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

iii.

[survivaltricks]

[mmmm, there is a time and a place for joking, and now certainly isn't that time or place. Akira crouches next to Ayabe as he breathes heavily, concern etched on his features]

Hey. . . are you all right? Can I get you some water?

[kazokun]

[ cough cough wheeeeeze--

He at least tries to hold it in when somebody's there— it's worse when somebody's there, and he scowls to him trying to catch the breath to respond. ]

No, it won't—

[ ... ]

Yeah, water will help, actually.

[ Akira will leave for water, Ayabe gets space... ]

[survivaltricks]

[A CLEVER PLAN, AYABE. because Akira nods before pushing himself back to his feet]

I'll be right back, then.

[goodbye he's going fetch some water]

[. . .]

[and he will return about five minutes later with a glass!!]

[kazokun]

[ Great. This is an ingenious plan. By the time Akira returns, Ayabe isn't there anymore.




Instead, he made it all the way to the top of the stairs before sitting down again and calling it a day. His breathing is a little better, but he keeps a fist clutched to his chest, looking down at Akira when he approaches again. ]

You came back.

[survivaltricks]

[. . . BUDDY. . .]

[patiently, Akira climbs the stairwell, offering Ayabe the water once he's close enough]

Of course I did. I said I was going to get you some water.

Did you try to climb the stairs while I was gone?

[kazokun]

I didn't try...

[ He did. He made it all the way to the top, be proud of him.

He takes the water, but instead of drinking from it, he just holds it in his hands and stares down at his reflection on the surface, using it as something to focus on that's not a coughing fit. ]

But thanks. My name's Reito Ayabe. Are you Master Blue?

[ PLEASE BE BLUE give him good news onegai ]

[survivaltricks]

No, I'm not.

[sorry about that bad news, buddy. Akira takes a seat on the top step, just below where Ayabe is sitting]

I'm Kurusu Akira, but please just call me Akira. I guess that means you're not Master Blue, either.

[kazokun]

[ Ayabe scowls like Akira has just insulted his mother or something, as if he would be Master Blue. ]

No, I'm not the sort of lunatic who would do something like this.

[ Would Akira? Yeah, he probably would. ]

[survivaltricks]

Should I be offended that you briefly thought I was?

[he doesn't sound offended. he sounds amused]

[kazokun]

...Yeah, you should.

[ Anybody would be. ]

[survivaltricks]

[shrugs!]

No harm, no foul. What is your name, anyway?

[kazokun]

Reito Ayabe. Ayabe is fine.

[ Nobody calls him Reito and also I won't know who people are talking about if they say Reito, so Ayabe it is. ]

Have you met anybody who know what's going on?

[survivaltricks]

[fuck Akira already asked Ayabe his name WHATEVER IT'S FINE, I ALWAYS FORGET, it's okay we can move on--]

I haven't.

. . . which is a little surprising in a crowd this large.

[kazokun]

[ It's fine, I learn people's names and immediately toss them out of my head so everybody can introduce themselves five times, it's all fine. ]

Right. Nobody knows one another. Nobody remembers anything about this. You... aren't from Midorigaoka, are you?

[survivaltricks]

["nobody knows one another" sweats in "I know the guy who socked me in the jaw just ten minutes ago or so"]

. . . I'm not.

I'm from Tokyo, Japan. [a pause] Is it March back where you came from?

[kazokun]

[ Akechi trying to kill him, Lio and Galo ripping out each other's throats, Chuuya and Dazai..............
"nobody knows one another" yeah, yeah ]

March? No, it was still winter, and nowhere near Valentine's day yet.

[ What month, idk, but some time during the winter. ]

[survivaltricks]

I see.

[fortunately this isn't the first time Akira has come across a time discrepancy]

Someone else told me they thought it was September. I think that kind of discrepancy is more common here than we'd like.

[kazokun]

It's not just thinking. I know it was winter.

[ It was XXX date, he will give Akira the exact day month and year, although I have no idea what day and month it is. The year is 2008, maybe. It's winter 2008 and everybody else is wrong. ]

[survivaltricks]

And I know it was March 20, 2017.

[SOOOOOO]

I think it's better if we don't think about it too hard. We might get a headache.

[kazokun]

[ Akira is also wrong, but he's right in that Ayabe's getting a headache trying to think about all of this. ]

Right. It doesn't matter. As long as I can leave, I don't care.

[survivaltricks]

[he isn't wrong!! it was March!!!!]

I want to find a way out of here, too. But so far, it looks like we're pretty locked in.

[kazokun]

[ For all his poking around, that's the conclusion Ayabe come to as well. He huffs a sigh, sliding his hands into his pants pockets- and almost immediately brings them back out again, remembering the key found inside his bag and holding it up to Akira. ]

Have you learned what this opens yet?

[survivaltricks]

[oh-- right. Akira dips his fingers into his pockets to pull out his own key]

Mmm. Not yet.

But to be fair, I haven't tried them on any locks yet.

[kazokun]

Are there any locks around here to try?

[ He and Beau went "!!! the front door!" but we both forgot locks are on the outside of the door not the inside ]

[survivaltricks]

On the front door.

[. . .]

The other side of the front door.

[#unhelpful]