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

[littlebratziska]

[A small girl with blueish gray hair comes up behind his shoulder and grabs the card out of his hand without bothering to ask, glancing only briefly to see what is written on it before offering it again, clearly bored.]

It's only asking if you're sleeping, twice. Have you really never heard the children's song?

[scratchitti]

[He snatches the card back with a scowl]

One: Rude. Two: Even if I did I wouldn't recognize it in writing.

[littlebratziska]

Hmph. You were the one who asked. And in any case, all of the romance languages are similar enough that anyone but a fool should be able to at least sound out a facsimile of what it is.

[scratchitti]

Not if they don't natively speak a romance language. If I could read it I wouldn't have asked.

[littlebratziska]

I know - therefore you are a fool. You're speaking English right now, after all.

[scratchitti]

Noooo I'm speaking Japanese.

["This kid is nuts!"]

[littlebratziska]

What? No you're not, you're clearly speaking English! And in any case, what about the note?

[scratchitti]

No, I'm not.

My English is not that good.

[Both sound like English to her but the second is definitely stilted. He jerks in surprise]

Wait, what the hell that was supposed to be English!?

[littlebratziska]

[He is obviously speaking English both times he speaks, though the second sentence does sound much more awkward. Now she looks slightly thoughtful, and addresses him in German, to test a theory. It's flawless, she grew up in Germany.]

Can you understand this as well?

[scratchitti]

Yeah, I can. It's just Japanese to me.

[littlebratziska]

Interesting. I was speaking German.

Clearly... when we were kidnapped, you were fitted with some kind of experimental translation device!

[Franziska no]

That leads to the question of why. Tell me, do you know where we are, or what has led to it?

[scratchitti]

["Makes as much sense as anything else"]

Not a clue.

[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.

[scratchitti]

It could be you that has some weird translation device instead. Or we all do. I doubt this is all focused on me unless...

[Well, unless this was another layer of Coco's plan. But why bring in more people?]

[littlebratziska]

Why would I have one? I understand English, and French as well, already. And, am I correct in assuming you heard more Japanese when you tried to speak English a moment ago? I heard German when I spoke that.