7rings | WEEK ZERO: INTRO MINGLE

POPULATION: 37

There's the soft, chiming ding of an elevator as you slowly grow conscious. You remember the sound of a voice whispering in your ear, and then a very gentle, easy darkness as you fell asleep.

Then the elevator jolts, and you promptly ram into some of the thirty or so other people also waking up from their nap. Time to trample people on your way out! Be careful not to rip your flattering outfit with light up furry ears of an animal of your choice. On this elevator there are a total of 10 buttons and they're all lit up! But they don't work. A shame. The elevator doesn't go anywhere else.

In any case, once you exit the elevator, you'll find that you have a decently wide area to explore. There doesn't seem to be any sort of exit to the outside world, but that's okay. You didn't want to leave without what you came for, right? Besides, it's wonderful here: the temperature is perfect, every surface is as soft as clouds, and the atmosphere is so, so inviting. The base itself is low-lit in fluorescent neon colors which shift and pulse over time, and there's a soft, reassuring humming sound under your feet. It would be comforting if you didn't feel like you were being watched every time you walk along the hallways.

But hey, don't worry about that! Maybe you should be more concerned with the phone in your pocket! The phones have a few functions, as well as a low pixel camera. Pictures are in black and white, so no brightly colored selfies for you. Oh, and while you're taking those selfies, you might notice the symbol of your Avatar tattooed and glowing faintly on the back of your hand. Hope you're fine with impromptu body mods.

Eventually during your wandering, you'll find your room with roommates included! On the floor of your room, there is a big gift box with your name on it. Upon opening it, you will be absolutely obliterated with glittery confetti. But once you manage to get past that, the gift box contains the following:

✦ your item from home
✦ a pair of boxer-briefs labeled "ball hammock"
✦ a stress ball that looks suspiciously like a boob
✦ a rainbow bath bomb
✦ a Polaroid camera with 10 instant film
✦ a frozen steak in a vacuum-sealed pouch
✦ a blue and pink dual flashlight; one end has a normal white bulb, and one end has a blacklight bulb
✦ a tiny crown

Welcome to your new home. Take some time to look around, talk to your fellow indulgers. All of you can see each other's symbols on the back of your hands - maybe it'll strike up a conversation. After all, there's no better way to get to know each other than talking about your sins on the first date!

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She has no idea it's not supposed to be filled to the brim, so she just takes it, holding it carefully so it doesn't spill. Sip. Making a little bit of a face at the taste of the wine. Sip. Sip.]

. . . Perfectly acceptable.

["perfectly acceptable," huh...]

That's not a "delicious". We can try to find something you like better! What's the point in drinking if it's not something you like?

There's no need.

[The idea of her finding something she likes better sounds terrible.]

It's delicious. [She takes another sip and makes a face.]

...you really don't have to push yourself to drink it if you don't like it, Miss.

[she can SEE that face!!]

[Defeated. She just wants to seem cool. . . ]

I've never cared much for the taste of alcohol, I admit. But if part of this challenge will be being sociable, then I ought to learn.

There are plenty of people who don't! That's why they make different flavors. I'm sure we can find something that masks the taste a little better.

[hmm. time to resume sampling literally every bottle she can get her hands on! it's fine.]

What sorts of things do you like drinking?

I like. . . water.

[Hmm.]

Sometimes lemon water. In moderation.

Lemon...

[time to go looking through the bottles! she comes back with lemon soju, which she pours a little of into a glass.]

This has a lemon flavor! What do you think?

[You should have left it. She's so boring. She takes a sip of the lemon soju and makes a face.]

. . . It's really all right.

No, we'll find something!

[she is determined, now!!

don't mind her looking through the bottles again... hm...]

[This is hell! She's just. Going to take another sip of the soju. It's awful.]

You really don't need to. . . !

But you'll have an easier time if we find you something you like drinking, right?

Well, yes. But I'm sure I can do that on my own.

[She's a weird nun who drinks plain water she's not going to like anything.]

On your own? That just seems lonely.

I'm used to it. I don't get lonely easily.

Still...

[as they're talking, sqx is absolutely pouring out little samples of alcohol and sipping at it. she stops when she gets to a bottle of a premixed fuzzy navel.]

...hm. This one tastes like peaches and orange, and I don't really taste the alcohol in it at all. Want to try?

I suppose.

[But she seems to have a lot of trepidation.]

[holds it out to her, then!]

Go ahead and try it. If you don't like it, you can just be honest.

[Trying it. Making a face.]

It's. . . very sweet.

Hmm, so sweets aren't to your liking either...

[shi qingxuan taps her fingers along the bar, and then makes a little aha! noise and goes diving for another bottle, a margarita glass, some salt, and a lemon.

after a few moments of fiddling with it, she presents harrow with a salt-rimmed (except for one spot left bare to put her lips on) glass of some clear, sparkling beverage.]

Try this! The bottle said sparkling water, so it probably won't have a flavor, and if you don't like salt, you can just sip on it from where there isn't any and they'll think it's just gone because you were drinking it.

[Sorry, she's impossible! She's a weird isolated nun who never had anything with flavor in it her entire life. But she takes a sip of the sparkling water?]

. . . It's just water, then?

It's water disguised as something different! So you can have something you like drinking in situations where you need to look like you're drinking alcohol.

Ah.

[That's. . . a little embarrassing, but also sweet. She smiles a little.]

All right. I'll try it, next time.

Good! I'm glad I could help you find something you like.

[she winks]

And this works out - this way, there's more alcohol for me.

[Okay. She'll get a small smile for that wink. She's nice.]

. . . I appreciate it. Your help.

(no subject)

shiftingwinds - 2021-02-07 16:16 (UTC) - Expand