MINGLE | WEEK TWO

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MINGLE LOG | WEEK 2
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Greetings, house guests. Surely you're getting into the swing of things, by now? Though, a friendly reminder: there is no escape.


Sunday is, once again, a quiet and likely somber day. At least, until there's one hopefully welcome surprise: belongings from back home that you may have missed will be delivered to your rooms today, if you did not come in with them. (Note: these should be the personal items from your applications, if your characters don't already have them on hand. The dead's personal items WILL NOT be appearing.)

Iris, Shauna, and anyone else in the house who might be considered a mother will also find a red carnation in a small vase by their bedsides. Enjoy these small creature comforts. You have earned them.

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

Come Monday, everyone will once again wake up to a most unpleasant surprise: their motive for the week. This one is more immediately apparent than the last; the house's hunger has not been sated.

Pratibha is, once again, nowhere to be found, but this time, she's absent every day this week. What's up with that? (Should you feel strongly about this, you may attempt to find her.)

Bucking tradition, this week's first puzzle also arrives on Monday; it unlocks, of all things, a huge wardrobe full of fancy clothes. What could all this be for?

On Tuesday, the second puzzle appears; and it unlocks, this time, a grand ballroom.

On Wednesday, it will become clear what this week's locations are for. Because the ballroom doors open by themselves at 6 PM sharp, and reveal:

A ball. Splendid and scintillating, this gracefully lit space is warmed by the sound of distant music that has no apparent source. There are tables for food and drink, and more tables besides at which to sit. The star, however, is the dance floor; are you feeling brave enough to step out there? More importantly: with whom as your partner?

The windows display only endless green forest before night falls. Twilight and rising darkness paint the ballroom in shadows and shades of gold. All of it is enchanting and lovely to behold. The ballroom even sports numerous little nooks for ... privacy.

Remember, above all, rule 5: Get to know each other. Become friends. Become more. Who cares. Just do it.

Thursday brings calm after the busy storm of the ball. Rest, recuperate, and reflect; you all know what tomorrow brings.

Friday is investigation time once again. The investigation post will go live at 3 PM EST, 5/16.

Saturday is the day of your second real ritual. You may find the ritual post here at 12 PM EST, 5/17.

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday

code bases by tricklet

Comments

[iflickerback]

...I don't know.

...

Ranma was... nice.

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

... Yeah. I liked him.

[ At the lack of immediate rejection, Leon crosses the room and sits down on one of the armchairs across from Yuri, perched on the edge of the seat and resting his elbow on his knee and his chin in his hand. ]

He was a good kid. Wish I could've gotten to know him better.

[selfreliar]

[Aqua's back in Room 1, in his bunk, the back of his hand across his eyes. He doesn't move right away, but he's not pretending to sleep, either.]

...I won't say no.

[This was Rough, fam.]

[richesse]

Don’t be so self-sacrificial. I never took you for the type.

[ sorry, her brain-to-mouth filter is on the fritz today. ]

This was the most despressed looking icon I had.

[eldritchwaifu]

[ A startling, inhuman cry rings through the halls when Zoe hears of Ranma's death. These are the sobs of someone who considered Ranma a friend. Someone who enjoyed hanging around the wayward fighty boy. Someone who wished she could just hard reset the universe to bring everyone back... But knew she no longer could, even without the House's interference.

Later that night, you might find her in the dining room already drawing his picture for the memorial. Now that she has her sketchbook and not just a journal for writing, she's trying to make sure he gets both sides of him represented inside a Ying Yang symbol...

It's kind of hard to draw when you're trying not to cry all over the paper. ]

We'll find who did this... [ She mumbles to herself in between sobs. ] I swear we're gonna avenge you or die trying...!

[richesse]

That’s the spirit.

[ Lortel smiles a thin sliver of a smile. She has the Gekkaja with her. Of course she does. ]

I won’t forgive them for what they’ve done.

[richesse]

Not at all, Shauna.

[ tilts her head; the shadow of sympathy plays about her eyes. ]

Are you alright? You seemed shaken back there.

[richesse]

[ the tone of his voice actually gets a laugh out of her. the hollow smile persists as she directs it down at the weapon in her arms. ]

It was Ranma’s. We found it near her body.

[selfreliar]

[He smiles a little again. Leaning in, he presses another sweet kiss, not to her lips, but her forehead. Like she's adorable.]

You don't have to try so hard to keep me. I'll be wrapped around your finger whatever you do.

[madderbloom]

[ Anemone sits by herself in the greenhouse, plucking petals off flowers and singing lifelessly. ]

Ring around the rosie
Pockets full of posies
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down ♪

[richesse]

[ frowns very crookedly, like she’s trying not to smile. ]

Keep talking like that and I’ll be forced to kiss you again.

[inlocked]

[ of all the people to come find her—

It’s Pratibha who seeks her out. She’s damn worried. This was part of why she said today’s investigation would be rough. ]

… hey. Can I, uh. Can I join you?

[madderbloom]

[ She thinks of how to phrase this. ]

Can somebody's magic be stolen? Could that make them sick?

[selfreliar]

[While he's mildly surprised, the possessive move itself doesn't seem to bother him.]

Thanks. I try.

[Not that he has to. Yay, genetics.]

Having fun so far?

[ratmanreed]

I’m not the type. Not at all.

[Gavin scowls, but only for a second. Then it’s gone. Expression flat.]

It’s not as if me saying that changes anything. Just words.

[He doesn’t bother pointing out that he could be the killer, just like anyone else here — tomorrow will have enough suspicion flung around.]

[madderbloom]

Pratibha! Is that really you?

[ Anemone looks happy to see her, but her smile is off kilter. ]

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Good, 'cause I don't really feel like being alone right now, myself.

[ He could handle it. He's been through worse on his own. But he's worried about everybody in the wake of all this. Aqua's good at at least pretending to keep it together, but Leon's starting to get the sense that they're alike in some ways, when it comes to high pressure situations, for better or worse.

He sits down on the edge of the pull out bed, breathing out slowly. ]

I know we're not really supposed to talk details until tomorrow, but. Pratibha wasn't exaggerating when she warned us this morning, was she? [ They both know she wouldn't, for one thing. But for another, what he and Edgeworth found in the laundry room... ]

[bouchere]

I'm fine.

[ She's not, but Lortel isn't the right person to get into that isn't the first dismembered body I've touched. There's no sense in piling that trauma on someone who clearly had been close to Ranma.]

Ranma was my roommate originally. If I hadn't changed rooms...

[ Maybe whatever would have killed her. Maybe they could have fought it. ]

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

I see. Probably a good idea for one of us to hang on to it for now, then.

[ Looks pretty dangerous, but he can't really talk as the guy who's been walking around with a tactical knife in his pocket since day one. He settles down across from Lortel, frowning. ]

So you saw what happened, huh? Was... was that you I heard screaming, earlier?

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Anemone.

[ Leon's voice comes gentle from the entrance to the greenhouse, where he leans against the doorframe. ]

Sorry to interrupt, but. You want some company? Or would you rather be on your own, for a bit?

[inlocked]

Yeah, course it’s me. Aren’t we friends?

[ … goes to find a place to sit close to anemone. ]

… so … how are you?

[madderbloom]

Oh Lortel, you're the first person to ask. The guys are so hopeless.

[ A girl's been waiting! Anemone curtsies and happily takes Lortel's hand. ]

[madderbloom]

Good. That's good. I'd be mad if you died on me like Ranma.

[ She latches on to Pratibha's arm just to make sure she's really here. ]

Tomorrow's ritual...I'm looking forward to it!

[richesse]

Then why say it at all?

[ pauses; shuts her eyes ]

… sorry. I’m… I don’t know what’s come over me.

[richesse]

Why are you holding yourself responsible for a thing you couldn’t possibly know would happen?