Welcome to the Program

[airlockedmods]

[Each Champion is awoken by an alarm ringing from a machine attached to their non-dominant arm. Whatever they were doing, whatever state they were in, they're in a bed now, in good health. And maybe a bit different since the last time they looked in a mirror.

There's a text note on the device attached to their arms.]

Good morning, Champions. In the interest of maintaining healthy sleep patterns, a day/night cycle is in effect. Your presence is expected in the food court in exactly one hour.

[Your surroundings look like your normal everyday space mall. But if you look at the functions of the device on your arm, there's Not-so-familiar profiles, some rules, and a mini-map that'll show you the layout of the mall.

You are free to explore at your leisure...For an hour, at least.]

Comments

[daughterofthemark]

--Are you all right?

[SHE DIDN'T MEAN TO DO YOU A FRIGHTEN]

[refusedtoleave]

[DOES SHE LOOK OKAY? - Actually yes, physically she seems perfectly fine.]

W-who?

[And she clamps her mouth shut again.]

[daughterofthemark]

My name is Arianna.

[It's time to Help. She slowly walks toward the other kiosk.]

Did you unexpectedly awaken here as well?

[refusedtoleave]

[Slowly, slowly.

But she stays where she is, blinking then glancing around.]

I woke up in there...

[daughterofthemark]

May I ask where you were before? There may be a connection.

[Slowly...]

[refusedtoleave]

I was in the parlor...

[That's a really helpful answer.]

[daughterofthemark]

In your home?

[It's better than nothing!]

[refusedtoleave]

[Nods, still watching you.]

[daughterofthemark]

I was in the Temple of Ginnungagap, [maybe let's not explain all about the bad shit in there to the clearly fearful woman] performing a ritual.

[refusedtoleave]

[Still staring, but no nod this time.

...Was that supposed to mean something?]

[daughterofthemark]

...it is far from my home, but it is nothing like this place. And nobody should have been able to access it except for myself and a few trusted associates.

[refusedtoleave]

...I lived on a private island...

[Is that helpful?]

[daughterofthemark]

Then... whatever brought us here seems not to be limited to normal means.

[refusedtoleave]

Not normal?... You mean something like magic?

[That's happened to her before.]

[daughterofthemark]

Magic... I suppose so.

[She's... actually smiling again now. This feels like progress!]

Though that still leaves open the question of to what end...

[refusedtoleave]

[Natsuhi's not smiling. In fact she looks rather frightened, staring at random points with wide eyes as it sets in.]

I-I've been brought somewhere like this before.

[daughterofthemark]

[That... doesn't seem like impending good news. Arianna attempts to take her hand.]

What is it?

1/2

[refusedtoleave]

[Oh Arianna. Bless you.

...But did you really think grabbing at the scared person was a good idea?

Cause the touched hand flinches back and the other arm is swung blindly in front of her before she even manages to look.]

2/2

[refusedtoleave]

[Then she scrambles the hell away looking at the girl with wide-eyes. Did she hit? She doesn't know.

But she's going to keep edging away.]

[daughterofthemark]

[Combat reflexes kick in, and Arianna jumps back in time that she just gets grazed rather than a solid hit.]

I--my apologies!

[refusedtoleave]

[Well, that's good cause Natsuhi's busy looking between her hand and the girl. Like she isn't even sure what happened.]

[daughterofthemark]

...are you hurt?

[because that sure is a weird reaction]

[refusedtoleave]

I-I'm fine! ...What are you doing?

[She doesn't look hurt. Which is strange cause she remembers being burnt.]

[daughterofthemark]

I... had thought to make a comforting gesture...

[refusedtoleave]

Don't just touch a person!

[Ew casual touching.]