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

[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.

[merirut]

Humph, I wonder...

[At least it would be one positive to this entire mission, even if everything else seems ridiculous. But with that task done, he picks up his own mug again and is about to take another drink until Alcor speaks again. There's a bit of a pause as he gazes at the surface of the coffee before he resumes his action.]

...I wouldn't know. But some of the more frivolous archangels seem to enjoy it well enough.

[visionem]

[ Pausing mid sip to blink at Sandy curiously. ]

Hm? Are we not drinking coffee together right now?

[merirut]

[This gets him to pause too, eyes moving down to the coffee as a pensive expression overtakes his face.]

...I suppose you're right.

[...

He looks back up at Alcor after he has his weird little moment there.]

I didn't really think about it that way. Maybe I've simply gotten too accustomed to the sorts of conversations that mortals share.

[visionem]

They are something to behold, flitting from simple chatter to planning a coup over several cups of increasingly sweet coffee. [ That last one was mightily specific, but sometimes these kinda things are just discussed over warm beverages. Looking to Sandy with a small smile. ]

As non-mortals we are not bound by such conventions, so we are free to make our own coffee drinking conventions. [ It's not voiced, but his tone seems to imply: any suggestions? ]

[merirut]

[That certainly was oddly specific, but he's not nosy enough to ask. It seems like something worth remembering though, so he'll just file that one away for the time being.

He actually seems to be thinking seriously on the implication though, and it takes about a minute before he comes up with something that he feels is satisfactory.]

What we've been doing up until now, with trying different kinds of coffee⁠—that's it's own form of convention. Is it not?

[visionem]

...yes, you are right. [ Alcor wears many smiles and this one is fond as he thinks back to a completely different, but also similar conversation. ]

Perhaps I will grow accustomed to the taste of coffee yet, with time and your expertise.

[merirut]

[Sandalphon smiles back a little bit in response, as much as he can smile, anyways.]

If you're so intent on enjoying it plain, then it might be worth introducing you to some of the lighter roasts to develop your palate. You might find it easier to drink the darker roasts after that.

[visionem]

Of course, I would like to experience everything I can at it's peak whenever possible. I have spent many years observing, but there is a stark difference in living it myself. [ Taking a hearty sip Alcor lets the hot coffee wash over his taste buds as he closes his eyes. He opens them after a beat or two, the whole action very theatrical given his eyelashes. ]

I'll trust in your guidance, Sandalphon.

[merirut]

[This sincerity... ugh. He lets out a small sigh before taking another sip.]

Well, it's true that coffee is something best experienced in full. In any case, it'll be a good test of my skills as well.

[visionem]

[ Head tilt, but for once he won't inquire. ]

I look forward to it. But perhaps I can make you something in return?

[merirut]

[Thank the skies. It's not something he wants to have pointed out or addressed, so he'll take this question over any others.]

...No, it's fine. I don't really need much in terms of actual sustenance, and I've never been one to take my coffee with much else.

[visionem]

Hmn, I see. [ This is something he understands, but he continues to mull it over as he takes a sip of coffee. ] If not food, something else then. I'll think on it.

[ Did you think you escaped reciprocation so easily Sandy. ]

[merirut]

[Wow!! What is this! Why don't people ever let this stuff go...]

Like I said, it's fine... it's not as if I'm doing anything particularly noteworthy.

[visionem]

[ Blink, blink, smile. ]

You are willing to share your coffee with me—not many others would, or have in the past. For that reason, I consider this noteworthy, and worth repeating. And therefore, worthy of reciprocation.

[merirut]

...

[Putting it that way makes it easier to swallow, because it's like repaying a debt of sorts. He still thinks it's a bit of an overreaction to a bit of coffee every now and then, but at this point it's probably easier to just accept.

He lets out a small sigh.]

...Something that you like, then. Whatever it may be.

[visionem]

[ He meets the sigh with an upturn of his lips, more stated than before. It doesn't last long as he moves onto the the conditions of their "pact", he has a lot to think about! ]

What I like...it may take a while, but I can do that Sandalphon. Now I have several things to look forward to.

[merirut]

[Ganbatte Alcor!! He's already decided that he'll accept whatever Alcor makes, so the timing isn't a big deal to him.

So he nods.]

It's not as if there's a need to rush. Time is all we have, anyways.

[visionem]

Particularly for us. [ While it's not like Alcor knows Sandy well, the non-human factor has been pretty much a given from the start. Being in the Foundation may yet turn out to be an experience but it is good for one thing—finding some sense of camaraderie in the strangest of places. ]