I am too idle to destroy for nothing.

[facultwist]

[ Eventually, there’s a crackle over the antiquated loudspeaker system - looks like even this place isn’t free of Announcements - and a voice speaks up. It’s… well, it’s definitely a female voice, but with all the static that’s pretty much all you can pick up. ]

All right, ladies, let’s move it on down to the lounge! Through the dining room and to the left from the main hall, if you haven’t been yet.

[ The lounge could be cozy, under other circumstances. It probably was cozy at one point or another. Something is foreboding about it right now, though. Maybe it’s just the way the stuffed deer head on the wall is looking at you? ]

Looks like you’re all here… great! Hello and welcome, I’m your Interim Headmistress until the blizzard is over, and I have a game for us all to play! And sorry, it’s not an icebreaker. Little more intense.

[ The television flicks on without anyone touching it, and from the static… a kinda janky camera feed of the very room you stand in emerges. Which is a little strange, because there are no visible cameras. ]

Let’s go over the rules, shall we?

[ You know the lettering that shows up on old VHS tapes? The rule types itself out on the bottom of the screen. Well, ignoring any interruptions, the first several rules print themselves across the screen. The louder any questions or confusion get, the more the camera changes to different angles in the room, seeking out faces to display.

The Headmistress doesn’t speak up again until all of the rules have gone by. Yes, even Rule Seven. ]

Now, I’m sure you all have questions, and I have responsibilities on my end. Probably you don’t believe me. But here’s your new Guidance Counselor to get you… better acquainted.

Comments

[emptynester]

[ It's not long after that that indeed the door to the conservatory opens, and a surprisingly friendly-looking, almost motherly woman crosses into the room. She closes a pocketwatch as she does so, looking around at all of you. ]

Hello, my name is... you can just call me Isabella. I'm afraid the Interim Headmistress is quite serious, and it falls to me to answer your questions in her place.

[ She seems... a little annoyed about that, maybe? There's some kind of Feeling there. ]

[forwantofahorse]

[Oh. Oh.

...okay, Sayo. Time to lock in.]

Forgetting for the moment that we have no reason to kill each other over some "game"...

What's the prize for winning? And, if it's possible to lose, what's the consequence for doing so?

[emptynester]

The prize for winning is being let out, of course!

[ She says it as if it's... well, anything but the subject they're discussing. ]

If you don't believe her, you can wait for the storm to die down. But you might be waiting a while.

[tomestones]

[This is so goddamn much. Dagr doesn't believe it's serious, but like, how could they. The idea that this setup was somehow perfectly aligned with someone's motivations to force kids to kill each other is just wild. Not to mention the kids killing each other part.

So really, there's just one question to ask, regardless of how serious all this is:]

So uh, quick question. Why? Why any of this. It's a really stupid joke, y'know.

[emptynester]

[ She sighs. ]

The Headmistress is a very direct person. I know it probably sounds like a joke right now, but... give it a week, if you're not sure.

[kickdownthatwall]

...

Excuse me. Are we talking the real murder, or just the fake murder where you just. Lie there and everyone is pretending to not notice you breathing and there is being a dinner party perhaps.

[emptynester]

The real thing.

[ She gives a smile, but under all of this questioning, it's a little strained at the edges. ]

Whether you do it or not is up to you, though.

[formerbanchou]

[Looking at the rules.]

A murder mystery party? Is this for my birthday?

[thatsplato]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

[hootheart]

[Tiera is already tapping at her phone as the rules go up. Once Isabella steps out, she presses the button to make it speak.]

What mean kill? Real kill? What interim headmistress name?

[sweetsynergy]

[Oh, spooky.]

So, assuming we were to take all this seriously-

[She's not, yet.]

-how exactly are these rules being enforced?

[ma'am we outnumber you significantly]

[thanoptical]

Why would any of us think murder is a game? How is that supposed to be fun?!

[She's not panicking, you're panicking. Shut up.]

[eternalfuture]

I - um -

[There's a sinking feeling in her stomach.]

- what if you don't want to play? Is there some other place we can go?

[Can she call her mom, she almost asks.]

[curdle]

[ All the blood has drained from Thomasin's face, but she stands still, locked in place. Her voice rises, but not to a hysterical pitch. You could almost mistake her for calm. ]

Who is she?

[shellhawked]

I have a question: who the hell is this Interim Headmistress and where does she get off setting us up with this "game"?

[Okay, that's two questions but Hawke isn't interested in semantics right now. Something about this stranger apparently helping keep them all hostage having the same name as a very close friend back home sets her teeth on edge.]

[bellpepperexercise]

This is a bad time for escape room puzzles, you know. Whose idea was this? I thought the director went home for the break.

[ergine]

Hm. Is there a reason answering our questions is your responsibility? Surely the game-runner herself would be better suited to address our concerns.

[banishedfromparadise]

Ridiculous.

[Forget the blizzard outside, there's more ice than that in Dorothy's glare.]

If this is meant to be a joke, this is hardly the time. Where are the real faculty? There's no way you and this 'interim headmistress' are supposed to be in charge here, if this is how you introduce yourselves to your students.

[rednails]

This is completely unprofessional! There are rules when it comes to positions like this and I've never seen you. What are your qualifications, hm?

[goldendoll]

[ all that awaits you is a guillotine, some dark part of her sneers, as if reminding herself of some fundamental truth.

she forces that down. everyone else is asking good questions, but one keeps clawing at her mind. ]

Why us? You don't set up the board this way and then pick random pieces, do you?

[protomartyr]

[ Lottie's face is neutral, borderline expressionless. When she speaks, her voice is perfectly, flawlessly polite, but a little empty. ]

It's nice to meet you, Isabella.

[rosewitch]

What is the nature of this trial, Madam Isabella? If we can't leave and no one else can access us, I assume it would be informal.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[ Rinne's been listening and watching. Absorbing everything. And, with a sense of certainty, when it seems most of the others have asked their questions, she inquires: ]

Miss Isabella... I believe I have a theory to put forth regarding all of this. Do you mind entertaining it?

[emptynester]

[ Eventually, the pressing questions dry up, at least, and the lights flicker a little. ]

On that note, ladies, I'm afraid I have to go get settled into my room. It's upstairs near the library, if you need anything. In the meantime, while I won't be able to run the traditional icebreaker, the Headmistress has... kindly provided you with these.

[ She lays out several printed copies of these bad boys. ]

I believe the titles are what she wants to call you. I don't plan to use them.

[ And she's off! Isabella can be located one-on-one here! ]

[trustheart]

[ Chris tromps up to this woman, eyes wide, face red, and veins visible on her neck and forehead. ]

Hi okay there just one question WHAT THE FLYING FUCK?!