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

[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.

[panglici]

Angry with us, or with her?

[She's turned to face the talking sheep, and gestures to Miss Lady Prefect, First Of Her Name, Majordomo, Juris Doctor, Et Cetera, with a tilt of her head to one side.]

Thank you for answering me, though.

[whimsicalism]

[This particular Little Brother nods.]

All of you, her included. That'd be bad.

[panglici]

What would he do?

[It's not that she expects a complete answer, but these creatures have no problem calling their master a monster, so who knows how much of one she might get?]

[whimsicalism]

Something really bad... I don't think any of you would make it... This is a rough place but I don't think that's needed... It's unrefined.

[The other sheep turn around to look at this unit nervously.]

[panglici]

Something like a sacrifice, or something worse? Surely he wouldn't just throw the gates open....

[Warily looking around at the other sheep now, that was... very synchronized.]

[imprefect]

[ She's also started looking at this sheep nervously. ]

Hey...just what are you talking about? You shouldn't be speaking out of turn, right?

fishy aroma plays in the distance

[keyringwitness]

[Something clicks in Yasu's brain. All the tiny details, some knowledge that it feels like she shouldn't have creeping at her, the clues scattered around the school...]

...you mean about how we're all amnesiac of however long we've spent, um, studying here, Mr. Sheep?

[whimsicalism]

O-oh... you're bright...

[The sheep's speech is slowing but it nods. A small smile, different than it's usual smile crosses it's features.]

I l-like you... w-why don't you... h-help...

[keyringwitness]

It's not just what, um, Lady Prefect has been saying about being here all summer, [Yasu explains, forcing herself to speak up so that everyone else can hear.] I- I've noticed some other things too. My hair's a few millimeters longer, and, uh, normally my nails aren't this nice, my hands tend to be shaky...

So Little Brother and Lady Prefect aren't lying. We're the ones that are confused. [She approaches the stuttering sheep carefully, getting close enough so that the rest of the crowd can't see that she's opening her hands and holding out a pen and notebook for it to write in.] It might have something to do with, er, that weirdly... happy feeling I had earlier this morning. Like I was excited for school and...

That I wasn't, um, all there.

[romancing]

Oh!

You're right, my hair is a little longer, too. But I don't get it, why would we sign up for school? Some of us don't even go to school!

[keyringwitness]

I- I don't know... I'm sorry, this is all I have...

[she just reads mystery novels she's not some kind of detective herself,]

[noblesnow]

[OH.]

[cellpreservation]

[...

Suddenly checking the length of his own hair.]

???

[whimsicalism]

[The sheep staggers a little before the others grab it. Just slowly enough in a voice that the long silences between words sound more like~ this~ than gaps between speech.]

Let's... play... hide and seek.... can't stay long. In couple of days... Find... girl... girl a...

[The sheep then is noticed and goes silent. A glint off it's metal limbs is the only movement that can be found, apparently rendered silent by the herd.]

[hashtagwoof]

...

[ And now he is thoroughly creeped out. He shouldn't be here, he doesn't want to be here no matter how much the little voice in the back of his head insists otherwise, there is no exit. ]

... Are we done here?! [ That comes out a bit more forceful than intended. ] Have we got everything covered?! Or is there some other creepy detail we're missing here?!?

[keyringwitness]

[The opening wasn't needed after all, although Yasu's not sure whether it saying all that aloud was a good thing, considering all the other sheep that are listening.

Still, it's... something. Yasu's always been good at hiding. Hopefully seeking will just be the application of the same principles, but in reverse.]

[bellabellabella]

[Were it possible, Edward probably would go pale. How is that.... it's not....

A bubble of panic at the thought of just how much trouble Bella could get into with months left to her own devices, but he swallows it after a moment.]

[shinedsobright]

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

[It was one of his theories too. Don't mind Fret he is over here twirling mosaic pieces around in his brain trying to make his memory powers work!! But they do not. Lame.]

[weirdlymagical]

[Staring down at her hands, then back to the sheep.]

They clipped our nails?

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

[wow, smart kid!

if only Dylan wasn't now distracted by checking the length of his claws, cause then he would totally praise her1]

[spychic]

....

Mama...Papa.....

[Did she just...leave them behind...?]

[curdle]

[ hey hold up what the fuck ]

The whispers. You heard them too?

[ She means "you" in the plural sense! As in, everyone here! But that does not translate unless you've heard her say "thou" like 500 time under other circumstances. ]

[canreallymove]

HUH!? The heck are you talking about? I don't see a difference!

[holyironmade]

Then we dressed ourselves...!

[This is particularly in reaction toHunter but I'm putting it here to be a general Jeanne after some new information.]

I knew there had to be a good reason!

[Is Jeanne this mentally strong? Or is it just now sinking in how hard she's been trying all day to be mentally strong?]