It's another beautiful day at Oddball High, and I can't wait for what the day brings me! (Ambrose) My school is just like any other high school. Drama, gossip, teachers, homework, you get the deal. (Harry) But at Oddball High there is something that stands out. The students here are all a little... well... odd. We've all got "things." Little quirks, oddities, foibles My name is Prottie Protagonist. You might've noticed what my "thing" is. Every couple sentences or so, my voice changes! And honestly? I'm not even one of the weirdest ones [[here.->Ms Hammerhearts Class.]]Our school only opened up a few months ago, so every student had the strange experience of being a new kid alongside every other kid. My homeroom is in Mister Hammerhearts Class. He likes pushing us to our limits and today he seems a little more [[excited than usual.->The Assignment]]H: "Greetings Class! Today I have an incredibly exciting assignment for you. You're going to create a Haiku today!" I can't believe what I'm hearing! A Haiku?! I don't know anything about poetry! H: "Don't worry if you're not feeling very confident about this. You will partner up with a student and present your Haikus to the class at the end of the hour today!" H: "I'll give you some time to start mingling and decide who you're going to partner up with." Now I have to find a partner too? Oh Gosh, this just keeps getting worse! Well, I suppose I have to get to work. [[Who am I gonna talk to first? ->Who Should I Talk to Next?]] [[The Shadowy Guy in the corner? (Jason) -> Jason - Introduction.]] [[The Kid With the big red hat? (Timmy) ->Timmy - Introduction.]] [[The Guy arguing with the Teacher? (Darren)->Darren - Introduction]] [[The Wolf Man walking through the aisles?(Scott) ->Scott - Introduction]] [[The Goth Girl with the guitar? (Gwen) -> Gwen - Introduction]] [[The Fully Grown Cowboy? (Bamf) -> Bamf - Introduction]] [[The Girl sewing her foot back on? (Vicky) -> Vicky - Introduction.]] [[The Girl who looks suspiciously normal? (Jenny)-> Jenny Introduction]] [[The Boy who seems Way too Young to be Here? (Gregory)->Gregory Introduction]] [[The Girl who's Literally On Fire? (Princess Fire)->PF Introduction]] [[The Lanky guy with the religious signet ring? (Craig)-> Craig - Introduction]] [[Alright. That's everyone. Time to pick my partner.-> Partner Choice]]The figure looks at me with a head cocked in confusion. J: "Why should it matter whether or not we 'let people in'." "I just think that letting people in offers us a way to let things we hold inside, out. You don't have to if you don't want to, but I'd certainly like to get to know you better." The figure takes this in, and looks out the window, inscrutiable even beyond the normal bounds of his shadowy presence. J: "I... I am perhaps not ready to hear this. But I am glad you speak it anyways. If we are to be partners in the project, I will try to do as you say. I am Jason, by the way." I'm unsure if he likes me more, but he certainly does trust me more, and that's good enough for now. [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] The figure leans back in his chair, vanishing almost entirely into the corner of the room. J: "You are right. I have overshared just by telling you how I despise oversharing!" J: "If we are to be forced into being partners, we will make a Haiku that no one will ever be able to use against us." J: "My name is Jason. I only tell you this in case the teacher announces us as partners and you don't know where to look. If you share this information with anyone outside of this room, I will kill you." And with that, I give a curt nod, and turn my attention to the other students. [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] I head over to the very back of the classroom where I find a dark figure occupying a slightly damaged desk in a corner near a window. At first I think it's the shadow of a student sitting nearby, but then I when I look to find the student casting it, I realize the shadow is the student. "H-hey there!" J: "Oh. Hello." "Sorry, I don't know if you know me. My name is Prottie Protagonist... and you are?" J: "Why is it you wish to know?" I try to hide my shock and recoil at his strangely defensive and pointed question. "Sorry, just trying to get to know everyone. I'm still not sure who I wanna partner up with for the Haiku." J: "Ah, yes. 'The Welcoming Haiku.' I do not plan to participate in this, let alone take up a partner." J: "I find that the more people know about you, the more they can use it against you. I would hope that you agree." [[It's certainly a possibility, but letting people in is important. ->Jason - Vulnerability]] [[Agreed. Frankly, it bothers me to even know this much about you now. -> Jason - Defensive Walls]]Up close to the teachers desk I see a lankier boy with a red conal hat on his head. He whips his head in different directions looking at every single student in the class, and it isn't until he sees me approaching realize he's doing it with pure excitement. T: "Oh my goodness! A new friend already?! I can't wait to tell everyone back at the log!" The proclamation is so ridiculous I would normally think that this wasn't intended for me, but his intense eyes boring into me tells me that it definitely is. "O-oh! I don't think I... I'm sorry, the log?" T: "The Log! It's a hollowed out tree log where the Gnomes raised me as one of their own. It was hard fitting into it given that I'm a human, but enough crunching down and my spine adjusted!" T: "Oh I can't wait to tell them about... oh my word! I don't even know my friends name! I'm Timmy. What is yours, new friend?" [[My name is Prottie. Nice to meet and immediately befriend you. -> Timmy - New Friend]] [[My name is Prottie. And we are definitely not friends, you little weirdo -> Timmy - Scorned.]]Timmy would be jumping up and down with excitement, but the immediate popping of his vertabrae compels his body back down to the seat. T: "PROTTIE! That is a WONDERFUL name! Were you also raised by gnomes? Or perhaps Goblins? NO WAIT! Hobgoblins?!" T: "Actually don't tell me! We need to give ourselves room to get to know eachother over the coming millenia. If you choose me as a partner, we can share more about each other in the creation of our Haiku." And with that he sits and stares straight ahead once again, positively giddy with excitement for his new assignement. [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] Even before the sentence fully passes through my lips, Timmy falls on his back, his hat somberly rolling on the floor. T: "Oh. I'm sorry. I really goofed it all up again, didn't I?" T: "I just want so badly to make new friends. The Gnomes mostly speak in Gnomish, and I only know English, so I don't get to talk to anyone that often." T: "If you have literally no other options, I'll still be your Haiku partner. It's okay if you think I should be dead though." His vacant eyes stare blankly at the ceiling. I have broken this person. Fundamentally shattered the core of their being. Oops. [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] Over by the front of the classroom I see what appears to be another teacher talking with Mr Hammerheart, but as I catch the tail end of the conversation I realize the man is another student. MR H "While I can appreciate your enthusiasm, Darren, I'm not sure I can ban pencils on account of-" DARREN "On account of ecological destruction? Look, my man, you gotta see that we just don't need to pencils in order to make these haikus. The lead ruins the recyclability of the paper. If a bird was to eat approximately 1,000 of these, it would die!" MR H "If a single bird were to consume 1,000 pieces of paper, I think it would die for reasons other than the lead." DARREN "Look man, I totally get it. It's your class, and you are absolutely in control of it. I just think there's no reason to ruin the excellent vibes today with dead birds." As MR H lifts his glasses and pinches the bridge of his nose, suppressing a migraine, I see an opportunity to jump in. [[Haiku is really an oral artform anyways. -> Darren - Vibes.]] [[The vibes would actually be enhanced for me if there were more dead birds. ->Darren - Harsh]]The strangely old looking high schooler turns to me, smiling through his 5 o clock shadow. D: "That's a good point man. Constructing a Haiku in the mind and presenting it in the body? Radically harmonious!" MR H: "*Sigh*. If you insist on not writing down your Haiku, I will allow you to present yours strictly via spoken word." Mr H exits. D: "Prottie, right? That was pretty vibes. If you're lookin for a partner for the Haikus, let me know and we'll mind meld it out." And with that he happily tips over the trash and recycling, making sure they are properly sorted. [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] The strangely old looking high schooler turns to me, frowning through his 5 o clock shadow. D: "Not cool, man. Birds are an important part of our ecosystem, and I personally would not be chill with them dying in the middle of our-" MR H:"Woah, woah, woah, settle down now you too. Darren you are more than welcome to present your Haiku without writing it down. And Prottie, you may write it down or not... just don't kill any birds." D: "I'm sorry for comin' at you broski. I just feel very passionate about our avian friends. If we end up partners I'll try to convince you of their feathery brilliance." And with that he somberly tips over the trash and recycling, making sure they are properly sorted. [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] As I walk through the class room I bump into one of the taller kids in the class and it's like hitting a brick wall. S: "Ow, sorry! I mean... uh... maybe you should- um- watch where you're w-walking?!" A very... insecure brick wall. "Sorry I didn't mean to! Are you okay?" I see the Wolfman clutching his hand and a small dot of crimson thread between his fingers. He must have knocked his hand on the corner of the desk behind him. He doesn't look down, but his eyes well with tears. S: "H-hey! My eyes are up here! Don't know why you're looking at my hands, but you'll get an up close view if you keep messing with me!" [[I'm not messing with you. Let's get a band-aid, huh? -> Scott - Bandaid]] [[Make one more threat against me and I'll make sure a lot more than your hand starts bleeding . -> Scott - Devastation]]He leans in close to me and whispers in a choked voice. S: "Thank you." We walk over to the teachers desk and grab a bandaid for the small cut on the back of his palm. He winces as it's applied, but then looks at me and smiles. S: "I'm sorry about earlier. My brother told me that if I wasn't the toughest kid in the class that everyone would mess with me on my first day, but I'm not really like that." S: "If you want a partner for the Haiku, I would love to team up and rock it out! My hand is no good anymore, so you'll have to write for us. I'm Scott, by the way!" And with that Scott heads back to his desk, his tail no longer tucked between his legs. [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] S: "B-back off kid! Nobody messes with the great Scott Vandebeer!" He looks at all of the students, aware of the attention he's under. He goes to shove me, but immediately recoils from the pain. S: "OW! My frickin' hand!" And with that, the teacher comes inbetween us before either of us can escalate this further. T: "Alright break it up, break it up! This is ridiculous. And on the first day, no less? I'm extremely disappointed in the both of you." After the teacher leaves, Scott and I stand in front of eachother. S: "Look. I'm sorry about... all of this. I just need you, and everyone else here, to know who they can mess with. Or... can't mess with. If we end up being Haiku partners, I'll be sure to take it easier on you." [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] In the corner closest to the door, I see a girl lazily strumming a guitar and seemingly waiting for this class, or the entire world, to come to an end. "Hey, I'm Prottie. This whole assignment is uh... pretty lame right?" G: "Huh? Oh, nah man. I don't think so. Haiku is, like, a beautiful and ancient art form. Better than whatever 'forms' we have today." "Oh! Uh... yeah, no, it actually sounds pretty cool then." G: "Yeah. Oh, look at that! Looks like its feeding time for Poe. You might wanna step back." "Who's Poe?" G: "My pet tarantula. He's really cute. You wanna see him?" [[Ooh yeah! I love spiders! -> Gwen - Feeding Frenzy]] [[I will be the last thing that spider ever sees. -> Gwen - Poe's Wrath]]For the first time in our interaction, she smiles as she reaches into one of her jacket pockets. G: "Get ready. Poe! Come get your snack!" I wait for Gwen to reveal a dead mouse or cricket or something, but the moment she reveals an orange in her hand the jet-black Tarantula leaps from her other pocket and sucks the Tangerine dry! G: "Good boy Poe! He's a vegan. Trained him myself." The Spider, as he finishes his meal, turns into a brilliant shade of orange and crawls sleepily back into her jacket. G: "Most people I show Poe to usually think he and I are freaks. I wasn't sure if you were just messing with me about the Haiku thing, but it seems like you acutally have pretty good taste!" G: "If you wanna be partners for the Haiku, I'd love to work with you. Just as long as Poe can also be involved. He gets cranky when he's excluded." [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] She looks at me, lowering her gaze, and peering directly into my soul. G: "You wanna bet? Poe! Get him!" She opens up her jacket just long enough for a the jet-black to leap at me so fast I can only see the blur of its movement. I panic, thinking the tarantula is about to bite me, but it only gives me a nearly imperceptible headbutt on my chest and then jumps back. G: "Hahaha! The look on your face, man. Poe doesn't eat meat, he's a vegan. But I could always change that. Trained him myself, anyways." G: "Look, you don't like spiders, you don't like Haikus, and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't like you. As long as we don't end up being partners, it's fine if that stays where it is." [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] Huddled into one of the open window sills sits a Cowboy deeply inhaling a cigar and exhaling the smoke into the breeze. It doesn't feel like that should be allowed, but I don't judge. B: "Howdy there stranger. You lookin for a partner? Came to the right place." He smirks and stubs out cigar on the window. B: "That was a Haiku, by the way. Pleasure to meet ya, partner." His arm ushers his poncho out of the way so as to grab the cigar off the window sill, revealing a robotic right arm. B: "Oh, this? Lost my arm in a duel with the sheriff. Bastard's been after me a few years, so I decided to lay low and continue my education a while. I am only fourteen after all." [[You are maybe the coolest person I've ever seen. ->Bamf - Obliged.]] [[And how do you know I'm not with the Sheriff myself? You're under arrest! ->Bamf - Breakin' for it.]]He tips his hat in my direction and smiles, a piece of straw somehow manifesting between his teeth. B: "Much obliged there. Not many people willing to come talk to me the way you did. What's your name then?" "Prottie Protagonist!" B: "Prottie Protagonist, huh? Rolls off the tongue, silly as it is. An alias to hide from the sheriff, perhaps?" B: "Don't worry I won't share your secret. You and I can both conceal or reveal whatever we so please. And we'd probably make a hell of a Haiku, huh?" [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] B: "Son of a bitch! It's time to bounce outta here!" As I try to tell him I'm only kidding, he brings his hand to his mouth and whistles almost loud enough to break the glass on the windows! When my hearing returns, I hear galloping hooves somewhere in the distance. B: "BLAZE! GET ON OVER HERE BOY WE NEED TO LEAVE!" *Teacher enters* T: "That's quite enough Bamf! There will be no fleeing today. And you, Prottie, please tell our outlawed friend that you are indeed not a member of the sherriffs office." Bamf looks at me and can immediately read the shame on my face. He sighs and leans out the window. B: "Goddamn it. It's okay, Blaze! We ain't gotta flee. Just some fool messin' around!" *Teacher exits* B: "I ain't got the faintest idea why you would do that, but for both our sake, keep them kinda jokes to yourself. This ain't gonna work as a partnership if we can't trust one another. [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] I walk over to a girl nonchalantly attempting to sew her severed foot back onto her body as if it doesn't bother her in the slightest. V: "Stupid thing! Never stays on when I need it to. How am I going to present like this?" After breaking another thread her foot plops onto the floor and she throws her head back, sighing in frustration. When she opens her eyes, she sees me and jumps a bit. V: "Oh, hi! Sorry you had to see that. Thirty-eight surgeries and I still can't seem to keep this ol' body together. My name is Vicky." V: "I'm sure you probably came over here looking for a Haiku partner, but I'm not sure I'm gonna be a great fit. I'm kinda falling apart at the seems here." [[Let me help you with that!->Vicky Buttoned Up]] [[At this point I think you should just get a new foot altogether. The only question is whose...->Vicky - Disgusted]]I kneel down next to Vicky and grab the severed foot, trying not to give any reaction to it uncomfortably wiggling in my hand. I hold it to her calf while she sews. V: "And there! All sewn up and good as new! Just like Mama Granny always says, 'Nothing goes to waste if you never throw it away!" P: "Mama Granny? Also, I'm not sure that's how it works." V: "Hmm? Oh, Mama Granny! She's my mentor down at the Bugs N' Hugs bakery. It's where I work and I'm kinda hoping to take over one day." V: "Oh my gosh, look at me; jabbering away and I haven't even thanked you. I really appreciate your help. If you're looking for a partner for the Haiku come talk to me!" [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] As I look around the classroom for some potential feet targets, I turn back to Vicky who eyes me up and down in judgement. V: "Um... no thanks. I am not going to steal one of my new classmates feet. And besides this one is perfectly fine anyways." She attempts, once again, to hold the foot and sew it together at the same time. Her awkward threading comes loose and her foot falls on the ground upside down. V: "Dammit! Now I have a bunch of dirt all up in my stump. It's so hard to clean without losing the muscle!" V: "Look, I kinda gotta be focusing on this right now because I really can't afford any more surgeries. You should probably spend your time finding someone else to partner with." [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] I walk over to a boy with a tea kettle balanced miraculously on top of his head. He seems too young to be in high-school, but his intense focus tells me that he might have skipped a few grades to get here. G: "Oh hey there! My name is Gregory. I'm 6 years old, my favorite animal is a tiger, and I'm a child of divorce!" His oddly ginger smile fades as he cocks his head looking at me in confusion. G: "Um... I also love the color green. I like playing video games and eating cheerios. I can run pretty fast... I think?" G:"I'm sorry am I doing this wrong? I've been homeschooled for a while and I read that this was how people introduced themselves. You share an interest and something personal about yourself to make you seem interesting and approachable." [[No, no, it's fine! My name is Prottie, favorite animal is a bear, and my parents are together. Unfortunately.->Gregory - Accepted]] [[Could use a little word. That was very much a TMI kind of intro.->Gregory - Rejected]]Alright, who's going to be my Partner?He laughs so hard his tea kettle threatens to nearly fall off the top of his head, but he instictively grabs it and steadies himself. G: "Woah! Well, I'm sorry to hear that your parents are together I guess, haha!" He kicks his legs back and forth, hands on his thighs, propped up and looking at me. G: "I'm so, so excited to be here! I haven't been around kids my age, or even close to it, for a real long time." G: "I'm gonna try and introduce myself to more people, get out of my comfort zone, but if we end up partners I'd be really happy. Maybe our poem can be about Tigers and Bears!" [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] He hangs his head down in shame, the tea kettle sliding off his head and into his lap. He looks at his reflection in the polished silver. G: "Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I just haven't been around anyone my age for a really long time." P: "We're not really the same age though." G: "We're a lot closer in age than most of the people I'm around. You have no idea. I'm just trying to fit in is all." G: "I'm gonna go try and introduce myself to more of the students. I still think it's good to get out of my comfort zone, even though sitting here sounds really appealing. If we get partnered up, maybe our poem should be about divorce." [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] In the center of the room, fidgeting with her fingers and looking around nervously, I see a girl who really stands out in the fact that, if this were any other room on Earth, she never would. P: "Hey, how's it going?" J: "H-hiya! My name is Jenny. How's it going, how you feeling? You feel like you're gonna explode some acid vomit on me or are you feeling like teleporting anywhere anytime soon?" P: "Um... no? At least I don't think so. I don't even know what that would feel like." J: "Y-your voice changed! That's your oddity, huh? Well, that's a relief. That one's not scary at all." J: "N-not that I don't think you could be scary with that! It's just that, well, some of the oddities in here are a little more... *intense* than yours." [[Don't worry about it, I agree. My voices are pretty tame. ->Jenny-Relief]] [[Who are you to tell me what's intense? You don't look like you know anything about that word->Jenny - Defensive]] Her mouth drops in offense but then she tightens her jaw and crosses her arms, trying to puff out her chest enough to look intimidating. J: "And you look like you don't know anything about being a butthead! Or, I mean, you *do* look like that! Ha, I win!" P: "Well, since you know so much about intensity, what's your oddity? Bet it's pretty thrilling." J: "M-my oddity? Well, I can run really fast and I have a pet lizard named- you know what? You don't *get* to know his name!" P: "Which is it then? Lizard, or super speed?" J: "Both! Neither! I don't know, shut up! I deserve to be here just as much as you do. If we end up partners I'll show you how weird I can be! I mean- *dammit!*" [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] Jenny's shoulders drop with relief as she lets out a long exhalation of breath. J: "Thank goodness you agree. I've just been having quite the introduction with some of the other students here. One of them thought I was secretly the sheriff, and another one had a spider in their pocket who jumped out at me!" P: "Yeah I might've met those students too. What's your oddity then?" J: "Mine? Oh, uh... well I do track really well? And oh! I have a pet lizard! That's kinda odd, huh?" J: "Look, to be super honest with you, I don't know what the hell I'm doing here. My mom said there was a new private school that would be better than going to public school but I don't think she did any research on what it was like!" J: "You seem pretty normal though, which right now is definitely what I need. Please partner up with me if you can, okay?" [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] The heat that eminates from the regal fire spirit I approach threatens to singe my eyebrows just looking at her, but her warm smile persuades me to continue. PF: "Well, hello there! My name is Ember, First Royal Princess of The Ashlands. How are you?" P: "Oh, hey there! I'm Prottie. Just trying to introduce myself to everyone. You said your a Princess? And the first of your line?" PF: "Indeed I am. The Ashlands didn't exist before this year, which, technically, does make me the first. Though it is important to note I don't really consider The Ashlands *home*." P: "Unfortunately? What do you mean?" PF: "Well my name *used* to be Emerald and I was the Seventh Princess of Grasslandia, but then a Demon King raised out of the depths of hell and burnt everyone and everything alive. I was spared, but turned into Fire Spirit and now I'm in high school... with peasants... hooray...' [[I'm really sorry to hear that. But I bet this will feel like your true home in no time!->PF - Welcomed]] [[Careful who you call a peasant. I am standing dangerously close to a fire alarm just now->PF - Offended]]She bows her head to me in gratitude and once again finds her smile. PF: "Thank you for saying that. It has been quite lonely in The Ashlands, especially since my family are now mostly fire-slugs and won't become fire-people for a few centuries." PF: "But I do feel strangely welcomed in this high school. The peasants- people here, are very kind. You have played no small part in my feeling this way." PF: "I would be honored to be your partner for the Haiku project if you would have me. You will have to write though, as paper and myself are at a bit of an impasse recently." [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] Clearly offended, she gets to her feet and stomps her foot down, sending some motes of flame drifting up dangerously close to my nostrils. PF: "Why I *never*! I didn't call you a Peasant to shame you, I called you a Peasant because you are simply *beneath* me!" P: "Is that your excuse for a defense?!" PF: "You are beneath me in a Hierarchical sense! It is only seen as a negative because of your dimwitted-ness. Honestly!" PF: "Frankly, I do not wish to be your partner. But if it so happens that we are paired together than I shall do my best to teach you some *civility*! [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] I approach a suspiciously normal looking, lanky, red headed guy holding a red solo cup in the corner of the room as though this weren't a class but some sort of awkward house party. C: "What's up? My name is Craig. This class is pretty cool huh?" P: "Uh... yeah. I'm Prottie. What's in the cup? If you don't mind my asking." C: "Oh, this? It's just Sprite. Don't worry I would never touch something as unholy as alcohol! That would go against the teachings of my God, Jarbis." P: "Never heard of them before!" C: "Oh, yeah? Jarbis is pretty cool. He's like an eldritch hive mind God who dictates the fate of those who swim out too far in the Black Sea. You should ask worship leader Craig about him sometime. He knows everything." [[Jarbis and Craig sound pretty cool! Maybe I'll check them out.->Craig - Faithful]] [[Yeah I'm not looking to hook up with the hive mind, I'm more of a free spirit. ->Craig - Faithless]]He glowers at me and shoves his ring into my face. C: "You're only not interested because you are misguided. Look into the ring, look! And witness *glory*! I look into the ring and darkness surrounds me. Visions of darkness, visions of death, visions of agony! And then suddenly I'm back in the room. C: "*That* is Jarbis. The all knowing. Worship Leader Jake gave me this ring that let's sinners commune with him." C: "If we are to be partners I will show you more of his teachings. Come talk to me later, my thrall." [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]] He smiles and shows me his signet ring. C: "Really, you're interested? That's awesome! Look into my ring." I look into the ring and darkness surrounds me. Visions of darkness, visions of death, visions of agony! And then suddenly I'm back in the room. C: "So that's Jarbis, he's pretty cool, right? Worship Leader Jake gave me this ring that let's me commune with him." C: "I'd love to be partners as long as nothing we do goes against their teachings! Come talk to me later!" [[Who Should I Talk to Next?]]