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

iron maiden cw

[holyironmade]

Oh.

No.

The gruesome wounds are my job.

[In this moment a connection is formed between them. Her posture warms up to take her over the threshold of the gym.]

...so you really do increase your furyoku as well? [Shaman power, she's calling it - "mana", the translator might spit out instead - but bizarrely specific.] So few of my competitors have ever bothered with those techniques! One of them started with as little as 350!

i regret to inform you this is about to be the worst conversation on the face of the earth

[copycut]

...If I never did anything to increase my prana, I'd waste away and disappear. [ Kuro's eyes narrow. She can kind of follow what this girl is saying, but it's obvious they aren't having the conversation she thinks they are. ] Well, I don't do it by hurting myself, though.

[ The number means nothing to her. "Opponents"... feels easier for Kuro to guess, of course. Idly, she tosses the ball aside, letting it roll across the pristine floor. ]

I don't know what units you're measuring in, but... You convert your pain into magical energy, then? Sounds like what we'd call witchcraft. It's pretty rare among magi, too.

Jeanne has not seen PMMM. I have and I have one fear. I'm being good and not googling Prillya

[holyironmade]

So the pain is only what comes as you fight...? It must be very hard for you.

[Jeanne says, as if she has an easy lot in life, being hurt then asked to heal.]

As a Shaman, my total power increases after experiences that bring me closer to death. I'm afraid it's a bit slower than relying on the pain helping in the middle of a battle. [THAT SOUNDS SO METAL. WHERE DOES SHE SIGN UP TO DO THAT.] ...I believe that the societies of mages and Shamans have been largely separate due to the need for secrecy from the third estate. [Is that a French revolution joke. Why.] If your prana lets you use magic freely, such as the elements, then you may consider us more specialized for better or for worse.

oh god do not google prillya but not for, like, spoiler reasons. this is a health & safety warning.

[copycut]

Oh, I don't use it, personally. [ She smiles, which maybe comes off as a little inappropriate, given the topic at hand. ] It's just something I happen to have some knowledge of. Most magi who use it take the pain from sacrifices, but if you're squeamish, it's possible to draw from your own pain instead.

Still, to me, it sounds like a similar principle of exchange. Hm~m... [ She trails off with a hum, mulling the relationship over. ] Oh, but don't worry. Lately, my magecraft has become very specialized too, so it's not like I'm looking down on your traditions.

[holyironmade]

Sacrifices... [There's a bit of a shadow over her face. It's a lot to think about. She's really not sure that it's the law of equivalent exchange, but perhaps that is actually an invigorating new perspective of great use.] It is my ambition to take all the world's suffering onto myself and end it. I am often called judgmental and self-righteous. I sincerely appreciate your respect. If the situation really does permit it [like their nerfs... or Kuro's mood tbh] I would love to learn more from you.

[copycut]

Hold it! [ Right on cue, Kuro snaps back to irritation. Scowl forming on her face, she points an accusatory finger in Jeanne's direction. ] I said I respect your magical traditions, but that is exactly the kind of attitude I can't abide by. Your dream is impossible, so you'd better drop it now. Otherwise, all you're going to accomplish is hurting yourself and taking a lot of other innocent people with you.

[ Check out her profile sometime, Jeanne. ]

[holyironmade]

[She stands her little ground! Predictable!]

If I lose the Shaman Fight... Then I will accept that truth. I will surrender with dignity. How soon would you have me turn back...?

[I don't know if Kuro is one of the Grail War ones but. Apparently even that is the same too. Wow.]

[copycut]

[ "Shaman Fight"... Kuro's eyes narrow a little more. It isn't hard to guess the concept at play, with the way Jeanne is talking about it. Kuro's nose wrinkles, and her top lip curls from her teeth. It does, in fact, look like an expression of unhappy recognition. ]

Just stand back and let nature take its course, huh? [ She huffs, but— ] Well, I guess it's none of my business. When you cause trouble, it won't be my problem to clean up.

[ ...Still, she can't help but wonder... ]

What is it you think is waiting at the end of the Shaman Fight, anyway?

[holyironmade]

The strong eat the weak's meat. [The English words that came to mind were the Japanese idiom's cadence, surprisingly enough. She wonders if the similarities run that deep, if it's a lingua franca for this girl too.] ...after reaching the second round, I was permitted a glimpse of the prize. It has gravitas. [Distinctly cagey about it, then. But she doesn't even quite yet memorize her name. Where are her manners?

She puts her right hand on her collarbone and extends her left arm to balance a curtsy - subtle, like she'd have to do in a battle leotard.] I am Iron Maiden Jeanne, as in the medieval torture device; the leader of the X-Laws and also our Shaman Fight subsquad X-I. X is the roman numeral ten. Laws include commandments. S makes us plural. [She extends her hand, shining.] Will you do me the honor of becoming my friendly rival?

[Jeanne truly thought, "Thank god. Finally. Someone else from an anime."]

[copycut]

[ And yet, somehow, the caginess only makes Kuro more certain of her assumptions. ]

I won't warn you again. When you're dealing with something like that, you need to be careful about accepting what it offers you.

[ The words weight her sweet, childish voice heavy. Kuro listens to Jeanne describe her names and their meanings, and when she opens her mouth again, what comes out is more of a complaint. ]

For a second, I thought I'd been wrong, but I guess not. You really do sound just like the Holy Church's watchdogs. [ She sighs, peeved. ] Chloe von Einzbern. If you want to play rivals, though, leave it at "Kuro."

[ She takes her hand. After all, a person like this needs someone to keep an eye on them. ]

[holyironmade]

What is the Church if not a flock of sheep?

[She sees no problem with it. Not the alleged mindlessness of the herbivores, not the similarity to the Little Brothers swarming these unfamiliar halls, not Kuro's warning. To say the words and not believe them seriously is the sin of idolatry. She takes the risk seriously, she thinks, as the duty that has defined her life. She has a rival to watch her. To worship her one day, perhaps? For now they have shaken hands.]

It's nice to meet you, Kuro! [Hm... That pronunciation on her tongue... Now she's sure.] Is there a, a Mono! Or a Shiro?

[copycut]

No~pe! [ The cadence of the word is cheerful, but the toss of her head is annoyed. ] The other me is just "Illya." I'm the one who had to choose a different name, even though that one should have belonged to me. I'm the original, after all — but before I knew what was happening, it was already Kuro this, Kuro that... Well, I guess I've gotten used to it, though.

[ Somehow, it sounds like she's complaining about a family member. ]

[holyironmade]

Other halves are a truly mysterious power. Well, to me Illya will always be "the other Kuro". I know from an outsider that is small solace.

[There's probably a prophecy or something tragic but for now she thinks Illya is probably another cool mage and it would be great fun to watch them fight.]

[copycut]

[ ...A tiny giggle slips from Kuro. ]

Maybe you should call her Shiro after all, then? It wouldn't be strange, since she looks the part with her pure white hair and snow-pale skin.

[ All things considered, Jeanne's sentiment is strangely touching. Sadly, though, the "Kuro tries to kill Illya" arc was last season. Sorry, Jeanne! That doesn't mean Kuro is above using it for a bit of mischief directed at her pseudo-twin. ]

[holyironmade]

[Jeanne's eyes are wide as she imagines this, purer than Kuro's pink sheen or even her own multilayered silver; then she nods very seriously.]

It is for the best she does not have black hair. Then she would have to stay away from apples.

[You know. Like Snow White.]

[copycut]

[ Kuro gets the reference being made. She giggles again. ]

Mm-hm, that's right. She gets into enough trouble as it is, so it's good that nothing about her invites even more.