WEEK SEVEN: MINGLE

[retellers]

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

Comments

[cuedoves]

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 ]

[supremity]

[ 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. ]

[moondumplings]

[ 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....... ]

[retellers]

[ 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. ]

[dianxias]

[ 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. ]

[supremity]

[ 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! ]

[cuedoves]

[ 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 ]

[moondumplings]

[ 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 ]

[retellers]

[ 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. ]

[dianxias]

[ 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?

[cuedoves]

[ 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 ]

[supremity]

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. ]

[moondumplings]

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.

[retellers]

[ 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.

[dianxias]

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...? ]

[supremity]

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? ]

[cuedoves]

... He likes animals.

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

[retellers]

[ 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. ]

[dianxias]

[ the white cosmos... wow the themes

xie lian expression goes worried as she mentions that goat may have been hurt (logically, he realizes this is probably something to do with goat's past, but still), though he doesn't get much time to process it, just here and there flicker on his expression. xie lian bows to her, gratefully, and thanks her; then, someone touches the white cosmos. the word xian le suddenly floats across his consciousness - and then, xie lian blinks, and they're in a different place entirely.

this is still entirely too modern, but that's fine.

xie lian blinks again, once, twice. ] ...Is this the hospital?

[ ...well? shall we? ]

[supremity]

[ Ah, just like home. Hua Cheng turns, to say something, but either Xie Lian or Usagi touches the flower since they're closest - and then everything changes, which is great. That's fine, just like the week of memory bubbles. At least it's better than seeing your life play out on repeat.

Except there's something there again. And as he looks around at their new surroundings, his gaze lands on Xie Lian - eye wide, like he's processing, settling a piece into place with a resounding click. Everything too modern, but it doesn't matter, when all he can see, for a moment, is Taizi Dianxia - ]

- maybe it is. [ Right. Things to do. ]

[moondumplings]

[ she sure is the one who takes the flower..! unfortunately, the memory that returns doesn't include certain details. instead, a crystal tower blooms in her mind's eye as a certain small lady curtsies in her memories. ]

Ah-?

[ give her a second to process THE FUTURE before glancing up at the new location. h-hewwo? will things please stop changing before she's ready ]

This looks more like a house...

[ a very fancy house that might charge her for breathing the air ]

1/2

[cuedoves]

[ zuko has to take a moment, too, to remember uncle iroh -- every memory they've had together suddenly strikes him like a bolt of lightning, and he starts.... to tear up? ]

[ just give him a moment with this emotional support bird, he'll compose himself soon enough. ]

[cuedoves]

[ moment over! he wipes his face with his hand, he's good now. ]

... Let's go inside. I'm sure we'll find something.

[ he'll go on ahead so no one can look at his embarrassing cryface ]

[retellers]

[ After a few seconds of being where they are, the scenery changes. Suddenly, the building looks more rundown, with crude graffiti decorating the fence. While the day remains as bright as ever, the sun... vanishes? In fact, if they look up, they might be able to see what looks like a device suspended high up in the sky, providing light instead.

In the distance, voices echo: one unfamiliar to any of them, and one that sounds like Goat.

"Humans should go out during the day. That's common sense."

"... Can you imagine how much they must long for such a sky?"

Anyhow. If they go inside, the interior looks much like the (new) exterior. Whoever lives here doesn't apparently take great care of the place, and graffiti litters the walls. Some parts of the house looks like what you'd expect from a house (e.g. a kitchen, dining room) but there are also certainly parts that look more like a lab or a hospital. There are recreational drugs lying around, as well. Don't smoke anything.

If they head inside a room apparently marked as a tattoo parlour (according to the rough words spraypainted on the wall), they'll find... a bunch of corpses! Only of those horned people, though.

There's a flicker, and then a figure stands in the center of the room, dressed in all black with a shock of red hair. In his hand is a sword, drenched in blood, though that won't stop the weapon from being familiar to at least some of them, and definitely familiar to one. He turns his head just slightly, and they'll see—despite the hair colour, it's Goat.

And then, he disappears, as if he was never there. The dead bodies are still real, though... which is just a bit unfortunate, as people enter the scene from behind them. ]

Damn, you did this?

[ Again, voices echo, though these seem to be of the Demans here.

"You remember "the second ceremony"? He was banned that day. King of Demans... the silver-haired boy..."

"King of Demans? That's ridiculous. I know who lost his power and was thrown out like trash."

They look ready to fight, and the one with the arrow tattoo in particular steps forward first, but you know how this goes by now. Stabbity stab stab, maybe. ]

[dianxias]

[ "anyway"

this... does not look like a hospital at first blush, but what does xie lian know. he keeps close to the group behind him (briefly pausing on his quest forward to hand zuko a small amount of thankfully unused tissues and to give him a smile) but otherwise presses forward into this strange building, poking around as carefully as he can. his danger senses are tingling with every step into this building, and, naturally, because bad luck is bad luck, he's the one to open the door to the tattoo parlor.

and he absolutely knows that weapon - (just learned the story behind it, even, the tale of conviction that went along with it) and xie lian starts into the room full of corpses with a --] Brother Goat - !

[ and then he's gone.

...and then, echoing voices, too. it's so -

(the prospects are dim - because it's that one. can you believe it, xie lian got demoted within an hour of his ascension?)

-- familiar.

xie lian was the first to enter the corpse room, so he's at the back of the crowd - he grabs onto usagi wherever she is and puts himself in front of her, re-drawing his weapon behind team red coded zuko and hua cheng. ]