WEEK TWO: MINGLE

[retellers]

WEEK TWO: MINGLE (37 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, and new buildings within the town have been unlocked. Finally, should anyone check their PHS, Cater, Sharon, and Kano'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. If you break the current ninth rule, participants will get shocked. It will be a mild shock at first, but the longer they touch each other, the stronger it will get. On that note, if your character did not share a memory last week, please make sure to check your notifs! Participants may also find that their memories of the past few weeks are getting fuzzier... as though they can't recall some of the details without focusing. Finally, this week, every time a participant gets within one foot of someone, they will experience the emotions the other person is currently feeling and vice-versa. This will last for ten seconds even after they've stepped out of their personal bubble, after which the sharing itself might share, but the knowledge will not. Have 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

that icon is so cute. i love it. also, 3!

[dianxias]

[ i have no smooches for elsa frozen, but i do have a nice young (?) man who peers over at elsa's giant plate of seafood. ]

Hello, Miss Elsa! [ bowing his head, politely! ] Have you not eaten seafood before...?

[showyourself]

Oh, hello, um... [she doesn't. have her PHS out. and she genuinely cannot remember his name. so she just kind of. freezes, instead, fork still in hand.]

Um.

[dianxias]

[ i laughed

xie lian does too. since they're close together, she'll be able to feel that he's not even a little offended. mostly just unsurprised, and a little amused. he gives a polite bow of his head in greeting. ]

Xie Lian.

[showyourself]

Xie Lian. Yes. Thank you—my apologies. [she actually stands up, and gives a little bow of apology.]

I've eaten plenty of seafood. It's... one of my favorites. But I haven't seen some of these dishes before, so I thought I'd...

[...indulge.............]

[dianxias]

[ he waves the bow off immediately!! ] It's all fine, nothing to worry about! We haven't had all that much time to speak, since that first time...

[ which was... when...

...whatever. anyway! xie lian's more interested in the food. he peers, curious. ] ...I don't think I've seen many of these. What did you get, Miss Elsa?

[showyourself]

[elsa reseats herself. and really, this is all extremely funny because it's taking place in her HOT PIRATE ELSA outfit.] Yes, when we were looking at the constellations. Thank you again for that, by the way. I'm not usually so bad with names, but it was dark, and... well, a lot has happened. [haha!

but back to the dishes.]

...I'm not so sure myself. I just kept pointing and ordering. It all smells wonderful, though, doesn't it? [warm tropical island stews, grilled fishes, braised octopus...] It's definitely spices I've never seen or tasted before.

What about you, Xie Lian? Are you a seafood lover?

[dianxias]

[ her gratitude is met with a simple nod - he's completely understanding. and as for the question, well... ]

I'll eat anything. [ with a smile!

like garbage, unfortunately. ] To be honest, it's been a while since I've had the chance to simply eat so many high quality meals... and to just have them provided for us like this feels almost extravagant. It's quite the blessing.

[ he's still getting used to it, actually, but man, does it make his bottomless stomach happy. his emotions seem a little dreamy, almost. ]

[showyourself]

It does feel that way, doesn't it? [she titter, and gestures to the space across from her.] Interested in sharing a meal? You can tell me all about everything you don't remember, so far.

[dianxias]

[ xie lian's smile widens a little further, and he bows his head, grateful. ]

If I tried to detail all the things I don't remember, we may end up being here all night, Miss Elsa.[ there's amusement to his tone as he says so, though, as he eases into the seat. ] Thank you for the invitation.

I have many memories, you see, for I am rather old - it's a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack...

[showyourself]

Ah, that's right. Your profile said something like that, didn't it. [she's pulling it up on her PHS now!] Eight hundred and twenty-seven-ish. [she looks up.] So, eight hundred and three years my senior. Wow, I guess dating's out.

[dianxias]

[ thank you for this ]

Well, I’m also not really interested. [ ....

oh gods - his entire face turns red within a second, and xie lian immediately backtracks, waving both of his hands! ] I mean — in general, in general! Women in general! I swore off that sort of thing for my cultivation practices when I was still human — I’m so sorry, that came off so rude.....!

[showyourself]

[oh no this is so funny

as soon as he's flushing, her eyebrows go up, watching the transformation to gasping embarrassment with much amusement. holding up both of her own hands, she waves them back, giggling.]

It's okay, it's okay. I was joking. You could say I'm already married to my job, too. [she's giggling.] If it makes you feel any better, I'm not interested, either.

[dianxias]

I'm so sorry. [ xie lian apologizes again. for like the fourth time.

really he just feels bad for being rude, because she's so very nice. xie lian looks thankful for the subject change, though, giving her a relieved smile as the flush on his face goes from nuclear levels to pink. ]

Thank goodness - I'm quite relieved to hear you say so. What sort of job do you have, Miss Elsa?

[showyourself]

Apology accepted. [maybe if she says that, he won't feel bad anymore? she folds her hands in front of her on the table, and smiles.]

I guess you could call it a unique position. [she hums] I act as a bridge between spirits, and humans. It's sort of hands-on.

[dianxias]

[ oh, consider his attention immediately caught. can't believe elsa's the avatar. ]

Is that so? [ watch xie lian's eyes light up a little at it - his emotions read instant, genuine curiosity. ] How fascinating...and a very important job, indeed. What sort of spirits, if you don't mind my asking?

[showyourself]

[at first, elsa takes the emotions as her own—but, no, that doesn't make sense. it's directed towards her.

huh.

her curiosity feeds back into xie lian on the other end of the emotionshare.]

Wind, fire, water, and earth. Things have been a little... rocky, for the past few years. It's been a learning experience.

[dianxias]

[ haha, rocky ]

Oh... I see, I see! How does that work, Miss Elsa? If you don't mind telling me!

[ really, he's never heard of elemental spirits, so this is a whole different world!! that curiosity stays, genuine and bright. ]

[showyourself]

Mostly? I just make sure everyone is happy. [she gives a little laugh again.] I watch memories. I learn history. I try to do what I can to right any wrongs of the past.

[dianxias]

I see... how lovely.

[ what a wonderful job to have. xie lian smiles, resting his chin in his hand. ] That's an impressive task to take on - I can see why you would be married to it.

[ that's a little teasing, at his own expense. ] Have you been doing it for very long? What are the spirits like? I'm so sorry, I have so many questions...

[showyourself]

[she titters, and waves a hand.] It's no problem. I've only been at it for a few months, but I'm liking it. Pretty different to my old job.

And the spirits are... well, they each have their own personalities. They're the embodiments of the elements, so you can imagine. The wind—Gale—is playful, tricky, and quick. Earth is strong, and dependable. Fire is spontaneous and self-driven. Water is wilful, but flexible.

What about you? What's your... marriage like? [there's another giggle. relationship jokes! they don't have any!]

[dianxias]

[ xie lian smiles, immediately, and leans forward at the table; her joke makes him laugh, too, pleased. ]

It's quite funny; in my realm, the spirits you have are gods. We have four elemental masters, and their personalities... well, they're quite similar! I've never met the Fire Master, but... the Windmaster especially was a close friend of mine, and they're just like that!

Their name is Shi Qingxuan - and they're playful and kind. Their very nature is utterly breezy, and it's almost impossible not to like them, even if they can be mischievous sometimes. And, they are siblings with the Water Master, who is indeed very willful, and...

[ up until this point, xie lian's warmth and happiness has been quite effusive - he clearly treasures this windmaster, but... he pauses, trailing off, as something occurs to him. some of the quiet joy in his emotions fades, flickering for a moment, but xie lian puts it away before it gets too far. ] ...well. It's just curious, how similar these things can be.

I also am something like a go between - I do much work between the Heavens and the mortal realm. It's one of the reasons I was so curious! It seems like our jobs are quite similar.

[showyourself]

[oh...

with the emotions buzzing between them, it's impossible not to notice the shutdown, and she tucks her chin, giving him a long, sympathetic look.]

It seems like we're in the same profession, doesn't it.

[...]

You know, I had to calm three of the four spirits—and the water spirit was easily the most dangerous. They're headstrong, powerful, extremely dangerous... but in the end, I relied on him the most.

Funny how that works, isn't it?

[dianxias]

[ xie lian considers the water master, for a moment. you could certainly describe shi wudu like that. headstrong. powerful, dangerous. ] ...En. It is.

In my realm, water is synonymous with wealth. Trade moves up and down the rivers of our lands, and so, the Water Master was the master of that, too. It meant that The Water Master was wealthy, but not greedy. Collected and cool, but careful. Protective of the things that were important, as the water I think can always be, and... tempestuous, when those things were threatened.

However... there are not only the elemental gods that control such things, but ghosts who cover the land and the seas, too. It is a difficult balance of power, in many different ways, and one that is as tricky to maintain as anything can be.

I didn't know the Water Master all that well, but ultimately, I was unable to help him when he needed it - in fact, I know, that he didn't want help at all, in the end, and chose to leave this plane very much on his own terms. The water still flows without him; a new water master will rise, eventually. Humans will always come to worship the things that they understand, no matter who embodies them.

[ xie lian finishes quietly, and looks down at the table between them. ] ... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring the mood down - it is something that happened not so long ago.

[showyourself]

[despite knowing exactly what will happen, elsa reaches across the table, and places a hand over xie lian's, flinching at the zap that comes with it. ow.]

I'm sorry for your loss. It doesn't matter how it happened—or how much he didn't or did need, or want, your help. It still hurts.

He sounds as though he was a very strong person, though—strong enough to choose his own path onwards.

[dianxias]

[ bzzt. xie lian closes an eye at the shock, and then looks up at elsa - the fact that she went to the gesture despite that touched him more than the actual gesture did, and he gives her a smile as he pulls his hand away so they don't both get shocked again. ]

I would say so. He stuck to his convictions to the end.

[ his own feelings on the water master are... complicated, but elsa is right; loss hurts, no matter the situation. every part of that situation was immensely, immensely complicated, but it didn't change the feeling of loss.

(it's the windmaster he worries the most for, who did nothing wrong.) ]

Thank you for your kind words, Miss Elsa. That is what matters, isn't it? That no matter what happens, we are able to carve out our own paths in life.