trustfell | 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[You need some chill, Katniss.]

I'm Luca.

[Which is apparently derived from 'Lucas', which means 'light'. So nothing spectacular, name-wise.]

And yourself?

[ That makes her relax some, at least. His name's not stupid, like Silk or god forbid Apollo or Cashmere. ]

Katniss.

[ She doesn't sound as wound up as she did before. Naturally, she's still on guard, but not so high-strung. ]

[Yeah, he's a lot better name-wise than certain people here.]

Well, Katniss, this might not be the best time to ask, but. Are you going to be alright?

[He asks because she still looks like she's ready to snap, even if she did just relax a little.]

[ She kind of stares at him for a long moment. ]

Yeah, I'll be fine.

[ It's an automatic reply, and she doesn't sound like even she believes it... She's not used to concern from strangers, like. At all. ]

[Well even if they're strangers, she looks just a little...he can't even think of an accurate way to describe it, besides 'worrying'.]

Then let's look for a way out, hmm? Even waking up in a strange place, there is always a door. And if you did end up at my university, then I can at least see you back to your home.

[Not that he knows what a District is, but the city he lives in actually is the capitol city of the country, so he's assuming she is from another part of the country.]

... Why are you being so helpful?

[ She's kind of suspicious. He's not even asking for anything in return...? Weird. ]

...because it's what I do?

[Wait, he should be clearer about that point. Katniss looks a bit too jumpy right now.]

Let me rephrase: it is my job to help anyone who visits the university. Giving directions and taking people to someone who can help them is well within the scope of my job duties.

[He pauses for a moment.]

Though, given the extenuating circumstances at play here, I would help regardless of employment obligations.

And you don't... expect anything in return?

[ What is even with all these people? They're so earnest and helpful, it's a little disorienting. She's used to people in the Hob being helpful, but only because she's a good hunter and her dad was well-liked. And Prim is absolutely adored. ]

[There's a lot of things he could say right then. He does get a paycheck for his work, yes, but it's more than that. Back home, he doesn't really belong. He's a foreigner, and very obviously so. And by cooperating and keeping his head down, that keeps people from giving him trouble. That's what he really gets in return: peace, quiet, and no trouble.

But he's not going to say that either. Katniss looks just young enough that she might not understand something like that, especially if she hasn't been outside of her hometown before.]

It's...well. Have you ever heard of 'pay it forward'?

[This isn't really the truth either, but it's a kinder answer. Maybe someone as jumpy as Katniss needs a bit of kindness right now.]

[ She just continues looking at him, trying to figure him out. They just met. He's offering his help, no strings attached. It's kindness, yes, but she's spent a long time without genuine kindness it's kind of...

... hm. ]

... Not really.

[Well, he might as well start there.]

It works like this: several years ago, a colleague of my wife did me a favor by getting me a job at Uitspan. Now, he lives in another country, so paying him back for that favor would be incredibly difficult. So instead, I 'pay the favor forward' by helping others who haven't helped me first. Say you, for this example here. In return for the favor paid to me by someone else, I do you a favor by helping you get home. But by doing that favor for you, odds are we will never meet again. So instead, at a time in the future when someone you meet needs help, you would help them.

The idea is that if everyone is 'paying it forward' instead of 'paying it back', there will always be someone ready to jump in and help when someone is in need. Then nobody's cries for help will go unanswered.

[ ... Wow. They can't afford anything like that in Twelve, but it's a nice idea. ]

So I just help out the next person who needs it. That's the idea?

Pretty much.

[He's actually kind of glad that he went with that story instead of trying to put words to his actual emotions and explain why he would offer to help Katniss, because he sure as hell can't think of an accurate way to describe it. "You look like you've seen hell and I kind of pity you for that" is about as close as he could get, and he's sure she would not take that well.]

Think you can manage that?

[ She takes a moment... but then she nods. ]

I think so, yeah. I can try.

Good, then we have an understanding.

[And Luca doesn't get punched in the face for being insensitive.

But he will also offer a hand to her, as if he is meant to escort her around. Since it's what a polite gentleman does and all.]

Now then, shall we?

[ .... unfortunately, this is Katniss, and that's sort of lost on her! But she nods. ]

Yeah, I guess. Lead the way?

[AND OFF THEY GOOO probably until the Coordinators show up or something because it's not like they're actually getting out of this place or anything.]

Welcome.

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