Round 4 intro post

[foundationmods]

The last checks have been made. The support staff is pulling back to site 4 proper. Everyone not staying on-site at the containment area is saying their goodbyes and their 'see you soon's. It's all supposed to be business as usual, after all. Nothing really bad ever happens during this containment procedure, so everything should be alright. But despite that knowledge, there is a sense of anxiety in the air. Nobody expects anything bad to happen, but after the last year of chaos even a safe SCP like this has become 'I'll breathe more easily when it's over.'

Gabe is there too, giving his final instructions to everyone staying at the house. He looks almost bored with the proceedings, and he keeps looking back to his clipboard to make sure he has covered everything. One last run-through of how the 'game' will work, one last reminder of where to meet the retrieval team once someone has been eliminated from the game, one last warning to stay on-site until you have been eliminated. "We can't contact any of you directly during the game," he says at the end, "But we'll be watching. It should be smooth sailing, barring a bit of personal drama here and there, but all of us back at the main site will be watching carefully. If something goes wrong, we'll extract you guys."

At the very least, those familiar with Gabe will be able to tell he means what he says. So maybe his words can be reassuring?

Once everyone has left and the 24 contestants are left to their own devices, they will find a note in the living room:

Welcome!

Meet me in the studio at 2 pm. Until then, say your hellos and get to know each other.

- The Host

It looks like everyone has some time to get acquainted with each other. Some finger foods (fruit and veggie trays, sandwiches, cans of soda) have been left in the kitchen for people to have for lunch.

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((Welcome to SCP Round 4: Friend or Foe? This first part is for mingling. Part 2 will go up at 2 pm EST.

If you haven't done so already, go here and do the mass-adding for private conversation posts.))

Comments

[georgeous]

[ And that's that. They're alone and will be for quite some time. George sighs. He's dressed flamboyantly as always, a turban with blue feathers on his head, sunglasses on, and wearing a very yellow coat with purple fur linings.

He sits down on a couch, crossing his legs. ]

Two minutes in and I'm already quite bored. Why did we need to put anyone in C-class here again?

[odasaku]

As long as it's boring, it means nothing's going wrong.

[ oda has zero complaints with this being boring. in fact, he's just idly munching on a sandwich he picked up from the table while glancing around the place. ]

[georgeous]

It also means that we could be doing far more useful work elsewhere.

[ There's like... actual missions to run! People to protect! Even paperwork to file! ]

[odasaku]

True.

[ but they're still here, no? it's not like they can just say 'hey actually,' and go against orders. ]

So what are you going to do? Get up and leave?

[georgeous]

[ There is a barely noticable but immediate straightening in posture here. ]

Of course not. A mission is a mission and I will see it through faithfully to the end.

[allmyfriendsaredead]

We do have a lot of C-class this time, don't we?

[She tries not to sound as concerned as she really is, but. She's concerned.]

I wonder how the candidates were chosen...

[georgeous]

[ He nods. ]

I wonder the same. We're simply overqualified to be playing house.

[ If that is what it is. ]

[allmyfriendsaredead]

The file said there would be games and team-building exercises. Do you think they wanted a C-class per team?

[She hasn't gotten a full tally on just how many they've got, though.]

[georgeous]

We're around 10 C-classes here as far as I know, that's nearly half of our full group. The teams would need to be very small for it, but it's not impossible.

[ Are they just tag teaming? ]

[visionem]

[ Hi George, appearing right beside you as Alcor is want to do, on the couch arm. ]

As leadership, perhaps?

[georgeous]

[ Ugh. You. Good thing the sunglasses obscure eyerolling. ]

This is more leadership than you'd send on an average combat mission. I sincerely doubt that it takes this many of us to successfully catherd a few D-classes.

[visionem]

Yes, there are many hardworking agents here, yourself included, George Ace. In that case... [ He brings a hand to his chin. ] might this be a "forced vacation"?

[georgeous]

[ The corners of George's lips turn downwards in absolute distaste. ]

There is no need for those unless performance has been suffering.

[ And he rejects this assessment!! ]

[oceanicbutterfly]

I think they just don't trust D-class on our own.

[Grump grump grump.]

[georgeous]

[ He huffs in amusement. ]

Of course they don't.

[ But nearly making it a 50/50 split? What kind of look is that? ]

[oceanicbutterfly]

[the kind that happens when karen kicks a murderclown in the head]

Honestly, it's reassuring. If they're willing to send so many higher-level agents here, maybe it really is safe.

[georgeous]

Your faith in the treatment of C-classes is admirable. Though we're above you lot, we're certainly far from the top. It is best to stay humble.

[ Humble is a good word to mask frustrations. It's respect for the actual superiors, surely. Yes. ]

[merirut]

[This whole thing still sounds really really dumb to him, but...]

Who knows. Perhaps it's a good omen.

[georgeous]

Is that your official idea as an archangel?

[ Whatever that may mean, curse you, GBF wiki. ]

[merirut]

[Curses indeed!! Although it's something Sandalphon is actually grateful for because that shit's his own business.]

No. It's from the way D-ranked agents are treated like nothing but trash. If they're willing to dump you lot here, then maybe the casualty rate might not be too bad.

[georgeous]

I have bad news about the next step of the career ladder. Though we're certainly blessed with more privileges, we are far from indispensable.

[The foundation is shit and George is not at all happy with his current status. ]

[houndumb]

[Oh god it's THIS GUY.]

Oh god it's YOU.

[Nora is definitely making the pose in his icon right now. After a moment he shifts to aggressively crossing his arms, but he's still staring beadily at all the animal bits on George's person. Fashion is lame??]

Why'd you even have to come here?? Were you so bad at climbing rank they had to throw you in here to mess with us??

[georgeous]

Yes, me.

[ And you.

Thank goodness, Nora is here of all agents. That's so reassuring and surely not at all likely to end in the most frustrating month of George's life.

He smiles, but that's just because smiling expressed superiority, thank you very much. ]

I came here because I was assigned to it, plain and simple. It's not a performance-related punishment, which is why I find your presence a little surprising.

[houndumb]

[He's here to inconvenience you personally.

And to bare his teeth in response to the smile, because this guy smiling or frowning or doing literally anything including existing always gets his hackles up. Flamboyant people!! Are!! Menaces!!!]

Shut up, they wouldn't try an' punish me the same way they would all you suck-ups! You're probably enough of a punishment all by yourself!

[georgeous]

[ Yes, but they love being menaces, so your point is...? ]

A punishment to who? You? Certainly, if our past run-ins are anything to go by. Please don't take the house apart, Nora~