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

[holeful]

[He thinks a moment. Well. Hm. No one's every expressed such an interest. How can he say no? So he sits down on one of the couches and pats for Mineo to join him. It should be easier to investigate if they're sitting.]

Feel free.

[sengokus]

[WELL NOW IT SEEMS LIKE HE'S GOTTA IF IT'S NOT A PROSTHETIC HELLO??????]

Seriously? You're awfully cool with this - especially if it's the real deal...

[despite this, he will wander over! like an overly curious and easily led puppy....]

[holeful]

Ha ha. I've had it for three years, it's not like you can damage it. It would be far beyond me to discourage an interest in holes.

[P-phrasing?]

[sengokus]

Do people have an interest in holes normally? I guess it takes all types.

[he's not

catching it but that's okay. regardless he'll peer to get a better look at this head hole? like jesus what the fuck. he's being as respectful as he can, though he'll pull back once he's convinced it's not a prosthetic]

.... are you doing okay? Do you need like - any special medicines or anything while you're here?

[holeful]

[The flesh inside the hole is pretty uneven, but you can in face, see through it. The hole goes all the way through Fukuda's head.]

Not normally. That's why I want to encourage it. I'm doing perfectly well. The hole doesn't bother me at all.

[sengokus]

You... want to encourage it?

[LOOKING INTO HIS HOLE????]

[holeful]

[It's just a hole. There's a lot of scar tissue lining the sides of it. There's really nothing remarkable about it besides the fact that it's in a man's head.]

Aah. That's what I said.
[Guess he's not elaborating?]

[sengokus]

[hm he isn't.

well mineo is just going back off then, letting his thumbs hook into his pockets as he tilts his head]

Well - thanks for letting me see. I don't really have anything cool to show you in return...

[holeful]

[Hm. It's his instinct to fight the impulse, but if they're meant to indulge;]

What's under your eyepatch?
[Is it another hole.]

[sengokus]

My eye.

[me, dana, sighing forever]

[holeful]

... Is it injured in some way?

[Sighs with.]

[sengokus]

Ah, no, that'd be really inconvenient.

[aND WEARING AN EYEPATCH OVER IT ISN'T???/]

[holeful]

... So why the eyepatch?

[Sir.]

[sengokus]

[ah

he grins

bold and confident]

Haha! Well you see, my greatest idol of all time is none other than the famed One-Eyed Dragon of Oushuu, Date Masamune!! Even though he lost his eye at an early age - many accounts disputed on exactly why or how - he nonetheless rose to be one of the greatest commanders of the Sengoku Era! How manly! How cool!

[holeful]

Ah, I see.
[Smiles.]

So you're trying to emulate the One-Eyed Dragon in form so that you might follow him in spirit.
[Noding. Makes sense. Masamune was pretty cool, from what he can remember reading about the man. But then;]

But if you really want to be like him, shouldn't you gouge out that eye?

[sengokus]

[ . . . uhhhhhhhhh

he's just going to tilt his head at that]

I mean, I guess - but it wouldn't exactly help me with my work or anything...

[holeful]

You don't think so? It would be a hole, and holes always help.

[Maybe this man with the hole in his head isn't normal after all.]

[sengokus]

[MAYBE HE IS NOT and even mineo is slowly starting to realize that]

.... I think we've just got different interests, man.

[holeful]

[He actually seems a bit sad at that??]

Hahaha... I suppose so. I don't have a particularly wide breadth of knowledge about the Sengoku period, but I do like that he had the Three Great Men of Date.
[It's a good number.]

[sengokus]

Oh yeah!! It's important for every great lord to have his loyal and faithful retainers after all!

[he perks up easily at that - but there's a slight concern for the sadness. ugh. bleeding heart.]

But hey - I'm sure you'll be able to find someone else who's, uh... as into holes...?

[holeful]

[Ah, what a kind and sympathetic young man... still, he doesn't understand.]

You must have some loyal retainers of your own then.

[sengokus]

Huh - me?

[he looks surprised at that, totally thrown off.]

[holeful]

You're trying to emulate Date Masamune, aren't you? A great leader like that is defined in large part by the men he leads, the men who chose to follow him.

Without that, aren't you just a child playing dress up?

[sengokus]

[well.

fuck.

mineo rises to the bait at first, angry, and there's something on the tip of his tongue that he wants to argue - before it seems to extinguish. like he can't hold onto the flame of his own offense.]

.... you really know how to cut into someone, huh?

[holeful]

Haha. I was just making an observation. It only has to bother you if you do nothing about it.

[Call it constructive criticism.]