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

[commitaphobe]

I. Everywhere, All Week (feat. the image of one (1) Jin Ling)

[ Whether you're eating dinner, settling down to read a nice book, or simply stopping to smell the flowers (assuming you're still lucky enough to have your sense of smell) you will be politely accosted by one Haruka who is holding a very well drawn portrait of a certain someone]

Excuse me, can I have a second?

[ She's all smiles, and pretty friendly seeming. ]

This picture here? Well, this man is my friend.

[ a lie ]

He puts up a bit of a front, but between the two of us? He's a pretty lonely guy. I'm trying to see if I can find him a special someone. You wouldn't happen to be interested, would you?

II. Also Everywhere, All Week (feat. the not-wife)

[ Again, you will be minding your own business. And if you haven't lost your sense of smell, suddenly the scent of roses will fill your nostrils. ]

Michiru!

[ You'll likely see Michiru first, and Haruka second. Perhaps the former is making an attempt to climb down the stairs, or gets just a bit too close to a sharp piece of furniture as she makes her way down the hall. But whatever the case Haruka will grab her by the wrist and tug her around, forcing her to face her. ]

I told you not to go anywhere without me!

[ Meanwhile Michiru is smiling almost impishly at the other woman, acting as if they’re on a picnic and not two steps away from Michiru tripping to a broken neck. But no matter that – she’ll adjust her hand so that it slips into Haruka’s, and gently tug in the direction they had been walking]

Careful – any admirers might become jealous.

[ When Michiru takes her hand proper Haruka tugs her closer, so much so that she is flush against Haruka. ]

I don't care.

[ This is where your path will diverge.

If you are a woman, when Haruka notices you she will smile warmly and beckon you over with her free hand: ]

Ah, my apologies are we in your way? If you have a moment I'd like to ask you something.

[If you are a man, Haruka will narrow her eyes: ]

What are you looking at? Actually– come here, I have something to say.

[ order will be haruka --> you --> michiru ]

i

[constellates]

[i'm legally obligated to respond to this to make anna scream

but as she looks up from her book, she perks up at the company first and then even moreso at the portrait of jin ling. she listens to haruka's words and just giggles happily]

Jin Ling! Pезкий - at first he seems cold... but I think that he is very nice. You are looking for friends for him? I am trying to be his friend, too.

['special someone' has eluded her]

[commitaphobe]

[ That's fair because honestly Anna has no rights.

But it looks like she's got a bite. ]

A friend and something more.

[ She winks ]

But maybe just friends is a good place to start for someone like him. He's not great with people.

[ Granted, it feels like a waste to guide such a pretty face to someone like him. Haruka thinks on it for a moment, and then smiles. ]

Ah, sorry. I never introduced myself did I? I'm Haruka, a concerned roommate of Jin Ling's and lover of love.

[constellates]

[honest to god hope that haruka tries to hook jin ling up but then swoops on every pretty girl to cuck him]

Something...

[hmmmmm,]

Меня зовут Аня. My name is Anya. You are trying to help Jin Ling find love? Милый! That is very sweet.

I do not know the type of person that he likes, or what will make him happy. Maybe it would help to ask?

i

[disreguarded]

[ That - that sure is Jin Ling. Beau is sprawled out on a couch trying to read when she's accosted with both a picture and a pretty lady. Give her disaster brain a second to remember how to speak, and then --

Well, first she's going to laugh. ]

Pffffffhahaha. Nope. Not even remotely. Too young and really not my type. [ She drawls, grinning up at Haruka. And... checking Haruka out. Sigh, Beau. ]

[commitaphobe]

[ Ah, Haruka is a big enough slut to know when she's being checked out.

She chuckles, amused and seemingly charmed. ]

Well, if you happen to know of anyone in that age and weight category who's looking for a date send them his way.. or mine. It might be better if I set this up.

[ Haruka leans down a bit, cupping her hand over her mouth like she's about to share a secret. ]

Between you and me, I think he could use a bit of companionship. He's wound up pretty tight.

[disreguarded]

[ It makes her laugh. ]

You know - between you and me? I think you're right. He could use someone to pull the stick out. [ She says, grinning. ] I'll keep an eye out for someone better suited for him, Miss... ?

i. suffer

[stormsoff]

[ this face. ]

You mean am I interested in helping, right? [ RIGHT? ] Because the answer is why are you doing this for him when he can do it himself if he wants?

[commitaphobe]

[ Another difficult one, huh? Haruka rolls up the immaculately drawn picture. ]

He doesn't know what he wants or needs. I'm helping him out.

[ She is in fact, helping herself out. ]

You have a problem with that?

rip in pieces haruka

[stormsoff]

I just don't get why you're doing this for him if he doesn't know what he wants. Shouldn't he get a choice in figuring it out for himself?

ii, tuesday

[kazokun]

[ Tuesday Ayabe is going deaf but isn't quite there yet, so the two of them will have to speak up for him if Haruka doesn't want him getting too close. He almost wants to walk away just from the glare alone, more than happy to mind his own business, but he approaches anyways.

He has his notebook out. The open page reads "It's hard to hear. Please use this notebook." He's gotten tired of saying it, even though theoretically he only needs to say it thirty some times to cover everybody living here. ]

[seasiren]

[Hm. No one is speaking... Michiru has already become accustomed to picking up cues, either through a person's voice or their gait, and it's why her brows knit slightly, hand flexing a moment in Haruka's as she concentrates.]

... Who is it?

[commitaphobe]

No one.

[ Haruka says, stiffly. Though it seems he's answered Haruka's question without her having to ask it. ]

Just a mime.

[ She takes the notebook though and writes:

'Did this place take your hearing from you?' ]

You've been to Paris before, haven't you Michiru?

[ She thinks it's kind of funny how Michiru and this guy can't communicate at all. So she's not going to bother relaying messages between them. ]

ii

[burningrescue]

[Well, he definitely is kind of staring, because this is happening in public. But when called out, he's perfectly friendly.]

Sure, what's up?

[seasiren]

[Michiru is blind as ever, but she can tell from the voice alone it's a guy, and-- whelp]

Ah, we have a volunteer.

[commitaphobe]

[ Now, Haruka doesn't like most men- but she especially doesn't like this handsome looking hunk type.

Instinctively, her grip tightens around Michiru's hand. ]

You look normal enough.. but this mansion took something from you this week didn't it? Touch, smell..? Not speech or vision, as far as I can tell.

ii

[soba]

[ oh, well he met michiru before, at least, so he'll walk over with his hands in his pockets. ]

What is it?

[ is this a gay fight ]

[seasiren]

[A super gay fight, look at poor Michiru pulled flush against Haruka, trying her best not to burst into giggles]

Ara, I recognize that dashing young voice.

[Run, child. Run and never return]

[commitaphobe]

[ Haruka looks between the two of them, suspicious. ]

You two seem oddly familiar.

[ Haruka almost barks, in the direction of their new companion. ]

How do you know her?

ii.

[madburnout]

[He was looking, but only because, yeah, this lesbian whirlwind was kinda in the way. But. Fine. Coming over. Crossing his arms.]

What do you want.

[Very flatly. It isn't really defensive, more matter-of-fact.]

[seasiren]

[And there's another voice she recognizes.

Which is why she's torn between smiling and arching her brows pointedly. A second passes, and finally she sighs, head canted in the other's direction]

Is your burn treating you well?

[commitaphobe]

[ Damn Michiru really knows every damn twink in this mansion. Haruka will ask about that later, and interrupts before he can answer Michiru's question. ]

What did this mansion take from you this week? It changed everyone in some way. Some people are trying to hide it, or maybe they don't realize it. But we're all different.

[ She gestures vaguely to Michiru, who is in fact blind as can be. ]

i, bc i have to

[unanswering]

[well he can only sort of see things, so he's going to have to lean in to try to get a good look at that portrait... and at first he's just. completely failing to notice who it is, actually, focused on the work itself.]

Oh, this is quite well-done... is it your work? He's lucky to have had this drawn by someone accomplished in--

[annnd there's the realization, fan snapping open to cover the lower half of his face as he pales and shrinks back.]

J-jin Ling?! His uncle will break both our legs if he gets engaged without his approval, his for doing it and mine for letting him-!

[so basically she's bullying 2 dudes for the price of one here.]

[commitaphobe]

[ There's so much to unpack here.

So much in fact, that she physically packs up the drawing in the way of rolling it up. ]

No, I've never really been an artist. But he is lucky. My partner, she was the one who drew it– is in pretty high demand these days.

[ More importantly: ]

Who said anything about getting engaged? I'm just looking to help the guy have some fun.

[unanswering]

I can understand why, even with this level of sight...

[He's making a mental note to properly compliment this mystery artist partner later, reminding himself to focus on the important part, which is:]

But young master Jin definitely can't do that! [He shakes his head a little excessively, honestly, clutching his fan like a lifeline.] He's an heir to one of the Great Sects, and besides that, he's probably learned from his uncle, he'd be completely hopeless--