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]

To turn every child into a proper adult, of course.

[canreallymove]

. . .

[snrk]

Yeah I'm definitely outta here first chance I get. I'm not a child!

[whimsicalism]

I wouldn't advise leaving the campus unattended.

[canreallymove]

Man, you sound like Sally on a bad day.

[s m i r k]

Not that that ever stopped me!

[whimsicalism]

We'll bring you back if you do but there are grave dangers that we can't protect you from if you go too far.

[There does seem to be a twinge of fear in the robot's voice now.]

The Principal would surely punish both Lady Prefect and us Brothers very harshly if anything happens to you outside the campus.

[canreallymove]

[b l i n k.]

Oh great, so Principal's a tyrant like Buttnik. Always punishing the underlings for him being a total loser and startin' this whole mess.

I mean, I'm not scared of danger. My middle name's probably danger by now! Besides-

Wouldn't you want someone to save you from someone like that, instead of, like, you saving me? I can save myself just fine!

[whimsicalism]

You haven't seen him angry. No one wants to see him angry.

[It's true that the sheep does sound terrified of this prospect, though.]

No. We were designed for this and our Lady is perfect, she won't let any of this stand. She'll get things under control before long. This is just your rebellious phase... besides, I really suggest not going outside the campus. It's far worse than anything you'll find inside it.

[canreallymove]

Oh, puhleeze, dude. You say that like it's a bad thing!

[or that this isn't his default mode]

Hey, I'm a Freedom Fighter! You've seen one evil tyrant and the stuff he does to a planet, you've seen it all!

. . .

[wait, this could be useful]

But just for the sake of comparison, why don't I just...ask what's out there? If the answer's "Buttnik in a thong", I might reconsider leaving.

[so PLEASE DO NOT LET IT BE THAT]

[whimsicalism]

The Principal is a man of principles! He's no tyrant!

[Sheeple stop, please.]

There are a lot of horrible things out there. I can't name them all but I can promise that the Academy is one of the few safe spots in this land.

[canreallymove]

Well, how about you name some of them?

And agree to disagree on the whole principal principle thing, yeah?

[whimsicalism]

Violent monsters, for one.

[canreallymove]

Just violent monsters? Man, lame.

[Sonic, it's not Robotnik in a thong a la Milton Knight, just be glad-]

Maybe they're violent because it's all polluted or something in their neighborhood and fixing it should make it better?

I dunno, just puttin' that out there, it worked with the Kraken...

[whimsicalism]

I can't say if that's what these monsters desire but I don't think that works on all monsters. Some of them really want nasty things.

[canreallymove]

Well, whatever it is they want, it's nothin' the Freedom Fighters can't handle. So why don't you let me call them in so we can take care of it?

[Anything to get out of this school and not have to go to school. Besides, it sounds like these sheep have an actual problem!]