revivalproject | [Event] Calibrations Waiting Room Mingle

[Event] Calibrations Waiting Room Mingle

WHO: ALL HE ROWS PRESENT
WHERE: Calibrations Area
WHAT: Mingle log for literally anything you'd like to take place in the waiting room between sleep cycles during the event
WHEN: May 9th to June 10th
WARNINGS: Please mark individual threads with warnings
NOTES: If you have any questions, please go Here

For those who followed the visions there is little more to do before and after the dreaming times but wait. At least there is some modicum of comfort offered to those who have found themselves trapped here. From the moment one steps through the door there is no going back, the doors people entered through sealed beyond any hope of opening. And by some twist of fate (or design), it's not possible to be by the door when another He Row arrives, something always calls any waiting away, until at last the door doesn't open anymore.

Some might find the area familiar, having haunted these halls before. Upon entry one walks down a large hallway before it opens into an even larger waiting room with chairs, tables, and the same food dispensers available in the shuttles, save that it lacks any Red Fruit Drink. It's a shame, actually, the alcohol might help you get through things, and since there was no warning this time, the dispensers are the only source of food available. But at least there is enough for everyone. Yay!

There are also communal bathrooms - one men and one for women though nothing would stop a person from using whichever they desire - with several toilet stalls and shower stalls in each, including basic shampoo and soap dispensers. All of the dispensers put out a liquid that smells like Italian dressing for some reason. The water in the showers is only ever cold or scalding, with nothing in between. Pick your poison.

Branching off the main waiting room are hallways that lead to the bedrooms. Each one has a name on it but there is nothing requiring you to use that one. Anyone can enter any room or share with someone else. Each room has a simple bed (approximately queen-sized) and a set of drawers. There is one white jumpsuit in your size in the drawer and a pair of canvas shoes. You can wear them or ignore them as you like.

Some power out there seems to have pity on the heroes too, accounting for the possible boredom that comes with the downtime. While no one may have been able to bring things in with them even if they had them in hand upon approaching, a need for entertainment for those long hours between dreams has been realized. A set of shelves can be found in the waiting room, covered in various boxes and containers. Each is labeled with brightly colored pictures of people seeming to have fun with a game, and the boxes clearly represent all sorts of species, even those that have never been present on Temba to your knowledge.

The complication is that none of the games are written in any language anyone knows, and even the Communications datapoint seems unable to translate. Good news, all the games seem to have all of their pieces, even the single large puzzle that is both solid gray and yet causes a headache when looking at it for more than ten seconds (damn those alternate light spectrum puzzles). Perhaps people can figure out the rules on their own, or make their own games from the pieces. There’s even paper and some sort of pen that only writes on that paper specifically, so maybe some pictionary? Or, if you’re really desperate and okay with fights breaking out, there seems to be a full set of Monopoly Longest Game Ever. Okay, so on second thought, maybe that power out there doesn’t have pity, but is malicious and wants to show you that people truly are driven to strife.

You can opt to spend time in your room or in the larger, common waiting room. But about every 16 hours, all people suddenly feel a compulsion to sleep. Once this starts, you can’t fight it off. You find yourself going into your room for bed or wherever else you feel like you’d prefer to sleep. And then, inevitably, you close your eyes and dream.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Dude, breathe," Gladio says, rolling his eyes at the intensity Richie's got going there. "Was gonna say it's probably best not to. I'm not exactly experienced with dudes. Family expectations and legacy and all that."

Shields had to put their duty to the throne first after all

"Yeah and I don't have a ton of experience because I grew up in Homophobia Town and kind of forgot I was gay for awhile. Sorta. It's a long story."

Richie snorts and punches Gladio's leg.

"Oh man. Maybe we should hook up. With both of us not knowing what the fuck we're doing, I'd get tons of material for new jokes."

"Yeah. I definitely want jokes made about my abilities where Noct can hear them. Great idea."

He definitely didn't sound pleased at that idea. And why should he? What would Noct think?

Probably that it was all a joke seeing as he didn't know Gladio liked guys too. And had quickly denied flirting when he totally had been.

"I wouldn't name names. I'm no narc."

And speaking of things that start with 'N'. Richie's embarrassment and teasing faded a bit.

"So...uh. Noct, huh? Don't want him getting the wrong idea about your prowess?"

Well working out sure ain't happening now, is it. Gladio sighs and pushes to his feet. Needing something to do with his hands he starts brushing his pants off a bit.

"Friend from back home. Known him since he was a brat kid. He doesn't know I'm, yanno, moving with both breezes."

Richie grunts like the forty year old he is as he gets up, too. "Friend from back home... Brat kid... Doesn't know about your love of dick. Hm. Doesn't sound familiar at all."

He raises an eyebrow and smirks. "So... How long you had a crush, huh?"

Oh come on man, it's so much more complicated than that.

"Not long maybe thirteen years?"

It's stupid and he knows it thanks.

"Tell him and I kick your ass, by the way."

"Once again, I'm not a narc. And I was literally in your shoes like a year ago, so yeah. Don't sweat it."

Richie gestures with his chin toward the room, asking to sit and chat without words.

"So he doesn't know. And he's here. And you've liked him for thirteen years? Dude. What the fuck? Are you going for some record on cockblocking yourself?"

Well, he supposes he could. Gladio nods, and since Richie had failed at holding him for the sit ups, well...

Gladio gets easily to his feet and retreats into his room, an unspoken invitation for Richie to indeed follow for that conversation.

"Ain't that simple. He's been gone, ten years now."

Richie frowns and just sort of follows after him. "Gone? Gone how? I thought you said he was here? And ten years? You can't mean here on this planet..."

"Ten years on my planet. And he wasn't here. He was... well, he just was indisposed. That's private shit. But no one could have gotten to him. Back home he's been around maybe a few days, but we've been working for his return."

His King, his Noctis. It had been nice, to have that time with him. And now he gets plenty of time with Noctis here.

"He was sleeping you could say."

Richie nods even though that doesn't make a ton of sense to him. The main points did though. It mirrored quite a few of his own, honestly, and not the better moments.

"I lost my guy for twenty-seven years. Forgot about him because of that fucking alien. And then had him for a handful of days before he died."

Richie spread his hands out as though to say 'See?'

"It really blows to have lost all that time and then waste it when you get another shot. Just saying from experience, man."

Ouch. That sucks. Gladio wished he could say that the gods in his world had intended to kill his king, but... Well, he didn't dare give up that secret.

"This isn't my shot. Ain't got a right to him."

"A right? What does that mean?"

Richie propped his chin on his fist, eyebrows furrowed.

"I mean...just asking him out or something isn't like. Taking him. He can say yes or no, right? He gets a choice?"

Shit Richie, it's complicated, and there are secrets he can't give away. They aren't his.

"It's not that simple. I'm... Shit, let's be honest and up front. I'm nobility. I've got an obligation to continue my line."

Not as much as Noctis does of course.

Richie blinks, unimpressed.

"Ooookaaaay? So you fuck a girl and get a little Gladio to run around and inherit....whatever. And then you can still...do whatever you want on the side? I mean, it's not nice, or whatever. But just because you need a rugrat doesn't mean you can't fuck a dude. Unless you're like... I don't know. A one-time only on the whole fucking bit? Which I won't lie. That would suck for more reasons than just one."

You don't even get it, Richie. And that's something that he doesn't know how to explain without outing the secret of Noctis's that Gladio had no right to give.

"That's not honorable," he says instead, which is also true and is a reason not to do it. "And I wouldn't hurt someone I loved like I love him with something like that."

Richie sighs and claps a hand onto Gladio's shoulder. "You're a good guy. Really. And he's lucky to have someone love him this much, even if he doesn't know about it."

He sighs again though, shaking his head.

"Just. Just really think about it, okay? I'll tell you from experience that regrets suck when it comes to shit like this. Really, really sucks."

Gladio sighs and looks about ready to pull his hair out in frustration.

"Doesn't matter. Pretty sure he's straight, so what's the fucking point anyway?"

"...Is that rhetorical?"

Richie rolls his eyes and starts counting out on his fingers. "Let's see. There's the chance you're wrong and he gets to know the real you, there's the chance he feels the same way and you can be with him, there's the fact that you won't have to hide...should I keep going?"

"It was rhetorical," Gladio groans. Don't float impossible things before him.

"He's been in love with this one woman since they were kids. They were going to get married. He loved her more than you can imagine. So yeah, that's not all happening."

Richie hums thoughtfully. "Yeah. Yeah, that does sound like he used up his love quota. Was gonna get married? Ooh yeah, that's it. Never gonna want to be with anyone else for the rest of his life. Which is gonna make the issue thing a problem but whatever...

"Damn. What a fucking shame."

"Be careful who you mock, old man," Gladio pointed out. "I could literally break you over my knee."

It's an empty threat only in that he wouldn't do it.

Richie snorts through his nose. "You're not in an exclusive club with that ability, pal." He still raises his hands up in surrender.

"Look. All I am saying is that knowing could be better than not knowing. And you'll only know by saying something. But that's your call."

"I don't know," Gladio says with a sigh. Then shakes his head. "I liked you better when you thought I was impressive."

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject