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

[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.

[evocationary]

[ this poor child. ]

Ohhh. Tough luck. [ she leans over the counter. ] Well, I guess that leaves you with two options, huh?

[exercisms]

Options?

[Looking around, worried.]

I can just put them back. I wanted to get something for Ritsu while I was here, and they had this keychain, but -

[evocationary]

Yeah, two options. [ sorry, mob, she talks right over the top of the last few words. ] You can either owe me one for all your ill-gotten not-purchases, or you can just steal all of them and run.

[ a beat. ] Actually, wait, who is Ritsu? That might change your options.

[exercisms]

I wouldn't steal them! I could call someone and get money, but my phone is . . .

[He definitely is starting to suspect she's maybe, maybe trying to con him, but he's too flustered to do anything about that. But he frowns at her question.]

He's my younger brother, but - please don't involve him in this! If I've done something wrong, I'll pay for it on my own.

[evocationary]

[ she gives him a once over. younger brother, huh. ]

Tell you what. [ she leans over the counter. ] I'll let you have that stuff this time, but next time you want stuff from this place, you better have my fifty gold. Sound like a deal?

[exercisms]

[Nodding! With the big trusting eyes of a boy who would never steal but believes she's really a cashier.]

Thank you! That's very kind of you! Next time, I'll be sure to have that.

[evocationary]

[ oh, mob, honey. ]

Uh huh. [ she actually almost feels bad. almost. ] You treat that kid brother of yours right. What's your name, bud?

[exercisms]

He's not really a kid - he's only a year younger than I am.

[And much more mature. But he nods.]

I'm Kageyama Shigeo.

[evocationary]

[ a long pause. ]

Right. [ she just casually doesn't offer a name in return, it's fine. she actually just climbs up onto the counter to sit on it so she can go through the little bowl of pins off to the side. ] All younger siblings are kids, rule number one.

[exercisms]

If you say so. Ritsu's much more reliable than I am, though.

[But she sounds confident, so maybe she's right? Just watching her.]

[evocationary]

[ she raises her eyebrow at him, even as she's pulling out novelty pins and just... putting the ones she likes on her robes. ]

I don't know, some nerd that won't even steal from an empty store sounds pretty reliable to me. [ she says, putting a pin shaped like a ghost that says faBOOlous on it on her sleeve. ]

[exercisms]

Really? Me?

[He sounds pleased to be called reliable, at least. Even if she also called him a nerd.]

[evocationary]

Really, you. [ she pins another one on her sleeve that says riot grrl. ]

[exercisms]

[He's just. Pleased to have gotten complimented. Blushing, thinking about how reliable he comes across.

. . . But after a second, remembering he's reliably lost all of his belongings.]

Um, would you happen to have a phone I could borrow?

[evocationary]

[ oh my god, this kid. she is so bemused. ]

Nope. My stone of Farspeech got lost in the mail. And I don't have Sending prepared either, but even if I did, it'd be completely negated by the fact that I've been nerfed into the ground.

[exercisms]

Nerfed. . . ?

[What does this mean.]

Is that like when someone shoots you with one of those toy guns? That can hurt.

[evocationary]

[ gasp, someone who knows what a nerf gun is ]

Uh - half there. I got shot with a toy gun of hey, guess what, you can't cast magic now, dipshit.

[exercisms]

You can do magic?

[Whoa! I mean, he's heard of psychic powers and telekinesis of every kind, as well as ghosts, but magic.]

Can you make a rabbit appear?

[evocationary]

I - actually? Probably.

[ she can like... polymorph someone into a rabbit, probably? that counts. ]

Not now, though. Like I just said.

[exercisms]

Oh, right. Still, that's amazing.

[But he nods.]

My powers aren't working, either.

[evocationary]

-- Wait, what? You have powers? What kind?

[exercisms]

Telekinesis, and I can sense spirits, and exorcise them.

[evocationary]

Holy shit. That's rad. So what, are you a ghostbuster?

[exercisms]

[It's not really anything special, but Lup is nice, so he doesn't point that out.]

A ghostbuster? Um. . . well, I work part time doing exorcisms.