Trash Squad Day 1 - GAME START

[chinhotta]

[ Maybe you were going about your business and blacked out, maybe you were dead. Either way, when you come to, you are in what looks like the entrance hall to a school, except for the very well secured front door. Before you can really get your bearings, a voice rings out on an the intercom. ]

Welcome, kiddos! —How does that sound? 'Kiddos'? Too daddy kink? Eh, let's go with it for now. Anyway, welcome to a once-in-a-lifetime chance at romance and passion, with fabulous prizes! Find love beyond the boundaries of time and space! Original concept, do not steal.

Pick up your tablets and get settled in! A little later today, we'll have our first heart-pounding get-to-know-you event!

—Oh, also, no violence allowed! I know some of you kids are into the murder thing, but that's not the kind of game we're running here.

[ In fact, there are several boxes of electronic tablets around the room. When you pick one up, it displays the gameplay and rules.]

---

Game navigation

Comments

[purrtagonist]

[oh, geez]

[after getting over his own MUFFLED INTERNAL SCREAMING, Akira has at least regained his composure]

Hey. . . are you okay?

[slice_of_life]

...U-Um!

[Oh god, she didn't know how to answer, and it made her panic.]

[purrtagonist]

[OH NO]

Ah-- sorry.

[rubs the back of his neck a bit sheepishly]

I'm Akira; I didn't mean to startle you.

[slice_of_life]

It's... It's all right...

...

Yuri.

[purrtagonist]

[a small smile]

Yuri.

[not even bothering with honorifics]

Take a few deep breaths. You'll be okay.

[slice_of_life]

T-Thank you...

[she does so, letting it out]

Hah...

...

Somehow... I can't shake this uneasy feeling in my stomach... like this is the set-up of a plot that has been repeated time and time before and never has a happy ending...

[purrtagonist]

[. . . he doesn't think she's wrong, but that sure is a poetic way of putting things]

It's natural to feel uneasy. Just try not to let it overwhelm you.

[slice_of_life]

... [nervously glances at him from the corner of her eyes.]

Do you... read... much?

[purrtagonist]

[blinks a bit at the seemingly non-sequitur question, but. he's going with it]

A lot, actually. Why?

[slice_of_life]

Really?

[That gets her attention.]

That is, doesn't this seem like the build up to some sort of horror or suspense story? A group of strangers mysteriously brought together to play a 'game'...

The fact that they say there won't be murder only serves to foreshadow the eventual breakdown of the rules, until it becomes a vicious free-for-all where alliances are tested and no one is sure who to trust...

Even now, the tension just makes me sick thinking about it.

[p-pause]

I'm sorry... I'm... I'm sure I'm wrong for thinking these things...

[purrtagonist]

[his mouth twitches, but his smile is wry, and doesn't reach his eyes]

I see you're familiar with the genre.

[a pause]

You're not wrong for thinking that way.

[slice_of_life]

Ahaha... I'm sorry, of course I know the difference between fantasy and reality. But... this... situation is... rather... fantastic...

[looks down, avoiding his gaze]

[purrtagonist]

. . . and you're not used to fantastical things like this happening, are you?

[he understands :(]

[slice_of_life]

[shakes her head] No... I'm not.

[purrtagonist]

[CALLY THAT GAGTAG]

Nobody really is, the first time something like this happens. But at the very least, there are other people here with you. Right?

[slice_of_life]

T-That...

The 'first time'...?

[purrtagonist]

[right. that is. probably not comforting]

Foooor some of us, this is just another Monday.

[slice_of_life]

...

[steps back!]

[purrtagonist]

[doesn't pursue! but he does give her a curious look]

You don't have to be wary. It just means. . . we're a little more used to this, that's all.

[slice_of_life]

[pause]

But, why? Why would this be happening?

I can't... understand.

...Are they serious about... everything?

[purrtagonist]

In my experience, yeah. They are. As long as it continues to be entertaining, they'll keep doing things like this.

[slice_of_life]

Do we have to? Can't we just go home...?

Um... not that I'm... especially eager to get away from you, or anything...

[purrtagonist]

[he doesn't believe that]

Even if you were, it's okay.

. . . the last time we were here, there was a control room with a portal that would take us home. But I'd be surprised if they haven't blocked it off in anticipation of this new group of players.

[slice_of_life]

N-No, really! ...I'm sorry, I'm not good at... making a good impression...

[goes 'hm' at hearing that]

Portals? I suppose... if one were to have a scenario where the basic premise is gathering people from 'other worlds' portals are the obvious solution... but I wonder if there's an actual basis for how it works...

Oh, um... I mean... of course there must be...

[purrtagonist]

[another small smile]

The impression you're making right now is just fine.

And you're not far from the mark. That's exactly what this basic premise is.

[he's glad she's so genre-savvy it makes explaining things easier]