YOU-kai start!

[idolpro]

Who: YOU-kai
Where: The YOU-kai dorms
When: Day 355, morning

[ You all wake up in bed with your smartphone at your bedside, all of you in your sleepwear, with a message on your phone.

Good morning, newly departed guest stars! You've got new co-stars to meet, a new dorm to explore, and the television in the main room with the "names" of everyone in your unit with flashing empty boxes next to them, waiting for you to each assign yourself a personal color as well as a mythological creature (if that is available to you—some of you will have that option grayed out). Or assign them to each other, really, no one's stopping you.

Once you've chosen your color and creature (or, once it's chosen for you), your closets will unlock with 3 sets of traditional Japanese clothing fitted exactly to your size. Additionally, upon choosing your creature, you might find yourself suddenly with some new appendages (check Player Notes).

Also, the front door is currently locked. It looks like you actually have no choice but to get to know each other for an hour or two before those open up. ]

Comments

[byallmeans]

Lives have the highest point value, so we need to focus on those.

There are a lot of us, so everyone has to pull their weight in case the winners are determined by point average and not total.

We won't have more details on the game until later, probably, but we can make sure we're in a good position for the secondary method going into it.

[miirai]

Mii.

I don't mind helping out with the Lives, and I'm sure that I'd be good at any game that comes our way. One of our Lives is 'offerings', but do you think we can use that to get even more points?

[byallmeans]

It's possible. No one will give us more points than they earn in exchange for the live, but if we ask for small amounts, those will add up, too.

[miirai]

Getting a small amount of points from a lot of people still winds up being a lot of points. And I think it isn't a bad strategy.

[byallmeans]

It's a decent start. Anything that will get us more will help.

After a day or two, we'll reconvene and see where our point count stands.

[miirai]

Of course. I already have a good idea for a Live, so I'm excited to show everyone my skills. Nipah~☆

[byallmeans]

It will take more than just one. We can't afford to be complacent.

[miirai]

Of course. But that's why we have to pay attention to the other Lives the other units do as well, too.

[byallmeans]

And make certain we participate in them, when they hold them. They'll have an edge as the hosting unit, but if enough of us take part, we can even the score in a live we didn't initiate.

[miirai]

Of course. I'll make sure to participate in all of the Lives. Nipah~☆

[byallmeans]

Good.

What name are you going by?

[miirai]

"Bernkastel".

It's the name on my profile, and it suits me just fine.

[byallmeans]

Bernkastel, then.

[emptymind]

[ she went to go get changed first but she listens carefully when she reemerges (her ears point straight at him and everything) ]

Understood.

[byallmeans]

Good.

The other teams will be just as motivated, so we have to hit the ground running if we want to have any chance.

[emptymind]

Mm.

[ it's hard to tell but

after a beat of studying his face, she seems to smile. ]

Then, as soon as everyone has chosen their positions, let's begin right away. Which live shall we arrange first?

[byallmeans]

We'll get more points if we conduct them separately.

If we each hold one and then the rest of us attend, we'll each recive the points for all of them. There seems to be some sort of theme bonus, as well. We should incorporate it where possible.

[emptymind]

Ah, the themes... They were first implemented during one of my absences, so I had forgotten them.

[ pulls out her phone to check them ]

Reciprocation and dress up... I will remember to utilize them. Your thoroughness is greatly appreciated.

[byallmeans]

One of your absences?

You've been here before, then?

[emptymind]

That's correct. If my experience has left me with any information which would be of use to us, then I am happy to provide it. Previously, I was a member of the unit avante en garde.

If I may make one singular request, it is only that we are comparatively merciful to them.

[byallmeans]

I want to hear everything you know about this place, starting with ways to maximize point accumulation, inter-team politics, and what we can expect from the games.

[emptymind]

Yes, of course. Let me see... For the permanently established units, point accumulation is not a priority, so I must regrettably admit it is not something I put overmuch thought into accomplishing expediently in the past. Both point accumulation and victories in games are felt by most of our competition to be of secondary importance; it is only the other temporary units who are likely to pursue them with consistent ambition. Rather than a competitive or stratified society, the group as a whole places much more value on good relations with one another... Friendships, sexual relations, and marriages are encouraged throughout. Though ultimately, while there are some exceptions, I suspect this leaves many of their priorities stretched thin. In this sense, avante en garde was not an exception. They had notable obligations to at least nine of the other units, and most likely still do.

When interpersonal conflicts do arise, there is a sense of pressure to contain the conflict to only the individuals involved, rather than extending the disagreement to a conflict between their units, but other people will often involve themselves in defense of their loved ones nevertheless. Whether this is related to unit ties or simply to emotional attachments is also inconsistent. There are some individuals with whom it may be more detrimental to antagonize than others, but I can only estimate the degree of complication for a handful of them.

[ besides members of avante, who we are not antagonizing at all. right. ]

The units who gave the strongest impression of 'wanting to protect their own unit over others' were... at the time, Wild City and Baritones. However, this is only my own impression, which may be out of date, and there are a handful of units I did not come to know particularly well even then. Nevertheless, in more cutthroat games, I would readily wager that Baritones is still the most formidable opponent among the established units.

[byallmeans]

What about your team?

Can you guarantee that they'll give us safe passage because you're here?

[emptymind]

... I have no doubt that they will attempt to do so. But as I said, their obligations are numerous.

[byallmeans]

Offer them an alliance. See what they say.