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

Ball Toplevels

[iflickerback]

Getting Ready

["Girls, I’ve found our lost maiden. Let’s all help her out, hm?"

Having been walked to the wardrobe, that was a surprising thing she heard.]

H- huh? I was... at the library...

At the Ball

[Now that the ball has started properly, Yuri... opts to stick near the wall. She's having a good time watching other people. Honest! She doesn't need to do anything more!]

[treebornekettlegirl]

[Despite Yuri's best efforts, it's impossible to miss the big purple wallflower masquerading as a fly on the wall. Cue Ranma, dressed in only her finest wear, stepping right over to where Yuri's standing.]

What'cha doing standin' all the way over here?

[iflickerback]

Ah, um... I'm just watching over everyone. They look like they're enjoying themselves.

[treebornekettlegirl]

But what 'bout you, Yuri? You're not seriously gonna spend the whole party watching everybody else having fun, are you?

[Why'd she even come to the ball if she wasn't going to participate?]

[iflickerback]

Huh? What's wrong with watching everyone? ...What are you supposed to do at a ball?

[treebornekettlegirl]

Eat, chat, dance. The sorta stuff people do at gatherin's and parties.

[Or fight, but that isn't precedent here.]

You've never been to one before?

[With how demure Yuri can be, it wouldn't shock Ranma if she'd rather be anywhere but socializing.]

[iflickerback]

[Eat, chat, and dance, huh? Ranma, it really seems like you enjoy sticking your neck out to help people, even in the smallest ways, such as giving advice like this. Yuri can't help but smile a little before turning it into a small frown.]

I've never really had friends since before I joined that literature club I'm in... or rather... I've always only considered books my friends. I was never invited to any parties or over to anyone's houses.

I'd normally be reading books by now, but... Lortel talked me into coming.

She called me normal.

[treebornekettlegirl]

[Hey, she can be a great guy when she wants to be. And when people around her are actually chill.]

I get'cha. I've only started going to parties and big fancy events recently, for one reason or 'nother.

[Really, the only times she gets to get her party on is either for genuine fun times or when she's forced into fighting to get out of being some prick's bride.

... Huh. Ranma looks at Yuri slightly perplexed by what amounted to an obvious observation.]

And? Lortel ain't wrong, you're one of the most normal person I've met. It's honestly, I'unno, cathartic?

[Trust her, she's met her fair share of weirdos and oddballs.]

[iflickerback]

[This is throwing Yuri for a loop. At first, she doesn't know what to say... So she fidgets with her hair while gathering her thoughts.]

...I... S- some of my clubmates tell me I tend to overthink things. But... Sometimes, I can feel like I'm too obsessive over things, that I have weird hobbies, that I'm not graceful...

But everyone here keeps on telling me I'm normal.

[Yuri looks away.]

...I... it's hard to think of it as the truth when it just feels like it's pity most of the time. In general, people reassuring me or wanting to just cheer me up.

crawls in with starbucks after a billion years

[treebornekettlegirl]

[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'.

[richesse]

Yuri~

I’m glad you came. It’s not so bad, is it? Especially when you look so lovely.

[iflickerback]

Y- yes, it's... nice, I guess.

[richesse]

[ smiles, nice and sweet. ]

Would you like to dance?

[iflickerback]

[Yuri looks away and starts fidgeting with her hair.]

I... don't know how to...

[richesse]

I can show you.

[ smile, smile ]

[iflickerback]

[Yuri blinks, taking a moment to gather her thoughts.]

Um... if it'll help me...

[richesse]

Help you? I just want you to enjoy yourself.

[iflickerback]

I'm not really good with people... I don't really know what to do at balls. But if there's any other balls or parties happening in the future...

...Perhaps learning how to dance will be beneficial to me.

[richesse]

Or it could just be fun.

[ she’ll reach out for Yuri’s hands, leaving her own empty and palm up for Yuri to take, or not, as she chooses. ]

[iflickerback]

[Yuri will look at the palm, gather up her thoughts once more, take a breath and...

...She takes the palm.]

[selfreliar]

That's a beautiful dress.

[Aqua offers her a glass of punch, since she's been hovering by the wall this long.]

[iflickerback]

Ah- Th- thank you... I usually don't dress this... fancy.

[selfreliar]

Most people don't. That's what makes our brains recognize dressing up like this as special, and worthy of special attention.

[iflickerback]

[...Okay, how does Yuri even respond to that?]

...Um. Okay.

[Yuri finally notices the punch and will take it.]

Ah- S- sorry. Thank you.

[selfreliar]

Of course. You're welcome.

[If this is awkward for him, he doesn't let it show. He simply sips his own punch, letting his gaze shift away across the other partygoers, before he speaks up again.]

At an event like this, holding a drink makes it look like you belong, even if you don't feel it yourself. At least, that's what I've found.