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!

✨ FULL NAVIGATION ✨
🌙 Locations 🌙 IC Profiles 🌙 Statuses 🌙 Private Conversations 🌙
🌙 Audience Requests 🌙 Murder Proposals 🌙 Indulgence Reports 🌙

Comments

[fisherwoman]

I don't know. I haven't thought about it because I would never have gotten one on my own! I already look perfect.

[Speaking of looking perfect, she's glancing at the rest of him now that she's taken stock of his symbol, and her judgment cannot be contained based on her expression.]

[touchups]

[At least he's not wearing his terrible Ariana Grande outfit anymore, nor is he largely naked... Even if his outfit from home is like, a hotass mess.]

Mm? Is something else bothering you?

[He does not CARE ABOUT THE JUDGMENT ENDORSI!!! Though he is curious. He's never met so many people who can see him, so he honestly has no idea how the general populace should, could or would react to his appearance.]

[fisherwoman]

Ah, your general appearance, I would say! Did you find your clothes in a dumpster?

[what the fuck]

[touchups]

Ah! These? [REALLY?? HIS CLOTHES??? He shifts a little so he can pluck at his shirt and then laughs...]

I don't know where they came from. [He was just born fully formed with them on his body...] You're the first person to say you don't like them!

[People usually have other problems with him first, if they can see him at all.]

[fisherwoman]

Do you mean someone bought them for you as a gift and you don't know where they bought them...?

[Either way, she's pressing a hand to her cheek as though she's distressed, but without any actual distress on her face.]

I suppose that makes sense. I do have better taste than most people.

[touchups]

Nope! I was wearing them when I was born. [Well. Okay. YEAH SURE, OKAY. He mimes her gesture, but it looks like more of a thoughtless reflexive action than any attempt to mock.]

Most people can't see me, so maybe more would have something to say if they could.

[fisherwoman]

[...]

Hey, you. Explain.

[touchups]

[Now he tilts his head in the other direction, and then just falls forward over the chair's back so he can like, sit in it somewhat properly.]

Which part? I'm not human, but it looks like a lot of people here aren't.

[fisherwoman]

There were a few things you said that are much stranger than not being human!

[she vibes with different species but draws the line at invisibility and being born into those awful clothes apparently]

[touchups]

[Drawing the line at being born into terrible clothes is honestly fair. ANYWAY, HELPFULLY:]

Do you have things like ghosts where you come from?

[fisherwoman]

Oh! Are you dead?

[She sounds surprised, but like. Not as concerned as she should be.]

[touchups]

[He likes Endorsi already this is terrible.]

Mm, not quite! I'm something like a ghost, but I was born this way, rather than being alive and dying. Make sense?

[fisherwoman]

[She reaches out to poke his shoulder, like she's testing if he's corporeal.]

I see, I see! It must be strange for you. I wonder how they managed it... Maybe some kind of side effect of coming here?

[touchups]

[Unfortunately for literally everyone here, he is very corporeal... After a brief look of surprise, he just grins.]

It's pretty weird, mmhm. [Mostly because he can't go sneaking around causing surprise mischief like this!! Mischief.......]

Might be! If they can take away abilities and things like that, they might just be able to grant everyone the ability to see things they normally couldn't, too.

[fisherwoman]

[She instantly frowns, slumping against the couch.]

I wish they hadn't been able to... How annoying!

[she meant the nerfing but it's unfortunate that she said this right after he was talking about people being able to see him]

[touchups]

[Honestly even if she meant people seeing him, she'd still be valid. ANYWAY since this is a hilarious miscommunication:]

Wah, do you hate the way I look that much?

[fisherwoman]

Maybe...

[WHY]

But, I meant the fact that they took our abilities away! It's awful, isn't it?

[touchups]

[GOOD THING VANITY ISN'T ONE OF HIS MANY VICES DAMN he just fucking laughs. Very stupid... Though it's a laugh that morphs into a pout pretty quickly because YEAH?? YEAH!! Endorsi is RIGHT. Endorsi is VALID!!]

It is, it really is. [EVERYONE SHOULD BE INCREDIBLY RELIEVED ACTUALLY.] It's so strange to be without things that are innate to you! What are you missing, then?

[fisherwoman]

If I wanted to, I could have thrown you straight through that wall with a flick of my wrist...

[Now she is a weak binch!! Horrible.]

[touchups]

[IMMEDIATELY HE JUST

SITS BOLT UPRIGHT, YELLING.]

Wait, wait! Hey! You could do something like that?! I want someone to try flicking me through a wall! That's not fair!

[What the fuck!! These power nerfs are nonsense!!! HE WANTS TO FIGHT!!!!! FIGHT HIM.]

[fisherwoman]

[With just as much energy:]

It's horrible, right? I worked so hard to get that strong! What a cruel thing to do to a girl like me...

[touchups]

[THEY ARE SO STUPID!!!!! He flops back over, huffing like he has been personally offended by Endorsi's plight?!]

It is! That's the worst! Ah, things would be so much more fun if they just left us alone...

[Who cares about evening the playing field, gosh.]

[fisherwoman]

It's not our fault they decided to bring weak people here, is it? How lame.

[Rude! But she glances towards him in the midst of their mutual pity party.]

What could you do, then?

[touchups]

Right? If they wanted to make it fair, they should have just made the offer only to people already on the same level.

[A SIGH. God, they should have been the ones organizing this actually? Anyway, he waves a hand at that.]

Lots of stuff, I guess? [WHY DOES HE SOUND UNCERTAIN.] I can explain later, if you want.

[fisherwoman]

Now it's unfair and boring.

[The worst! But she glances at him curiously.]

Hm... Maybe I'll take you up on that later.