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

portrait gallery

[undershadow]

I mean, do I look 15 to you?

[ ... wait ]

[theawfulaccount]

[ Violet stands for a moment looking at the cartoon duck in contemplative silence, a term which here means "less confusion than one might expect while standing for a moment looking at a cartoon duck in contemplative silence." ]

... I wouldn't know how to answer that, honestly.

[undershadow]

Yyyeah, starting to get that. [ ... ] For the record, I don't, so there's that.

[theawfulaccount]

Apologies, I've never... seen someone like you before.

[ It is lucky, for the sake of this conversation, that Violet's upbringing trained her to be both very polite and very open to new ideas. ]

Are you not familiar with people like me, either?

[undershadow]

Nope. I've heard "human" more times in like thirty minutes than in the last month, though, so I'm guessing that's what you [ uhhhhhhhhhhh ] guys go by?

[theawfulaccount]

That would be it, yes.

[ Violet looks over towards Lena's portrait and ponders. ]

And you're... what do you prefer to go by?

[undershadow]

"Lena" works. [ A beat. ] But also, a duck. Just for the record.

[theawfulaccount]

[ A small chuckle. ]

Violet. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lena. ...Captivity aside, of course.

[undershadow]

Yeah, you gotta set that to the side. [ ... ] Anyway, it looks like the rest of mine is pretty normal? And it's nice to meet you too.

[theawfulaccount]

So the only odd thing is your listed age... interesting. How old should you be? If you don't mind me asking.

[undershadow]

Thirteen, [ she says smoothly, frowning back up at her own portrait again. ] It doesn't really make any sense, right? I'd think the stupid room was a mix-up if she hadn't already apologized for it.

[theawfulaccount]

[ Violet exhales, looking over Lena's profile. ]

It could be a typo, but that doesn't seem like something she would do. Too... sloppy for someone who did all this research.

[ Idly, Violet crosses and pokes at it with one finger, running it across the immediate area afterwards. ]

Hm. Not some kind of switch, then.