redactable | WEEK ZERO: ARRIVAL

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

a rock that resembles the galaxy

a single random one of these pillows

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...Something like that.

[cute,]

They live independently in nature, and we have an understanding between us. So I suppose you could say my job is... something like a mediator's?

[the middleman. the bridge. ha ha ha.]

I listen and work with the land, and nature.

Wow, that sounds so cool! Like something out of a fairy tale! [this metal baby is instantly charmed by anyone elegant and nice]

Have you been into the forest here? Is there anything...weird about the nature?

A fairy tale? Well, I do work within a previously enchanted forest...

[judging from this cute babey, he'll definitely react to that.]

But the forest here? Hmm... nothing unusual was out of place, as far as I could tell... just, different trees to the ones I'm used to seeing.

An enchanted forest! [yeah she was absolutely right] With your dress it's almost like you're a magical princess. [he giggles a bit]

[well, technically, she's back to being a princess again. and technically, she is magical, even if she isn't right at this moment...]

Wouldn't that be something?

[...but there was no point in getting his hopes up about something she couldn't even show him. instead, she leans her head on one hand, and smiles.]

If I was, maybe I could magic us out of here.

That'd be nice. But I think even if there was magic it wouldn't work in here. There's something...strange about all of this. It feels artificial, but all the plants and animals are real.

You can't ask the animals here what happened, can you? [he laughs, but it's a little bit forced this time, as he trails off looking down the road towards the bridge]

The animals? [she gives an amused exhale, and shrugs good-naturedly.] It can't hurt to try. Let's see if I have a secret magic voice.

[and with that, she sings out the four-note call of Ahtohallan, listening keenly for a reply.

nuthin. she shrugs again, giving al a sympathetic look.]

Nope. I might've scared some birds in that bush over there, though.

[He laughs, and claps at the short performance]

Wow, you have a really nice voice! I think it's pretty magic, even if the birds didn't.

Do you sing a lot?

Now and then. [she shrugs it off. nobody needs to know about the. impromptu performances. nobody.]

What about yourself? What do you like to do?

Well, my brother and I travel a lot for [a beat] his work. He's a State Alchemist. So we don't have much free time [especially lately], but I like to read and study!

On long train rides it's nice, or when everyone else is sleeping.

Your brother? That's nice. [she's imagining a much older brother, shepherding this... young(?) man around.] You two must be very close.

[she's trying not to think too hard about this whole... armor thing, but it's getting a little difficult, the more she gets to know this... kid(?)]

What kind of things does your brother do? I guess it's hard for me not to think about... turning lead into gold. That sort of thing? Or is it closer to engineering?

[she genuinely has no idea. different worlds!]

[he laughs, but not unkindly, at the question—just enjoying a conversation with someone treating him nicely and normally]

We'd get in a lot of trouble if we turned anything into gold. It's one of the rules alchemists have to follow in my country.

[he thinks for a moment about how to explain alchemy, seeing as he can't just demonstrate it and it's rare for him to meet someone with zero knowledge of it]

Alchemy is more like a science. It's taking something and turning it into something else, changing where energy and matter goes to make new things. My brother works for the military, so a lot of the time he uses alchemy for combat and defense, but also for helping people!

Like, one time, he fixed a bunch of people's houses that got smashed up! ([ed was kinda responsible for smashing them up but it wasn't his fault!])

[hm!]

So it's... sort of like an ability to make something out of something else? Changing the... structure?

[because if so that's more or less what she does with water, so it's easily understood.......]

Yeah, that's right! Like how water can be changed into ice, steam, and snow. It's composition is the same, but the form is different depending on the energy. If that makes sense!

In the same way, alchemy doesn't make anything new. Water that freezes is still made of the same thing it was before, just arranged different.

[you could say...it has....memory....]

We call it the Law of Equivalent Exchange. [he recites, now clearly trying to show off like the Honor's Student he is:] "In order to obtain or create something, something of equal value must be lost or destroyed."

[please ~~clap~~ praise]

[she actually does clap.]

Well explained, professor.

WEEK ZERO: ARRIVAL

how dare you

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just because it's a good metaphor:

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