One spot left!  We're going to have such a delightful time together.

~Jean

*Launches self towards remaining spot* reSERVE Minnnnne

Name: Leafy

Age (appearance and mental maturity, real age optional): Technically, I am 14; because of my height I might appear to be a bit younger; in mental maturity I am generally either like an adult/an older teenager, or about 11.

Gender & Pronouns: Female, female pronouns

Allergies: Not really any. I'm a bit gluten intolerant but it doesn't matter much

Appearance (In-Detail): Very short (4'11 1/2"), I have wideish shoulders, I have medium/darkish brown hair that's about bottom-of-shoulderblade-length but is a bit wavy and curls at the ends; the bottom couple inches of my hair is bleached and dyed (although it's faded) so that it's sort of an orangeish salmon color; I have brown eyes and long eyelashes, my skin is kind of a light olive tone. 

Personality Overview: Look at the next three questions. Also, I am extroverted although a bit socially awkward; self-conscious about myself; more of a listener than a talker, someone who has a hard time putting my thoughts into words, and scared of heights, small and/or enclosed spaces, and crawly bugs and/or ones that fly. And I like reading, writing, art, video games, and fashion. 

How do you think someone you just met would describe you?: Short, nice, kind of quiet but enthusiastic

What are your most positive traits?: Adherence to my values, morality, being the person who is kind of the middle ground and tries to negotiate and look at both sides of things, confidence in my...confidence? Idk how to describe it but I am just confident in myself in a way that I wouldn't let other people try to bully me or push me around or make me change my values or be stepped on. I stand up for myself.  

What are your greatest flaws?: Selfishness, clumsiness, lack of decisiveness, envy, never being satisfied, the list goes on....

Describe if and how you instigate social interactions: I do! I'm kinda shy sometimes but I do love people. If I wanted to interact with someone I might just compliment them or just kind of try to slip into their conversations or something....

Favorite board games: I actually don't play a lot of board games *nervously wonders if people are going to throw her out of the ski lodge* but I guess I like Sorry, Chess, and Stratego. 

What inspires righteous anger within you?: When people use the verb form "are" to refer to a band (primarily BTS, and I'm looking at you, S, O, and A), which is GRAMMATICALLY INCORRECT as far as I'm concerned! 

How would you react if you were taken hostage (this is purely hypothectical kids): I would probably freak out. I don't know what else I'd do. I'd say I would try to escape, but I would probably be too terrified. Probably I would end up trying to play a super-innocent frightened little kid and try to guilt my captors into letting me go.

How do you pick your friends?: I like people who share my interests or are likeable, inspiring, or interesting to me. 

Unusual items you may be bringing: I honestly don't know. I will either not bring anything unusual or figure out what I want to bring within the next day or so. 

An extremely unique fact about yourself: The only thing I can think of at the moment is that I have had a cold for over a week now and I SHOULD be better by now but I haven't felt better much at all for a single day since I got sick. *sigh* 

Anything else-- don't be shy!: Are we allowed to guess you? 

Aah am I too late?! I hope I'm not!

Name: Kitten

Age (appearance and mental maturity, real age optional): 14

Gender & Pronouns: Female, she/her/hers

Allergies: Gluten

Appearance (In-Detail): I have cat ears and a tail that color-change from yellow to orange. My hair is long, brown, and wavy and often contained in braids. I have cat-eyed purple glasses. I often wear yoga pants and patterned t-shirts.

Personality Overview: I tend to have two sides. The first is mature, outgoing, helpful, and intelligent. The second is sensitive, snappish, perfectionist, and kind of bossy. I try to stay in mature mode, but if I'm having a bad day or someone really annoys me, I swap over.

How do you think someone you just met would describe you? Depends on when I met them and who they are. Probably (hopefully) something like, "Oh, that's such a mature, intelligent young lady!"

What are your most positive traits? Leadership, intelligence, creativity

What are your greatest flaws? Bossiness, fear, inflexibility

Describe if and how you instigate social interactions: "Hi! My new year's resolution is to talk to more people, so, uh, yeah. I really like your necklace." *nods forcefully*

Favorite board games: Ooh! I like Dominion, Clue, and Sushi Go. Does D&D count?

What inspires righteous anger within you? Bullies, sexism, politicians of the opposite political party

How would you react if you were taken hostage (this is purely hypothectical kids): Purely hypothetical. Suuuure. I'd probably beg to call my friend, and then tell her everything was fine but that I really wanted banana pancakes (a code word between us). I also might just curl up in a ball and wait for someone to rescue me.

How do you pick your friends? Circumstance. Usually, I end up working with someone, or sit next to them by chance, and then we forge a connection.

Unusual items you may be bringing: Harry-Potter-style wand, bow and arrow, local fair trade dark chocolate

An extremely unique fact about yourself: I love many veggies but hate sweet potato.

Anything else-- don't be shy!: Are we allowed to guess you? If so, are you Ella Starburst?

There were no two ways about it: it was a boat. A blue boat if you’re particular, a blue ferry if you’re very particular, and a blue ferry with red seats on the inside and no passenger deck if you’re ridiculous.  More important than this boat was its destination, still miles out but fast approaching.

Golden sunlight bathed the rolling green hills of a small island off the coast of what geographers refer to as “nowhere important.” Lawyers in nice suits and a rather dreary career ruts refer to it as “outside of any legal jurisdiction,” before going for the fifth cup of coffee that day and staring at a clock that’s two minutes fast until their eyes glaze over.

Anyway,

The hills were glowing rather idyllically in a morning sunrise.  Towering above the hills at the center of the island stands an enormous skyscraper, sticking out like a sore thumb against the deserted green landscape.  Tubes, balconies and rails wrapped in and out of the colorful building with no apparent rhyme or reason.  The colorful mural spanning across it similarly seemed to have no real forethought, with clashing tones and shades and a pattern that looked like a criminally insane giant had been playing paintball.  Slapped on to the top were the words: “Whimsy Inc.” and a smaller subtext written below: “Board Game Adventure Experience™ “

Surrounding the island, rather than picturesque island shores (or even a mid-to-low quality beach that doesn’t have effective litter control), were colossal rocky cliffs.  The sheer drop would have been ideal for extreme (or as some people refer to it: insane) cliff diving if someone would bother to see if the waters were safe.

Speaking of the water.

On this blue ferry with red seats on the inside were seventeen strangers, sitting.  There were no two ways about that, either.  Well, the other way would be throwing someone into the ocean, and that’s generally not how polite society does introductions.

Or, someone could just turn to one of the other strangers and say “hello, my name is Bagel Princess,” and then there would only be fifteen strangers and two friends.

As a matter of fact, that’s exactly what happened.  

“I’m Gracia, hi,” the other no-longer-a-stranger tucked a piece of hair behind one ear and smiled, glad to be free of the awkward silence, “That has got to be the best name I have ever heard.”

Bagel Princess smiled back, “thank you!”

They lapsed back into silence for a moment and Gracia turned to look out her window.  She didn’t know what she’d been expecting, but there was certainly plenty of water.  Deciding conversation was the way to go, she turned back to Bagel Princess, who was already chatting away with the third girl seated in their row.

“Quill, this is Gracia,” Bagel Princess said cheerily, shifting in her seat, “Gracia, this is Quill!”

“Hi?”

“Hey”

“Friendship!” Bagel Princess declared with a loud clap of her hands.  Her two new proclaimed friends were both a little quiet, she astutely observed, but that wasn’t going to be a problem.  

Their friendship was stronger than all earthly limitations.

“Uh…,” Quill said softly after a moment, not really wanting to interrupt but also wanting to get a word in before things turrned into small talk, “this might seem like a weird question, but how did we get here?”

“Huh?” Bagel Princess looked taken aback at the question, “It’s a boat, we just boarded at the…  docks or something…” her brow furrowed, “Hey, wait a second how did we get here?”

Quill breathed a silent sigh of relief at the fact that she wasn’t going completely insane.  Bagel Princess stood up resolutely and slid past her to go find some sort of staff.

“I’m going to go try and find some sort of staff,” she explained, “Ooh, want to come with?”

“Sure,” Gracia stood up.

Quill smiled apologetically, “I would, I’m sorry I’m just feeling kinda seasick and I don’t want to push it.”  It was true.  She wasn't really sure how long they'd been on the boat, but clearly not long enough for her to get her sea legs, or se stomach, or whatvere it's called.

“Totally understandable, I don’t want you to push it either.  We’ll be right back!”  Bagel Princess and Gracia wandered off down the aisle and through a back door.  There wasn’t any form of signage, but it was unlocked so she assumed it was fine.

The boat began a gentle turn, and Quill moved across the empty seats to get a better view out the window. She didn’t know what she’d been expecting, but there was certainly plenty of water.  There was also an island coming into view as the boat continued to rotate.

Quill wondered if they had considered that boats might like to dock, because as far as she could see, there were no such amenities.  There was, however, a rather out of place skyscraper.

Odd.

(a couple people have asked; yes you may guess me!  To be honest, though, I don't reccommend it because I don't think you'd be able to.  That sounds more ominous than I meant it to, but I'm leaving it like that for the aesthetic gosh darn it)

So if you're a CBer who hasn't been on in a while... are you Punzie??

So, did I get in? I mean, I reserved before it started, so should I post my sheet?

About guessing you, okay, it's just something about the way you said that comment at the end of part one that sounds really familiar to me somehow, and it's really bugging me--especially the way you said "I'm leaving it like that for the aesthetic gosh darn it" It sounds really like the way someone I know writes, or several different people that I know, even, but I don't think I can quite put my finger on who it is

Hazel says ooakk. ?? 

As the Cbers and AEs warmed up to each other, the chatter began nto increase in volume.  Bagel Princess and Gracia still weren’t back yet, and Quill was engaged in conversation with Leafy across the aisle.  Barnswallow and Luminara began discussing theories about their location, and it was going swimmingly--  Not that they were making progress on the regular ship on their friendship.

Awwww.  Adorable.

Bagel Princess and Gracia reemerged, followed by a woman in a cherry red pantsuit with matching lipstick on her wide, fake-as-plastic smile plastered across her face.  She was doing a rather decent job balancing on six-inch heels considering the increasing instability of the boat as they drew closer to the island.  She cleared her throat, and any remaining chatters tapered off.

“Hi kidssss—teens?  Young adults?”  She rerouted mid conversation, trying to read the audience.  Her tone of voice had the uncomfortable tone of someone who had been left with their baby cousin while the adults were talking in another room.  “So we’re ahead of schedule, that’s great!”

This was met with murmurs, and the cherry-red woman’s brow wrinkled for a split second before she remembered to resume her smile.  “So anyway, to pass the time I’m going to assign you to your teams.  Mingle.  Or something." She pasued, "Oh, I suppose I should introduce myself—I’m Jean Defarge but you can just call me Miss Jean.” She pulled out a list and started reading, her voice fluctuating like a radio game show host.
“The Oak team: Gracia, Quill, Bagel Princess, Dexter, aaaand Alex.  The Pine Team: Nyx, Barnswallow, Luminara, Dusk Sky, and Leoooo.  And finally, the Cedar team: Apollo, Sally the great and powe- mm, never mind it appears that was redacted,” She paused for a moment, set her jaw with a smile and continued, “Winterblue, Leafy, Kitten, and Luna-Starr.”  She raised a meticulously pencilled eyebrow after finishing, “Is this what kid’s names are nowadays?  If we had medical forms this would be very difficult without last names.  But we don’t, so lucky you, no worries there!”

“That seems like breaking the fourth wall to comment on our names,” Sally commented to Winterblue under her breath.

“It’s only meta if you make it meta,” she whispered back.

“Any questions?” Miss Jean asked, like someone not expecting questions.  She grimaced when several hands shot up.  “Mm, you there, in the back row,” she pointed towards Barnswallow.

“Where are we?” She asked eagerly.  Luminara put her hand down.

“In a boat,” the woman said cheerily.  It was obvious that this answer didn’t satisfy Barnswallow, nor anyone else.  “It’s a blue ferry,” she clarified, “Next question, you with the braids,” she pointed at Quill.

“Um, how did we get here?” She asked.

“Oh, funny story!” Miss Jean’s smile was stiffened even more, if that was possible, “At the beginning of the trip we serve a nice little mint that will knock you out for the whooole trip.  It makes things nice and smooth, it’s amazing everyone doesn’t do it!”

“Yeah, they do,” Kitten interjected, louder than she meant to, to her seatmate, Luna-Starr.  “For dogs, on airplanes.”

Miss Jean did not look pleased, and she pulled out her notes to glance over.  Kitten bit her lip.

“Continuing on,” she continued, glossing over that little interlude, “I see here that I forgot to mention the significance of the team names.  They are different types of boards.”

She was met with dead silence.

“Well, okay, this is going well!” She tucked her noted back into her pocket and muttering something under her breath about test audiences of first graders. “But there’s one final twist!  There’s a prize for the winning team at the end of the retreat.”  The dead silence shifted into a much more alive silence.  "Not one,” Miss Jean was more energized by the attention than she had been throughout the entire interaction, and lowered her voice dramatically “not two, but three million dollars per team.”

Absolute uproar.  

Miss Jean smiled with satisfaction, a real smile this time, and walked back down the aisle into the unmarked door.

Everyone was so preoccupied immediately discussing strategy with their team, that it seemed like small potatoes that the boat had nearly reached the island, and the side of a cliff was opening up to welcome them in.

(@Leafy, yep, it is one of those two things.  Also, everyone who submitted or reserved made it in, I just started the story sooner rather than later because the longer I wait to do something the lower the chance I'll ever get it done, y'know?)