Welcome.

[trustharder]

You last remember feeling safe.

You don't know what caused that response, now that you think about it; you can't remember what you were doing before the warm, comfortable feeling came over you, a sensation somewhere between relief and the light contentment that comes with the knowledge that you're safe enough to sleep and god, are you ready to. It feels like you may have been sleeping for a while before this, even; your limbs are heavy in the memory, and you recall how difficult it was to open your eyes.

Turning your head is likewise difficult, it feels kind of like it's full of sand. Weighted-down by sleep. It's so much easier to remain still, and so you do, and before you haze out again you can vaguely hear a voice.

It's no one you recognize, and it sounds strange and vaguely distorted as you start to drift off again.

"Everything'll be fine."

There isn't an answer that you can hear; the voice speaks once more.

"...you ready?"

You don't remember what you wanted to say to that. Always, maybe. Or Ready for what? Or perhaps What's happened to me?

But none of it matters, because consciousness slips away from you too quickly for you to respond.

---

You wake up some time later; the comfortable, safe feeling from earlier certainly isn't dampened any by the bed you wake up in. Whether you like it soft as a cloud or firm enough to support the most finicky of spines, the bed you're in is nice, and it's pretty much exactly what you've been looking for in a mattress.

Shame the rest of the room is probably going to be a bit jarring when you wake up properly.

The room you're in is completely unfamiliar, all concrete and steel and almost nothing that makes it yours - but there's a trunk near the bed and there's what looks like a smartphone sitting on the trunk, and you might want to grab that before you leave the room. Trying to text or call out won't do anything for the time being, unfortunately, but it's something. A lifeline, maybe.

If you're looking to see if anyone is here with you, maybe you can find someone as you wander through the main corridor; after all, there are a few places to explore here, even if the bulk of the place is pretty much a straight shot down the center. If you're looking to gather, the dining hall is probably the best place for it, as it's large enough to accommodate all of you.

Wherever you choose to go, however, there are a set of rules posted in every room; the far wall of the dining hall, across from the entrances, also has a bulletin board with twenty-seven pictures, along with some...interesting information, posted on it. The board is large enough for all of you to look at it, but you might not want to try to get at anything posted there; just like the rules, there's glass in front of it, and it's looking to be extremely shatterproof.

Sorry about that.

There's one more thing you'll notice on your wanderings through the corridor – there are no windows, and there are no doors that can possibly lead outside.

Looks like you're trapped. Might as well get to know those that are here with you.

Comments

[lackinginfaith]

[Oh. One of those. Caren immediately narrows her eyes and frowns.]

No. You know where we are, don't you?

[cherryblooded]

Haven't got a clue. You might be better informed than me, miss.

[What about him screams 'in control of the situation'? It's the suit, isn't it.]

[lackinginfaith]

Said the sea witch to someone like me? Don't you work for that person?

[cherryblooded]

Ah - I think there's a misunderstanding. Wadanohara's our Witch, not me. I'm just a shrimp.

[lackinginfaith]

So you're a sea animal who looks something like a human but not quite, but you don't call yourself a sea witch, and you don't work for him. That's what you're telling me.

[cherryblooded]

Considering I have no idea who 'him' is supposed to be, yes, that's what I'm saying.

[lackinginfaith]

...What.

[cherryblooded]

So I take it you're not from the Sea Kingdom.

[At the very least, she'd have to recognize Wadanohara's name.]

[lackinginfaith]

Sea Kingdom?

[She blinks at that.]

That's definitely different. I'm from the southern nation. You don't recognize me, either?

[cherryblooded]

Not at all. Do you know Princess Uomi, perhaps?

[Why is the ocean big.]

[lackinginfaith]

I don't know all the princesses yet. That was why I was--

...Don't tell anyone about this. This place is crawling with humans, and if this isn't your fault, then I don't know whose it is.

[cherryblooded]

Some of us don't have the option of keeping our species a secret [tail swish] but if you'd like to pretend, I won't out you.

[lackinginfaith]

Some don't have the option of not doing it.

[cherryblooded]

Is it really so bad not to be human...?

[lackinginfaith]

You know what they say. It's how the world works. I'm Caren.

[cherryblooded]

[What do they say? Oh well.]

Cherryblod. Nice to meet you.

[lackinginfaith]

Likewise. At least as nice as it is to meet anyone else in wherever this is.

[cherryblooded]

The circumstances could be better... But I don't see why I have to let that get to me.

[lackinginfaith]

All I can say is, let's hope we can get out soon.

[cherryblooded]

We will. There's too many of us to keep under control, realistically.

[Or optimistically.]

[lackinginfaith]

Hm. That's something to think about, anyway.

[cherryblooded]

In the meantime, what should we do to occupy ourselves? Already searched this floor a few times.

[lackinginfaith]

It looks like people are wandering into the dining hall. Maybe there's something there after all.

[cherryblooded]

Might as well see what's interesting there.