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

[seventhlittlemonster]

[Approval! From his new big sister figure!!]

Thank you, thank you... I have a few other tricks but now's not the time to show off.

[immaculacies]

Ah, like what? I've never met anyone who can take off their own head before... Is it more stuff like that?

[seventhlittlemonster]

I can fit flowers and butterflies into my head, but I don't have any flowers or butterflies right now... [no thoughts head empty]

[immaculacies]

Oh! But you know, there's a garden outside. It's got all the flowers and butterflies you could ever ask for~ Do you want to see it?

[seventhlittlemonster]

[Oh no he's becoming soft]

I would love to... [He's really. really soft for pretty things please do take him out to the garden]

[immaculacies]

Okay! Follow me~

[ Manaka pivots and begins to walk in the direction of the garden, a little bounce in her step. ]

You know, I've never seen a person like you before. Are there lots like you, where you come from?

[seventhlittlemonster]

Well... There are only seven monsters that I know, all seven of them are me and my siblings. It would be a joy to meet more monsters, but I doubt there are any others where I come from.

[He never really contemplated the idea before... he was one of only seven monsters that he knew of. Even if he was content with just him and his siblings, maybe it was kind of lonely.]

[immaculacies]

Huh... I wonder where you came from, then. Ah, but still, you're the nicest monster I've ever met~

[ The garden is on the other side of the castle, but Manaka seems to know where they're going as she leads Seven down the portrait hall and cuts through the dining room. ]

[seventhlittlemonster]

I came from Chestnut Street, that's it- Wait... You've met other monsters before?! What are they like? I wanna know!

[He's really excited now!! If there are more monsters out there then that means his family truly isn't alone in the world!]

[immaculacies]

Mm! Just one, but he was nothing like you. Even though he was just an infant, he was scary and mean... And all he wanted to do was eat and eat, so when anyone except for me came near him, they would be swallowed whole.

[ And yet, she sounds fond as she says so. That's her baby boy!! ]

[seventhlittlemonster]

...suddenly I'm glad it's just my family. [Wow big sis you really are traumatizing me!!]

[immaculacies]

[ ehehe~ ]

That's how monsters usually are, and that's why humans call them monsters. Maybe that's why your family is all by itself to begin with?

[ but, anyway— ]

Okay! Here we are~

[ She leads Seven to a door at one end of the library and throws it open. ]

[seventhlittlemonster]

...I don't know whether what you said was just mean or if maybe it's true... [however young he is it's probably too young to be having an existential crisis Manaka!!]

[immaculacies]

Ah, I didn't mean that your family has done anything bad. Just the opposite. If you aren't like other monsters, maybe that's why you've been set apart from other monsters... Something like that.

But isn't seeing the garden more interesting than gloomy topics like this?

[seventhlittlemonster]

O-Oh... I... Thank you. [That feels much better than what he thought it was initially.]

Yes, the garden... I've always had a soft spot for dandelions... They remind me of myself.

[immaculacies]

Eh, really? How so?

[ She blinks up at him, trying to see the resemblance. ]

[seventhlittlemonster]

They become grey like I am and they lose their heads. [Though his head doesn't turn into many different particles, so it might not be so obvious at first glance...]

[immaculacies]

Oh! Aha, that's very clever!

I don't remember if I saw any out there, but... There must be, right? After all, children love dandelions.

[seventhlittlemonster]

Mama tells me they're everywhere, there have to be! [He seemed very confident about that. and excited to blow off the seeds and see them go!!]