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

[dianxias]

the plaza inn

[ do you know who did not even open his device? xie lian. do you know why? because xie lian has absolutely no idea what this thing is. he's been through his little goodie bag - the massive pillow is pushed between his straw hat and his back - but otherwise, you can find one weird guy dressed in white robes, staring at the door.

hm. well, it had his name on it, didn't it...? give him a few times to try and rattle the doorknob and look confused... and then...

there's a very loud THUD from upstairs! i'm sure it's fine. someone please teach him how to open the door with the device. or just how to turn it on? ]

kitchens.

[ well! that was fun.

xie lian is now looking about the same, but he's covered in confetti! he doesn't seem particularly perturbed by this, though, and most importantly, the thing he was the most worried about finding slithered out from under the door while he was attempting to shoulder ram into it. ruoye curled around his arm once more, xie lian makes his way through the inn to explore, poking around at all of the various baubles and things around the room, standing at one point in the walk in freezer and just marveling at it? what a weirdo.

he feels a bit worried about just taking food, though, whether it's good or otherwise. find him standing contemplatively in the kitchen, scritching idly at ruoye, who worries around his wrist, popping up from out of his sleeve and wiggling around xie lian's fingers. hope you don't think it's a snake.

at one point you can absolutely find him with his head basically in the biggest garbage can in the kitchen.... this looks like trash storage, but it also looks very empty. ]

ic profiles

[ once someone teaches xie lian how to use the device (see: turning it on), he scrolls through until he sees his own name, and...

.... ] ...creative problem solving? [ ?????? ]

wildcard

u already kno

kitchen.

[evocationary]

What. Are you doing.

[ WHY ARE YOU IN THE TRASH. ]

[dianxias]

Ah?

[ oh! there's someone else there. please give him a moment. xie lian wiggles a little and pops his head back out of where he was looking! confetti in his dark hair and eyes wide, he blinks at this person across from him, and then gives her a sheepish smile. ]

Oh... um, just... looking for scraps?

[ well

he was. ]

[evocationary]

[ this guy is a disaster. ]

My god. [ she says dryly. she scoots across the room, pulling her hair into a ponytail. it goes really well with the sunglasses and the pink heart headband. ] Okay, well. We're not going to do that, okay? Are you hungry?

kitchen oh no

[heartablaze]

[why is there a man in the garbage can

there are so many reasons this could be but her mind comes to the first thing she can think of and she's running forward to this poor raccoon in a human body clearly trapped in the trash can]

...Ah!!! H-hey, are you stuck? Don't move, I'll help you!

[dianxias]

[ hIKARU HONEY

suddenly, there's a voice behind him while he's looking! really, this thing went a bit deeper than he expected, and he was half thinking it might not have a bottom, at first, so he was just trying to make sure he didn't miss an apple core or something...

but then the nice person is saying things about him being stuck. xie lian sticks his hand out of the trash can - ruoye wriggles out from around his wrist and seems to look at her, despite not having eyes. ] Oh - it's alright, I'm not stuck! Thank you, young lady!

[ i guess he's fine ? ]

[heartablaze]

[She is. Covered in gashes. That's fine. Maybe the weird ribbon snake can't see it if it has no eyes.

Still, her mouth tightens, looking at the odd trash can man with obvious concern.]

Um... um, you're welcome, but...

Hey, you're sure you're okay? Did you lose something? Isn't that a bad way to clean a garbage can?

[Maybe he was the trash can? Poor fellow. At least he seemed happy.

Her eyes flick to the moving piece of linen. That... hadn't been a dream, had it?

She gives a wave.]

party in the kitchen

[moondumplings]

[ usagi's just watching him slowly get eaten by the trash, head tilting while her heart shaped headband bounces with the movement. rip stranger in white ]

Did you lose something?

the last two people that should be allowed to party in the kitchen

[dianxias]

[ xie lian pops out of the trash as fresh as a daisy, as if he was not in fact just shoulders deep in a trash can. ]

Oh-! No, no, I was just looking.

[ ????? ]

ic profiles

[frostythehitman]

[ Bucky may or may not know the etiquette of screenlooking. Here he is, peeking over Xie Lian's shoulder at his screen. ]

Didn't know we could look people up on this thing. Who's that?

[dianxias]

[ he doesn't know any screen etiquette either, so xie lian is just fine to show the screen to the person behind him. ]

Ah, this...? [ xie lian glances back down at it, and then offers bucky a smile! ] It's me! Xie Lian.

inn

[supremity]

[ The thud is what gets his attention, and Hua Cheng slowly looks up at the ceiling. Eyebrow cocked, he moves to go - investigate, or something. Maybe someone broke down a door and he can take advantage of it. He's so kind.

That plan sure gets scrapped (ha ha) the second he sees the white robes, the bamboo hat, the brown hair - ]

Gege?

[dianxias]

[ !!!!!!!!!!! ]

San Lang! [ oh, xie lian just sounds utterly relieved, lighting up immediately at the familiar sight of his companion; he jumps up to his feet, and immediately gets confetti fucking everywhere. ]

I was wondering where you had gone. You don't happen to have any idea where we are, do you?

ic profiles

[dawnblushed]

[???

yona has, so far, only read the weird message from their hosts. so when xie lian just says that out of the blue, she tilts her head to one side, looking at him in confusion.]

[dianxias]

[ the big, shiny eyes of a shoujo protagonist... x2,

that is to say, when xie lian notices someone nearby and staring at him, he's snapped out of it. he gives the young lady a smile, a bit sheepish. ] Ah... I'm sorry. I just thought these were quite odd...

[ he turns his screen towards yona to read, though! there is his profile, displayed in its glory. (?) ]

inn

[reconnective]

[sometimes...you hear loud noises and you don't consider that this may be a problem before running in that direction. so, that is to say, not long after that sound comes from above him sora's running up the stairs as fast as he can to check it out! xie lian is treated to the slap of sneakers on the stairs as a young boy rounds the corner, eyes wide as he looks around.]

What was that? Is everything okay?

[dianxias]

[ slap slap slap

no i'm sorry. xie lian's sitting on the ground when sora rounds the corner, looking a bit surprised, and absolutely covered in confetti.

... ] Ah. [ well! that's odd. ] I'm alright! Thank you for your concern, young man.

kitchens

[axecessory]

[ Well, while Xie Lian's attention is on literal garbage, Hilda has a banana peel or something to throw out. So she just has to stand here, pinching rubbish between her fingers and contemplating dropping it on his head if he doesn't get a move on. What in Sothis' name is he even doing? ]

Um... helloooo? Excuse me?

[dianxias]

[ oh! someone's there...

out he pops from the garbage, like a little raccoon. there's a boy in there, hilda! at least he's pretty. ]

...Oh! I'm sorry. [ and xie lian just steps to the side as if he wasn't just in the trash can... ]

kitchen

[suddenlybees]

[ A second head joins Xie Lian leaning into the trash can, completely blocking out the light and also using up all the air. ]

Anything good in here?

[dianxias]

[ well, he's not expecting company!!! xie lian wriggles, and his head pops back out of the can so he can take a big gulp of air as kano nearly suffocates him. why has he already almost died twice this game has been open less than 48 hours.

... ] It appears not. It was quite empty.

[ no good garbage indeed ]

inn

[chanteuser]

[ like two seconds later the door to room 13 opens and alex comes stumbling out. hello??? ]

[dianxias]

[ hi neighbor!! around the corner, there is xie lian, sitting against the wall, blinking a bit dazedly, and covered in confetti.

whoops. so much for that plan! ]

IC profiles

[lionson]

I think it's politely telling you that your ideas aren't always the most conventional.

[Shiro approves though, he's a 'creative problem solver' too.]

[dianxias]

[ xie "i'll just swallow the sword to kill the demon" lian is not sure whether to laugh or to cry. ]

...Well...I suppose that's not untrue....