Week 0

[productions]

Who: Designated Killers and Mastermind
What: Assignments
When: Early Morning, Sunday

[Early this morning, several guests will be awoken before 6 AM by a loud alarm ringing in their room. Lying on their desk will be a telegram, signed The Producer, instructing them to go immediately to the billiards room.

Once they arrive at the billiards room, they will find the door in the back open. They will then be able to proceed into the smoking room, where others await.]

Comments

[souredsweet]

[IT'S TRUE and optimism isn't really Kaoru's bag, either.]

...I wish that I didn't.

[aozaki]

How about something to drink, while we wait for our summoner to arrive?

[enough of that, TOPIC CHANGE]

[souredsweet]

[it's less depressing, at least...! Kaoru's attention immediately drifts to look for a liquor cabinet.]

I'll fetch something to serve.

[aozaki]

Would that be alright?

[oh she'll be happy to let the one who 'excels at tea preparation' do it, sure. but w/e, gotta ask all the rhetorical questions!!]

[souredsweet]

I don't mind it. [Kaoru gives a lot of those strangely polite and easily read as neutral answers.]

May I please ask for your preferences?

[aozaki]

[fine by her! not her problem, if this person likes to masquerade as a polite reserved tea ceremony mistress or something. ...not that it's surprising, knowing that kaoru's from japan in the 'old' days.]

I'd rather have coffee this early in the day, but go ahead and surprise me.

[souredsweet]

I will do my best to prepare something satisfactory, then.

[AND OFF KAORU GOES... unfortunately since the coffee maker is something that isn't recognizable at all, Touko won't be getting her morning brew unless she ropes someone else with a little more coffee competency into making it for her. a valiant effort is made, though...! valiance that results in a little more working knowledge about what a coffee bean grinder is.

about ten minutes later, Kaoru returns with a little tray that has two cups of - SURPRISE - tea settled on it.] I'll have to apologize for being unable to prepare your coffee for you. It isn't a common drink where I come from, so I fear any attempts to make a cup would have been mediocre.

notices nothing

[aozaki]

Now you're just trying too hard to be polite. [she chuckles it off easily, nodding the apology off because it IS nbd.] Preparing tea takes time I normally don't have, I can't complain when the change of pace is a step up from the usual. Thank you, Nagumo-san.

[And without further ado, she'll pick it up and take a sip. This is high grade stuff, isn't it?]

ur 2kind...

[souredsweet]

Is that so? My apologies. [Kaoru stop. it's accompanied by a small smile that time, at least... a joke!! but yes it is prepared perfectly, not a single leaf has been over or understeeped. due to the ritzy accommodations, the leaf quality itself is excellent, too.]

You're welcome, though. I do hope that you find it to your tastes.

always and 5ever

[aozaki]

[...

wow yes A+, touko may not dabble in tea often but she can appreciate quality and aesthetics no matter which form it takes!

so she's gonna enjoy that sip nicely and slowly, ok. sorry for the wait, but an opinion's gonna come after she takes her sweet time and puts the cup down.]

The tea itself is extravagantly flavored to my taste, but so is everything else here. You've steeped it flawlessly, on the other hand. I see the card wasn't wrong - [a (playful) pause] - on that regard.

[souredsweet]

[it's okay, there is plenty of patience to be had here! it's always a compliment when people take time to enjoy freshly brewed tea, anyway.

that playful jab tho... Touko!! Kaoru doesn't know whether she's made it to the "people I like" list or the "people I do not like much at all" list, she's striking a funny balance somewhere between both.]

For what little good it will do me to have such an insignificant fact be correct. Still, I'm glad the tea isn't a disappointment to you.

[aozaki]

[Which one would Kaoru prefer...]

Anyone who considers this to be so has no taste, or needs their tongue replaced. I'd probably get to enjoy it better if I didn't smoke so much, too.

[shrugs! she's still happily sipping it slowly though, w/e w/e.]

[souredsweet]

[it is a tossup currently...]

Does excessive smoking dampen one's ability to taste? [huh you learn something new every day... Kaoru looks pretty pleased with the compliment, though.]

[aozaki]

It dampens a lot of physical functions.

[DON'T ADMIT IT SO CASUALLY...]

[souredsweet]

[WELL THEN.]

One would think it isn't worth such a thing... But I have heard that some who take up smoking are unable to put their cigars back down. Is that the case?

[aozaki]

[w/e w/e]

It's like an acquired taste, but yes, nicotine is addictive.

[souredsweet]

An unfortunate thing. [maybe?? Kaoru doesn't really know much or care much about addiction... but if it dampens one's abilities to enjoy tea, there is some vague and mild sympathy regardless.]

[aozaki]

There's plenty of warnings everywhere, don't waste sympathies over anyone who complains while they should fully know what they're getting themselves into.

[casual remark about smoking or philosophy of life? EITHER OR, TAKE YOUR PICK...]

[souredsweet]

[can option c: both feasibly be picked??]

That seems a harsh thing to say.

[aozaki]

Reality isn't cozy, and neither is our current predicament.

[...sure, why not

taking another sip as she toys with her cigarette box, though. touko, don't smoke while you're drinking tea...]

[souredsweet]

[yeah do that and see if Kaoru ever makes you tea again!! there is actually a second of suspicious side-eyeing...]

Another harsh sentiment. Would you consider yourself to be a realist, Miss Aozaki?

[aozaki]

[no she won't do it dw...]

I'm more of a romanticist, but it's hard to be one right now with how the deck is stacked against us. Wouldn't you think so too, Nagumo-san?

[souredsweet]

[good.... the suspicious look remains though, mostly because what kind of romanticist is this]

I would like to believe that maintaining optimism in such a situation is the best way to handle it. Nothing good can come from allowing negative circumstances to ruin one's mood.

[aozaki]

[excellent question..........]

I'm in a good mood, though. How would you take this positively, if you don't mind indulging me?

[souredsweet]

[giving this some thought!! kind of...]

To believe that there is a way out of this situation without anyone coming to harm - positivity. [a self-assured nod!] Though some may also call it naivety.