notagain | WEEK ZERO: ARRIVAL

ARRIVAL

▽ FULL NAVIGATION
▽ LOCATIONS
▽ STATUSES
▽ IC PROFILES
▽ IC RULEBOOK
▽ MURDER PROPOSALS
▽ PCS
▽ CURFEW
▽ ???
▽ ???
▽ ???

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE LIKE THIS.]

I see... Once you have your ranking, can you change it? Are you stuck with it indefinitely? I think I'd like to petition to change.

Once you have your ranking, you're kind of stuck.

But it's okay. You just need to learn how to make it work for you.

Have you managed to make it work for you yet? Though, hm... [GLANCING AROUND.] I guess being here answers that question, doesn't it?

[They can make the most of their curse!!]

Yep. It sure does.

[nice try wwx]

Think we might be able to make any working talismans here? They didn't do any good back on the boat, but I'm not one to try once and give up, anyway.

[Too bad their pencils get stolen. TIME FOR SOME GOOD OL' FASHIONED BLOOD RUNES.]

[no wwx some of us have BLOOD RUNE TRAUMA]

. . . talismans? What kind of talismans?

[That's not good considering he's a blood magician.]

Good luck charms, protective talismans - things like that. You have any familiarity with that?

[stop using blood to draw talismans!!!]

Not personally.

But there was someone at the mansion who knew a lot about them. I think theirs were Chinese?

[WHAT ABOUT RUNES.]

Ah! Yes, Nie Huaisang, I'd bet - right?

Ah-- yeah! That was him. And a Jin Ling, too.

[a beat]

Jin Ling stole my leg.

[THAT FUCKER]

I-- Wait, he did what?

[Wh. WHAT?? He blinks and looks at Akira's legs.]

[HE HAS TWO NORMAL LEGS. weird???]

He stole my leg.

[waith]

[looks down]

Oh. . . right. I got my real one back at the very end.

I lost my leg around week three or four. It's kind of a blur. I had a prosthetic, but Jin Ling stole it.

[JIN LING STOLE A MAN'S PROSTHETIC LEG WHAT IN THE FCK--]

Why in the world would he do something like that?! I'm glad you seem to have gotten it back, at least.

[JIN LING STOLE A MAN'S PROSTHETIC LEG]

He was trying to impress a ghost.

And also he sucks.

[HE JUST LAUGHS... It's tired and fond.]

That boy's never been very good at making friends or even friendly acquaintances, ah...

[a snort]

I can see why.

[but. . .]

. . . it sounds like you know him and Nie Huaisang, though.

For what it's worth, neither of them died. Though. . . Nie Huaisang came close.

Mm, I do! I grew up with Nie Huaisang.

[And Jin Ling is his nephew which he will not mention.]

I'm glad for that, though. Heard he managed to take down the person who almost killed him, is that right?

Yep.

[draws his thumb across his throat and grimaces]

We never figured out the murder weapon, but I think it was one of the fans he carries with him.

Nobody wanted to vote for him, though. There was another killer that week who we really needed to catch.

One that was possessed, correct?

[He knows that much about vore house, at least.]

It would have been a shame to execute someone for a self-defense kill, in any case.

Yeah.

[that's a response to both of those statements]

It wouldn't have been just to execute him for defending himself, and the monster was the most important target. It was unlikely Nie Huaisang would've killed again.

But the monster? They would've killed every single week we let them roam free.

The monsters there sound a lot like the demons we had to deal with. It was the same situation if we weren't able to catch and exorcise them.

[Hmm... Doesn't like that there are multiple games out there with those premises.]

[HM. . . HE ALSO DOESN'T LIKE THIS]

. . . it was pretty shitty.

The people who were turned into monsters couldn't stop themselves from killing, so. . . voting for them to be executed just-- felt like murdering more innocents.

You know. . .?

[Ah, Akira... He gets a sympathetic smile, and Wei Wuxian reaches out to briefly set a hand on his shoulder. He wishes he had some convincing platitudes to say!! But he's brutally honest, so:]

When you feel like you've killed an innocent, it's a weight that sticks with you, I think.

[They're all gonna carry that weight...]

It's a miserable situation for everyone involved. Hah - not saying that dealing with killers under full possession of their faculties is any easier, but it's at least a more straightforward thing.

WEEK ZERO: ARRIVAL - OVERFLOW

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject