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

[evilfrenzy]

[...well, Rideaux has to hand it to Sayaka for remaining pleasant despite the...everything that this situation has chosen to be.]

Strange, considering everything thus far leads me to believe that this had to have involved a considerable degree of premeditation. And yet they would get basic facts about some of you wrong?

[Just one of many things that doesn't really add up. How did they even get this information, anyway?

As for his profile, he takes a glance back to it.]

Yes. I wouldn't have put some of it quite like that, but...yes. [He can't argue with it. It's not wrong, after all. He really doesn't like when things don't go his way.] Yourself?

[destage]

[If nothing else, idol training has prepared her for this moment!]

Yes, that's what I'm wondering too. But even so, I'm wondering just how much was involved...if it was a school environment they were going for, wouldn't it be better to try to keep everyone around the same age? There's so many different kinds of people here, that it almost seems like they just grabbed some names out of a hat...

[Sayaka looks back to her profile when the question is posed, though, after he speaks about his own.]

...Mostly my age--I'm actually 17, not 19. I could probably attribute that to a typo, maybe. But the last couple of things on the dislike side are honestly confusing. I mean, bears are scary from what I've heard of them, but I haven't had any bad experiences with any of these. It's...very confusing.

[...]

And I'm a bit embarrassed about some stuff on my likes, but that's neither here nor there.

[evilfrenzy]

Depends on the type of school. In schools for higher education, the range of ages varies a bit more. [...] But I suppose there isn't much use in applying logic to this school though, considering the fact that the rules encourage peer-to-peer violence.

[Who would even willingly enroll into this program?

As for the topic of Sayaka's profile...]

Those are some...unique dislikes, yes. [Bathrooms? Maybe disgusting ones. That's valid. But all...?] I wonder how these discrepancies came about, though. Here they are, listing ages in the thousands, but they couldn't list a teenager's age accurately?

[destage]

Ah...that is true... [Sayaka nods her head--she didn't exactly consider that.] But no, I think it's probably not going to help to focus on that. Unless it becomes relevant later, but I think they simply didn't care.

[Or there is something here that connects them all, but Sayaka has no earthly idea of what.]

...I'm not sure I believe any of the ages beyond two digits, honestly. That just seems the person who made these was having too much fun sticking random things on, and hoping their boss wouldn't notice. I'm not sure what's the worst part, though--the fact they did this, or the fact that whoever's in charge didn't bother to question it.

[evilfrenzy]

How tacky of them if that's the case. If they're going to set up this elaborate trap, they may as well be serious about it.

[He frowns slightly as he considers this further.]

However, the fact of the matter is that they seem to have gotten a great deal correct. How did they get this information?

[He doesn't expect Sayaka to know, obviously. But he's just thinking out loud at this point.]

[destage]

Considering how they've set this up, I think tacky's just their favorite word in the dictionary. That's just a hunch, though.

[There's a bit of a pause when he speaks up again, though, and she does give it some genuine thought--she's not sure if he's actually expecting an answer, but...]

My best guess would be a stalker, or a subset of the paparazzi--I don't imagine doctor's deal with them all that often though, do they?

[evilfrenzy]

Ah, is that something you have to concern yourself with as an "Idol"? [He's not overly familiar with the term.] I have my fair share of fans, but none have ever gone so far as to stalk me.

[Why does a doctor have fans?? A true mystery.]

But...I suppose I couldn't rule out the possibility that there is a snitch in the company I work for. I have worked there for quite some time.

[destage]

Sadly, yes--you'd think that only being on the road to the music industry would make them less likely to talk to you... [That bit after the answer is said with a shake to the head.] They're the worst--like a bunch of little rats just scurrying around to get whatever they can out of someone.

[...she's not sure she can even ask? Maybe he's like. An actor on the side or something. Or into fashion? Who knows. ...Even so, that second bit. She doesn't let her expression change but that gets a surprising amount of understanding.]

Someone who'd want to get higher up, probably, then?

[evilfrenzy]

[Music industry, huh. So she's a performer...]

Looking to make a quick buck, right? That certainly sounds unpleasant. I believe I can understand the sentiment, though not directly of course.

[He relates it more to those below him in Spirius, since his fans aren't that bad. And speaking of said people in Spirius...]

Most likely. Or someone who feels slighted by me for whatever reason. Bitter subordinate, that sort of thing.

[destage]

Exactly. [...her pleasantry just flies out the window when she says that, but she's very quick to fix it when she speaks again.] It's exactly as bad as it sounds.

[She's...kind of content to nix that, though, and she pauses for a bit. Well, he kind of has the initial demeanor of an uptight, snobbish brat, and that profile doesn't exactly do any favors in terms of impressions. She wouldn't be surprised about anyone being so bitter. But she knows better than to say that, at least.

Still, good to mentally note.]

I think I understand what you mean. It sounds like a pain--they could be focusing that bitterness on trying to do a better job.

[evilfrenzy]

[Oh. You know, that's actually pretty interesting to Rideaux. So there's a little bit more to Miss Idol, is there? He'll equally keep that in mind.]

If only.

[His tone's a little funny there, like the conversation suddenly took a turn he doesn't appreciate. But he'll hold it back for the most part.]

Well, if it was one of them, then they're in for a nasty surprise once I get back and suss them out.

[destage]

[...ah. She easily let's go of that subject once he speaks--wouldn't want to irritate, after all.]

Well, once you do, I'm sure the others will want a chance to talk to them. I don't think they appreciate what lengths they might have went to just to get a promotion.

[Back to that smile, like nothing's wrong.]

I'm sure the authorities will have a field day as well...ah, Rugievit-san, right?

[evilfrenzy]

Rideaux.

[He's quick to correct her. What is "-san", though.]

And actually, it'll be me who has a field day if it's one of my subordinates. I have more than the right to punish them accordingly.

[Wow, ominous.]

[destage]

[...ah. Okay, stay calm, don't look nervous--]

My apologies for the presumptuousness, Rideaux-san. [She'll clasp her hands in front of her and lower her head just a bit in apology. ...ah, now that she thinks of it though--] A-and that's...an honorific, at the end, for the record. It would be rude to speak to a person without them...I mean no disrespect.

[...She's not exactly sure how to reply to the rest of that, but...]

...I sincerely hope you find them, then, and that they are punished accordingly.

[evilfrenzy]

[Rideaux regards Sayaka for a moment as she stumbles through an apology before dismissively waving a hand.]

Apology accepted, but it's fine. It's not like I expected you to know that I don't use my last name. [He'll also nod to the explanation of "-san".] I've never heard such an honorific before, but the respect is appreciated regardless.

[...]

Sayaka or Maizono, then?

[destage]

[Small, inward sigh of relief--outwardly, it manifests as a little calmer body language, unseizing a bit.]

In a situation like this, irritating others is something I would rather avoid.

[...as for that, though she does pause a bit.]

...I would prefer Maizono. But honestly, almost everyone else here just uses my first name, so--just use whatever's easier.

[...She kind of appreciates the choice in the matter, but really, it's everyone's decision.]

[evilfrenzy]

A wise choice. Though the rules of this place may sound absurd, someone here is bound to try something regardless. May as well not be on their bad side.

[Seriously. If they actually end up being stuck here for a while, someone's going to try.

On the topic of names...! He just shrugs, then nods.]

Maizono it is.

[He doesn't see why one would be easier than the other, so he doesn't mind going with what she wants.]