week 0

[productions]

murder manor week zero



friday

[You wake in an unfamiliar bedroom, with no memory of how you came to be there and a sensation that something you once had is gone. The room you're in is luxurious and comfortable, but there is a musty feeling of disuse and decay in the air. Still, you've provided with new wardrobe perfectly tailored for you, a key ring that will unlock your bedroom door, so surely you're welcome to explore the manor?

Have a look around and make yourselves at home. You'll soon find you're not alone, but if any among you knows the secrets of this place, they aren't speaking.]

This is an open mingle log for arrival at the manor. Please put your character's name, location, and the time in the header of their comments. Characters are welcome to explore the manor and get to know one another; nothing else will be revealed to them today.

Setting
Cast

Comments

[speakveryclearly]

[The exits of the Emerald and Sapphire wings are adjacent - thus it is that right as Kanaya departs the sapphire wing, she sees Kaoru trying to get her attention. Already she flashes a little harder at the provocation.]

...yes? [She's very confused, unsure what to make of this new presence.]

[souredsweet]

[there's brief hesitance, since her confusion is easy to notice. still... Kaoru steps further into the hall, adjusting the shawl selected from that strange closet filled with equally strange clothing. it compliments the long-sleeved dress it's being worn over well enough, but the entire thing might as well be made of saran wrap for how comfortable Kaoru looks in it.]

This is embarrassing, but... [another vague gesture is made, this time toward the unruly and long hair that Kaoru has tried and failed to tame. waking up extremely early has already given ample time for the "freaking out" portion of settling in, after all. now was time to get into a semi-presentable state.]

Do you know how to put hair up into a bun? I've never had to do it myself before.

[speakveryclearly]

[...long and... unruly... hair...

Kanaya certainly is not unfamiliar with the needs of someone with hair like that. She can't lie and she can't deny someone in need of help. After all, what else is a jadeblood like her good for?

At the same time, this request from a complete stranger is sketchy as hell.]

Yes... it does so happen that I have a passing familiarity with the methodology...

[souredsweet]

[THAT IS AN EXTREMELY BIZARRE WAY OF WORDING THAT and Kaoru looks vaguely baffled for a second before realizing that a yes is a yes, and hey, that's good enough!]

If I may trouble you for a short while, would you please be kind enough to assist me? [the request is accompanied by a polite bow. whether or not Kanaya actually decides to help, just stopping to consider is worthy of that much.]

[speakveryclearly]

[Actual humbleness isn't something a jadeblood receives a whole lot of, especially when living trolls of a lower rank are inconveniently hard to come by. She has to accept now, and slightly softens her suspicions. Though only slightly. This is still an incredibly odd circumstance.]

Okay. Did your collection of accessories contain any hair pins? [Since it seems the stranger has at least availed herself of the provided wardrobe to some extent.]

[souredsweet]

[after straightening from the bow, Kaoru nods in response to that question. everything needed to fix hair is already set up on the bedroom dresser, it's just... a lack of skill in the actual hair styling department that makes it a futile endeavor.]

I have a few that I can go fetch, but they aren't like anything I've seen before. [a beat, and a somewhat discomforted-sounding:] Nothing here is...

[speakveryclearly]

The basic form of the tool is all that really matters - I have to admit you're right, something is off about the aesthetic to me too... even by Earth standards. [Casually.]

In that case then will you fetch them and come back or should I follow you...

[souredsweet]

[WAIT A SECOND getting the hair pins can wait, something just happened here—]

...What do you mean, by Earth standards?

[speakveryclearly]

[She rolls her glowing yellow eyes. She knew this reaction would have to come at some point; just lucky she didn't get it earlier.]

You know, the attributes typical of that planet humans live on.

[souredsweet]

[Kaoru has seen and heard some Pretty Strange Things even before the whole being kidnapped and transported to a large freakish mansion in the future debacle that's currently unfolding, and Kanaya's appearance - actually hadn't stood out largely, judging by the lack of reaction alone.

it's almost like she's being seen for the first time now though, like Kaoru had just written off the horns and freakishly pale skin as a stress-induced hallucination.]

Ah... So you must be from a different one without humans? [taking it surprisingly well!] I apologize for my rudeness. It was a little surprising to hear...

[speakveryclearly]

[Well, if she's taking it well then Kanaya certainly can't hold it against her. Really, being treated this politely isn't something she gets to enjoy very often. She puts a hand behind the back of her head and smiles. That's something she picked up as a tension-breaking tactic from humans: Trolls don't do it because her fangs are unfortunately prominent in this position.]

It's not your fault. My understanding is that your race is a little less, ah, "enthusiastic" than mine about interstellar exploration. [Her tone betrays the euphemism nature of the sentence, i.e. for expansionalist imperialism... ahahaha.

Determined to progress beyond this little mishap, she returns to pragmatic matters.]

Now let's get those hairpins, shall we?

[souredsweet]

To be frank, I haven't ever heard of a human even being capable of something like that. [Kaoru comes from a time before airplanes were even a thing, actually traveling in space sounds like something out of a really bizarre fictional story...

but! since Kanaya is ready to move on, the topic isn't pursued any further.]

Right, yes— The room that I woke up in is right here. [a gesture toward the third door!] If you'll excuse me, I can go fetch them. You're free to enter as well if you'd like, though.

[Kaoru will even leave the door wide open since there is a certain amount of discomfort interacting with complete strangers in a setting that can only be described as insane.]

[speakveryclearly]

Okay, that's fine with me. [As in, she'll follow Kaoru to the doorway and wait outside while it's left open until the fetch quest is complete.

Once she's back and Kanaya takes the hairpins from her, she makes a small hand gesture:] This will probably be easiest if you turn around...

[Exposing your back to a stranger you've armed with sharp objects in a house where everyone has been provided with a knife and chloroform: #Good Decision Making]

[souredsweet]

[survival instincts: 0 apparently, since Kaoru turns without any objection. the gratitude that had been present in expression before carries on evenly in tone, though!]

Thank you again for going through this trouble for me. I realize that it isn't the best time or place to be worried over something like this, but... [a small, sheepish laugh.] I suppose it helps calm me a little, retaining a tiny semblance of normalcy this way. That sounds silly, no doubt.

[speakveryclearly]

I can sympathize. [She says lightly as she progresses to the task of bun creation YEAH.] My own hairstyle was selected precisely for easy maintenance in situations, but I have to admit I spent almost an hour picking out which of the provided outfits to wear....

[Her hands pause in their motion, between steps, as she thinks about the oddity of that situation again.] Did you find the wardrobe in your room to be uncannily customized?

[souredsweet]

It does look very hassle-free. [said good-naturedly! and since Kaoru took about as much time rifling through the closet, there isn't much to comment on there. as for the question, though... there's a thoughtful pause and an almost-nod before remembering that whoops, someone's trying to tie all that messy hair up, the task probably shouldn't be made more difficult for her.]

Now that you mention it, I did. There were a few pieces that had one of my favorite embroidery styles on it, and everything is tailored to my size. ...I believe so, anyway. I must admit that I'm not familiar with the style of clothing here at all.

[speakveryclearly]

[Have another thoughtful silence as Kanaya slowly executes the remaining steps.]

It's the same for me, I've got preferred symbols and colors though this whole aesthetic is unfamiliar... Maybe the actual reason for our abduction is some enormous dress-up game in the villain's preferred style.

[Done bunning now, by the way! Her hands fall and she steps back to look at Kaoru in profile.] Ah, there.

[souredsweet]

That would be a little... unsettling. [GLANCING TOWARD A WINDOW NOW like there might be some creepy voyeur just waiting outside with binoculars or something...

once Kanaya has successfully completed Mission Bun, Kaoru raises a hand to gently and tentatively touch it before offering another grateful nod after turning to face her again.]

Your help is very much appreciated. —Ah, and here I haven't even introduced myself yet. Please excuse that; my name is Kaoru Nagumo.

OK to shelve this thread in favor of Saturday one?

[speakveryclearly]

Kanaya Maryam. [She raises a hand in a wave.]

It's no big deal; I know it's hard to manage the interpersonal climate under such circumstances as these... [The question hangs in the air: Do they even want to meet again? Kaoru does strike Kanaya as nice enough in her own way...]