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

[cellpreservation]

You're okay working for a monster?

[imprefect]

Why wouldn't I? I told you, those are just the rules, even if they are ridiculous.

[ She, too, sounds very accepting of them, as if it's perfectly normal and rules are the natural order of things. ]

It's not like he's hurt me or anything.

[cellpreservation]

Yet.

[imprefect]

Ever!

[ She's probably having an emphatic, crossed-arms staring contest with him now. ]

[cellpreservation]

Why do you even like him that much? Does he pay you a fortune for hanging around here?

[imprefect]

[ She scoffs at the second question in particular. Does she look like she needs the money? But if it's not the money, then... ]

He recognized that I was the only person who could do something like this, of course! Things are in my hands, now, so this all reflects on me.

[cellpreservation]

So you're the one in trouble if things go wrong?

[imprefect]

It's not like you won't also get into trouble if you do something worth getting into trouble over! There are expectations, and everyone has to meet them, from the smallest ant to the most majestic of lions!

[ So, yeah, probably. ]

[cellpreservation]

So what happens to you if we cause trouble? Do you lose your job?

[imprefect]

And if I don't do everything to keep you in line? I could.

But don't think you can just try to sabotage me... The strictest punishments are only for those who willingly fail to obey the most serious rules!

[cellpreservation]

And which ones would those be?

[imprefect]

What do you mean, which ones?

[ Real who's on first situation incoming - but she did mention punishments, students, and rules in a very similar context. ]

[cellpreservation]

Which rules are the most serious?

[imprefect]

[ Immediately: ] All of them! So don't think you can get away with skirting the ones that you don't want to follow!

... But, not like it really matters, breaking any rule that would lead you to not be able to finish your re-education or make the Principal give up on you. You don't want to be labeled a lost cause, right?

[cellpreservation]

I'm not so sure about that...

[If he's a lost cause can he leave early - as if.]

[imprefect]

What - you want to be given up on?

[ She scoffs - like it's the most preposterous thing he could have said to her. ]

You'll learn your lesson here, one way or another! Mark my words.

[cellpreservation]

If it means getting out of here, I wouldn't mind it.