WEEK ZERO: ARRIVAL

[retellers]

WEEK ZERO: ARRIVAL (43 remain) Whatever each character was doing—chatting with friends, going to bed, saving the world—ceases. In fact, it's likely nothing more than a groggy memory now, as they open their eyes to unfamiliar surroundings. Apparently, they took a nap right in the middle of a small town, plopped outside on the paved road. Ow? Oh, but it looks like they've been given a goodie bag. Everyone likes gifts, right? Inside, it contains: - a single random one of the following headbands and sparklers - packets of tea - one unlabeled pill - a rock that resembles the galaxy - if they're of age, a mini bottle of alcohol; if they're underage, a can of Mountain D*w Baja Blast instead - a singular condom - a single random one of these pillows (how did this fit?) - a handheld device Should they boot up the device, the screen helpfully informs them that it's a Participant Help System (PHS). Not much on it, but it does have a few apps, including a memo one for taking notes. There's also a messaging system, though it's only capable of receiving messages, not sending any. As a matter of fact, there's an alert for a new message already. Maybe it'll explain what's going on. Good evening, everyone. Uh, how are we sure they’re arriving in the evening? Just say “hello”! Or “greetings”! Greetings is fancy, right? Oh that’s true. Greetings, everyone. That’s better? Yes! Except maybe we take out the that’s better part in the final version. Will do! We’re sorry that we’re not here jklk oh no how do i erase what i wrote. Where is the question mark. Help press backspace. What is a backspace it’s written on the keyboard. Do you even know how to read? right now. There are a lot of things happening that’s so vague? Could we maybe TRY to not be ominous, guys??, It’s going to be ominous no matter what we say, so who cares so we need time to best prepare for you all. We will greet you properly soon, so please make yourselves at home! There are a lot of places to explore, and the kitchen has a lot of delicious food. Please don’t be shy, but also, don’t damage anything. It’s a little inconvenient. They’re going to do it just because you sound so fucking whiny. I’m sorry oh this is how you write somewhere else. Please do not fight or do. We don’t control your life choices. No please do not fight how do i make an exclamation mark maybe we should’ve gotten someone else to write the draft of the message? No offense. I’m sorry Sorry stop apologizing. No one else volunteered. Maybe we’ll luck out and none of them know how to read Thank you for your time! We’ll see you soon. Also, we promise you haven’t been kidnapped or anything! Oh dear. I don’t know if this is going to be edited, so if it isn’t, then I do apologize to the participants for our lack of organization. We’re doing our best! Probably. Er, what? Unfortunately, it seems as though that's the only info they're given for now. In the meantime, why not explore the surrounding area? A number of buildings are locked, and the Planetarium appears to be closed, but there's enough to keep the characters occupied for a day or two. They might even want to get to know their fellow "participants" better, while they're at it.

NAVIGATION locations ₓ˚. statuses *+:｡ ic profiles :ₓo ic rules ･ﾟﾟ･｡ audience requests murder proposals ｡✧o private conversations ･ﾟo｡ curfew ･ﾟ✧ memories

Comments

a.

[lecarre]

[Listen, Ange is lucky enough that it doesn't hit her face, but...

Well...

She picks it up, and clears her throat, and walks back over to her to offer it up. Helpfully!!

She looks Embarrassed but Resolute.]

...Excuse me, miss. I believe you dropped this. [That's not what "dropping" looks like, Ange.]

a.

[pulsecannon]

[ Ignore her dirt and blood covered appearance please. It's dried so it's fine. She'll look at the rock for a moment. ]

Beats me. Maybe we're supposed to throw it at something?

[ Like a window. She does have something important to ask! ]

Why would you put that thing on? You don't even know what it would do.

[ Pointing to the headband ]

ii

[stillnot]

It's like a train station.

But, uh, there's no train tracks.

1

[heartablaze]

[The door BURSTS open and in slams a red-haired child that doesn't even reach Soo-won's shoulder, panting for breath and covered in slashed wounds, the goodie bag around her elbow. None of this seems to be stopping her, because her eyes light up at the greeting and she beelines for the desk.]

Hey!!! Hey, please, do you work here?? This is important, I'm looking for someone!!

ii.

[exercisms]

[Oh, are you talking to him? He's still standing at the cash register, clutching his souvenirs. He looks very alarmed to be spoken to. He has no idea what to say to any of that.]

Um . . .

ii

[evocationary]

[ oh, no worries. she's coming, she's coming! she slides behind the cash register counter and gives him a big grin. ]

Shit, sorry about that, little dude. It'll be fifty gold. [ lup you didn't even scan his items ]

[frostythehitman]

a. inn kitchen

[ Well this is hot bullshit. Apparently he had a narcoleptic fit in the middle of shaving, and now he is trapped in a town that, to his knowledge, has absolutely no razors. Or blades at all.

The kitchen of the inn is his last ditch hope. So here is a man with half a shaved hobo beard dressed in midwestern dad chic rummaging around noisily in the cabinets. He mumbles to himself: ]

If I were an innkeeper in a town people get mysteriously kidnapped to, where would I keep the knives...

b. emporium

[ Is he still half-shaved? Is he shaven but in a terrible hack job? Up to you! What's important is that he's in the Emporium now, eyeing everything with suspicious scrutiny. Right now, it's the rack of little name tags.

He's holding a keychain from the rack with the name "BUCKY" on it. ]

Why the hell would anyone make this?

c. wildcard

[ idk man, hmu for whatever!! ]

[pikaffeine]

arrival

[ the goodie bag is only slightly smaller than pikachu, but boy oh boy is he going through it. he has, in fact, thrown everything out of his bag and is going through everything with passion. items litter the ground around him. the pillow, however, is bigger than he is, and so when it comes to pulling it out he seems to be struggling a little. a lot, in fact. he can't hold both the pillow and the bag and so he is passionately attempting to remove the pillow just by pulling. it is not working at all. he is only dragging it all further away from his spread out pile of junk.

his phs lies on the ground, forgotten. who gave a phone to a rodent. ]

kitchen

[ if you missed it in arrival... there is a fluffy yellow ... thing... with a hat on currently on the counter next to the coffee machine. it is pouring itself a cup of coffee. there is an empty, dirty cup next to it.

this is normal. ]

[robopriest]

A: WE'RE NOT IN KANSAS (NEVADA) ANYMORE

[We're in Didney World. Maybe.]

[Anyways, don't look now - there's this man, dressed entirely in black - he's not dressed in a cassock or anything, but the form of his collar clearly indicates him as a priest, if the silver cross necklace didn't tip you off first. There's a noticeable Spanish accent in his words as he speaks up, gesturing to the device in his other hand.]

Well, I didn't expect being kidnapped to be part of my schedule. [His words drip with sarcasm as his visible eye narrows - his other eye is covered by a flashy-looking eyepatch.] Hey, have you been kidnapped before? Do you have any tips? I'm at a loss here, I'm afraid.

B: SAYONARA FROG-SENSEI

[Well, you might not see something like this for a while - here goes Hansa with the big friendly-looking frog pillow under his arm as he walks towards that beautiful bridge. He stands at the beginning of it, at an angle, moving the pillow to his hand, and then he just-]

[Chucks it.]

[It instantly hits the invisible barrier - and then flies back with incredible force, sparkles being seen around where it hit - and hey, it looks like its coming back at you! Be prepared for full pillow collision!! (Or not).]

[Meanwhile Hansa is just standing here, letting out a pleasant remark of:]

Oh, so that's what it does.

[Can't believe its been less than 5 hours or so and Hansa has committed PILLOW CARNAGE.]

C: BLACK LIKE MY SOUL

[There are priorities, and there are priorities. Wander into the kitchen, and you might smell...wait, is that coffee? It is! In the far corner, with an electric coffee maker sitting on the counter, is this shady-looking priest. He's already got a mug filled with black coffee in hand, and he looks over at whoever approaches, smiling as he gestures to the coffeemaker with his free hand.]

Want some?

D: WILDCARD

[Whatever you want with this guy I WILL provide! Anyways he's just going around being his questionable self - hit me up @ vampirize on plurk or on discord!!]

[soulus]

A. Swipe left

[Rufus frowns at the message on the device before wordlessly pocketing it. Then he's off to familiarize himself with the Realm.

Later he stands at the northern end of town—not looking at the river in front of him, but down at the handheld device as he peruses the participant data with the goodie bag hanging from his other hand. He looks up, stares at the nearest person to approach, and says nothing like the social butterfly he must be.]

B. Meet the neighbor

[Rufus is either entering or exiting his assigned room at the inn. While he doesn't carry a friendly disposition, he does make eye contact with passersby. Greetings.

That's when a fluffy creature trots out of the room to stand beside him.]

[pulsecannon]

They do. It's pretty annoying if you ask me.. Why didn't they just get to the point?

[ They are talking about that long ass message on the screen, right? ]

d.

[lecarre]

[... ... ... Uh.]

Are you... planning on cooking?

[She looks torn between bemusement and tentative acceptance at this point, but. It's still odd, okay.]

[dawnblushed]

...

[poke poke poke]

Miss?

[her voice comes out sort of raspy, but. it's probably fine.]

a

[stillnot]

An armory, probably. With the guns.

[dawnblushed]

[Yona nods, looking unsurprised.]

Mmhm. That's why I want to get inside.

II

[robopriest]

Hansa? Who's that?

[Says this random priest who's just approaching - he even looks back, like he expects some big weirdo behind him who happens to be named Hansa. There is no one else, of course.]

[uhhhmagic]

[It hits him directly in the face!!!!! He falls backwards onto his ass and his holding his nose like that actually hurt, because he’s an enormous baby. Why have they started fighting already— oh, right, siblings.]

What the fuck!

[Did he just say that.]

[exercisms]

Gold? Is that - I don't think I have anything like that.

[Checking his pockets, though? Checking - and then checking again, a little more alarmed.]

Wait - I can't find my money, either. Or my phone. It must've fallen out somewhere.

B

[robopriest]

[He's just passing by...and then stops at the sight of the fluffy creature.]

[He points at it.]

Nice cat.

a

[stillnot]

... They seem like idiots.

kitchen

[pulsecannon]

[ Not even going to notice the second cup. Just going to look at him, and then try to peek around his back. ]

You're the strangest moogle that I've ever seen. Hey, do you have a COMM or something on you?

[uhhhmagic]

[Hm? Looking around? There isn’t anyone in his range of vision, so he’s not sure where that noise came from.]

[exercisms]

Oh. But I think we probably aren't supposed to go in there. . .

[Just helpfully explaining the concept of locked doors.]

a.

[evocationary]

In your back, probably. [ a pause, as she settles in the door of the kitchen. she puts her hands on her hips. sing-songy: ] So, uh. What are we doooing?

ii

[stillnot]

There's no one here. Just take whatever you want.