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

[supremity]

i. goodies(?) on arrival

[ Despite the fact he looks very at odds with his stuffed animal (a white ferret, how charming!) under his arm, and the PHS in his free hand, Hua Cheng is going to just keep going with his life. He certainly isn't going to panic, or look perterbed, because that just isn't his style. No, instead, he reads the slapdash message, once he figures it out, and cocks an eyebrow down at the device. ]

Oh, good. [ Is that sarcasm? Drippingly. ] Definitely not kidnapped by absolute morons. I never knew someone could be more of a mess than the Heavens, but here we are.

ii. goat ghost on a bridge

[ See: someone not willing to stand idly around.

When he couldn't get any closer to the castle, Hua Cheng made his way in the opposite direction. He's currently on the bridge, cool as a cucumber, knocking his knuckles against the invisible barrier with no real intent to break it. If someone else wants to try that, he'll stand and watch what happens to them. Because he's an ass.

He does, however, calmly pull out his stupid looking headband with sproingy hearts. With a finger, he absently jostles one of the hearts, eyeing (or just looking? hard to tell, with the single eyeball and all) a spot over the river.

Then, suddenly, YEET.

Of course the sparklers go off, but he watches as he shamelessly commits the horrible crime of littering when the headband kerplunks into the river. At least nothing else happens? ]

... disappointing, but nothing of value was lost.

iii. profile match

[ Sitting at the dining hall, long legs crossed and stretched out to take up as much floor space as possible, Hua Cheng flips through profiles.

His makes him snort, but when he sees you - yes, you there - on the app and in person, he holds the PHS up and cocks his head a little. His eye tracks from the profile, to the person, scrutinizing. ]

Interesting. You're very, ah, talented.

iv. wildcard

[ you know the drill here my friends ]

iii

[dawnblushed]

What?

[Her voice is kind of raspy, which may or may not have something to do with the singed clothing she's wearing and the light burns on her hands. Don't worry about it. Yona does not appear to be worrying about it.]

[supremity]

[ Weird murder t*ndr: this person has a lot of skills that gege would find interesting.
Hua Cheng: how magical, tell me more ]

Your skillset. It's interesting, that's all. [ And like, hilarious, because he's an ass like that. But he uncrosses his legs, rocking up to his feet and dusting himself off. ] I would ask about your supposed sword skills, but I don't think you're capable of holding anything even resembling one at the moment.

i

[recrowns]

Haha, are the Heavens truly a mess? One would think they would have all manner of time to manage their affairs.

[consider it a curiosity point!]

[supremity]

One would certainly think. More like there's more time for them to sit on their asses, look down their noses, and gossip.

[ Pleasantly! In a way that is not... pleasant. It's fine. ]

iii

[reconnective]

[listen. sora was just on his way to the kitchen he did not sign up to be on some mystery app. but he hears someone talking to him and he tilts his head, a hand coming up to point at himself. "me?"]

What do you mean?

[supremity]

[ How many children on this weird murder t*nder are going to wind up reminding him of the same person.

Hua Cheng cocks his head, putting his cheek on his shoulder as he assesses Sora's profile. ]

You do look like you would have overwhelming optimism. [ Protags. ] Locksmithing is a little surprising.

iii if I may be so bold

[laid]

[Raven sighs deeply. He's seen the profiles. The incriminating list of "skills."]

Ya really want to put yer in trust information that was presumably written by the people who trapped us here?
[Clearly someone has a vested interest in making people think the information therein is untrustworthy.]

as bold as u please

[supremity]

Unless I've gotten the information myself, I don't tend to trust it. [ Though he's not personally denying his skillset. Even if he has no fucking idea what a wikileaks is. ] But I imagine there's some grain of truth in a few of them, going by what I know already or what I've learned so far.

[ Pleasant! Except not really. ]

iii

[riegan]

Thanks.

(What was that? Where did it come from? It doesn't matter. He hears himself being acknowledged and he's flattered, truly. He's a man of many talents and he owns it!)

Anything else you want to say while you're at it? Don't stop now.

(Keep going. Also in Claude's defense, his tone is completely playful. )

[supremity]

I admire your apparent ability to poison yourself and bother people. Truly impressive.

[ Even if his tone is extremely dry, at least it's... playful insulting? Oh no, Eski, what have you done.

... but, after a beat: ]

Though, that last one's fairly relatable, now that I think about it.

iii

[arkitect]

'Twould seem most of these paint rather interesting pictures, yours being no exception.

[Because of course he's been doing the same, skimming through for anything that seems remotely of interest. One finger taps the screen of his device, idly.]

Remarkably composed for a ghost, if one assumes the title to be anything but metaphorical... likely enough, taking age into account as well, but there are certainly other reasons to be named so.

[supremity]

[ Ah yes, one of the ancient ones. There's no denying that they catch his attention the most, and this one moreso than the others, considering just what door his name is on. ]

Depends on just how much of the picture is true, for each person, but there's always a grain of truth at the start.

[ And where does this one's start... ]

I don't find much reason to be less than composed, if I'm to be honest. [ Literally or figuratively? Yes. ] The title isn't metaphorical, but you are right that there are other reasons for it, as well.

iii

[robopriest]

Oh? I could say the same about you.

[Just right back at you. A fellow eyepatch man. He never thought he'd see the day.]

Say, I don't appreciate you stealing my style, though. One of us might need to change.

[supremity]

[ He makes a show of glancing back at the app, holding the PHS out a bit further and squinting his visible eye. ]

I'm not so sure it isn't you stealing my style? You are, after all, much younger than I am.

[ Although he can't say he disapproves? Of him? So there's that. ]

iii hi snow

[heartablaze]

[long tall man will get to compare to tiny tiny girl who probably doesn't look any older than eleven, currently curled up with a cup of ice cream on the other side of the table, her mouth full when he speaks up.

She looks to the left, then the right, then behind her, before mutely pointing at herself, spoon still stuck in her mouth.]

hi Nik I'm here now

[supremity]

[ Charming. He can only imagine this tiny tiny girl is eating sweets right at this moment, because, really, what the hell is ice cream? ]

Heroic arson is a personal favorite of mine.

[ Thirty-three times his favorite, in fact. ]

iii

[suddenlybees]

Aw, flatterer, you're making me blush~

[ Kano's talents are very... useful. Yeah. ]

Y'know, it took years and years to perfect these sorta skills! What d'you say, want to learn?

[supremity]

[ Extremely useful. But, honestly, these... two things are probably the most simultaneously innocuous yet ridiculous talents so far? ]

I don't think there's much traffic here to direct, and I have yet to see a cat, but please - teach me the ways of an artisan.

iii

[soulus]

[He stares for a bit.]

Am I? Then you should employ me sometime.

[supremity]

[ :eyezooms: on drowning in debt. Oya? ]

If the occasion arises, maybe I will. [ Oh he'd find a way. ] Reliable bounty hunters are always useful.

iii. i wanted to break the chain but alas

[chanteuser]

[ ... squints. ]

Oh, I don't know. I don't have your talent in blackmail and ruining careers, so maybe it's not comparible.

honestly I'm glad everyone is enjoying this prompt it's like speed dating

[supremity]

[ He laughs a little dryly. ]

Depends on the job requirements, wouldn't you say?

ii bc i just realized everyone else tagged 3 and 2 is lonely

[cuedoves]

[ zuko doesn't disagree with the sentiment. these headband things do look ridiculous, and he's not sure what he's supposed to do with them. ]

[ but also just throwing it into the river seems pretty rude. ]

What were you expecting?

[ zuko's also giving him a bit of an expectant look, like he's counting on him to go get it out ]

so very lonely and in need of moral guidance?

[supremity]

[ Hua Cheng has seen enough people wearing them, and has definitely put some ridiculous things on his head, but this... is not one of them. Better use, anyways. ]

It's obvious the barrier goes across the bridge, so logically it would cross into the river as well. Double-checking that never hurts. But the question is whether the river is safe to enter.

[ What expectant look? Zuko, he's half blind. ]