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

[liuli]

i. arrival

[ being dressed up in this incredibly bizarre outfit doesn't seem to bother gu yun any. in fact, the high heels are a little wobbly, but once he gets that down? whatever! it's a vibe. stepping out into the strange common room of this really bizarre place is a what would probably normally be fairly small man with dark hair, who only stops halfway on his walk to get out of the way of the elevator and just take a look around, putting his hands on his hips. looking to his left, he starts - ]

...Ji - [ ...

whoever is standing next to him is not, in fact, shen yi. gu yun transitions away from this fairly smoothly, offering a charming smile instead. he somehow manages to pull this off in this ridiculous outfit, which is infuriating. ] Sorry - Mistook you for someone else. Can you walk alright in these? I'd hate for anyone else to stumble.

ii. kitchen

[ well, shen yi may not be here, but gu yun will take great glee in the fact that he would be shitting his pants if he knew this kind of technology existed - and that he's the one who gets to enjoy it. gu yun is no ling shu techie, but there's plenty of things to explore, and his curious nature means that he's checking out all of the things he can get his hands on. now dressed in sleek black robes, though minus the gloves, though not in fact sporting a monocle, and... still wearing the light up fox ears. why not, right?

the piece of technology that currently has his attention is the vending machine. gu yun is standing awfully close to it, his arms folded, leaaaning forward close enough to the screen that he's nearly tapping it with his nose and squinting.

what's this weirdo doing. ]

iii. bar

[ of course you can find gu yun at the bar, because like, where else would he be. settled in one of those plush velvet seats, he looks every bit like he belongs there, holding a glass of red wine in one hand, and his early 2000s phone (which is very impressive in the other). in front of him on the bar, there's a flute. not like, of champagne, but an actual literal flute. ?? i'm sure that's fine.

he sips from his drink and catches the eyes of the nearest person; from here it's easy to see the crown on the back of his hand, which, upon noticing curious eyes, gu yun tilts his hand to make it even more obvious, then starts tapping buttons on the phone, looking through the contacts and matching the face of whoever's looking to the profiles before looking up again, eyes lit up, a little playful. ] What do you make of your information, here - true or false? Color me curious.

iv. rec room?

[ finally, you might hear a pshhhhhh sound from the rec room that sounds suspiciously like a whipped cream can being used.

it's followed immediately after by a bark of laughter. and then another pshhh ]

wildcard.

7rings.mp3. disco me for PCs or other stuff @ protags#8655

ii

[notaccurate]

Be careful with that.

[That is Luca's warning, as he is still attempting to wrangle his two dozen hard boiled eggs into some kind of container.]

If you press the buttons too many times, problems happen.

[He doesn't seem to know much more about it than Gu Yun does tho.]

[liuli]

[ luca's accent catches his attention - there's a brief pause, but then gu yun steps back from the vending machine, and his expression curls into a grin. ]

Oh? Is your situation not just eggstraordinary?

[ closes my eyes ]

[notaccurate]

I wouldn't say-

[That pun makes Luca stop.

And slowly.

Slowly.

Look up tiredly at Gu Yun.]

[liuli]

[ he just tilts his head to the side, blinking innocently.

are you going to answer his question, luca ]

sighs very deeply. i

[toyska]

[You know what this isn't frac but we both know it's only downhill from here so sure, let's go with the thotfit. Childe doesn't look like he cares too much about the rest of it, but he took his shoes off immediately and he's carrying them over his shoulder with his fingers. It doesn't matter because he's still taller. pbbt

Also he has fox ears. They match his hair. Very cute.]

Not a problem. [He waves off the "Ji" with his other hand.] I'll take my chances without them, but I appreciate the offer. Do you have practice?

[(muffled burlesque music in the background)]

yeah

[liuli]

[ i hate you. anyway this is the first and only time that gu yun is going to be taller than childe - he looks over him for a brief moment, from fox ears (they match) to the rest of him, and doesn't even miss a beat, as he chirps - ]

They do call me the Flower of the Northwest... [ ?????

...but, waves his hand a moment later. ] It's not so different than walking in armor, really. I suppose you aren't familiar?

[toyska]

[he

glances at the heels

and glances back at Gu Yun

he has a very complicated look on his face like. Stupid? But now he kind of wants to try it?]

Seems a little impractical, if you ask me... I've always favored boots.

[neatly sidesteps the question]

[liuli]

[ he tuts. ]

Impractical if you don't know how to use it, maybe. They don't call it a bird's eye view for nothing.


[ is

is that a challenge ]

ii!

[touchups]

[Now there are TWO whole weirdos with their noses nearly touching the vending machine! Mahito's just joining in because it seems like a fun time.]

What are we looking for? Are you trying to find something? You can use it without being this close, you know.

[liuli]

[ what a helpful flea.

gu yun continues squinting at the machine. ] You tell me - I can't read it. Maybe a nice young man would be willing to help this Shen Shiliu...

[touchups]

[He is HERE TO HELP! Or, like, make things worse in a torrential downward slide. Or help!! Anyway bold to assume he can read.]

The best way to use it is just to hit this button and see what comes out.

[Leaning back, he helpfully points to whatever the RANDOMIZE ME, CAPTAIN button is.]

[liuli]

[ gu yun steps back fully, and waves a hand in the direction of the machine. ]

By all means, lead the way. [ make the food happen. (also teach him how to use it, thanks.) ]

iii

[gamerbrain]

Oh, is this a mystery game?

[liuli]

Sure, something like that.

[ scrolling through the profiles... he gets to aoi's, and. yeah. his eyebrows go up into his hairline.

I See ] ...Doesn't seem like yours left much to the imagination..

[gamerbrain]

None of it is wrong.

i

[sophistications]

[A charming small nets a charming smile back as Tamaki waves a hand as if to say "don't worry about it."]

While this isn't entirely usual, I believe I'll be alright. How very kind of you to ask though.

[liuli]

[ he glances over at the person who says this, and then up and down at his outfit.

a bit teasingly: ] Not entirely unusual? What a fascinating life you must lead.

[sophistications]

It is, isn't it? [He says as if this stranger knows anything about his life but he's very happy with it? Probably weird that he's bearing the despair mark on his hand then.] But we regularly went through costume changes in our club. This is just abiding by the theme of the day, isn't it?

iii. (chanting) twinkllince twinklliance

[aubins]

[ he's still in his yuriana grande outfit. work it. ]

That'd be telling though, wouldn't it? There's no mystery if I don't leave people guessing.

[ he's going behind the bar anyway. drinks. even if he agreed to be here, this is the sort of time and place for a drink. notably, there's a pair of crossed swords on the back of his hand. ]

twinklliance!!!!

[liuli]

[ haha. he likes that answer! gu yun rests his chin in his hand as he sets the phone down, absently swirling the wine in his glass. there's a mischievous sparkle to his bright eyes. ]

Aren't 'tactical knowledge' and 'how to fight dirty' quite similar? [ playfully; ] Depending on your point of view.

[aubins]

My point of view would be one looks good on official documentation, and the other is more likely to keep you alive on a day to day basis.

[ he is pouring a glass. of something. what? we don't know. it looks fruity. ]

iv

[callmemeg]

[ hmmm. whatever that noise is, it sounds like someone is having the kind of fun that maybe shouldn't be intruded upon.

luckily, meg does not care. there's no such thing as privacy in a place like this, so she just saunters on in like she owns the place. ]

Making the most of a situation, are we?

[liuli]

[ luckily, there's nothing freaky weird going on here. just a grown ass man with the whipped cream can, having just figured out what it does. he's made a bit of a mess, having dispensed a burst of whipped cream followed by a smaller one right on to the coffee table -- at hearing company, though, gu yun just grins, swiping a finger through the top of it and putting it in his mouth. ]

Well, I do my best. [ he gives the can another shake, and pshhh. whipped cream. ] This is delightful - ever seen something like it before?

[callmemeg]

Can't say that I have.

[ she's just. watching it fizz out of the can with an expression torn somewhere between fascination and disgust. that... sure is something, alright. ]

Are you sure that's edible?