OFFICE HOURS

[didntgetdadslooks]

Got something you want to say to your good friend The Professor's Assistant? Come on in, don't be shy! Her official hours are daylight hours - girl has to sleep? after all, probably - but if you knock on the door at night she'll generally answer. Please just make sure to leave the in-game date and time in the header of your toplevel!

All comments are screened for confidentiality during the course of the experiment.

Comments

[bolderfell]

Were you the one who put those coins in our rooms?

[didntgetdadslooks]

For the vending machine? No, that wasn't me.

[bolderfell]

...Then how did they get there.

[didntgetdadslooks]

... It's a fun mystery?

[bolderfell]

[He exhales and looks away, letting his eyes wander over her things. ...Is there another door visible in here, actually?]

So that's one of the things you can't answer.

[Another beat passes, and then he glances at her once more.]

Does he watch you, to make sure you don't?

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ There is, actually! Near the back, there's a standard-size automatic door with a keycard reader next to it. ]

Yup. He doesn't interfere too often, but... if I do try to spill things, he's going to know.

[bolderfell]

[Another one of those. Joy.]

I see.

[It's beyond Therion to guess how the Professor does something like that, but then, virtually everything about this place is beyond Therion.]

...Hey. Mind if I look at those decorations while we talk? I'm curious. [After a pause, he lifts his arms.] Promise I'll keep my hands where you can see them.

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ She nods. ]

Sure! I'd really rather you didn't take anything without asking, but feel free to look.

[bolderfell]

[He moseys over to look--really just look!--at the knickknacks and sundry, hands clasped and visible behind his back. It's definitely on purpose, given Therion's cloak. He promised he'd keep them in sight, after all.

Is there a theme or anything to her decor? ...Does anything look expensive? He's not actively looking to swipe anything, it's just the kind of thing he'd notice.]

So, what are you allowed to talk about? Nothing about the experiment we can't figure out ourselves, obviously.

[As he peruses her shelves, he fiddles idly with the shackle around his wrist, maybe shifting it a little from sore areas.]

Mira seemed to think you'd be able to tell me more about some of the... technology that runs this place.

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ So! In terms of what it actually is, since you the player would recognize this, the shelf is full of basically fancy Earth souvenirs? Pieces of regional sculpture, a few liquor bottles in various states of fullness, some CDs of international music from local bands, that kind of thing. In terms of how Therion would interpret it, though, there's not much that's particularly valuable unless any of these art pieces are from someone well-known. ]

Nope. Though I am allowed to say you all might want to consider Rule 4.

[ She nods. ]

That I can! In general terms, anyway - what are you wondering about?

[bolderfell]

[Rule 4, huh. He'll look the rules over again later. For now, he pauses, then looks at her over his shoulder.]

...How do key cards work?

[didntgetdadslooks]

Oh!

[ She takes a key card of her own out of her pocket - it looks fairly similar to everyone else's, but without a number on it. ]

So there's a... special rock, I guess, is the closest I could get to something you're familiar with? Inside of the card, and when you tap it to the reader pad, it can tell that the rock is there and there's a mechanism that pulls open the lock.

[bolderfell]

...Ah, so each reader pad is waiting for one... rock in particular. That's why my card wouldn't open, say, Jasper's door. Or yours.

[didntgetdadslooks]

Exactly. You need the right key to open the lock, just like the ones you might be more familiar with.

[bolderfell]

[He nods thoughtfully.]

If we lose or break ours, then what?

[He picks up a liquor bottle and examines the label, then sets it gently down again.]

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ It's rum! From... somewhere in South America, probably, I don't have many specifics here mapped out. ]

Well, I can review security footage and tell you where it is if you just misplace it. If it's gone forever, come back here and I can issue you a replacement!

[bolderfell]

...Footage...?

[He glances back at her, mystified, then holds up a hand with a sigh.]

Never mind. I'll look it up in the library. The point is, you can... find the card, somehow, or make new ones if we need them. ...Doesn't that mean you can get into our rooms at any time, if you wanted?

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ She wiggles a hand. ]

Yes, but I'm not exactly looking to. Anyone on staff can go anywhere in the facility they want, that's just part of the deal.

[bolderfell]

...So unless you stay in this room all the time, there's more to the building beyond that door. Rooms that aren't on the map.

[He indicates the closed door at the back of the room.]

Since we haven't seen you beyond the meeting room, otherwise.

[didntgetdadslooks]

All that's back there is my room. Just a bed, a TV, a little kitchen, and a couch, really. Not a whole lot more than you guys.

[bolderfell]

[He blinks.]

You just... stay here?

[didntgetdadslooks]

For the duration of this whole thing, sure. I'm on duty, after all.

[bolderfell]

[He looks at her for a while, then lets his gaze wander over the office. It's nice, sure, and spacious for one person, but to always be in here or a room like theirs, and that's all?

As if avoiding her gaze, he returns his attention to her things and turns that liquor bottle a little in its place.]

Whatever this means, to you... I hope it's worth it.

[Maybe Angel shouldn't let strangers touch her stuff anymore, because when Therion leaves, the bottle's label is facing the wrong way.]

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ As he's on his way out, Angel sighs, picking the bottle up. ]

Me too.

[bolderfell]

[Well, lookee here. A small folded piece of paper somehow found its way under there, it seems!

And since Therion's not going to look back to see if she opens it or anything, here's what is written inside, should she read it:

In a prison, there are worse friends to have than a thief.]