Day 1: Introduction

"I agree with Claire, and I'm glad to see someone with a normal opinion." She smiled to the girl, then looked back to the crowd. "With that, though, I'm a-ok with just balancing the numbers out. Put me wherever!"

"W-" Antoine shrugged as he looked up... and up to see Dark's face. That was new.
"S-sure. More the merrier and all that. Anywhere you wanted to check, big guy?"

He tilted his head at Patrick, then shook it as if to say 'no.' "Nah. S'too early to eat ... I think. I'm not hungry, anyway. After I get outta this room, I'll be better. Too many people in here and and too many of them are idiots."

He shrugged and turned to Patrick more, moving to stand next to him.

"I'll explore with you, though. You seem pretty chill."

"I want to go off too! There's, like, seventy places, if I see right! How about we choose the places we like?" She tilted her head, suggesting that option.

"I wanna see the breakfast room!"

"I will go anywhere the group decides!" He nodded, approving of his own idea.

"And Claire, I understand. Though I do hope I can convince you otherwise as we get to know each other!"

"Judas, it's not about whether or not you're hungry, but alright..."

Patrick cleared his throat. "How about Judas, Claire, me, and... Jason, come with me, and everyone else can go with Cobalt?"

"We'll go either to the Banquet Hall or the Garden to get some fresh air."

Martin raced to erase faster than Avery could draw.
"Stop acting like a 11 year-old boy!" He exclaimed.

Though as soon as Jaden stepped in, Martin became embarrassed by his own childishness.
"But what if an instructor came in right now?" He put down the eraser, but not before taking the rest of the chalk, not wanting to admit defeat just yet.
"Fine, but I won't be held responsible."

Jason cut in very, very quickly after Patrick spoke.

"Actually, I think I'd rather go with Cobalt! If that's okay."

"Huh? Going? Eh, I guess? What did something happen? We get like, a map or somethi-" he paused, looking at his watch, "Oh hey, map."

"Salon sounds nice. Better see if they have the hypoallergenic soap I need. Last thing I want is to look like Deadpool or something..."

"Buddy, I think we're alone. Why else would we get stranded up in here?"

Dark took a moment to process, then looked up and down the hallway. It took him a moment to remember the map was on his watch. "Oh! Hm..." He took more time to stare at the map. "What is Banket Hall. Close but I not understand that word."

He looked directly at Antoine. "Help me."

"Please do," Jake responded to Jason's suggestion. He turned to Cobalt and added, "Nothing personal, kid. Strictly safety." With that, he walked over to where Patrick, Judas, and Claire where situated.

"So, if I am not mistaken, Jason, that leaves us travelling with Lisa and Jordan?"  He scanned the crowd, watching for reactions.  "Any objections?"

Lux turned heel when they saw the energetic redhead calling out after them. "Oh hey!" they greeted. "Rachel, yeah? I fucking loved your intro! Had some FIRE!" they added with a playful emphasis. They slowed their pace to a little less than a speedwalk to accommodate Rachel.

Ariel rolled her eyes at Martin.

"Martin, if there were an instructor around, I'm sure they would have told us what's going on by now. We're on our own here, or we're being watched by the instructor and they don't care."

"Now, there's a salon here? I'll check it out with you, Avery, if you don't mind. You seem alright."

Miranda raised a finger. "W-what about me?" She stammered, pouting slightly.

"Nobody ever picks me last!"

"Uh-ah-sure! Sure, yeah!" The corners of his mouth twitched at the smile he was trying to keep up. Being on the taller side, looking up was strange. "Banquet Hall, by the way. Not Banket. Like, food banquet probably." He began to walk, glancing at the map. "But sure, we can do that."

Judas looked at the groups assembled - lingering on Jason for all of a second - then looked back to Cobalt with a sharp thumbs up and a tiny smile.

As Miranda spoke up, he frowned again, turning to her with a furrowed brow.

"Uh ... get over it? Pick a group yourself, homegirl."

Jaden gave Martin a pat on the back. "It's fine man, you got carried away. It's cool."

He turned to Avery and Ariel. "I'm down to go to the Salon like Aves said. And uh, Ari... You might find somethin' useful there."

"Splitting up seems like the best idea, so we can cover more ground." Jordan said, standing near Cobalt. She didn't feel particularly in danger in the first place, what was the harm?
"How could I not feel safe with a superhero around?" She said, shrugging at those who joined Patrick's Squad.

Avery gave a fierce grin at Ariel. "Hah! You bet I am. Anyways," While Martin was distracted, though, he reattached what was lost from his drawing, putting wings on it too. Now it was truly something out of roman pottery.

"Besides, I need to put my braid game on. I miss helping my sis."

The hallways the students found themselves milling about were covered in a nice wallpaper, dotted by the occasional light fixture.

Miranda gave Judas a nasty look. "Staying in the spotlight's quite important. I don't think some edgy little bottomfeeder like you could understand a social snub if it roundhouse kicked you to the jaw."

She sighed, "Oh well~ If nobody's up for me, then I suppose I'll be a group of one."

Ignoring Miranda's outburst, Claire gave a little shrug. "Food or plants, I have no preference. But if there are flowers that would be nice." She gave a little dismissive wave to the other boys. "Someone else pick, I'm not great at decisions."

Ariel tried to be offended at Jaden's comment, but knowing herself she just couldn't. "Look, Jaden..." Ariel began. "When you're up 24/7 writing elaborate, multi-faceted, non-linear and interactive novels for people, you're only gonna give a shit about how you look when someone's paying you. You probably don't even know how to contour."

She huffed a bit and looked at Avery. "Let's just go already."

Jacob's eyes went rarely wide at Miranda's comeback before returning to the matter at hand.

"The library makes the most sense," he said, looking at Patrick expectantly.