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

[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]

[slice_of_life]

O-Oh...

[she blushes, hearing that]

No... I'm sorry. I just... read a lot, and so... um...

...It's bad to think something you read in fantasy could be reality, sorry.

[purrtagonist]

It's also bad to dismiss what's in front of you outright just because it looks like "fantasy."

[slice_of_life]

...

[crestfallen look]

[purrtagonist]

. . . are you all right?

[slice_of_life]

I'm sorry... I'm just... trying to figure this place out, and I'm overthinking... again.

[purrtagonist]

I can't call it overthinking, because you're not wrong about a lot of what you're saying.

[slice_of_life]

R-Really?

[pause]

T-Then... how do they solve the scarcity problem?

[purrtagonist]

The scarcity problem?

[slice_of_life]

W-well... when you have a group of people, those people have basic needs... physiologically speaking.

Even if violence isn't allowed, it'd be possible for disagreements to break out regarding food, water, bed, waste extraction... things like that. Hierarchies could form around what groups control the distribution of available resources, with those on the bottom being the most vulnerable as they have to fend for themselves in a struggle of all against all...

It's a common source of conflict in fiction as well as real-life.

[purrtagonist]

[ah]

If those sorts of disagreements didn't break out before-- [DURING A MURDER GAME] -- I doubt they'll rear their head, here.

But there are plenty of people who aren't going to stand for the stronger people exploiting the weaker ones.

[slice_of_life]

...I hope you're right.

[purrtagonist]

[CONSIDERING HE IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. . .]

You can always tell me, "I told you so," if I'm not.

[slice_of_life]

[shakes her head]

It's all right... I don't think you're lying to me... or anything.

[purrtagonist]

Of course I'm not.

[he has no reason to lie :(]

[slice_of_life]

[n-nods]

I'll just... have to get used to it...

[purrtagonist]

Adaptation might be hard, but I'm sure you can do it. You'll be okay.

[SO LONG AS NOBODY DIES??]

1/?

[slice_of_life]

...

[She smiles, giving a soft laugh]

Huhu...