trustfell | Welcome.

Welcome.

Rise and shine.

There are a few things that matter right now - the fact that you're waking up in an unfamiliar but decently comfortable bed, the fact that you don't recognize the room you're in, the fact that you seem to have some sort of headache... Nothing severe, mind. Just the sort of odd, heavy fuzziness that comes with having slept far too long.

You don't really remember where you were immediately before this, not upon waking. Something will come to you eventually if you think long enough, however - a couple of seconds of consideration will bring to mind a place, a memory, a recollection of where you were and what you were doing.

It probably wasn't anything that would result in you being here, though.

Welcome to Graceside Preparatory Academy.

You may want to pick up the key to your room before you leave the room, but don't worry too much - your door won't lock automatically, so you won't be locked out if you've forgotten to pick it up. It seems you're not alone, either; the hallway outside your room is most likely full of other confused people by now, and should you turn around to look at the door of the room you just left, you'll find a nameplate with your name printed on it. There's a single word underneath it with no explanation. This is your title, but don't worry about that right now.

Depending on when you left your room there may be a clock chiming in the foyer up ahead. It seems like it's seven, though it's difficult to tell if it's seven in the morning or seven at night. There aren't any windows, after all. Should you venture into the room with the clock, you'll find that the only exit is closed - there's absolutely no way to break down that steel bulkhead. It looks like you're not getting out of here anytime soon.

The foyer also holds some very interesting information. There's a bulletin board with thirty-five pictures on it. Beside each picture is some very specific and very familiar information. Feel free to examine it. The bulletin board is large enough for plenty of you to gather around and gawk. Don't try to get at it though, that glass in front of it is very thick. If you try to break it, you'll find out the hard way that it's shatterproof. Sorry about that.

Perhaps even more of a concern than the glass is the list beside the profiles. It looks like a set of rules. You might want to examine those, though they're not providing much of an explanation for why you're here or how you got here.

So relax and get to know your fellow Participants. You might be stuck here for awhile.

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[...the prison comment comes when Sayaka's walking over to check the damn thing out for herself, and she has to admit, it takes her aback a bit. A prison? She hasn't done anything to warrant that sort of punishment, has she?

Well, no use being quiet for too long.]

...It at least ensures that nothing's going to get in, even at the risk of nothing getting out. Calling it a prison might be a little excessive though, don't you think? I don't believe anyone's done anything wrong...

Edited 2017-09-10 05:29 (UTC)

[...Huh.]

Do you think it's protective, then...? That is an interesting way of looking at it, and admittedly not one that I would have considered... Though it does beg the question of what we're being protected from.

[...]

Ah, but that's a bit unpleasant for a first meeting, isn't it? I don't suppose you recall anything that would have brought us all here together...?

It's only a theory, I admit...I just can't think of anything that would've warranted a prison sentence, but it would explain the lack of windows as well, wouldn't it?

[Sayaka smiles, though, a little more evenly even as she shakes her head.]

I don't know if it's something that connects all of us, but...do you happen to be a teacher? The last thing I remember is being ready to start classes at my new school.

[...Sayaka, that question is almost cute, what the hell.]

Not at all, unfortunately - I've never had the temperament for it, nor the patience. What sort of school were you attending...?

...The patience I could maybe understand, but your temperament seems rather fine for it!

[Even so, Sayaka nods her head as she explains.]

It's a private school, for people who excel in specific talents--Hope's Peal sends out invitations to those they believe to be the best in their fields, so they can work on honing their talent even more. It's kind of like a college, too, from what I've heard about it. If you go there and do well, you'll be very well set.

That sounds fascinating, actually - I've never heard of anything like it. Specialized talents, of course, but not schools that seek them out like that.

...That's kind of why I'm concerned that I'm over here, and not over there, if I can be honest. I'm sure this academy has plenty of it's own perks from graduating here, but...

[There's several obvious factors at play, but Sayaka shakes her head quickly and goes back to a bright expression--she didn't realize it got a little dismayed.]

Well, I didn't realize schools nowadays were so competitive! Plucking other students from their own plans to bring them here doesn't seem like the best idea, even if it does get them more students.

It also begs the question of why so many adults are here as well - it sounds as though this school you're referring to is a secondary school...?

[Given that she mentioned she'd heard it's also like college.

...he's admittedly kind of wondering why a 19-year-old is attending secondary school but you know what, maybe she's talented in some other direction and not great in the academics department, who knows.]

[wow, rude]

Yes, that's it! That's why I thought you and some of the others might be teachers, but...now I'm just confused all over again. What kind of school would need people of so many varying ages?

That is a good question.

I suppose we'll have to ask these..."Coordinators" running it when we see them.

[...hmm. There's a bit of a pause at that.]

Do you think they'll make some kind of huge production out of it, if they do? Considering what lengths they've gone to...I'm not sure if I put it past them.

...I'm fairly sure that people who are willing to put together something so elaborate are entirely too egotistical to not make some sort of production out of it.

[...This is gonna suck, Sayaka. He's curious to see where this goes, admittedly, but he's far from refusing to acknowledge that this is absolutely gonna suck.]

...How tacky do you think they're going to go, then? Maybe stage lights and music, or do you think they'll be a little less bombastic?

[This is definitely gonna suck, but. She doesn't want to think about it too much, so maybe shit-talking would be good for the time.]

Well. Now I'm not certain if I'd prefer them to be at least slightly sane about it, or if I'm going to be disappointed if they aren't. They should at least put in some effort into ensuring that we're entertained, if we must be here at all.

[Oh, Sayaka giggles a bit at that. This is helping her get her mind off of this being shitty rather effectively, and she seems to be a little more at ease; she's glad he's running with this.]

Right? If they've gone this far, it'd be insulting to the whole process if they make such a plain introduction. Maybe they'll shout something about 'school spirit'...

Oh, certainly - if they're going to be this dedicated to the whole boarding school business, they may as well go all the way.

I hear we have a ballroom, which just makes me wonder if it's going to be used for something specific or if they're actually going to make us have suitably awkward dances and socials in there. All in the name of building leadership skills somehow, mind.

...That actually does make some sense, if you think about it? Maybe they'll try to make us start the parties--to teach us how to plan with the materials we have here, and what they've given us to make a proper festivity that everyone can--supposedly, of course--enjoy. It would take a good sense of leadership to bring people together somewhat willingly, wouldn't it?

[It'll be awkward as fuck, but that actually sounds plausible, sadly. Let's just hope it's not a giant soulmate finding party, or something.]

...I'm not altogether certain that's exactly what they have in mind, but they do imply that there are other ways to end this exercise, outside of the immediate morbid one.

[If this just turns out to be the world's worst and most prolonged party and nobody dies for like months on end, will they let us go, though- ]

I don't see why we shouldn't assume that escape by way of refusal to play the game is valid.

Ah, that's right! We're just here for the 'duration of the exercise'...they didn't say that we have to spend this duration trying to do...well, that.

[Look, maybe if they party for so long the place will get some noise complaints and they can try to explain to the authorities what's going on--]

It's just a matter of how long we'll need to bide our time, then, if that's the case?

I'd imagine so.

Either way, don't let it concern you just yet. There's always something like that that can be used.

[Sayaka nods her head, bowing a bit respectfully.]

I won't. I have faith in the people here, and I think we're all going to do just fine...um, Kimblee-san, right?

You're right, yes. Miss Maizono, isn't it?

Oh, thank goodness! I was really worried about messing up the pronunciation...

[She rubs at the back of her head, giggling a bit.]

That's me though, yes! It's [...she pauses a bit as if she's considering her words a bit, just for a second or two] a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

[That seems to amuse him, actually.]

Don't worry, I wasn't altogether sure if that was appropriate either - a shame the circumstances are what they are and all.

It is good to have met you either way, however.

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Welcome.

Foyer

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