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

INVEST: Media Room

[soverainty]

[At Room 24, there's the immediate drumming of bare small feet -- presumably the occupant is leaping out of bed and running about, trying to figure out her luxurious new accommodations or reading the somewhat ominous set of rules or figuring out what in the hell is going on outside that window of hers. Either-or.

After a few moments, though, the running resumes and the door slams open, or, you know, as much as a very small girl can slam it open -- especially when she then immediately slips on the playing card on the floor with a yelp, fails to catch herself because she's clutching a wrinkled set of rules in her hand, and promptly falls on her bum.]

... O-Ow! What's wrong with this place... What kind of Castle...

[She looks a little dazed and confused, but she certainly seems dressed for the setting despit everything. Please don't trip over her she's too small to die from being squashed.

... Later on! She can be found dubiously exploring the Media Room, poking and prodding at the videocassettes and giving the VCR player an extremely dubious and confused look. She hasn't tried to insert anything yet, though you can catch her either poking her fingers into the opening or turning the TV on and trying to surf channels.]

I don't think I've ever seen one of these outside of history class. Have you? I'm a little afraid of breaking it...

[Investigation-wise, she'll eventually try checking out the VHS tapes to see if there's any unusual movies or themes, or when the majority of the movies might date from. She'll also try and see if anything else is showing on TV. Presumably not, but you never know...]

investigation

[whimsicalism]

[There actually does seem to be a theme. While there are many movies from various eras, some of which definitely shouldn't have a VHS tape because they're too new. Someone has organized them, though! That's helpful!

In fact, someone's grouped together ones that seem to be based on books. Narnia (even the animated version), the Wizard of Oz, the Rankin-Bass version of the Hobbit... There does seem to be an odd story that's been left out, though.

How well do you know children literature, Niko?]

[soverainty]

[Oh boy. Not that she's all that well-versed on the history of movies, but I'm presuming that there are some movies closer to her era and so this is Strange. Niko frowns a little bit as she looks through.

She's also not the hugest fan of children's literature, which isn't to say she doesn't read but she's definitely more of a manga & vidya girl. That said, she probably knows different medium adaptations of these books...

What's the odd tale out?]

[whimsicalism]

[This one's pretty famous and has many adaptations so it's quite curious that this one's out.

Alice in Wonderland, as well as Through the Looking Glass.]

[soverainty]

[Oh, she absolutely knows that one, and between all the references to Queens and Cats and playing cards and everything she's already had a couple of Questions floating around in her head. Wouldn't anyone?]

Hmm. What's the point of leaving out something so famous, though...?

[She's going to look around, but she's alone for this investigation, so alas there is no such thing as asking for a second opinion or anything. Maybe later.

Anything else unusual about the collection? Also, are all the TV channels static or is there anything else to be watched on there besides all these movies?]

outside rooms;

[golden_king]

[ Wow, what a clumsy girl!

...Words he didn't say but he absolutely thought it. For now he'll just hold out his hand. ]

I'm not sure. It's not really the kind of Castle I'd like to be in, though...

[soverainty]

[Sometimes you are in a panic and a hurry and a flurry due to being kidnapped?? Not all of us are used to being yanked through space-time, wow.

It takes Niko a couple of moments to get her bearings but she spots the hand and then the owner and gives him a tiny sheepish smile. Just going to take that hand and lightly climb to her feet. She's still in socks, which might have accounted for some of this mess.]

I can't say I was looking for a castle at all. They're usually tourist destinations, or Disney, or something else. [carefully dusting herself off and then picking up the offending playing card with a small huff] This one seems more dangerous than usual, though...

[... because of rogue playing cards.......]

[golden_king]

[ Tee hee. ]

Um...is walking around without shoes really all that smart by the way? You should definitely put something on your feet. You never know what you could step on, just a thought!

[ Just going to point that out while they're here and he's helped her to feet here, but he'll tilt his head. ]

Yeah, what with the strange rules. It's kind of creepy, isn't it?

[soverainty]

... Ah! I didn't mean to come out without shoes, but everything was so-- and wearing this to bed was--

[She makes as though to dash back inside immediately, checks herself somehow without skidding this time, and then bows her head instead. Shoes can keep for a little bit since they are literally just outside her room.]

Sorry, sorry. I should say thanks for the help and the concern. Today's already really confusing... [she's going to tuck the note and playing card into her belt next, but] I don't really know what to think of these rules, so I guess I panicked.

media room

[immaculacies]

Eh, really? We have one at my school, but it's shared between all the classrooms.

[ Manaka is from 1991 ]

[soverainty]

[All you Fates stuck in the 1990's, it's just tragic.

Niko gives her a bit of a baffled look, because at this point she probably hasn't had too much of the timeline conversion conversation. Timeline gaps, world gaps, this is all way too bananas for one girl who's apparently gone back in time..... or something.]

Really really. Everything's digital or in the cloud nowadays, so a lot of physical media is on its way out? Some people say it's a pity, but I don't really understand, either.

I wonder why everything here is so old?

[immaculacies]

In the cloud, is it... I see.

[ Likewise, even for a girl gifted with omniscient eyes, it's a bit much for her to understand the specifics. But the subject of technology has never mattered much to Manaka, and in that classic magus way, her contact with even VCRs was limited to what she might encounter in the world outside her home. ]

Well... It's a castle, isn't it? [ Something about that makes Manaka giggle. The tips of her fingers touch together. ] What kind of technology do you think about when you imagine a place like that? It's probably a wonder that it even has a VCR at all!

[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...?

media room

[byzer0]

Does it matter if it breaks? It's probably just junk anyway. [ I swtg this won't be echoes of a robot and an otaku because for the moment, Natsuo is just peering at the tapes rather than having a go at them or shaking them. ]

[soverainty]

Ah, it just seems like a bad idea to break something like this, especially when I don't know who owns it... and it looks like it's supposed to be shared.

[That's not the problem here?? Are they even supposed to be here in the first place. What are her priorities, who knows.]

But you don't use this sort of stuff either?

[She perks up just a little because the tech level has varied so wildly so far that finding someone who knows what a VCR is within reason is just. It's good. Nobody here is an otaku or a robot so we're good. Probably.]

[byzer0]

And? If they didn't want anyone to break it they shouldn't have left it lying around.

[ That gets Natsuo moving, plucking up one of the tapes to hold it in front of his eye. ]

Jeez, this stuff is pretty old too...the Queen must be an old hag to keep things like this.

[ Is that an answer? Maybe, maybe not, but Loveless is Timeless because volume three features a fat ps2 and volume eleven a sleek new PSP Vita. No need to dwell on such anachronisms in prose, especially when her attention will probably be drawn to the VHS Natsuo just smashed on the floor, f. ]

[soverainty]

Ahaha... I don't know if that makes her old, or if it's just that this stuff was lying around because it's in a castle? It's hard to say, especially since--

[She probably was about to say something about how many different levels of technology or geography knowledge she's already run into but instead there's a small and surprised kya! when Natsuo just goes to town on one of the VHS tapes.

Well, now they've made another mess in here....... it looks like the VHS graveyard continues to spawn New Problems. After a frozen moment she crouches and reaches out and then stops before getting her hands in the jagged broken tape bits.]

Why-- Why did you do that... Ahhh, you're not the one who broke the other ones too, are you?

[It's more panicked than accusatory but still. She's a bit frazzled??]

outside rooms

[prescience]

[Oriko emerges from the vicinity of the next door Room 25, attention immediately drawn to the child sitting on the floor after all that commotion next door. Suspicion flares in her, immediate and brief, as she takes in the setting-appropriate outfit and the youthful appearance.

Oh, but she does seem just as confused as everyone else, doesn't she? She'll observe a little longer.

She leans forward, offering a hand.] Are you all right? It seems you took quite a fall.

[soverainty]

[Can't believe her meetings with both her neighbors are just kind of a general disaster area. Niko rubs at her eyes a little because there are totally tears of surprise or pain or any number of other things, take your pick in this place, and then spots the hand being held out and brightens a little.]

Oh, I just slipped. It's okay... I think.

[She'll take the hand and pop to her feet -- seems like she's limber enough, just playing cards have it out for her. The card is given a mildly reproachful look before she bobs her head, down and up, and takes in the girl that just came out from the room nearby.]

Thanks for the help! I hope I didn't scare you? The situation is scary enough already.

[prescience]

[After Yuniko's right-side-up, Oriko withdraws her hand, folding it with the other in front of herself.]

No, you didn't frighten me. [Her voice is incredibly even and calm: It seems she's telling the truth.]

Then you just woke up here, as well? [Glancing around:] I wonder if each of these rooms is full...?

[soverainty]

Heheh, I guess one of us has to keep her head...

[Metaphorically in this case, no matter how many flying heads are involved in this castle (it's probably more than one at the rate they're going, but that's for future endeavors and future revelations)! Niko seems to be rolling along with Oriko's Extremely Calm attitude; she settles a little bit instead of flailing and flustering over her gaffe.]

I just woke up, and I didn't recognize anything around except for the view. I'm not even sure if the view is real now...

[Their windows sure are a thing, too.]

I haven't checked the other rooms, but I'm kind of curious.

room 24

[undershadow]

[ Thankfully, there is absolutely no chance of Lena tripping over or squashing anybody here. In fact, she sort of jumps back once it becomes clear that there's a falling human, just in case! ]

Easy there! [ ... ] Playing card underfoot, huh?

[soverainty]

S-Sorry! Sorry, I... didn't see you there?

[Niko kind of trails off once she's got her bearings (still on the floor, it seems nice to stay here for a minute in case it betrays her again), but she doesn't have far to look up because there's a... small duck person... wearing clothes?? (???????) And talking. Hm.

Well, it could be worse. She raises a hand to gently knock it against her head, but she didn't hit her head, so it's just a silly gesture.]

Um. Playing card underfoot, yes. [...] You're...

[How do you tell someone they're a duck, or ask someone whether they're supposed to be a duck, or really try to duck around any other number of awkward acquaintance questions when your sudden acquaintance is a duck.]

[undershadow]

Really confused and annoyed about being here? Yeah, I am.

[ And she's just going to let that... sit... everyone can simply marinate in this weird awkward feeling for a few seconds before Lena adds: ]

And a duck. That's what you actually meant, right?

[soverainty]

I-- Well--

[She seems totally flustered to be called out!! But she was flustered in the first place, so it's just worse now. Can't believe the duck is the one with more composure here. Niko flails around for a moment before putting her face in her hands and mumbling.]

--I'm sorry. It's definitely both, right? I didn't mean to offend you, but I'm not sure what to do in a situation like this?

[This goes like twice or thrice over right now. Also, she's peeking through her fingers, because she can't help hrself.]