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

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!

[immaculacies]

[ It's true—Manaka Sajyou has been friends to far scarier monsters than Seven. ]

Oh! Mm-hm, that's good advice from your momma. There are a lot of scary people out in the world. But, if it's alright, I just want to see your window... I can do that by myself, so do you mind if I just take a quick peek?

[seventhlittlemonster]

My window? [He didn't particularly pay attention to the window...] Okay then, but I will place myself on watch!

[With a twirl of his hands, his head popped off and he handed it over to Manaka.] So I know you're not up to anything unscrupulous!

[immaculacies]

Eh, that— [ Her hand lifts to her mouth in an expression of girlish surprise. ] You should warn someone before you do something like that, you know!

[ And yet, she takes the head. For a second, she just looks down at Seven's face with wide, owlish eyes, and in fact, even as she turns and marches herself into his room, she continues to do so. After a few steps, however, she lifts her head, searching out the pane of glass.

What's the landscape outside? ]

[seventhlittlemonster]

Oh, I'm sorry! Everyone on Chestnut Street is so used to me doing this that they can see it coming as soon as I raised my hands... [He chuckled sheepishly.]

[Outside the window, the landscape was a moonlit suburb, but all the houses looked... deserted. Decrepit. Even the stars in the sky did nothing to help it feel more alive.]

That... that looks so much like Chestnut Street, too... [As he stared, tears leaked from his eyes, accidentally crying onto Manaka's hands.] I m-miss my brothers and sisters... and my Momma...

[immaculacies]

[ Unfortunately, when she feels tears leaking onto her hands, the unexpected sensation makes her squeal in earnest. By reflex, she toss Seven's head upward, out of her hands—and then she seems to realize what she has done, and makes a hurried dive to catch it before it can plummet back down to the floor. ]

S— Sorry...! [ Even as she says so, she pivots on her heel, finding his bed and half-tossing the head in her hands to the mattress. ] Um, you caught me by surprise again...

[ And, frankly, she isn't used to being caught by surprise. Blushing, she wipes her hands off on her skirt. ]

[seventhlittlemonster]

AH, HERE I GOOOOOO- [TOUCHDOWN!] I-I'm really sorry, I didn't mean- hhh- [He's not used to causing so many problems by accident either. Hm. Maybe he will cry harder to make up for it.]

[immaculacies]

E-eh, it's okay! [ Manaka pats the top of Seven's head, almost frantic. ] I'm just not used to surprises, that's all! And I've already seen what I've needed to now, so... Why don't we just go back out?

[seventhlittlemonster]

...is it really? [He sniffled.] Well... alright then. I want to ask now that that's out of the way, what's your window like? [Now he was interested in that all of a sudden... hm.]

[immaculacies]

...U-um, that's...! [ Abruptly, Manaka stops. She yanks her hand back and goes rigid, face flushing pink. ] It's a place I've never seen in person, but, ah... It's really romantic, so...

[ Or, more specifically: it makes her think of Saber, so it's romantic by proxy. ]

[seventhlittlemonster]

Ro-man-tic? I don't think I ever stood romance, but it sounds pretty! [this child is. trying.]

[immaculacies]

Ah, yeah... It's probably better to try and understand when you're older, anyway! Um, but it's really nice to see outside my window, so I don't really mind it, or anything...

Oh, but we were going to leave! [ She sing-songs as she hefts his head up again. ] Okay, up you go~...

[seventhlittlemonster]

[He giggled as children were wont to do when lifted by the taller ones.]

You have such a gentle hand! You really are nice a nice lady, miss, uh... [oh boy will he ever be better off being left in the dark]

[immaculacies]

[ It's fine. After all, Manaka is also a momma. ]

Aha, it's because I'm a big sister~ My name is Manaka! [ She seems to be in a lighter mood once again, as she carries Seven's head back out of the room. When she reaches the threshold of the door, though— ] Umm, do I just hand you back to yourself, or...

[seventhlittlemonster]

Oh, do go ahead, miss Manaka.

[His body politely placed its hands under his head, lifting it from her hands and screwing it back on with a flourish.] Ta-da~

[immaculacies]

[ Manaka meets the flourish with an impressed sound a few light claps. ]

Wo~ah~ What a neat talent...

[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!]