POST-ROUND 1 MINGLE

[idolpro]

[ Once the decisions have been made, everyone is ushered—though those gentle tugs—out their respective mud rooms into the courtyard. An impossibly tall and incredibly dense garden hedge divides one half of the courtyard away—moreover, it increasingly gets taller when climbed, preventing its residents from escaping their slice of the courtyard. From beyond, idols can hear the distant sounds of something rumbling—perhaps it's the ground shaking. . .

The roster is visible on a large screen, though as time progresses, certain names are blacked out. . . ]

[ Mouths and Hands will be able to transform into monsters at-will, though Hands are much more diminutive and Mouths have supernatural abilities at their disposal. Moreover, unit abilities are on. ]

Comments

[unbr8kable]

[Follows easily, as if eager to be close to him. He can likely see a few eyes winking open in the shadows of her skin, like back before she'd gotten purified.]

You sure you didn't have to do nothing? Nobody hurt you none?

[crossmyheartandhope]

Naw, nothing at all. The twins went up this round.

[Urging her to sit. He has definitely noticed those eyes,]

You, uh. You feeling okay?

[unbr8kable]

[Nods]

Better now that I'm with you. I thought--at least there's as lot of you, so it's a little safer.

[Settles in, leaning her head on his shoulder]

I dunno what I'd do if somebody hurt you...

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Get an arm around her, careful, so that he can rub at her back]

Well, so far so good.

[unbr8kable]

[She curls in around him--tucks him in closer as well, possessive]

They're gonna be going after you now, though. Ain't many teams left. Ain't too many ways I can protect you, neither...

[crossmyheartandhope]

Here you are all beat up already, and you're worried about me?

[Squeezes back, gentle]

At least lemme bandage you up some.

[unbr8kable]

I'm always worried about you. That shouldn't be a surprise, should it?

[She hugs him closer, breathing deep at the crook of his neck]

[crossmyheartandhope]

...naw. 'Specially not in a game like this.

[He presses a kiss to her cheek, soft]

You know I'm worried about you too, though, right?

[unbr8kable]

[She's warmer than usual, something not-quite-a-pulse thrumming beneath her skin. She returns an open-mouthed kiss to his neck--more of a small lick, actually]

...Why me? I'm just trying to keep important people safe. I--don't wanna mess up again. Don't wanna lose nobody...

[crossmyheartandhope]

Hey... you came through okay so far, right?

And everyone's still here.

[unbr8kable]

If only... I already lost--somebody--and now...

[She shivers, squeezing him close]

Just wanna keep you with me forever. That can't possibly be wrong.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Hey... you got me forever. You know that, right?

We already said. Partners, for as long as you'll have me.

[unbr8kable]

For forever. For more'n forever.

[The words are mumbled into his neck as she takes another deep breath]

You smell good...

[crossmyheartandhope]

S'just soap.

[unbr8kable]

Smells like you taste. Smells good.

[crossmyheartandhope]

I taste like soap?

[unbr8kable]

Not soap. Like...

[She sniffs again, and licks at his neck to confirm, then repeats to double check]

...You'll stay with me, right? Then neither of us will have to worry about anything...

[Her stomach rumbles,]

[crossmyheartandhope]

'Course I'll stay with you. I'm with you right now, ain't I?

So, nothing to worry about.

[unbr8kable]

[She hums, pleased, and shifts a bit around him, arms tight around his back]

Good. I'm so glad...

[She nuzzles into the crook of his neck again, sinking her teeth into the soft flesh]

[crossmyheartandhope]

Wha -

[Edging away a little,]

Hey!

[unbr8kable]

Hold still...

[Edges with him, attempting another nibble. Her eyes are lidded, and her teeth are sharper this time, like little needles.

When she slows upon breaking skin, it seems less hesitation as an attempt to savor the experience]

[crossmyheartandhope]

Xia, c'mon. Quit - quit messing around.

[Actively trying to squirm away, this time,]

[unbr8kable]

[She rears up to look at him, pupils blown and tongue dark as she licks his blood from her lips. Her grip on his waist is perhaps unnervingly tight]

'M not. You smell too good... I don't wanna wait...

[crossmyheartandhope]

You're just acting weird cause of the game.

[Trying to dettach her hold,]

C'mon, let - let go.

[unbr8kable]

[Offended, she leans in even further, tone anguished]

You think a game could do this? Jacob--I love you...so much I can't stand it. Nothing in this place can ever change that.

[She caresses over his face, the backs of her fingers too warm, the skin gone darker than any tan he's ever seen on her, almost black at the sharpened tips]

So you know I'd never want to hurt you.

[Her grip tightens at his waist, and further down, at mid-thigh; her voice determined. Another grumble comes from her stomach, or just from somewhere, as she stares at him, eyes so bloodshot the sclera look pure red]

I can't let anyone else hurt you, either. I have to protect you.