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

The former. I'm afraid I haven't any idea as to what's going on.

[She clasps her hands in front of her stomach with her expression showing a bit of worry now.]

I sort of figured that'd be the case.

[ Ugh. She groans again, opening her eyes slowly as she slows her playing and glances back up at Estelle.

... She's flashy looking, but she looks human. Too many of them look human. ]

[Yeah, she's about as human as the rest of them.]

Is something the matter?

[She notices she's being stared at a bit.]

I... I mean aside from us being involved in what seems like a mass kidnapping. [Because that obvious, right?]

Nothing you can help with. Besides, you'll be dead in a few days anyway.

[ Sigh. Okay, looking back down at the keys. Cute girl, pink hair, seems pleasant... given all those rules someone'll kill her to get them all out? actually, maybe she should and just end all this quicker. ]

[When that's said, Estelle's eyes go blank as she lowers her head so her hair covers her eyes.]

Dead? [Her body starts to shake a bit.]

Yes, I... it could be a possibility. After all, I...

[No, she doesn't want to go into that. Instead she simply stands there almost looking like she's trying not to cry.]

[ What, she's not even going to deny the possibility? She's not sure if she respects that or not, but she glowers down at the piano. ... Yes, it's logical for her to just kill her now and be done with it, right? The rules said no one needed to find out, but then who'd find the girl if she got her neck snapped and then shoved in the piano? No one can know anyone yet...

...

She's going to soft. ]

Of course it is, just look at you.

If you're implying I'll be the target of someone's murderous whims, I'm afraid you're mistaken.

[It's then she recomposes herself as if she misunderstood what Elda was initially saying.]

I'm capable of fighting and I know how to use a sword.

[Except that sounds absolutely rich coming from a girl who looks like a twig and doesn't look like she's done manual labor in her life.]

You don't have a sword on you.

[ She responds glibly. But she does stop her playing, not quite looking at the other, but an idea forming in her head ]

No, but that doesn't mean other alternatives aren't available.

[Like the knives in the kitchen...!]

[ Well, then lets test it. In a blindingly quick movement (or at least far quicker than you'd expect her to be able to move) Elda shoots a finger out right towards one of Estelle's eyes, as if intending to stab it.

She's going to stop short either way, but still. ]

[Agility is not one of Estelle's strength, so dodging isn't something she can really do, especially since she didn't feel any ill intent from Elda. Instead, she crosses her eyes upward looking at the finger. There was a moment of fear, but it's gone once she realizes she wasn't actually attempting to hurt her.]

Y-you won't harm me. You have no reason to.

[Though that doesn't mean that didn't scare Estelle for a bit and it shows.]

On the contrary, I've got every reason to kill you and stuff you corpse in this piano. I've got some grandchildren to get back to, you see.

[ She says this with her voice pushing out pure malice, her eyes focusing hard on the girl's as they turn cat-like and she bares her fangs. The finger remains poised there in place as the rest of her body slinks to catch up to it. ]

I have things to get back to back home as well, however, I won't kill anyone to get to it.

[In fact, people might be doing her world a favor if they kill her here, but she won't say that... yet.]

Good for you. That doesn't explain away me.

[ but the finger shifts from her eye to instead languish by way of raking it on Estelle's cheek. ]

I don't think you would do it. It wouldn't be worth it.

[Then again, Estelle is a bad judge of character, but whatever. She likes to believe in the good in people.]

[ Oh.

... No, she was going to let it drop with just this warning and her resisting her desires, but now she makes to stand, intending t shove Estelle over in much the same movement. ]

Wrong answer! My family's worth over a hundred of the lives of everyone else here! There's nothing which wouldn't be worth it about it! [ She makes a fist, but. ] I just don't know how the rules quite work yet, that's all.

It's because of that. I understand you wish to go back to your family, but would they approve of you killing someone just to return to them?

[That's how she's thinking about it even if she's getting backtalk from Elda as well as that shove, but the princess keeps her balance.]

Does it matter, as long as I do?

[ She responds flatly.

... But no, Henry would not. Nor would Karin. ]

I think it does. The people you care about, while they would understand that you killed to return to them, it seems rather extreme in this situation, don't you think?

[ Well, they wouldn't need to know.

But... ]

... That's so soft.

[ She flicks the other girl in the forehead - or makes to reach up to do so. ]

What was your name, girl?

[She winces when her forehead is flicked.]

Estellise. My name is Estellise.

Right.

[ She brushes back her hair. ]

I'm Elda Marker, and I'll be sure to remember your name from here out.

Yes, you as well, Elda.

[Then again how could she forget after that?]

I'm going to go back to playing, the noise'll probably help my headache more than the silence in the room.

[ TO THE PIANO.

... But yeah basically stay or leave, your call. she seems to think the conversation's done. ]

I understand.

[She gives Elda a polite bow as she elects to leave. At least she's smart enough to know that she could be in potential danger if she stays.]

Welcome.

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