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]

Obviously! I believe some of the same could be taken into account for my own title as well. It is utterly unique in that it is possibly the longest of anyone's, but...a few monikers could stand to be adjusted.

[unhappylittletrees]

Oh thank god, I'm not the only one who noticed every other person here is practically a toddler. [Sir, you think you're are not that much older.] It's weird.

Uh, yeah! Jamie Fell. And you're- [He looks down at the...whatever this is strapped to his arm.] Max?

[karappo]

A game, you say...

[Karamatsu's expression and the way he's quirked his brow says he isn't so sure about that.]

Why, because there are rules imposed here?

[dejabrew]

[The best thing about a french press are the long, contemplative minutes while it steeps. Bolton only notices the sound of someone else's breathing because it so closely matches the deep, even rhythm of his own.]

You don't have to just stand over there smelling it. Come over here, you can have some when it's done.

[karappo]

I have five brothers.

[He says that immediately and without hesitation.]

The rest should be here, somewhere...but I do not see them listed on these profiles.

[le_mat]

[Akira nods, hmmm-ing to himself]

How quick was the security on it? Did you find anything out?

library

[immaculacies]

Mm, probably.

[Thanks for the helpful reply, Manaka. She came to that conclusion herself, earlier, but she doesn't feel inclined to share her own reasoning.

So, instead:]

...I've never heard of the Lunar Veil before. What is it?

[playthedamncard]

It's incredibly advanced for a VR. But not out of the realm of possibility. Something like smell could even be induced by filtering a scent wherever our bodies might be, although for the sheer potential variety, it might be easier and more cost-effective to program it in.

[unhappylittletrees]

I mean, it's only November so it's technically not too late if you wanna catch someone off guard...

[He pauses and looks down Osomatsu with a little more scrutiny.] Do you have any idea what's happening here?

[photoshooter]

[He does his best to sound reliable.]

No, but I've gotten used to looking around for treasure and secret passages, you know? So I can help you find a way out if you wanna work together.

[um.]

[stillstands]

[She'll make it at her own coffee after she takes a sip of it. No shade at Bolton's brew.]

... Complicated might be a better word?

[Zombiefied would be another, but that's not exactly something you blurt out casually to strangers.]

I don't have a problem with school itself though, if that's what you mean.

[theundertaken]

Yeah! And, uh, a champion portrait artist, I guess.

[.....totally matter-of-factly:] So, I guess you and me gonna have to duel to the death for art supremacy.

[unhappylittletrees]

Jamie Fell, moderately less adorable but equally confuses college student.

[karappo]

My. That is quite some time to be spent languishing in space...

[He hopes that doesn't turn out to be the rest of them, too...

But more importantly!]

If I may...would you like some assistance in finding your hat?

[playthedamncard]

I'm sorry, does being chosen for an unheard of program for communal living in space sound more realistic to you?

[in4apounding]

No it's not? Most people who want to become Huntsmen or Huntresses start training MUCH earlier than that, it would be pretty hard with a weapon that can't fire anything.

[Next you'll be saying that most guns don't turn into anything else or something.]

And my name is Penny, it's a pleasure to meet you!

[photoshooter]

Uh, I dunno, like twenty?

[Anyone younger than him, basically.]

[immaculacies]

[o hi, neighbor]

No. [There is a stunning lack of emotion in this child's voice.] Or maybe we both do, now.

[discalibur]

Well, perhaps not entirely...

But even then, VR, really?

[playthedamncard]

Rules, including a possible means of escape. Kidnapping several people and locking them in a virtual reality game world may not sound plausible, but it's not unheard of. [He's got experience with that one.]

[unhappylittletrees]

[He has to do a doubletake, unsure if this guy is really serious before relaxing and nodding sagely.]

Artists are like Highlanders: there can be only one.

[Haha, guess who hasn't looked at the rules page yet.]

[playthedamncard]

I suppose everyone must be given a champion title for good reason. [NOT HIM THOUGH NOPE]

[le_mat]

[He perks up, smiling]

Thank you, I'd love some.

[photoshooter]

Because they're probably evil? We've been kidnapped! That's not something helpful people do!

[GUYS you are in a LIBRARY, SHHHH!]

[stillstands]

[Over twenty people. Yeah, there's a lot of them here, given the size of the place.]

... Which could be longer than we think.

[There is a lot of food here. Including, uh... ... pretty squashy looking package that claims to contain "chicken and mushroom pasta". What else is in this box, there's a lot of packets now she properly takes a look in there...]

But I don't think any of us want to be here permanently, even if they are offering us-- [Rustle, rustle.] ... ginger pork and rice... by the pack?

[Can she just... take this box with her when she goes? That would solve the food worries and constant list making the club had, and would be one less responsibility on Yuuri's shoulders.]