thelockedplace | MINGLE

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MINGLE | WEEK TWO

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

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He's a smart guy, he'll pick up on it. I'd ask if you needed any help getting things together, but I figure this is all a little bit out of my wheelhouse.

[ Not a stylist or makeup artist, this one. ]

Mm, [ he half-hums, half-grunts in agreement, leaning back and breathing out slowly. ]

There has to be some kind of way out. Some angle that none of us are looking at right. Pratibha probably can't save us by herself, but if we can find out enough about how this place works something's gotta click into place, right?

[ That catches Leon by surprise, and again, he goes silent and thoughtful for a moment as he considers his answer. ]

It's... complicated. [ He looks away, debating how much he actually wants to share. It's not entirely his story to tell, but Otto's been a friend to him. He might as well let him in a little. ] Didn't think I'd get to see him again, after the way things went back home. Didn't think I really deserved to call him a friend, either. But we're here, now.

Guess not. It's probably just supposed to psych us out anyway.

[ Part of him wants to think there could be some kind of hidden message in there somewhere, but per Pratibha's warning, anything they could find would likely be another layer of the house fucking with them anyway. ]

Might as well ignore them unless something pops up that makes them seem relevant later.

Oh...

[He might not have jumped to this except for his own recent experience. As it is, his thoughts go immediately to Norman.]

Did something happen?

It depends on where you are. It's a big planet! [ She spreads her arm out. ] We have cities and countrysides and deserted land. I live on an airship, so I've been all over.

Don’t know how much he’d appreciate me spreading around, [ Leon admits. ] But… the short version is he gave a lot for me, and I spent the whole time assuming he had some ulterior motive until it was too late to give back. I’m not proud of it.

[ And the part that confuses him most is how little Luis seems to resent him for it, if at all. How he never seemed to, even when Leon was actively threatening him. ]

That does sound fun! Plenty of travel - do you work aboard it?

[Otto nods understandingly. It sounds like it was maybe a more personal question than he realized.]

He doesn't seem bothered.

[Awww... Ranma gives her a reassuring smile and a pat on the shoulder.]

Don't overthink it. Guys are pretty single-minded when it comes to datin', and you don't seem like the type of gal that could screw this up.

[Wait for it...]

Just don't try anything involving magic love-inducing mushrooms or magic umbrellas, and you two'll be alright.

[There it is.]

Want me to pick a fight with someone and give ya' something to do.

[She's kidding. Half kidding. Give her a reason to and she'll kick this himbo's ass at go.]

Hardy har ha.

[She flips her luxurious mane done up in a ponytail with a flourish.]

It was Anemone's idea. She's th' one who styled it.

[She glossed over the profiles the first day and hadn't looked back at them since, so this whole time she's assumed it was just Aqua like water. Though that'd still be blue...

Ranma had already gotten the scoop from Lortel herself, and even if she hadn't those two are together nearly half the time she's seen them that it doesn't come as a huge shock those two got together.

... Buuuuuuut because she knows and because she's a tiny lil shit, she's gonna look at Aqua with a teasing knowing look.]

You and Lortel, huh?

[Oh Yuri...]

Yeah, 'cuz you're normal? [Said in the most 'duh' tone imaginable.] Gonna be honest, first day here, ya' did remind me of a scrawny freak from home. But you're a hundred times more cool than him.

[Her not trying an occult crap or trying to stick needles in a doll of him definitely makes her better than Gos in Ranma's eyes.]

Trust me Yuri, I don't give out pity willy-nilly to anyone or sugarcoat crap. 'Specially not for cute girls like ya'.

[Ranma's too used to getting looks and others ogling her, so she won't give Shauna too much flak for the bisexual panic episode going on. She knows she's dazzling, and she's vain enough to own it.

Really, she's a tad more offended by the thought another girl thinking she needs someone to stick by her. Like she's anything but a skilled martial artist.]

I did, several times durin' the first trial. Ain't my fault you weren't listening.

[Crossing her arms behind her head.]

Besides, 'Hey, I'm a chick half of the time' isn't somethin' I go 'round promoting to anyone.

[If Shauna were in her shoes, she wouldn't scream from the rooftops that she could change into a dude, would she?]

Too bad. Even if the last remaining strand of it was still potent, it wouldn't work on you.

[Story time. Ranma's gonna stretch a leg while her sister dolls up her locks.]

There was this freaky dragon whisker this guy used for stock in this porridge meant for curing male-pattern baldness. When a bald guy eats it, it gives them a full head of hair. [Resting her cheek on her palm, mouth pressed thin into a straight line.]

If a guy with hair eats it [like he foolishly did], it causes his hair to go crazy and grow out massive all over the place. 'Till they either run out a lifetime of hair, or in my case, change to a girl. One of the few times having a curse actually saved my butt.

[And scalp.]

[That's exactly what the fake Anemone would say!!!]

Maybe. Or whoever she styled is just a natural bombshell.

[Even on a night such as this, Ranma's teases aren't going to take a rainy day. She keeps her trademark smirk while offering her hand.]

Wanna dance? It'd get sad seeing you just standing 'round through the whole night.

...Touché. Half-assing stuff's never been my style.

[Yadda yadda carpe diem, seize the day. If they gotta party, then he wants to party like he's gonna die young.]

[ now that wins a smile. She’s careful not to turn her head and disturb anemone’s work, but she’s glancing sideways to try and glimpse her out of the corner of her eye. ]

Of course you are. [ a humming laugh. ] I don’t know what an LFO is. Tell me all about it.

[ a soft, startled laugh. She happily pulls the other girl in, moving easily in time with the music. ]

How mercenary of you. Was that your goal all along~?

[ a laugh ]

You, who stands at attention in the corner during every get together?

[ tease, tease~ ]

… thank you, Leon. For being so sweet.

… right, [ she agrees, smiling, wondering at their fates. ]

[ she laughs. She laughs and laughs, a wholly sincere sound. ]

I’ve never met anyone who’s led a stranger life.

He doesn't. [ Leon agrees. ] Kinda makes it feel worse.

[ Like he thinks he deserved the treatment. Leon's lips press into a thin, thoughtful frown. ]

I should probably just be grateful that I got to apologize. There's some silver linings to this whole mess, I guess.

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MINGLE | WEEK TWO

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crawls in with starbucks after a billion years

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crawls back in after eons

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crawls in with starbucks after a billion years

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