WEEK ZERO: ARRIVAL

[gatonina]

ARRIVAL

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PASSENGERS: 41 You know how the story goes by now. One minute you’re somewhere familiar, and the next you’re suddenly somewhere else. Unlike previous times before, the source of your rude awakening isn’t a mystery. A harsh jostle causes your body to lunge forward as a tire jumps over a pot hole in the road. Try as you might, it’s hard to ignore the steady thrumming of an engine and the gentle sway beneath you. The faint scent of gasoline seems to waft from the outside, but as you look around you’ll notice that the windows are locked, tinted, and impossible to see through. Likewise, the door ahead of you appears to be locked as well. Perhaps the scent is your imagination…? Regardless, though the lighting is a tad dim, it becomes apparent that you’re inside a large bus dotted with the occasional seat and amid a jumble of other bodies. The people you were last with may be among your fellow passengers. Perhaps they are not. But worry not; there’s plenty of time to look around and get to know one another on this long, strange trip. It may even be wise to examine the staircase at the other end of the bus. Who knows what awaits you on the other floors? Ah, but before you move too far it may be best to assess the situation. On the bright side, any injuries you incurred have been healed! Isn't it nice to have your limbs in place again? Miracles happen. But...what happened to your clothes? You’re fairly certain you weren't wearing this t-shirt before...and what's with the denim shorts? Maybe you were fortunate enough to get the knee-length version, but for those of you waking up in bootyshorts...well, we're sure you look great! And what better way to tie the whole look together than white socks and tan sandals? At least you'll be comfortable for the ride. Lucky for you, your new threads aren't the only gift you'll receive upon waking up. Attached to your waist is a high-quality bag filled with some fun goodies for every passenger! For those of you who unzip your bag to check its contents, you will find: -Dry shampoo -Wet wipes -Deodorant -Travel pack of toilet paper -Travel toothbrush + toothpaste -Poncho -A stylish travel guide No other items are on your person at this time, even if you were holding onto it as you began your previous departure. That's a bit troublesome, isn't it? Not really; it's still a bus. Be grateful for the extra elbow room, alright? Oh, and one last thing...on the wrist of every passenger is a small, equally fashionable white scrunchie. Not your style? Perhaps it's a good idea to give the travel guide another read. Searching the bus from top to bottom will net zero results in the way of an escape. All of the windows are similarly tinted and locked, and the only exit door appears to be the one on the first level that can't be opened at this time. But hey. You're all old pros at this, right? You know what to do next! Get to know the people around you, trade stories with your fellow passengers, and...well. Buckle up for the bumpy ride ahead.

Comments

[survivaltricks]

[with another breath, he. . . lapses into silence as though he is thinking about it]

[and then speaks again]

No, that's all. I can't think of any curse word stronger than "fuck."

[successives]

[After a moment of thinking about it on her own:]

...Maybe we'll have to resort to making up our own. [...] Who're you?

[That's her way of asking for his name.]

1/2

[survivaltricks]

Sir Lord Knight the Seventeenth.

[a beat]

[survivaltricks]

. . . kidding. I'm Akira. Kurusu Akira, but. . . just call me Akira.

[his mouth twitches into a sympathetic smile]

And you are. . .?

[successives]

Cool, I'm just going to pretend you never said that first thing.

[She says, after a brief moment of closing her eyes.]

Natalie.

[survivaltricks]

[a huffed laugh, and the expression he gives her is sympathetic]

Natalie-san.

[he'd say it's nice to meet her, B U T]

Is it all right if I ask you where you were before you woke up on this bus?

[successives]

Uh, no, just Natalie.

[She weighs how she wants to answer that for a second, before:]

Let me guess. You had to go through some bullshit before this, too, right?

[survivaltricks]

Natalie, then.

[exhales a bit. . . and his expression is wry. he isn't smiling, but he just looks. kind of tired??]

Do you want the long story or the short one?

[successives]

Definitely the short one.

[natalie that’s mean]

[survivaltricks]

Yeah. Good answer.

[said in an absolute deadpan. just like the rest of his story!!]

Short story: eldritch horror mansion tried to eat our souls, turned us into monsters and made us kill each other, we killed the house and everyone got to go home. The end.

Happy ending.

[he moves his arms in a RAINBOW ARC]

[successives]

Huh. Well, that sounds way more complicated than mine, but at least you got to kill the... evil monster house in the end, I guess?

[survivaltricks]

It was deeply satisfying.

[fuck ALL houses]

[successives]

Would that we were all so lucky.

[After a beat:]

I mean, after factoring in the objectively shitty luck of getting stuck somewhere like in the first place.

[survivaltricks]

[ha ha. ha]

Mmm. You have a point. What are the odds that we, out of all of the trillions and trillions and trillions of beings that inhabit the multiverse, are the ones picked up for these "adventures" in the first place?

[successives]

Like, infinitesimally small. Probably even smaller than that. They definitely picked us deliberately, whoever they are this time around.

[survivaltricks]

[hhhhhha]

I'd be even more willing to believe that considering I'm getting the impression all of us have experienced-- something unpleasant before now.

[successives]

I guess the next question would be why, but...

[She gives a shrug. She's got nothing.]

[survivaltricks]

[. . . well. he knows why as far as his group is concerned, but she still hasn't told him about her experience, S O]

Do you not want to talk about your experiences. . .?

[successives]

I mean, it seems kind of weird to bring it up without being asked. Like, here's all this horrifying stuff you didn't ask about! You know?

[Not that she would think it was weird if anyone else did the same, given how relevant it is, so it's definitely in part that it's hard to talk about. All the same:]

Is there something specific you wanted to know?

[survivaltricks]

[he'd say if it helps, it's not just you, but like. that probably doesn't help at all!!!]

I was trapped in a mansion. I heard a few others mention an island or a boat. Someone else mentioned a castle.

What was it for you. . .?

[successives]

Right, the mansion that wanted to eat your soul or whatever.

[...]

A really bad western. Saloon and all.

[survivaltricks]

[. . . . . . . . . WOW]

Whaaaaat about duels at high noon?

[successives]

That may or may not have been how it ended.

[survivaltricks]

[. . .]

Huh.

[yeah that's all he's got]

[just huh]

[successives]

[Dry:]

It was run by a robot in a cowboy hat.