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

[spychic]

Mama...! Papa!!!

[Anya hastily wipes at her eyes with her sleeves. It's no use. She's crying.]

If Anya's been here so long, why didn't they come...why didn't they come...Papa....

A--Anya's....alone again....

[And then she starts bawling.

Sorry, Reika. She appreciates it. But she's shattering right now.]

[noblesnow]

[Reika just kneels and hugs her, then.

She has an idea of what the answer to that question might be, but Anya is probably in no shape to listen to it right now. Small child needs emotional support.]

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

[Reika is incredibly right about that!

Dog, he wants to panic-he wants to panic oh so badly-but...

Dylan pauses in his checking of his paws, and goes to this little girl, and just lays at her feet, trying to be as comforting as possible.

Big brother mode, activated.]

[noblesnow]

[Reika is occupied right now but later she will tell him he's a good boy.]

[spychic]

[Anya looks down for a moment, and--ah. A dog. It reminds her of Bond.]

Anya misses Bond, too... [She sniffs. But she slowly sinks down, and pets Dylan's head.

She appreciates it.] Thank you, doggy. Thank you, everyone.

Anya is...sorry for making a scene.

[She'd get a bolt for that if she were still at Eden, probably.]

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

Hey. You have a right to be upset and scared. No one's going to criticize you for that.

[No one that's worth listening to, anyway.]

I can stay for longer, if you need me to.

[spychic]

[Anya, for the briefest of moments, is surprised that the doggy talks. But then she remembers - oh yeah. This doggy is a student.

She misses Bond. Bond would've made a good student.]

...If you have things to do, Anya can handle Anya's self.

But Anya likes company. Anya likes making friends. Anya...will need them now.

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

Any plans I did have were back at home.

[And apparently two months ago...he really hopes everyone is okay...but he needs to focus on one thing at a time right now.]

Well Anya, I'd be happy to be a friend, if you'd let me.

[canreallymove]

[NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A CRYING CHILD

ONE OF SONIC'S SECRET WEAKNESSES



Immediately he's also hugging her from behind.]

Hey, hey, kid, it's ok. We gotcha. Come on, kid.

[spychic]

Anya doesn't wanna lose her Mama or her Papa again...

Not again! Anya wanted to stay with them forever!

[She's scared, but she feels...helpless. At least she knows Sonic is a strong freedom fighter, so--]

...Anya will just have to trust you all....they can't be gone.

[canreallymove]

Yeah...there's no way they aren't looking for you! You know, I bet they're tearin' up the joint looking for their way past cool kid. They just don't know where we are is all!

[He really hopes this is helping.]

Anya, right? Yeah...I'm gonna help make sure you get back to your mom and dad. That's a promise!

[And he really, really hopes he can keep that promise.]

[spychic]

[Anya sniffles. Sonic has a unique way of talking - not like anyone she's ever really met, but she's already got faith in him.]

Thank you, Sonic. Anya trusts you.

Anya will do whatever she can...and then maybe we can help everyone else, too. That's the good thing to do.

[canreallymove]

Yeah!

[A smile to reassure her.]

That's all you gotta do, kid! And don't let this principal and that lady try and make you feel bad about wanting to go home! They're just jerks.

[weirdlymagical]

[ooooohhh there are children here

oh lord

Luz... can't move to help. She stands there stiffly, her arms wrapped tight around herself.]

[spychic]

[Slowly but surely, Anya collects herself, and she then walks over to Luz.]

....Are you okay?

[Anya herself isn't okay.

But she'll always worry about others before that.]

[weirdlymagical]

Me?

[She perks up at Anya's question, still stiff, but her arms have loosened as her body decides how exactly to run with this.]

Yeah. To-totally fine. I'm just running on steam a bit, y'know, from the... constant danger and everything.

B-but, uh... [She's trying so hard.] You'll be fine. It's all good.

[temmapathy]

[Well, the instant Emma notices the crying she's also coming to join the hug.]