Welcome.

[trustfellows]

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.

Comments

[explosivecombat]

I won't know until I've seen them in person. I'm not saying it's probable, either, but I doubt it's completely outside the realm of possibility.

[heritrix]

[You know, she can't actually disagree with his thinking at all. Rin considers it unlikely, but without hearing their captors out face to face, she can't shake the belief a chance still exists. So fair enough; she nods.]

I take it this thing [tap tap, again] fascinates you for different reasons.

[explosivecombat]

It's a frustrating structure, really - it'd be easy enough to bring down if something weren't impeding my ability to do so.

[...Well, then.]

[heritrix]

[You know, she had wondered. His profile had proudly proclaimed him an alchemist, after all. Things that ping the mage's interests 101.]

Easily? [He can't have admitted to that so casually. But if he did, that's a really impressive level of ability??] This isn't cardboard we're talking about.

[explosivecombat]

No, I'm aware - however, it would be foolish to aim anything I'm doing directly at the bulkhead itself. Entirely doable, granted, but entirely more effort than it's worth.

[...He's just kind of like this, Rin, I'm sorry.]

[heritrix]

I see. In that case, I take it you've been testing your limits and attempting to use your abilities in any capacity, then? You've been standing here for some time.

[explosivecombat]

Unfortunately, it seems I've been cut off for the time being, though I don't quite understand how.

[heritrix]

There could be something in place preventing it. Magic nullifying wards, perhaps, or something to that effect.

[explosivecombat]

...I don't doubt such a thing is possible, though what I do isn't magic by any means.

[heritrix]

I meant it broadly. Abilities tend to get lumped into the same categories even when they're different, among humans.

[explosivecombat]

As opposed to what, exactly?

[The "among humans" thing is interesting, give him a moment.]

[heritrix]

Anything else. There seems to be some variety among the "Participants" here.

It's not a perfect comparison, but it's the difference a bird might draw from meeting a fish. To the bird, flying is normal but breathing underwater is unnatural. Without help, a human would consider both strange and outside their capacity, as bizarre to them as wizardry.

[explosivecombat]

[That seems to amuse him, honestly.]

Are you done trying to assert yourself, or...?

[heritrix]

[Why, does he want the floor back.]

Would you have taken that in a different direction?

[explosivecombat]

Not particularly. You're just preaching to the choir, so to speak.

[heritrix]

[She sighs, but doesn't sound put out.]

Well, I won't keep boring you in that case. I'm sure we both have bigger concerns on our mind.

[explosivecombat]

[...lord, you're kind of entertaining.]

I'm fairly sure everyone does, at this point. Given the circumstances.

[heritrix]

My point exactly. I'd say I'll let you know if anything changes, but I'm sure you'll know before I do, Mister...?

[...given Rin speaks German she can probably pronounce his full name, actually, but that Frank Archer had Kimblee's name listed among his likes, and it recognized him as a colonel from a military she's never heard of. So.]

[explosivecombat]

Kimblee - it's a pleasure, despite the situation.

[So at least there's that much.]

I wouldn't say I'll know before you do, however; I'm not willing to make too many bets this early in.

[heritrix]

Rin Tohsaka, Mr. Kimblee. And likewise.

[It's the polite thing to say anyways. Screw you, Kirei, she does too have manners.]

I meant more along the lines of if you stay in this foyer. I intend to explore the building further, but from what I've seen so far they've paid this one the most attention to detail, among other things.

[Like the rules and profiles, and then... /gestures at the bulkhead again, because seriously.]

On one side of the foyer we have a tasteful aesthetic, and then this weirdness.