MOCK ROUND INTRO LOG

[foundationmods]

Welcome to Rokkenjima. This island may just be a copy in the middle of reformation, but the Witch extends her greetings all the same. Please, relax.

This game is just a trial run, but please do not think you can sleep through this. The Witch fully intends to put the system through its paces, so please put up a good fight.

The difficulty level depends on you. Think deeply on your moves during this short play time.

You wake with a start - even if you don't remember falling asleep in the first place - and find yourself standing on the dock of what looks like an island. There's a noise behind you - and if you turn to look, you'll see a plain white boat taking off and leaving you all behind, not stopping for a second if you try to flag them down or scream at them.

It doesn't look like you can swim to shore, either - there's nothing but sea in all directions, and something tells you trying to swim out will end up badly. However, a small dip, if you were so inclined, would be fine. It's not like the weather is bad for it - it feels like it's summer, despite whatever it was when you laid eyes on the envelope.

...Speaking of, Every last one of you have an envelope in your hands, with a gold letter 'L' on it. It's the same letter you were reading before you 'woke' up here, after all. More than that, those of you who had supernatural or magical abilities will feel...strange, as if your abilities are being forcibly blocked. Try as you might, you just can't use them - though all of your physical abilities are intact, of course.

If you decide to head up the path, you'll find Goat....men? waiting for you near the doors to the mansion. Despite their bright red eyes, they merely bow politely and wordlessly bring you into the mansion, showing you your rooms and then stating that they will prepare food for you or anything else you should need whenever you want, in surprisingly deep voices.

As they leave, you can't help but wonder...

What did you just get yourself into?


Mock Round Calendar!
The taken page still requires a little coding, but it should be done by sometime today.
Thank you for your patience!

Comments

[gorira]

G-goats...I dunno if that's better or worse. I doubt goats can be very good gardeners, what with, y'know, the hooves and all...

[ This is all just a lot for her to sort of roll with. She does a little jazz-hands motion, just to indicate that there should at least be a pair of hands with opposable thumbs in this gardening business.

But the flowers...whether they were planted by a ghost, a goat, or a human, they're beautiful nonetheless, and they speak for themselves. Maybe she just shouldn't think too hard about it? Ah, but, but... ]

They're definitely real, and beautiful, too. It makes me so damn jealous...

[artificialhighness]

I would expect them to graze on the flowers, rather than tend to them. That has its role, too, but no, these goats had arms, and hands. They must have been made for the garden.

[Or probably for other things too?? They were very fancy goats.

But they're concerned with the garden here. Perhaps for the moment, not thinking too hard is the word of the day. At least until they can suss out where the witch is and what she's doing. Luna is concerned, sure, but there is plenty to see in the meantime.]

Are you jealous of the flowers?

[gorira]

Well, I was gonna say I was more jealous of the owner, really. The witch, I guess she calls herself? Y'know, it must be nice, to see the look on people's faces when they catch sight of how gorgeous your garden is. If it were me, a garden like this? I know I'd wanna show it off to everyone, even if I had to drag some people by force.

[ Though she's not suggesting a reason as simple as that is why everyone was brought here.. ]

But now that you say that, I guess there's a bit to envy about the flowers too, huh? They're pretty dazzling, and they get their meals handed to 'em, with plenty of sun. They've got tons of admirers, and lots of friends here by their side. And even when people grab them and make them into bouquets for gifts, they get to see people in love day in and day out, right? I think anyone'd be a little jealous of a life like that.

[artificialhighness]

Ah. Well, that must be one of the reasons to have such a big and ornamental garden. I don't normally see everything laid out so neatly. There is a charm to it.

[It's wholly different from the sprawling fields of her so-called youth, and different yet again from the wild attempts of her later years. Now... Now, she lets the garden and the girl before her speak for themselves, since both are unusually loud in their own ways. She doesn't mind the profusion or the chatter.

There's a little quiet after Chitoge's expose. Then:]

... Why do the flowers bloom? There are many who think that way. That they must simply be, for the sun to reach out to them. They live for their own sake. There were many who said the same of animals.

[...]

What kind of flower would you be?

[gorira]

Why the flowers bloom, huh...well, isn't it all about making sure they get noticed? When the flowers blossom, all of a sudden they become the apple of everyone's eye. Especially the bees, who nab up their pollen and bring it to other flowers...

[ She realizes she was probably being more philosophical, but... ]

In other words, they're looking for love, aren't they? They bloom so they can find their soulmates, and make new flowers. That's the way I see it, anyway.

[ As for the other question... ]

I'm not really familiar with flower language, but...hm, maybe a forget-me-not? Or something like that!

[artificialhighness]

I see. Even the flowers and the bees want to bring forth life. That's another way to see it.

[She probably just took a screeching left turn all the way to being overly pragmatic.

There's a romance in flowers, certainly, and there are robots who have pursued that -- but that's not the sort of romance her generation finds, first of all. She nevertheless plucks another rose, and lines it up with the first. Starting a bouquet.]

A hardy flower, with an abundant and colorful bloom. You like being in the spotlight.

[Which has nothing to do with flower language and everything to do with Chitoge wearing her heart on her sleeve, but hey.]

[gorira]

W-well, I mean, I dunno if I'd go that far...

[ It isn't as though she has stage fright, but...well, there's definitely such a thing as drawing too much attention.

Still, she can't deny that she likes to be noticed. ]

And what about you, huh? I'm sure you've got a better answer than mine...

[artificialhighness]

It is not necessarily a bad thing. There are those who value that which burns bright.

[She doesn't elaborate on who those people might be. That's not the important part here.

Slowly the bouquet grows. She stops her movements to glance up when Chitoge questions her in turn. There's a brief shake of the head.]

No. My answer is a little different. I have been called the Sun, perhaps because I tend to the flowers in my care. I keep them blooming.

[gorira]

The Sun, huh..

[ Sounds like she's a big-shot then. At least, something like that. ]

And who are your flowers, then? Your family?

[artificialhighness]

My flowers are all that lives. Those who come seeking. Those who need to be saved from Ruin.

[So yes, she's kind of a big shot.

In an oddly specific sort of way.]

[gorira]

...Gotcha.

[ She may have gotten in just a bit over her head with this one. ]

Sounds like a tough gig.

[artificialhighness]

[Poor Chitoge, you have no idea. She'll tilt her head, a not-quite-question.]

It is natural, and what I was made for.

[gorira]

Made for?

[ Some kind of royalty, maybe? An heiress? ]

You don't think that's a little extreme?

[artificialhighness]

[She certainly inherited something. A few titles, a few bits and pieces and change.]

Extreme? What is?

[gorira]

Well, I mean, it sounds like a lofty title and all, but to say you were made for it...

[ It's not the first choice of words that would come to mind. Chitoge has circumstances of her own, but she'd hardly call the position she's been put into something she was "made for".

She crosses her arms, and the red ribbon atop her head flutters, just a touch. ]

I dunno. You don't feel like your worth goes beyond that, or something?

[artificialhighness]

[Right, right. Humans. Probably humans, and a few other life forms with their own values; but possibly, mostly humans. She neglects to account for them just yet, because it's been so long since they've been the dominant species back home.

Oops.]

Oh, I see. No, I think my worth is clear.

[A little sweeping gesture to herself.]

I am a robot created to tend to life, and to save it. Does that help?

[gorira]

N-no freaking way! You're messing with me!

[ But she looks so real! Sure, Chitoge's read in the news every now and again that they're doing some kind of walking talking robot stuff, but technology like that is so far behind that something like the girl in front of her seems like a pipe dream. ]

Witches, goat gardeners, and robots, all in one day?! This has gotta be some kinda weird-ass dream, right? Note to self for when I wake up, no more chocolate for dessert after a big bowl of miso ramen..!

[artificialhighness]

If you are dreaming, then we both are, and this is not something I would usually dream about.

[Witchy space-time shenanigans sure are a trip, even for robots. Also yes, the androids dream, and perhaps they dream of electric goats?]

And of course, I don't have food to blame it on.