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

[ ....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. ]

[ there. xie lian's more than aware of zuko's capabilities as a fighter, so - he keeps his gaze on him until the last deman is taken care of, then gives him a small, approving smile, and puts his boot on the woman's shoulder to pull his sword clean.

he reaches up to his neck to feel briefly for the damage - just a scrape, but his bandages are ruined, so - those get pulled free of his neck and set to the side. ] Are the two of you alright? [ to san lang, and to zuko...

and then, back to the situation at hand. the young lady gets a relieved smile, too, and xie lian shakes his head, starting to unwind the bandages on his none ruoye hand. they're clean, and he offers them to the young woman. ] Here, my lady, I have some bandages - you should see to that injury quickly. I am just glad we could help, as I'm sure the others would agree.

...though, perhaps you could help us with some information?

[ it's okay, zuko has freakish strength too! The man will graze his shoulder with his teeth, but zuko doesn't hesitate in stabbing him through the heart--- or where the heart should be ]

[ he'll leave the talking to the others, but he gives a brief manly nod (tm) in dadxias's direction ]

I'm fine, gege. [ squelch, as he pulls the sword out. At least he flicks it away from everyone else to get whatever viscera there is off the metal, unfazed otherwise. He'll spare Usagi from having to get too good a look at that, nudging the body over to the side so it's out of the way.

... still keeping an eye on all three of the Demans, though! He's a ghost he doesn't trust the dead. ]

We're not from around here, so these... Demans, you said? We haven't run into too many of them. There was a mention of a ceremony - you don't happen to know more, do you?

[ You're an NPC, he's used to those giving information. ]

We’re trying to find a very good friend of ours!

[ she keeps cheerful as she helps (“helps”) the poor npc with her injury, probably not doing more than holding things in place as an extra pair of hands. we don’t need her mummified after all. ]

They might need our help.

[ With all the Demans dead, as Usagi does her best, the girl can talk freely now. ]

I don't know anything about a ceremony... but what's this friend of yours like? Maybe I've seen them.

He is a little shorter than I am, with silver hair, and blue eyes. [ xie lian gestures at roughly goat's height, once he's resheathed his sword. ] His expression may have seemed a little... unfocused sometimes, if you had ever spoken to him, but he is a very, very kind person - someone who is always doing his best to help others.

[ though that was... a ghost... so. maybe? ] We think that he could be in a lot of trouble.

[ he glances to the others - anything to add...? ]

Someone called him a guide.

[ He's not resheathing his sword. But he does add on, from the side, as he heads towards the opening of the alleyway to see if there's anything out there now that the little side quest threat seems. Fine? ]

... He likes animals.

[ adds zuko, uselessly. he will then follow after hc because he's better at swording than social sitations! ]

[ If Hua Cheng looks out, there's nothing in particular. Maybe the sounds of raving and partying, since they're near some bars. ]

Guide? You mean like a tour guide?

[ This is just a normal human girl who doesn't know about weird spirit shit. ]

But a man with silver hair and blue eyes? That sounds familiar... Oh! That guy who collapsed before! I called Doctor Jin, and someone picked him up! He was pretty badly injured, so he could still be there...

Hold on, I'll write down the hospital address for you.

[ She digs through her pockets, before taking out paper, a pen, and... a white cosmos flower? She holds the last one out to whoever's nearest. ]

Take this too! It's a thank you for saving me.

[ However, as soon as someone touches the flower, a number of things will happen. First, everyone in the group will find that one of their lost memories has returned to them.

Secondly, they're abruptly whisked away (they didn't even get the address!); the next thing they know, they're in front of a building. It's daylight now, and the falcon stirs in Zuko's arms, before falling asleep once more. ]

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