INTRO MINGLE

[whimsicalism]

WELCOME IN

ORIENTATION DAY

(CW: Slight undertones of experiences of unreality.)

It’s a bright Monday afternoon at the Academy. If the sun happened to be visible, it would certainly be shining. The new semester that everyone has been waiting for is about to begin!

All students wake up at exactly the same time–not that you’re aware of this. Even those who don’t normally sleep must have given into slumber at some point; they, too, will jolt awake with the strangest sensation that someone was just whispering in their ears. The beds that you’ll find yourself in are small and unfamiliar, and you wake up wearing a uniform that you don’t recognize even though it fits you like a glove. A red book with black cardstock lining the inner cover sits on each dorm nightstand. Opening the book reveals a strange code of conduct. The following pages list, in alphabetical order, all of the students.

Beyond the handbook and a change of familiar clothes in the closet, there’s little personalization to the rooms, and they lack most homey comforts. As unusual as these surroundings may seem, it’s impossible to shake the subtle, lingering excitement: It’s the first day of school! What a delightful occasion. Shouldn’t everyone want to make the most of the year? The subtle, unshakeable desire to achieve sits in the back of every mind like the story of a happy dream. Perhaps you brush your hair or wash your teeth before going on with your splendid day. Your reflection in your bathroom mirror looks a little off, did you forget to cut your hair before the big day? Perhaps you realize that your nails or claws have been trimmed recently. A little odd but you must have been excited for a brand new school year.

The world outside the dorm room holds a few more answers, but most things are still shrouded in mystery. Today, it seems that some rooms are still locked up tight from summer vacation. Beside the dormitory and hallways, only the cafeteria, kitchen, gym, playground, school store, and A/V room are accessible. Outside the cafeteria, a digital sign titled DAILY SCHEDULE offers little structure, save for one afternoon event: 5PM - PREFECT’S ORIENTATION - AUDITORIUM. There’s a lot of business to take care of on the first day of school, after all. No one can just be expected to start learning without the proper preparation.

With some time to kill before the promised orientation takes place–and, according to that rulebook, everyone is expected to attend–students have only each other and the various robot sheep for company. With such a small class, perhaps working together will bring you newfound and long-lasting partnerships. The robotic staff seem polite, at least, if a bit confused at the sudden flurry of non-scheduled activities.

How will you spend your first day before classes begin?

OOC NOTES

Welcome to the IC intro mingle for Round 2! Your characters have the afternoon to meet one another, get lunch at the school cafeteria, review their student handbooks, harass the Little Brother robots, and prepare for the upcoming school semester in this post. As promised, the Prefect will meet everyone in the auditorium at 5pm and will post their own introductory comment at that time (Eastern).

While we're sure that some people are dying to get a head start on investigating all of the mysteries of the school (we're excited to reveal them), please hold your investigation comment ideas until the weekly post goes up tomorrow. As all ground floor locations should be open for exploration at that time, we invite everyone to scratch all of your investigation itches on tomorrow's post at noon (also Eastern)! In lieu of investigation threads today, characters may speak to/question/accost the Little Brothers, who have an NPC thread down below.

Thank you, and have fun!

Comments

[whimsicalism]

[Luckily (?) that seems to be a lot easier than it was getting over the gate... While this was happening a sound of grinding gears is echoing throughout the area. A sheep speaks with a much deeper voice:]

Brother Unit Battle Form Activated.

[If they look... is that. A large sheep towering over the fence? The sheep is taller now, as well as looking far more robotic and less fluffy. The weird hoof fingers have been replaced by three large claws on it's hands and three large claws on it's feet. However, it doesn't seem angry? Just concerned.

It easily steps over the fence, putting the palm (?) of of its hand on the road.]

Please climb on for emergency retrieval.

[noblesnow]

If we're far enough from the equator, we should be able to tell by tracking the sun's movement. Alternatively, different constellations should be visible at night.

[lets_dewey_it]

U-Uh...! _{[WELL, THAT WAS A THING NOW! But Dewey wasn't going to question it, he got on the Brother Unit's hand immediately. Whatever was out there, the school was their safest place right now.]} Sorry...? _{[He might as well apologize while he was at it.]}

[canreallymove]

[Puffing his cheeks and letting out a sigh, Sonic quickly hopped up. He looks sheepishly and apologetically at Dewey.]

Well, that didn't exactly work out as I'd hoped...

[He does glance over at what's beyond. Is there anything that can be seen aside from, you know, bleak hellscape reminiscent of Buttnik shattering a gazillion beer bottles over the Great Unknown?]

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

Guess we're going with the oven...stove thing, then.

[And looking it over for a second, Dylan dips into a cabinet again, looking around for a moment, before popping his head back out again.]

Is there anything we can put it on when cooking, or would it be fine just putting it in like that?

[lets_dewey_it]

Not your fault. _{[He sat down on the hand of the titanic sheepbot.]} ...I couldn't go out there safely anyway. Broken glass and bare flippers don't really mix, you know?

_{[He looked over to Sonic again.]} You're braver than I was just now, that's one thing I know for sure.

[whimsicalism]

[Unfortunately, no. There's some vague movement in the distance that's probably whatever was watching but that's it. The sheep just steps over the fence again and puts the hand on the ground again for them to step off.]

Please, the outside is very dangerous. Your initiative is very amazing but it's safer in the herd.

[lets_dewey_it]

We'll need a skillet or a pan, pretty sure. Cast iron would be best. I dunno what even makes a skillet "cast iron" but that's the best one from what I heard.

I want you to know that I am living rn

[bellabellabella]

I know that a lot more people have been going digital lately, and there are a few albums I've bought digitally. Some indie bands are hard to find any other way, unless they're local or you're willing to travel. I still usually burn a copy once I have, however.

[He grins, flashing brilliant white teeth, though he is aware of that, and it is only for a moment. He usually avoids flashing too much of his teeth at people, and giving them too clear a glimpse of his true nature. Of course, given how comfortable everyone has been around him lately, he wasn't sure if he even needed to worry about it. Still, it was too amusing.]

I suppose I'm a little old fashioned.

[The words have something of the air of a private inside joke, but it's easy and comfortable.]

And I'd like to peruse your uncles' collections at least. It's always nice to find something new that you like.

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

[Yet again the minor thing of a double negative is ignored for the latter thing.]

Fair thing to assume, I guess, though I'm pretty certain this isn't witchcraft or any sort of magic thing. Maybe some very...very advanced technology, but no witches.

[spychic]

[Oh. This is serious. Edward is serious. So she takes these words to heart. She does note the crimson color in his eyes, but she doesn't mind. She's a girl who has an odd perspective on the world. She's not easily frightened.] ...Okay. Anya promises. Anya will tell you, Edward.

Papa would probably think that way too...so Anya will wait if Anya needs to. Find a better way. If Anya and Edward work together, we can make it out of here.

[It's as simple to that to this little girl. She sees someone who she feels she can put her faith into, so she follows her heart. That is probably her strongest power right now.

Perhaps Bella would be proud, if she knew her.]

[canreallymove]

Hey man, don't see yourself short. You went with me, so it counts for something, right?

We just gotta rethink this. Like Sal would say. Much as I don't want to, but...I dunno if we're gonna get out without some weapons at least.

...

Besides, at least we got an idea what's out there, kind of.

[lets_dewey_it]

...Thank you. _{[That did help his state of mind.]}

Yeah, you're right. And we also know a bit more about wherever and whatever this place is. Even if the way it works is weird.

Re: I want you to know that I am living rn

[lets_dewey_it]

Same here! Your CD collection sounds like it'd be pretty cool to listen to too!

1/2

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

[Dylan is taking some deep breathes to try and calm himself down. It is still very quick, but...it seems like it's helping? A little bit?]

I-I mean, yes? There's like-a lot of video games with you, and...maybe they're good? I mean, Dolly did say something about a six one being really bad, but other than that I don't really pay attention much to it, so...

2/2

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

[One more deep breath, and it feels like the most effective one, as Dylan seems to calm down the most then.]

Can...can we talk about something else? If I think too much about this, I...I'm gonna get a headache, and I think we're all dealing with enough as it is right now.

Just know that...you've definitely got video games, and...my sister is going to be very jealous that I got to meet you.

[imprefect]

This says "warent." [ Which, when said out loud, doesn't sound all that different, but she does emphasize the difference in vowels as much as possible. Nanami takes the paper. ] You should ask one of your upperclassmen to be your tutor before the spelling bee.

[bellabellabella]

[Something about him uncoils slightly at the words, not complete relaxation but a lessening of tension.

If his skin was warm he might have reached out to touch her, but it would be dangerous for him to relax too completely around humans, even here, even now, when he was not thirsty, and besides, the icy touch of his hand would doubtless repulse her.

He had so far avoided any horror, any cringing away in instinctive and unrecognized fear. There was no sense in provoking that reaction, especially in one who he wanted to protect.

Why did he keep running into fragile human girls without any sense of their own mortality?]

Good. Thank you, Anya.

[He hesitates for a long moment before he speaks again, remembering his earlier assumption: this was hell, he had finally been sent to hell.]

You certainly don't belong here. But I will do what I can to help.

[imprefect]

[ There have been a lot of accusations of kidnapping lobbed at the Academy, so this shift to some external kidnapping

uh, puppynapping

threat is such a gearshift that she looks flabbergasted. He might just take it as her recoiling from him yelling, though. ]

Is puppynapping even a thing?!

[violence_ensues]

You still hafta follow it cuz I'm a cop!

Hallway

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

[It would be forgiven if Edward didn't see the other being near him-given the fact that it's the tallest person in the school and the shortest person in the school.

But it would be odd if he didn't hear the sudden sputtering.]

Wh-it-th-are you serious?! Mine is the one title that has a typo? Are you kidding me?!

[bellabellabella]

I like to think so, anyway. I spend--spent, I suppose--a good deal of time listening to it. I expect that being here will be hard to adjust.

If you give me a genre, I suppose I can try to play something from it, but I will admit that the effect will not be quite the same.

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

And you're what my brain made after I presumably passed out from stress, so right back at you.

[A sigh, before turning as well and starting to walk.]

I'm going to try find a way to wake myself up. Good luck with...whatever you're talking about, Corgi.

[bellabellabella]

[It almost makes him start, that sudden high sputtering whine, and Edward turns to find its source, moving perhaps just a little too quickly. Stupid, he should have-

But no one was there.

He spent a split second very, very confused, before honing in on the source and looking down and down and down and....

Aha.

Well, he supposed the bat had been real, but he had been more than half convinced that someone had included a profile for a puppy as some kind of joke. Or maybe as a mascot? Apparently not.]

... you could... try to file a complaint about it? Were you expecting to come here?

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

Any plans I did have were back at home.

[And apparently two months ago...he really hopes everyone is okay...but he needs to focus on one thing at a time right now.]

Well Anya, I'd be happy to be a friend, if you'd let me.