7rings | WEEK ZERO: INTRO MINGLE

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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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Huh? What makes it smart? It doesn't even look like a phone...

... It's a mini-computer.

Huh? Then why didn't you just say so before? I don't wanna look like I'm dumb!

[ between the two of them, no one will ever think misa is the dumb one, don't worry. ]

Do you use a flip phone? They're still popular.

[ MISA DOESN'T KNOW THAT YET!! ]

Uh-huh. Flip phones are way cuter than regular cell phones. They're too clunky, and you can't put charms on them!

You can't play games on them, though.

Well, duh. You play games on gaming machines, and you make calls on phones. That's what they were made to do!

[ hate that this is a thing she can do, but aoi opens up a game on her smart phone. it's YOU and ME and HER: A Love Story, a game which clearly has. a certain character in it. ]

Smartphones can do this kind of thing.

[ squints. ]

. . . A cosplayer?

Boop boop? No, Aoi is Aoi.

Uh... a biographical VN? That's kind of weird, but I guess there are people who would be into that...

It hasn't synced to the new game patch. It's not very useful.

Wait, why would you want to play a game about yourself? That makes the whole thing even weirder! I have a hard time watching myself in commercials when they come up on TV...