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

[riegan]

Me?

(Li'l ol' Claude? He doesn't sound so sure,)

Nope. I was born and raised in Fodlan. I lived with my father for a while but duty called on my mother's side so I packed up and went to the capital. The next thing I knew, I was shipped off to school to learn all there was to know.

(Pretty boring.)

[reconnective]

[he doesn't seem bored at least and he looks up while claude's talking and he's mixing. for the record they're making ratatouille.]

School doesn't sound so bad. [he says this as someone who hasn't set foot in a school for a few years, but.] What's Fodlan like? And your school?

[riegan]

(Of course Sora would make Disney food...)

It depends on where you are. It's a large continent, made up three ruling countries and the Church of Seiros right in the center of it all.

I spent most of my time in Derdriu which is right on the sea.

(It's a beautiful city! He's quite fond of it, really.)

As for school... It's where all the royals and nobles go. The Church of Seiros oversees everything. Something about thinking it's the Church's duty to raise the next generation for the future. Of course, there are plenty of commoners that manage to attend, too. It's really the best and worst of Fodlan in one place.

[reconnective]

[sometimes...all of your cooking skills come from a small disney rat. it's fine.]

That sounds way different than this place. But I bet Derdriu's nice. [he's biased because of the ocean, but shh.] Doesn't that make it a little harder if one organization's overseeing three different divisions that aren't at all the same? How do they keep things peaceful without letting the other countries help out?

[sora does not know how the plot of 3H goes.]

[riegan]

Now you're asking the real questions.

(Oh, he likes you, Sora.)

The short answer is, they all have a common enemy. It's enough for everyone to set aside their differences to focus on the greater good.

[reconnective]

[he looks a little pleased with that, but then it's back to listening.]

But that might not mean anything when that common enemy's defeated. Will it be enough that everybody will still focus on the greater good when nothing's left to fight? [it's a semi-rhetorical question but also that sounds like a world that might be a little imbalanced.]

[riegan]

If they even need to be defeated at all.

(And raises a hand to tap the side of his head. See what he did here.)

It's been centuries. What's to say something else hasn't been bubbling under the surface all of these years while we were following the status quo? Another enemy on the rise right under our noses...

(A n y w a y he's just gonna slide the rest of the ingredients over to Sora to take care of now,)

You thirsty? I'll get a kettle going.

(There's always time for tea.)

[reconnective]

[...:o yes. he absolutely understands, wow.]

And way too easy to go unnoticed if the fighting is focused elsewhere. [he shakes his head though because wow, bad. cooking good, war bad. normally he doesn't like tea but he's polite enough that he'll nod at the question.]

Sure, thanks. There might be some other tea somewhere if you don't want to use what was in the gift bag. Some people lost theirs already, I think. [what's a timeline, who knows.]

[riegan]

And then it catches you off guard and by then it's too late.

(Truly unfortunate.

I'm putting it on record that Pikachu GAVE THE TEA TO CLAUDE and he didn't have to steal it.)

Do you have a favorite kind?

(He'll keep an eye out.)

[reconnective]

[I'm glad claude is being a good boy. there's a solemn sort of nod when he says that first piece though, like it's something he understands too well, but cooking is a good distraction and now he has to actually think.]

Uh...well, I've never really had tea, so what kinds are good?

[riegan]

That depends entirely on your preference.

( Poking around the cupboards, he's managed to find a few types! )

How would you describe your taste? Do you like things that are sweet? Or prefer something more bitter?

( He's already setting some aside though. Just based on the fact that Sora's a tea newb apparently. )

[reconnective]

Not bitter. [he makes a face because who likes bitter stuff?] Do they make sweet teas?

[the pan is now simmering. their food will be ready soon thanks to the magic of rp.]

[riegan]

Most teas are naturally bitter but you can always add sugar.

( It also doesn't take long for water to heat up in RP land so he'll pour some water into a cup and set a bag in for Sora. It's already starting to turn a shade of pale gold. It smells fruity too, like apples.

As for himself, he'll pick a plain black tea for now. )

The nice thing about tea is you can make it how you want.

[reconnective]

That's good. And thanks. [he's more likely to drink it if he can make it a little sweet, but he also can't deny that whatever claude found smells great.] You think that's why there were teabags in the gifts we got? Easy to make into whatever but still something people seem to like.

[riegan]

If they're trying to be decent hosts, maybe. Back home, it's not uncommon to provide tea for guests.

There's something for everyone.

But if you ask me... those gifts were a pretty mixed bag. Literally.

( Bah dum tish. )

[reconnective]

[the worst is that he laughs lightly at the wording and it's not even a polite laugh? he genuinely thinks it's funny. but claude has a point.]

The pillow's kind of cute and I'm pretty sure the rock's important somehow but some of the other stuff's a little weird. ["a little" is an understatement.] I've been asking around to see if maybe someone else got something different in theirs.