WEEK 1

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 1

[The train wouldn't stop. Not until very early the next morning. The few who might have been awake would be able to exit the train, entering the cool twilight of the dawn. The star is dark, and few stars can be seen in the sky as a cold breeze begins to blow from the mountain beyond. You can see some chunks of rock floating idly nearby, far away from the station that it won't hit trains, but near enough that one can see they are larger than the train they just disembarked.

Lastly, laid out in front of them, the first port of call: Menahoven. The mountain: The Throat of the World.

But which world? Who knows. Not any of yours. Maybe it doesn't matter. Not when you are so far from home. Not when you have no way to get off this rock without the aid of the trains-and they will not let you pass.

It looks like you're stuck here until the Conductor decides to leave. In the meantime, everyone will need to get comfortable.


There are fifteen strangers left in this place.]

Comments

[notthebreakman]

[After visiting the baggage claim, Proto Man ends up in the Lounge. He's sitting in one of the comfortable chairs and whistling a counterpoint to the sad, buzzing hum of the caged bee he obtained.

...Well, he was sitting down. But before long, he finds himself on his feet and... dancing along to the song. It's... not the most graceful thing ever, but it's also producing rose petals that flutter elegantly to the ground. (Sorry Bee Buddy, but there won't be any actual nectar or pollen for you here.)]

[zackthekiller]

[The rose petals are edible right? Because this deer thing is gonna wander over and snack on a few.

... Oh, Zack's here too.]

Huh? Where did the rose petals come from?

[notthebreakman]

[No reason why they shouldn't be. Snack away, little deer thing friend!

Oh, hi Zack.]

...It's a side effect of my power. Glad to see it has some practical use, at least.

[zackthekiller]

[Thanks guy.]

Your power? [First Eliza's rats, and now this?] Did we all get powers?

[notthebreakman]

I don't see why anyone would have been left out. They seem to correspond to our titles in some fashion or another.

[zackthekiller]

Titles?

[Being unable to read has left him out of the loop, see?]

[notthebreakman]

[Oh, right. That... complicates things, doesn't it?]

I honestly have no idea what reason our jailers have for giving them to us. I got "The Alphabet," and the rest are just as odd.

[zackthekiller]

Oh... Right...

[Illiteracy sucks.]

So what was mine, then? And what does that have to do with the alphabet? [Gesturing at the rose petals his deer thing was eating before it got distracted by the giant caged bee. What dis?]

[notthebreakman]

[Proto would be more than willing to help Zack learn, if they every got the opportunity.

...Even if it would be painfully precious for "The Alphabet" to help with literacy.]

Yours seems to be "The Watchful," if I remember your room number correctly.

[Proto hesitates before resigning himself to explaining--but then Zack ends up distracted.]

I got the bee from the baggage claim. I don't think it originally belonged to anyone here.

[zackthekiller]

The Watchful? What kinda title is that?

[He hasn't... Used his power yet.]

Huh... First random cats everywhere, and now bees? What, we got a Zoo in here or something?

[Crown the deer thing's certianly sniffing at the bee now.]

[notthebreakman]

Everyone's title is weird like that, honestly. ...Actually, some of them are even worse.

Maybe it's connected to the Bestiary in some way?

[The bee gives a grumpy buzz and attempts to jab its stinger at Crown. Thankfully, the cage won't let it through, because that thing looks way sharper than it needs to be. Sorry, Crown.]

[zackthekiller]

[Well at least Crown has the sense to back up when the bee tries to sting! So back to the petals it is. Those are tasty, and don't sting.

Meanwhile, Zack just raises an eyebrow.] Really? Is that where you got it from or what?

[otherworldlyking]

...Huh.

[ Protoman probably wasn't intending on many people seeing that, was he...? ]

[notthebreakman]

[Oh look, robots can, in fact, blush. Doctor Light really went the distance when building Proto, didn't he?]

…

…

…

You saw nothing.

[otherworldlyking]

Nah, I'm pretty sure I did.

[ A slight smirk there. Sorry not sorry, Proto. ]

[notthebreakman]

Fine, then. Let's see if your power is any less ridiculous.

[Now Proto's just being childish.]

[otherworldlyking]

[ Wow!!

. . . ]

...I think I'll pass.

[notthebreakman]

Just... don't tell anyone about this, alright?

[otherworldlyking]

Leaving your fate in my hands?

[ He can get away with trolling a lil because his power's not known. ]

[notthebreakman]

Are you really going to be like this? Why?

[Because McBurn's a troll, Proto. Weren't you paying attention?]

[otherworldlyking]

Why not?

[ Sometimes you've gotta learn the hard way!! ]

[higanbana]

[Ris tends to default to hanging out in the lounge, since it's basically her bedroom now.

She's glanced over a couple of times at the caged bee, but never actually stood up or tried to interact with Proto Man in any way...

Until she sees him dancing.]

...

[...It probably says a lot that her immediate reaction is to stand and begin collecting the rose petals from the floor. Don't make a mess!]