redactable | WEEK SEVEN: MINGLE

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mingle

WEEK SEVEN: MINGLE

WEEK SEVEN: MINGLE
(21 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.

As usual, the participants will find that their lodgings have changed, and should anyone check their PHS, Chiron, Ochako, Soo-won, and Dorothy's profiles have been removed. They may also find that they have difficulty recalling complete details of the past weeks.

Furthermore, it looks as though the rules have updated.

Not everything is the same as the previous pattern, though. The barrier to the north is back up, and once more, what lies beyond is an empty field. In contrast, however, participants may notice that they can finally access a place they haven't been able to before...

Additionally, it looks like the Leaders aren't around. No matter where the participants look, they're nowhere to be found. Should anyone try calling for them in the Planetarium, there will be no response—not even a message telling the participant that they're busy.

Finally, everything around the participants begins to... glitch? Buildings may suddenly blink out of existence and then back in, random items like chairs or cups may suddenly distort even while they're being used, and looking at any particular thing for too long may give someone a headache. It's worse than it was that one week, though: participants will find that it's happening to themselves as well. Body parts might suddenly glitch out of existence then back in, and there will be a shot of pain when it occurs. It'll happen randomly, but it also seems to occur more often if they're touching something or another person.

NAVIGATION

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Might've found her. [ To Zuko, who is now in our tender loving care along with the birb, since Sipp is heading to bed. If there was a girl for them, maybe this is the same one? Hua Cheng inclines his head slightly when Xie Lian bows, and either doesn't acknowledge the noise in the distance, or realize that it's something to pay any attention to.

For most, going from that happy scene to this, now, would be whiplash. But he's largely unfazed, and almost detached. At least he's not outright unkind. ]

Being here, I think we're meant to be guiding one another. [ This isn't normally the Ghost King's role - even if he let Soo-won assume as much, so long ago - but he can work with it. ] What can you say, about what happened here?

A car....?

[ she will be taking her now godmodded blast shield and his emotional support birb to peer around and see if she can spot where it's coming from. only if so she doesn't start make squawking noises about spirits being real. (no, hua cheng apparently doesn't count) ]

[ Usagi, if she dares to separate from her chinese gays, will have to leave the neighbourhood and towards what looks to be a more bustling area of the city if she wants to pursue the vroom vroom noises. At least she has a meat shield.

As for the gays and their spirit, though: ]

... The last person to speak with me... He couldn't guide me back, as he no longer had the power to do so.

Still, I can wait.

[ And then, she begins to recount her story. ]

A monster—a pitch black woman swallowed me, trapping me with countless other souls. Still, I couldn't accept my fate. My son was out there, in danger from her. I've been told that I then cast aside the path that the dead are meant to walk, in order to protect him.

... But I'm content. The guide told me that my son still lives now, because of it. All a mother wishes for is for her children to live long, happy lives—so if my son and daughter are both alive, then I've done what I needed to.

[ With that gentle smile— ]

... When it comes to death, there is no justifiable reasons that we humans will accept. So, whether it's resentment or regrets... [ and here, her voice echoes, as if a memory is laid over what they're witnessing now ] ... happy memories should be placed first.

[ Then, it returns to normal. ]

I don't think you'll find my children here. However... you're looking for him, aren't you? The guide, that is. I asked him to protect my children, so I'll ask of you: please watch over him, then.

[ Hm, wonder who she's talking about! They won't be able to get any confirmation or clarification, though, before she disappears, leaving Hua Cheng and Xie Lian alone in the house. ]

[ a pitch black woman swallowed me.

there is a brief moment, where xie lian's eyes widen, because, suddenly, he remembers teeth, an act of kindness -

...but he listens, and holds that knowledge in the back of his mind, so every word she says moves his heart. xie lian feels a soft swell of warmth in his chest for the woman's determination, for her wise words about death, for the fact that her son still lives, for her gentle smile, for her safe passage onto the next life, after death. a surge of affection for this guide, and...

happy memories should be placed first, she says, and if there's another memory layered on top in that echo, there's a third that goes with it, too, but that voice belongs to someone else.

("Is there anything in particular you'd like to learn about? Though, I must confess, I'm starting to forget many things, so I can't guarantee what I can share..."

"Hm... if you can recall, a memory that brings you happiness?)

as the woman asks them to watch over this guide, xie lian opens his mouth to say something, but -- just like that, she's gone.

and xie lian knows who they have to save. ] ...San Lang. [ xie lian says, softly. ]

The guide -- it must be Brother Goat.

[ with the spirit gone, xie lian clasps both of his hands together, palm to palm, and bows his head. ]

I'll find him. For the sake of your children and the people he's been protecting. I swear it - I will ensure him the kindness that he has given to you and yours. May your soul rest in peace with this knowledge as it moves onto wherever it may lie.

[ and with that, he straightens, looking up at hua cheng, and giving a determined little nod, with his sense of purpose as true as an arrow, as it has always been. ]

...Let's go meet back up with Miss Usagi and Zuko - we must keep moving forward.

[ As if he could ever miss that reaction. Hua Cheng's gaze slides to Xie Lian, away from this woman - this mother, and her conviction, and he supposes some part of him softens the same as it turns to a steel resolve. (Not that strange, really, given the ghosts that call his city home, given the people that have taken shelter there for as long as it's existed, instead of him turning them away.)

Even without knowing everything, he can hazard a guess. Having the confirmation only sets everything in place.

They need all of the Leaders, regardless - but this is more personal to Dianxia than anything else, given their interactions with every time that Goat has been among the participants. For every moment beyond.

Xie Lian says his name, but he doesn't react right away - when he does, it's like he's shaken off a sensation, before turning to look at him once he's given his vow to the now-faded ghost. If there's nothing left here, no sense of something lingering, then they only have one choice left. ]

Her conviction will guide her where she needs to go, the same as ours will. We'll find him. [ A second, and he reaches to touch Xie Lian's hand - a squeeze, a promise - and then he's turning to locate their wayward teenagers.

... whaaaat are you doing ] ... Usagi, Zuko. What is it?

[ she does have a trouble buddy but she's also a good girl who checks in with her parents before running. that is, of course, in the midst of flinching and shaking her head at the strange static. huh, wonder what that's about! ]

We might have found something! I heard a car just now heading in that direction....!

[ and since the vrooms are vrooming, she ushers zuko to come with her follow the noise before it gets away. at least if she gets kidnapped at least she has her surprisingly complacent meat shield....? COME GANG, TO THE ~~BAT~~ BUN MOBILE. ]

[ As Xie Lian and Hua Cheng, a voice that sounds suspiciously like the White No-Face whispers in their ears: "Happiness is so easy to destroy." Enjoy that parting gift! There's no one there if they stop to look.

Miraculously, Usagi and Zuko catch up to the source of the noise. Somehow. It's a bunch of horned people partying atop a car (maybe not those exact people, but the same general edginess). When they see the two, though, one of them pauses, grinning widely. ]

Huuuuh? What do we have here? Humans?

[ one step out of the house, and that whisper soft, mellifluous voice sends a chill straight down xie lian's spine. he straightens and whips around, immediately, hand to the sword at his side, but -

nothing.

it's nothing. just like before - it's not real. (his memories are not always correct, not here. xie lian has to keep reminding himself; and he won't let the white no face be the one to stop him. not again.)

he shakes his head to clear it off and rolls his shoulders back. with a quick glance to san lang - even if there's still a trace of a haunted look on his face, xie lian gives hua cheng a small, reassuring smile and sets out to follow zuko and usagi after this edgy car full of partying horned people.

"humans"? well, kind of? awkward. ]

[ Huh, he would've focused more on that flinch from Usagi, but there's a distraction.

What Xie Lian sees when he looks at Hua Cheng is that he's drawn his sword, immediate and instinctive as he visibly bristles. (Lup can't be the only one with 50+ lbs of hair that Ghibli poofs.) Very few people here have actually been witness to his killing intent, but just because he's come to care about others doesn't mean the edge of it has dulled any.

Counter to that, it's had all the more reason to sharpen.

He moves to be closer to Xie Lian as they walk to follow the teens, solidarity, comfort, understanding. Not again.

... at least his abrupt snort at overhearing the question is amused, and cuts a little of the tension.

Yeah, no. ]

[ ....hm.

somehow this makes her square her shoulders (even if she is hiding 80% behind zuko at this point) and glare ]

What of it!

[ her intimidation factor is like -20 but that’s what her bodyguards are for ]

[ I don't know if Zuko is still on autopilot or not, but. I assume he's looking very tough right now and about to pick a fight, while cradling a half-dead falcon.

The horned beings look mostly amused at Usagi's bravado, as they sneer. ]

Aw, aren't you a cute one?

[ Another one of the men speak up, though. ]

We don't have time, man. You got enough souls for now, so leave it. We can't be late for the ceremony—whatever the hell it's gonna be about.

[ They look at each other, before they drive off again. Hua Cheng, Xie Lian, Zuko, and Usagi (and the bird) are alone, for approximately ten seconds before a scream echoes elsewhere, coming from the alleyways. ]

[ xie lian's still trying to process that (wow his first car) but -

--then someone screams. his head whips up, looking towards the alleyways, and he's

already running in that direction.

bye! ]

[ The mention of souls gets his attention, and Hua Cheng's eye narrows - but there's really no time to process, or find a way to follow their first car, because. There Xie Lian goes!

Of course he's going to follow.

As he does, he looks at Usagi and Zuko. ]

Let's go, we'll figure out what to do with that after.

[ NYOOM ]

[ she bristles from behind zuko, hmphing loudly. but at the talk of ‘souls’ she blinks, pausing. hewwo? human souls?

but none of that matters because off they go and new problems take its place...! her own head whips around at the sound and off she goes after her dads ]

[ Autopiloting Zuko for one last round because I assume that without knowing what you're going to find, he's also running after the sound and not about to nyoom off in the opposite direction with the bird for some reason

In the alleyway is another horned being, biting a human girl's neck but in, like, a non-kinky way. It definitely does not look like she agreed to this biting, though? As he does so, dark vapour spills from his mouth.

There's a man and a woman, both with horns with him, who turn to the group when they burst in. The latter bares her teeth—revealing that where a human would have molars, she instead has fangs—and swings her fist at whoever's nearest. She's stronger and faster than a human, but with no real finesse in her attack.

The (second) man does something similar, going after whoever (else) is near. ]

[ FINALLY A PUNCHABLE MONSTER

the faster they get these resentful things gone, the faster they can get them free of the human woman. xie lian skids around the corner and is immediately springing into action — when the woman swings her fist, he dodges the strike with a step to the left and blocking the motion with his forearm. after that it’s quick work; he pivots, the side of his left hand makes contact with the back of her head, and the right delivers a devastatingly strong clothesline to her ribs.

he’s used to fighting the supernatural - and no finesse is a bad choice against a martial god. I didn’t roll for this so I deeply hope I fail every time I have to roll in this cyoa from now on.

he’ll stay to tussle with the female demon if that isn’t enough to wind her or take her out but otherwise, xie lian shouts - ]

Watch out! [ because there’s another one aiming for the others!! but he’ll leave that to his very capable and trustworthy companions so he can try and attack the other demon and get him off of the human woman. ]

If it's a fight they want---

[ wow an actual zuko tag incredible. anyway, still cradling bird, zuko pulls out one of his swords and lunges for the second man, ducking under the punch and making sure to put himself between the man and usagi. aww ]

[ he's also leaving an opening for hc by taking the attack head on ]

[ Hit-and-run Zuko while Sipp is on break results in the perfect tag-team opportunity.

Hua Cheng doesn't stop him - because he knows that he's capable, and he's armed for a fight even if he's got precious cargo. Xie Lian can more than take care of himself just fine, and Usagi ideally will be spared from too much combat attention if they take the brunt of it.

(Sending two swordsmen after an unsuspecting demon probably is a little bit of an unfair fight.)

Sword already drawn, he takes the opening Zuko leaves with his attack. A one-two attack, though his jabbing strike is a little bit more... ah, for the kill, probably. They're demons it's fine. ]

[ good thing all three guys immediately go for the attack cause she’s ducking immediately. since the others are clearly capable of handling themselves, don’t mind while she attempts to sneakily work her way to the injured human to see if she can help in any way.

here’s hoping everyone else is distracted enough....... ]

[ The woman Xie Lian fights isn't quite out yet. Though winded, she tries to bite his neck, both with the intent of trying to tear out his flesh and, well. Something worse, if she succeeds, so you might want to stop her.

Zuko lunges for the man, and he responds by trying to punch a hole through Zuko's chest—but this leaves him vulnerable to Hua Cheng's attack, and regardless of what else, it seems these beings share the same vital areas as humans.

The injured girl is holding a hand up to her neck, as blood trickles through her fingers, as she looks at Usagi. ]

T-Thank you... I should've known better than to go out at night, but I still wasn't expecting Demans...

[ Alas, sometimes you are a plot device for this adventure and exist to be attacked. ]

[ unfortunate that didn't take her out - xie lian is used to being nerfed in a lot of ways, but this is the first time he's been totally conscious in a fight in the Realm, and so, it takes some getting used to to remember you're only as strong as a normal person.

but that's okay! when he's attacked again, xie lian can't avoid it completely, not if he wants to finish this quickly instead of just relying on his martial skills. he jerks his head back to avoid getting bitten, but the demon woman's teeth catch against the bandages at his neck and slice through them, earning him a bared cursed shackle and a scratch for his trouble. it's worth the risk though, because the backwards momentum of pulling away lets him grab the handle of his sword.

the second his fingers wrap around it, he lunges, pushing gracefully off of the balls of his feet, and drives that sword strike clean and true for where the woman's heart better be. ]

Edited 2020-11-18 00:16 (UTC)

[ Demans. Filing that away for later, and trusting that Usagi will take care of the human woman, Hua Cheng doesn't hesitate to drive the sword in deeper when it pierces flesh. It means that he frees up Zuko for the third one - because I almost forgot there were three, whoops - or helping Xie Lian with the demonic woman or Usagi and the victim. ]

I've got him - go.

[ Except there's the slight distraction of seeing Xie Lian almost get his throat ripped out, which never instills anything positive in him. At least he doesn't call out in a panic - because that's distracting, and a disservice to gege's skills - but he does uh.

Wrench his saber in the Deman man's chest, just in case. Brutal! ]

[ even bracing the bird, zuko's movements are fluid and quick -- he's clearly used to fighting in tandem with others, and moves for the third the second hua cheng frees him up ]

[ zuko dives to the floor to avoid any immediate, and performs what looks like a breakdance move, using precise and powerful kicks -- to knock the man off his route and throw him down to the ground. pretend my tag made sense ]

[ good thing she just happened to be looking down at the poor injured lady than anything happening behind her. the wince at the clear squish noises makes it pretty clear she knows exactly what’s happening but it’s fine. she’s chill. she is the coolest of heroes right now. ]

It’s alright, good thing my friends and I were nearby!

[ it’s probably not at all effective but she pulls out a hankie from her pocket to help staunch the blood. rip not carrying more than herself on missions ]

[ Two of the Demans down, with one still left alive as he struggles against Zuko with superhuman strength and also possibly tries to bite him. Just stab him too.

The girl doesn't seem too alarmed at the carnage going on behind Usagi, at least. Violence and death are sort of commonplace at this point. She takes the hankie from Usagi with a grateful smile. ]

Yes... thank you! Is there any way I can repay you all?

[ Once the third one is dead, anyway. ]

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