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

[soulus]

[He sneezed more times than he can count for this.

Dressed in a simple tuxedo accompanied by a waistcoat, Rufus, now with part of his hair slicked back, is every bit the wallflower as he stands by the wall. If anyone stops on by, he assumes that they're passing by and ignores them.]

[misstrust]

[ He's close enough to Dorothy, who is just chilling because she more or less has to-- but she tilts her head in his direction. ]

You look wonderful, you know.

[ Endure it, Rufus. ]

[soulus]

[His eyes open. He angles his head in Dorothy's direction.]

If this event will gather nova, I will stay.

[Otherwise, he might have left a while ago.]

[misstrust]

[ Yeah, she figured it was something like that. ]

It should. Balls are usually meant to promote conversation and closeness and-- ah, intimacy, most likely.

[ All nova things. ]

[soulus]

It feels like a waste of time . . . but nova is different from money.

[misstrust]

It's certainly not as easy to earn-- not like favors or money.

But the sooner we gather it, the sooner we can return home. That's important to all of us.

[soulus]

Yes.

[He turns his attention to the heart of the ball, where participants laugh and dance merrily.]

I must return to my world if I want to spend the gold I've collected here.

[misstrust]

And don't forget that I owe you, too.

... That wasn't serious, I know you haven't.

[ But she'll watch the dancers too, keeping her thoughts on that to herself.

The horse, however, gives her head a troubled little shake. ]

[soulus]

[Rufus is quiet—as is his wolf, who blinks slowly a few times.]

I will remember this contract.

[misstrust]

I know you will. You wouldn't leave things unfinished.

[ And she tilts her head back briefly to smile at him. ]

[soulus]

[He looks her way when she shifts in his periphery. His gaze, pensive, lingers on her face as he considers her words. The wolf sits down, tucks her ears, and whines quietly to herself once.]

[misstrust]

[ Are you okay, wolfy buddy--

But she slowly tilts her head as he stares at her, choosing not to speak until he does. Sometimes he needs a minute, it's fine. ]

[soulus]

[She is okay. After a brief moment of staring at a nondescript spot in the distance, the wolf cranes her neck in Dorothy's direction.]

Is there anything you would like to discuss?

[misstrust]

[ Dorothy lowers one hand to beckon the wolf closer, if she so desires--

Though she also expects Miss Wolf is just going to stare and then move on, so she glances back at Rufus, thoughtfully.

The music changes, to a tune she can't quite place, but it sounds vaguely nostalgic. Somehow. ]

I'm not sure how much we could truly discuss here-- or, at the very least, anything you'd consider relevant.

I was just feeling grumpy that I had to miss out on the dancing for once.

[ Mildly sulking, even. ]

But that shouldn't affect nova gathering.

[soulus]

[The wolf stares at the proffered hand, then snaps her head toward the center of the ballroom, ears perking up, at the familiar tune. Rufus maintains his watch on Dorothy.]

But conversation can.

[Bonding, as it were, to entice the nova.]

[misstrust]

[ Huh. The wolf knows this song?

How very odd. ]

But conversation can. [ So he says, and she nods. ]

Rupe's been doing well. He stays close until I try to pet him and then he ignores me, so I feel as though we've really bonded.

[ Ah. ]

[soulus]

[The wolf continues to convey Rufus' split attention as she watches the participants dance to the familiar melody.]

It's fine as long as he isn't aggressing anyone.

[misstrust]

Not a soul, unless they're too frightened to point it out to me-- at which point, that's on them and not on him.

[ Rupe is a good boy!! ]

... Does your new friend want to dance? Or is it the song? [ Look, the wolf is riveted, she's not sure what that means. The horse herself seems equally perplexed. ]

[soulus]

[The question breaks the melody's spell. The wolf peers up at Dorothy.]

It's familiar.

[misstrust]

Is it?

[ Now Dorothy frowns, focusing on the song itself...

But then she shakes her head. ]

It's lovely, but I don't think I can place it.

[soulus]

. . . Even the music appears to be influenced by all of our memories.

[misstrust]

[ Is that it? Is this a song from his memory?

... No, she thinks, that doesn't seem to be right. Somehow. ]

Will you tell me when you hear another song you recognize?

[soulus]

I don't listen to music much.

[But it isn't a no. He will keep an ear peeled.]

[misstrust]

[ It's not a no!! ]

I'm sure there's at least one if we sit here long enough, if you can endure my company to that extent.

[ This night: Rufus endures everything. ]

[canned]

[...gold?]