WEEK FIVE: MINGLE

[retellers]

WEEK FIVE: MINGLE (29 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, Alyssa, Hikaru, and Bucky'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. On that note, if your character did not stay, please make sure to check your notifs. Once again, participants may find that they have difficulty recalling complete details of the past weeks. Finally, participants will find that they now have another pet to take care of. Small creatures (based on any animal of player choice, real or mythical) will be following them around all week. However, these creatures are emotionally tied to their participant, so whatever the person they are connected to is feeling, they will outwardly display it. Angry? They will be hostile. Happy? So are they! Even more, they will react to other participants based on how theirs feels about the other. Anyone their participant loves, they will also love. Hope you don't secretly hate anyone, that might be awkward.

NAVIGATION locations ₓ˚. statuses *+:｡ ic profiles :ₓo ic rules ･ﾟﾟ･｡ audience requests murder proposals ｡✧o private conversations ･ﾟo｡ curfew ･ﾟ✧ memories

Comments

town

[stillnot]

[ i'm sorry to do this to you but

guess who is afraid of dogs IT'S CLEMENTINE! blanca's dog doesn't even get that close to her before she's tensed up and started backing away slowly, looking very alarmed. ]

[papasha]

[Oh nooooooo. The dog even looks very excited to see Clem! His tail is going a mile a minute, but then it sort of begins to slow a little when she starts backing away.

The ears droop a bit.

She backs right up into Blanca who has come up behind her, though he doesn't budge because he's too tall and big.]

I beg your pardon, Miss Clementine. He won't bother you.

[stillnot]

You don't know that.

[ she is half genuinely defensive and half making fun of herself. but also... staying here backed up into him because anything else would mean getting closer to the dog. ]

[papasha]

I promise. I would be very cross with him if he hurt you.

[He glances from her to the dog, and then rests a hand on top of her head for a moment.] I'll show you. Stay right here. [He carefully moves around her to head for the dog.

Said dog begins to wag his tail again somewhat happily. Blanca kneels and gives the dog a good scritch on the chest.]

Were you trying to make Miss Clementine an accomplice to your food cart pilfering? Tsk, tsk.

[stillnot]

Yeah, uh, I'd be cross too...

[ she's still tense, but at least she doesn't back away further, even when he's not blocking her path anymore.

she's just watching, cautiously. ]

[papasha]

Here. Lie down.

[He pats the ground in front of the dog to coax it into lowering into a lounge, paws out. He leaves the turkey leg in its mouth because that means it's too full to bite Clementine.

Or he hopes she may consider that anyway.]

All right. You can come see him, if you want. You don't have to pet him. But I have him. His name is Alexei.

[stillnot]

[ she has to think about it first, just staring for a moment longer. but then she does approach and - slowly holds her closed fist out for alexei to smell. that's what worked with rosie, so that seems? right? ]

[papasha]

[He waits until Clem is ready, not rushing her, or pushing her. The dog gives the fist a few tickling sniffs,

and then offers it a tentative, quick lick. Kind of grossly wet, but not slobbery. Its tail very slowly begins to swish behind it.]

Not many good experiences with dogs?

[stillnot]

[ she stays pretty firmly in place, not getting any closer or moving to pet the dog. but her shoulders do relax a bit. ]

Just one bad one.

[papasha]

Ah. There can be times when they are aggressive, or even scared.

[He gives the dog some strokes on the head. Belatedly, I realized it had to drop the turkey leg to lick, but it's fine. It also

licks the turkey leg. Delicious dirt turkey leg. It looks back up at Clem and wags its tail excitedly. Does she see this fucking leg? It's such a good leg!!]

I think he approves of the food, at least.

[stillnot]

[ she... gives the dog a tentative pet on its head - then takes a step back. but only one, which is progress! ]

Yeah. The one that fucked up my arm was just hungry.

[papasha]

[Can he literally not have a conversation with Clem without feeling extremely terrible for the conditions in which she previously lived?

Jesus Christ.]

Survival is the strongest, most basic instinct. In all of us.

[The dog's ears lower slightly to accommodate the hand's pat, and then its tail starts wagging furiously. It raises one paw up in Clem's direction and sort of paws the air.

H...handshake...?]

[stillnot]

[ im crying why does it always come up in more detail for him than anyone else ]

Yeah, I get it. I was stupid, back then.

[ hrmg. well. it was nice earlier so she will hesitantly give it a little handshake... ]

[papasha]

I don't think you would have been stupid.

[He means it to imply Clem is a smart girl, not that Clem can't make mistakes.

When she lets the dog's paw go, he

immediately lifts it again and paws at her a second time. Haha. PAW? He is doing... good job?!]

[stillnot]

No, I was. Didn't know any better yet.

It's fine. I learned.

[ .......... she raises an eyebrow.... but less hesitantly this time gives it another handshake. ]

[papasha]

[Despite the topic, a bit of an amused grin comes to his lips. He gives the dog a good pat on the shoulder.]

All right, good job. Leave her be now.

[The paw lowers, and the dog sits a little taller. Its tail is still wagging excitedly.]

Did you wake up with a shadow tagging along, too?

[stillnot]

Oh, right.

[ she... has to reach behind her and get into the hood of her jacket - to withdraw a little hedgehog that was napping in it.

she holds it out for Blance to look at. it... curls into a protective ball. ]

[papasha]

??

[With a pop of his knees, he hefts himself into a stand again. Oh! He bends a bit to peer at the little prickly ball in Clem's hands. He looks amused again.]

Ah. Very cute. Does this shy thing have a name...?

[stillnot]

Uh... I didn't think to name it.