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

[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.]