Morimori Mingle!

[not_that_sasuke]

Who: Everyone with an itch to explore.
What: DID SOMEBODY SAY EXPLORATION? Feel free to create your own starters as well!
Where: Morimori Academy, Heart ver.
Warnings: None; will edit as needed.

[The location is only too obvious when he awakens. How recently had he seen that bunk above him? And how often? Six months wasn't a long stretch of time comparatively, but when you've spent a good two years in complete darkness, waking up to such a sight definitely stands out. And even beyond that, there's something about the coloration here...

It doesn't take him long to notice a few key things. 1: that his body lacks any coloration, and 2: that the face peering out from inside the mirror - in full color no less - isn't his.

...So. It's his turn now. A sense of fear begins to constrict his heart, but he pushes aside the feeling as best as he can and makes for the door. The sooner it's over, the better...]

[A - the dormitory hallways]

[When he steps into the boy's dormitory hall to begin investigating, he freezes at the sight of the mirror down the hallway. Even though it's quite some distance away, he can see flesh tones in there, and somebody waving cheekily at the viewer.

His first instinct is to back into his room and try to see if he can't get past the mirror and out the window, but if someone spots him quickly enough, they may just be able to catch him instead.]

[B - the forest]

[Either way, he can later be found walking into the dense forests around the school, all the way to the barrier surrounding it. While he seems initially surprised upon hitting the barrier to the west of the classrooms, his expression quickly changes to one of contemplation. His hand curls up under his chin as he considers what all of this means.

It's definitely a smaller campus than he remembers. That, and... odd, too. Since it's his Heart, he would have thought it would be around... But if it cut off here, there's no way that could be in this World after all. How strange...]

Comments

Threadjack if that's OK?

[800isenough]

[Someone else has taken a walk in the forest. Hearing all the hissing about causes his own forked tongue to flit out from his mouth unconsciously; Liao grimaces at that. What is up with him and the snake theme?

But yes, hissing. ...actually, it's words that have hissing noises. Curious to see if there are any other human-snakes around, Liao follows the source of all the noise...

...to see the back of his dorm mate, twin tails waving lazily in the air. He is quite grateful he doesn't have a tail himself, losing his legs would be a terrible inconvenience.]

Scout. [He calls out.] Who are you talking to?

[worldkeys]

[ The question should answer itself; there is a snake on the ground that will turn to look at Liao. ]

Oh, you're a hebi. We're similar. Hello. I was just talking to your bakeneko friend, here. He seems a little confused... why aren't you in class?

[800isenough]

[...you know, if he can turn into some kind of snake monster, then why not? Sure, he's having an actual conversation with a snake. Liao crouches down so that he's closer to the snake.]

We're looking for an item of most importance. We will not be able to move on from this school until we do.

[worldkeys]

[ The snake pauses in thought. ]

... An item? In the school? Did you try the lost and found?

[800isenough]

[That sounds promising, actually. They are looking for Rabbit's key.]

No. Where is this room?

[worldkeys]

Oh, that's easy. It's on the first floor. Should be in one of the staff's offices... probably the headmaster's. They keep the room locked after hours to make sure no one goes in there to take anything, so you'll probably have to ask. You know where the offices are, don't you?

[ It seems to be glancing over at Lalli, now. As if expecting him to not. ]

[soloactor]

[This one, this one he knows.]

[After a beat of confused blinking, Lalli produces a map from one of his pockets and shows it to the snake, pointing at a particular room.]

It's right here.

[worldkeys]

[ The snake spirit can only nod slightly and slowly, given its body structure, but it seems impressed when Lalli produces a map. ]

Hey, you're pretty intelligent for a bakeneko. ... Oh. No offense, or anything. Well... sorry about my friend. I hope you find whatever you lost. Try not to be out too late.

[ And with that, it will begin to disappear back into the forest, to go find its friend. ]

[800isenough]

You have my thanks, friend. [And Liao gives the snake a formal bow to see the snake off. Once the reptile slips out of sight, he turns back to Lalli.]

Let us be off to this room. I will speak to the headmaster, but I suspect that we may have another riddle on our hands before we are able to enter the room.

[soloactor]

[Wait, but she just said he... whatever. Lalli takes another glance at the map, and stows it away again; now that he's made the whole thing, he has basically memorized the layout of this Heart.]

...Then we solve it.

[And he goes walking to the offices, expecting Liao to follow.]

[800isenough]

[And Liao certainly follows him. It'll be a quiet walk all the way to the principal's office because Liao sees no reason to open with conversation.

If things prove uneventful, Liao will knock on the headmaster's door and wait to be let in.]

A puzzle appears...

[worldkeys]

[ The door seems to open automatically once they knock, although no one appears to be inside at the moment. There is, however, a large box on the desk, and a note in very loopy, purple handwriting:

"I'm out to lunch right now--sorry! Some very important students of mine dropped these, I figured you'd come back to return them, but I can't remember which one dropped which thing. None of the students are the same type of animal. Student #1 is a cat. Student #3 is a snake. Student #2 is a fox. I can tell you what I DO recall, though:

- The Watch belonged to a student who had gym class but couldn't participate very well that day. I hear they were playing basketball. ... Why would that be? At any rate, it was lost then. I see this watch fairly often...
- The Scarf belonged to a student who had gone to the Library to check out a book. Supposedly, it was about three animals who had misplaced their mittens. They're known for being a bit self-centered.
- The Bead Necklace belonged to a student who had been talking in the halls with their friend when someone next to them suddenly tripped and they, according to their report to me, "suddenly lost the necklace" there, but couldn't find it.

They all ended up here eventually looking for their lost items, but I'm afraid I don't know what belongs to whom or whom to deliver it to. Once you've figured it out, could you give this back to them for me? Thank you! Here's where they should be right now:

Student #1 can be found in White class, Student #2 can be found in Blue class, and Student #3 can be found in Red class." ]

There once was a girl from Nantucket...

[hesmypuddin]

[Harley has been making her way through the school, orienting herself to the unusual layout of the building. Her ears are twitching beneath her cowl, and her tail sways gently behind her, far bushier than any animal's tail has a right to be. She's near the offices, having just passed the principal's own, when something catches her eye and she backpedals, leaning to peer into the open door.

She blinks, because while they are clearly animals like she herself has become (save, with her costume still on), they are still recognizable as two of the others that were in the previous Heart.]

Already gettin' sent ta the principal's office, huh? [Shw cants a brow.] Or are ya tryin' some breakin' an' enterin'?

[soloactor]

...Mmmn? [At the sound of Harley's voice, one of Lalli's big floofy puma ears twitches, and he turns a bit to look back at her.]

No.

[It wasn't either of those things, FYI, painted-face-leaf lady.]

[hesmypuddin]

[Harley steps into the office, looking around, before her gaze settles on Zhang Liao and Lalli.]

Neither, huh? I'm Harley, by the way... Harley Quinn... Didn't get the pleasure last time, ya know?

[She marches right on in, because what are personal space?! and sees the box on the desk, eyes skimming the note. She grimaces, face falling a bit, ears flattening under her harlequin cowl.]

Aww, nuts... More riddles, huh? [Her tail swishes as she moves in closer, reading the note and pursing her lips. She clucks her tongue and speaks.]

Well, those ain't too hard... [She didn't assume the hints would remain easy. She leans in, picking up the watch and hooking it around her wrist. The necklace goes on next, followed by the scarf getting wrapped neatly around her neck. She looks at Lalli and Zhang again.]

Ya ain't started lookin' yet?

[800isenough]

[Liao seems momentarily stunned by the sudden explosion of Harley Quinn into the situation. You could say the tanuki got his tongue; he's not used to such forwardness or breach of personal space.

But he seems to have found his voice again when Harley all but announces that she's solved the riddle. He inclines his head respectfully to Harley, taking two steps back because a gentleman never goes too near an unknown woman!! Or such is ancient Chinese customs.]

Well met, Lady Harley Quinn. We thank you for your assistance. However, though the riddle may appear to be simple, it would be better to err on the side of caution and check our answers first.

In my opinion, the Watch belongs to the Snake, the Book to the Cat and the the Bead Necklace to the Fox. What say you?

[hesmypuddin]

[Yeah, sorry Liao. Harley isn't big on personal space, typical pleasantries, or that whole etiquette thing. She is so far from the Chinese ladies of your own time that I feel the need to apologize yet again. I'm sorry. Just wait'll she's wholly herself again!!

She turns, leaves flicking this way and that as her headpiece shifts, and studies Liao's rather snake-like appearance. Lalli had already been rather cat-like, so it's just a bit more of an exaggeration of how he already looked.]

Pleasure ta meet ya, tall, dark an' scaley. [She smiles, arms crossing and tail giving a slight rustle. Her ears perk forward beneath the cowl and either Lalli or Liao might note that her smile never fully reaches her eyes. It's almost like she's smiling because she knows she should more than because she wants to.

Harley's head tilts slightly, weight shifting from one hip to the other with a sway that could distract the most stalwart of men. It's not deliberate. It's just Harley. She nods in response to his answers, however, smile shifting into more of a satisfied smirk.]

Yeah, I tend ta jus' rush on in nine outta ten times... [A half shrug. No, she's not sorry for it. She has no patience for considering consequences, no matter who they effect, and prefers to live on the edge.] But I'm feelin' the same about the answers...

There's a poem from where I come from... well, a story more like... "Three little kittens have lost their mittens, and don't know where to find them," so yeah, the scarf is the cat's. The snake would constantly lose a watch, because it'd slip right off'a him any time he wore it... Which leaves the beads ta the fox. [She inclines her head to him.] So, yeah... I agree with ya.

[soloactor]

[If anyone notices that peculiar smile, it sure isn't Lalli; reading subtle shifts in expression is kind of an advanced maneuver. ...And one that he has no interest in. He does tilt his head a moment after Harley does, for no particular reason except "I am going to mirror the thing because I think that's what I ought to be doing, possibly".]

[But he's definitely not giving her his name unless she asks.]

[The two of them appear to agree; he's never heard the story about the kittens, nor does he know what a watch is, so he'll just take their word for it. So Lalli just kinda shrugs and looks back to the note.]

So... snake in White, cat in Blue, fox in Red. Let's go. [He basically knows the map of this school by heart now, anyway. Ha, get it? Heart?]

[800isenough]

My apologies for the correction, but I am not dark. [The reference is lost to him, alas. But he doesn't miss the little tidbit about her smile there, and that does make him wonder...and perhaps grow a tad suspicious of Harley. But in the previous world she had established herself clearly on their side so...well, best not to make foul assumptions of people.

Anyway, back to the puzzle! It seems that all three of them think alike in this matter. Liao hasn't heard of the story either, but if there are any creatures that would look up books about themselves, well, that would be cats. And Snakes couldn't even play basketball, lacking the limbs to do so. Which leaves the Fox with the Prayer Beads.

He nods at the both of them.] Alright.

[Also, that is a good pun.]

[soloactor]

[Doop doop doop. Without further ado, Lalli turns and starts heading towards the White Class. There appears to be a snake in there! ...But Lalli's not going to be the one talking to it, judging by the way he looks expectantly at Harley.]

[800isenough]

[Hmm. Not that Liao distrusts Harley, but after the potions puzzle...maybe it might be for the best if he gave the items. Just in case they turn out to be wrong. But he has to do this without offending Harley or making it look like he's treating her like a porcelain doll.]

Lady Harley Quinn, please allow me to pass the watch to the snake. As I am somewhat kin to it in this world, it may be willing to offer some clue to the World Key if I win some good will from it.

[hesmypuddin]

[Harley's gaze shifts from Lalli to Liao, though she does note that she has yet to get Lalli's name. She glances at Liso and smirks slightly at his correction.]

Ya ain't from the latest century, are ya bubs? [It seems that several of their chosen crew were from much different times then her own... Liao clearly was one, but she hadn't made up her mind about Lalli, yet. As he leads the way to the classroom, she glances at him.]

So, what's yer name, kitty cat? [Of all the animals gathered thus, the cat was her favorite; followed closely by hyenas. Her attention is pulled once more by Liao when they reach the first class and she arched a brow. She seems to be considering, but finally shrugs with an air of indifference.]

Yeah, sure... makes sense that they might be a little more amiable ta ya. [She slips the watch off and holds it out to Liao.]

Pinging the mods!

[800isenough]

Ah...my name is not "Bubs". It is Zhang Liao. [Another quick bow. She's really...something else. But at least he can trust her to be somewhat on the ball with things.

With her permission to attend to the snake, he takes the watch and walks over to the student.]

Please pardon my intrusion, but is this your watch?

[worldkeys]

[ The snake is the only snake in the room, at least not in a humanoid form. He will look up when addressed, and seem rather excited for a phantom. ]

Oh! You found it for me? Thank you. It's a very special watch. But I'm not good at holding a human form yet, so it keeps slipping off. I can normally catch it when it happens, but a lot happened that day.

[800isenough]

[Well, he was hoping for an additional clue or two. But it looks like the snake isn't going to offer one.]

Hmm. Take care then.

[With little reason to keep up the topic with the phantom snake , Liao quickly takes his leave and returns to the others, reporting the success of the first part of the puzzle.]

The watch did indeed belonged to the snake. Unfortunately the snake had nothing else to add about the World Key. Let's find the cat and the fox and return their items to them to complete the puzzle.