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]

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.

[aozaki]

[she laughs pleasantly.]

Can you truly call it naivete when you acknowledge it, though? Ah, but let's make it interesting between us in that case. Would you be interested in making a bet, Nagumo-san?

[not fishy, nope...]

[souredsweet]

[2fishy...]

I don't normally partake in gambling of any sort, but a bet in such a situation surely couldn't make things worse. What would it be?

[aozaki]

[look she can be reasonable...]

You can turn it down too, the last thing I have in mind would be to throw us both in one blindly. We can discuss the consequences after, but for now, hm... Would you like to gamble about the outcome of this 'show'? You win if this somehow has a happy ending that benefits a majority, and I win if a good number of people end up suffering to serve the ends of a minority.

[souredsweet]

[a polite, quiet laugh, which is largely stifled by a hand anyway.]

I don't know that it would be a very interesting gamble, given we arrived with nothing. ...Still, I'm amenable to those terms.

[aozaki]

[2polite...]

At least this'll be on our own terms, and not completely imposed like everything else in this place. I could offer to make you a kimono with what's available, unless you think that'd be too late by the time we get our results?

[souredsweet]

[go away the politeness is needed... otherwise too much of what lies beneath the politeness is exposed!!]

I would not consider it too late, since I assume we'll have our answer well before this trial is over. I'm afraid that I don't have very many talents to offer you in return, though, should you be the victor.

[aozaki]

[what's so bad about it anyway...]

I'll do that if you accept, although I will need your measurements, Nagumo-san.

[said... sweetly... with a smile...]

But don't be so quick to dismiss yourself, please. What would you say to be your talents? I'd like to hear it from you, unless you would give me no choice but to refer back to these cards?

[souredsweet]

[it just is...]

I will give them to you if I am the one who ends up victorious. [with an equally sweet smile!! as for that:]

My, the card won't tell you anything particularly interesting, I fear - riddled with falsities as they seem to be. I would say that my primary talents lie in tea preparation and cooking. While my card says that I "excel" at swordsmanship, I must say that is an exaggeration and would not make for a good bet reward, anyway.

[aozaki]

And I was hoping for something to do in-between the lulls.

[oh well, gotta find some other hobby...]

Not at all. If I could borrow you for a day to where I'm from, I'd have you spar against an employee of mine. She's a monster with a katana, maybe the both of you could learn something new from each other's style.

[souredsweet]

Would you have the right material even then? [QUALITY etc!! cannibalizing the current wardrobes might work, but still...

AS FOR THAT.] I'm afraid it would not be of much interest to either you or her. My skills are not so great.

[aozaki]

Any artisan worth their grain ought to know how to improvise. Again, I could provide you with something more suitable if I had my workshop at my disposal...

[Shrug.]

Modesty isn't so becoming in the 21st century, Nagumo-san. Unless you don't enjoy swordplay? Then that's another matter entirely.

[souredsweet]

That's a shame that it isn't here, then. [but all things considered, Kaoru doesn't sound too ruffled...]

It isn't modesty, though... it isn't something that I have a particular fondness for either, I'm afraid.

[aozaki]

[neither does touko...]

That brings us back to square one. What ARE you fond of?

[souredsweet]

[good job both of them...]

I am afraid that the things I am fond of are very mundane. I enjoy tea culture - all aspects of it, actually, and not just the crafting and serving. I also have a fondness for nature; I find walks to be a good way to pass the time. [if that sounds a little rehearsed, surely she's imagining things...!]

[aozaki]

[...throws hands up in the air]

No long walks on the beach? A love for poetry?

[...ok no now she's snorting openly...]

We'll go with your favorite secret blend and how it's prepared for now. I don't mind waiting; maybe you'll have something more outstanding to tell me a few weeks from now.

[souredsweet]

I do love poetry, actually. [HAHA]

But I do believe that of the two of us, you are the one with more interest. I fear you will only be let down should you hope to find anything more outstanding than a good recipe for oolong. [SPEAKING OF] I can write the blend and preparation down for you, if you would like.