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

[canned]

I. At the barrier

["I'm sorry! I'll be back! ........Just hang in there a little longer! ........I'll come back, no matter what! No matter what!! I promise!!"

"I promise..."

The previously empty eyes on a massive suit of steel armor suddenly alight as Alphonse sits up with a gasp, looking around. He stands, taking in the unfamiliar town square, frantically looking for someone.]

Big brother??

[Apparently not seeing him, but spotting the bridge at the end of the road, he bolts with surprising quickness towards the river, heavy metal footfalls clanging down the road. He makes it halfway across before, inevitably, rebounding hard off the invisible barrier.

Confused, but undaunted, Al begins to pound his fists against whatever has stopped him. When that results in nothing more than colorful little sparks, he claps his hands together and places them on it. Nothing. Again he claps, this time touching the ground after. Nothing.

Eventually, he'll probably become aware of someone watching him, but for now he's staring out past the bridge, mind racing and fists clenched.

II. Later, at the train station

[Having given up on the barrier for now, Al is taking time to collect his thoughts and go through his goodie bag as he sits waiting for a train at a station with no tracks.

Sitting on the ground, he's spread the contents of the bag out in front of him in a neat little arrangement. The rock, the tea, the condom. He picks up the headband, with its two yellow stars bobbing on top, and looks around to see if anyone's watching him.

Not seeing anyone, he puts it on and is looking at his reflection in the darkened screen of the powered off handheld.]

III. Baby's first arcade

[Drawn in by the cacophony of digital music and blaring artificial voices, Al walks into the penny arcade and immediately stops in his tracks, transfixed by the wonderland of color and flashing lights.

He's, uh...he's blocking the doorway completely.]

iii; arcade

[sacredchants]

[ hmm. ]

Who put this suit of armor in the way? Is this some sort of joke?

[canned]

Oh! [the suit of armor jolts and turns around, looking down]

I'm sorry! I didn't mean to be in the way!

[he helpfully steps to the side, head lowered in apologetic embarrassment]

It's just...I've never seen anything like this before...

[sacredchants]

[ seeing a centaur and someone with elf ears is clearly not as shocking as...

this?? ]

It talked.

i

[reconnective]

[it's hard to miss the sound of those footsteps running past, and as sora's exiting the emporium he spots a large metal figure dashing toward the northern end of town. he knows better than to be nosy, but...that doesn't seem great. as he follows alphonse he spots him bounding off of the barrier, and then beating up the barrier, and when nothing seems to come of it he lingers briefly before stepping to the side to try and get his attention.]

Hey. Are you okay?

[canned]

[Alphonse whips to face him, dropping into combat stance for a second before seeing the young concerned boy.]

Oh, sorry. [he relaxes somewhat] I-I'm okay, but I need to get to Central City right away. My friends might be in danger.

[reconnective]

[he can absolutely empathize with that.]

I don't know where that is, but the barrier doesn't seem to be letting us out yet. [it's frustrating, but he's still mostly calm about it.] ...how bad is it? For your friends.

ii

[suddenlybees]

Haha, wow.

[ A cursory glance like that isn't going to spot anyone. Kano, anyways, can be hard to spot in the shadows with his black hoodie on, but he steps out into the sunlight to make it all that much clearer that he sees all. ]

Very becoming! Suits you well~

[canned]

[Dropping the handheld, his hands scrabble around his helmet and hurriedly pull off the headband. He holds it behind his back, clearly embarrassed.]

I-I didn't think anyone was here. There's no one working, and I don't think any trains are coming...

[suddenlybees]

[ You can hide but you cannot erase this wonderful memory Kano will never forget in this entire memloss game ]

Aw, don't discount the trains just yet! Don't be shy, though~ It's just li'l ol' me, not a train full of people. Here, here-

[ He pulls out his own headband, one with hearts ]

See what you think of this one.

iii

[stillnot]

[ It takes her a minute to decide which is the weirder sight. The suit or armor, or the flashing lights of the arcade.

Moving in a suit of armor sounds difficult, but hey. Can't get bit through metal, right? Which leaves the arcade as the weirder thing here. ]

Crazy, right?

[ It's. Fine that he's blocking the doorway. She didn't want to go in, anyway! ]

[canned]

[he turns around, looking down at her]

I've never seen so many lights and sounds in one place! It's like a festival!

Oh, sorry! Did you want to go in? [he quickly goes to shuffle out of the way, helmet clanging against a hanging sign]

[stillnot]

It's like a death trap. There aren't walls around this place.

[ she means around the village as a whole. ... But she pauses to consider, barely even registering that he's apologizing at all. ]

... But if it hasn't drawn anything by now, it might be worth taking a look.

ii.

[chanteuser]

[







y'know what she's already chatted with a centaur today. this is fine. everything's normal here. ]

Oh, you have the same ones that I do.

[ she is, notably, not wearing her starry little headband. ]

[canned]

Oh, you startled me! [he quickly takes the headband back off and it disappears into his large armored hands]

I just--I wasn't sure if it would fit or not. Is this town having a festival or something?

[chanteuser]

I don't think so. There doesn't seem to be anyone else around, other than a bunch of us who have no idea where we are or how we got here.

[ she reaches into her own bag and pulls out her little starry headband ]

It looks like it fit alright?

ii

[dianxias]

[ xie lian came into the train station late, so he has yet to see alphonse actually move. he actually... has never seen anything like this in his life? he's starting to think that it might just be a fixture of this odd station.

curiosity gets the better of him, and xie lian shuffles over behind him, peering around the armor. a metal statue...? sorry for the invasion of your bubble, al. ]

[canned]

[Al looks up from his sitting position, boppers still on his head]

Um, hello?

[he remembers the boppers and quickly sweeps them off his head, the sound of metal sliding across metal]

1/2

[dianxias]

[ WH ]

ii

[misstrust]

Maybe take off the helmet before you put that on? Just a suggestion?

[ It comes from behind him a few seconds later, a bit dryly. ]

Re: ii

[canned]

[Startled, he jumps up to his feet, causing his head and the headband boppers to clang against a hanging signboard. He stoops down and turns, stepping away from it and spotting her.]

Oh! I didn't think anyone else was here!

[the boppers are still there, the boppers are now nearly 8 feet off the ground]

Um, do you know if the train is running today?

iii

[infreefall]

Um... excuse me. Are you okay? Are you stuck?

[ why else would you just be standing here ]

Re: iii

[canned]

[the metal body tenses with surprise and he turns, looking down into the doorway]

Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to be in the way!

[he shuffles away from the doorframe, making room for Ochako to pass if she wants]

I just...have never seen any place like this before, even in Central City. There's so much happening.

iii

[antaressnipe]

[-- He's literally as tall as the centaur (no, really, they're both 220 cm).

So for once it's his turn to do the open-staring at the back of this suit of... armor? And while his first inclination is to take it apart because who the heck, instead he will reach over and tap Al's shoulder with a calm:]

Hello.

Re: iii

[canned]

[the tap snaps him out of his childlike wonderment at the magical game festival and he quickly spins around, at first looking down but then bringing his gaze alllll the way back up]

Sorry! I didn't mean to be in the way, I--

[!!!]

A chimera?? Are you one of Kimblee's men?

[he hasn't moved his body much more, but Archer's keen sense can probably see a sort of battle readiness in the hardening of his posture]