Welcome.

[trustmods]

It doesn't matter where you last were or what you were doing. What matters is that you're waking up in a decently comfortable bed in a room that's completely unfamiliar. You may feel a bit groggy, like you've slept for too long, but that will fade in time. Welcome to Graceside Preparatory Academy. You may want to pick up the key to your room before you leave, though don't worry. Your door won't lock automatically so you won't be locked out if you've forgotten to pick it up. The hallway outside your room is most likely full of other confused students 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 stuck in here for the time being. The foyer also holds some very interesting information. There's a bulletin board with twenty-nine 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 students. You might be stuck here for awhile.

Comments

[oftheland]

...

[should he just let this person struggle, or...]

Do you... need a little help there...?

[forcegalactic]

[There's another person approaching what if they're they ones behind all this

Mordecai jiggles the key, turning it to the right - no, it stuck. Other way - then to the left. Dangit, if he wasn't shaking so bad, he swears he could have figured this out sooner.]

No. No, I'm fine. Just give me a little more time. [He gives it one last twist, and the lock finally snaps shut.]

[oftheland]

...

You... deal with card keys more than you deal with normal keys, don't you?

[YOU KNOW... HE KIND OF GETS IT. although man, watching people try to swipe things the wrong direction... even for him, it's a little painful.]

[forcegalactic]

[He acts so friendly, but at the same time, that suit doesn't look all that friendly. In a situation like this, it's best to err on the side of caution. Don't mind him keeping his distance as he turns away from the door.]

Of course I am, I live on Mars, what'd you expect?

[oftheland]

...

You mean the planet, of course...?

[...just to confirm so he knows whether to get excited or not, because holy shit]

[forcegalactic]

[What kind of question is that, have you been living under a rock?]

Yes! [Throws his hands up.] What else would I mean?

[oftheland]

...That's amazing!

[HE IS NOW FULL ON EXCITED SCHOOLBOY]

When do they make it to Mars? Are there any strange alien life forms that we just somehow missed out on all these years?

[forcegalactic]

[...Why is he so excited? Is this guy's quirk getting excited over common knowledge?

He's backing up a step.] You don't--what?

[oftheland]

Ah... pardon me, I let my excitement get ahead of myself. You see, we've only made it to the moon a few decades ago, and there haven't been quite that many space missions since... well, not manned, anyway. There have been all kinds of probes, but... well, you know what I mean.

...my apologies. This is probably a really bizarre way to realize you've been time traveling without knowing it.

[forcegalactic]

No, we've been there longer. People live on the moon. Are you...talkin' about a different planet?

[Hold on, first he thought Giovanni was from some odd planet where humans evolved separately and were extremely slow in developing space technology, but time travel? Both those possibilities sound out there, but the latter does make slightly more sense.]

...What year is it?

[oftheland]

Really? So is it... sealed domes with air in them on the moon, then? That's really, really fascinating...

[the future seems like a hell of a good time, tbh.]

Ah... right, for me it's 200X.

[forcegalactic]

...Yes, they built them there hundreds of years ago.

[But you don't want to live on the Moon, Giovanni. It's Hunger Games land.]

What's the X stand for?

[oftheland]

Hah, well, I guess I have a lot to look forward to, then, if that happens in my lifetime. Maybe it will, even?

[He's feeling better, after all! ...granted he doesn't know how much better, but...]

...ah, I think I said a number, didn't I? That's a bit odd.

[...WHAT THE FUCK YEAR IS IT IN POKEMON WE DON'T KNOW]

[forcegalactic]

[HE CLEARLY HEARD X unless this is one of those meta jokes like when it's obvious who the spy is based on the voice acting but the characters act like it's the biggest mystery ever.]

Right, sorry, forgive my hearin'. It's just that, well, it's hard to believe that I'm talkin' to someone from the distant past who ain't dead, or a ghost, or a time traveler. And I am assumin' you are the latter, somehow.

[They better not be all dead.]

Unless you're lyin' and you're actin' all surprised about Mars 'cause this is part of your kidnappin' plan, playin' the fool. Well, I am not fallin' for it!

[He backs away a little more. With being trapped in a strange place, he has to watch his back for trouble, which includes this odd man for now.]

[oftheland]

I was alive the last time I checked, so you don't have to worry about that. Though... given our surroundings, it might be a little more likely that you're the time traveler, hm?

...and really, I don't really have a way to prove that I'm not the kidnapper, so I don't blame you for being a little suspicious of everyone you run into. Still, though, if you worry about it too much you'll probably give yourself an ulcer.

[forcegalactic]

Well, I thought our kidnapper had a thing for antiques, judgin' from the aesthetics of this place, 'cause clearly, time travel ain't that easy that any old outlaw can use it. And what's to say you ain't a time traveler either? Don't you use cards in your day?

[While clearly this building uses keys?]

No, I'm no worrywart, that's my wife. I'm only bein' cautious for my life, which means makin' sure all the folks are of the trustworthy sort. [Eyes that suit jacket...]

[oftheland]

...True, that might be the case. This all does seem a little old fashioned by my standards, so it's possible we're both unwitting time travelers.

And no, I certainly understand. Trust is earned through actions and not words, after all.

[forcegalactic]

So...we're all in the distant past? Why?

[Mad science? Of course, it has to be mad science, what other explanation is there.]

You know, someone actually understands for once, it ain't easy dealin' with folks who think it's fine to cause trouble as long as they promised first. [You're slightly alright, Giovanni.] You know, if I still had a saloon, you'd be the type I'd let in without lecturin' you on how much I do not want no trouble in my place, thought I can't promise that, as it is in my nature to explain my concerns to all who visit my establishment.

...Of course, I don't got a saloon no more, so that hypothetical is out of the question. We're stuck in here, and I still don't know who the heck you are!

[oftheland]

I can't say, honestly. Perhaps it's framed to look like the distant past to throw us off, but who knows.

...well, I'm not the sort of person who likes causing trouble in other people's saloons, because that's really just rude.

[...I mean unless he can steal some super cool Pokemon, then he'd probably cause some trouble and then make it double.]

But anyway... ah, right, I'm Giovanni.

[forcegalactic]

[That's good to know, if they were actually in his saloon and not trapped in some rich guy's fantasy of living a thousand years ago. Or the actual past, whatever it is.

The Barkeep gives Giovanni a hard look. The suit gives off an impression of an old-timey shady CEO, and he's awfully friendly for someone to have just met a stranger in a prison. Still, it would be smart to give his name in case they need to contact someone from the outside. The USSA could already be on their way.]

Mordecai Benmont Jiminy.

[oftheland]

Good to meet you, then, Mordecai.

[He extends a hand for a shake.]

I do wish it could be under better circumstances, but things just happen sometimes, don't they?

[forcegalactic]

[Looks at hand.

Might as well be polite.]

I could say the same myself. Hopin' these circumstances won't last too long.

[oftheland]

[SHAKE.]

It'd be really annoying if they did, but sometimes things don't work out quite the way you want them to, unfortunately.

[forcegalactic]

Ain't that how life works? All you want is peace and no trouble in your life, and the universe gives you the opposite. This year is not startin' off better than the last.