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]

Hands, perhaps, but this Shen Shiliu has a more troubling affliction... [ he lifts one of these absolutely working hands and touches it to his heart. ] You see, you've offered me something that I cannot even see, so I don't even know where to start.

[ takeru you just gonna say that to a blind guy ]

[dotcom]

Oh, my bad.

[ places it on his hand

regardless if it was prepared to receive something so there's a chance it might fall to the ground. ]

[liuli]

[


plop goes the cupcake. right on the floor. what a waste of a perfectly good cupcake. ]

Ah? [ :( ]

[dotcom]

You dropped the cupcake.

[ smh. ]

[liuli]

...I thought I might've had another moment to at least move my hand... [ he sounds genuinely saddened!!! :( :( but, ah. obediently, he moves his hands to hold them out, palms up. ] -

...Here, if you can summon another. I'll be ready this time, swear it.

By the way, what's a cupcake?

[dotcom]

[ he will go to order another one

but pauses at the last question ]

Are you serious?

[ HE ACTUALLY SOUNDS SHOCKED ]

[liuli]

[ he. blinks twice. three times. ]

Should I not be? I've heard of mooncakes, and melon cakes, but a cup cake is a new one.

[dotcom]

It's not quite like that.

[ he obtains another cupcake and this time actually deposits it on his hand. ]

[liuli]

[ cupcake obtained. he does not in fact drop it, this time, instead lifting the cupcake up to his face and taking a moment to sniff at it, touching around the cupcake's wrapper and the frosting on the top with his other hand, even making a surprised little noise at the texture of it. soft. squishy. sweet! ]

It smells sweet, though. How should I eat it? I don't think I could fit it all in my mouth at once.

[

yeah ]

[dotcom]

You probably can.

[ do it. ]

[liuli]

I'm delicate.


[ ?????? ]

[dotcom]

You should get over that.

[liuli]

Ah, such a cruel thing to say.

[ he doesn't seem even remotely offended by it though! gu yun just laughs, and goes to take a bite of the cupcake. momf.

it's... really sweet. like way too sweet... who would enjoy eating this... he doesn't make a face or anything, instead just chewing his delicate bite like he's thinking it over. ] Is this type of food normal, where you're from?

[dotcom]

[ "who would enjoy eating this" i am deeply sorry to inform you of what sasazuka's taste in food is ]

It is. But it's just one of many.

[liuli]

Oh? Is that so.

[ please tell him about your sweet tooth it sounds funny ]

[dotcom]

For cupcakes, their level of sweetness usually varies more depending on the frosting than the actual cake portion.

[liuli]

[ what a weirdly scientific answer. that sounds like something shen yi would say. ]

You sound like a true expert.

[dotcom]

This is basic knowledge.

[ no he's an expert ]

[liuli]

Would you rather be basic, or an expert?

[ that comes with a laugh, now, delighted. ] It was a compliment!

[dotcom]

I'd rather not be proud about the bare minimum.

[liuli]

Oh? Teach me something expert, then.

[dotcom]

[ he will look back to the machine and

picks out some macarons. ]

Try this.

[liuli]

[ holding out his hands. it looks like something you'd find in a western export shop, to him... more familiar than the cupcake. not that he can see it. (?) ]

What's this, then, Sweets Master? [ what a serious and formal title. (????) ] And how should it best be eaten?

[dotcom]

A macaron. They're confection made with egg whites, different types of sugar, and some type of filling in the middle. Originally French, but depending on where you are there are different variations of it. You can simply bite into it.

[ he will wait for him to do so. it's strawberry. ]

[liuli]

Fascinating. [ is it? he's also never heard of "french" in his entire life.

but okay. he takes a delicate little bite of the macaron, and it's...

.... actually, this is really good? gu yun's always had a delicate palate, and his eyes widen a bit with surprise, and then a little delight. he takes another bite to eat the cookie properly, nodding his head as he does, and unlike with the cupcake, he'll finish the macaron. ]