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

[touchups]

It's not bad! I like it better than the last one. But why does this place like candy so much...?

[EVERYTHING'S! SWEET!!]

[shiftingwinds]

Well, candies are usually pretty popular, so maybe they thought most of us would like them.

[touchups]

Are they? Mm, I guess, I guess... They're not all that great, though. [A SIGH.] A little boring! At least things like this have some bite, too.

[shiftingwinds]

Most alcohols do. If this one isn't entirely to your liking, I'm sure we can find another that is.

[touchups]

You're pretty kind to be spending your time on taste-testing things with a stranger, yeah? [He says it with open amusement, though, and a bright note of cheer.]

[shiftingwinds]

It's more fun to drink with someone who's enjoying it, that's all.

[touchups]

Ah! I see, I see. This is my first time ever drinking anything with anyone, to be honest!

[ANYTHING AT ALL. He makes a vague cheersing motion in her direction with his midori shotglass.]

So I'll defer to the expert.

[shiftingwinds]

All the more reason to make sure we find you a drink you like!

[if it's his first time, it has to be good or he won't want to drink again! sqx makes a vague cheering expert in return, then finishes off the midori and looks for another bottle that looks interesting.

she comes back with this.]

What a fun color, don't you think?

[touchups]

[the way that i personally immediately recoiled bc hpnotiq has THE nastiest flavor profile, which means Mahito will probably love it.]

I like that one, too! They really do like drinking things that look like they could be poisoned, huh?

[Literally WHAT NATURAL THING HAS THESE COLORS. WHY IS EVERYTHING NEON.]

[shiftingwinds]

[it really does and i severely regret ever having tasted it.]

Apparently! It hasn't killed me yet, though, so it's probably not poisoned.

[pours some out for them both]

[touchups]

[US SHAKING HANDS FASTLY OVER HPNOTIQ TASTING VILE AS HELL!!!!

Also that's hilarious and unfortunately Mahito laughs before reaching to take his pour.]

No better way to find out than checking for yourself, is it?

[shiftingwinds]

That's right!

[this is a hands-on experience!!]

Besides, our hosts went through the trouble of bringing us here - it wouldn't make any sense for them to poison us on our first day.

[touchups]

Haha! That'd be a really short competition.

[IT'D BE HILARIOUS HONESTLY. He toasts in her direction again though, before downing his share. THE HORRIFIC MEMORY OF HPNOTIQ

He seems unfazed, unfortunately.]

[shiftingwinds]

[i just went to check our alcohol cabinet and there's a half-finished bottle of hpnotiq in there that used to live at danielle's house that 1. we haven't touched in years and 2. we apparently kept long enough to bring it when we moved in together??

anyway, sqx wrinkles her nose just a little at the taste, but continues drinking, also mostly unfazed.]

That isn't quite what I expected, but to each their own.

[touchups]

[YALL....... PLEASE BE RID OF IT. YOUR CURSE.

This is terrible though, and he will helpfully and truthfully add:] It went from bad to okay to bad again.

[He says that but he's also still sipping.]

[shiftingwinds]

Well, that just means we need to keep looking for something else.

[back to the drawing board!

or in this case, back to the array of bottles.]

Hey, tell me if something looks interesting to you.

[touchups]

[you know those bottles with like one single scorpion inside



guess what he's found.]

Wow! Hey, hey - take a look at this!

[shiftingwinds]

[oh no]

Now, how did that get in there?

[touchups]

[He shakes the bottle a little and watches the scorpion float around like a macabre snow globe.]

The top is still sealed...

[shiftingwinds]

You should open it.

[eat! that! scorpion!]

[touchups]

[HE WILL OPEN IT... And wander over to find some cups so he can pour literally all of the alcohol in here out, until he finally manages to shake the scorpion out with a little plunk.]

Oh... Well, it's definitely dead.

[shiftingwinds]

Poor thing. It must have drowned.

[no.]

[touchups]

What should we do with it? It feels like a shame to just throw it in the trash or something.

[Even he isn't weird enough to immediately leap to the conclusion that you are in fact supposed to consume it... He picks it up between his thumb and forefinger by the tail.]

[shiftingwinds]

Hmm...

[good question...]

It does seem a waste, but I'm not sure what ought to be done. I think most people would throw such a bug away after killing it...

[touchups]

[Hm. Well.

He will just tuck the scorpion into his boob pocket.]

I'll find a place for it later, then. It probably can't decompose properly if it's been soaking in alcohol, so I guess the trash in the kitchen is fine?