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

[covenantal]

arri....val?

[ The way Yu wakes up is not dramatic.

He comes awake slowly, blinking his eyes and sitting up in his seat, glancing around. As well as down at himself, and his clothes, and the fanny pack. If any of this seems to disconcert him, he gives no sign.

In fact, you'd have to be an exceptional watcher of people to notice the least reaction at all. But if you are--if you're really looking--maybe you'll see the way his eyes briefly flare a little wider, the way a breath stutters in his chest, the way one of his hands curls halfway into a fist.

It all happens in the space of a breath and then he's neutral again. Not impassive--neutral.

Should you happen to wake up beside him he'll try a faint and careful smile. ]

Hey. Good morning. I'm guessing you won't know what's going on here anymore than I do, huh?

exploring.

[ Yu wastes little time on beginning his exploration of their surroundings. Irritatingly, you may actually hear him humming a few of the songs playing over the speakers, almost as if he enjoys them.................... but what kind of lunatic would enjoy such a thing?!

Well, he seems unbothered. Find him in the kitchen, inspecting the pantry and nodding to himself with a look of mild surprise on his face. ]

It isn't quite the same, but I'm sure we can make do. [ Anyone nearby? He'll smile at you. ] How about it? Would you like a bite to eat? I like to think of myself as an okay cook.

[ On the second floor he just kind of surveys the bar and the entertainment area with a certain bemusement. ]

Nice to know we won't run out of things to do.

[ He'll spend a long moment at the ouija board. If you're nearby, he'll give you a speculative look. ]

What do you think?

[ Onto the third floor. He'll treat the apparently real plants with a genuine and fleeting smile; the site of something green and living seems to please him. You'll eventually find him curled up with a gardening magazine, apparently at his ease.

His Travel Guide is right by his side as well. Apparently he read that first. ]

wildcard.

( hit me up with your own prompt, or reach out to PipPop#5544 on disco or izanagis for any planning! )

wildcard because of course

[menially]

[...

You know what sounds great right now.

A drink. Maybe a couple.

Sometime when Yu's up on the second floor, Guy will be casually propped at the counter, a glass of dark amber in hand. The only sign that he's taken notice of Yu is the casual flick of blue eyes to silver hair, a flash of recognition before his attention goes straight back to his glass.

He'll gesture with a nod of his head, a silent request for Yu to come talk.]

[covenantal]

[ The intake of breath is subtle. The way his expression changes is infinitely complex, but small. So small. And his bright silver eyes are entirely unreadable.

But with no real hesitation he'll nod in return, moving towards the bar to slip easily into a seat, folding his arms on the counter.

He'll favor Guy with a smile that is faint, but actually, shockingly, real. ]

What's on the menu?

[menially]

[That will get a smile in return, one that falls easily into place.]

I don't know, kid, I might have to ask for some proof of your coming of age before we start going down that road.

[Joking aside, he regards his glass for a moment before setting it down, watching the liquor settle.]

Just whiskey. Usually I'm on the other side of the bar, but...

Well. Call it a temporary vice.

[covenantal]

Who are you calling kid, anyway? [ His expression is mild, but his voice is rich with amusement.

But he'll nod slowly, glancing away himself. His eyes are directed at the back of the bar, but his gaze is somewhere else. ]

I can't begin to imagine what's happening here, Guy.

[ Guy. The familiar, old "Guy." Not the cooler, more distant "Guy-san." ]

[menially]

[Ah. He catches that, just barely, and his expression softens just slightly, just to take some of the edge from the corner of his eyes and leave him looking a little more tired. He remembered, then. Just like Majima.]

...Yeah. I don't either, Yu.

You have to wonder if something screwed up. But if it did...

Then why is just us?

[covenantal]

But how could it have? We won. I know I stayed with Love, but ... that was my choice. I knew what I was getting into. But even so, I still... we still should have--

I'm worried for the others. [ His voice is thick with it, his brow furrowing. It's the first real expression of his feelings he's shared with anyone. ] If we're here, does that mean everyone has scattered as well, to places such as this? Or did they go home, and simply we were chosen?

[ A pause. ]

Majima-san is here, as well.

ouija board!

[unfriendliest]

[ kara's just staring at it in confusion lmao. ]

What is it?

[covenantal]

It's a game, actually. Though if you were the type to believe in spirits, you might say it was something more.

[ He'll favor the other man with a sliver of a smile, understanding. ] The story goes that you can use a board like this to speak with the dead.

[unfriendliest]

[ it'd be weird if the sword spirit didn't believe in spirits. ]

I've never heard of it.[ and yet - ] How do you use it?

[covenantal]

See this? [ He'll point to the planchette. ] You rest both your hands on it, and guide them around the board, using the characters, numbers, and symbols to ask a question. Then you wait, with your hands relaxed.

The spirits will slowly guide the planchette to a response to your question.

[ His mouth does something funny, not quite smiling, not quite frowning. ]

For some reason, I don't doubt we'd get a response.

[unfriendliest]

[ what if he asks it where the fuck his sword went ]

Would it know where we're going? Or how to get home?

ouija board

[psychedelica]

Take a wild guess.

[ hikage looks tired and annoyed but mostly, especially, tired. He does not want to be here. He assumes he's being asked about the whole situation and not the board itself... ]

[covenantal]

Ah... I'd assumed it was to communicate with whoever might be in charge, but...

[ He pauses, squinting at the other, and then seems to realize his mistake. ]

That's not what you mean. In general? [ Yu blows out a sigh, looking around. Quite simply, with a shrug. ]

Trouble.

[psychedelica]

[ what an even-handed response to his crabbiness. Hikage sighs, then runs a hand through his hair. ]

That's so obvious, it's not even worth saying. [ his attention goes back to the ouija board, which he gestures at. ] Maybe it's a way of communicating with whoever dies here.

arrival

[applechemist]

[ Escha shakes her head. ]

No, I think we're all on the same boat.

[ ........ wait. ]

Well. Not that this is a boat.

[covenantal]

[ With a smile: ] Figuratively speaking, then.

[ still, he'll sigh as if he expected that answer. ] That isn't too surprising, anyway. Situations like these don't tend to explain themselves.

[ On instinct, he'll go rooting around in his fanny pack, pulling out the Travel Guide with raised eyebrows, glancing at her significantly. ]

[applechemist]

Not for a while...

[ She does not quite know what to make of that look, and just. Looks around them? ]

[covenantal]

Usually there's a bit of a wait, isn't there?

[ But he's flipping through his guide, his eyes scanning it quickly. His mouth soon thins into a line. ]

Rules. There's rules.

[applechemist]

[ Escha nods. ]

... We'll probably get more rules, over time. This isn't much to go off of, yet.

ouija board

[muragas]

[ humming, Minako shuffles a deck of cards she found and starts setting up a game of solitaire ]

I wonder how many other people have woken up on this bus before us?

[covenantal]

[ Yu pauses for a moment, briefly looking a little surprised, and then he'll smile. ]

A much better question than mine. Do you have a guess?

[muragas]

Well, the island I washed up on had three groups before ours... But I think I'd rather hope for none instead.

[ she takes a moment to move some cards around before looking up. ]

What were you going to ask? There's no such thing as too much information in a situation like this, after all.

[covenantal]

I've been hearing stories like that, yeah. My own situation was unique. We weren't part of a cycle, but instead creating something entirely new.

But this situation? I'd guess we're probably not the first passengers. We'll likely know soon enough.

[ Yu smiles a little. ]

I was asking about the ouija board. Think it's worth checking out?

[muragas]

... Well, we haven't heard any screaming, so I doubt it's cursed...

[ is. is that supposed to be encouraging? ]

Sure! Let's give it a shot. Maybe whatever answers can tell us where we're heading.

[ also her solitaire skillz suck, anything else would be better than that ]