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

[he's not even sure what sector they're in, but he lights up a little at the prospect of going to find wolf.]

Sounds like a good idea to me. Two of our friends should be coming with us, but I think we have time for a delivery, too. Right? [maybe clementine doesn't want to go, he wants to give her the option.

the fuck is a chocobo though.]

[ what the actual fuck is a chocobo ]

I bet we can make it quick. We'll get more done than if we sit around waiting for them.

[ The cat will climb Taako's shoulder and hang out there. Taako has a cute cat and Lup has five rats. The real loot was the friends they made along the way. Anyway, they can get out of the factory now while Sora and Clem talk about abandoning them.

Either way, the man gestures for them to follow him out and leads them to a yellow sign with some kind of bird on it? ]

Alright. All you gotta do is deliver this to him from me, alright?

[ He reaches out and ruffles Sora's hair, a little--

And then everyone gets a new memory, somewhere high up. That same man is sitting against a wall, bleeding out, Wolf kneeling next to him. He's saying something, wheezing a bit like every word is pulled out by force. "Lemme guess... not a fan of kids?" Wolf answers in the negative, and the man seems amused. "But you have... so much in common." He raises his hand to pat Wolf on the head weakly--

And then there's a different man in his place, bleeding out in a different location, and he says Don't be afraid--

and then they're back! the man seems normal and not bleeding out. Also guess what it's time for headache o'clock. ]

You wanna wait for your friends?

These-- These memories are getting way worse! Just terrible. Go back to the one where I was adorable!

[Anyway, wandering back out. He doesn't know who assigned the rat quest, but Lup does so she can lead the way.]

Oh, uh-- It holds orbs.

[ oh, wow, these memories suck? these memories suck. taako comments on them, but lup is quiet, frowning. she makes an absent noise of confirming at him as they walk - and also a few of her body parts just randomly glitch out.

... she'll lead them back to turn in the quest. she hides the rats? in fact, she mutters to them: ] Shh. Be cool.

[ before telling the quest marker that they've valiantly destroyed the rats. yeaaaah.

... to taako: ] You uh, you think we're done with this chapter yet?

[things that are bad: people dying! things that are even worse: people's memories! because he can sort of figure out that this man isn't someone wolf knows, but...

well. this is bad regardless. headaches are also bad, but he accepts the hair ruffle prior and doesn't try to pull away. the bird sign goes noticed but he doesn't comment, blinking slowly to try and focus as he nods even with a slight frown.]

Yeah. They shouldn't be long now, and then we'll head to Sector 5. Thank you. I'll...be sure to give him the message. [except now he's looking at clementine warily to gauge her reaction to things.]

Lee...

[ clementine squeezes sora's hand when she sees the memory of lee. were they still holding hands? doesn't matter, they are for at least that moment.

i'm really glad she forgot her fire/raid trauma because otherwise this would be a 3 for 3 trauma parade for clem. but 2 for 3 is still a lot. that memory jars her more than any of the others have. personal involvement will do that.

she brings a hand up to hold her head, wincing as her hand glitches out for a second. great. more pain. cool. she is looking predictably miserable. ]

...

[ Unfortunately, the lady is a make believe quest character and thus can Tell that not all the rats have been dealt with. Fortunately, you probably did not need to completely finish five quests, so it's up to the twins to decide if they want to argue for loot or go to Sora and Clem right away? Either way, the man will have called their carriage already.

It's got a bird with it. They can pet the bird as they wait. ]

What the hell! We removed all the rats from the premises! That should count as taking care of them! The rats aren't a problem anymore. They're traumatized now. That should be enough rat vengeance. I don't have enough orbs for my thing. I want my orb, lady.

[lup can drag him away if she wants]

[ what the fuck this npc lady is heartless ]

I'm taking the rats with me! They're dead to you, what's the problem! [ she will not drag taako away, she wants her loot? she got mauled by a doomrat, lady, she deserves a reward!! give us!! the orb!!

don't make me kill these rats i love them :( ]

[unaware of the fact that the twins are trying to get more loot, sora's keeping on hand clasped tightly to one of clementine's. they were probably holding hands, it's fine, and when she says lee's name it clicks what, exactly he was watching.

"he died because of me."

...ouch. well. his free hand will pet the chocobo because petting animals is very therapeutic and also he doesn't quite know what to do here.]

...it's okay. [he's not sure if he means it's okay because it's just a memory or it's okay if she's upset about it. possibly both. i hope this bird has lots of patience.]

[ thank god for this therapy bird. she also gives it a very brief pet because. well, they're here. what else is she going to do. ]

... Yeah. I know.

[ guess who does not want to talk about this. ]

Really think the twins are okay? [ and not, like, failing their sidequests because they adopted several rats? ]

I'm not paying you in full for a job half-done!

[ But at least she will, like, pay them? Since she has decided arguing with them over this is too exhausting and they did take care of some of the rats and remove the other. She does call them ungrateful brats before yeeting another purple orb at them.

This one does not trigger a memory? Thank god. They all need a pause from their headache. Either way the twins will be able to find Sora and Clem with the chocobo, which is very soft and going "kweh". Kweh sounds like a weird whistle call, do not ask me how. The man has gone back inside bar, though I lied a little about memory triggers, since Sora and Clem will have a flash of the bar destroyed with flames around it.

But that doesn't give them a headache and happens in a singular second so it's fiiine. ]

Yeet!

[Since that orb doesn't do the memory thing I assume it doesn't fit in his cool new accessory.

Anyway, wandering over to in front of the bar that is definitely not experiencing any glitches, since Taako just has an innate sense of when the Uber has been called and it's time to move the party on.]

Okay, can we get the fuck out of here? Ready for a main quest I think. Or at least a distraction from the horrible sad memories!

[ she wanted that orb!! hell YEAH.

anyway if it doesn't go in taako's cool belt, she's stealing it. but yes, she follows after taako towards the bar, coming to a stop in front of the chocobo and just giving it this look? big bird. give her twenty. can they set things on fire? that'd be the only way this thing would be better. ]

-- Hey, where'd you get the bird? You two totally got the better stick! [ she's bleeding and also her pockets are squeaking. adventure! ]

[the fact that things continue being on fire is alarming, and sora just continues to hold clem's hand and pet the big bird even when the twins finally show up, giving clem a look that seems to say "guess that answers that."]

There you are. And whyyy are you bleeding and squeaking...? [jeez!!] Guy at the bar gave it to us. Said it was a chocobo or something? Supposedly it's gonna take us right to Wolf whenever we're ready to board the carriage.

[ again, i'm grateful every day that she doesn't remember fire trauma. ]

We had to kill a monster, so it wasn't all great, here.

[ Wolf and Clem can hold hands over remembered fire trauma. Anyway.

The thing would technically fit in the belt! All orbs would. Taako can put whatever orb combo he wants in there. But up they go in the carriage, and off they go! Cat, rats, birds, elves and children alike. They seem to blink and get there, almost like chocobos are some kind of fast travel option? Either way, all of a sudden, they're at an abandoned church! One that looks very familiar inside.

Tending to the flowers in the middle of a sunny patch is the girl with the braid, who stands up when she hears them come in. ]

Oh, you made it! [ she peers at all four of them ] Did you bring it with you?

[ bring what. ]

No. They're my orbs! They're my orbs now, I got the belt.

[I don't think she's asking about the orbs.]

[ she just ignores sora's question because honestly like when is she not bleeding

but the girl gets a squint. she's familiar. not just because of what they've seen so far, but.

... she likes being in this church, weirdly enough. she moves right up to the flowers, like she wants to make sure they're okay? also: ]

Shush, bro. Bring what?

[...fair. but anyway they get to this church and you know what, sora's just going to openly stare at her for a moment.

also he has nothing but swords orbs and money. maybe someone else has something useful this lady would want?]

Um....

Uh...

[ she's also clueless here, but clementine holds up the flower. does she want this flower? she already has flowers here that she's apparently tending to but this is the only thing clem has to offer. ]

They're materia.

[ she's very helpful? She doesn't seem to mind Lup coming over to check on the flowers, walking casually over to Clem to grab the ones she's handing over and inspecting it before turning back to Sora? ]

Hello! We meet again. Well, not really, but you know me, don't you? [ she grins at the rest of them ] I'm Aerith.

[ there's a flash, of her standing on a hill on a starry night, flowers around her--

"Everyone dies eventually. So we need to make the most of the time we have--to live our lives the way we want to live."

She tucks the flower in a basket when they get back, headache free for once. ]

I can lead you to Cloud, but it'll be dangerous. Still want to go?

[Seems like some sorta word for Magic Items. Well, he takes care of his items, so. That's fine. Waving back at her.]

Always a competent woman behind every dumbshit adventurer, right?

[That's how these things always go.]

Uh-- Don't think there's much of a choice on that one. Headfirst it is.

[ snortlaugh. ]

Yeah, Wolf definitely needs one. Or two. Or three. [ lup, be nice. ] That's what I came in here to do, so - yeah. Still want to go.

Mind if I take a flower? [ she's got gil, they can trade. ]

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