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

[copycut]

[ There isn't anything in Kuro's room that could be called a weapon—not even an improvised one. It's after perusing the student manual's map for a while that she decides her best bet is to head to the kitchen. She blows through the cafeteria like it isn't there, barely making the effort to skirt around any person who has the misfortune of standing in her path.

Presumably, there's a variety of sharp implements to be found there, but Kuro decides that's not what she's looking for. A kitchen knife isn't a sword, and she wouldn't try to use one like the other. A heavy skillet, though... At least that has some good heft when you swing it! She rattles through the cabinets, searching for the heaviest one that feels comfortable in her little baby arms.

She also might be berating the Little Brother in the room. Just a little bit. ]

Seriously? This is the best you've got?

[ Later on, she can be found in the gym. She read the rule about "property damage," but nevertheless, she is giving the dodgeball in her hands some pretty rough treatment. Also, the wall she keeps throwing it at. Over and over, she pitches the ball as hard as she can at the sterile white wall of the gymnasium, only to snatch it back up on the rebound. ]

I—! Don't—! Have—! Time—! For—

[ The words are bitten out in time with the dodgeball's dull, thudding rhythm. ]

Kitchen

[temmapathy]

[Emma's grabbed herself an orange, and as she's peeling it she wanders by and notices the other girl rifling through the cabinets. She pauses to watch, wondering what exactly she's looking for, while tilting her head in an attempt to read Kuro's lips.]

[copycut]

[ Kuro pulls back. She pivots—not to Emma, but to the Little Brother. It really does look like she's brandishing some sort of weapon when she points the medium-sized skillet in her hand toward it, accusatory. ]

Are you listening to me? I said, this. Isn't. Good. Enough!

[ ...On the bright side, assuming Emma has gotten herself into a good position, it'll be a very easy lip-read. ]

[temmapathy]

[Wow. Um. She's still not quite sure what to think of the Little Brothers, but also she doesn't want to see one get bashed? She walks a bit closer, waving to try and get Kuro's attention.]

[copycut]

[ Kuro lowers her arm when she sees another girl approach. Still, with the way she grips the handle of the skillet, and the way she holds her arm, it might come off like she is indeed accustomed to handling melee weapons of some kind. ]

Yeah? Do you need something?

gym

[spychic]

[Anya hears the familiar sound of a dodgeball thud as she peeks in, and she can't help but be curious. Of course, however, she's also a bit of an oddball 6-year old...]

...Anya does not think the wall understands you.

[But she seems mad...]

[copycut]

That's not who I'm talking to—!

[ Thunk. The ball ricochets off the wall again. This time, it's hard enough that Kuro has to jump to catch it again. ]

...Hey, be careful, would you? I'll just wind up stepping on you if you get underfoot.

[spychic]

Then who are you talking to?

[It's a violent thud. Anya steps away a bit.]

Anya will try to be careful. You just seemed angry and lonely. So Anya wanted to see if...

[A beat.]

...You wanted to be friends.

[Her first instinct was 'if everything was okay', but considering the situation...]

[copycut]

[ ...Hmmrm. Kuro squints at Anya, her expression unreadable (aside from all the frustration that's still there, anyway).

Finally, ]

You saw what it said about me, right? I'm the big sister, so don't worry about that. [ Also don't worry about the fact that she definitely omitted part of her title there. ] But if you're all by yourself and want to talk to somebody, your onee-chan is right here.

[whimsicalism]

Please cease and desist! There's no need for such words! I don't understand what you're looking for!

[The poor chef sheep is Very Confused.]

[copycut]

[ Clearly, she isn't satisfied with that response. She double-hands the skillet she has currently settled on, and for a second, it really does look like she's about to start wielding it like a mace. ]

A weapon! But I guess that's what your boss wants, isn't it? He needs to make it so we can't fight back, or else he wouldn't stand a chance!

[whimsicalism]

Good children would never assault an adult with a weapon!

[The sheep is just raising it's hoof-hands in placation.]

What has gotten into you today! Please come to your senses!

[copycut]

Oh? [ Kuro smiles, and the expression might seem impish if not for the subject. ] Then I guess I've been pretty bad already. I don't see any reason to change my ways now, though, sooo...

gym

[noblesnow]

[...

Kuro might not actually realize Reika is there for a while. She's kind of staring at her, mentally debating something with her self. That something happens to be extremely stupid, but we won't judge no who am I kidding of course we will.]

[copycut]

[ She is, in fact, pretty absorbed in her game of solo stress relief dodgeball. Actually, she's starting to get so into it that she has to jump to catch the ball when it ricochets back, her little side-ponytail bouncing and everything.

But... Weirdly enough, her arms are starting to feel tired. Not in the usual way her body would feel tired after a lot of exertion, but an actual muscular ache. She pauses to catch her breath, just a little bit winded, and— ]

Hey, have you been over there gawking this whole time?

[noblesnow]

[Oh, that's actually pretty impressive.]

Not the whole time, no. I was just trying to decide whether you were breaking the rules.

[lets_dewey_it]

_{[Dewey isn't really intent on getting between her and her vendetta against the wall, but he's leaning off one of the bleachers and watching Kuro do her thing. Maybe he should talk with her and get to know her...]} You got a mean throwing arm... You a dodgeball pro or something?

[copycut]

Nope~ [ The answer is a sweet little chirp, completely mismatched with the expression on her face. She throws the ball again, this time with a one-handed overhead. ] Somebody taught me this is the right way to vent your frustration, that's all.

[lets_dewey_it]

My Uncle Donald does a similar thing at his therapist's office with a punching bag. His therapist said he channels his anger issues into love for his family and he only ever gets violent with bad guys, so... I guess that's sound advice! Could I try, actually? This place stinks and I need something to distract me.

[holyironmade]

[Jeanne has been looking into the gym longingly for a while. At length, though, she seems to bring up an issue with Kuro's actions.]

Patience is a virtue.

[No one asked, Jeanne.]

[copycut]

Huh? So what? [ As she catches the ball between her hands again, Kuro's eyes narrow in Jeanne's direction. ] Waiting around when you don't have any time left sounds more like sloth to me.

[holyironmade]

[Her lips quirk.] So you have heard of it. [Words speak louder than actions.] Still, I think it is time well spent, to come to terms with a new cross to bear.

gym

[romancing]

[ suddenly: ]

Don't have time for what? Oooh, ooh, is this a riddle? Let me guess...

[copycut]

[ ...! She must have been more into it than she realized. ]

I wasn't talking to you. [ ... ] I don't have time to waste here, that's all.

[ She dribbles the ball against the wall again, a little more subdued than a moment ago. ]

[romancing]

Oh, do you have something important to do back home? It seems like a lot of people were busy!