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

[gorira]

That's a shitty excuse, and you know it.

[ Christ, what an eyesore... ]

Alright, wise guy, humor me. We talking less? More? Or at that age, do you just stop counting?

[hentopan]

More. If you're trying to insult me you gotta try a bit harder, Barbie.

[gorira]

Who's being insulting? It was an honest question, since you seem to insist on giving me dishonest answers!

[ That is to say, she doesn't buy it. It just...it doesn't make any sense. ]

A-and who the hell are you calling Barbie?!

[hentopan]

You, of course! That's what you're going for with that whole look, right?

[ Says the man with the electric green hair under his hood and bright yellow-orange jacket... ]

[gorira]

Absolutely not! This ribbon is just important to me, got it? And talk about the pot calling the kettle black! Have you looked at yourself lately?! What the hell is that on your arms?! I wanna meet the person who told you that was a good look for you, they must be fucking blind!

[hentopan]

Oh go, go on, you're getting there! I'm sure that's not the worst you've got, right Barbie?

[ He's enjoying this, the grin on his face even wider. ]

[gorira]

I have a name, jackass! Wipe that shit-eating grin off your face, and go put on something less hideous after that, for crying out loud!

[ One would think she'd have the common sense not to engage someone clearly antagonizing her, but she can't just stand by and have him laugh at her like this-- ]

Where in God's name do you get off, anyway, huh?! Do you get your damn kicks from making fun of teenagers and strangers?! Just harassing people with no rhyme or reason?! Wouldn't a fucking 1500 year old whatever have better shit to do, or are you just that damn bored?!

[hentopan]

Ahhh there it is! [ She's just, made him happier. ]

As much as this feels good, don't you think you're missing something? You've read my age, you didn't read the rest? Oh, readings hard for you right, that's gotta be what it is. I'll be patient don't worry~.

[gorira]

Oh no, trust me, I fucking read the whole thing just fine, you edgy-ass egg-sucking chucklefuck. Hell if I know what a Guardian of Amaterasu is, but people who have a few screws loose like you, they tend to get knocked down a peg, one way or another.

[ Again, she shouldn't be indulging him, but, she can't help herself, he just makes her so angry! ]

And if that age is right, for you, it'll probably have been a long time coming.

[hentopan]

Keheheheh, well that's a new one. Usually people just call me an asshole and tell me they're going to kill me, but I kinda like it Barbie, thanks.

Sure, sure, and this'll be the time it sticks or something. Never called myself tenacious, but I can't say it's wrong.

[gorira]

You are an asshole, and I can understand the death threats, one hundred percent.

[ At the very least, she seems content not to give him the satisfaction of a punch from her, as much as it looks like she wants to hit him. What she's getting from the whole "liking despair and hatred" thing is that he's kind of a hardcore masochist.

Which kind of explains all the damn belts, now that she thinks about it. ]

But anyone who's been stirring shit for that many years, real or bullshit, tenacious has gotta suit them.

[hentopan]

[ He is totally here for this if she changes her mind. ]

They're kinda comforting and endearing.

Aww thanks, it's people like you who makes this whole cyclical bullshit almost worth it, you know?

[gorira]

And you don't think it's a little weird that you get joy out of hearing death threats? Or do you just take any attention you can get?

[ She motions to his whole...ensemble. ]

[hentopan]

Not only death threats Barbie, it's not worth it if they don't actually try.

[ BUT APPARENTLY HE DOESN'T FIND IT WEIRD. ]

[gorira]

So more than provoking people into death threats, you just like fighting. That's it, then?

[ Now she's starting to get his type. There are people like him in the gang, for sure. Or, at least, she's seen people who have gone through phases like that. They've been in the family for a little while, and they start to feel like they're invincible, and they go off looking for thrills and hitting the mattresses, so to speak.

From there, it usually goes one of two ways. Either they get their asses handed to them after they bite off more than they can chew, or they become a liability, and they're cut off before they can get pinched. ]

[hentopan]

I like hated and despair—it's not really all that complicated.

[ But when you simplify it, basically. ]