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.

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[soulus]

[Once the visions fade, taking the tragic memories with them, Rufus turns away from the group. This isn't the time to be discussing what they just saw, and dwelling on the last set of memories in particular won't help them any. He doesn't so much as spare Izumo a glance as he steps away to look for that lever.]

[horologia]

[ glad rufus is on it, because while yuuri would help,

the world comes apart in pink. a brilliant pink glow to spell the world's end- this... has happened before, hasn't it?

her breathing hitches, the thrum of deep-seated sorrow and horror running through her veins without calling up any true recollection, and she grips more tightly onto her bow without understanding why. ]

[arcsplainist]

[ As the memories flash before them and fade just as quickly, Alphinaud isn't as quick to search as Rufus is. He freezes, holding his breath without realizing, but he does take the moment to spare Izumo a look. His heart aches at the sight, but they cannot stop for anything—and it doesn't seem as if Izumo wants to, either.

Still—he's quickly at her side, giving one of her hands a gentle, reassuring squeeze. But then, he wastes no more time. ]

The lever, then—search for it, imme—

[ Alphinaud is cut short because suddenly there is like... a poof. And where he was just a second ago now stands a white, fluffy llama; it's half the height of a full grown one, how cute. Well, how weird! Anyway. Levers, right? ]

[retellers]

[

there's a baby llama here.

anyway, there does not seem to be a lever for anyone to find so easily, but unlike last time there is a sword hanging out right in the middle of that portal, so maybe? there?

the cat is sitting on top of the portal, by the way. it's just there. ]

[sacredchants]

[ hm. would love to be of use but... seems a bit clear as to what they need to do? ish?? either get the cat or get the sword then cat? sorry homura for your bsod but izumo needs one more moment.

because suddenly boyfriend is a llama which is something that she wishes was something of a surprise for her but given the dubious date of which this is taking place, izumo is kind of...aware of it. just unfortunate(?) that it's now. or maybe it's fine because izumo is now just going to bring a hand to her face and put another on top of llama!alphi's head.

there's always too much going on here. ]

[soulus]

[The search for a lever comes up fruitless. Rufus tries the sword next by approaching the portal. Behind him, Rupe bounds after and then stands poised to shoot the cat again, should it move.]

[horologia]

[ it's fine, because yuuri's response to trauma these days is to find the next important thing to shoot. or accomplish, anyway. she can't be made useless, won't be made useless, even if it's far too late to be doing anything about that. backlash against bad memories you don't even have out of sheer spite.

go be king arthur of the electric sword, Rufus. maybe adora can tackle a cat again. there's not much for her to do here other than watch the car, is there? ]

[arcsplainist]

[ There is a baby llama here, who just makes... a llama noise in surprise. This is the worst.

But it's fine! There is little to do here but see what comes of Rufus' efforts to retrieve the sword and also keep a close eye on the cat. ]

[retellers]

[ I'm in tears at baby llama. Either way, Rufus grabs the sword-- and Homura was right that he will feel a bit of an electric current, but that's fun and neat and not a bother at all. Rupe does not get to shoot the cat again because the cat is just there. Being present.

There's, you will never guess it, a flash of light--

And then they're in a different area altogether. The world does not seem to be falling apart anymore, at least, but Adora is no longer with them. They seem to be alone in a castle once more. Except...

There's two paths in front of them? The first is well-lit, but breaking down the more it goes on, like it's falling apart and can't hold itself together. The second is darker and getting darker as it goes, but at least looks like it's leading somewhere, considering the other one might be full of rubble. Who knows! ]

[sacredchants]

[ WHY IS ANAIS SAYING THIS IS THE WORST. SHE DID THIS.

anyway izumo is also lamenting how alphi is still a llama. she'll keep a hand on llama!alphi's head and pet him reassuringly (hopefully). maybe it's best this way? can't think about her trauma when your mind is focused on a llama instead. ...or that would be the case if they weren't brought to yet another new location.

two paths. great.

boy does she hate this cyoa so much. it was terrible the first time and now it's bad a second time. even though she has a suggestion in mind, she'll want to take a closer look at each path. anything else noteworthy of the two options at hand? ]

I know this sounds crazy, but I would suggest we go down the path that's falling apart.

[soulus]

[The scene has changed again. Rufus pulls out a compass from his pocket and heads where it points down the dark path.]

I will follow this path.

[horologia]

... Should we split up, or stick together, then?

[ because she, too, wants to go down the dark path. ]

[arcsplainist]

[ Baby llama is the best. A llama also cannot make any suggestions on where to go, and the only reason he is okay with headpats is because it's Izumo (and even then it's a little... embarrassing...). Still, he cants his head curiously at Izumo, and also seems to regard Rufus' compass in some questioning manner? What does that do.

But he can't ask, because he is a llama. Hopefully Rufus just understands llama body language. ]

[retellers]

[ There is unfortunately not much to either path, right now. They just look like hallways. One is well-lit but broken down and the other is dark but pretty and shiny.

Neither of them have a llama in it YET, but I can't wait for llama. ]

[sacredchants]

We're definitely not splitting up. [ resolutely.

she doesn't agree with the dark path but she won't disagree with it. and she'll unknowingly put to voice alphi's question—more or less. ]

Is that compass telling you where to go or is it something else?

[ despite saying this, she's going to be following rufus down the dark path. she has her reservations, but given what happened before—it's fine. they can always turn around if it gets bad.

...hopefully anyway. ]

[soulus]

It points to that which is lost.

[Hopefully that something is a person. Joined by Izumo and Rupe, Rufus navigates the dark hallway while there's visibility.]

[horologia]

As promising as anything else here.

[ etc etc all she can really be here is drastic measures, so. onward. ]

[arcsplainist]

[ Then you shall be getting the gift of llama.

Which is to say, Alphinaud can't comment on the compass, but he can follow! With whatever little noise llamas make, he falls into a step behind the crew. ]

[retellers]

[ The hallway starts out dark and only gets darker, but it'll at least still take a bit before they get completely in the dark? It feels like an unending hallway, so there's not much but darkness awaiting them.

What they will get, however, is a voice. Swan's, mostly, popping up now and then as they go deeper into the darkness, though there's other voices now and then.

I know I'm a big disappointment!

Am I the Queen? Because it seems like you're the one giving all the orders!

"Using your own friends as decoy? Wow. Didn't think you had it in you."

It's because Shadow Weaver actually listened when you and Bow kept leaving without me!

"That's why you should listen instead of pushing us away--"

She-Ra was supposed to save us. But the Rebellion's in a worst place than ever since YOU showed up!

Maybe your best isn't good enough. If it was, my mother would still be here!

Adora, I'm sorry-

And you, stop trying to barrel ahead with your own plans!

Just go to Light Hope and ASK her.

... They don't trust me, I don't trust them.

"... Looks like we're both alone, Sparkles."

As they go through the hallway, they might find themselves remembering things, too. Whether they realize it or not depends on what, surely. ]

[sacredchants]

[ there's something about the voices that they can hear and how certain points that resonate within izumo for reasons that she doesn't know. rather, for reasons that she feels like she might have forgotten? a person. a name. someone annoying who kept pushing her.

someone who she might have said things like this to. it's strange—the voices are strange as it seems a bit perverted to be seeing one of the leaders' memories and insecurities like this but. well....

it doesn't matter, izumo is going to be walking into the darkness/following rufus as he leads the way. if anything, she'll keep tabs on homura and her boyfriend llama to make sure everyone is with them and not suddenly going to stray off anywhere. ]

[soulus]

[It wouldn't be the first time that the Realm has broadcast their memories without warning, with or without visuals. Seeing is harder now, but Rufus keeps his gaze fixed on the inky darkness ahead of him as he walks.

The hallway has to end at some point—or shift like all the previous scenes up until now.

If he remembers something along the way, he says nothing of it.]

[horologia]

[ it's no more invasive than many witches' labyrinths, between the ones that broadcast the intruders' worst memories for all to see as a defense mechanism, and the ones that simply are more reflective in nature - perhaps literally.

this is nothing she hasn't seen before, nothing she can't put out of mind. these memories are none of her business, the insecurities of others something she has no right to.

they don't trust me, i don't trust them.

yes, that's familiar, isn't it? 'i won't rely on anyone anymore.' if you rely only on yourself, then the only one you can blame when things go wrong is yourself.

it's better that way. better than being let down because you thought better of someone else than they were, isn't it? the only thing to do is carry on.

forward, through the dark. the frequency of the flashbacks means they should be nearing some kind of end, shouldn't it? ]

[arcsplainist]

[ No worries, Izumo, he is not going anywhere, still padding along down the hall with the group.

It's hard to tell what he's thinking, because animals don't really have facial expressions. But he does hope the end comes soon, if only for Swan's sake. ]

[retellers]

[ There's a light at the end of the tunnel... literally! There's a light the furthest out they go, and finally they reach it-- the scene glitches out a few times, like the scene of an entirely different battle, but they're seemingly back in what adora had dubbed the frightzone.

Except it's night and there are stars in the sky, for once. People are fighting in the destroyed buildings, fire and robots sharing about the same amount of space as plants, water and ice, but where they are there's a glowing stone. The cat they've been seeing this whole time (and have shot at least once) is sitting in front of it, waiting for something. ]

[sacredchants]

[ hello....? that glitch?

another memory, clearly, but shame there's not a lot of time to digest it given what they're brought back into. you know, nothing like a scene of a battle to get everyone excited about what's to come. you know, izumo really like cats but given what has happened as a result of this cat—

sometimes you just need to change your tune a bit. ]

You.

[ cue her marching towards the cat. (what about the battlefield? what about the battlefield??) maybe there was something to this cat. she has no idea how any of this works together and the cat didn't show up in the previous memories but adora did and adora has a connection to it. ]