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

[dawnblushed]

[Well, she was going to look through her device to see just what skillset Hua Cheng is talking about, but she's immediately distracted by his commentary.]

Don't tell me what I'm not capable of.

[Stubbornly, now she wants to find something to show off her sword skills with.]

I've fought with worse injuries than this before.

[supremity]

[ Ah-ha. ]

Of course you have. [ Where has he heard that before. ] My mistake, Yona.

[ Hua Cheng why are you like this. He moves to calmly slip his PHS back into the inner breast of his robes, for lack of breadsleeves. ]

Considering our current position, it's not something I would recommend, but by all means.

1/2

[dawnblushed]

...

[Okay now she's just. Very deliberately looking through her PHS until she finds his profile.]

If I can find a sword, I'll show you, Hua Cheng.

[Did she do that just so she doesn't have to ask his name? Yes.]

2/2

[dawnblushed]

[And then she spots his age.

Looks at him. Looks back at the device.]

You have really good skin for someone so old.

[supremity]

I haven't found one yet, personally, but if not there's always improvisation.

[ Spoken like a true murderer in a murdergame there, my dude, calm down. It's only day one.

But then he blinks, and - barks out a laugh, amused and surprised. ]

Well, I'm not the oldest that I saw from the people in that list, but I'll take the compliment regardless.

[dawnblushed]

I found something sharp earlier, but it's the wrong shape to be a sword. Also, it's too short.

[So that's not helpful.

Anyway, moving right along -]

Do any of them look their age? [...wait, she can just look. Time to scroll through the profiles.] ...no, I guess not.

[supremity]

Sword or not, you should hold onto it. Sharp is useful in the right hands.

[ Because ha ha this is one hell of a fun situation to find yourself in!

Hua Cheng folds his arms behind his back, stepping easily to look at her device from a close but not too close vantage point. ]

You really stop counting and paying attention to that kind of thing after a while, in my experience. I don't know about the rest of them.

[dawnblushed]

[She continues scrolling through more of the profiles, then scrolls back up, eventually stopping on his again when something else catches her eye.]

...you're a ghost? But you don't look scary.

[He also doesn't look dead.]

[supremity]

A ghost can look like anything, and anyone. I just happen to be very good at it.

[ UNDERSTATEMENT, though he does amend: ] It is why I'm the Ghost King. Any particular reason why you're "missing in action?"

[dawnblushed]

...

[Yona actually has to stop to think about it.]

It might be because I got kidnapped?

[supremity]

[ That actually makes Hua Cheng laugh, albeit more of a chuckle than the one he surprised out of him. ]

Now, or previously? We're all in that boat at the moment.

[dawnblushed]

Before we ended up here, unfortunately.

[She says, smiling.]

[supremity]

Ah, twice the kidnapping. My condolences.

[ She's not upset so it's... teasing? ]

Not that our hosts would have us call this experience a "kidnapping," apparently, but here we are anyways.

[dawnblushed]

I'm used to it by now.

[hm! bad.]

But, seriously, do they really think any of us will believe this isn't a kidnapping? What else are we supposed to think when we wake up somewhere with no memory of how we got here? It's a little insulting.

[she seems more upset about being "lied to" than she does about getting kidnapped.]

[supremity]

[ Ah, yeah, this is definitely someone in the same vein as gege. Hua Cheng decides to see how this goes now that she's not puffed up at him anymore. ]

I think "a little insulting" is a bit of an understatement, personally. So much disorganization, and yet they've managed to bring us all here to this place that makes no sense? In such large numbers? It's absolutely insulting.

[dawnblushed]

Right?! If you're going to be that disorganized, at least be disorganized enough for us to escape. And if you're going to be so organized that we can't escape, at least give us some useful information!

[GRUMBLES.]

They should come out and see us already so we can get some answers out of them.

[supremity]

Unfortunately, we can't tell how many there are from their useless information, given how they decided to share it. But I would guess they're in the castle we can't reach, if not one of the locked buildings here.

[ He reaches to fiddle with the bead on his braid, humming. ]

I imagine they'll be staying under whatever rock they're under, no matter where that happens to be. At least for now. Cowards.

[dawnblushed]

So let's find them and drag them out.

[Yona could you maybe sit down and let your burns heal first.]

[supremity]

[ beeps ]