citylogs | [OPEN MINGLE]

WHO: Everyone! It's a mingle!
WHAT: Discussing recent reveals about the simulation
WHERE: Pairidaeza Architectural Studio
WHEN: Feb 3rd morning to evening
WARNINGS: Potential existential crises, discussions of death, memory manipulation, basically everything to do with their actual situation in a simulated environment.

[The actual setup within the garage-turned-studio is away from all the actual workbenches.

On one folding table are copies of multiple documents available around the X: The main document is a summary of a resident from a prior iteration that's clearly been redacted via scanning copies with stuff blocked out. Additionally are copies of the most recent newsletter with the memo on the back and photos of the hotel journal printed in black and white.

Lined up on another folding table away from the one with the documents is an array of finger foods: hummus, chutneys, and yoghurt dips with a variety of sliced vegetables, cheeses, cold cuts, and fresh pita bread. cardamom cookies, panipuri, and both vegetable and chicken samosas take up the other side. Mint water and fresh juice are in pitchers to the center. It's actually a little crowded.

Chairs are set up in small grounds and around the document table. And finally, a whiteboard has been rolled in for people to make use of in group discussions.]

((This is a mingle, so everyone is encouraged to threadjack, make toplevels, etc prior plot mingles have been done. Alhaitham and Kaveh will be around and participating but not taking the lead beyond making sure people stay orderly in the studio and have enough papers.

If you character has discussed the simulation with either Kaveh or Alhaitham, you can also handwave they texted them directly about it.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ A walk (first) it is.

He takes a step back, offers his hand that would inevitably end up clasped with hers. There's no reason to tell anyone they're stepping out, so Robby doesn't, leading them both towards the doors out, perhaps with a mutter for 'Wanna grab your coat?' somewhere in there. But they don't even need to pause for that.

Even if it is raining out. Not a hard rain, but one that greets them all the same, a pattering that's different from the murmuring and atmosphere inside the studio. He looks down the road both ways, and if Tsuruno isn't already pulling in a direction herself, he'll say in suggestion, ] There was a bus shelter, that way.

[ A direction, given with a pointing finger. And it's the one time he'll speak, figuring the walk first is what Tsuruno will need. Walk, rain, and Robby will note her pace to follow it, whatever mood it is that comes through her stride.

If they take the bus shelter direction, it'll take a bit to reach it, anyway. ]

[ Tsuruno pauses to grab her coat, if just because even when she runs warm, she's still human. If she comes down with a cold because of being drenched, she'll just cause worry for other people, but then she's clutching at Robby's hand and they're outside with the rain lightly pattering down.

She exhales, lightly, following the direction Robby indicates. And, a few minutes later, eyes flicking up to the dark sky. ]

I'm sorry. My brain wasn't really shutting off...

Why would it? Everything we found out sucks. [ He squeezes her hand all the same, and he knows why it's important to her, to stay calm.

But they still have to deal with it. ]

Only good parts is that their experiment keeps messing up. They can't keep it up--everyone's waiting for us.

[ ...because his mind is on the bodies, that they have them, and that means there's others like them. Just there, somewhere. Comatose, until they're ready to be put to use? ]

But does that mean it's only a matter of time before they decide to try to scrap this? Or try again?

... That doesn't give us much time.

[ To test the boundaries. To try and break out. ]

Didn't the diary say they try holding out on an experiment as long as possible? They haven't stopped so far. Doesn't sound like they think they can.

[ Or by the time that diary was written. ]

But something or someone's helping us. If we're finding files by mistake--maybe it means something. Maybe there's something we can do.

[ Maybe. That's all it can be, if a someone can't help them. The most hopeful of positions, but Robby knows it's a reaching one, desperate. But isn't all that they have? The hope of there being a way out of this despite all reason: people trapped inside a program escaping from it.

What kind of sense does that make? But they need it. He has to remember that, too. ]

Yeah, I'm not giving up or anything like that. There's information we're getting still... and we're all still alive.

[ She takes a breath, letting the sound of the rain calm her thoughts to the best of the rain's ability. ]

So I just--need to focus on that, I think. One thing at a time. It'd be kind of embarrassing if I became a problem in the middle of trying to solve one.

You're not. [ So he phrases it at first, looking at her, the rain making his face wet. Then, trying again: ] ...You won't.

[ Is that how he should be phrasing it? Regardless, the bus shelter is now in view, and he still intends to lead her that way, even if he's got a hood to help with most of that rain there. It's a soft pattering above their heads, thankfully not loud with its brick design.

He sucks in a breath, and there's a sensation like a shiver under his skin, that Robby isn't sure is from the cold or from the meeting. The weight of the information, the reminder of their situation. ]

I hate it too. All of it.

...

[ She's been aware of it. That despite some people handling it better, outwardly, than others, that no one's really okay with this. How could anyone be okay with it? Robby just tends to put her first, even though he's also struggling, and Tsuruno presses closer to his side, squeezing their palms together.

It's probably not the most pleasant sensation, not when they're both lightly damp, but they'll be at the shelter soon enough. ]

I hate most of it. [ A pause, and she clarifies-- ]

I don't hate that I met everyone... that I met you. Even though it means we're in this mess together.

[ The shade of the shelter comes over them, a little dark, but the light of the day around them stops that from being a problem. Robby doesn't pull himself away from Tsuruno, but stands with her words. Even though it means we're in this mess together. ]

I wouldn't want to be in it alone. [ He tilts his head to her, his expression difficult, despite- ] I'm glad you're here, even if that means you're not where you're supposed to be.

[ ... ] None of us are.

[ In his (failed attempt of light humour) defence. ]

Yeah.

[ And she tips her chin up to meet his eyes, gaze rueful but affectionate. There are so many more emotions beneath that, ones he's probably familiar with.

In the shelter, she can let her hood fall, a little less obscured. ]

I'd have a rough time of it if I was alone, too. I'd be missing out on a really great boyfriend, for starters.

[ He lets out a soft breath, not enough to be a laugh but close. This time smiling, a small pinch to his lips. ]

And all your other favourites? Alhaitham--and Kaveh?

[ He doesn't know the extent of most of her relationships, but he knows she's pretty friendly (in her Tsuruno way, mind) with Alhaitham most of all. ]

Al and Kaveh and Daan-san and Altria and Sensei and--

[ Well, she has a list. ]

[ Do you think he's going to stop her?? Please, feel free to go on with it, while he's wearing a tiny funny smile. ]

And Peter and even though they're gone, Welt and Yuki-san and--

[ She pauses, frowning lightly at him. ]

What? What's so funny?

Nothing. [ Even if he is wearing that smile. ] It's just... listening to the connections you can make. The people you care about.

It's not something I hear someone talk about every day. [ And, most of all, so she doesn't think he's picking on her!!: ] It's a good thing.

...

If that's the case, I've gotta do it more often. I think people should talk about when they care.

[OPEN MINGLE]

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