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

[dianxias]

Something more to your preferences than tea, this time. [ xie lian laughs, a little sheepishly, and lifts both of his arms so she can examine his exceedingly fancy outfit.

his cheeks are a little pink. ] It's all very ridiculous, isn't it...? You look pretty, though.

[misstrust]

It's more than I could imagine wearing, but it suits you. You look very lovely.

[ And she's nodding approvingly as she sips at her champagne. ]

In fact, I hope I'm not the first one to have told you that.

[dianxias]

Ahaha... I think you are? I mostly just feel, um, cumbersome.

[ once he's free of the champagne, he reaches up and pats around for a moment in his hair, feeling for the fresh red peonies clipped onto the side of his head, into one of the intricate braids. it takes a couple of moments, but fiddling enough, he gets the hair sticks free. ]

Here. I think these will suit you much better than they suit me. May I?

[misstrust]

... Once I can get out there, I'm scolding each and every last one of them.

[ Dorothy mutters this, but then blinks as he pulls the hair sticks free. ]

But I suppose if I can help weigh you down a little less... by all means.

[dianxias]

Let's see...

[ he is 100% going to put them on crooked, because xie lian is almost comically bad at this kind of thing.

...however, the flowers are big, so. it's not super obvious, and they still look very pretty! they match her dress... he smiles when he's done, and steps back! voila. ]

There. There's no sense in me keeping such a thing - they look much nicer on you, and I have a feeling you're much less likely to mess them up somehow.

[ after a moment, he glances back at the party, and then over at dorothy. ] Do you like dancing and things like this, Miss Dorothy...?

[ her poor leg. ]

[misstrust]

[ Dorothy reaches up to touch the flowers in her hair-- and then she smiles, touched. ]

Thank you.

[ Before she looks out at the party as well. ]

... But yes. I enjoy music and dancing quite a bit. But I can still enjoy watching everyone from here.

[dianxias]

[ there's a beat. ]

...Do you want to dance?

[misstrust]

[ Her smile takes on a rueful tinge; the horse knocks a hoof against the floor, back and forth. ]

My injury acted up a bit today... so I probably shouldn't aggravate it any more. I'm sure I'd be scolded for it.

[dianxias]

[ ...

he tilts his head, side to side. ]

And if your feet never had to touch the floor?

[misstrust]

[ She, too, tilts her head. ]

... I beg your pardon?

[dianxias]

Here.

[ xie lian isn't that much taller than dorothy, but! he leans over a bit, offering her his shoulders. ]

Put your arms over my shoulders - I promise, I will not let you fall.

[misstrust]

[ Sir, you're not much taller than she is??

Sir what are you doing--

But Dorothy isn't really scared of much, so she obliges him and places her arms over his shoulders. ]

You really don't need to humor me, you know.

[dianxias]

I don't see it that way. Friends help each other, don't they?

And besides, you shouldn't have to miss out because of an injury. [ she looked so sad, and that is unacceptable.

so! with a little "excuse me!" xie lian moves to wrap his arms around her waist, and then picks dorothy right up off of the ground pretty much effortlessly. it's like carrying a few pieces of paper.

...and with that, off they go! he's going to carry her out to the dance floor now. ]

[misstrust]

[ Oh dear god, she more than half-expected it, but it still comes as a surprise when he just-- hoists her up??

And spirits her away to the dance floor while she's still holding onto his shoulders, a little wide-eyed. ]

You... are certainly stronger than I expected.

[dianxias]

[ xie lian laughs a little at that -- ]

I get that a lot. . [ flower in one hand, sword in the other, and all of that. he's having absolutely no trouble at all, and once they get to the middle of the dance floor, he just adjusts his grip and smiles up at her. ] Believe it or not, I've been training in martial arts since I was a child. I'm glad that it can come in useful, here.

[ and, with that!! he starts to listen to the music and moves along with it. it's a slower song, more ballroom waltz-y than anything at the moment, so it's easy enough to sway back and forth, to do a turn when other people seem to be turning, slow and steady and in time with the music. ] You may have to help direct me a little bit, but I think we can figure it out!

[ dorothy wants 2 dance dorothy gets 2 dance ]

[misstrust]

After everything I've seen and heard, that may be one of the easier things I could believe!

[ Sora and his Kingdom Hearts, for example. But he doesn't seem to be having any difficulty holding her up, and so Dorothy holds on as they sway, and-- ]

On every third beat, you turn. You don't need to verify that everyone else is doing it.