Welcome, Participants

[mockmods]

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.]

Comments

[maxout]

[Oh, actually, he feels like he... vaguely remembers this one. He points at one of the options.]

You should just ford the river. That's quicker, right?

[Don't listen to him, he was bad at this one.]

[windowsexplorer]

[Listen. She isn't just going to dismiss his advice out of hand. She needs to work out that it's consistently bad first.]

It's faster, but it's dangerous. If the river is too deep...

[She decides to caulk the wagon and float it across, instead.]

[maxout]

[What, is "fast but dangerous" not just how everyone does everything? Psh. Seems fake.]

Huh. I always just did the same thing every time.

...I never really got all that far.

[windowsexplorer]

[Listen. Some of us have to worry about other people sometimes.]

That's why you have to try different things, so you can vary your approach depending on the situation.

[maxout]

[Seems even faker.]

Yeah, I'm none too good at that. I just do a few things-- [...] --one thing real well and I stick with it.

...Think your wagon's going to make it all the way?

[windowsexplorer]

Doesn't it get boring?

[meredith not everyone is compelled to seek out new experiences]

I think I have a good chance. I hope so, I want to see the whole game.

[maxout]

...I don't exactly got a lot of options. I don't have the luxury to worry about boredom.

[tfw the thing you hate that defines your life is also your greatest strength]

Think you'll make it before it's time?

[windowsexplorer]

It's not really a luxury for me.

[That's a useful and descriptive statement.]

I don't know. I'm making good progress so far, but there might be something ahead that'll make it take longer.

[maxout]

What's that mean?

[Meredith, please.]