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

[doctopoda]

[Otto contemplates him sidelong for a moment. He's not quite sure what to make of all that - he's not sure he ought to acknowledge it at all.]

...does it help, having a friend here? One from home?

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

[ 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.

[doctopoda]

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?

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

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. ]

[doctopoda]

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

He doesn't seem bothered.

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

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.

[doctopoda]

Mmm. Yes.

[.....]

I've mentioned that I got pulled into another dimension before coming here, haven't I?

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Hm? Yeah, you did. Your first encounter with the wizardly kind, right?

[ He's not sure where Otto is going with this, but he's listening. ]

[doctopoda]

Yes, that. Because it was dimensional travel, of course it involved pulling us out of the time we belonged in, as well as the space...

[He could go on, but visibly stops himself. It's not entirely relevant to the actual reason he brought it up.]

...an old friend of mine was brought there too. He - died, three years ago by my time, but it took him from just before that happened. We'd been...distant, for years before that, but when he passed...well, I was glad to see him again. It felt like an opportunity to...achieve some resolution, if nothing else.

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Ah. [ Yeah, that would explain it, huh. Leon gives Otto a sympathetic look, half-smiling in solidarity. ] I can definitely understand that. How's the song go? 'Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone'? Hard to know how much you've left unsaid until you think the opportunity to say it's passed.

[ He swirls his drink in its glass, staring down into it for a moment before looking back at Otto and raising it in a toast. ]

So. Here's to second chances.

[doctopoda]

[His mouth quirks a little ruefully; he's not sure if he really made the most of his second chance, or even whether or not it's over yet. But nevermind that. For now, they're here, and Leon at least has his own. He'll clink their glasses together.]

To second chances. Best grab them while you have them.