redactable | WEEK ZERO: ARRIVAL

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

a rock that resembles the galaxy

a single random one of these pillows

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Maybe you're the problem.

[ Haha, wow, who wants to be told that? She gets one last pat on the head before Kano takes his hand back and keeps it to himself. ]

Just kidding~ It's probably something else? Maybe!

[ He goes over to the barrier and leans against it, as much of his weight as he can even with the nervous feeling of being about to fall through but he's not. ]

Oh well. Nothing to do but wait it out, right?

[He's so casual about it, and he moves on so fast, and she's still on the ground and staring.

...

......]

Um... yes, I suppose so...

[Literally four six later:]

Wait--you didn't run into it with me...!

Huh? Oh. Was I supposed to? I didn't need to run into it last time either.

[ Him not running into the barrier isn't the problem, please!!! ]

That isn't--I mean... only that you said you were going to...!

I just said I would do it with you, though?

[ The running, not the bonking his head on a wall ]

But alright, alright, I won't make a liar of myself. One more time? I'll run into it with you this time, promise~

[She just pouts at him.]

No, that is quite all right! It is obvious that it did not work...!

Nope! It's too late now! Gotta bump my noggin or I'm gonna feel bad for the rest of my life!

[ And, of course, they're doing it together so she has to too, Kano's already hand gesturing her to back up so they can do the run up again ]

W-what?

[HOW DID THIS HAPPEN.]

Wait, that isn't--um, I don't really think we need to try again...!

Are you sure? Super duper sure? What if this is the way to get through?

[ Last chance to back out and if she doesn't—- ]

Aah, alright. That's that, then. Now we'll never know.

Wait--!

[She clutches at her head for a minute.]

But, if that truly is the way out... Oh nooo...

[Kano, she is Distressed.]

You truly saw that it worked before?

[ It is a Dilemma only she can solve ]

Mmhm, yep! It super worked before, ran straight through without bumpin' into anything!

[She's so weak.

And stupid.

But...]

... If that is true, then... I suppose I cannot miss this chance.

Please, sir... let's try together. One more time.

Alright, one more time! On the count of three, same as last, alright?

[ He gets them both lined up again, counts down, and matches Ange's flaily schoogirl pace with a light jog of his own. It's not going to hurt even if he bumps into the barrier. ]

[A second flaily schoolgirl run!

Head first towards the barrier!

They are going to hit it again, though this time Ange is at least a little braced, so she doesn't fall again, just stumbles back.

Then her shoulders slump.]

[ Kano lets himself get lightly bumped in the chest, leaning back with a dramatic pinwheel of the arms before finding his balance again. ]

...Huh. Wow, yeah. [ no surprise here ] It didn't work, huh? But at least now we can say we tried!

[Ange just stares out into the distance for a moment... before her shoulders slump.]

Mister... were you lying to me? Did you truly see someone get through this invisible wall?

Hm? Sure I did! What reason would I have to lie to you?

[ why does Kano lie ]

[This is terrible.]

I see... then there truly must have been something wrong with how I was doing it.

[SHOULDERS SLUMPING.]

Yeah.

[ It's all her fault. ]

But there's no use rushing to figure it out, right? Why don'tcha take a break? See if anybody else gets through and how they do it?

I suppose so...

It was worth trying, even so. I am sorry I could not get it to work.

Aw, that's alright, I forgive you.

[ As if he's in any position to offer forgiveness ]

Why're you in such a rush to get across? There's plenty of fun stuff on this side, you know?

It isn't as though this place is so terrible, but...

[BUT...]

I dislike the feeling of being trapped. It is rather frightening, isn't it?

Hmm... Yeah! It's super duper scary! But even though there's this wall, it's not like we're trapped trapped, right? I mean, like, there's gravity and whatever keeping us from floating off into the stratosphere, and that's sorta like this wall! But we got a whole world, so it's not like we're trapped! Same with this place~

[ It's perspective!! Like a lion in a zoo pen filled with enrichment instead of a metal bar cage. ]

... I'm not sure I entirely understand, but...

You are saying our situation could be much worse than it is, right...?

[questionable, but fair.]

Mm, it's more like... There's a whole forest out there, and a river, and all these buildings, and a place to live, and things to eat. When you're cooped up in a room all your life, this sorta thing feels like a lot of freedom, right?

[ So what if they can't get past this barrier? There's so much empty space already, it's overwhelming. ]

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