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]

[






she just looks so tired. what kind of creature is she facing.]

What kind of crazy person are you.... Are you even a man? Don't look so excited about things like that, pervert!

[wowcool]

[He actually looks a little taken aback.]

Oh, I didn't mean it in that way... [He sheepishly glances to the side, before turning back to her with a renewed smile.] And am I a man? That sure is a question, isn't it? Do you mean a human, or just someone of the male persuasion? Definitely the latter, maybe the former, haha!

[coastal]

[ . . . . where does she start with this. she really is thrown off by him, which she actually didn't think would happen all that much anymore? she looks unsure]

What the hell do you mean 'maybe' you're a human. Aren't you supposed to know that kind of thing? If you're some immortal or demon, shouldn't you be able to say so with confidence?

[wowcool]

I don't know. You see, I have amnesia.

[He really doesn't seem at all bothered by it, though.]

I'm a brilliant detective, though, so I assume I'm human. But just because it walks like a human, talks like a human...I don't know if that really makes me human.

[coastal]

[she makes a face at 'brilliant detective' like she has trouble believing it. i'm sorry.

but then she'll actually listen to the rest]

... that's true. So you don't know anything about yourself? What are your other options where you're from?

[sword? sura? god? unfortunately she's not surprised by much anymore]

[wowcool]

Well, I know part of my name. And my profession. And what I was doing before I got kidnapped to that island...but otherwise, nope! Don't know a thing!

[He ponders that question, before giving her a shrug.]

I think its just humans, but...ooh! Maybe I'm a hologram!

[coastal]

I don't really know what a hologram is... but at least you don't have too many options or anything. It'd be terrible if you got confused about being a human or a dragon or a god or a dragon god.

[hm.]

Anyway, have your identity crisis later. What's the part of your name you remember?

[wowcool]

A dragon god? Hm, that sounds pretty cool, though...but I think I would know if I could turn into something like that.

[Anaido, the dragon...he likes the sound of that.]

The name's Anaido. I think...it's my last name? Probably. Anyways, that's what it is! What's yours?

[coastal]

Lili. I'm a human.

[to get that out of the way]

I also have all my memories, and they had nothing to do with an island. Is that where you were before this? Do 'corruption' or 'universe' or 'darkness' mean anything to you?

[wowcool]

Yes, I was on an island before this, and was in a desert before that. And those words...?

{He wracks his mind, before shaking his head.]

I know what they are as far as concepts go. But I assume there's some overall meaning to the three of them that you know.

[coastal]

They were used as motivation for us to kill each other - the universe brought us to a location and a corruption took ahold of someone each week. We had to defeat the corruption in order to go home, but it also took killing all but one person. That one person remaining decided the fate of everything.

[and so she'll turn to him, though she's frowning]

Run into anything similar on your island?

[wowcool]

[Wow, that sounds intense. He furrows his eyebrows - it sounds like something out of a science fiction novel.]

No, not at all. Where I was, the island was sentient, and wanted sacrifices for some kind of ritual. We had to murder over half of us to sate its hunger.

[coastal]

Half...

[hm. she still doesn't seem to like it, but it's slightly better news than 'all but one']

How did that turn out for you?

[wowcool]

Oh, I died.

[He says, matter-of-factly, like he just said "I went to the grocery store for some sweet donuts on sale".]

[coastal]

Mm, me too.

[ALSO

SO CASUALLY]

Brought back at the end?

[wowcool]

Oh, yes! Yes, actually, I was brought back. You too?

[coastal]

Mm-hmm. But if they let me stay dead, I would've haunted them forever. So they made the right choice!

[SHE'D BE SUCH A BITCHY GHOST]

[wowcool]

Ooh, being a ghost is fun, though! I was a ghost on the island after I died. Though all I could say was "waka waka"...

[don't ask]

[coastal]

Is there anything you don't get oddly excited about?

[wowcool]

The number seven.

[...]

[what]

Also I'm not really one for hard work, honestly...

[coastal]

[blandly:]

Do you have seven trauma.

[she'll get to the hard work thing but like.]

[wowcool]

[He just laughs brightly at that.]

No, no. It's an alright number. But it's a bit too pretentious for my liking.

[coastal]

But six, eight, and nine are fine?

[??????]

How about seventeen? Seventy-seven?

[SHE'S SO PERPLEXED SHE'S JUST ASKING NOW]

[wowcool]

[Hmmm.]

Those numbers are interesting. And actually, seventeen and seventy-seven aren't that bad. It's just that people attribute a lot of meaning to seven. It makes it way more important than it is, so I kind of dislike it on principle.

[coastal]

Does it mean something...?

I can't think of anything important related to the number seven.