You're My Friend, They're My Friends (IC Intro)

[whimsicalism]

Whatever you were doing before, wherever you were before this moment it doesn't matter. The world seems to grow dark around you: an almost inaudible giggle floats to your year before you lose consciousness completely. Other it belonging to a child there's no defining characteristics of the voice. Maybe you just imagined it? Even if you did, one thing is clear when you wake up.

You're not where you were before. The bedroom you find yourself is plush and well decorated, almost like a fancy hotel or apartment. That might be little comfort considering that it's clear that you don't recognize it. Before you rush off to explore your surroundings there's a message pinned to the door to the hall.

From the desk of the Queen:

Hello, my friends dear.

I can only hope you enjoy your new life here. For those you stirring from sleep, this is my promise that I will keep: I will let you go if that is what you desire but the price for it will be quite dire.

For my rules are quite clear that I don't wish you to leave. Yet I will, if you can take the grief.

If you wish to know my name and the reasons to my game, meet in the audience hall for tea. Tea, yes, a grand tea party for my grand guests! Cake and sweets are what we need to meet. In an hour we both will be there, no peeking before!

Signed,

Instead of a signature, there's a small feline paw print underneath as well as some strange sort of heart crest?

There seems to be others moving outside your room. Perhaps it's time to explore, to see if anyone else knows what's going on. Don't slip on the playing card (an ace of hearts, with the heart shape replaced by the strange crest). That there's a scribbled phrase of 'dormez-vous? dormez-vous?' on the card but surely one of the others slipped it under your door.

This Castle seems like a strange place ot live in... yet for now it's quiet and peaceful, even if the Audience Hall is locked.

Comments

i'm LIVING for the snarks

[ballooncaged]

[Crosses her arms to protect herself again.]

Do you have X-ray vision or something?

[imozon]

Eh? No, it's something a Precure wears on her wrist.

[She's not actually mad about this, I just have a limited icon selection.]

[caligulass]

I did see Heroes getting caught up in the nightmares, so that would make it easier to figure out if that’s what’s going on. I’m starting to doubt it, though.

[strictura]

Ah... It does, but I'm certain that the scenery it shows outside is a fake. There's no building anything like this from where that scene would be visible.

[ Upon arriving at his door, he holds it open for her, and then gestures toward the window.

The view outside is of a bizarre, brightly colored riverfront shopping district, with storefronts that appear to be made of cardboard. Beyond that is a tall, twisting, pagoda-style tower against a red sky. ]

To be seeing this view of the riverfront and Towa Tower, I'd have to be in one of the shops myself. None of the buildings in that area could hold all the rooms in this place.

[immaculacies]

It isn't as though I had to go out of my way for it. There are times when it's harder not to do something for someone else than it is to help them, don't you think?

[ballooncaged]

Um, yeah!

[Mizuki jumps up with both her hands tucked in triumphant fists. She didn't expect to get so hype over this.]

It'll be easier to see the TV if we sit a little further away. You can do the honors. [Of pushing the grand "triangle button".]

[soverainty]

[Oh, good, nobody needs that stuff stuck in their shoes or feet, if they were unwise enough to wander in here barefoot. Niko spends a bunch of time just going idly through the movies, even though she probably has other more pressing things to do, like wandering around the castle in circles.

It's fine! Sometimes you need a moment to catch your bearings. All that said, she'll just stack the ones that need to be rewound (or that she's tried to watch) near the TV and VCR, perhaps on one of the tables.

Now. What's going on over by the jukebox?]

2/2

[bizer0]

[Attached to the occupied hand is the other catboy, long hair swishing when he follows Natsuo's faint tug. Youji frowns at Neku, before stepping closer to stand even with Natsuo. He's obviously annoyed too, but there's a sharp edge to his words.]

Maybe he is crazy, Natsuo, especially wandering around like this. [The 'alone; unlike them' is implied but plainly there.]

[seventhlittlemonster]

[Having awoken in an unfamiliar place (later than everyone else I should add), the monster looked around for anyone he knew. Ironically, despite the big red seven on the front of his pinstripe pajamas, he was stuck in Room 4, and after having read the message, he burst out the door sobbing.]

M-Mommyyyyy... I... I'm scared...! Please!! Help meeeee!!

[This giant might be a terrifying sight to anyone who might not know him, but strangers sneaking up on him whether purposefully or not scare him even more. He fell backward, his head spinning around before popping right off and falling behind him, his body gripping at nothing...]

...oh dear, oh dear... Uh... you! [He looks up at the person closest to his head.] Could you kindly pick me up? So sorry to bother you but it takes a bit for my body to realize what it's doing.

[undershadow]

... yeah, you got it in one. Five points to the... shaved bigfoot?

Okay, I have no idea what you're supposed to be.

[whimsicalism]

[Since you were looking at the ground, that corner of carpet looks a little thin. The rest of the carpet in the media room is a thick dark purple but by over the jukebox? It's a little bald and also is pulled a little away the wall.]

[soverainty]

[Well, it's not like she's going to try and mess with his wrist cuff. Social distancing...! No, wait, it's just politeness.]

Ahaha... It does sound a little strange, but everything since I've woken up has been that way.

[She looks at her perfectly pristine hand (he can probably see it) and then at his hand again, a bit quizzically.]

Is it a digital overlay? I've never heard of a moving tattoo...

[soverainty]

[Hm. Well, that looks like some kind of secret passage or something if ever she's seen one! Anyone who's anyone who's into gaming or any kind of fiction can guess that much! Without hesitation she moves on over and tries to pull back the carpet.]

[undershadow]

... knock yourself out, big guy. I'm pretty sure this isn't dream weirdness, but it's definitely weird.

[littlebratziska]

Hm. Perhaps it is someone you are connected with, then, though that does not explain why they made sure you were able to communicate with people already here. We were kidnapped for something, but surely the game whose rules are posted is merely some kind of bad joke.

[whimsicalism]

[You reveal... the floorboards, made out of dark wood. There is, however, one floorboard that's splintering a little and isn't in quite as tightly as the rest.]

[soverainty]

[It's hard to tell if she actually sees....... but Niko isn't going to call out a stranger she just met on this?? Instead she'll just try to smile helpfully even if she's actually just randomly trying buttons on the VCR.

More or less, she can tell what most of them are for, but there might be a stack of un-rewound tapes nearby just. Sitting. Because rewinding is confusing and too much effort just yet when you've been kidnapped.]

That's what it sounds like... a Castle, I mean. I haven't been able to see all of it yet. [there's a slight tilt of the head at Manaka's sudden giggle, an uncertain sort of smile back??] But I think they also refurbish castles nowadays. So people wouldn't really live in the original conditions...?

[littlebratziska]

It doesn't seem possible they would be serious. Even if they were meant to be, people can't just give someone else a memory. Still! Kidnapping us is a crime. My Papa is not here, of course, or not that I've seen, but surely he will prosecute the case against those who did this, as soon as they are caught.

[She does not seem unduly troubled, at least, for whatever that is worth. But surely this cannot be serious.]

hall

[imozon]

What's a mile?

[Only the most useful and pertinent questions from your local knockoff magical girl.]

[soverainty]

[This time, it's really time to sit down on the floor and see if there's some way to leverage the floorboard out. She's got to watch out for getting splinters, though, so she's going to use the cape on her outfit to protect her hands and try to carefully lift the floorboard out if it'll go.

Secret passage? Secret passage???]

[undershadow]

I've never seen this place before in my life.

[ So that's a no! She shoots a glance at the door she just came out of. ]

If it was, you'd be way less comfy.

My room?

[seventhlittlemonster]

Hm... Momma told me not to invite strangers! I shall not let you!

[He crossed his arms and squinted his eyes, trying to make himself look threatening... but if she came up to him in the first place, that means she was perfectly fine with approaching a monster.]

...But... You seem nice. Momma only warned me against grown-ups other than her, so I shall let you. Just be careful, I left in a hurry and I think I might have knocked over a few things!

[caligulass]

...

Are you, now.

[is this going to be a pain in the ass...]

What kind of strange thing are you talking?

i should warn you that his rattata is in the top percentage of rattatas

[strictura]

[ He gives a nod of acknowledgement at the apology; he doesn't think she had anything to apologize for in the first place, so it's fine! ]

I'd say that depends on both your idea of realism and the kind of game that comes to mind. That letter did say this was supposed to be a game, though.

[imozon]

...I don't really know. I've never really helped people much.