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

[reconnective]

[off they go. sora follows along at an almost-leisurely pace, hands folded behind his head while he looks this way and that.]

It's a little hard to explain, but it's pretty different from here. How about you? Is this similar to where you were before?

[arcsplainist]

[ Hard to explain. Hm... ]

'Twould not be unusual to come across a small village such as this, but they are far and few between around Norvrandt these days. However... I was nowhere near where one could be ere now.

[ They were kinda walking around the bottom of the ocean. No one's gonna be building a house down there. ]

[reconnective]

[i. why were they in the ocean? what is going on there. but he doesn't know how to read meta so sora nods along with that.]

It makes you wonder how they really pulled all of us here. Some people were in places that should have been impossible to disappear from but they still showed up just fine. I guess what I really want to know is how did they even find us?

[arcsplainist]

[ don't worry about it ]

'Tis a feat that would require incredible magicks, aye—ones so powerful that I could not possibly begin to fathom it. Would that I could say how... but I fear even I am at a loss.

[reconnective]

I've been to some pretty powerful worlds before, but nothing like this either. Not really. It's harder to know what to do if we don't even have a clue why we're here right now.

[arcsplainist]

[ hold the funbus up. Alphinaud pauses for a beat, then: ]

Do you oft travel between worlds?

[reconnective]

Yeah. Part of our duty as heroes is to travel to worlds that are in trouble and help protect them, so we've been to a lot of them. [despite the part where they're not supposed to meddle, and he's not supposed to talk about it. oh well.]

[arcsplainist]

[ ... what!! ]

—And you do it so easily? But how? One cannot so simply travel the rift 'twixt worlds!

[ ..... right? ]

[reconnective]

Oh, we have a ship we use to travel. [they can now.]

[arcsplainist]

A ship.

[ You are going to break this boy's mind. ]

You use... a ship? That is all?

[reconnective]

Yup. It's called a gummi ship. It's an airship that we use to travel between worlds through the galaxy. They're pretty easy to navigate once you learn how.

[arcsplainist]

I... Ahem, yes, I have ridden upon my fair share of airships, but they are meant for travel from city to city—never an entirely different world.

[ Even Cid couldn't possibly construct one that could do that! ]

[reconnective]

[are you telling me there's a cid in xiv too, i hate this. but it's fine sora can't read meta so i'll just be here crying.]

I don't really know how it all works. Chip and Dale are in charge of that kind of stuff, but I think it's made out of really good materials or something. They made our phones, too.

[good chipmunks...]

[arcsplainist]

[ IT'S A FINAL FANTASY, TY ]

I... see.

[ Well, interrogating Sora isn't going to get far, it seems. Unfortunate. ]

Would that I could have a word with those two, but alas. Know that you can do what you are able so easily is... incredible, and that only begins to describe it.

[reconnective]

[I DIDNT THINK THEY REPEATED NAMES IN MULTIPLE FFS NOOOOO]

They'd love to talk your ear off if you asked. [he does not mention they're chipmunks because that might just be a little too strange for most people.] I still think it's pretty incredible, too. But there are always going to be worlds out there that need help, so we'll go wherever we have to in order to save them.

Have you traveled a lot before? [alphinaud's giving the impression it's not so much he's never gone anywhere but just not as easily. it's worth asking.]

[arcsplainist]

[ ty reveals she hasn't played much ff... smh ]

—Me? Well... I suppose I am well travelled more than most—at times, more so than intended. Wherever this may be likely counts for that.

[reconnective]

[stop no bully, also we all know this :pensive:]

Yeah, I think that counts for just about anybody. [but there's a curious noise.] What did you used to travel for? Was there a reason?