sweethomey | WEEK ONE

WEEK ONE

Welcome to your new home!

"...Sweet Home: Strangers Strike Back. Airing this Sunday on Lulu."

That's how the video ends. That's how the entire presentation ends, the one that you've been given with a breakdown of what you're doing here, how to earn your wishes, and most importantly, how to use your phone. They promise you that you will go home in four weeks, and hopefully, you won't go home empty-handed, and that your hard work will pay off. Either way, your actions will undoubtedly make for a satisfying finale, and wonderful ratings week after week!

The price in exchange is, well, your privacy. Cameras will not be monitoring you 24/7 (they can't air super inappropriate content, after all!!!), but enough to capture what could potentially be your best and worst moments on the show. Maybe if you plead hard enough, the producers will be merciful and edit out some of your shame, but for the most part, it's best to be ready for anything.

Which includes your introductory day! How exciting. You arrive at the house on a bright and beautiful Sunday morning, and your arrival happens by waking up in a twin-sized bed. Those phones that you were told about are either right next to you or in your pocket; it buzzes with a very interesting song that's certainly telling you to wake up. It will not stop playing until you are awake.

With the alarm, though, is a notification on the screen: "TOUCH TO OPEN!" Tapping the screen as instructed will give you a set of instructions - though, if you don't open it yourself, it will do it for you after a minute. Those instructions are:

HELLO! WELCOME TO SWEET HOME DAY ONE! :)
PLEASE PROCEED TO THE KITCHEN! FUN REFRESHMENTS AND ACTIVITIES ARE WAITING FOR YOU ALL! YOUR WEEKLY CHALLENGE WILL COME TOMORROW. FOR TODAY, HAVE FUN AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER! <3333

The kitchen is filled with various snacks. Chips, cookies, cake, blood for vampires – you name it. It's there. It's entirely possible they went a little overboard…but there's something interesting about the snacks. Everything is in a locked transparent case, enticing you to unlock it by how tasty it all looks. How do you unlock it? It's simple, according to the little notes left on the cases. "TO OPEN, INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO SOMEONE IN FRONT OF ME!" The cases are indestructible and will not open until you do this simple task.

Board games are present with some classics like Never Have I Ever prompts, Monopoly, Candyland, you name it!

There's also some music playing in the background on a set of speakers. This is free for you to mess with and shuffle through the modern-day playlist. In fact, pretty much everything in the house is free to tamper with.

Anyone who partakes in at least 2 joint activities with different people (board games, snacking, fighting, dancing, getting up to no good...anything, really) will be rewarded with a complimentary bath bomb on their bed on Monday morning!

Take a look around the house, get to know your housemates (and roommates), and relax on this fine and wonderful Sunday!

OOC Note: The bath bomb reward is not going to be mod-sanctioned, go ahead and just assume your character received one if they interacted with 2 or more people on Sunday ICly.

Also, characters will receive a weekly stipend with enough money for groceries and a few luxury items. You can choose to do whatever you want with this cash, though.

Weekly Challenge

Come Sunday evening, though…that's when the Challenge is issued.

A notification appears on your phone that says "CHALLENGE!! OPEN ME." Doing so will reveal the following instructions:

Did we mention that we forgot to get commercials? Oops! For those who don't know, commercials are advertisements for viewers to try and scam people into buying things they don't need. This time, however, you're going to scam people into buying things that they probably need, for the entirely wrong reason!

Your task this week is to film a commercial with at least one other person. You are to take one of the household objects in this house and give it new meaning. That hairbrush over there? Use it, and it'll turn your hair any color, style, and texture that you want it to! Ooh, how about that washcloth? Wiping your face with it will apply makeup to perfectly suit the occasion! Y'know, stuff like that. It's not actually real, but we think it'd be funny, so work with someone and get it done! Remember, your wishes are your rewards, along with some other fun little prizes! :)

Commercials will all be played on everyone's phones AND the big screen TV next week Sunday! Get excited!

You can film your commercials using your phones, as they are state-of-the-art technology. There are phone stands/tripods/etc. that can be found in your bedroom closets for you to use. Go wild, go ham, be entertaining and have fun!

OOC NOTES: The challenge thread must have a minimum of three comments per character, though I encourage threading beyond that for the sake of cr. I will accept in-progress threads as a completed challenge turn-in. There will be a top level next week for reactions to all the commercials as they play on screen for the characters, but you're free to also thread out reactions if characters stumble into the filming in-person, etc.

The Rest of the Week

The rest of the week will have a fun little treat for the guests: Cats! That's right, cats will show up to the home periodically every day, asking for food. Feed the cats on demand and they will be satisfied. If you don't and they sense that you are walking away, you will have one unlucky event happen to you at some point during the week. What that is can be something as mundane as spilling coffee on your shirt, to having an accident so bad that you need to go to the clinic. The choice is yours.

...

Throughout the week, the following individuals will experience strange phenomena…

– On Monday, Luocha will have the misfortune of encountering a cat that really has decided it doesn't like him. It will try to bother him in various ways, whether it be attempting to scratch him, pee on him, nibble on his shoes…it will do this every hour for 4 hours today, starting at any given time of the day. It will leave Luocha alone afterwards, though it may still stare him from time to time…like a normal cat would. Maybe he can even try to befriend it…

– On Tuesday, Sakura will have a very specific struggle. The first electric or battery-powered appliance she tries to use simply will not work no matter how hard she tries. Even if she charges the appliance, it will not work. The one way to get it to power on is to ask it nicely. Insulting it will get it to actually move and smack her. Whoops! Time to throw down with some electronics?!

– On Wednesday, Jeanne will wake up to something very strange. There will be vines, leaves, and flowers that have grown all around her bed. It's rather unruly, actually, and inhaling the pollen for too long will make her a little loopy. Drunk, essentially, minus the alcohol. It is possible to get a hangover from this and nursing it will be done the same way it normally would be if alcohol were involved. The greenery will go away by Thursday midnight, but she can also make it go away earlier if she rips them out of the roots. (Which are in the floor. Don't worry about it)

– On Thursday, Avery will find a book on his bed when he wakes up. The book says My Diary. He can write whatever he wants in it, but if he writes something about any of the other residents, the book will drag him to wherever said resident is – in the house OR the town – and read his writings about them outloud, right where the resident can hear it all! Sadly, there is no way to test this out beforehand, as any thoughts that are unrelated to the other residents will be kept confidential. The diary will disappear on Friday at midnight.

– On Friday, Hakuya will gain a voucher, good for one day, for free candy at Sweet-E's! He can get a max of two full bags of whatever candy he wants. The bags are freezer bag-sized. The candy itself looks normal, but eating it will cause something interesting to happen. Hakuya will 1) gain a pair of shades that, if removed, will make another pair of shades to go on his face; 2) his top will turn into the equivalent of a disco ball shirt; and 3) party music will follow him around wherever he goes for the next 2 hours. Congrats, you're the coolest kid on the block!!!

OOC Notes

Welcome to the Week One log of Sweet Home Round 2! I had a lot of fun with this and hope you guys enjoy the game. Some important notes:

Please do not literally burn down any buildings or property in this game. ICly, if a character tries, the house will immediately put it out via temperature regulation and built-in sprinkler systems. If your character has fire-based powers, they can affect people and objects but will not cause great damage to the overall building. Do not mess with the built-in safety precautions, please. There is an OOC reason for this that I will not disclose and please do not ask me for it; I am serious about shutting down anything that involves this at any point in the game. You will only get a slap on the wrist if it happens after being warned.
Challenges are due at the end of the week, along with AC! See the AC + Rewards page for more information.
Gossip Board submissions are essentially a way for your characters to get exposed ICly on any shenanigans they've gotten up to. This is purely on a voluntary basis OOCly. A link to submissions can be found below.
OOC Plotting for Week One can be. found here! Feel free to reply to that top level with anything you're looking for.
Feel free to ask any questions in the #mod-questions Discord channel! And please don't hesitate to ping me too so I don't miss it. Thanks!

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[HE'S A FOOL OKAY. But thankfully a rather serious one most of the time.

Thankfully she'll never have to find out if it's easier, because there's none who hold his heart captive like she does. Please be threatening, Jeanne. It would turn him on so much.

Though it's true that there's no real status difference between them. He may be of the Blue Moon clan, but she was one of the most fiercesome bourreaus that ever lived. Both are notorious among vampirekind, and not in a good way. They're truly equals.

And their feelings come first rather than any duty or obligation to each other.

Feeling her touching him, he murmurs something beneath his breath, eyes slipping closed for a moment before he returns the gesture, tangling their fingers together.]

Then you shall be. I'll make you whatever you'd like. Just say the word. [They could spend the entire month together doing mundane things, but unfortunately, they need to interact with the others too.]

...I think so, yeah. There's no reason we can't. No reason we shouldn't.

[ thankfully.

whether she means to, or likes it or not, she will be threatening. AT SOME POINT.

far from it at this moment, however. nothing but soft and tender. try as she might to parse what he mumbles, she doesn't catch it. besides, holding hands like this is...

making her heart race again. instead of it confusing her or driving her crazy, she relishes it. doesn't want to let go. though she never quite knows how to deal with such blatant kindness, she must repay it. somehow. maybe she can. somehow, secretly, get him to teach her how to make his favorite meal.

he will figure it out immediately, won't he.

they definitely ARE going to spend a majority of their time doing mundane things. as if jeanne isn't going to check in on him every hour. or so. as if she isn't going to peek into his room when she believes it's acceptable to do so. or glance his way every time he's in the vicinity. ]

... It just... [ experience tells her it's not allowed and she's weak to the whispers. ] Nevermind.

[Go get em, Jeanne. Bare those fangs!

For now, however, they can and do have each other, just the two of them. There's no need for her to thank him, as he doesn't hold with it for numerous reasons. But whatever she desires, he'll strive to make come true.

Even if it's teaching her his favorite meals. He's not so full of himself as to be dissuaded from that. He might even enjoy having someone cook for him for a change, after everything.

Things are going to be... interesting between them, for he'll check on her as well, to make sure she's getting along fine with the others, that they aren't bullying or teasing her. That she isn't feeling left out or lonely. He's here for her.]

...? What? You can tell me. [He takes up her hand, giving it a squeeze. And when he lets go, there's a small folded paper swan in her hand.]

[ it might even be an edible favorite meal! if she practices really hard at it.

interesting is a way of putting it. different, is another. there's only been one instance where their run-in with each other was intentional. their date and all jeanne wanted to do was HAVE HIM IN THE PALM OF HER HAND.

now she's got his palm in her hand. huh.

no, it's a little folded bird. her heart lurches and her vision swims. she will treasure it forever. it's going to go on her bedside table so she can wake up to it every day. as gently as she can, she holds it to her chest. cradling it there as she finds the nerve to be honest. ]

There is one reason. It will be over too soon, don't you think? A few weeks is barely any time at all.

[He will eat her meals, edible or non tbh. Anything she cooks, no matter how sickeningly sweet or bitter, he'll consume. Because that's love.

Funny how he played her that time, but every instance since, she's been the one controlling the narrative. They truly are an odd pair. Such dorks.

He watches her expression, savoring the blush creeping across her cheeks, grateful that this time she doesn't return the gift, but instead clutches it to herself and savors the meaning behind it. That he wants to share a bit of himself with her.]

...perhaps. But better to savor the happy moments when you can, yeah? Or are you going to be miserable alongside me? [He knows he's going to struggle this month, honestly.]

[ wow, he really does love her.

and she's learned to love him after regaining her control of the narrative back. what she's used to. her comfort zone. she has no desire to play him in the palm of her hand anymore.

well. not like before.

a handmade little origami swan is different from a rose, you know. if she does say so herself, the red bloom suits him much more than her as it contrasts his dark hair and that dangling earring. blue and crimson. ]

Eh...? [ she blinks, looking up from admiring the tiny swan. ] You're miserable? Why?

[HE DOES.

It helps that he's no longer trying to twist her around his finger and manipulate her for his own purposes. They're both on much more even footing.

She's welcome to toy with him affectionately, though. He'll probably do the same to her eventually.

True, but a gift is a gift, and he wanted to give her a little something special to keep close to her. Although it's true a rose would wilt with time, unless it's treated properly or fake.]

It's like you said: this won't last. [He shrugs lightly, eyes drifting towards the doorway.] It's all fake, really.

[ that helps. a LOT, yes.

maybe once she gains a little more confidence, she might try it. she's been waiting for him to mess with he like he used to.

a gift is a gift. it's not that she wasn't grateful, or not moved by it. maybe she should have kissed the soft petals before sliding it behind his ear. ]

Fake? [ the people being nice to her are fake? no way. ]

No, it's not.

[ONE OF THESE DAYS HE WILL. Just for funsies. Then she can show him.

Yes, that would have helped convey her affections, but this is good, too. He's just glad he can make her a little happier.]

Hmm? [He raises a brow at that, curious. It always fascinates him to see where their views differ] You think it's all real, then?

[ yeah, that he doesn't intimidate her anymore. if he ever did. he won't get the UPPER HAND. or, if he does, it's because she lets him.

hmmmmmm okay. she'll just have to convey her affections some other way. maybe she can be the one to make him happy. ]

... I... [ the conviction she spoke with 'it's not' falters. her hands unfold in front of her, revealing the swan. ] If it is not real, Vanitas, what's the point...?

[Hey now, she was at least cautious when she thought he was going to use his Blue Moon powers! Give him some credit for being nervy, if not scary!

She already makes him happy, though maybe that's why it's rude of him to say he's miserable here. Though he frowns a bit at her saying that, arm moving up to hug her around the shoulders.]

Because, it's still good to experience different things. This way you know what to look for. And even if nothing's real here, that doesn't mean your happiness can't be.

[ ... okay, yes. being afraid of the blue moon vampire and her true name being altered by his power WAS... very unnerving. she will give him that. now that she's aware of his true goals?

at first, she stiffens, but she relaxes soon after. with everyone else, she hesitates. with vanitas, she slides her arm around his waist in return and tugs him closer. right to her side. give her an inch, she will take a mile. ]

If you know that, why are you still miserable? What is making you so unhappy?

Edited (gdi) 2026-04-19 23:01 (UTC)

[See? Scary person! Rawr!! Okay, no, he's hardly intimidating, especially once you get into his good graces and get to know the reason him. He's not the frightening Vanitas from the myths.

Once they're leaning against each other, he lets his head come to rest against her shoulder with a long sigh. How to explain... How much to explain? He doesn't mind her taking this mile from him. It's comforting, really.]

Because. It's all going to go away. And if I don't get my wish, then... [He's going to die young anyway.]

[ intimidating, no. layered? far, far more than he is at surface level. he is scary. just as he is sweet.

kind of like her.

more than their titles or their myths.

jeanne does nothing but let his head be there, though she can't help but notice how his bangs fall across his face when they're so close. the uneven cut, the curve of lashes. her fingers curl just a little tighter around his side. ]

What is your wish...?

[ is it not his revenge? there's more? ]

[Booo he wants to be intimidating! Or at least off-putting so people won't bother him. Besides, if they hate him right out of the gate, then he doesn't have to worry about dealing with icky feelings!

Though yeah, they're both layered like a mille crepes cake.

Said lashes flutter slightly as he closes his eyes, silent for a time, as though he hasn't heard her. Yet he has. He's just thinking, hard. About how to answer. How much to say. The hand on his side finally convinces him to speak up.]

...just something I've longed for for a while. Nothing important.

[So he says, but that he's held it for so long means that's clearly a lie.]

[ how well did that work for him, though? case in point: jeanne.

she waits for him to answer. not pushing. merely being quiet, merely holding him against her side, and practically memorizing what his face looks like when he's a little more relaxed than usual. when they're alone. ]

It is clearly important.

[ if he's longed for it this long. though her voice leans more into softness rather than harsh. ]

... Could I... help make it come true?

[Plan: backfired, spectacularly.

While he's lost in though, his hand gentle, subtly creeps over to cover hers, fingers sliding between those soft ones beneath his. Holding onto her with tenderness.]

Hmm. Maybe.

[A noncommittal answer, trying to deflect.]

....I don't know. I doubt even these people can make it come true. And even if they do, it might not be what I really want. [A double-edged sword, really.]

[ there is a bird in her stomach, fluttering around wildly, when vanitas does that. when his hand slowly inches closer and closer, until his fingers weave between hers.

he is so very gentle. it aches. batters her ribcage. she can't even be frustrated with another non-answer. perhaps because it's more of an answer than he thinks.

just as gently, she squeezes her fingers together to keep his where they are. ]

You're... unsure about that wish you've longed for? Vanitas...

[ what a confusing man. ]

[Meanwhile he has butterflies in his, flitting about and making him feel lightheaded and queasy. Or maybe that's just nerves. Especially when she pins his fingers in place and he's trapped there, with that careful touch acting like a vise to prevent him from moving away.

Blush rises to his cheeks and he shrugs lightly at her question, wondering how best to answer that won't give everything away, but isn't so useless a response as to annoy her.]

If it's granted, I'll have been selfish and greedy. I may as well have killed people with my own hands.

[He says that rather lightheartedly, but his eyes are dark.]

[ no, if he really wanted? he could break away. she wouldn't keep him there. she might cry a bit, though. go and bury her face in her pillow out of shame.

FOR WANTING TO HOLD HIS HAND.

that look of his, though. what is that look? she's never seen it.

now, now she grips his hand. really grasps it. ]

I have. Vanitas. [ she points out, almost in tears but her eyes blazing. flickering red. hellfire witch. ]

Be selfish. Be greedy. If you've longed for it that long. Whatever happens, I'll take the blame for it. It's the least I can do for you.

[He doesn't though, so it's all good. He's... happy, like this. No shame for Jeanne, thank you.

It's his haunted look, one he rarely ever gets anymore. But it's making an appearance now. Though it fades somewhat as surprise takes over when she grips him more firmly, and encourages him to be greedy.]

I know... I know you have. [He uses his free hand to gently touch her cheek, trying to prevent those tears from falling.]

You can't, Jeanne. But... thanks. I just... [He swallows, ducking his head as his hand falls.] I want to stay. That's all.

[ the first meets his finger and more seem to follow. faster and faster. until she's crying in earnest.

why can't she, she wants to ask. instead, ]

Me too.

[ she confesses, feeling terrible for saying it. it is selfish. it is greedy for her. master luca was kind enough to take her as a chevalier and she thanks him by wanting to stay away. lady dominique felt like her first real friend after chloé and she doesn't want to go back. she'd rather stay in this strange house full of wonderful people. ]

I am selfish. I am greedy.

[As soon as the first tear hits him, he flinches, feeling terrible for bringing this about. He so wanted her to have a good time here, to enjoy herself. For everything to just be normal for them for a few weeks...

He didn't even mean staying here, so much as living at all...]

You're allowed to be. You deserve to have whatever you want, after all you've been through.

[Taking his hand back, he cups her cheeks with both them, gloved thumb brushing at the streaks running down her face. But he understands her pain, her guilt. He just doesn't know how to truly convey that. So he merely continues wiping away each tear that falls.]

I'm even worse. My wish would condemn vampires to oblivion.

[ it's not that she isn't having a good time. hell, that's the whole problem. she's enjoying herself so much. on DAY ONE. nobody knows who she is, she's just that girl who lives in cafe room - jeanne. she doesn't have to do anything but what she wants to do. eat food, go shopping, ride in cars?! it's all so normal but

for her, it's like paradise.

fat tears continue to roll down her cheeks and wet his fingers, his gloves. he doesn't need to convey it. she could hear it in his wish.

who says her "me too" doesn't mean that she wants to live? it's only here, talking with vanitas, that she feels comfortable enough to say this, ]

... We... aren't supposed to exist in the first place. [ isn't that at least part of the reason why humans went to war with vampires? why she became a bourreau? back then, she never questioned it. not for a long time. she at least stops crying, voice quiet. ] It's because of Babel that we exist.

[For them, this freedom and peace is like a curse. A double-edged sword, really. They get to enjoy the life of normal people, but at the same time, they'll have to go back to their regular dangerous lives eventually. All too soon.

Hearing her say that, though, breaks his heart. Even if vampires weren't part of the natural order of things, who has the right to say they shouldn't exist now? Why should they have to perish? It's not fair.

So he gives her head a gentle shake back and forth, brows furrowed together and a frown on his face.]

Who's to say that wasn't a divine act, huh? That it wasn't meant to be? Maybe you guys are here because you're supposed to be. And even if not, so what? You are now, and you have every right to live as freely as humans. [Squishing her cheeks, he growls quietly.] So don't you ever say you shouldn't exist again, got it?

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