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

[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.

[spychic]

Anya read titles....but Anya did not memorize all of them. [Then, however, she smiles brightly.] Anya is by Anya's self. Anya will talk with onee-chan, if onee-chan does not mind.

[So adaptable and polite! Papa would be proud.]

[copycut]

Man, what kind of sicko takes a kid like this and traps them here all alone...

[ Kuro looks sourly toward the trophy case, lacking any better target for her ire. She casts the dodgeball aside, making no effort to return it to the bin it had come from. Discarded, it rolls sadly across the immaculately polished floor of the gymnasium. ]

Well, that's fine. I was starting to get bored of this, anyway. [ She wasn't, but. It's fine. ] Have you had anything to eat today, Anya-chan?

[spychic]

Someone real evil, that's for sure.

[Anya nods, but then she shakes her head.]

Anya went looking for peanuts earlier, but could not find them. Peanuts are Anya's favorite. Do you want to help feed Anya, Onee-Chan?

[copycut]

[ Yeah. That's for sure. Kuro doesn't voice her agreement; instead, she holds out one of her hands for Anya to take. ]

If your family isn't here, someone else has to. [ As Kuro answers, she begins to lead Anya from the gym. ] I've already been to the cafeteria, so I can take you there. But you can't have nothing but peanuts for lunch, okay?

[spychic]

Papa and Mama are not here yet, no. [They will be, though! She's sure! Anya takes Kuro's hand, and follows along.] Okay. Anya doesn't know what else there is, but if Anya gets peanuts and other things, Anya will eat it. It will not be as good as Papa's cooking, but it will be good enough.

[copycut]

Because your papa cooks for you with love, right? [ Kuro smiles, brought about by her own thoughts as much as Anya's words. She giggles, just faintly. ] My big brother taught me that lesson. The best kind of meal is one cooked with the person eating it in mind, so of course it tastes the best when it's made by someone who loves you.

[ and yet Kuro herself still cannot cook. curious, ]

[spychic]

That's right! Papa's meals are always cooked with love! [Even if Loid's actual response would be some variety of Uh. Sure, why not., Anya likes to believe.] Your big brother is super wise, Onee-chan! Someday, Anya will cook with love too. But not yet. Anya is too young.

[copycut]

That's right! Maybe one day your papa will even teach you himself!

[ But it's not a long walk from the gym to the cafeteria, and now they've reached their destinations. Kuro strolls up to the Little Brother cook, wiggling her fingers at it in a cheerful wave, as if she hadn't been threatening it with bodily harm a short while earlier. ]

Hi~i! We need a meal for two, please! [ Kuro hasn't actually eaten yet, either, and the physical activity has left her pretty hungry. Unfortunately, also this means she doesn't know about the menu of bland mush. ] Anya-chan, you wait out here while Little Brother gets us our food, okay?

[ In the meantime... Kuro releases her hand and strolls toward the door to the kitchen, intending to search the cabinets for a canister of mixed nuts or... something. ]