WEEK ZERO: MINGLE

[cluedin]

WEEK ZERO

OCCUPANCY: 36

For those of you counting along, you'll find that it's been three days since you've arrived at Master Blue's mansion. On this lovely Monday morning, the weak winter sun shines in through the spotless windows. The curtains in the ballroom have been drawn closed and cannot be moved away from the back wall during the daylight hours. The scent of a hot and delicious breakfast wafts from the direction of the dining hall at 7am, and small creaks and groans in the house urge you to awaken.

Perhaps you're a late riser though. No matter! There's still plenty of food you can make for yourself and ways for you to amuse yourself. Though the decor's been taken down, leftover Valentine's candy remains abundant, and a chilly breeze drifts through the halls. Best of all, all damage inflicted on the house has been repaired. In addition, a new placard has been mounted in the entryway.

As you carry on with your day in the mansion and explore the rooms provided, you may come to find that starting today it will appear as though you've all lost the use of one of your senses. Your vision may have grown dim, or maybe you really can't smell the enticing treats in the dining hall after all. How unfortunate.

Then again, something doesn't seem quite right. Walking through the halls, nothing seems terribly out of place. However, turning the corner or entering a room you will find someone who looks a little too much like yourself behaving in a fairly inappropriate manner. You would never read something so lewd. Who would ever think that you would wear something so pink? These mannerisms may seem innocent to others, but you can't help but disapprove.

Too bad no one else can see them.

Come Monday at noon, you will also find a new surprise. The wooden box with your name on it can now be opened, and a rustling crackle of static can be heard from overhead. Try as you might, you won't be able to find the speakers but this message will play loud and clear for all.

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Comments

[stormsoff]

Jesus--

[ haha holy shit this dude grabbing him jars his shoulder super bad and is actually REALLY PAINFUL, but other than a sound like ghrk he doesn't give any sign. Just tries to steady himself, but he's wobbling on his feet a little. ]

I'm trying, I'm trying! I don't know what's wrong. It's like I can't walk today! And why are you talking so loud?! Turn it down, dude!

[kazokun]

I'm not—

[ They are both shouting and it all sounds like normal conversation to him, but never mind Ayabe becoming old and senile, he instead focuses on Isaac and gives him a look down.

A sling.

Ayabe continues to talk loudly. ]

What happened? Did you get knocked in the head? If it's a concussion, don't go walking around like this, you need to lie down.

1/2

[stormsoff]

[ ! ]

[stormsoff]

N-nothing happened-- I'm fine! ... it got looked at, and anyway, it's not as bad as-- just... don't worry about it, alright? And you're still shouting!!

[ They're both shouting, it's fine. ]

[kazokun]

I'm not shouting!

[ He shouts, and continues to do so ]

If it was an accident, that can't be helped, but people here shouldn't be getting into fights. If it's something like that, then I want to know, so it won't happen again.

[ Who beat you up, Isaac. Give him names. ...Not that Ayabe can do anything about it, but he can like. tell Galo or something. ]

[stormsoff]

[ Isaac opens his mouth, closes it, and looks away.

He'll huff, briefly shutting his eyes, his expression vaguely annoyed. His voice is also a little quiet now so good luck hearing him dude ]

... it won't happen again. So ... like I said, don't worry about it.

[ Now gives him a direct look, frowning. ]

Also you're totally shouting. You've been shouting nonstop for like the past two minutes.

[kazokun]

...I can't hear you if you whisper like that.

[ At least he also finally quiets down a little too, but only a little bit, to normal conversational levels now so he doesn't accidentally talk over Isaac's quiet whispers. People's voices dip when they're embarrassed or guilty about something, Ayabe wouldn't find it strange if he doesn't want to broadcast to the world who kicked his ass. ]

1/2

[stormsoff]

[ ... ]

[stormsoff]

[ Flatly, but with his voice raised once more ]

I said it won't happen again, but I wasn't whispering. I was speaking normally. This sounds normal to you?

[kazokun]

That's much better.

[ And, in turn, he raises his own voice again too. Not quite shouting levels, but definitely deaf grandpa levels. ]

Anyways, as long as you don't get into any more fights, I won't badger you.

[stormsoff]

[ He almost lets it go, but something isn't clicking. ]

Just wondering, could you normally hear someone whispering?

[ .......................................... yeah, well. Isaac shrugs his good shoulder and glances away. ]

Good. I don't plan on making a habit out of it.

[kazokun]

Of course I can. It's not like I'm deaf.

[ He's just going deaf. And hoarse by the end of the week, but that's just as well if he's going to give up all communication anyways. ]

[stormsoff]

.... you're pretty clearly getting there, dude. Something's wrong. With both of us. Rrrgh, what's with this place...?!

[kazokun]

It's not this place, it's the people. I bumped my head yesterday, and you might not have realized the same happened to you, if you were fighting.

[ If he won't say who hit him on the head!! But if he thinks about it logically— and he can only think about it logically, with no magic or whatever the hell to draw upon- the most likely thing to mess with one's senses is their own head. ]

[stormsoff]

I mean--I was walking just fine after the ... like, my sense of balance wasn't off or anything. And I was fine all day yesterday. It's just this morning I started having trouble!

[ at the same time... it's ... possible, right? maybe it is just in their heads. still, this feels too weird... ]

[kazokun]

[ Can brain damage come several days after the fact... He thinks so, maybe. Like maybe it sort of bumped around in Isaac's skull while he's walking around and got a little worse over time.

And then the same sort of happened to other people too. ]

I still think you should talk to Luna when you can. As a check up. You don't just go to the doctor's once and call it good.

[stormsoff]

... I talked to her on Saturday, but ... if you really think it's that important, I'll go see her again. ... that said, shouldn't you do the same thing?

[kazokun]

Yeah, I'll talk with her when I see her again. She was insistent on doing her job when we first met, too. We're lucky to have her.

[ He brushed her off when they first met... But if it it's something like this, it doesn't make sense not to see somebody who can help, when there's something wrong. ]

[stormsoff]

[ that line -- "we're lucky to have her" -- seems to sober him, and he'll nod slowly. ]

She's ... really kind. I wish there was something I could ... do for her, you know?

[kazokun]

For somebody who goes out of the way to help people, the best thing you can do is to make sure you stay safe, right? Do your best not to add to her stress and worry.

[ No fights. No dying. He knows Luna would appreciate that. ]

[stormsoff]

[ WAY TO MAKE HIM FEEL EVEN WORSE ABOUT LUNA THAN HE ALREADY DID DUDE

anyway yeah he feels like an asshole and it's pretty clear on his face. ]

... y-yeah. You're right. I guess I'll ... focus on that.

[kazokun]

[ Sometimes you gotta guilt people into being better. It's advice Ayabe has to take too, in any case, to figure something out about the panic attacks so he's not collapsing every time somebody destroys a room in this place— because that's not something he's going to be able to fix. ]

In the meantime, you'd better find something to steady yourself with. What do you think will help? A walker?

[stormsoff]

Ugh, that's humiliating... but, I mean, yeah, I'd take it, if there were something like that. But there's not really anything like that readily available.

[kazokun]

[ Something like a chair...? All the chairs in this place are probably large and heavy, though, not great for sliding around. ]

Maybe a pool cue would help? Anything is better than not being able to get around at all, right?

[stormsoff]

A pool cue...? [ he blinks, and then snaps his fingers ] The billiard room! That's actually a pretty good idea. And you're right, so... it's worth a shot!