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

[imprefect]

As for where the school's located... This place is called Closetland.

It's a really dumb name, actually. Seriously, I really hate saying it out loud. It just seems so...childish.

[ She's focusing on this answer for now, since others' questions might have already answered the "why pick us" part. ]

[lets_dewey_it]

Closetland? Like, a world inside the closet? Wonder why I never discovered it sooner...

[weirdlymagical]

Ohhhh, like The Tiger, the Castor, and the Closet!

[This isn't a gagtag]

[imprefect]

Don't be stupid. Little kids think monsters all come from the closet, right? So... [ She sighs dramatically. ] I guess there's no helping it until I'm done here.

[violence_ensues]

Monsters don't come from the closet. They come from the forest!

[lets_dewey_it]

Okay, yes, I get the monster in the closet thing, but is it inside the closet, though? _{[Even if her answer implied "no" he's still going to bug her about it.]}

[imprefect]

Don't be stupid.

[hashtagwoof]

Closetland?

[ Sorry, he's incredulous. ]

Are you telling me this school's located in someone's closet? Is that the nonsense we're putting up with today?

[whimsicalism]

We didn't choose the name! It's merely a holdover--the Principal wishes we could change it as well. Think of it as a world between worlds. It's very dangerous; no adult save those that are considered 'monsters' can come here so some might call it a childhood hell!

[Yes, this is said very cheerfully.]

It's very dangerous outside since the monsters live there. The Principal is scary enough to them they don't want to mess with his, oh I don't know how to say it? Field? Turf?

one-off

[holyironmade]

[Murmuring incredulously.]

Territory...?!?!?!

[panglici]

Oh, why not, today has been bizarre enough...

["Living creature of chaos" that wasn't, but... a Principal who scares monsters when only monsters come here....]

Tell me, does our Principal ever address the students during the day himself?

[whimsicalism]

He does! He's a very busy man, however, and that's why he left the school with the Prefect.

[There's a pause as another Little Brother speaks up.]

Though... I hope he never finds out about this. He'll be angry.

[hashtagwoof]

[ Hunter just stares at the sheep that awnsered... Suddenly he's feeling just a bit nervous. ]

Childhood... Hell...

[ He shakes his head. ]

Dude! Who puts an entire school in the middle of literal monster world?!

[whimsicalism]

An ogre, maybe?

[curdle]

What mean you by "monster"?

[whimsicalism]

Anyone that can generate fear, technically. There's too many to name. Werewolves, giants, ghosts...

[The sheep counts off monsters before another one, the same one that seems to be a bit snappy speaks up.]

Child eating ogres!

[cellpreservation]

Doesn't that mean the principal is a monster?

[noblesnow]

I see... that does explain some of the choices.

[violence_ensues]

I fight monsters every day. They should stop worrying about this principal and start worrying about me.

[There's something... off in Adorabat's eyes right now.]

[imprefect]

[Flatly: ] No, that would be stupid.

It's just a name... a stupid, childish name that I never would have let fly if I had any say in it!

[hashtagwoof]

[ Ma'am, you are being ignored in favor of the sheep. ]

[canreallymove]

Closet-

[...You know what, he's too dumbfounded to respond.

Congrats, the blue hedgehog is now questioning whether he had mushrooms in the chili dogs he made this afternoon because what the fuck are they stuck in someone's closet.

You did this, Principal.

You did this.]

gagtag

[spychic]

Ah! Anya gets it now! So we're all coming out of the Closetland!

Anya's heard that's difficult.

also gagtag

[lets_dewey_it]

Can confirm

gagtag the third

[weirdlymagical]

But so worth it.