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

[neverafters]

1. Anywhere

Nooooooo...!

The King said, this is not his beautiful kingdom! [ THIS IS NOT HIS LOVELY WIFE. And wouldn't it be more accurately "yelled"?

A small bird-like(?) creature who looks more like a sentient art piece runs around in a panic continuing to scream, his cape trailing his steps, and the crown bounced along atop his little head. Tears are in his eyes, and when he eventually exhausts himself, he slows his run to a halt, breathing heavily and weeping in place. Alternatively--he could've outright run into you. Being a nervous wreck at the time does not make for excellent navigational skills. ]

2. The Bulletin Boards

[ The King seems to have properly fallen silent at this time, having (temporarily) used up all his tears earlier. He finds his own profile first, and reels back at the terrible picture taken of him. Really, they couldn't have picked one where he looked more friendly? And how did they even get these and their info... When he spots you beside him, he steals a sideways glance, then up to your profile, as if trying to already discern its accuracy. ]

2.

[capyper]

[ Well, isn't this a cute... bird? Yato's not sure, but whatever, he won't sweat the little details here such as species and the like. If a cat can be deified, a bird thing can be royalty, he doesn't have a problem with that. ]

Hey, nice crown.

[ Yato likes the motif, he's even got a tiny crown stitched into the collar of his clothes. ]

[neverafters]

The... King thanks you. [ It still sounds like a bit of a question mark at the end there?

But getting complimented is always nice, even if they're stuck in who-knows-where! So it seems to help him ease up, a bit. He nods then fluffs up happily. ] The King also likes yours.

The King asked, do you agree with your profile?

[capyper]

Thanks, Your Highness! You have good taste, clearly.

[ And this is even before he knows he made this outfit... ]

And yeah, I'd say so. Nothing about it is wrong, at least. Why do you ask?

1

[cherryblooded]

[The King completely just ran right into him. Oops.

Luckily for him, Cherryblod is absolutely used to animal people, although maybe not ones that look quite like this one. As such, his first concern is that he's crying.]

Slow down - take deep breaths.

[It's trite, but sometimes it works.]

[neverafters]

[ At first it seems like he's still trying to blubber something, but the calm of the stranger works and the birds nod. Steady now... ]

H-h... the... K-king thanks you.

[ Wiping his eyes with his cape, the monarch took a slightly-more-composed look around and lowers his head. ]

He has never been so away. The King was crying because he doesn't know where he is. What is this place, he asked?

[cherryblooded]

[Third person? He's heard weirder speech patterns.]

I don't know. The signs call it 'the Vault', but that doesn't really mean anything to me.

1.

[amygdalae]

[Ah--

He really shouldn't be so surprised any more, but--yeah.

He's surprised.

Bruce blinks and stares at the strange bird like creature that's more or less crashed into him, taking a moment to process what he's seeing. He has no idea what it is aside from 'bird-like', but its clearly in distress and Bruce can't just walk away from that.]

--my apologies. Are you alright?

[neverafters]

The King cannot lie. So the truth he will say. The King is... not alright. The King is far from alright...! S-sniff...

[ Then he starts crying some more. And the others around him are distinctly not birds. He's not used to feeling this tiny. ]

[amygdalae]

[Oh boy. Bruce kind of looks incredibly lost for a second because he thinks he should pet the bird, but is it even okay with being petted?? Suddenly sentient animals is not what he's equipped to deal with.]

I--ah-- [Okay, just treat this like he would any normal person. He did the same for Cherryblod after all.] Just... calm down. Take a couple of deep breaths, if you can.

2

[penduli]

[ Is

is this a bird. Black stares at him, then realizes HE'S BEEN CAUGHT STARING. Well--well--er-- do you talk up birds? Do you make conversation? Do you-- ]

You're Ka...uh, Conscious, right? [ THANKS, HANDY-DANDY PROFILES. He's the only like, 3ft thing around here in a weird bird-shaped form, that's gotta be his info, right... Um, er. ] ...if you're 20 plus 5, doesn't that just make you 25?

[ ...............SMOOTH. ]

[neverafters]

... The King is The King? The King said, he is not sure where the title comes from.

[ For that matter, would that mean he should call this human "The Enforcing"? He's never seen many humans in his life, it's weird to have so many around now... ]

The King does not know how old he is. The King cannot say if the number is true. The King also asks, why do you use Black as your name if you like white?

[penduli]

[ Please for god's sake call him "the enforcing"

Also neat... vocal tic? Black's not really sure what you'd categorize that as, uh. ]

White's... my sister. [ ...who he hasn't found yet and going by this list might not actually be here and oh, that is just the worst feeling in the world. What's he supposed to do without her? ] Why are you The King?

[ That "royalty" occupation thing is a joke, right? Or maybe he's a figurehead. ]

2.

[ratingspoint]

[...Oh.

You know, Mettaton usually doesn't mind catching glances from strangers - if anything, he's used to it - but there's something about this particular one, in this setting, that's enough to get him to be...slightly less aggressively himself. Monster solidarity, maybe, who knows; either way, he's actually settled down pretty well while he approaches.]

You seem troubled, sweetheart.

[neverafters]

[ The King doesn't jump back from the approach, which is a good thing! So the feelings on non-human solidarity are mutual. ]

The King is indeed troubled... Is it not the same for you? He recognizes no one, and there are so many humans. The King almost feels there was a mistake.

[ratingspoint]

[So much non-human solidarity here, bro. Have you met Cherryblod? Cherryblod is also good for this.]

Oh, it's a bit troubling to be sure, yes... Are you not used to humans either, then? They're not so bad, from what I've seen! Of course, we don't have any where I'm from, but these all seem all right.

1

[isafraid]

[Well, Speedwagon wasn't exactly a stranger to fowl running about, but...

He's surprised. Certainly. Because that is one colorful bird right there. He could fathom it was possibly exotic, like a parrot or such a bird that didn't come out of Britain. There's also the fact that it's talking!]

Pinch me, I must be having a nightmare. There's a bloody talking bird... [Oi. Just how hard did his head get hit?]

Oi! Try your best to calm down a little, alright?

[neverafters]

[ S-sob... at least talking works, and the bird breathes in, and out. Slowly... ]

Thank you, human.

[isafraid]

[Talking a talking bird out of a panic attack.

This is a new one.]

Er... don't mention it. [He crouches, trying to get a good look at this fellow.]

Cor, who would think this is possible?

2

[lackinginfaith]

King, huh.

[Caren frowns and looks the weird-looking bird over. She shakes her head.]

We're definitely not in your bird kingdom, if there are so many humans. Unless you're a king of those somehow instead.

[neverafters]

No, The King is indeed a king of birds... [ And he certainly doesn't think he'd know enough about humans' nuances to rule over them, unless his old methods would continue to work. ]

... You are also royalty?

2

[sleepingkogoro]

[That is a bird.

Of all things that had happened this day this was by far what convinced him there was something seriously weird going on.

...a bird!]

...uuuuuuh...

[Yeah, what do you tell a bird you meet inside a vault.]

[neverafters]

[ The King shifted uncomfortably, and now that the both of them were apparently caught without words... he cleared his throat. ]

The King thinks it's a pleasure to meet you?

1

[bloodisthicker]

[...he should have noticed that little... creature coming, but perhaps he was so enraptured by this weird little thing that he just sort of allows it to run right into him. Right into his leg.

...right, so this must be a spirit...]

...well, slow down, Your Majesty. I think we're all a bit out of our element here, but I think we need to approach this with a cool head.

[neverafters]

C-cool head? The King is confused, how can anyone stay calm with no way out?!

[ And for that matter... BEING SO MUCH SMALLER THAN EVERYONE but that's his own problem. ]