Welcome to the Program

[airlockedmods]

Good Morning, Champions. In the interest of maintaining healthy sleep patterns, a day/night cycle is in effect. Your presence is expected in the cafeteria in exactly one hour.

[The voice comes through not a large speaker, but through the device that's attached to each Champion's arm. Further investigation of the features of the device will reveal a list of profiles, a mini-map, and a list of rules. The hallways are shiny white and silver, with running lights along the floor and lights on the ceiling, and at the junction of the hallways is a sign with a knife and fork icon and an arrow pointing down the hall.

Welcome to the Excellence Program, Champions. Time to get to know your teammates.]

Comments

[karappo]

Oh, I see! What a challenging, grand undertaking...you lead quite the exciting life, my friend.

[karappo]

[Karamatsu takes a breath, and repeats for the many, many-th time today:]

I have five identical twin brothers. We are sextuplets.

[karappo]

...I am afraid I do not know what that is.

NOT AT ALL MATSUYO IS POWERFUL

[karappo]

Difficult? In some ways, maybe...but I would not trade any of them for the world. We have done literally everything together, growing up...so it is hard imagining being apart from them.

[...]

I am...not sure how long it has been since we have been apart for more than a day, even...

[karappo]

[Holy shit.]

Really? You are serious about this? The best skater?

[theworldsliveliestcorpse]

I guess that's a good way ta think about it.

[Zombina shrugs.]

I've never really thought too deep about it ta be honest.

[quadjumps]

[ a nod. ]

Victor Nikiforov. He promised.

[quadjumps]

What about eating? How do you live? Do you eat regular human food?

[playthedamncard]

Why not? Surely military forces from around the world would want to combat such a dangerous enemy.

[theworldsliveliestcorpse]

M.O.N. stands for Monster’s of a New Law. Me and three other liminal species gals are a squad made ta deal with extra-species who exploit the loophole in the Interspecies Protection Act. 'Cause of the law prohibiting violence against extra-species, the police can't use the force needed ta arrest any liminal species law breakers.

[So uh, a real major oopsie was made when writing that law.]

So that's where we come in! 'Cause we're also liminal species, we can legally kick their asses. We went out recently when an buncha Orcs callin' themselves the Pioneer Orc Renaissance Kinsmen took a Libido Doujin hostage and started demanding that mainstream erotic manga be changed ta Orc x Royal Knight and a buncha other similar stuff.

[hellahighwater]

Guess they see it too.

[hellahighwater]

Whoa. Aren't you a little young for that? That's...actually kind of cool.

[discalibur]

I don't really know the reasons for it. All I know is that a certain organization has taken it upon themselves to handle the problem.

[theundertaken]

That's...disgusting, but okay. I've never heard of the law stopping cops from doing literally anything. They definitely shoot people.

[karappo]

[Oh good another name he's never heard of.]

Is he also Russian?

[karappo]

I...would not say that, exactly. Is that not what brothers do anyway, regardless? You know...sibling rivalry, and all?

[hellahighwater]

Wouldn't know. Only child.

[theworldsliveliestcorpse]

Whoa!

[Well damn, that's unusual.]

That musta been one lively childhood ya had with that many siblings around!

[theworldsliveliestcorpse]

Pretty much almost the same as an normal human! S'kinda a boring answer, but it's true. Only a few deviations here and there, like stretches before going ta bed ta prevent rigor mortis, and getting my preservative fluids replaced every three weeks so I don't start rotting.

[theworldsliveliestcorpse]

Yeah. It's not intentional. The law was kinda rushed since it was put into place with the public reveal of the existence of liminal species. We're more a temporary solution until they can find a better solution.

[keepmeinyourheart]

Then why still call them monarchies if they are merely ceremonial?

[keepmeinyourheart]

So... in saving the past, you have become trapped in it. That seems a very ill fate...

[keepmeinyourheart]

I would not know what it truly means to be lonely. As Oracle and the former princess of Tenebrae, I have always been surrounded. My constant companions are Pryna and Umbra, and I would not be where I am without their support.

[Luna, they are dogs. Dogs are not the same as humans.]

[keepmeinyourheart]

Have you told her this? That you appreciate her?

[photoshooter]

[He looks up at the sudden, gentle touch, and then he swallows, squeezing his eyes shut, before coming back up with a wobbly attempt at a smile.]

I--I know. And in a situation like that, I would've just been in everyone else's way. But...

[Noct, lying lifelessly on that bed in the Leville because Leviathan took everything he had and then some, power that wasn't his, blazing through him because he had no choice but to win--and, winning, left scoured out and empty, not knowing what he lost. Noct, waking up to loneliness and a ring of death.

The wobbly smile falls away.]

But it's not fair. I, I'm glad you're okay, but Noct... Noct thinks you're dead. Everyone thinks you're dead. And Ardyn had no reason to hurt you.