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

[showyourself]

I... guess so.

[...

???

he shoulders droop minisculy. if anna were here, she'd know something else to do.

...

welp.]

...Any ideas?

[reconnective]

Um...[the town isn't very big, but surely there's something.] There's a shop here that has all kinds of items. And the inn's nice. We have our own rooms and everything. [...oh!] Or we could play a game.

[no matter what version of elsa this is, sora's convinced she could do with something fun.] We haven't really found any answers to anything yet besides what was in that first message, so some of us thought maybe we're meant to meet other people and get to know each other better before the arrival of whoever contacted us.

1/2

[showyourself]

Well. That is true. [the game. and the message explanation. and. well. why not.

...

get to know each other better......................

elsa clears her throat, and stands to her full height, folding her hands in front of her. okay. she can do this. she can just. ask.]

Then, perhaps for starters, we should...

[...]

[showyourself]

...Go and play a game together?

[AHHHHHH

MAYBE IT'LL JUST COME UP NATURALLY INSTEAD???]

[reconnective]

[genuinely hope he doesn't find out for weeks because right now he really does not suspect anything's amiss. this is just elsa? this is how elsa is. all the more reason to be a good friend!! he is very proud of her for reaching out and agreeing to connect with others.]

Okay. Come on, the arcade's this way. I haven't played most of what's in there but we can find something for both of us. [rip.]

[showyourself]

[yes!! this is your old pal elsa!! please don't pay any attention to the drastically different hairstyle and outfit! it's nbd!!!

arcade. right. whatever that is. it has games? okay. playing a game with someone she does not know, but is pretending she does know honestly sounds like the worst thing in the world right now, but. you know what? why force herself into an incredibly awkward situation now that she's established this harmless deceptionbreak this kid's heart? right??

she follows after sora, the train of frosted fabric fluttering behind her in a suitably dramatic d*sney way.]

You've certainly been making your way around town.

[reconnective]

[he's noticed but also he's just not going to bring it up? she looks nice, maybe this means she's happier now. i can't believe elsa's suffering like this. but at that statement he sort of laughs it off while leading the way.]

I wanted to see everything that was available while we had time. I didn't want to miss something because I didn't get the chance to.

[showyourself]

[it's fine? it's fine.]

You almost sound like you're expecting it all to disappear.

[reconnective]

It's not that. But maybe more like something will change and we won't have the time anymore?

[showyourself]

[...

said like someone who's already been through that exact scenario.

the boy in front of her certainly wasn't a child, but something about his... urgency? focus? makes elsa want to get all big sisterly about this, even despite the awkwardness of her charade.]

...You know, I think that no matter what changes, we'll always end up making time for the people we care about. Here, and everywhere else.

[reconnective]

[she's not wrong. it's a very important thing to remember, and he actually looks a little amazed by the sentiment because it's something he agrees with. despite the fact that they're separated from people they love and don't know what's happening, there's always time if you make it.]

Yeah...as long as our hearts are connected, there's always time. [the reminder is nice at least.] Anna and the others will be safe until we can leave. So we just have to remember that they'll be there no matter what happens here.

[showyourself]

[HE REALLY DOES KNOW ANNA, THEN??? WHO ARE YOU!!!

with an incredible mental display of concealing the feelings of shock, her smile stays in place, and she nods encouragingly. yes! connected hearts! to my sister! who you! APPARENTLY!! KNOW AS WELL!!!]

...Do you really think this is another world entirely, then?

[reconnective]

[he continues to be oblivious to her shock because nothing seems out of place to him!]

I think so. It makes sense when you think of how all of us could be here and be from different places. It's not a world I'm familiar with, but that doesn't mean it isn't important.

[showyourself]

It would explain a lot. But...

[well. the amount of magic it would take to move so many people from different worlds... plus, blocking off all magic abilities... that sounds like a very powerful person. or people.]

...We'll just have to find out. One step at a time.

[reconnective]

Right. [one step at a time...

...and speaking of steps, they enter the arcade! sora stops in the doorway and he looks around at all of the games.]

You guys don't have anything like this in Arendelle, do you? I don't recognize a lot of these, but we can pick a game together.

[showyourself]

No. I've never seen anything like it.

[she's just kind of. blinking. taking it all in. wow.]

So... each of these is a game? How do you play them? Just with the... buttons?

[reconnective]

I think it depends on the game. That one looks like a music game, and that one looks like you just hit stuff with that mallet thing. We can start with something easy.

[and he walks inside to start browsing! come along elsa.]

[showyourself]

[elsa wanders in after him, marvelling at everything around them tentatively. wow.]

Hit...? Oh, they're soft...

[is that? fun? she's sort of curious.]

[reconnective]

[mac-a-mole it is. sora stops and picks up one of the mallets, handing elsa another one.]

There's holes here, so I think we're supposed to hit the things that pop up so that they disappear again. They won't break or anything.

[showyourself]

It says they're... moles.

[!!!]

Oh--it's not asking us to hit real moles, is it?

[reconnective]

No way! Or I don't think so. [...now she has him wondering. well. guess it's time to turn on the game, and immediately a fake mole pops out of a hole in the board.]

[showyourself]

[!

with no ice to blast it with in surprise, she slams it on the head with her mallet, then gasps.]

Oh--no! I didn't mean to hit it so hard...!

[she's peering into the hole, to see if it maybe was real???]

[reconnective]

[he's also staring with wide eyes when the mole disappears, but after a few seconds another one pops up from a different hole and he slams his own mallet down. the score on the scoreboard chimes as the number changes.]

I think that's what we're supposed to do. They look like they can take a few hits.

[showyourself]

[okay. yeah. they do. they're clearly not real. relief is writ large all over her face at that.]

Thank goodness.

[and in the same breath, she absolutely hammers another one down. the scoreboard goes ding.

okay. she's got the hang of this, now. something lights up in her eyes. time to smash.]

[reconnective]

Nice! [yeah! now they're getting the hang of it! the moles begin to pop up bit by bit, and soon two of them appear at the same time.] You take that side, I've got this one.