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

[cuedoves]

barrier;

[ if you're in the forest, particularly near the barrier, you might notice a grumpy scarred teenager pacing around the barrier -- trying to get through it, to no avail. ]

I don't have time for this....

[ he juts his arm out dramatically, hand braced at the barrier.... then nothing happens, aside from a 'pffft' noise. he tries again. nothing but that same noise. rinse and repeat. ]

[ this looks utterly ridiculous. ]

Why isn't this working?!

[ a frog jumps on his head. it knows its comedic timing. do you? ]

technical difficulties;

[ like everyone else, zuko is going through his gift bag with a disdainful look... he looks at the condom, tosses it on the ground, pushes the squishable and seems surprised by how soft and well... squishy, it is, puts that aside for later. he picks up his headband gingerly, puts it back inside, gets to the handheld device and puzzles over it. ]

What is this? Some kind of weapon?

[ he smacks it into the ground as if it to test its durability, then looks your way. ]

What is this, a joke?

[ please show him how to use the phone before he breaks it. ]

locked buildings;

[ zuko's fiddling with one of the locks... first, he tries to break the lock outright, then tries to pick it. finally, with an annoyed grunt, he stands up and straightens out. to you: ]

Stand back. I'm going in.

[ he backs up a few steps, then hurtles himself at the door--- ]

HAAAUUUNGH!

[ --- and bounces right off. better get out of the way, or he's going to land on you! also, there's confetti. this is pretty stupid. ]

.... That doesn't usually happen.

wildcard;

[ hit me. ]

technical difficulties

[suddenlybees]

Yeah, it's both.

[ Don't smack it on the ground?? god, at least hit it against your palm or something. Kano picks up the condom and puts it in his pocket. ]

[cuedoves]

[ kano........ ]

How does it work? It's just a metallic rectangle. It'll break before it hurts anyone.

[ joke seems about right, though. ]

[suddenlybees]

It's a metallic rectangle! It'll hurt a lot before it breaks—

[ He takes a step back and gestures at himself ]

Here, give it a try.

barrier

[evocationary]

[ hello, zuko. there's a blonde woman with the pink heart headband, these sunglasses, and a long, comfy red robe. she's just watching, amused. ]

Maybe if you puff your cheeks out a little harder it'll work this time?

[cuedoves]

[ he takes a moment to take in her amazing attire (without appreciating it) then narrows!!! his eyes!!! ]

Don't patronize me. I'm firebending.

[ the frog on his head croaks, patronizingly. he tries to glare at the frog, too. it looks just as stupid as everything else he's doing. now he snaps at the frog!! ]

No one asked you.

[evocationary]

Looks more like a bunch of nothingbending.

[ she glances at the frog. you tell him, sir. ] How do you know the frog didn't just tell you how to firebend? Don't dismiss his opinion.

barrier

[dianxias]

[ oh my. xie lian's been trying to find the limit of the barrier as far as he can himself, and watching the young man stand in front of it feels... well, almost familiar?

plus, this young mans clothing is like the closest he's seen to anything that looks like his own since he got here, so!!! why not talk to him. xie lian approaches right as the frog jumps on his head, glances at it, but just assumes it's there because he wants it to be. maybe it's some newfangled balancing technique?

whatever this is more interesting. kids these days. ] ...Young man, are you trying to break the barrier with a martial stance?

[cuedoves]

[ it's mainly there to mock zuko, as it should be. relatable content. ]

[ zuko pauses in his futile efforts for a moment to take in the other man -- he already looks more sensible than the others he's run into here. ]

... Firebending. It's not working.

[ obviously. ]

What exactly is this barrier made of?

[dianxias]

I'm not entirely sure... [ useless! he offers a bit more explanation, though, approaching the barrier and reaching up to try and knock his knuckles against it. ] I've done a bit of investigating, but whatever it is seems completely unbreakable. I thought perhaps there was an array or something of the like along the perimeter that held it up, but I couldn't find any signs of one.

[ xie lian's already pretty much discounted breaking through the barrier as a possibility, at this point. he's much more interested in zuko's techniques, like a nerd. ] What's firebending?

barrier

[dawnblushed]

[


by now, yona has witnessed a few people whose powers have been nerfed, so.]

If you have powers of some kind, it seems like they don't work here.

[her voice is super raspy but ignore that and also ignore the fact that her clothing is singed and she looks like she got in a fight with a firebender and lost.]

[cuedoves]

[ yona stop participating in agni kais. ]

[ zuko glances yona's way, gaze hard, then... sighs. some of the tension disappears. ]

I don't understand. This has never happened before.

[ weaker, sure? but to lose it entirely.... there's something very wrong here. ]

[ anyway, he's not as much of a jerk as he could have been, so he's not just going to ignore her state. especially when it really looks like she got attacked by firebenders. ]

What happened to you?

[dawnblushed]

[gives zuko the "not as much of a jerk as you could have been" award]

It's a long story.

[ha ha,]

More importantly, what's your name? Mine is Yona.

buildings

[reconnective]

[and there he goes. sora happens to be passing by while zuko's throwing himself straight into the door which means he's quick to dodge before he gets bowled over. as zuko comes to a stop, sora looks at the door and folds his arms over his chest.]

What, the confetti? Yeah I've never seen that happen either. [that is not what he meant.] We've tried breaking in a few times. No luck.

[cuedoves]

I meant the door. [ definitely the confetti. ]

[ zuko picks himself off the ground, glaring at the door balefully... before glancing back at zuko. ]

What is it even made of...?

[ magic!! ]

locked building

[discernments]

[ Jeanne had opened her mouth to protest, but Zuko just went for it before she could say anything.

She winces a little, but she doesn't get out of the way. She puts out her arms to try and cushion his ricochet? She's not as strong as she usually is, so there's a lot of stumbling, but she manages so they don't at least fall over. ]

Are you all right? I think it's something particular to this location.

[cuedoves]

[ jeanne that's too nice wtf.... anyway, he hurtles into her!! he's average height but buff so it's not gonna be a fun experience. ]

Why is nothing working -- what is it about this place?!

[ he'll thank her in a bit, first he has to complain ]

barrier

[exercisms]

[Well, he's standing nearby, doing the service of trying to work up the nerve to talk to people who always seem to have powers that aren't working, when the frog jumps on him.

He forgets he's hovering awkwardly planning to say something to comment.]

Oh! Stand still!

[cuedoves]

[ zuko's having some performance issues........ ]

[ zuko, beleaguered with this frog on top of him, slowly turns around to mob. irritated. more at the situation than him, really. ]

What?

locked buildings

[frostythehitman]

[ Bucky isn't laughing. He SWEARS he isn't laughing. ]

Are you kidding? I can't imagine that going any other way. ...Except for the confetti.

[cuedoves]

[ zuko is glaring at him like he can sense laughter....... ]

It should have gone the other way! What is this door even made of?!

[ zuko, angy and covered in confetti, ]

technical difficulties

[stillnot]

It's a phone. [ well. close enough. ] It's useful, so you shouldn't break it.

[cuedoves]

[ thank god someone is going to help him use this ]

A.... phone? I've never heard of that. What does it do?

barrier

[canned]

[Zuko might hear a gentle giggle from behind him, as Al laughs in spite of the boy's obvious frustration]

It's no use, alchemy isn't working here. I've tried it all along the perimeter. I think it's probably something to do with the barrier...I've seen something like it happen before.

[cuedoves]

[ zuko whirls around angrily..... only to see a giant set of armor. wow. ]

Alchemy?

[ i'm making the executive decision that it doesn't exist in avatar. but anyway, his eyes are narrowed, but he wants the info. just.. very grumpily. ]

What have you seen?