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

[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 ♪

[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]

Pratibha! Is that really you?

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

[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]

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!

1/3

[inlocked]

[inlocked]

[ that’s fucked up. ]

[inlocked]

Wwwwwwwwwhy?

[madderbloom]

The house is hungry and so am I!

[ She wants blood. ]

[inlocked]

… Anemone, don’t. You can’t … stoop to its level. It’ll just destroy you. I don’t want that to happen.

[madderbloom]

It's too late for me, Pratibha. I'm already...

[ She looks down at her hands and the scattered red petals at her feet. ]

[inlocked]

No. Don’t you dare fucking say that. Aren’t we friends?! You’re gonna leave me, too?!

[madderbloom]

Everyone leaves.

[ Anemone spins in place, her dress swishing. ]

The house takes and takes and takes! Which one of us do you think will go first?

[inlocked]

[ seizes her by the shoulders. ]

Stop it. This isn't like you.

[madderbloom]

How do you know if I'm me? Even I don't know all the thoughts in my head.

[inlocked]

[ angrily, very angrily, pulls the other girl into a so-tight-it's-a-little-uncomfortable hug.

She may or may not be trying not to cry. ]

1/2

[madderbloom]

[ It hurts. Everything hurts. She doesn't want to feel — ]

[madderbloom]

[ Anemone gives her a reassuring(?) smile. ]

Pratibha? It'll be okay. Everything will be okay tomorrow.

[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?

[madderbloom]

Hi Leon!

[ When Anemone turns to look at him, her eyes are bloodshot but she's smiling. ]

...Ranma was supposed to be our bodyguard, you know, 'cause we switched rooms! Zoe, him, and I! But looks like he wasn't cut out for it! I mean, what kind of bodyguard gets himself killed! Right?

[ She's rambling. ]

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

[ Oh. Yeah he's seen this response before too. All that grief turned into a kind of fury. Easier to be mad at someone for being gone when the pain hits a certain point. His expression falls just a little in sympathy, and he sits down on one of the benches nearby. ]

Kind with a lot of troubles of their own, I figure. [ He's not going to scold her for reacting this way. He gets it. But he's not going to play along, either. ] We'll find out what happened tomorrow. But I can't imagine he didn't do his best to stay with all of us. With you.

[madderbloom]

His best wasn't good enough!

[ An outburst. Then she laughs and her voice cools. ]

I want a word with everyone tomorrow. Don't they know? Sisters have first dibs on throttling their brothers.

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Sometimes that's how it is. Sometimes everything a person has still isn't enough. It's not fair. It never is. But that's now things go.

[ He breathes out, slowly. ]

I wouldn't know. I grew up an only child. But I get being mad right now, believe me.

[madderbloom]

I'm not angry! I know I only have to wait until tomorrow. Pratibha doesn't get it, though.

[ She is angry. This is the kind of weird coping mechanism where she's so mad she's circled around to being eerily calm. ] .

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

[ HmmmmmmMMMMMMMM concern. ]

I guess one way or another we’ll find out what happened, then, yeah. Wouldn’t expect much more catharsis from this than any of the other times, though. Maybe I’m wrong, though.