thefoundation | Round 4 intro post

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.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[There is a touch of genuine emotion when he responds, almost like he has some modicum of regret here. But it's only very slightly present.]

The Foundation is pretty insistent on its bloodshed, isn't it?

. . .

[ Hearing that actually surprises her, and her arms are folded over her chest. Dark eyes narrow at him in a way that seems to be eyeing him carefully but she doesn't want to say anything aloud.

Not in front of a crowd.

Maybe she should speak to Dazai later, when she gets a chance after everyone's dispersed.

Sighing heavily, she answers cooly, with none of the disdain and bitterness from when she spoke to him earlier: ]

Yeah. It's not like they see any of us as 'real people', anyway. Just things meant to be used and thrown away as necessary.

Exactly! See, once everyone understands how this whole thing works, things will go much more smoothly.

They want death, but they want it to be earned, not just a random killing spree. They made this game to justify the bloodshed they wish to see. What you do now is entirely up to you.

I see.

So that's what this is about. [ She understands entirely. ] And that's also probably the reason why they chose you in particular to be the Host. I get it. Makes things easy for them, I bet. They get to see the bloodshed they want without getting their hands dirty.

That's what it's always been about. After all, people like you and I are dangerous. It's only natural that this group would turn on itself eventually.

Watching the way everyone fights with each other and the group tears itself apart, that's the real entertainment.

"Dangerous"?

Is that what they think? Ha. They're real idiots, aren't they? Or maybe you're an idiot too, Dazai. Don't lump me in with you. I know as well as you do that you're dangerous, but me? I'm normal in comparison to everyone else. I couldn't possibly pose a threat.

And more importantly: I have no plans on letting them have those results for the sake of entertainment. While I might not get along with everyone, letting them have what they want? If it's like that? Is completely out of the question.