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

[everylittlesecret]

Not really. I haven't been paying much attention to anything but the task at hand.

[serrata]

... I'm sorry, but why are candles what you're so concerned about right now?

[ YOU'VE BEEN KIDNAPPED???? ]

[everylittlesecret]

Being surrounded by things I don't like is counterproductive to cohesive thinking and understanding of my situation. I can think clearly once I can breathe clearly. Plus, I really hate mint.

[serrata]

... well, I suppose that's fair enough.

[ seriously, she can't even blame you for that. ]

Um. Would you like some help?

[everylittlesecret]

[Good. Because she doesn't need more people questioning her logic.]

I should be good for the moment. I got most of the most offensive things out already. Unless you have a better eye than me.

[serrata]

Well, I probably won't be able to pick out the smells that bother you any better than you can... um, I can take some of these over to the room I woke up in, if you like? Just to get them out of your way.

[everylittlesecret]

I do have a much sharper nose than normal people... But i digress. If you don't take them, I can always find a trash can for them.

[serrata]

I might as well take a few. It seems like a shame to just get rid of them all.

[ she's been kidnapped, her sister is nowhere to be found and... candles. candles are apparently how she's coping right now. this is fine. ]

... and besides, if this really is a mall, we might get a bit of a scolding if we dumped all of their stock in the trash.

[everylittlesecret]

If this really is a mall, it must be abandoned, or else there would be customers in here. So trashing the product is the least of their concerns.

[serrata]

It must've been recent, if they really did abandon it, though. It looks like everyone just up and walked out five minutes before we all arrived...

[ Or more likely, it was never a real mall at all. Oh well.

She'll set to picking out a few of the candles that seem least offensive to the olfactories ]

So, this is probably some sort of set, don't you think?

[everylittlesecret]

A set... as long as it doesn't wind up like Dawn of the Dead, I'll be happy.

[Or some other sort of horror movie.]

[serrata]

... Remind me which one is Dawn of the Dead?

[ that's not a question you of all people should want to ask, Yuuri ]

[everylittlesecret]

It's supposedly a remake of the original, the one I'm talking about, and it's about zombies. Except these ones are rethought and they can run and have some memories of their past lives. And unlike their original counterparts, these ones don't just go after brains, they'll eat everything.

[RIP Yuuri]

Anyways, in the movie, the survivors move temporarily into a mall.

[serrata]

[ ...................... this

THIS IS FINE??? THAT'S DEFINITELY A FINE SMILE ON HER FACE. YES. SHE'S FINE. THIS IS FINE. IT'S FINE. ]

I... well, then. [ does she look deeply uncomfortable, suddenly? she SURE DOES ] Obviously, that's not the case here, is it?

[everylittlesecret]

[.... Uhm. Change of subject time?]

Of course not! Those things aren't real. Now you know what's real that would scare me more? Tapirs. Those beasts look like they walked right out of a D&D manual. Imagine them outside!