collectedlogs | INTRO LOG #1

INTRO LOG #1

Welcome to Collected’s first Intro Log! The information we’ve provided about the setting is not exhaustive - feel free to interact with the setting as you see fit. Rather than have specific prompts, our event posts throughout the game will generally have information listed out like this and players may come up with their own prompts.

If you have questions about the setting or the intro log, please ask them HERE in the comment thread! And most of all, have fun, shoppers.

PROMPTS

The first thing anyone does is gasp for air.

It’ll feel like the first breath you’ve taken in years. That’s right; before you can even become aware of your surroundings, the most immediate thing they’ll process is that you’re in water. Foul smelling water - like rotten eggs and decay. It’s pitch black, and you’re swimming in it with only your head above the surface. If the smell doesn’t deter you, the longer you stay in will; the water stings to have on your skin, chemical in nature.

So - you need to get out. This water can’t be okay to stay in. Once you’ve gathered enough about your surroundings, you’ll see that you’re inside a mall, of sorts. There’s a large (non-functioning) escalator in front of you that will lead you to the semi-safe havens of the second floor - but be careful, because everyone’s going to be gunning for that only exit.

» Once on the second floor, exploring will lead you to a few notes of interest: Long windows and tall glass doors show the conditions outside. The sky is a burnt orange, and there is a thick sort of fog on the horizon. Nothing for miles in every direction - just an empty parking lot, completely devoid of life or any sign that anyone has come across this place in many years. Even so, you’ll find the windows and doors unlocked, so getting outside is easy… the problem is what’s out there.

A trip outside will make it instantly clear why you see no life outside the mall’s walls: exposure to the radioactive sun outside causes your skin to bubble with welts, and the thick, toxic air of the outside is impossible to inhale without keeling over. It’s blistering hot, too. Even non-organic creatures would melt or be eroded by the sun’s radioactive qualities. One thing is abundantly obvious: you cannot survive outside. Not now, at least. Those who receive a burn or other damage from the conditions outside will discover that strangely enough, upon returning inside the mall, the wound begins to heal up on its own. Slowly, and extremely painfully, but it’s healing. That’s strange…

» Another thing of note is that there’s a food court on the second floor. There, you’ll find a variety of abandoned restaurants that have varying amounts of non-perishables inside - canned vegetables and preserved meats, as well as dusty old jars of sauces and the like. There are a few walk-in freezers with hefty locks on them, but if the locks are broken or picked, there’s actually some frozen rations, as well! Many of them are not labelled, so the dining experience will be pretty hit or miss. None of the stoves or cooking appliances in the food court work anymore, either, so you’ll have to get creative when it comes to cooking up these ingredients. (Or just, you know, eat them cold.)

» Throughout the mall’s bathrooms, water fountains, and gym showers, you’ll find that all the water in the mall is suspiciously clean. Like, way too clean to be normal in a place as run-down and clearly abandoned as this. You’ll find that toilets flush completely fine, and shower water heats up (eventually). Should you be grateful, or concerned?

» There’s an electronics store on the second floor, as well, along with a internet cafe. Should you try to turn on the computers in the internet cafe, you’ll find that it only opens to the same forum page: a site called Mall Watch. It’ll prompt you to make an account and password if you try posting to it. In the electronics store, you’ll also find that any phone you forage for and try to boot up will also only open up to this forum page. Weird!

» If you’re looking for a place to sleep, the department stores of the mall still have a variety of furniture sets collecting a lot of dust. Then again, no one’s around to tell you where to sleep - and maybe you don’t trust all these new faces you arrived with. If you’re okay sleeping on the floor of a random store, more power to you.

» You’ll probably want to do something about your clothes that were stained by the black water on the first floor.. try foraging for some clothes! Looking around, you’ll find that some clothes stores have some stock left over, though everything’s generally a mess in clothing stores - it’ll take you some time to find anything that’ll fit you. Looking around enough on this second floor, you might end up stumbling across some of your own belongings or clothing, or those of your peers.

More than anything, the longer you explore and scavenge the mall, you’ll recognize how eerily silent it is. If not for you and your peers here, this place would be totally desolate. Clearly, there’s no one around for miles, and as far as you can tell, you’ll only be able to survive here for as long as the supplies here last. No one’s coming to save you - no one even knows you’re here. In every sense of the word, you are alone.

For now.

NAVIGATION

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's true that we don't have much choice in the matter...

[That's the nice way to say that he wouldn't ever choose these in any normal scenario. But currently, as long as it fits, it might work, right? His feet are delicate, he needs to consider bright rain boots. Maybe yellow? He reaches for them, at least.]

In that way, I suppose we can share clothes, as well?

[Oh, that kind of makes his heart skip a beat or two. How weird! It just feels exciting? He's still of the mind that they can have more than one outfit each, though.]

It may be difficult to carry things around as we are now, though. I wonder where to even carry them to? Ah, but the more I wonder, the more this burns at our skin... Let's grab these and simply move on.

[ He hasn't recovered his cellphone yet, which is a complete and utter tragedy, as he would like to take a picture of Eichi with cute rain boots... he thought that it was in his inner pocket during their rehearsal, but it wasn't there when he swam out, so he's not sure what to make of it now.

At the clothes sharing he's at least nodding... sharing costumes doesn't count, it's not as cute as sharing personal clothes (even the ones you find in a horribly ruined mall), so for a second he's also inexplicably thrilled about the idea. ]

Yes, we can come back later if need be. [ Presumably, anyway. ] Here, there's this... and this too!

[ This is just Wataru finding random pieces to use, adding to their piles until there's at least half a functional (if chewed on and slightly dusty) outfit per idol. Pants, get, but he's not so sure about the shirts—the ones he's come across are far too small. ]

I wonder if these will truly fit us. If possible, I'd like for our outfits to be washed so that we can change back into them, at least...

[Eichi not feeling confidence in clown wear. But. Well... maybe it's fine. Until he grows cold and they need something more than barely fitting shirts and pants, but... He's holding it together, right now, even if everything burns.]

I don't believe there are any shopping bags left in any condition to carry these items. However, if we leave them here, they could easily be taken away by others. I imagine that next to a large store like this, however, there must be restrooms... Or perhaps even inside, towards the back?

[ Hmmmm... it does look a bit like a department store—which explains the bizarre variety of items all in one section. Wataru looks back at the entrance, then uses his new pants to pick up the flashy boa he put away earlier. ]

Oh, as expected of Eichi! Even if there's not one open for the public, there's likely an employee bathroom.

[ Taking a look, he can see a fair ways into one side of the store since all of the racks there had been knocked askew, but there's a lot of teetering shelves in the way of the other side. ]

There should be a large set of doors barring the entry of customers such as you and me from exploring the depths of their storage.

Often, I believe those types of things are set in the back, near sections like...

[ Hold on, he’s on a mission now. He gathers the stack that’s been assigned to him as carefully as he can, holding it away from himself as he moves. To the side, ducking slightly to see, but past knocked over shelves and what he thinks is a poorly support half-collapsed section of floor, is the intimates section. ]

Past here? [ Sure enough, there’s a counter set up behind it all, past the obstacles, with big doors... Eichi is walking that way, maybe a little less carefully than he should be. ]

[ Past the broken floor, and then the more dangerous obstacle, a horde of silky undergarments...

But for now, it's the floor. Wataru follows him; not because he thinks it's the best idea, but because he feels like something bad will happen if he doesn't stay near him. When they get further in, there's even a couple of spots where the floor has disintegrated so badly that Wataru can see the black waters that have flooded the first floor beneath them.

It seems to be sturdy, at least for a minute, but then there's an ugly groan of steel and he's freezing, reaching out to grab Eichi in an attempt to make him stop too. ]

[ Wataru grabs for him and he freezes in place then as well, holding his breath as the noise stretches out. Something drops into the water below with a splash, but he doesn’t notice which spot caused it. The whole floor had seemed to vibrate with the motion, though, and he breathes out shakily.

Are there parts of the floor that are more sturdy? He can’t tell at all. ]

S-should we go around from the side near the walls? [ He actually doesn’t know what’s better other than maybe not doing this at all, but it burns so much, they need something to stop it. ]

...well, I think it may be too late for that. Forgive me for this, Eichi...

[ There's another sharp whine from the floor and then it just drops an inch, suddenly.

At that moment, Wataru makes a split second decision and places both of his hands against Eichi's back and...

...shoves him, hard, across the failing floor and face first into a gathered up pile of lingerie that is arguably much safer. At least the floor looks solid way over there?

This is all your fault I had no choice but to do this. ]

Wa— wah?!

[A stammered mix of a cry out and Wataru's name, he goes flying forward as expected and all of the clothes he'd been holding fling out in front of him and onto the floor as he gets a face full of... intimates. A pile of lingerie.

Most of these aren't in great condition, but considering other things he's seen, it could be worse? Still, he's not sure how to recover from that, so maybe he'll just lay here for a while.]

[ ...for a second he wonders if he's hurt him. Surely the pile of sexy clothing isn't what is going to finally end Eichi's life? No, it is certainly what has saved him, as when Wataru moves to take a step backwards, now that there's less weight on the broken part of the floor, it begins to crumble again.

So much so that a large piece breaks away right where they had been standing, falling into the water heavily enough that Wataru can feel the rebound splash against his shins. It's followed quickly by the tiles under his feet, so he hops to the left and carefully balances himself on a solid piece of rebar. It looks a bit like he's tightrope walking, but that's basically second-nature. ]

Eichi! Are you alright? I did not think that "too many surprises" was possible for me, but I may be approaching that limit soon!

[ The added sounds and continued straining of the floor is what gets him to push himself up to his knees, sparing a glance behind him just in time to see Wataru dodging out of the way. Oh god, his heart is pounding so fast that it hurts... ]

I’m fine. I nearly had a heart attack... But are you really okay, from that position?

[ Terrified still, he scrambles more to his feet (though a panty might just be caught on his uniform somewhere), stepping backwards while holding his hands out. ]

Can you jump safely? Or walk across that, perhaps?

[ "I'm fine. I nearly had a heart attack..." Eichi. Only Eichi. ]

Oh, this? This situation is nothing for someone like me. Now that you are safely across the gap, I can focus better.

[ So please, please relax. He really needs him to relax for a moment. Just go back to sitting in the underwear for a few minutes while he figures out something for himself.

Jumping is... doable, he thinks. There's a few pieces of metal bar sticking out that would be good handholds if he were to mis, but at the same time... they could also be dangerous. There's also some cable hanging from the floor towards the water, and while he thinks there's probably not much power going through it... he doesn't want to electrocute himself. Not to mention, it's probably not the most secure hold, either.

But the rebar he's on... it's sold now because it's closer to the base. As he moves his weight out into the center, it's likely that it will snap under him. So... ]

Ah, I've got a good idea. I'm going to walk across as if it's a wonderful new stunt, but then I'm going to surprise our audience [ there's no audience, he's just Saying That. ] by flying across the rest of the way, straight into your arms. How does that sound?

[ If it helps, he is pretty confident about this. ]

[Honestly he might be having a heart attack right now? He's constantly in pain anyway, but the whole being dumped into acid water and then shock after shock is taxing. Now he's worried about Wataru... Even if he wishes for him to relax, how could he?

That plan sounds dangerous, but looking at it, it's not as if he can come up with anything better. Wataru would work his hardest not to cause any frowns, so... Eichi holds his arms open more insistently, looking determined. He'll catch him!!

Though he doubts that's the reality of what's going to happen, but he'd like to be able to close his fingers around Wataru and pull him close again, like when they were dancing. He'd feel a little better, crumbling floor aside.]

So long as you absolutely avoid falling into that water, then it's fine by me. Actually, I'd rather you avoid as many surprises as possible, so come straight into my arms.

[Hurry up!!!]

[ Under no circumstances whatsoever will Wataru ever fail to leap happily into one of his favourite people's arms. Absolutely not. That is a certainty of life, right up there with water is wet and the sky is blue.

So he carefully moves closer, delicately picking each step, one foot in front of the other—and then when he feels the bar under his feet begin to bow under his weight, he jumps.

It's like he's jumping into a bouncy castle, with how excited he looks about it. A big grin, arms outstretched, just like he's flying—landing a foot away and using that step to go forwards while avoiding just... tackling him. Then he's right there, flinging his arms around Eichi's neck and hugging him tightly. Not too tightly, since he's in the middle of dying and everything, but tightly enough that he feels real again.

He probably should have hugged him earlier, actually. ]

Edited 2020-07-05 22:24 (UTC)

[ Thank goodness. Eichi had been holding his breath the whole time Wataru was running and jumping and in the air, but now that he’s stepping forward and into a hug, he breathes out with a soft laugh at just how over the top it was. So like him, to be happy and excited even in a situation where you might want to cry or scream or fret.

Eichi squeezes tighter than he’s ever bothered to before. Going from one moment of wanting to keep this feeling for all time, to having it all at risk... He wanted this hug, too.

Even if they’re probably only irritating each other’s skin more. It’s temporary. ]

What an incredible trick. Even in a terrible scenario like this, I find myself at ease as long as you’re here, Wataru.

[ He pulls back just enough to view him, and to step back further from the hole in the floor. Tugging Wataru with him, of course. Mind the pile of lingerie and spilled clothes. ]

Ah, my heart is beating so hard... I really was worried. I suppose I should examine my surroundings more before moving forward.

[ It's... a relief to hear that. The very last thing Wataru wants is someone worried about him, and while he understands that it's going to be an uphill battle to keep that going while in this sort of unknown situation... he's going to try.

The burn and itch digging into his skin doesn't matter, suddenly, when he can feel something much more important right here in front of him. ]

All we can be certain of is that everything is uncertain right now. I also thought the floor would bear the both of us at first. [ He steps around a bedazzled bra, though he's similarly not letting go of Eichi.

But there's something he has to address first. A few minutes... it hurts, but it's probably alright to let him relax for a short time. ] Should we take a moment before continuing on? I'll gather up everything that had to go flying for our adventure across, and you can take a short rest.

[ His own clothes pile is kind of bundled up awkwardly into a messy ball now, but Eichi's is still... everywhere... trapped between the thongs. ]

[Fingers lift and press one by one against the back of Wataru's jacket uncertainly. Rest? He knows why he's suggesting that, and it makes him feel as bad as always, even if he can be thankful for the worrying now.]

As much as I'd like to keep pressing forward and find a way to wash this from our skin, I suppose I'm in no place to push myself. I'd hate to trouble you, after all. [Eichi sighs, clearly troubled, and steps further away from the unsturdy floor where he can have a sturdy seat. He still doesn't let go of Wataru just yet, though, staring behind him at it, and now at all of the lost items and. Lingerie.]

It won't have to be long, so gather them quickly. I am fine, you know.

[ It's hard to know what to do in this situation. Even in a place where he's comfortable and not in a hell mall with an uncertain future, Wataru isn't the best at navigating complex emotions and the turmoils they bring. But he's getting better, and in some ways he succeeds at it, and even excels.

So he knows that treating Eichi too kindly will do him no good, but he also can't help but worry about him. Similarly, Wataru despises the idea of being a burden on anyone, and figures it applies to Eichi here, too. And also... Wataru needs him. He's an individual who is prone to loneliness—whatever skills he may have acquired in the past, even if he learned them specifically to impress others, is less effective if he's alone. That's just how it works.

It's hard to word "we are a family now, so your presence makes me feel like I can do anything!" so he's just going to work on that for the future. Right now, he uses his hold on Eichi to gently try and guide him towards the counter. ]

I know. [ He sounds confident in it. Like he's worried about him, but also—he knows.

For now though, he's going to try leaving him. There's probably some returned sets of lingerie on the counter if he's got nothing else to look at. Unless he wants to watch Wataru collecting their poor scattered loot. ] By the way, Eichi... I didn't notice before, but you landed in quite a lavish pile! If such things were left behind by others in such a great quantity, they must not have found much use for them. You know the quality must be good, if they're still so sparkly!

[ Clearly the way to pass the time spent demanding Eichi rest is to talk about the bras and how people must not have prioritized them when raiding the rest of the store. ]

[It's strange. This is a horrifying situation, if he steps back to think about it, but the shocking terror of it alternates with a strange sort of comfort at having Wataru here. If he were alone, he wouldn't have been able to deal with it like this. He's aware of that much now. He'll never forget the importance of friendship like this again.

But... Even as he breathes out a laugh about the lingerie, he wonders what might be coming next. He wants to keep his eyes on Wataru no matter what. But he can still pick up this flashy bra that got stuck to a button on his uniform and set it gently to the side.]

I can't imagine that there's much use for things like this currently. Or do you think there might be?

[Go on and tell him, he's listening. Listening and leaning back against the counter.]

[ Halfway between delicately picking up the pieces of ~~his life~~ the pieces that were flung out, in an attempt to continue to not dirty them any further, he pauses to think about it. ]

Ehh... think of the movies you've seen in this kind of setting. Some of them have had romances blossoming within their story lines, no? Fufu, at times it seems quite out of place.

[ Ahem. He's putting on A Voice. ] "Who would have the time—no, who would even consider love in the apocalypse?! They have so much to worry about already! There are zombies knocking at the door and you expect me to believe that the main characters just want to kiss?!"

It's quite a common review for stories like that... but don't you think that under times of high stress and fear, people are often brought closer together?

[ It's time to pick up a clothes hanger and brandish it forwards. It's at least one of the more modest things here—it would be a bathrobe, except it's pretty sheer and lacy. ]

When love grows among the cracks of a ruined world, surely couples would have need of such things! It's a spot of colour in their drab lives [ but the robe in question is black this time... ] as well as a dab of normalcy—a precious, intimate time once thought lost, and now returned to them, albeit for a brief moment... ♪

[ Well anyway, there's his sexy romance narrative. ]

Edited 2020-07-11 05:01 (UTC)

[So is he going to like, take that with him too, or...]

Is that how it works? I can't say that I understand anything of couples, but I suppose I could grasp that concept. [That high stress and fear lead to closeness. He may have had a hand in things like that. Multiple times.

His breathing is steadying, even if he feels hyper aware of the stinging. A glance down at his wrist shows that he thinks it might be making his skin red...? His skin is sensitive, but he tries to glance back at Wataru to see if he can gaze at any wet skin from here.]

Do you expect romance to bloom even in a place like this, then? I may be the person criticizing those moments in movies, but I can at least feel that it is nice to grasp this normalcy with you.

[How he can say these things in the same breath casually without thinking it implies anything at all... He's busy looking for welts on Wataru's beautiful skin, but it's kind of hard from this distance. Long sleeves and all...]

[ ...that was certainly a thing Eichi just said.

Well... he's a baby in some aspects. It already feels like it's been days since he's called him that, and yet it's only been a couple of hours. ]

Hmm... I don't know if I will expect it, but I will not be surprised to see it if it does. [ He's stepping closer, but only to place Eichi's half of their treasures on the counter, and then to put the robe away to the side. It looks like this sort of thing will be meant for another time, perhaps another person, even. ] I have already been surprised many times, so I would even say that anything could happen... ♪

[ Now that he's closer, Eichi can see that while it's definitely smeared onto his skin, there's not a lot of redness visible. It only looks like that, though—it's quite painful now, as well as itchy, and more than ever he's eager to finally get it off.

Stepping to the side, Wataru sweeps an arm out towards the doors they've been seeking. ]

Shall we?

[Anything could happen. He hears those words as he inspects Wataru from this close, and he thinks he has to believe it fully. Really, honestly, anything could happen. Isn't that wild? They've entered a whole different world, like this...

He's relieved that Wataru's skin isn't very red, and blinks to look where he's gesturing now, standing up from the counter with a weighted sigh. He's tired, and maybe after all of this time, he can let Wataru see it a little.

Just a little. They're both making their own sort of steps, aren't they?]

Let's. [Eichi gathers up his pile in his arms once more, too worried about being separated from them somehow to leave them behind like he normally might. He has to think differently about this.

Moving forward, the back room is something that looks like it was once used for extra stock that was returned and meant to go back, inventory, and so on. But there is a visible unisex bathroom, and Eichi moves towards it slowly, this time.

Things were certainly rummaged through even back here, but there's a sink...]

I wonder if the water is even running, with how it's flooded and acidic downstairs.

[ His tiredness is noted, but it looks like... they've found what they were looking for. That's a good point though, isn't it? Wataru doesn't want to get either of their hopes up so he hums, thoughtful. ]

Water sources are usually from the ground, aren't they? Well, let's take a chance. [ If there's no water here, they won't be able to stay in the building. It's as simple as that. There's no magic trick in the world that can produce clean water from a poisoned source. ] I can't help but wonder why it was here that we ended up. Was it a wrinkle through time?

[ Well, they may as well go for it. He's reaching for the cold water tap and turning it on.

There's a second where there's nothing, and then... water, streaming out as if it was just another Saturday at the mall. The pipes don't even groan. ]

It may be something like that...

[Setting his clothing pile on the floor right there, he inches closer once he sees the water and sticks his hand forward without warning, to test it himself. Otherwise Wataru was just going to, right? It's the same thing.

But it feels like water. Scrubbing his hands together seems to help get rid of the acid muck, and there's some stinging from red irritation already left behind, but it's much better.

But this is such a small sink meant only for hand washing...]

It seems to be clean water.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject