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

[maelstroms]

I. vending machine

[ Ming Yi wastes no time in getting changed into his usual clothes, hair back up in a ponytail, to the point that he didn't give anyone much of a chance to see him in the getup - the ears included, making it a current mystery as to what critter he was meant to be. He took one look at the group, then quickly booked it.

Now, though, he's in the kitchen. While the technology is beyond him, it doesn't take much for him to figure out what the vending machine is meant to be used for. He can be found standing there, flipping through the menu, looking at every combination under the sun, a little... intent?

But, also. ] Where does it come from... [ What feat of engineering is this..? He hits the randomize button and waits, watching.

All this is done while he's holding the steak, like he's. Waiting for it to thaw out, at some point. ]

II. common room

[ These are technically related, because... he can be found in the aftermath.

How'd he manage to move all the food at once? Doesn't matter, just know that there's a stack of bowls and plates on either side of him, and more still full of food that he's working his way through. It's all manner of food, from what's familiar to him (and reminiscent of Chinese cuisine to others) to fast food he's never seen before to completely random foodstuffs that maybe no one's seen before.

He shows no interest in talking to anyone should they look his way, or even approach. It isn't hard to get his attention, he's just more interested in eating than he is in initiated conversation, observing what's playing on the screen along with the people that come and go.

Behind him is a shovel that looks, actually, reminiscent of a monk's spade. It's a little dirty, and looks like maybe it hasn't been used too often as of late, but he just. Has it. Aight. ]

III. wildcard

[ Keeping it simple because game start mingle gonna get wild and I'm running fastly at everyone else, also. Run into Ming Yi anywhere during our exploration time, drag him into shenanigans and explore the wild world of TECHNOLOGY with a ye olde, hit me up for PCs! Find me over on discord or at criticals my dudes. ]

II

[notaccurate]

[That sure is a lot of food, and he's having flashbacks to a certain someone he knows.]

...sir? Are you alright?

[Can you really eat that much without dying???]

[maelstroms]

[ Ming Yi slides a look towards Lucas, at least having the decency to not talk with his mouth full. But he does seem to be purposefully chewing for an extended period of time before he actually answers, maybe moreso than is necessary.

Or he shoved a huge mouthful into his maw, who knows. ]

I'm fine. What?

[notaccurate]

[That awkward silence. It makes Luca feel awkward too, and he's wondering if he should apologize and walk away.]

You just seem to be eating enough to feed an entire army, and that is concerning.

[maelstroms]

This is normal.

[ For him, anyways.

Sorry, Luca, this one's the "someone will die" part of the ancient chinese kids. ]

There's more than this at banquets I've been to. If that machine isn't meant to output this much food, they should probably make alterations.

[notaccurate]

I'm more worried about you exploding than the machine breaking down, honestly.

[He did not miss that 'what if someone dies' part of their FAQ.]

ii for the fake china nonsense

[toyska]

[Childe is back in his regular clothes too, hands in his pockets as he wanders into the kitchen! I am saying he is eating Chinese-style noodles right now, because that's enough incentive to wander over. Vaguely familiar-looking food, amazing.

Childe has his own chopsticks, probably in his pocket because men's pants actually have decent ones. You know which ones they are. Terrible.]

Don't tell me these things are required here, too.

[Please give the white boy a fork.]

rip to a boy

[maelstroms]

[ Terrible. Don't put your chopsticks in your pockets, what's wrong with you, said in the bracket text of someone who probably puts chopsticks in his sleeves (albeit he has his tucked into bracers).

Ming Yi glances up as he brings another mouthful of food up with his chopsticks, pausing and narrowing his eyes slightly as he turns that question over. ]

... probably not. [ Because it. Probably isn't? They're just what he wanted and what he's used to, besides the soup spoon he also has. ] There's other utensils.

[toyska]

[THEY'RE IN HIS POCKETS, they are staying in his pockets--actually no they aren't because it'd probably be uncomfortable to sit down with them even with Man Pockets. So they'll come out and be placed on the table (at least he does that with care) as he takes a seat! Congrats Ming Yi you get a conversation partner now.]

Thank goodness. I really can't get the hang of them. [And Zhongli isn't here to make fun of him so HA]

[maelstroms]

What do you normally use, if you're not used to chopsticks?

[ Do you eat with your hands, you barbarian child? Ming Yi at least isn't annoyed by the company, but is otherwise indifferent to it, despite the chopsticks appearing - Childe isn't overly peppy, and isn't necessarily trying to interrupt him by existing. ]

[toyska]

[Yeah he just shovels handfuls of mashed potatoes into his mouth with his gloved hands]

I'm not sure I'd say I'm still unused to them... a companion of mine insisted they were vital to understanding Liyue's cuisine. But I can't seem to get used to them. Forks and knives are more common in the motherland.

i

[shiftingwinds]

Ming-xiong!

[



poor ming yi is getting hugged from behind while he's just standing there and innocently contemplating the vending machine. hi!]

[maelstroms]

[ oof





Ming Yi's body jolts, but otherwise doesn't move, because hearing his name called like that gave him enough warning. ] Who?

[shiftingwinds]

[well

she pouts, immediately.]

Aww, come on, don't be like that.

[maelstroms]

Why are you here?

[ He doesn't look at her, but doesn't try to pry her arms free of his waist, either. ]

[shiftingwinds]

[well, since he's not shaking her off, she'll take full advantage of that and stay exactly where she is.]

That's a silly question, since you're here too. Isn't it obvious? It's because there's something I wanted badly enough to agree to come here.

i!

[touchups]

Technology's always pretty impressive, right? But this is good - it's fun!

[He loves watching trays of fully formed foodstuff just appear from the ether?? He'll find it entertaining for like two minutes and then move on, it's fine.

Also, he just. Points at the steak.]

I wonder if we're supposed to eat those.

[maelstroms]

This is more advanced than what I've seen before.

[ He wants to know how it works, if only so that he can ensure that it keeps working. But he grabs the random tray of fries and mcfreezy that comes out, squinting down at the food.

Without looking up: ] I don't know, but it's frozen, so until it thaws it's just an ice block.

[touchups]

Mm, me too, me too.

[And he's from like, modern day Japan, even. Aliens are wild, man. He gives the tray a curious look before moving to push the randomize button on another one... Anyway, ever so helpfully:]

--You can thaw them pretty fast if you put it in warm water like that. Just stick the whole package in a pot.

[His is probably already thawed, for some fuckin reason.]

[maelstroms]

[ Aliens. The fuck is an alien? Ming Yi just makes a noncommittal noise at first, taking a few fries to try them on his own before he decides to dip them in the ice cream. ]

So long as the packaging allows for it, then I'll give it a try. [ momf... he finds it acceptable, and dips again. ] It's worth seeing if it's edible, anyways, even with this machine.

[touchups]

[Ming Yi... the inventor of an all-time classic flavor combination. Mahito watches curiously for a second before ordering the same thing. HE WANTS TO TRY.]

Mmmhm! It's pretty heat-resistant, so you don't have to worry about it melting or anything. ...But if you wanna save it for later, you probably shouldn't thaw it right away.

i

[sophistications]

[Tamaki's changed out of his clothes and into something a little more comfortable though he's also wearing the little crown from the welcome bow. This means that Ming Yi might see the shadow of that first as Tamaki stands behind him and seems to be examining the machine as well. Hm!]

Are you looking for something in particular?

[maelstroms]

[ Apparently I am not allowed to see what comfortable thing Tamaki has changed into, so we're just left imagining it's something cozy and fashionable, as Ming Yi squints at the - stupid little crown's shadow, before he turns just enough to look at him. ]

No. There's enough of a mix between familiar and unfamiliar that it's just a matter of looking, and seeing what comes out at random.

[sophistications]

[NOOOOO it's fine it's just nice pants a t-shirt and a blazer because whatever. The crown is fine.]

I'm sure it doesn't have to all be completely random. But the unfamiliar can be a fun surprise, don't you agree?

[maelstroms]

[ COZY BOY the crown suits him, unfortunately ]

Mm, the option to pick specifically is there. [ But he glances back at the machine as it dispenses its... ( spins wheel ) chicken and waffles. Ming Yi looks a little bemused, but does not reject it! ] I'd certainly call this a surprise.