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

[kokytos]

[ He smiles, oh so very politely at her, perfectly amicable!! ]

I suppose whatever you'd like. There's a television, so you can watch some kind of program, depending on what they have. [ He nods towards the arcade corner. ] Those are all arcade games, so you could have a spot of harmless fun there as well, I assume... if the machines all work.

[sistocracy]

Television, arcade games... It sounds like you're familiar with these machines.

[Lenore is very much not.]

Perhaps you could show me...?

[kokytos]

[ Ah. Of course he will, he can't leave a lady helpless now can he. ]

Of course, ma'am, my pleasure.
My name is Steven, by the way. It's nice to meet you.

[ He extends a hand by way of courtesy, though she doesn't have to take it, of course. ]

[sistocracy]

It's good to meet you too, Steven. My name is Lenore.

[She'll take that offered hand. He may notice a tattoo resembling a ring of pink hearts on said hand, and nails that are a little bit long and sharp, though they're very neatly manicured.]

Oh. Come to think of it, I saw the name Steven somewhere earlier. I believe we may be roommates.

[kokytos]

[ Oh, she is indeed correct. He did investigate that room to get his proper suits and shoes back, instead of that terrible starter outfit, but he must've missed her at the time.

He gives her a polite yet firm handshake, noting the mark -- and on his own, equally, a blue vertical symbol -- something like a dripping candle, or some kind of sword? ]

Miss Lenore. I do believe we are roommates. Pleased to have your acquaintance for the foreseeable moment, then. Suppose we can work out rooming accommodations later?

[sistocracy]

That sounds agreeable to me.

For now, I'd like to see what these machines can do!

[kokytos]

[ Agreeable indeed! He likes it when things go smoothly. ]

I assume you're from a place where this kind of technology isn't common? [ A spot of idle chatter as he goes over to the entertainment cabinet. He opens a few of them, seeing the massive variety of movies, shows, games, and the like. Even some analog games, like your standard chess. ]

Looks like this is your standard social area. Looks like there's plenty of movies or games to play, if you feel like it.

[ He picks up the remote to give it a try, turning the tv on. Only to start playing some show, "sponsored by Kentucky Fried Chicken". Steven tries to change the channel and nothing else plays. ]

...I guess we don't have access to regular television networks. But that's what the movies are for.

[sistocracy]

[Lenore nods her head to affirm that indeed, they sure don't have this where she's from!]

[And when the television starts playing a show, she watches with great curiosity... then walks up and places her hand on the screen, like she expects something to happen.]

I see... So what is it showing us now? Is this a performance that's happening somewhere else?

[kokytos]

[ Oh. That suggests unfamiliarity even with an actual television itself, let alone a modern one. ]

It's playing something pre-recorded. Like a moving picture, essentially. [ He adds, hopefully helpfully -- he'll readjust if it turns out she's not even familiar with that. ] So it's not happening right now somewhere else, but rather, some time ago.

[sistocracy]

Oh. I suppose that makes sense.

You're awfully knowledgeable about this technology, for...

[Well, she doesn't want to sound too presumptuous.]

... You are a human, yes?

[kokytos]

[ The question of the hour. He had his suspicions, given his familiarity and extreme observation -- he can't miss the gleam of fangs, when he's been all but trained to recognize them -- but he'd wanted to gather more data first. But if she's opening that door first... ]

Right, I am. Even among humans, I'm on the more technologically apt side, even.

This must suggest to mean you're not.

[sistocracy]

[She chuckles at the notion that there could be any doubt.]

No, I'm not. [She's watching for a reaction, but he doesn't seem to be freaking out, so far.] Do you know what I am?

[kokytos]

[ The non-human and the inhuman both are no strangers to him, who deals with them both as neighbours and as closest enemies -- but out of all of them, one type stands out in particular as his world's biggest threat, and what he's dedicated a large portion of his life to defeating, sealing, eradicating.

And he's about to room with one for the foreseeable future! Wow!

He gives Lenora a hard-to-read smile, a practiced mien that gives nothing away but pleasantry despite the odds. ]

Would I be correct in assuming, possibly, a vampire?
It's the first thing to come to mind, seeing fangs like yours.

[sistocracy]

[Another small laugh, this time sounding relieved.]

Oh, good. For a moment, I was afraid you might guess something strange.

Yes, I'm a vampire.

[kokytos]

[ Worst suspicions confirmed. Reformatting his entire approach. Still with the ease as he puts back the DVDs back into the cabinet. ]

I'm glad to have guessed right. I've actually met several vampires in my life, you know -- it would be embarrassing if I got that wrong.

[sistocracy]

Really?

[There's surprise in her voice. The faint smile on her lips fades into the slightest frown.]

Let me guess. They were monsters.

[kokytos]

[ There's a noted silence when she says that. It takes him a genuine moment to respond, it's a rare moment. ]

Yeah. I would say so.

[sistocracy]

[A delay... and then a sigh.]

... I'm sorry. I know what many of my kind are like.

[kokytos]

You're not responsible for the actions of others of your kind -- I'm self-aware enough to acknowledge that.

[ He just smiles at her instead in a walled off way, instead raising the remote to turn the television (and the weird KFC movie) off. He gestures towards the arcades instead. This is a tricky topic -- perhaps better discussed later in a settled environment. ]

You wanted to know about the arcade games?

[sistocracy]

You don't mind?

[They'll definitely need to talk about this later. But if she hasn't scared him away yet, and the offer is still on the table...]

Then... yes. Please show me.

[kokytos]

Of course not. I'm a civil man, and this is a civil space, at least so far. No point in drawing out bad blood so early between us when we'll be spending time together for a while -- may as well make it as amicable as possible for both of our sakes.

[ With that, he does languidly make his way over to the arcades, seeing if they work -- and they indeed seem to do. He sees a variety that you could typically see in your average arcade, though the game selection seems more international. ]

This looks to be a standard arcade. Though the entire place is called an "arcade", these machines here are usually what people envision when they say "arcade machine". You press the start button, and you can play a video game.

[ For someone who has little exposure to technology, though, arcade machines might be a bit hard to explain. He looks over at the air hockey table, instead... ]

Alternatively, there's less digital ones like that air hockey table. You can play a miniaturized version of sports, with that.

[ The image of a technology-blind vampiress lady playing arcade games................ ]

[sistocracy]

[It doesn't take long for Lenore to seemingly cheer up again.]

Where to even begin...?

[All she can judge by is the colorful art decorating the machines. There's a fighting game featuring half-naked men with rippling muscles (that's on the short list), a racing game featuring more machines she's never seen before, and...

What grabs Lenore's attention first is a game that seems to feature a princess held hostage by a beast at the top of a tower. Dankey Kang?]

Perhaps this one? Do you suppose it's beginner-friendly?

the way i laughed at "dankey kang"

[kokytos]

[ Oh? He comes over and peers at the game -- oh, yes. This classic. Granted, he's never actually played it himself, so... ]

Hm. I'm not sure, actually -- I never played much arcade games myself, even if I know about them. Why not give it a try?

[ He gestures to the "PUSH TO START" button! ]

[sistocracy]

[She presses a button to start! There's a little animation of the beast carrying the princess up the tower, and the game begins! She waggles the joystick experimentally.]

Oh, I'm moving this fellow? I can't play as the princess?

[Her character walks right into a rolling barrel and dies immediately.]

[???]

[kokytos]

[ Oh, did she want to be the princess character...? A little surprising twist. He watches as Lenore immediately eats it as a barrel runs into her, or rather, she walks right into the barrel. ]

Ah, you're supposed to jump over the barrel, with this button -- here. [ He'll give a demo, using intuition to figure it out. He walks, jumps over the barrel, gets to the first ladder just enough to show her how it is before he himself is also run over by a barrel. ]

Did you want to play as the princess?