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

[chanteuser]

I've never seen somewhere like this before...

[ she's looking around and. wow. there's so much happening here. ]

What would you recommend?

[infreefall]

Wow, you've never seen an arcade at all?

[ impressive! though to be fair ochako's never really been able to play at one herself, so she's pretty new to this, too. ]

How aboooouuut.... that one?

[ she's pointing at one called "space intruders" ]

[chanteuser]

Nope.

[ she's still looking around! wow. ]

These are all games?--Oh. [ she looks over at it ] We can give it a try?

[infreefall]

Yeah! They're, like, the old fashioned ones that you can't play at home. They're really popular with little kids, or the people who grew up with them!

[ old people.

anyway she easily frees herself of the whole DDE setup and nyooms right over to space intruders. ]

The funny thing is that they're all like knockoffs of the original games. Maybe whoever owns this place couldn't get the real ones? Vintage games must be really expensive, huh?

[ mood tho, who has that kind of money ]

[chanteuser]

They look like they're pretty fun.

[ she's! impressed! and absolutely just following this kid around because what is any of this and how does she work it? ]

... Maybe that's all they could get out here. It seems pretty quiet, and not very ... is bustling the right word?

[infreefall]

That's true! A bigger city would definitely have more money for that kind of thing - from more people coming to play, I guess?

[ anyway! onto space intruders. ochako goes up to the console, fiddling with the controls. ]

Okay, it should be this one to move around, and this one to shoot. Do you want to try it first?

[chanteuser]

Foot traffic usually bumps up cost, yeah.

[ hmmm. alex stares at the controls for a moment, before taking the joystick and wiggling it experimentally. ]

So you just... shoot anything trying to attack you? [ that sounds simple enough. ]

[infreefall]

Yep - and try not to let them get past you! You're supposed to be defending the planet, after all!

[chanteuser]

What happens if I do let something past me?

[infreefall]

[ very gravely: ]

You lose.

[chanteuser]

[ quietly: ]

Even if I only fail once?

[infreefall]

Even if you only fail once.

[chanteuser]

[ she looks down at the controls and then back up at ochako ]

That's a lot of pressure.

[ but. hey. she'll give it a go!! the music starts, and ---






well she lasts about ten seconds but honestly? that's a great first try for her. ]

[infreefall]

[ she laughs a little. ]

Good thing it's just a game then, huh? You can restart and try again!

[chanteuser]

R-right. This is much harder than it looks.

[ thank goodness she can just restart destroying the world. ]

Do you play these kinds of games a lot?

[infreefall]

Nope! I've never really gone to arcades before this place - too expensive. But I know about them from movies and friends.

It's hard at first, but still pretty fun once you get the hang of it!

[chanteuser]

[ oh, yikes. she looks at the screen and how damn quickly she just lost, and then back at ochako ]

They're expensive? But if you have to pay for every time you play, and you lose really quickly...

[ what a money drain ]

[infreefall]

Well, I guess if you just play one round, it's not so bad. But yeah, it adds up fast.

[ that means no arcades when you grow up poor. ]

It's a good thing they aren't charging us to play here.

[chanteuser]

So, those crane games with the toys, they’re pay per turn too?







Wow, arcade owners must be raking in a lot of money.

[infreefall]

Oh, definitely! Aren't those things rigged or something? I don't know if I've ever seen someone win one, so people lose a ton of money that way.

[chanteuser]

It IS rigged! I thought it was... that crane absolutely had that toy and it just dropped it!

[ THAT. DAMN CHEATING MACHINE.

she didn’t even want the toy that much. it’s the principle. ]

That’s so clever and so evil as well. It must be mostly kids playing these things.

[infreefall]

Mm, mostly! Though I think they're still kind of popular with some adults and college kids. Maybe they just want bragging rights?

[ she peers curiously at alex. ]

Did it have something you wanted? Maybe I can try!

[chanteuser]

I think by the time I was done it was just the principle rather than the item. Unless you like, uh... toy ponies or yellow blobs wearing dungarees?