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

[touchups]

[Beau....... She's doing her best. He just laughs at that, seemingly undeterred by the prospect of fraternizing with future competition.]

It can still be a good meeting even if we end up competing, can't it? It's been fun so far, anyway!

[disreguarded]

I guess so? If this is what you call fun. It's gonna be more fun once we... get more direction?

[ she gestures vaguely at her pocket. ] The phone thing had that guide but I wanna know who these people are that did it, you know? Are they bosses or what?

Like all I know is that I'm supposed to indulge, whatever that means.

[touchups]

[HE JUST SHRUGS. He has no idea what's happening like, ever, honestly.]

Mm, I'd like to know a little more about them, too! But in the meantime, getting to meet so many people has been a lot of fun, right? Especially when people come from all over the place.

[Is he just easy to please?? Easily excitable?? Option C, both.]

[disreguarded]

[ sounds about right ]

Yeah. What's the place you came from like?

[touchups]

It's a big, big beach! The sun's always out and it's always the perfect temperature, and the water is so clear you can see all the way down to the bottom no matter how far out you swim. There's a lot of fish in there, too.

[HE JUST LEAVES OUT ALL OF ACTUAL JAPAN.]

What about you? What's your home?

[disreguarded]

[ mahito lives in a beach episode ig ]

That sounds like Nicodranas, a bit. [ a pause. ] Uh - it depends. I travel a lot, so it's been a while. I don't know what I'd consider home. I guess...

[ a pause, and then she smiles. ] A port city. It's super busy and full of people, and it's really colorful. The food there is fucking awesome.

[touchups]

[Yeah he has a great time in his beach episode.

He also seems genuinely interested in this picture of a port city Beau is painting here! Hm.]

Mm! It sounds lively. What do you like the most about that place, then? It must be special to you if you think of it first when you think of home, right?

[disreguarded]

The people. [ she says, shifting. ] The people, and uh - what it represents, I guess. It's freedom. Port cities usually are, like you can escape at any point.

My friend Jester is from there, and her mom lives there? So we stay a lot, and the times I've spent with them there is what makes it.

[touchups]

[This is a very cute little tidbit of information that literally anyone else in this circle of hell deserves to hear more than Mahito. HE'S JUST NODDING ALONG... YEAH, FAMILY AND FRIENDS. NEAT.]

Being by the water is always nice anyway, right? Nature is good. Forests, too! And mountains! Ah - I bet you've seen a lot of places that have all of them if you travel a lot, yeah?