Let's Play 20 Questions

[trainmasters]

Who: Everyone
When: Day 30, afternoon
Where: the Aurora

[Though the sun should be high in the air, just after noon the sky clouds over, and a steady drizzle begins. While gloomy, it's not particularly harsh, and the warm weather means you might even enjoy being out in it! In fact, the relatively thin and patchy clouds mean you may seem rainbows here and there. It's quite nice, really -- except, that is, that there are now tiny frogs everywhere. Near the train they're safe, but closer to the corrupt areas they're toxic.

At the same time, you hear the jingle associated with an official message from your Chain -- the usual "newbie time" balloon animation and text:]

WELCOME NEW HEROES

[This round's new blood are waking up in their rooms, in the usual nondescript undies or team pyjamas.

For the first hour or so, it seems that'll all that'll happen today. But then there's that all too familiar Trial feeling...

...Aaaand a flashy pink convertible has arrived in the clearing. It's followed up by another message:]

Hello, everyone. Your ever-grateful Prince speaking. It's been awhile and we've got some new faces, so I'm here to answer a few questions.

Buut to spare myself a little, I'm limiting it to one question per hero. I'll tell the truth, no matter what you ask, as long as it's at all reasonable! After that though, I reserve the right to cut you off -- but I won't, probably, if you play nice.

Sooo, how about you come outside and see me?

[Message sent, Cardamom gets out of his car and unfurls a big, incredibly sparkly silver umbrella. It looks like the most intensely holographic nail polish you can buy, and the raindrops only make it worse.]

[[OOC NOTES: As the monthly prompts, the rain and frogs will continue until next month's placements. You can find more info on them in the announcements over here!

If you want to tag Cardamom, there's a toplevel here. If you have any questions, please ping the mods via the q&a. Thank you!]]

Comments

[bondkeeper]

That's cute.

So what should I know around here? I got the newbie welcome letter and all, but you know, besides that.

[crimeson]

[winks cheerfully at the praise]

Does the welcome letter include the "world's fucked, make friends to save it" part? It's been a while.

[bondkeeper]

Yeah, that was pretty much the thrust of it.

[crimeson]

Cool. Umm... half of us can turn into wolves whenever we want now, so don't worry about strays.

[bondkeeper]

How many is half of us?

[crimeson]

Jasmine and Thyme. Well, 'cept you, now, I guess.

Half is a strong word.

[bondkeeper]

Oh, I thought you were saying like, half of Jasmine. How many of us are there?

[ and starting for the stairs again ]

Any problem if I go take a look around?

[crimeson]

S'just you an' me an' Coral an' 80H, when it comes to Jasmine. And a couple of other teams in similar situations.

Nah. Shall I walk with you, or do you wanna do that alone?

1/3

[bondkeeper]

Huh, small. “Heroes” hard to grab or something-?

[bondkeeper]

-

[bondkeeper]

Yeah, sure. Show me the ropes, Randy.

[crimeson]

[what was that pause...]

... We had more. Our numbers have been dwindling.

[raises an eyebrow]

What, want a tour?

[bondkeeper]

[ wait let’s return to the tour topic in a sec ]

They die?

[crimeson]

Not dying per se, more like... not bonding enough, so the train can't hold them? Though that explanation doesn't really work with some of the people we have on board, so maybe we're just lucky.

[bondkeeper]

Like wh-

[ >enter kitchen
>see 80H
>everything else briefly ceases to exist ]

[crimeson]

[holy shit

uh

letting them?? do that??]

[bondkeeper]

[ honestly needs another couple minutes to just, moon at her back while she goes about the kitchen before remembering Randy is there and abruptly lifting her head from her arms ]

Oh, right, uh- tour after lunch?

[crimeson]

... Yeah, whenever works for you.

You guys, uh, from the same place?

1/2

[bondkeeper]

[ straightens up some just to hunch down into her shoulders a little, drumming her fingers self-consciously on the counter ]

Not, like, originally. But before here, kinda. Although that time we were on-

[bondkeeper]

[ stops drumming her fingers to mash her face in her hands ]

Oh holy fuck we're on the same team.

[crimeson]

... Different teams before, I take it.

[another pause]

Congrats?

[bondkeeper]

[ jumps like a scared fucking rabbit ]

Haha what? For what?

[crimeson]

For... same team? I dunno if it's really something to congratulate for, but.

[bondkeeper]

Nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

[crimeson]

[that- startles a laugh out of him.]

Right. No clue what that means, but that's your business!