Welcome to the Program

[airlockedmods]

[Each Champion is awoken by an alarm ringing from a machine attached to their non-dominant arm. Whatever they were doing, whatever state they were in, they're in a bed now, in good health. And maybe a bit different since the last time they looked in a mirror.

There's a text note on the device attached to their arms.]

Good morning, Champions. In the interest of maintaining healthy sleep patterns, a day/night cycle is in effect. Your presence is expected in the food court in exactly one hour.

[Your surroundings look like your normal everyday space mall. But if you look at the functions of the device on your arm, there's Not-so-familiar profiles, some rules, and a mini-map that'll show you the layout of the mall.

You are free to explore at your leisure...For an hour, at least.]

Comments

[everylittlesecret]

[Cat is usually the alarm Nari deals with in the morning, not whatever this was. Especially since she distinctly remembers getting ready for a hike. Whatever she's in to sleep smells awful, and sorry to anyone in there with her, these things need to get out!!

Rather calmly, she is placing smells she can't stand incense and candle wise outside of her kiosk. No exploration till she's less offended!!!]

[power_of_dominance]

[As he gets closer, his nose is really offended. No wonder she's clearing out stuff. Hopefully she won't put it anywhere he can continue to smell it. As with anyone else he's spoken to, he's not looking directly at the woman and he's kinda mumbling to hide a couple of oddly pointy teeth.]

I'm really glad I didn't wake up where you did.

[everylittlesecret]

[She's in librarian mode, so it takes a moment or two as she shorts the smells by most offensive to least (mint, patchouli, sandalwood, rosemary, and anything stress relieving). When done, she stands and looks at the stranger.]

Waking up at all is an accomplishment, no matter where it is. But comfort for future sleep is important. If you want any, just take them, I don't really care.

[power_of_dominance]

[Normally he'd avoid strong scents with these newly awakened senses, but one in particular catches his attention. He scoops up a rosemary candle, grateful that it actually smells like the herb and not some imitation of it. It smells like home. If he doesn't light it and just... leaves it open, it will help keep him calm while he rests.

If he doesn't get out of here really soon, that is.]

Thanks. Um, any idea why a bunch of us woke up in an abandoned mall?

[everylittlesecret]

[Rosemary smells too much like soap to her, take them all.]

No. And I don't think I care much for the reason. It's much more preferable to other types of settings that a kidnap victim could find themselves in.

[daughterofthemark]

[Important things to attend to, questions that need answering, colorful candles--]

My!

[LOOK AT ALL THESE]

[everylittlesecret]

[A purple haired child. Looking at the candles. She blinks and looks around.]

Where are your parents?

[daughterofthemark]

[EXCUSE YOU SHE IS A WOMAN]

At home in Caledonia, I would presume.

[everylittlesecret]

....... Don't you mean Scotland?

[Romantic terms were still used for countries, but parents should teach proper country names.]

[cyan_maid]

[What the fuck is any of this surreal bullshit right now. There's a redheaded woman taking candles and incense and putting them outside of a different kiosk a couple of kiosks down from where Jane just...emerged, or whatever. She's. Just going to watch for a moment, a little dumbfounded.]

...I...guess you really don't like any of that stuff?

[The fuck is going on.]

[everylittlesecret]

I do not. [Nari smiles, but it's clearly a trained smile. A customer service smile.]

If you would like any of them, feel free to take as many as you can. I'm sure there's matches I could find if prompted.

[cyan_maid]

...I'm think I'm good, thank you. Smelly stuff isn't...really on my list of priorities.

[But, well, maybe this girl is allergic to this stuff, how would she know. Maybe she gets terrible migraines from...patchouli?]

Do...do you know where we are right now? Besides, like...surface-level observations, because I can very clearly see we are in a mall.

[everylittlesecret]

Bad smells can interfere with observation of your environment. It's something to consider.

[Not really, she just hates the smells.]

No, and I don't think I care much. It's not a dungeon or a jail. Yes, from glancing around this seems like some sort of strange place for a possible joke show or some such, but you shouldn't worry. There's no axe murderers around.

[serrata]

[ Oh! She'd thought this place was empty, but this girl's going at whatever she's doing so calmly and diligently that this just seems like a day ending in Y for her. And maybe with any luck, it is and she knows what all this is about. ]

Excuse me...! You don't work here, do you?

[everylittlesecret]

[Work here? She tries not to look offended, but it's probably not working.]

No. I'm a librarian, not a minimum wage worker. I haven't seen an employee just yet.

[serrata]

[ And with that, she visibly deflates. There goes that ray of hope. ]

That makes two of us, then. I thought you might've been restocking or something like that but... I bet you just woke up in there, didn't you? No idea of how you ended up in one of those strange beds?

[a10tionplz]

Oh, well. That's one way to deal with things, I suppose. Spring cleaning, get a fresh start, clear your mind and focus on something else for a bit- hang on is that candle seriously durian scented?

[Picking up the candle in question, incredulous.]

[everylittlesecret]

[Someone who understands!!!!!!]

Awful, isn't it. Worse than mint almost.

[a10tionplz]

Oof, mint. Could be worse. Could be mint-durian.

[neverheardofhim]

Smells like a bath house exploded over here. [Varric sniffed, then stifled a gag.]

Need a hand?

[everylittlesecret]

Something like that. [Try sleeping in it.] If you have seen a trash can, it would be appreciated. I would like to throw these things out.

[neverheardofhim]

Haven't seen one yet. Then again, this whole place is something of a shithole. Could probably just throw it anywhere.

[curdle]

Candles...?

[ There might have been a second part to this incredibly astute observation, but by the time Thomasin gets close enough to investigate said candles and the woman putting them out, she's also close enough to get hit in the face by a tidal wave of patchouli et al. It's not that she isn't used to objectively worse smells, but the artificiality and the concentration -- not to mention the combination of so many together -- is more than enough to reduce her to a deer in the headlights mess, staring at the display and not yet fully aware she needs to sneeze. ]

[everylittlesecret]

[Poor girl, when it's not expected, these candles will kill. Nari looks over and frowns.]

You might want to breathe before you throw up. I know these things smell awful, hence why the removal.

[curdle]

[ She tries to obey what seems like sound advice, especially considering how much she does not want to throw up right now, and takes a deep breath! This immediately turns into her face contorting briefly before she turns her head and sneezes, loudly, so as not to do it in Nari's general direction. Slightly muffled from over her shoulder: ]

Pray forgive me. [ Thomasin breathes in again, which seems to help, before looking back at the stranger and her Spag Champa hell ensemble apologetically. ] You woke to this?