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

[coastal]

[unfortunately, lili's items being missing means that her hairpin is gone, so guess who's using the scrunchie as a scrunchie? lili. imagine in every thread she's berating you with bunny ears peeking out atop her head]

[ i. you knew this was coming (first floor) ]

[it's probably going to be hard to ignore the sounds of struggle as something keeps crashing on the first floor. maybe she barely had elbow room to start with, maybe she didn't care - but here's lili smacking against one of the windows or the main bus door. was she going through them one by one? maybe!

and each and every time she gets knocked back - maybe you'll catch her right before this time]

Ugh, you've gotta be kidding me!

[and she thROWS HERSELF TO SLAM INTO THE SURFACE WITH HER SHOULDER - which will unfortunately probably mean she's going to squeal before slamming back against you. it's fine, she's light. just catch.]

[ ii. hey dj you suck (third floor) ]

[at some point, lili will probably be in the Reading Corner, trying to peruse through the selection of books, holding them by the spine and shaking them as if there might be a clue inside. yet the longer she lingers, the more irritated she gets before she finally turns to whoever might be nearby - ]

Hey you. [delightful]

Do you know any other songs?

[ iii. luigi board ]

[she points at it and stares down the nearest person]

Explain this.

i

[shixiong]

[ you know, lili might have even looked. she might have even seen that there was no one behind her.

except there totally was. poor yin yu is not the most obvious guy in the world, so when she slams herself into the bus window and goes flying backwards, yin yu is right behind her. luckily for them both, probably, his instincts kick in immediately and he braces himself, shifts on his heel, opens his arms, and catches her before she goes tumbling into the bus surface safely in his arms.

........... ] Careful-- ! [ though it's not for his sake so much as it is for hers...she doesn't weigh that much even with the impact. he looks down, very surprised. whoops. ]

[coastal]

[you know, given how many times she ends up in possibly dangerous situations, she's weirdly used to being caught by now?? so she'll blink when she looks up and squints, looking thoughtful for a moment before starting with:]

Put me down.

[lili say thank you

and then - ]

... you must be fast. You try.

[because if? no one was there before? and he's there now? clearly that means he's just speedy and will have better luck with the window than she would?]

iii

[psychedelica]

[ at some point after he's reconnected with his emotional supports, he's -- well, he's not great, but at least he doesn't completely feel like he's alone and his happiness is sand passing through his fingers. He's wandering around to explore, now, still looking irritated, to say the least, and being suddenly commanded by some girl doesn't boost his mood. ]

It's obviously a ouija board.

[ aren't girls into weird occult stuff!! well, he should talk. he recognizes the board but he doesn't know what a bus is ]

[coastal]

Hm... Explain what a ouija board is - they had one in one of the stupid portals we were transported to, but I didn't see the use in it.

[NEITHER OF THESE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT A BUS IS

but she's going to start with what apparently one of them has expertise in]

i. flies at

[voidbreaker]

[ nice, thanks lili.

he catches her! and then immediately drops her. ]

If you try again headfirst maybe you'll do some damage.

[ don't. ]

[coastal]

[she

takes being caught and dropped with pretty remarkable ease actually, landing on her feet and brushing herself off, then gesturing at the door]

Age before beauty.

[SHE'S ASSUMING HE'S OLD or is generally calling him less pretty than her]

It's either destroy it or pry it off, right?

[unfriendliest]

[ ksldgjLSKDGDS

EXCUSE KARA LUNGING FORWARD TO CATCH HER BY THE BACK OF THE SHIRT

WHAT THE FUCK, LILI ]

[1/2]

[coastal]

[SHE MAKES A SMALL NOISE IN SURPRISE - before reacting immediately and whirling around as much as she can, fingers clenched into a fist to knock out whoever has the gall to touch her without her permission—]

[coastal]

[and then she realizes it's kara

and blinks before settling entirely, dropping her fist]

Oh.

Don't do that, I was in the middle of something.

[ruffboi]

[Catching her!]

Aw, man. I was hoping you'd be heavier.

[coastal]

If you throw me, I'll pay you back tenfold, old man.

[SHE'S..... ASSUMING HE WANTED TO USE HER AS ANOTHER PROJECTILE

and then she's going to smack his arm]

Put me down.

[wowcool]

Haha! Niiiiice catch!

[He just catches her easily, even moving to twirl her around- whee!! Anaido, please put her down, though...]

You have to be careful! You could hurt yourself!

[coastal]

[sdlkjflkLKDJSLKJSDF THIS IS HER LEAST FAVORITE WAY TO BE CAUGHT SO FAR]

Hey!! Unhand me, you idiot, or I'll break your fingers!!

[this really loses some of its gravity when they're both fuckin dressed in denim and stupid shirts]

i

[fishingforcompliments]

—oh!

[And. Well.

Flayn tries to catch Lili when she's forced back from the window - but unfortunately, it's difficult to keep your footing when someone slams into you with such force. Down they both go!]

...ah... [She sounds winded.] ...are you hurt, Miss?

[coastal]

[oh

for once, lili actually looks like she feels a little bad, sitting up then and checking on flayn - ]

Hey! Are you stupid? You need to be more careful about where you're going!

[she's probably not hurt,,]

You're even smaller than I am so don't just walk around this thing without a care in the world!

ii

[applechemist]

Songs, huh...? Not really...

[ ... what a sad answer. ]

i

[successives]

[Natalie is watching her do this for at least several different windows, arms crossed as she just observes silently. After a while, though:]

You got it out of your system yet?

ii!

[givethemhell]

[They've both done the stupid book-shake thing wow ABSOLUTE MORONS. He's got a whole pile by him by the time she speaks up and seems quite engrossed in some zombie something-or-other, but he blinks and glances over at that.]

Me? I do, yes! I know plenty! Though I'm not sure even I could drown out this noise on my own, hah. [FLAPS HIS BOOK.] What about you, do you know any? Two voices are better than one, after all!

i

[preowned]

[ oh!! it's lili an!! tsuru walks over to go check to see what the fuck is she doing ]

Oh, I wasn't exp-- ugh!

[ never mind now they're both falling over ]

iii.

[overruns]

[ Nearest person, unfortunately, is from Medieval Fantasy Europe and does not know much of anything, ever! What is an automobile. What is an mp3. But this particular thing is somewhat familiar, in an unpleasant sort of way—he gives it a long look, brows furrowed slightly in thought. ]

I'm not certain of its name, but... it seems to me like a method of communicating.

i.

[recrypt]

[ c

catches??? honestly lili's going to feel like she slams into something way more solid than the petite looking girl behind her, but it's fine probably, she does let them spin a bit to let them shed momentum so lili isn't coming to a hard stop or anything, ]

They're all like this. I've already tried the door, too.

iii.

[muragas]

[ cheerfully: ]

It's an ouija board!

[ that's an explanation, right? :) ]

iii!

[extracrispy]

Uh. The... ouija board?

[Slowly, like he's not sure she's actually asking him wtf an ouija board is.]

i. comforting robot arms

[machinetranslation]

[There sure has been a lot of chaos on this transport! Threepio's never seen a passenger ship this rowdy. Maybe everyone else went through similarly awful experiences before getting onboard?]

[Whatever the case may be, Threepio is just about to ask Lili if she's okay when she bounces off the window and straight into him. To his surprise as much as anyone's, he keeps his feet and catches her. Although who's to say if his metal body is particularly comfortable to slam into.]

Oh my! Do be careful. Are you alright, miss?

[The glowing yellow lights that serve as his eyes look down at her, his expression concerned (which is actually just how his expression always is)]