mockweek | Welcome, Participants

Good morning, Participants. The time is now 7:30 AM.

[Where were you before this? Doesn’t matter, you’re here now, in an unfamiliar bed, surrounded by unfamiliar people, with a slightly-too-cheerful automated voiced chiming over a PA system to wake you up. Your pockets are empty, save for an unfamiliar smartphone type of device that comes alive under your touch, displaying, among other things, a map, a series of profiles, and a list of rules.]

It is understood that you may have questions; please be patient, and gather back in the Common Room in one hour. The Assistant will be present at this time to answer your questions. In the meantime, please feel free to explore the Facility at your leisure.

[The doors to the dorm areas are freely open from the inside, though you’ll find that it takes your electronic id to regain entry once you’ve left. Otherwise, it’s as the voice says, and you’ve got an hour to explore your new surroundings and get to know your fellow kidnappees.]

[Welcome to the Facility.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

in4apounding

That's a simplistic way of putting it, but yes!

[She sounds very proud of this fact.]

I'm an artificially made person, designed specifically to facilitate this study.

thisass

Oh? And what is it actually supposed to be a study of, exactly?

Interpersonal bonds in closed environments. And how they're affected by competition between groups of people. Essentially you're here to make friends!

Friends, huh? [ looks around at everyone. ] I swear, you make a couple of them and suddenly everyone's out to have you making more. Good lord. Anyway, what exactly does your... researcher get out of this?

It's sensational, isn't it?

[Friendship is Magic, Chloe.]

He gets to help promote harmony and social wellbeing all over the world! ...Or, worlds, I guess. I don't really get that part, but you're all from a lot of different places.

Science fiction human advancement, naturally. Should have taken a bet.

[ She sighs. ]

And why does the Researcher feel too important to greet us himself?

He- doesn't want to interfere too indirectly with the study.

So he sent some poor robot girl to talk to us instead. He must feel awfully proud of himself.

I'm sure he is!

[Don't shittalk her friend, yo.]

And I am VERY qualified to speak with you all.

[ Half-heartedly puts her hands up, wincing a little as she does. ]

Right, of course, terribly sorry. I just like to know how much I'm being played, in a given scenario.

I'm being completely honest, I promise. ...Though I guess if I wasn't, you wouldn't be able to tell. Hm. Um-

Hard to read tells on a robot. But anyway... fine. Not exactly much we can do here if you're lying, anyway.

If there's anything I can do to help you trust me, please let me know.

[And, thinking for just a second-]

...Except opening an exit. I can't do that, I'm sorry.