WEEK ZERO: INTRO MINGLE

[probe]

POPULATION: 37

There's the soft, chiming ding of an elevator as you slowly grow conscious. You remember the sound of a voice whispering in your ear, and then a very gentle, easy darkness as you fell asleep.

Then the elevator jolts, and you promptly ram into some of the thirty or so other people also waking up from their nap. Time to trample people on your way out! Be careful not to rip your flattering outfit with light up furry ears of an animal of your choice. On this elevator there are a total of 10 buttons and they're all lit up! But they don't work. A shame. The elevator doesn't go anywhere else.

In any case, once you exit the elevator, you'll find that you have a decently wide area to explore. There doesn't seem to be any sort of exit to the outside world, but that's okay. You didn't want to leave without what you came for, right? Besides, it's wonderful here: the temperature is perfect, every surface is as soft as clouds, and the atmosphere is so, so inviting. The base itself is low-lit in fluorescent neon colors which shift and pulse over time, and there's a soft, reassuring humming sound under your feet. It would be comforting if you didn't feel like you were being watched every time you walk along the hallways.

But hey, don't worry about that! Maybe you should be more concerned with the phone in your pocket! The phones have a few functions, as well as a low pixel camera. Pictures are in black and white, so no brightly colored selfies for you. Oh, and while you're taking those selfies, you might notice the symbol of your Avatar tattooed and glowing faintly on the back of your hand. Hope you're fine with impromptu body mods.

Eventually during your wandering, you'll find your room with roommates included! On the floor of your room, there is a big gift box with your name on it. Upon opening it, you will be absolutely obliterated with glittery confetti. But once you manage to get past that, the gift box contains the following:

✦ your item from home
✦ a pair of boxer-briefs labeled "ball hammock"
✦ a stress ball that looks suspiciously like a boob
✦ a rainbow bath bomb
✦ a Polaroid camera with 10 instant film
✦ a frozen steak in a vacuum-sealed pouch
✦ a blue and pink dual flashlight; one end has a normal white bulb, and one end has a blacklight bulb
✦ a tiny crown

Welcome to your new home. Take some time to look around, talk to your fellow indulgers. All of you can see each other's symbols on the back of your hands - maybe it'll strike up a conversation. After all, there's no better way to get to know each other than talking about your sins on the first date!

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Comments

vending machine!

[touchups]

Eh? They don't look that bad, though, do they? There's weirder stuff in there.

[Than the mcnuggs.... He would know. He's standing nearby with his hands set on hips, examining the vending machine with some mild interest for like .2 seconds before focusing on her INTENSE BONE DECOR instead.]

—Are those real? I've never seen anything like it before.

[bonetiddies]

[She. . . takes a step backwards when he starts focusing intensely on her, like she's not used to it, and she touches her bone bracelets defensively. But - ]

Yes, they're real. They are all fashioned from bone I grew.

[touchups]

[Hilariously, it's not an unfamiliar reaction to him, if only because he tends to roll with a literally invisible crowd. He has like a tiny crumb of tact at least, even though he just barely exercises it in this moment because he is! So visibly intrigued by that!]

You grew it? You don't mean, like- [GESTURING to his... leg.] -inside your body like every human does, right?

[He cannot possibly imagine a human growing an extra shin and just taking it out to make bone jewelry but what does he know?]

[bonetiddies]

Some of it. But some of it isn't mine. You aren't familiar with Bone Adepts, I take it?

[touchups]

[A shake of his head.]

Nope! Never heard of them. Is it some sort of sorcery?

[bonetiddies]

Necromancy. A particular form of it that we practice in the Ninth House.

[touchups]

[NECROMANCY... In a distant universe, Wei Wuxian cries over this missed opportunity.]

Ooh! I haven't heard of the Ninth House, but necromancy - there are some sorcerers I know who can do something kind of similar. But, you know, only kind of. What's yours like?

[bonetiddies]

[It really is sad! It really is sad. Anyway, she's happy to talk to this very weird guy about her powers, even if she seems a little self-conscious explaining it.]

Typical schools include spirit manipulation, flesh magic and bone magic. I can use all varieties, but my House specialized in bones.

[touchups]

[Thanks for being so down to talk about necromancy with this very weird guy, who seems to be genuinely interested in what she has to say.]

Ah! That's so interesting... So there are people out there who might only be able to work with bone, or only with flesh? Only with the spirit, maybe? What's that look like? Working with the spirit, I mean. And bone! What sort of things can you do with bone?

[bonetiddies]

[She's a little alarmed by all that genuine interest in her direction - she takes a moment to think it through, to consider if there's any downside to telling him, or advantage he can gain over her by knowing. But she can think of none, so - perhaps it really is just curiosity.]

In a sentient creature, you have the body. You have the flesh, the blood, the bone. And you have the spirit, the soul. Spirit adepts can siphon energy from the soul. They can draw the spirits of the dead back from the River to glean knowledge or power. Or they may siphon power from the souls of the living. It is - a controversial art.

[She finds all of that a little distasteful; it's obvious from the way she says it.]

I can do anything with bone. As a medium, it is deceptively intricate. It can be built upon, molded, grown into constructs.

[touchups]

How strange, how strange! Even the sorcerers I know can't see or connect with the soul.

[An entire group of wholeass people out there just draining soul juice and dragging spirits back from the dead... Truly a wild concept, even to him. If he notes that she seems to find it somewhat distasteful, he doesn't make mention of it, instead refocusing on her bone magics.]

Mm, I see, I see. So it's like - you can build whatever you want with it, but it takes a lot of skill, right?

[bonetiddies]

That's correct. And there are more abstract applications, once you understand the theory.

[touchups]

Sounds like the sort of thing that could come in handy! And it looks nice, too.

[A nod! He digs the bone decor, 10/10, goth squad roll out.]

[bonetiddies]

Th - thank you.

[She is very unused to compliments about her appearance, and it shows in how little she knows how to respond.]

[touchups]

[HARROW... SHE'S SO EARNEST. He grins and nods in understanding.]

Not many people say that, huh? I get it, I get it.

[He, as Frankenstein's second and lesser known monster, often also gets negative reactions.]

[bonetiddies]

It isn't an aesthetic I've cultivated for reasons for vanity, as some have thought. This is the garb of the Black Vestals, devotees of the Locked Tomb.

[It's a religious thing.]

[touchups]

Oh! So it's special to you, right? Dressing like that.

[He has a grasp on religious concepts as a whole! Jury's out on exactly how much he understands about religious significance.]