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

[merirut]

[Dressed in armor as usual, he listens to Gabe's explanation with his usual frown and clicks his tongue when he leaves.]

And just why exactly was I chosen for this? ...What nonsense.

[There's a small huff before he makes a swift exit to the kitchen, ignoring the refreshments that have already been set up and going straight to the cabinets. Before long, there's the scent of freshly brewed coffee wafting throughout the first floor, with Sandalphon making himself home at a counter as he sips from a mug. He doesn't make any offers, but there's plenty of coffee left in a pot and he seems pretty indifferent to people coming over if they seem interested in taking some.]

[allmyfriendsaredead]

[Oh.

It's this one.

Saki will make her way towards the kitchen, crossing her arms as she reaches the threshold.]

Business as usual, I see.

[merirut]

[Ah. It's this woman. He raises his head enough to look over to her when she speaks.]

If that's the case, then there's nothing to see here. [Takes another sip.] Besides, it's not as if there's anything better to do at the moment.

[allmyfriendsaredead]

Have you met and introduced yourself to everyone else yet?

[merirut]

No, and I don't feel the need to. Especially for a mission like this.

[allmyfriendsaredead]

Why not? We're going to need to get to know each other eventually.

[visionem]

[ Teleporting in with a soft "bloop" to announce his arrival. ]

Hello, Sandalphon. What type of coffee are you making today?

[merirut]

[Oh thank the skies. Teleporting isn't something he's unused to, but that doesn't mean he enjoys having it happen when he's trying to relax a little. There's a blink at the greeting before he nods to the equipment that's been set out.]

Nothing special, I'm afraid. Just the usual pour over. [A gesture at the pot and a slight upturn of the lips.] Would you care for some?

[visionem]

Yes, of course. [ Smiling at the pot and Sandy like his entire day has just been made. tbh it probably has, and he's like this every single time they've had coffee together because sharing things with people make him happy. ]

Did you bring your own beans with you?

[merirut]

[Oh Alcor. The way he acts reminds him of how the Singularity and their crew are sometimes when he made them coffee too. It's still sort of strange, but not necessarily unpleasant.

But with that, he turns to take a second mug out of a cabinet, setting out some sugar while he's at it too. As he pours the coffee:]

Yes, I did, although this brew didn't come from that batch. If there's one thing I can say about this place, it's that it has a better selection of beans than the Foundation's other bases.

[He sets the mug out in front of Alcor.]

Here.

[visionem]

[ Taking the mug carefully in his hands, he spends more than a second staring at the coffee wistfully with a nostalgic smile. ]

Then perhaps the host of this house is a coffee aficionado like yourself. [ Levitating two sugar cubes over to his mug, they plop into the coffee with a slight splash. ]

Thank you. I was taught by someone that drinking coffee is how humans make time to discuss things. I had not thought this would work equally as well with non-humans, but I'm finding it just as pleasant.

[momsters]

[She's taking a tour of the house and welp:]

Well look who it is.

[Aren't you just so. so excited.]

[merirut]

[Oh boy...... he is definitely so excited like you don't even know!!!

(he's not)]

Humph. Do you actually have any business with me, or are you simply here to waste your time?

[momsters]

You mustn't demean yourself this way. Spending time with you is never a waste of time.

[So yes, she's here to waste time.]

[merirut]

Flattery will get you nowhere.

[Siiiip.]

But it's a shame, because I couldn't say the same for you.

[momsters]

That's alright. We can't all be good judges of character.

[That's stated infuriatingly mildly. She indicates the coffee pot.]

Is that all for you?

[overconfidant]

[Honestly Akira was on his way to do the exact same thing so it's nice to not have to? He'll take some of the already prepared coffee and lean against the kitchen wall.]

At least they have real coffee equipment and not a fucking Keurig.

[merirut]

[Oh, it's a fellow coffee lover. Sandalphon doesn't really pay any mind as Akira takes some, but at least he'll look over when spoken to.]

Small favors from above, I suppose. Not that it makes up for the rest of this ridiculousness.

[overconfidant]

It definitely doesn't but I don't think I could face this without coffee. And Goro in withdrawal is not something I need to see.

[Siiiiip.]

Did you bring your own beans?

[merirut]

Withdrawal...? [He's saying that more to himself than Akira though, so don't mind.]

I did, although this didn't originate from my stash. What, do you prefer a different type?

[overconfidant]

[He's good at not minding, it's better than explaining caffeine addiction.]

My favorite is a little tricky to get, really. This is fine, it's just hard to picture you drinking whatever beans they feel like stocking for a whole month.

[hematocritic]

[hello, excuse him, Ozaki is going to make his way to the coffee machine, seemingly ignoring Sandalphon entirely. Once he has a cup he leans against the counter on the other side of the machine, effectively bracketing it between them.

He doesn’t speak either, but he’s definitely grateful to have some coffee and a space away from the general mass of people.]

gently threadjacks this

[visionem]

[ Setting down his empty mug, Alcor was just about to leave the kitchen when a familiar face shows up. He watches and waits, only speaking when it's clear that Ozaki intends to stay silent. ]

Are you thinking over what to discuss, Ozaki Toshio? [ That sure is a on sequitur but this seems to be the standard for Alcor. ]

[hematocritic]

[He takes a moment to take another drink before answering, his mug used to make a vague waving gesture.]

Yes and no. I doubt if I asked what kinds of ‘games’ we’re expected to play I’ll get a straight answer. I’m not particularly fond of toying around and wasting time, either.

[Not in this kind of way, anyway. Sleeping until late morning isn’t wasting time. It’s maximizing rest. Several weeks long stay in this place, when he could be treating patients and gathering information? Much closer to wasting time.]

[visionem]

Then what shall you do? Time ticks forward for every man and immortal. [ Hand under his chin, he leans forward slightly, his shoulders hunched. ]