MINGLE | WEEK ONE

[lockedmods]

MINGLE LOG | WEEK 1
Premise | Rooming | Full Nav

Greetings, house guests. You must be a little more familiar with how things work around here now. There is no escape.

One thing does seem to have changed: characters can now freely investigate the now unlocked Crypt.

On Sunday, nothing much at all happens. Better take the time to rest, recuperate, and decide your next steps. Maybe you have people you want to talk to after that … shit show? Now’s the time: unload those feelings.

Alternatively, with the pantry open with plenty of food available, why not wander into the kitchen for a snack and a chat with whoever is there?

(Don't forget to check out the post-trial afterparty!)

Come Monday, everyone will make up to a most unpleasant surprise: their motive for the week.

Unfortunately for those characters with questions about the motive, Pratibha is nowhere to be found afterwards. Additionally, all the profile entries for Leona, Phoenix, and Yoojin have changed. It’s a fairly clear indicator that they are dead. Enjoy this useful information!

On Tuesday, there are two noticeable changes. The first is that there is a new puzzle. The second thing? Pratibha’s presence. She's finally back. Why was she missing on Sunday and Monday? Why does she seem so … out of it? She’s all curled up in the laundry room this time, intermittently snoozing in the little nook off to one side.

On Wednesday, Pratibha is gone again. And so, unfortunately, is one of your own. What happened? Who is it? All subsequent headers, including Wednesday's, will be frozen until a Wednesday event can take place. We will announce to the playerbase once Wednesday's thread is live for you to investigate!

Thursday brings a very specific change: after 9 PM, no one get into, or out of, your rooms. Plan wisely. You may get stuck in the halls, which might be fine … except we know what happened last Thursday night.

Thursday also brings with it another new puzzle.

Friday is investigation time The investigation post will go live at 3 PM EST, 5/9.

Saturday is the day of your “first” real ritual. You may find the ritual post here at 12 PM EST, 5/10.

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday

code bases by tricklet

Comments

[inlocked]

It’s Leon, right.

[ she’ll eventually pipe up after watching him for a while. ]

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Yeah, that's me. [ Leon says, folding his laundry as he talks. ] Would've said 'hi' sooner, but it's been a busy couple of days. You holding up okay? Or uh, as okay as anyone can be, in a place like this.

[inlocked]

Don’t worry about it. You’ve all got a lot on your minds, pretty sure.

[ folds her arms loosely over her middle, just watching him. ]

… don’t feel great, for whatever reason, but yeah, I’m fine. Just … drained, I guess. I mean—fuck, I shouldn’t complain. You guys have it worse than I do.

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Hey, as far as I can tell you're as trapped here as any of the rest of us. And maybe I'm wrong, but it doesn't exactly seem like you're having a great time playing the messenger for us.

[ Leon shrugs, looking up from his stack of laundry. ]

Anyway. Playing the Suffering Olympics never helped anyone in a bad situation. You think there's anything I can do to help? A coffee, or something?

[ She looks pretty well beyond the point of being tired where coffee's gonna make a big difference, but it's the only thing he can think of offhand. If nothing else, he feels like he should offer. ]

[inlocked]

I am having the worst fucking time! Thanks for noticing.

[ … sighs through her nose ]

… I like tea. But don’t. I dunno, don’t go out of your way. I’m fine.

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

What can I say, I'm a pretty observant guy, [ Leon says, deadpan. ] And I'll keep that in mind.

[ He won't fuss over her like he's her mom or anything - if she says she's fine he'll respect that, at least for right now - but now he knows her drink preferences, at least. He might have to ask Yuri or one of the others about how to brew tea well, but he can worry about that later.

For now he goes quiet for another moment, doublechecking the lint trap on the dryer and making sure the room's cleaned up and ready for whoever shows up next. ]

...I do mean it, by the way. I know whatever's going on with how you got here is different than the rest of us, but as far as I'm concerned? That's not a reason to treat you like you're the enemy. I know I can't speak for everybody here, but. You know. If you need anything?

[ He lets that last statement hang in the air, shrugging. He's here to help. So's Luis. So's Otto. ]

[inlocked]

[ abruptly she looks like she wants to burst into tears. ]

I don’t deserve this. You and Luis and Otto and Zoe and Anemone and everyone who’s been fucking nice to me. I don’t deserve it, Leon!

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

[ Oh. Yeah, Leon's seen this before, too. His expression goes softer, more concerned, and he considers reaching out before deciding against it, instead leaning against the washing machine and folding his arms over his chest. ]

Hey. I'm not gonna pretend to know what your situation is or what you've done to get here, but if it helps? Look at it this way. What do I have to gain by being a dick to you, knowing what I do right now? Seems like you're trying to help us, even if there's something stopping you from sharing everything.

[ After seeing what happened to Phoenix for not playing along nicely enough, he thinks he can maybe understand having some driving prey animal fear of breaking both the rules and anything that could be a rule. And he also has spent enough time pushing away people who were trying to help him because of their past mistakes. He's done doing that, for right now. ]

[inlocked]

[ an ugly wet sniff. ]

You’ve even got a functioning brain. You’re just the whole package.

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

[ He smiles, looking a little melancholy despite his best efforts, but that's not unusual for him. He's kind of got one of those faces. Also, one of those lives. ]

Haven't gotten all the sense knocked out of me just yet. Not for anyone's lack of trying, though. [ He taps his knuckles to his temple. You can fit so many head injuries in this bad boy - ] Sure you don't want that cup of tea now? Happy to stop bothering you about it after this, but the offer's still on the table.

[inlocked]

… you know what?

Sure. I’d … I’d really love some tea.

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Coming right up. You wanna follow me to the kitchen, or stay here? Your choice.

[ He gets it, if she doesn't exactly want to be up and about right now. Or run the risk of running into too many of the others. ]

[inlocked]

[ fidgets. ]

I will absolutely feel like a total asshole if I make you bring me tea.

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

You're not making me do anything, I volunteered. If it makes you feel better, though, come on. Let's go.

[ He'll hold open the laundry room door for her and everything. ]

[inlocked]

[ totters to her feet—

—and almost falls over, catching herself on one of the washing machines. She grits her teeth in real frustration. ]

God fucking dammit.

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

[ Leon instinctively reaches out to grab her by the shoulder (gently!) to try to help steady her. ]

Maybe you should stay here, for now. Have you eaten anything at all, today? [ Or... at all? Has he actually seen Pratibha eat anything the entire time he's been here? Has anyone? ]

[inlocked]

I can eat. [ doesn’t clarify if she has to. ]

… I hate making you play errand boy for me.

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Yeah, I can get that. [ He's never liked asking for help or even receiving it without having to ask, either. It's a kind of stubbornness he can appreciate. ] But remember - you're not making me do anything. I'm doing this because I want to. Not like I have anywhere better to be, right?

[ He'll give her a thumbs up and head out...

...Only to come back in a few seconds later. ]

Forgot to ask. What kind of tea do you like? I think we've got a lot of them in the pantry.

[inlocked]

Leon.

[ she looks like she’s trying not to laugh at him. ]

Maybe, uh, I dunno, earl gray?

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

[ Ha! Got a smile out of her, or at least something close to one. Leon'll take that as a small victory. ]

Got it. Second time's the charm.

[ And he'll go again, this time gone for a good while longer before reappearing with a pot of tea, a pair of mugs, and two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which he'll set down by Pratibha. ]

Here. I'm not much of a tea drinker myself, but I figured I might as well face the consequences too if I screwed up brewing this.

[ He didn't, for the record. Or at the very least he read the instructions on the back of the box of teabags like three times and followed them to the letter. ]

[inlocked]

[ Did ... HE just smile? May wonders never cease.

She'll hang out in the lil laundry nook until he gets back, humming tunelessly and bopping a foot to the "melody."

When he returns she looks up with a bright smile ... and then laughs. It makes her feel better he brought food and drink for two, instead of just her. ]

I mean, how hard is it to brew tea? I'm sure it's fine. [ She takes her sandwich, smiling down at it with a soft look. ]

... you're not the first person to bring me food, and it still feels like ... I dunno. Like nothing I deserve that you guys definitely insist upon anyway.

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

It’s my first time doing it since I was like, eight, and my grandma did most of the work then. You shouldn’t overestimate me.

[ He leans against the washing machine again and takes a bite of his own sandwich. ]

Yeah? Well, I don’t think it’s anything we wouldn’t do for any of the others. Hard to think of you as being exempt when you’re clearly having a rough time too.

[inlocked]

I think I’m estimating you just fine, you big dork.

[ takes a bite. it’s somehow … nostalgic, in a way she can’t place. comforting. ]

… whatever time I may or may not be having, you guys have it worse. [ firmly. ] Don’t … spare me too much pity.

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

If you're sure about that. [ He shrugs, not fully convinced but not willing to press the subject of who has it worse. Again, participating in the Suffering Olympics never solved anything. ] Still, I can care about how you're doing without it being a pity thing.

[inlocked]

Of course you can. You are one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.