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

[reconnective]

[and so in walks sora completely ready to mind his own business, except there's a man ransacking the kitchen and if that isn't something to comment on, well.]

Um...did you check the storage? [he's pointing to the walk-in supply closet.]

[frostythehitman]

[ Bucky looks up from his rummaging and follows the pointed finger to the closet. ]

That's just the pantry. Nothing but food in there.

[reconnective]

Oh. Well...[he'll just wordlessly start helping him look around the cabinets and drawers.] They can't leave us here without anything. What do you need it for anyway?

[frostythehitman]

Knife.

Need it to shave.

[ Aaaand back to noisily ransacking all the cabinets! ]

[reconnective]

[uh.]

You sure there isn't a better way to do that?

[frostythehitman]

Well it's not like there's any razors around the place.

[ Also like. Squints at Sora. Because Bucky is pretty sure this kid has never had to think about how to deal with a facial hair in his life before. What the hell would you know, kid. ]

[reconnective]

[don't squint??? like bucky's right sora has and probably never will need to figure out how to deal with facial hair but rude.]

Nothing in the bathrooms at all? Aren't you worried about cutting your face open?

[frostythehitman]

Not really. It can't be much different than using a straight razor, right?

[reconnective]

...yeah. [yeah. absolutely. he completely understands. hm. anyway! give him time to continue going through other drawers.] How big of a knife do you think you need?

[frostythehitman]

Any size should work just fine. I'm flexible.

[ He says this like he knows what he's doing, but actually he has never used either a knife or a straight razor to shave. He is fully making shit up. ]

[reconnective]

[at least Sora doesn't know enough to call him out, so it's just digging around. he's finding forks and things but that isn't helpful...a butter knife is also not helpful but on the counter they go.]

So you woke up here with no idea what's going on too? [may as well be conversational while they do this. ]

[frostythehitman]

[ Bucky is digging around too, rifling through cabinets and drawers. He doesn't look to the kid to respond, but continues the conversation easily enough. ]

Yeah. Seems like everyone here did. Doesn't exactly bode well for whatever's gonna happen next.

[reconnective]

Probably not. [this is a spatula. still unhelpful.] Some people have been in similar situations before but not everybody. I've been trying to understand what this world could want from us.

[frostythehitman]

That's the million dollar question, isn't it?

Have you been in a situation like this before?

[reconnective]

Not exactly like this, but sort of. Except when it happened I found other people to explain some things right away.

[frostythehitman]

Sounds like you really lucked out.

[reconnective]

I guess I did. [he does not say that those circumstances were also a mess so hm. eventually he comes up with a paring knife.] What about something like this?

[frostythehitman]

[ He grabs the knife and examines it like he knows what to look for in a kitchen knife about to be used for shaving. ]

...Yeah, looks like it should do.

[reconnective]

Cool. [congrats on one (1) knife.] Do you think you need anything else?

[frostythehitman]

Ideally? Shaving cream and a razor.

But this'll do. Probably.

[reconnective]

[don't suggest it don't suggest it don't suggest it...]

You could probably find something soft enough to use as shaving cream in the fridge? [it's not whipped cream, sora.]

[frostythehitman]

...Huh. Maybe.

[ shaving cream just exists to like moisturize your face while you shave, right? Dairy is supposed to be moisturizing, isn't it?

He opens up the fridge and starts pulling out anything that looks like it might fit the bill. ]

[reconnective]

[he hadn't expected to be taken seriously, but he's looking into the fridge to see what he might be able to spot.]

What about something like that? [he's pointing to a container of whipped cream cheese.] Or maybe that? [and that's just butter. there's no way this guy's gonna go through with it, right?]

[frostythehitman]

[ Bucky holds up and judges each of the items as Sora points them out or he pulls them out of the fridge. Butter, too firm. Sour cream, possible but not likely to stick to the face all that well. Literally any form of liquid, too thin. Whipped cream, too airy to be effective.

Now, the whipped cream cheese...he holds it up and really thinks about this one. Very spreadable, but with enough heft to really cling and maybe be effective. ]

...well, it's as good as I'm going to get here.

[ And so, he dunks the knife in the whipped cream cheese and begins spreading it all over his face.

Welcome to hell, lads. ]

[reconnective]

[hell is real and it's in the form of watching a grown man actually listen to him. but sometimes....you have to do what you have to do to survive in the wild, which is why he moves out of the way to give bucky space and be on standby in case he does stab himself in the face.]

Good luck.

[please. someone else more responsible come stop this.]