WEEK ZERO: ARRIVAL - OVERFLOW

[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]

.... unacceptable.

[it's clear as day, and her shoulders tense at the idea - ]

More than half, all but one, eleven, thirty - I can't believe this. And they truly wish to attempt the same thing with those here? I won't allow it.

[again, it's so hard to place where exactly she's getting the confidence from, but she's indignant. she's angry. she's fueled by spite 90% of the time and right now, she's truly pissed]

I'll burn it all to the ground before I accept that so easily.

[shixiong]

[ goodness. this indignant fire here is impressive, and also incredibly hasty. as they make it up to the top floor, yin yu hears her out, and feels just a little bit more stressed than he did five minutes ago.

...then again, they successfully overthrew the "gods" of the island, so. who's to say it couldn't be done. it's not like him to speak up often against anything, but that brash action sounds like a not great idea, so... ] It's more difficult to aim an arrow into a forest than it is to a clearing, Lady Lili.

[ ... ] ....That is to say, there's no hide nor hair of anything or anyone short of the fact that we are here. I'm sure the people here agree with you--myself included--but to move forward with no information, in such a small space, risks just as many lives as you might save.

[ he ends it with a little bow of his head, because providing advice to any sort of noble figure is questionable at all times, but. you know. ]

[1/2]

[coastal]

[ . . . . well, she seems to be listening but... with the little bow of his head, she's going to reach out with her hand and just.

Press her palm against his forehead in a brief, not actually painful smack. She'd hit harder, but he seems like the kind of person who'd curl up like a kicked dog when she doesn't want to deal with it.]

Don't do that. You are neither my attendant nor my soldier. Speak frankly with me - I'm going to keep reminding you, and I'll get annoyed every time I have to do it.

[SHE DOESN'T WANT SPECIAL TREATMENT AND SHE'LL BE STUBBORN ABOUT IT.]

[coastal]

[ . . . all that said, she'll actually respond to that advice and look - frustrated. But what comes out of her mouth is:]

You don't need to tell me that. I know that better than anyone. I'm moving forward, but I'm gathering information as I go. I'm not going to make anyone else pay for my recklessness. That's too pathetic.

But I can't let something horrible happen in front of me and stand still either.

[shixiong]

[ inevitably, he will just end up as her attendant but that's fine.

he doesn't quite go cross eyed at the smack-pat to his forehead, but it clearly surprises him, eyes going round. it's the kind of thing he might have done to an unruly student back in his old sect days. when was the last time someone scolded him like that...the surprise fades, and he shakes his head as he straightens again, suppressing a small smile.

inwardly, he thinks, that's the frankest i've spoken with anyone like you in centuries, but outwardly, he says, a little awkwardly: ] It's a habit to be filial, Lady Lily. [ but! ] I'll do my best to remember.

[ anyway. her response to his actual advice is solid, too. reassuring, in a way. as long as the bus isn't burnt to the ground while they're all stuck on it... ] I agree with you, and if I can continue to be useful to you in this matter or others, then I'm happy to do so. [ he almost bows his head again but doesn't, maybe we're learning. ] If this place is at all like the island I was previously, then I understand trust can be hard to come by, but I'll do my best to be reliable.

[ a beat. ] Not as an attendant, or a soldier. [ are you happy now ]

[coastal]

Lili. Keep remembering.

[just lili. but otherwise, she lets it pass. she crosses her arms as she listens to him and frowns.]

... I've been tricked before, you know. Not even just at the last place we were, but before it. I don't care if you want to say those things... but just - prove it. I'll give you the chance, so don't disappoint me.

[she says that she doesn't want anyone to treat her an attendant, but her default way of speaking is so commanding and authoritative, yin yu probably can't be blamed. still.]

It's not like I want to distrust you. I just don't know anything about you - but keep acting nobly, and we won't have any problems.

[shixiong]

It's as you've said - actions justify more than words. [ so, yeah. he agrees. he's good at proving himself useful, if anything--it's what has kept him in service with chengzhu as long as he has been. hua cheng would've thrown him out on his ass (or killed him) (probably killed him) if he wasn't useful. ] Nevertheless, I felt it best to make my intentions clear.

[ aka, he can and will do what he needs to to get this done! he expects no trust before that, anyway.

now. when they properly make it upstairs (and have to listen to the terrible, awful playlist), yin yu looks up at the ceiling, for their original mission. back to business! nothing looks particularly out of place, and there don't seem to be any grooves or anything visible. or weak spots, at least not that he can pick up on from here. ] ...I doubt that the floor has the same properties as the windows, so I'm not sure if it would be as reflective.

[ he taps his foot against the floor, which sounds solid. ]

[coastal]

[lili

probably can't reach the ceiling but she's going to look up at it, deeply considering it before she glances over to him - ]

It's not, but it's likely impenetrable.

Are you human?

[this is a relevant question probably]

[shixiong]

[ ... sighs ]

...Not really, no.

[ but yes? but no. it's complicated. ]

[coastal]

[wh

that's not what she expected

so she just. gestures for him to go on...??]

[shixiong]

[ STOP ASKING HIM ABOUT HIMSELF ]

...It's fairly common where I'm from. [ is she gonna just keep staring at him until she gets a better answer. ]

[coastal]

[yea

continued blatant staring

she at least gives him a nod though, so he knows she's listening]

[shixiong]

[ shrinks a little. where is his mask. please. stop this. ]

[ there's a long pause....... urrrgh FINE ] ....I'm a cultivator. They study the martial arts and the flow of qi to achieve immortality. [ that's the simplest explanation... it's not. entirely valid anymore but it works. well enough. ] Why are you asking?

[coastal]

Oh - I see. So you're a human turned immortal...? I didn't know that could even happen.

[wow! but she won't really press further than that, even though she's confused why it took so long]

The person that I asked to help me make a dent in the floor was not human - not made of flesh and bone, anyway. She still got hurt, so I'd rather no one else try if they're more fragile than her.

[shixiong]

Mn. [ a noise of agreement, and that's all he's got on that one. lore time closed. ]

I can't access any spiritual powers here, anyway, [ or, at all. irrelevant. ] so, I'm not much different than anyone else. At the island, I had the Earth Master's shovel, but even that didn't work there... it would be able to get through this, without any limiters.

[ he taps his foot against the floor, and then back up to the ceiling. ] It does seem that there's no way out, after all.

[coastal]

[ . . . . she sighs.]

Can you just - check the ceiling? I want to be sure there's nothing left up there, and then I'll start searching for some sort of... I don't know, secret door? Clues?

[anything....

she will take anything.]

[shixiong]

I'll be a moment.

[ a nod!

there aren't a lot of things to climb up here, but that's alright. yin yu's an expert at getting into strange places. separating from lili, he uses one of the shelves of the entertainment center to pop up and test the metal of the ceiling with a knock of his fist. he uses the tiny, tiny windowsills on the closed bus to keep checking along the length of the ceiling.

at least he's used to not having any spiritual energy to help, so. by the time he's made it to the other end, he hops back down with ease and bows his head with a job completed. ] The ceiling is the same material as the floor. As far as I can see, there are no press plates or grooves that might open to it.

[coastal]

[thanks spider yin yu. the truth is that lili is 100% just going to let him do this, crossing her arms as she watches him go, observing quietly and wondering if one day she too will be able to check ceilings with that level of grace.

probably not but like.]

So no way to open it... How annoying. Alright. It's the equivalent of the perimeter being checked, so we'll have to see what else can be done.

For now, see what other people have learned and I'll do the same - we can reconvene later.

[stop giving orders when you said you didn't want him to be your attendant]