castle_whims | INTRO MINGLE

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh- _{[That makes sense.]} Well, shredded beef can't be that difficult to make, can it? _{[He hoped.]}

I...guess? There should be some easy things to make, at least.

[He could make sandwiches! And...probably just sandwiches!]

Probably! _{[He's got to think bigger than just dog food-esque food.]} So, what kinda meat do you like? Maybe there's some in a fridge around here!

Well, I'll take anything in a pinch, but I tried a burger once, and it was actually pretty good.

[Granted, it was a time he was in a pinch, but hey, food is food?]

Aw yeah, burgers! They gotta have some patties or something we can grill, that'd be easy enough! _{[Now they're onto something!]}

Alright, I'll look around for buns, you look around for patties.

[...also he should ask before he forgets-]

By the way, can I have your name? I'm Dylan.

You can call me Dewey Duck! Nice to meet you, Dylan! Alright, let's flip some burgers! _{[Time to look for a fridge or a freezer for the MEATS.]}

Let's do it!

[Dylan opens another cabinet and...immediately pulls out a package of burger buns.]

Well, that was easier than I thought.

Oh, sweet! That gives me hopes my job will be much easier! _{[Time to go into the freezer where totally no one would close and trap him in there, getting a box of thin beef patties.]} Nailed it!

[Definitely not a thing that could happen when Dylan holds the door open!]

Sweet!

So...any ideas on how either of those things work?

[Pointing at the ovens and the microwave.]

Alriiight, I'm not going to use the microwaves because those stink for cooking burgers, buuuut... _{[He eyes the oven, looking on top for a stove.]} These dials on the top of the oven controls which part of the stovetop is activated, that's at least what I know from my own house, so... We'll just have to figure out the appropriate burger-cooking temperature.

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?

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.

[Dylan goes back to rummaging.]

Okay, one second...

[And out comes a skillet!

...the handle being held in Dylan's teeth.]

Will thish work?

That oughta do it! _{[He clangs the skillet onto the stove, reaching over to turn the stove up to max heat... before going to medium-high.]} Before I do any fancy stuff, let's test my mettle on one patty first... _{[He took one of the frozen patties and just. Threw it in the center of the skillet.]}

[Honestly, he's less concerned about Dewey being a goof and more about the sudden temperature change, wincing a little bit before it's set to medium high.]

Maybe also...try to be a little careful? We don't need to end up burning anything.

You're starting to sound like Huey, chillax, it'll be fine! _{[Now he's just looking at the patty as the skillet heated up.]} Maybe I shoulda greased it first but burgers make their own grease, so... maybe it'll unstick itself!

If Huey is the kind of person that doesn't want to burn things, I think I'll take that as a compliment.

[He is...starting to regret this...]

Maybe...maybe we should ask someone about it? To make sure we're doing this right?

[There is, presumably, a sheep somewhere around here.]

Maybe. _{[He's focusing his attention on that singular patty. Presumably so he doesn't burn it.]}

...I'm gonna find one of those sheep and ask for help.

[For some reason he feels like they would be one of the better people to call.]

Sounds good, don't think I could make a particularly good burger. Think we should toast the buns too? _{[His mind is just occupied with the sound of sizzling meat.]}

Put a hold on that thought until I get back, okay?

[Dylan makes the ~~mistake~~ decision to start searching for a sheep before he gets an answer to that question.]

Sure! _{[Oh it's probably a good time to flip this burger, so he will stop paying attention to find a spatula! WHAT COULD PAWSIBLY GO WRONG]}

Hello? Weird sheep? Can we get some help cooking burgers?

[More or less looking every but at the unattended burger patty, it's fine.]

[The chef suddenly pays attention and walks over--]

Oh no! Please let me help!

[This is a fire hazard, oh no!]

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canismajorcontrolfreak - 2022-08-17 04:22 (UTC) - Expand

whimsicalism - 2022-08-17 04:48 (UTC) - Expand