WEEK ONE: MINGLE

[retellers]

WEEK ONE: MINGLE (40 remain) Rise and shine, gremlins. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and it's the start of a new week. To the participants, yesterday's events may seem distant now—albeit not as distant as their life before this. Whether or not they notice, they will have lost a memory upon waking up. The barrier to the north is down, and beyond the bridge lies new areas to explore. Strangely, what was there last week seems to have been replaced overnight. That's not the only thing that's different, either. The participants will find that their lodgings have changed. Finally, should anyone check their PHS, Hajime, Pikachu, and Virid's profiles have been removed. 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. Furthermore, it looks as though the rules have updated. Finally, this week, the participants will find themselves drawn to one person in particular. Whoever that is, they will find themselves compelled to be close to them physically. The longer they attempt to resist this, the more compelled they will be... and the closer they will want to be, to the point that it might be emotionally and physically draining to not be holding hands or hugging them for several hours because you've ignored them too long. That's fun.

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]

No? Don'tcha ever look back at an old diary or whatever and go "who the hell was this kid?"?

[ Just because they're shared or written down or put out into the world, doesn't mean it sticks. Like being told this is who and what you are, but inside... there's nothing. ]

[dianxias]

Mn, that is true. Even so, is that not different from our normal memories? I'm quite old, who's to say that I can remember every little thing that's happened to me...?

But if I share that experience with someone else, then maybe they'll remember.

[suddenlybees]

[ Most people brains are like a sieve, that's true. But the ones he's losing are ones he should never have lost- like something is eating away at his brain and even if somebody remembers for him... ]

It's not the same. It'll only ever feel like a story, not a part of you anymore. But maybe 'cause you're so old you're not as bothered by it?

[dianxias]

...Perhaps. [ that's a good take, actually. xie lian looks quietly thoughtful. ]

I think... it is better for someone to carry on that memory, than for it to simply disappear entirely. [ a beat, and then, he waves his hand, smiling a little sheepishly. ] -- Though, I guess there's nothing that says we have to share anything too much! It just says "significant" - even small things can be significant. The taste of a fresh meatbun hot out of the oven can remind you of a place you visited, or the first time you were reunited with a friend... those things are "significant", right?

[suddenlybees]

I guess, yeah. It's still weird, though. Who wants to listen to the time I ate a meat bun?

[dianxias]

[ 100% sincerely ]

I would.

[suddenlybees]

...So, like, one time I ate a meat bun...

[dianxias]

[ xie lian nods, as if he's waiting for him to tell him more! go on, go on. 100% genuinely listening. ]

[suddenlybees]

Um, so... It was meat. In a bun. The bottom was kinda wet and mushy, though, you know how it does that thing when you leave it too long?

[ The worst part of meat buns, the bottoms. ]

[dianxias]

[ nodding!!! cardori said bottoms have no rights you heard it here ]

Mm. The leftovers are usually like that, was it not fresh?

[suddenlybees]

[ Yeah. ]

Uh... I dunno how long it took to get home, so, maybe? Anyways, that's my meat bun story! How was it?

[dianxias]

It was... [ .... ] ...um, succinct!

[ well it was. ] I'm not sure if that would really count as "significant", though...

[suddenlybees]

It made me feel stuff, though, so isn't it, like, subjective?

[ Even though the feeling was "ugh" all the way through ]

The Realm can't tell.

[dianxias]

....Maybe we should ask the leaders if it can.

[ he's. pretty sure it can, but if that will make kano feel better, sure. ]

[suddenlybees]

I dunno if the leaders know something like that. Isn't it good enough that I tried, and if it doesn't work, oh well?

[dianxias]

I don't think that's quite how this place works, Kano... I suppose there's only one way to find out, though.

[ by... not doing it. i guess. ]

[suddenlybees]

[ That was the plan. ]

So you believe in all of this? The rules, abiding by them, even if we have no reason to?

[dianxias]

Like you said, most of them are suggestions...and is there any reason not to besides just "not to"?

[suddenlybees]

How're you supposed to learn anything without testing the boundaries? Even if they're consequences, maybe they're such that you decide breaking the rule is still worth it.

[ He shrugs. ]

You can learn a lot by being contrary.

[dianxias]

Well, that is true. But I'm not so sure that sharing memories is such a terrible rule that I want to break it - neither are the rest of these.

[suddenlybees]

What, do you follow rules so long as they're not terrible? If it's just a little inconvenient, it's okay? Even if it's stupid and makes no sense? All these things are arbitrary. Don't follow "rules" unless you've got a good reason to.