WEEK 1 - MINGLE

[foundationmods]

WEEK 1

You've found a safe haven from the wind and the snow - yet, perhaps you're not quite out of danger yet. The Resort Staff are odd, but seem harmless - jumping to any whim you might have, if it doesn't make them oddly lock up.

The weather all week is perfect - the perfect temp and snow for plenty of skiing. The firepit in the courtyard is always lit too, with ingredients for smores and hot chocolate always available in the lobby. Though...in the halls, a strange bunch of songs keep playing from the hotel's sound system. Is whoever runs this place a weird cover song enthusiast?

So far, everything seems fine....but there's a weird sense of unease lingering over the Resort as everyone wakes up Monday Morning. Maybe that has something to do with that strange memory that popped in your head when you woke up? Or maybe it's that all of you woke up in the middle of a snowstorm, with no memory of how you got there?

In the end...even though everything should be fine, why does it feel like this is only the prelude to a nightmare...?

PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS | MURDER PROPOSALS/VOLUNTEERING | LOCATIONS

MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

Comments

[xenoqueen]

[As accommodating and friendly as the Staff try to be, an underlying sense of distrust contaminates all of the interactions Ripley has had with them so far. The strange dream she'd had the other night doesn't exactly help to quell these thoughts. Ripley doesn't take the opportunity to enjoy the gifts she's been given so far--she’s been searching the hallways for hours, trying to find any answers and trying not to let panic set in and get the better of her. Tapping on the walls and stomping on the floorboards for any hollow compartments, any hidden rooms. The Staff must be hiding something.

All the while, someone (or something) lurks among them, just waiting to strike....

If you watch her tap on the walls for long enough, she might just stare back at you with an accusatory glare--]

You just gonna stand there, or are you going to try and help me find a way out of this damn place?

[Of course, Ripley has to take a break at some point. After her search, she retires to the restaurant and orders herself a plate of pasta bolognese. As she waits for the chef to deliver her food, she sips a cup of Wilkins coffee and sits at a nearby table.]

God, I've missed this. You'd think Weyland-Yutai would have come up with something better than freeze-dried space food to feed their employees.

[After a few minutes, the Chef brings out a plate of steaming pasta. Ripley smiles at him and picks up her fork. Looking down at the mess of meat and sauce, her mind can't help but draw parallels to the chestburster that exploded out from Kane's chest. No amount of delicious bolognese can quell the sudden feeling of nausea in her head.

She exhales sharply, closes her eyes, and then pushes the plate towards the person closest to her.]

Want some pasta? I don't think I'm that hungry.

Restaurant

[perfeccion]

[Szayel is sitting nearby with his usual cup of tea and what seem to be the remains of several bone-in rib-eye steaks. Ripley's pasta catches his attention, and when she asks if he wants it, he happily obliges] I think I will, thank you.

[he takes the plate and uses it as an invitation to sit across from her]

Lose your appetite, Mrs. Ripley?

[xenoqueen]

Unfortunately. [Ripley props up an elbow on the table and rests her chin in her hand.] It used to be my favorite meal--my wife used to make it all the time, back when we lived in New York. Now, though....

[She sighs deeply, taking another sip of coffee. She remembers this guy from the meeting the other day. His profile made him come off as quite a self-absorbed person, so God knows how this interaction will go.]

You're Szayel, right?

[perfeccion]

Now, it reminds you of something unpleasant. I can see it in your eyes. [he takes a forkful of pasta and eats it, humming happily as he does] It is tasty, though. [he nods in response to his name] Szayelaporro Granz. Quite a mouthful, so "Szayel" or "Dr. Granz" works well enough. You are Ellen Ripley, yes? If I recall correctly, your work brought you to outer space? That's quite a feat.

restaurant

[winter1982]

So even an astronaut can appreciate a good cup of Wilkins coffee.

[xenoqueen]

Not an astronaut, technically. And is that what it is?

[Ripley glances down at her mug.]

Huh. I just picked whatever smelled good. Don't think I've ever had it before.

[winter1982]

Really? What would you call yourself then?

[aside from a lesbian obviously]

And yeah, it's some of the best I've ever had. Don't get to have it very often, though.

Searching

[justonezero]

Y-yes ma'am!

[She just seems like the type of person you ought to use ma'am for. And then:]

Um... I didn't notice any secret passages when I analyzed it earlier, though.

[xenoqueen]

You can drop the ma'am, kid.

[She glances towards the wall, her eyebrows furrowing.]

Have you thought that, since the Staff had predicted our arrival, they might've compensated for the fact that you can analyze numbers?

[justonezero]

Okay!

[That's easy enough!]

I'm not sure if that's possible. I mean, numbers are numbers. Unless the infinity thing is supposed to be tampering? But I don't really get how that's possible, either.

[In. Multiple ways. Tampering with facts about the world to make them read infinity, and also the idea that they are in an infinite space.

This place is weird.]

Searching

[imstuck]

[Phil waves her off.]

I'm fine just standing here.

[Honestly he does desperately want to find a way out of here.

But... he also wants to spite Ripley....]

[xenoqueen]

[Ripley rolls her eyes.]

Very helpful. Thanks.

[Then, under her breath but still a little louder than she'd normally say it--]

Asshole.

[She goes right back to tapping on the wall.]

[imstuck]

[Ugh he's getting some real Rita flashbacks with her.

But he's not going to leave! He has to annoy Ripley some more.

He walks next to her and experimentally taps the wall himself.]

What? You think tapping on a wall will just magically give us the key out of this place?

searching

[tacticalespionageaction]

[He wasn't planning on just standing there, merely observing for the moment, but thanks for the vote of confidence, Ripley. Snake folds his arms with a hrrrmmgh.]

Is that an order?

[xenoqueen]

No, but it sure would be nice if you could help.

[She sighs, rubbing her temples.]

Look, sorry, I've just had a rough couple of days. Haven't exactly been sleeping well, either.

[theycallhimmrpchan]

[Where's his room again...? When he heard Ripley's voice he starts]

Ah-! Sorry Ripley-San... I must've zone out... Are you looking for traps?

[xenoqueen]

[She shrugs with one shoulder.] I'm looking for a way out, but checking for traps is also pretty useful. Who knows what the Staff have got up their sleeve?

[Ripley gives the wall a final tap before turning to face Ryoga.]

Hopefully, you've been enjoying this place a lot more than I have.

searching

[rosebridled]

[ Anthy was was just standing over here and spacing out, but upon being addressed, she blinks, and then lowers her gaze. ]

I'm sorry, I'm not very good at finding exits.

[xenoqueen]

...That's alright.

[Ripley sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. The whole situation is absurd, and having been pulled right from hypersleep after facing down a deadly alien threat...well, let's just say that's not improving her mood, either.]

Sorry, sorry, I'm just...as nice as this resort is, I don't like the looks of this situation at all. I mean...you saw the warning the Apprentice put out. Who knows what the Staff have planned for us?

restaurant

[wrongtiming]

[He stiffens slightly when he looks up upon hearing her words and sees her there. It's nothing she's done, of course - his voice is shocked, but almost reverential in a way. This level of surprise would be even greater if he hadn't already glanced over the information in the tablet and seen her name, but he does nothing but stare for a moment even so.

(It's because he's a nerd.)]

You're - offering me food. Oh my god.

[xenoqueen]

[She eyes this kid, gauging his reaction and raising an eyebrow. She's a bit surprised by his reaction, but, then again, she doesn't know the situations in which most of these kids have come from. Maybe he's just not used to people offering him food? That would explain the tone of his voice...maybe. Possibly.]

What's wrong, kid? [Said in a dry tone.] Never had bolognese before?

searching!

[relentlesslyonwards]

[He's ready, man. He's ready to live the errand boy life...! But anyways, he looks startled by her sudden address before his expression turns apologetic.]

S-sorry. Uh, was there anything you were looking for in particular?

[xenoqueen]

Hidden rooms and passageways, sealed up tunnels--you know, less obvious stuff the Staff might think we'll miss.

[Because obviously the Staff are responsible for everything here.]

There has to be something we're not seeing, here. Either literally or figuratively.

restaurant

[latebluemer]

[Blue Angel's pretty much a regular at the restaurant by now, and tends to hang out by the kitchens a lot because she likes double-checking the food (despite the danger of finding even more freezerburned or cookied human remains?? gross?!), but when Ripley starts waxing poetic about non-space food, she's drawn over out of curiosity.

Mostly, she kind of wants to ask about aliens and space, because that's one area she has absolutely no experience in aside from sci-fi movies and things, but instead -- there is suddenly pasta.]

Ah... Are you okay? Do you want me to ask the kitchen for something else?

[She's not one to waste food, so she's okay with surprise pasta, but it seems just politer and generally better to make sure the pasta's former owner is all squared away first.]

[xenoqueen]

[Ah, it's her again. Ripley shakes her head, trying to maintain a smile on her face. Though, it doesn't take a detective to see that she's still vaguely disquieted. At least a conversation might help take her mind off of that whole terrible incident.]

No, no, it's fine. I'll just order something, later. [A pause, then a snort.] Maybe without meat.

[She leans against the tabletop, taking another sip of coffee.]

You a fan of pasta?