WEEK ZERO: WELCOME INTRO

[cluedin]

WELCOME

Even from behind your eyelids, the soft glowing light can be seen as you find yourself awakening. The slow swell of strings begins, and as you struggle to open your eyes, the sound of footsteps pass you by. You soon hear three feminine voices speak in unison.

"Master Blue wishes to welcome you all. We hope you enjoy your stay!"

Light temporarily blinds you as you look around, but the source of the voices has vanished. Whomever has greeted you seems to have disappeared without warning, leaving you all alone.

The music starts up and though no orchestra is present, the song can be heard all throughout the room. Crystal chandeliers hang above your head, and the waxed wooden floor gleams brightly. Floor to ceiling windows cover the back wall and a night sky full of stars twinkle back at you. The wall next to it, however, is covered by a thick crimson curtain. Those who attempt to move it will find they have little luck in their endeavor, but there are more pressing matters at hand.

Looking down you'll come to notice that you're wearing clothes that certainly aren't what you were previously wearing. You, and the guests around you, have been dressed appropriately in formal attire properly fitted for each individual.

Oh. That's right. Didn't we mention the other guests? Seated to your left, right, and across from you at the long banquet table are other people just like you. Perhaps it's a friend you know, though don't be surprised if it's a complete stranger. Each individual holds a blue and silver invitation with their name scrawled upon it, and a message to follow.

"Please respond to Master Blue's invitation at least one week prior to the event to secure your seat and accommodations.

This dinner is guaranteed to be an event to die for."

Strange, isn't it?

But rest assured! Nothing is stopping you from leaving the ballroom and exploring the other rooms of Master Blue's home. After all, you're an honored guest! It's with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that you're welcomed here tonight. Really, what's your hurry? It's not as though the front door will open for you. Don't bother with the windows either. They've all been locked tight to ensure you're all nice and cozy for your stay.

If you look under your seat, you'll find a special gift bag with your name on it. Opening these bags will reveal the following:

-A small spiral notebook
-A crayon in a specific shade of blue
-Three different candles
-A brass key (Design May Vary.)
-This cute toy

A welcome gift from the Master, of course.

Take some time to admire the decor, if you will. The house has been decorated for this special holiday with chains of paper hearts, miniature golden cupid statues, and confetti that rains down from the ceiling on occasion. Perhaps you'll get lucky tonight with love in the air, especially since Cupid's arrow seems to aim for you no matter where you go. For those of you who don't wish to partake in the lavish feast spread out in the ballroom, you're in luck. Boxes of chocolate and bowls of candy hearts can be found for all your snacking needs.

As the unseen orchestra plays on, it seems as though you've no choice but to get to know your fellow guests and make yourselves comfortable. Perhaps if you wait long enough, someone will come to greet you.

---

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Comments

[voidbreaker]

i.

[ anyone keeping track of the tall blond guy dressed all in red might notice he does a solid round of the room, stopping at the curtains when they straight up just refuse to move when he tugs them. the tugging continues for a while before he just shoots a deeply annoyed glare at them and beelines back to the main table, where he straight up just pockets a knife off the table -- two actually, one is just hanging out near his hand on the table itself and the other definitely just got dropped into the gift bag. ]

Didn't realise kidnappers gave you gifts during the act. Wonder if they think that'll make it easier to get a little of that Stockholm Syndrome going if they're spoiling you?

[ ... maybe five minutes later he's got one of the taper candles from the table in his hand and is using it to light one of the candles from his gift bag. (whatever pillow talk smells like, the table area in he's in is gonna start smelling of it pretty fast) ash watches as it lights up and stares at the flame for a few moments, apparently making sure the flame doesn't flicker and burn out.

once satisfied it isn't going to burn out or flicker out, he stands up - taper candle in hand and--yup, yeah. he's absolutely trying to set the curtain on fire. it's fine. ]

ii.

[ arson aside, ash can be found later on the library. he's got a small tower of books next to him and has his nose stuck in one with the word "Carnelia" on the cover.

there's also a tumbler glass of something that looks? kinda amber coloured? might smell a bit strong if you get close enough to take a sniff of it? hm?? hmm??? nothing to see here, it's fine. ]

i

[gardens]

"Stockholm Syndrome?" What is that?

[ She is not at all alarmed by him stealing cutlery or starting a fire. She's just watching. :) ]

[voidbreaker]

[ nia, you're a good kid and you're gonna go far in life. ]

I'm not a psychologist so don't quote me on it exactly, but it's something like a hostage bonds with their kidnapper and vice versa.

[gardens]

I see... [ She doesn't sound like she understands at all. ]

What is a "psychologist?"

[voidbreaker]

Someone who pokes around in people's heads and pretends it's helping them out.

[ There's a pause, before Ash makes an annoyed sound and shift to try lighting up a different part of the curtain instead. ]

[gardens]

[ Poking around in someone's head???? ]

What a fearsome creature...

[ Unlike this guy trying to start fires. This guy's swell. ]

[voidbreaker]

Creatures, plural. And they look just like a regular person too.

[ terrifying ]

i

[burningrescue]

[Grabbing a pitcher of water from the table and hurling it at the curtain!]

Nice try! But you aren't going to get away with that while Galo Thymos is around, you bastard!

[voidbreaker]

[ oh my

god ]

Hey—??

[ HE WAS WORKING ON SOMETHING, DAMMIT. ]

ii

[kazokun]

[ Somebody's sure got free time. The drink isn't any of Ayabe's business, but anybody sitting around reading while everybody's been so preoccupied with "what the hell is going on" is sus.

He doesn't speak up until he's right in front of Ash, footfalls heavy enough to be heard before then. ]

Is there anything in there that will help our situation, or are you just passing time?

[voidbreaker]

[ yeah he does. ]

In case you missed it: none of the doors leading out of this place actually open. Might as well kill time until someone decides it's time for us to go.

[ and then he taps a finger on the spine of the book. ] Wasn't expecting to find a book from back home here though.

[kazokun]

[ He looks down at the book. It's not one he knows, probably, unless it's some Japanese high school textbook. ]

Is that so strange? Libraries contain all sorts of books, and would have even the more obscure titles.

[voidbreaker]

Depends.

[ ... let's try a theory here: ]

Do the words "Orbal Revolution" mean anything to you?

[kazokun]

I know what "revolution" means. Is it a novel?

[ Sounds like an adventure book, of which there are billions, so he's not quite convinced that means anything. ]

[voidbreaker]

Nah. It's a whole thing -- a scientific and engineering revolution that actually happened where I'm from.

[ he snaps the book shut and sets it down in front of him. ]

If you don't know that, you're not from Zemuria.

i

[allfornone]

Mmm, it's a pretty common tactic, especially for younger victims. But unless they're planning to keep us for months or years, Stockholm Syndrome is less of a problem, right? Most of us have so many other more important things to do.

[Not that all of this isn't important, per se -- it's just that he has a pretty one-track mind these days and also, he really does have a laundry list longer than his arm of things to do?? Subete shakes his head a little as he keeps thinking things over while following whatever Ash is doing with the candle.

He is curious what it smells like, after all, and-- Hm? Why are we committing arson in the middle of the ballroom.]

Uh... Are you sure that's a good idea with everyone in here?

[voidbreaker]

[ He's having a grand time let him live. ]

It's not catching enough to blaze out of control. I wouldn't worry about it.

[ hm?? hmmm???? ]

[allfornone]

[We're trying to let him live but we're in a murder game, you understand.

Subete's going to, uh. Approach just in case. He's holding a glass of water. Clearly this is the best way to be careful?????]

I'm going to worry about it considering we haven't found a way out yet. If everything goes up in flames, this place would be completely against the fire safety code.

[Who cares about the fire safety code...... He peers at whatever Ash is doing right now...]

If you're not trying to catch a blaze, what are you doing?

[voidbreaker]

[ Pour that on him and he'll throw the glass at you Subete. ]

It's material, it's gotta catch at some point. If it burns a little we might get an idea of what's behind it.

[allfornone]

[He's not going to pour it on Ash unless he sets himself on fire??? This is for possible curtain conflagrations, deal with it.]

I mean, you're right, but... like you said, it's not really going much of anywhere, is it?

[He'll actually lean over curiously and try blowing gently on the fire to give it a little more impetus?? Hewwo, candle? We need more pillow talk up in this joint.]

Just be careful. Fire is faster than you'd expect.

ii

[dressupqueen]

[Well... Nikki's carrying a book of her own, and as she wanders the library in search of somewhere to sit, she spots Ash, his tower of books, and his uh... drink. She gestures at a seat near him.]

Excuse me. Is this seat taken?

[voidbreaker]

Nope.

[ He makes a general gesture at the spare seat. ]

It's all free real estate.

[dressupqueen]

Thank you.

[time to sit down and open her book, then! ...but she can't help but peek at him over hers. and yeah, he does look sort of familiar...]

Oh - you were one of the people in the stairwell earlier... I'm sorry for, um, all of that.

[voidbreaker]

-- Oh, the whole-- [ He makes a motion with his a hand a couple of times, whacking his fist into his palm. ]-- thing?

Eh. I didn't take too much of a bruising. It's fine.

[dressupqueen]

Yes, that.

[That's definitely an apt way of describing it.]

I'm glad you're alright. It seemed like it must have been rather uncomfortable for the people near the bottom of the pile.