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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Comments

[discernments]

[ Of course she lets him take her hand, and for a second, her eyes seem to shine with tears before she blinks and they're gone. ]

As much as I could, however much that is here. I'm not one to stand too still.

[recrowns]

[oh.

the tears seem to surprise him for a moment, taking him aback as he tries to find a way to persist - or words to say afterward.]

... so you aren't.

[neither is he.

and yet.]

... are you alright?

[he still feels as though - well, as though he should ask.]

[discernments]

Is there a reason why I wouldn't be?

[ The dead have returned. ]

[recrowns]

[ . . . there is just a moment where he seems to weigh his answer - before just shaking his head.]

... no, I suppose not.

Though I do feel better - now that I get to see you again.

[a little bit better than alright.]

[discernments]

[ Her grip on his hand tightens almost unconsciously. ]

The tears I did not let fall were because I was that much more happy to see you again, so I am more alright than I was before.

[ Her smile is small but soft. ]

Is that a better answer?

[recrowns]

[ . . . for him?

it manages to surprise him, just a bit. even now. still there's just a moment where he pauses, eyebrows raising - before his expression settles into something soft. fond.]

... all of your answers are good.

[and it feels a bit too selfish, to say that he likes this one more. even if it does affect his heart in a certain way.]

I'm happy to see you too.

[and he'll use his hand in hers to pull her gently closer, close enough for an embrace]

[discernments]

[ She draws closer to him with no resistance. It's a little hard to resist his gravity right now. ]

One day my answer could be to call you foolish. Would that still be good?

[ She may be joking, but she may also be serious. ]

[recrowns]

Oh, I'm sure I'll deserve it.

[and he says that without hesitation because he knows that at times he's foolish and stubborn - and while he'd never go so far as to call jeanne foolish

there are things she does he cannot agree with, and she is just as certain in her judgment as he tends to be in his.

regardless, he pulls her closer if only to have her close and to give her a hug after a week apart and he wonders when that much started to feel like a bit too long.]

[discernments]

[ She returns the embrace, and her arms go around him almost tentatively at first. ]

I feel as if I could call you anything, and you'd accept it.

[ There's a small sigh, one that even she isn't sure if it's meant to be in exasperation or if it's relief at simply hearing his voice because even if they won't always agree on what they do, it really is terrible how long one week felt.

When maybe it shouldn't have. ]