foolishmortals | Forget all your troubles

[You wake up and instantly realize something is wrong.

There is a vague feeling of dread hanging in the air and, as comfortable as this bed is, there’s just something off about everything, even before you open your eyes. The dread only grows when you open your eyes and realize that you are in a completely unfamiliar room. One that has clearly seen better days at that.

As you explore your room, you will soon find a bedroom key resting on the dresser along with a note]

Welcome, esteemed guest, to our humble abode. We hope that you enjoy your stay in this Phantom Manor, as we expect you to stay with us for a very long time.

Feel free to make yourself at home as you enjoy what this manor has to offer, whether it’s the library, our projection room, or our famous wax museum. We’re sure you will find great joy

However, before you can get too comfortable, we ask you to please come to the portrait gallery at noon so we can discuss your stay here.

We eagerly await to meet you.

-Your Host

[The uncomfortable feeling doesn’t let up as you leave the safety of your bedroom. The manor seems old and decrepit, almost like it would fall over at the slightest breeze. Despite that, anyone who tries to escape will soon realize that the walls are unusually sturdy, and there are no doors that would seemingly lead to the outside world.

Still, at least you’re not alone in this scenario, if the other bedroom doors are any indications. Maybe there are a few more people coming out of their bedrooms too, so you have someone to talk toif you want to try to figure out what's going on. But if the 30 bios in the foyer hall are any indication, whoever has you here did not do this on accident. Whatever you’re here for, it seems like you’re here for a reason.

But hey, what’s the use of being pessimistic about this? Maybe it’s all an innocent situation… right?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh! Well, I can teach you to read, I guess! At least you should know how to read everyone's name here! [There's a pause.] Actually, I think there was a room with everyone's names...?

You would? Really?

[That's easily the best thing that's happened to him in this place, and maybe even the best thing anybody's ever offered to do for him.]

Oh, yeah, there was the room with all those pictures and words. Louis told me about a couple of 'em, but not all of 'em.

...I guess that's a good place to start?

[Please don't let the book dumb 10-year-old be his only reading teacher.] Yup! If I remember right, it was...that way? [He points in what is hopefully the right direction, then starts walking.]

[It's fine, he'll do great.

And luckily, Pinocchio generally knows his way around most of this place after all the wandering around he's been doing. He'll let Noby lead as long as he's still going in the right direction.]

Oh, yeah, what's your name? I'm Pinocchio.

[He blinks a bit as he realizes that's a name he's familiar with...from a story. And wait, isn't the idea of a puppet coming to life also from a story...? Well, it's not like it's that weird, he supposes. He turns around and smiles.]

Oh yeah! I'm Noby!

That's a good name.

[He'll have to learn how to read that one first, he figures, plus it's pretty short so it shouldn't be that hard. Besides, reading is probably easy. Everybody else seems to know how to read just fine.

Though he still looks kind of apprehensive when they're actually in front of the bios.]

...What're you supposed to do?

Well...um... [He points at the one with his name on it.] That's my name, and it's made of two sounds, right? No...by. [He covers up the back and then the front of said name to show what it looks like.] Those letters show the sounds! [He points at each one as well, naming them.] ...maybe I should start by telling you what all the letters look like?

...Maybe that's a good idea.

[He got the sound part, he thinks. But it's just meaningless scribbles on the wall, so it's not like he could figure out why those letters made those sounds. Some kind of guide might help, he assumes he could figure things out from there.]

There's paper in the rooms, or books in the library. [He's. Not entirely sure what equipment is needed for actual real teaching.[

...maybe we should look at the books first! There might be one that has the alphabet in it.

[Well in that case their entire walk there was pointless, but Pinocchio doesn't seem entirely bothered by that fact.]

At least I know where the library is, too.

[Though he doesn't think he'll be much help in finding the right book. That one's all on Noby.]

Okay! To the library! [He actually does an about-face and points again as they head...hopefully towards the library. He might let Pinocchio lead after a bit.]

[It's fine they'll get there eventually, one way or another, though when they do Pinocchio just stands back from the bookshelves unhelpfully, looking expectantly at Noby.]

I dunno what we're looking for.

Hmm...books with the alphabet are usually pretty thin. And they have bright colors and big letters! Plus they're usually on lower shelves so kids like us can get them easy. [He starts searching one shelf, pulling out books to get a look.]

Got it!

[He pulls out books long enough to get a good look at the cover before literally tossing them over his shoulder. It gets pretty repetitive after a while, so he figures he can at least talk to fill the time.]

So, do you recognize anybody here? I haven't seen anybody I know from the village, and everybody dresses kinda weird.

[Or not at all, in some cases.]

[Noby shakes his head as he keeps pulling out various picture books. Huh, here's one about numbers. He sets that aside for now. Maybe later.] No...I don't really know any of them either! And I know most of the kids in my town... [Admittedly, he's less familiar with their parents.]

What town're you from?

[Noby's outfit is considerably closer to what Pinocchio considers normal, at least compared to some of the other people here. But he doesn't think he's seen him in the village, even if he only observed the real kids from afar before.]

...um, I don't remember. [That's kind of embarrassing.]

Oh, that's okay. I don't know that much about my village, either.

[Then again he's got a pretty good excuse for that, so...]

[He looks relieved, before finally finding a very battered-looking alphabet book and pulling it off the shelf with a triumphant "ha!"] Oh good, i found one of those alphabet books!

Great!!

[He might’ve been surprised the manor even had one but, really, it makes as much sense as anything else here.]

How’re you supposed to start?

Well...how about just looking at each letter first? [He'll start flipping through the book and naming the letters, along with maybe reading some of the words. He might go a little fast, though, and he'll be half-singing the alphabet song as he lists them.]

Forget all your troubles

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this is going to be a disaster

as expected tbh

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