trustfell | Welcome.

It doesn't matter where you last were or what you were doing. What matters is that you're waking up in a decently comfortable bed in a room that's completely unfamiliar. You may feel a bit groggy, like you've slept for too long, but that will fade in time.

Welcome to Graceside Preparatory Academy.

You may want to pick up the key to your room before you leave, though don't worry. Your door won't lock automatically so you won't be locked out if you've forgotten to pick it up. The hallway outside your room is most likely full of other confused students 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 stuck in here for the time being.

The foyer also holds some very interesting information. There's a bulletin board with twenty-nine 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 students. You might be stuck here for awhile.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Come on where? What are you... I-I don't really want to look around.

[But Ashley still follows anyway.

...and maybe pout.] ...I'm not going to rant. Just make sure people are taking me seriously.

[Down the first hallway, past his room, and right in front of the barred staircase.]

You gotta be careful when it comes to explainin' danger, too much overreactin' leads to folks not believin' you.

[But you're okay for now. He's friends with a guy who thinks fuzzy caterpillars are worth bringing to everyone's attention.]

[She trails after, opening her mouth to retort that she was not overreacting, the supernatural is serious, oh why did she listen to Josh-

But she relents, nodding and letting out a frustrated sigh.]

S-so what are we even looking for?

A way out, mostly. He takes a few steps closer to the steel door at the bottom of the stairwell and knocks on it a few times.] Reckon this was the way we all got in.

Meanin' whatever's behind this door, it gonna cause us more trouble to escape.

M-makes sense. [Ashley is a little less gung-ho about knocking on the door. What if it's, like, rigged to blow? ...Okay, look, it could happen.]

You...have any experience with opening big doors?

[Look, he's trying to be the less paranoid of the two, stop suggesting thinks like this.]

Big doors what have switches on 'em. I haven't been on any sort of adventure where I had to knock somethin' this big down.

[He runs his fingers against the edges of the door in hopes for a wire, a switch, anything useful. Nothing. They're stuck here, and they need more strength to open the path to freedom. Why does the universe keep making his life worse?]

Right...so maybe not this way...now what?

[She's not going to say it! ...Yet. Look, use her existence to rise above your faults, get good.]

This, an adventure. [HA that is definitely a kind way of putting it. As Mordecai examines it closer, Ashley tenses and jumps very slightly on the tips of her toes; calm, peace-- no no, cannot do that.]

Uh. I don't know, I've never done trapped in a weird place in real life. Aren't there supposed to be...vents? Or secret passages.

["Panel opens. Head explodes!"
"Are we like, in a movie right now?!"

Strange as it is to think, that was a much nicer time. She'd really like to be investigating a weird building with Chris right now...]

["An adventure." That brings a smile to his face. How long has it been since he traveled to the outward plains of Mars with his friends? Years, decades. Maybe a proper adventure is all he needs to find himself and get over losing his saloon.

Though it would be great if the murder part didn't exist.]

Vents? That'll work! We should get to searchin' right away!

[He walks away from the door with a renewed bounce in his step. Might as well have some fun with this while it lasts.]

[Adventure isn't exactly Ashley's forte; she'd much rather just be curled up by the fire with a book and her friends and... No adventure. No murder. No fun.]

I... I think I'll have to bow out. This is all too much excitement for me, mister...

[she forgot to introduce herself it's the profiles' faults]

[He doesn't own a saloon, no one here recognizes him, and the profile lists his name. Might as well introduce himself by that instead of his title.]

Mordecai Benmont Jiminy. [He loves the sound of it.] You can call me Mr. Jiminy.

[She's young, and that's how young people call older people, right?]

Fancy. [Ashley fidgets and then remembers, right, her own name-]

You probably saw it on the board, but I'm Ashley. Ashley Williams.

[She should calm down, stand up straight, greet him in a polite fashion. Mordecai holds out a hand in attempt for her to do so.]

Pleasure to meet with you, Ashley. Saw that you're a student of sorts. What're you studyin'?

[You're asking the impossible, Mordecai. Telling a nervous Ashley to calm down is like asking for the sun to rise in the west. She does shake his hand, though.]

Um, writing. All kinds of it, but mostly creative.

[His eyes light up.]

Well, what a coincidence! I'm a writer, myself, though more of the hobbyist kind. Always wondered what it'd be like, bein' a famous novelist like Rebecca Rose Rushmore, but my chance to really shine has passed. Mostly it's some sort things for my own enjoyment, you know, nothin' too good, but it's fun.

[Oh. Oh, that does help her a little, like a turtle poking its head out of its shell.]

Oh! It...really is, isn't it? I mean, besides the writer's block and late nights and...all of that. But I really like it, especially writing like, fantasy or romance or mystery.

Well, writer's block is one of the worst an' stubborn of our enemies, but that's why we gotta find inspiration in the world around us. Heck, all this might make for a good story if we get a way out. [And with twenty-eight people to draw character inspiration from? Perfect!]

Never was one for writin' mysteries, I'm more of a romance or short everyday stories about regular folks. You know, spendin' time together, enjoyin' life.

[A frown crosses Ashley's face.] It's not really the kind of story I'd like to be a part of...or read.

I like slice-of-life too, but...there's something about a good mystery. Nothing too scary, but...thoughtful.

Well, my life's already got enough trouble as it is, wouldn't have to add any more, fiction or otherwise. You're right that thoughtful mysteries are good, but it's hard comin' up with one worth readin' about, even if they don't include murder.

Oh, I don't know about that. [With a shaky not-quite-smile, Ashley offers:] How about we talk about the finer ways to make a good mystery? After- some time to uh...take this place in?

[And...for her to calm the heck down.]

Well...might as well take you up on that offer, iffen we don't find a way out right away.

[But they will, won't they??]

[Sure, Mordecai. You just...keep believing that. Sure.]

Welcome.

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