look like happiness, but that doesn't mean it is. That's all.

[suddenlybees]

[ He has no idea how to respond to "you remind me of a mystical chaotic force of nature, like he bends the world around him and causes things to pitch and stall and turn wherever he goes. If only. ]

Man, you make me sound so selfish, dragging everybody down with me, huh? I wonder, though, if it matter what it is, when people can't tell the difference anyways?

[showyourself]

Spirits don't drag people down. They... well, they pull them along—and usually for a reason.

[she tilts her head at kano, looking thoughtful.]

Do you feel you have nothing left to lose?

[suddenlybees]

[ Kano mirrors that head tilt, realigning their views. ]

Hmm... Got nothing that's mine to lose, at any rate~