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

[sadisticwarfare]

Interesting. The Crimson Alchemist I heard of spelled his name with a Z, as it's listed under my information.

[Which is still baffling, because Kimbley should be dead.]

[explosivecombat]

It's something to bear in mind, I suppose.

[...Oh, well, whatever.]

I imagine you've been working out what to make of the situation overall...?

[sadisticwarfare]

[It's probably best just to drop it and accept that this is what his life looks like now. He's here with the Crimson Alchemist even if things aren't matching up properly that's still... wonderful. Great. Why is this man listed on his "likes".]

It's a work in progress. There's a lot to process.

[And that's almost sarcastic. Goddamn does he not want to be here.]

[explosivecombat]

With any luck, we won't be here long enough to be able to process all of it.

[I mean, hopefully we'll find something absurdly volatile and just blow up a wall or something. It's a bit of an inelegant solution unless it's done right, but it is a solution regardless.]

[sadisticwarfare]

I hope not. The sooner we find a way out, the better. I have work I need to get back to.

[The mysteries of Lab Five won't solve themselves!]

[explosivecombat]

Likewise.

[...]

My history with our nation's military aside, I see no reason to not offer cooperation for the time being. Given the situation and all.

[sadisticwarfare]

Given the situation, it would be stupid to turn that down.

[He doesn't have much of an issue with working with a war criminal anyway.]

[explosivecombat]

[He was pardoned, asshole.]

Good to see that we're in agreement, then - if there's anything I have to offer regarding the situation, I'll let you know.

[sadisticwarfare]

[YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD]

Good to know. Thank you, Kimblee.

[At least that sounds better than "Solf".]

[explosivecombat]

[PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE IS MAD THAT HE'S NOT DEAD]

Of course.

I imagine I can expect likewise, should you find anything relevant?

[sadisticwarfare]

Of course. It's in our best interest to work together, after all.

[explosivecombat]

If those rules they've posted are to be believed, I'd say so.

[sadisticwarfare]

It doesn't really matter if they're to be believed or not. If even one person does believe in them, then we'll have quite a bit of trouble to deal with.

[To put it lightly.]

[explosivecombat]

Yes and no - if someone acts on them and the rules are legitimate, that will end this entire unpleasant business one way or another. I don't think it will end simply, but it will end.

If they aren't...well, I suppose that means we're locked in here with a corpse, which is unpleasant business in a different sort of way.

[sadisticwarfare]

[That gets a small noise of assent from him but he's sort of smirking now.]

Just imagine what a mess that would be. I'm a little disgusted just thinking about it.

[BUT IT'S ALSO KIND OF FUNNY]

[explosivecombat]

[Good, you're awful. This arrangement is going to be acceptable.]

Oh, it would absolutely be repulsive, I've no doubt about that.

[sadisticwarfare]

Let's hope our hosts won't be cruel enough to leave us to clean up a mess like that.

[explosivecombat]

We'll see what they're like eventually, I'm sure; they'll make an appearance soon enough. It would just be a waste to do otherwise, since they put so much effort into the setup and all.

[sadisticwarfare]

Indeed. I doubt they'll keep us waiting in suspense for too long.