Welcome, Participants

[mockmods]

Good morning, Participants. The time is now 7:30 AM.

[Where were you before this? Doesn’t matter, you’re here now, in an unfamiliar bed, surrounded by unfamiliar people, with a slightly-too-cheerful automated voiced chiming over a PA system to wake you up. Your pockets are empty, save for an unfamiliar smartphone type of device that comes alive under your touch, displaying, among other things, a map, a series of profiles, and a list of rules.]

It is understood that you may have questions; please be patient, and gather back in the Common Room in one hour. The Assistant will be present at this time to answer your questions. In the meantime, please feel free to explore the Facility at your leisure.

[The doors to the dorm areas are freely open from the inside, though you’ll find that it takes your electronic id to regain entry once you’ve left. Otherwise, it’s as the voice says, and you’ve got an hour to explore your new surroundings and get to know your fellow kidnappees.]

[Welcome to the Facility.]

Comments

[aragona]

[Sonia doesn't have her rapier so there's not much to threaten her with apart from a spooky glare-]

What did you do to me?!

[in4apounding]

Me? Nothing!

[She sounds a little offended at the suggestion? She would never? Jeeze.]

Or- do you mean in general? Because in that case-

[Penny thinks for a second, trying to summarize.]

You've been selected and brought here to be a Participant in a very important study, assigned teams and bunkmates, a-a-and had any extrahuman powers temporarily nullified for the duration? I think that covers it?

[aragona]

Powers?! What about my ability to walk during daylight hours? How were you able to nullify that?

[She's even more suspicious of this girl - clearly not a mortal. Sonia points an accusatory finger.]

Are you a member of the Ordi Dracul?

[in4apounding]

I don't know the details of the process, aside from it being very technical. Though I'd think something like that was likely left alone? Since. Um. It's daytime now, and you're fine? There's no actual daylight within the facility, if that's what you're worried about! But the point is to keep everyone on as even a field as possible, I think. Walking in the sun isn't really an extra-HUMAN ability, after all.

[aragona]

[Does she seriously not know. For being an Ghoul, assistant, whatever, she doesn't appear to grasp the subtle nuances of the Kindred Condition. Just staying alert past sunrise is a feat only the dedicated of the Ordo Dracul can accomplish.

Not that is makes Penny sympathetic to her. Sonia takes a wide step closer.]

Who is behind this.

[in4apounding]

[Oh good, they're back to questions she can actually answer. Progress!]

The Researcher! He's VERY smart, don't worry, I'm sure he knows exactly what he's doing.

[aragona]

No, tell me who he's working for. [Another step closer, eyeing anything in the room that would make for a makeshift weapon.] What is he going to do with us at the end? How do we get out of here?

[Because this sounds like an underground experiment facility that focuses on the metaphysical and mmmmm Sonia does not have positive feelings on that.]

[in4apounding]

I don't think he's working for anybody but himself?

[And straightening up a little as Sonia closes the distance, she's not gonna be intimidated if you're talking about her friend in that tone.]

[And this is absolutely an underground experiment facility, possibly literally, so good instincts there.]

And when this ends, he is going to let you go home, why would he keep you after the program ends? And you can get out of here by- just being patient.

[aragona]

That's what they always say! [And they never tell you how long it takes. She storms right up to Penny and glares.] They leave you to rot and expect you to thank them!

[in4apounding]

Miss Argona no one is going to rot here and you need to calm down right now!

[Said all in one breath, or- whatever counts as a breath for a robot.]

[aragona]

[Sonia? Calm down? When she's already worked up?

Sorry Penny, she grabs your arm and yanks her closer.]

I might have lost my powers, but I'm still stronger than a mortal.

[No need to hide that now that it's public information.]

[in4apounding]

[Yeah, the grab might be a small mistake.]

PARTICIPANTS MAY NOT HARM FACILITY STAFF-

[It sounds more like an automatic reaction than natural speech, almost like a recording- which would probably be weirder if Penny hadn't already told everyone she was a robot.]

[But, um. That arm Sonia's trying to grab? Sort of twists around to grab back, and then there's a sweeping motion, and with a speed she probably hasn't felt since she was human, and very suddenly she's on the floor with her arm held behind her back.]

[At least it's carpeting.]

[Not very soft carpeting, but carpeting.]

PLEASE calm down, Miss Argona. ...You're not hurt, are you?

[aragona]

[She should have seen this coming, really. Penny was not human, obviously she was strong. But Sonia was strong, too - she should have been able to react quickly and fight back.

The floor meets her face before she can even move onto the next thought.]

Get off me! [She probably shouldn't kick at Penny uselessly, but here we are.]

[in4apounding]

Um-

[There's a moment's hesitation.]

I want to, really? But. It kind of seems like you'll just try attacking me again if I do it right this second.

[gangplankgalleon]

‘THE RESEARCHER’ IS A STUPID NAME FOR A VILLAIN! What is he going to do, research me to death?!

[coming from a crocodile whose creator says has a stupid name]

[in4apounding]

He's not a villain!

[She knows everyone is upset, but REALLY.]

[gangplankgalleon]

OH, he pales in comparison to me I’m sure, but irregardless! Allow me to take over this operation, my dear, and I’ll show you true villainy! Not this...hack researcher!

[he’s so salty]

HONESTLY, A RESEARCH GIMMICK! WHAT A STUPID THEME!

[in4apounding]

....I'm not sure "irregardless" is actually a word?

[She pulls out her small handheld device again and starts tapping at the screen, looking it up.]