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]

[ Ahhhh. Though it might seem strange, Yu relaxes at this response. ]

You thought you were finished, and you'd won the right to go home as you pleased, I'm guessing? It was the same for us. And for me, some of "us" are here as well.

... it's pretty strange. [ Musingly. ] Why us?

[disreguarded]

Yeah, we were all gonna get to visit each other, too, but I guess that was too good to be true.

[ she mutters this, bitterly. ] I don't know why us. It's probably random, like everything. Which one are you from, then?

[covenantal]

[ He nods, and there's some bitterness of his own in the motion. ] We were given leave to go home with one another. It should have been...

[ he trails off. she probably understands, he thinks. ]

Random... I'm not sure if that's more or less disturbing than the alternative.

[ He considers her, blinking just once. ]

My game? It was more political. It was to decide the leader of a pantheon of gods.

[disreguarded]

[ she takes another drink. she's just gonna be nosy about other people's games. ]

Oh, shit, really? How did it go? Did you guys pick one?

[covenantal]

[ with a slight smile ]

We did. Through a complicated series of alliances, the god of Piety was chosen. In the end, I think it was an arrangement we were all happy with. How about you?

[disreguarded]

Huh. Piety. I guess that's something. [ sniff. ] Oh - ours was a bunch of assholes in a mansion that was trying to eat our souls. People turned into monsters every week and killed someone. It was a mess until we figured out how to kill the house.

[covenantal]

[ Yu's eyebrows fly into the fringe of his hair and stay there for some time while he absorbs that.

Well then. ]

... I see. But you did manage it?

[disreguarded]

[ yeah it's a lot to take in ]

Yeah. I knocked out one of it's teeth.

[covenantal]

[ That wrings a real smile out of him. ]

Nice.

[ very approvingly.

but after a moment he'll kind of nod to himself quietly, thinking through all this. ]

Which only brings us back to the question of how we got here. It should have been ... difficult to overpower the forces that were sending me and mine on our way.

[disreguarded]

Yeah, it should've been difficult to get past ours, too. Blue's a powerful little dude, we should've just. Gone home.

[ she sighs, rubbing at her face. ] But here we are. All fucked for a second time, so. Drinking it is, before we find out what new and exciting ways we're going to have to kill each other this time.

[covenantal]

[ There it is. Understanding and some resignation touch the corners of his eyes. ]

Yeah. I expect we'll know pretty soon.

[ ... Yu shakes his head. ]

I suppose I'd normally say we'll find a way to stop it for sure, but I'm not so naive these days. [ quiet. ] Still. I intend to do everything in my power to save as many people as we can. And solve the mystery, whatever it is, in time.

[ in time for what?

well, who knows. yet. ]