WEEK ZERO: ARRIVAL (OVERFLOW)

[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

akemi homura 🛡 overflow

[horologia]

[ from original tl, new replies welcome. ]

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, or. ]

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 immediately 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

[lionson]

[Well, Shiro is nothing if not helpful, especially to the younger people. So!]

Ah? Sure, what's on your mind?

[horologia]

[ i'm fudging the timeline a little so- homura sketches a polite if hasty bow, pigtails bobbing with the movement. ]

I was just wondering something. Um, you don't have to answer if it's too prying, but...

What was the last thing you remember, before waking up here?

[lionson]

Ah? I was running confessional at my church.

Why? Think what we were doing has something to do with this?

[horologia]

No, not exactly... More I was curious where everyone was, um. If there was any commonality...

[ not really, seems to be the answer. ]

We all lost time, it seems, but I was wondering if you might or might not have felt that things seemed... off, before that.

[lionson]

Off?

[He absolutely felt off about stuff, but he thinks it's tied to something else that had been happening around that time, so.]


No, not really. Then again, I am pretty old. I might've just missed it.

[horologia]

So it was regular things one moment, and waking up here the next, correct? But you don't feel that there's any gaps in your memories, or ... anything fuzzy, in the past?

hansa

[horologia]

[ cont from here ]

[ she glances it over first to make sure it's her silver ring as opposed to some random other silver ring, then sketches a formal bow once she confirms that it's hers. ]

... Thank you. I'm not sure what I would have done if I lost it...

[ then, as if only just remembering: ]

-Ah! Um. Here. You... you can have this back now.

[ phoneswap! ]

[robopriest]

Oh, thank you. And here I was thinking you were going to walk off with it.

[He takes it back with a little nod of his head, slipping it in his pocket.]

Anyways, nothing else needs to be found? Car keys? Wallet?

[horologia]

[ ... ]

... Do I look old enough to own a car, mister Hansa?

[robopriest]

[A short laugh.]

I don't know. You look old enough to tell when a joke is supposed to be a joke.

[horologia]

I- I was trying to joke back, actually, um, but I think I might have missed the mark a little...

[ don't make me pull out the 'i've never had friends' screenshot to prove how much of a socially awkward nerd she is. ]

[robopriest]

...

[A long pause...and then he just grins, his eye crinkling in amusement.]

Well, it was a good attempt! I'll take it. Anyways, looks like you got what you needed. I'm guessing its some kind of family keepsake or something.

[horologia]

... Mmm.

[ she ducks her head, just a little. ]

My family's been gone for a while, so...

zuko

[horologia]

[ continued from here ]

Probably.

[ she's well aware what the alternative is, but... well, she's here, so it can't be far, right? they're all here. outside of whoever wrote the mysterious message, anyway. one thing at a time. ]

I'm... Akemi Homura. Pleasure to meet you.

ange

[horologia]

[ continued from here ]

Ehe... Soon might look different to different people though, don't you think?

B- but, you don't have to worry about me, you know. Just because everything is a little strange, or doesn't look good for us, doesn't mean that, I mean, um...

[ homura your words ]

[lecarre]

[homura, your words!!

Ange waits patiently for a bit, but when it becomes pretty clear Homura is still searching for words, Ange tilts her head and interjects quietly.]

You are right, of course. Even if things are strange or worrisome... we are not finished just yet. And we have each other as well...!

I find that to be a comforting thought.

kano

[horologia]

[ cont from here ]

Ehhhhhh—

Well, I mean, I think we all got the same things, didn't we? Most of them don't seem all that special, though, um, I do wonder... why that was included...

[ whhhhyyy the condom. ]

[suddenlybees]

Hm? "That"? What's "that"?

[ Say it out loud (: ]

[horologia]

[ ......... ]

... Um. I think you already know what "that" is.

[ you are not making her say it. ]

[suddenlybees]

The rock? The pill? The can of soda? They're all pretty useful things, aren't they? All this thought that went into every single thing in the gift basket, wow!

[horologia]

I suppose the rock might be useful for breaking a window in an emergency, if it came to it... That is, depending on how hard it is...

[ with how shiny it is it might just be like obsidian and be super brittle instead...

wait what the hell is this topic of conversation ]

But, um, I don't know about any strange medicine... [ what if it's something horrible from centuries ago. ] And they said there's supposed to be food in the kitchen, so is the can of soda really necessary?

[suddenlybees]

Huh? Isn't the rock just pretty to look at? And soda has, like, lots of sugar, right?

[ People like looking at pretty things. Sugar makes people happy. Seems pretty useful to him. ]

sora

[horologia]

[ continued from here ]

Do you really think that? What if they just chose at random, or us being here is just some sort of accident?

[reconnective]

[he shakes his head.]

I really think it's true. [he firmly believes they were brought here for a purpose and that purpose is to help somehow.] We can try to figure it out together if you want? I bet if we think about it something will make sense.