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

[horologia]

i.

[ homura's not too out of place looking, maybe, compared to some of the others, just a small girl in a simple school uniform, hair in braids and a pair of red glasses perched on her nose, but, well- like most everyone else here she probably looks a bit out of time.

she's just going to be fiddling with the device they woke up with, maybe biting her lower lip a little as she reads through the message, and, ah. ]

So it's called a Participant Help System... but, um. Ah. It's not very helpful, is it? Ah... And... what is it that we need the help for

[ par. participant? ]

ii.

[ as it turns out, after waking up abruptly on the side of a quaint village street it's natural to check yourself and your belongings over. she makes a faint, mildly distressed noise at the state of her hands for some reason, but laboriously heaves a sigh and pulls herself up into a comfortable sitting position somewhere at the side of the plaza to just. people watch, i guess.

but also look very slowly around at her immediate surroundings, seemingly searching for something.

a more careful eye will note that she... really doesn't go far at all from where she'd initially woken up. certainly never enough to leave her side of the plaza. huh. are you just gonna watch and not help. ]

iii.

[ or maybe: ]

E... Excuse me. I, ah, hate to be a bother, but could I ask a favor of you?

[ it doesn't matter who you are as long as you're close enough for her to either stammer at or call out to, and don't look like you're going to shank her or something. she's taking everyone's odd appearances in... stride, it seems? yes, even the centaur. who cares about that when you've all woken up somewhere strange, right. ]

iv.
[ wildcard me, or hit me up on plurk @ ellipsesinaction or disco @ Unidentify#1562! please, please come at me. ]

iii

[robopriest]

What is it?

[Well, Hansa naturally looks extremely shady at all times, but he's at least just looking down and listening to her. That's probably a mark of a nice man, right?]

[horologia]

[ there's worse people? ]

There's... something I've lost, that's very important to me. But it's small, so if I'm searching alone I'm afraid I might miss it...

[robopriest]

You're really asking a man with an eyepatch to look for something?

[Tsk, tsk, Homura! But after a pause:]

But sure. What does it look like?

[horologia]

Wouldn't it... um, be more rude to assume that you couldn't, though?

[ you still have at least one whole working eye, damn ]

N- not that you should be obligated to help just because I asked, or anything! It's, um, if you're willing to help though, it should be a silver ring.

ii

[cuedoves]

[ zuko isn't as much as a jerk as he could have been (tm) and has the award to prove it, so he's not going to just ignore this poor girl, even though he's mad and wants to escape!! ]

What are you looking for?

[horologia]

It, ah... should be a ring? [ why is that a question. ] Just a simple silver band, with a couple of engravings on it.

[ like do you ever really want to admit it's jewelry you're looking for because it sounds valuable, but. ]

[cuedoves]

Shouldn't you know...?

[ why is that a question indeed. ]

Okay, where did you see it last?

[horologia]

On my hand. I imagine it must have fallen off when we all got here, perhaps...

[ the alternative is that someone took it while she was sleeping (???) but that makes her life that much harder and she doesn't want to think about it just yet. ]

It should still be somewhere nearby, that's all I know.

iii

[suddenlybees]

[ I was going to wait for Crystal to delete but then Sipp tagged so I will too, it's too late to edit. ]

Hello! Hi! Yes! What's up?

[horologia]

[ i live with the shame of my typos ]

Well, first... have you had much chance to look around here yet?

[suddenlybees]

Hm, yeah, here and there? Ah, sightseeing recommendations? There's this toy shop over there--

[ Don't just sit here?? let's go let's go
I say as I stared out of the window when I realized why all of this ]

[horologia]

[ haha, when you realize why indeed. :) ]

N-no, I don't need any recommendations- um, not yet, anyway. I was just wondering if you've seen anything like a lost and found...?

Or if anyone else has lost anything that was on them before they got here.

i.

[lecarre]

Oh...

[Ange pauses from where she was tentatively poking at her gift bag to blink at Homura.]

Do you think that is what it meant...? I thought we were going to be the ones helping, but maybe that was too optimistic.

[horologia]

I would have thought that 'Participant Help System' meant 'help, for the participants,' but ... given how the people who wrote that message sound maybe I wouldn't be surprised if it really was just 'help, from the participants' instead. Or something like that...

[ a pause, slightly longer than her so far hesitant pace, ]

They sound like they need it.

[lecarre]

[Ange just rubs the back of her head.]

Yes... they do. I'm not entirely sure how someone like me could help, but...

[Well!!]

It would be nice to think we were brought here to help, instead, wouldn't it?

i

[reconnective]

[sora's on the move as usual and as he passes by he hears homura speak up with the device in her hand. he slows down, wandering over to where she's at and pulls out his own phs to show her.]

I don't know if it's that we need the help. Maybe we're the ones who're supposed to give it. Have you read the message on it yet? [he doesn't want to assume she got that far and it's better to ask.]

[horologia]

I did read it, yes. They seem ... very unorganized.

[ is the nice way to put it. ]

But I'm not sure ... calling us 'participants' almost makes it sound more like some sort of activity. Or a game? And I don't think I've ever heard of anything like a helpfulness competition... especially not one we weren't asked about beforehand.

[reconnective]

Funny kind of game. [that is to say, alright, putting it that way it does raise some questions.] We could be here to be a part of something smaller before we get to the main problem. Like they want to make sure we can help them before telling us what's wrong.

iii

[discernments]

[ Who would she be, if she ignored a voice asking for help? Of course Jeanne stops for Homura. ]

You're no bother. How may I be of help?

[horologia]

[ she's a little surprised by the amount of help she's gotten, admittedly. on one hand it's... nice, that they're willing to assist, on the other... regardless of what people say, she's still imposing, isn't she? ]

Well, there's two things I wanted to ask, really. The first... have you been by the inn yet?

[discernments]

I have looked around the first floor but not the second.

[ How do you use the key reader? She doesn't know. ]

iii.

[exercisms]

[He's sort of zoning out, not paying attention where he's going, like maybe he's looking for something. And then he freezes when he's spoken to.]

Me?

[She's talking to him? What made her ask him for a favor?]

[horologia]

You- you don't have to if you don't want to, or if you're busy! I'm sure this is strange for all of us, and that all of us have our own concerns to deal with, but...

[ pause. ]

Are... you okay?

[ you seem a little out of it...? ]

[exercisms]

Y. . . yes, I'm okay. Are you?

[This conversation will never go anywhere, will it?]

I mean - I'll help, if I can.