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

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

No, no, it's not you, it's-AH CHOO!

[Biggest sneeze yet, and now his eyes are red and watering.]

If he's a cat and he left fur on you, I'm allergic to cats so I sneeze a lot and-AH CHOO! [sniffle] Yeah.

[violence_ensues]

Um...! Um...! Um...!

[With some not-the-quickest thinking, Adorabat will shed a layer of her skin, grab it, then toss it as far away as she can.

She'll turn back over to the dog with an unsure smile.]

Um... better?

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

[For a moment, Dylan can only stare, because if there's one thing he doesn't think he's ever seen before, it's a bat shedding its skin.

It's interrupted, yet again, by a sneeze, but it seems less powerful this time.]

I, uh. I think? It's at least better than being right next to it.

[violence_ensues]

[Adorabat will try peering into Dylan's nose, trying to see anything.]

We gotta fix that nose of yours. No sneezing because of Mao Mao on MY watch!

[That last sentence has traces of venom in it.]

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

[She'll be able to see that he definitely has a runny nose, then. And that he's leaning back so that she can't look too closely.]

I can deal with it fine if I have one of my helmets, but until then I can't even be near the guy.

If he's not here, though, I don't think we'll have to worry too much.

[violence_ensues]

...

[It didn't even occur to her that Mao Mao might not be here.]

MAO MAO'S NOT HERE!? WHAT DO I DO!? I CAN'T DO COOL TEAM ATTACKS WITHOUT HIM!

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

I-I mean, I figure he isn't? I haven't been sneezing much, and if he's a cat, he would be leaving hair and I would be sneezing and stuff.

[WAIT, NOT HELPING!]

But-if you're as good a fighter as you say, you can probably still fight without him, right? And you sound like your pretty good at it!

[violence_ensues]

[Adorabat meekly pokes the tops of her bat wings together.]

I mean... I've only ever done the one mission by himself, but I'm still not with him...!

...I miss Mao Mao and Badgerclops...

[Already.]

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

[Okay, Dylan has only known this bat for about five minutes. If anything in this school upsets her, he will bite everyone and then himself.

Dylan will put a comforting paw on Adorabat's shoulder, or at least what he hopes is a comforting paw.]

Hey, it'll be okay. I'm sure they're doing everything they can to find you, and you'll probably see them again in no time.

[violence_ensues]

[...Adorabat sniffles and then smiles thankfully. She needed that.]

Yeah... yeah. They're also heroes, so they'll come and rescue everyone here in no time. And then we can be together again!

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

[He...is still questioning the truth about that, but now is definitely not the time to think about that.]

Exactly. And maybe by then I'll get my paws on a helmet and meet this Mao Mao for myself.

[violence_ensues]

Oh! I can help you find a helmet!

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

Oh, alright!

[This might be easier than he thought.]

I'll admit, even if it's just a fish bowl, I could probably work with it. I'm not that particular.

[If only he could get his paws on his usual helmets...]