[Event Mingle] Great Full Day!

[trpmods]

At last it is here, the day An Nu and Ga Re told you about has arrived. While the last few days may have been a bit of a trial with the whole replicator going a bit wonky thing, but that’s no reason not to celebrate, right? Right! Good thing too, because the Whale Comb Sent Her is absolutely awash with what must be seasonal good cheer. The whole outside of the building is wrapped in vines, though thankfully this time they seem to be made primarily of a thick sort of cloth, and the fall colors to them are also painted on. There’s no doubt that the decorations come from your friendly Agrii either, because apparently they feel that pink and purple are also very valid color choices for fall foliage, so enjoy those splashes of color too.

Inside the decorations continue, the fabric vines ringing the room at a height that would clearly be natural for the Agrii. Amid them are painted cloth banners announcing things like WHALE COMB and EAT MUCH and GREAT FULL and of course the ever present THANK YOU. Around all of these are cloth and paper pictures that wouldn’t look out of place in an elementary school classroom around Thanksgiving. You’ve got your handprint animals, foam shape plants, and vividly painted pictures of tables full of food with Agrii around it as a group. And sometimes in those last ones there are little drawings that… wait, He Row, is that you? Well, they did say you were celebrating together, so maybe that’s what they meant.

But of course people didn’t just come here for the wonderful decorations. You’re here for the food, for the feast, for the togetherness. Good news is that the Agrii have you covered on that as well. A series of tables have been set up in the Sent Her, much like when He Rows first arrived on Agra-10. Along one wall is a long series of tables covered with pink and purple cloths, and over the majority of these are the foods the Agrii have sent down. There are platters of hamburgers (which taste like peanut butter), and plates of peanut butter sandwiches (which also taste like peanut butter). There are pies that look like they’re apple and taste like iced tea. There are more ‘traditional’ things too, which are things like green bean casseroles, vegetable lasagnas, and even some seventeen layer dip to go with all of the chips. There’s apparently no meat though. Not from the Agrii at least.

The even better news is that this isn’t all there is. A whole two tables of space have been left open for the He Rows to bring their own food offerings, or the results of their replicator experiences. The Agrii have been kind enough to leave out plenty of extra plates and serving utensils as well, so no one should worry about there not being enough. And hopefully what your fellows have brought is very tasty. Or came out in a reasonable size or volume from the replicator.

Then there are the tables laid out in the middle of the room. They are round things with only a few seats at each, and there are name tags? Apparently the Agrii thought they might help you get to know each other this Great Full with random seating. Hope your table mate is fun. At each space there is also a little cloth baggie of… oh wow, is that candy? Yes it is! Those sweets are going to be a great reward for after dinner. Or during it. And surely there’s nothing strange that comes from eating them at all.

Finally, there’s even something for those whose entertainment isn’t to be found in eating. The Agrii have been studying their He Rows for a while now, and they know what you need. One side of the room is dedicated to other forms of entertainment. There’s a big poster drawn of what looks to be a glownie, but lacking a tail. Ah but don’t worry, there are tails made of cloth in a bowl nearby for He Rows to restore to the paper glownie. Don’t worry about injury to the paper glownie, it’s all done with magnets! For those who aren’t about tail pinning there are other fun things to be done. There’s a karaoke machine in the corner, clearly the Agrii remember how much fun that was. Wait… Is that the exact one that He Row Billy loaned to the Deep End? Apparently so. And last but far from least is the most important of celebration games: a booth with a stack of personal peanut butter pies and a sign saying ‘Eat Fast Count Is!’ Which probably means eating contests for those brave enough to face that much peanut butter.

FAQ
Do we need to make our own logs for this?
No. You’re welcome to use this post to make Top Levels for this mingle. Get out there and enjoy your celebration together.

We’re not obligated to that randomized seating are we?
Nope! We just felt it could be a handy way to explain mingling with other He Rows you might not normally talk to.

What if our character would bring food?
Our best suggestion is to note that in your TLs. Who knows, maybe your creativity with cooking or the silliness of your offering (or the results of a poor replicator situation) could be fun for others to enjoy.

Can we still use the replicator here and now?
Absolutely. If that sort of chaos is what you want to have fun with, then have at it. Besides people here can probably help you eat your way through any food you get.

That candy seems sorta suspicious. What’s up with that?
Great question. Each baggie will have a random assortment of little gummy candies that are shaped like Agrii heads, complete with three eyes, smile, and little teeth. Each one even has their own unique flavor. And their own unique side effects.

Yellow - Maple Flavored - Makes eater more energetic and friendly
Green - Sour Apple Flavored - Makes eater feels mischievous and is more likely to play pranks and tell jokes
Blue - Dark Lager Flavored - Makes eater tell the truth for half an hour (is not actually alcoholic
Purple - Chocolate Flavored - Makes eater very affectionate or romantically inclined
Red - Cinnamon Flavored - Makes eater easily angered or quick to challenge other people

Comments

[quark_assassin]

Dustin's face flushes and glances away in mild embarrassment. Happy and energetic as he is, Lauri-Ell's praise is still a bit much.

"I mean, I guess," he shrugs bashfully. "Shit kind of sucks here in a lot of ways, but also, it's been a long time since I've trusted so many people, so. Yeah! Community and stuff."

There's a beat.

"...I feel like there's more, though?" Dustin scratches the back of his head. "I really feel...fucking weird. You don't feel weird at all?"

[kree_soldieress]

She is glad he had found them as a community then. It is good that he could learn to be comfortable. They were all learning that together. EVen with the mean people. Like York.

"No. Well, I am hungry."

[quark_assassin]

"Hmm." Dustin lets his chin dip into his hand in a brief moment of pensiveness, but his mind is churning faster than it normally does. Sudden burst of energy, inexplicable change in mood, general restlessness--

"--Ah!" he says, abruptly perking up with a look of excited enlightenment. "I've been drugged!"

[kree_soldieress]

What?

"What do you mean?" Lauri-Ell asked.

[quark_assassin]

"Well it's obvious, isn't it?" Dustin explains, shoving a spoonful of what looks like mashed potatoes into his mouth. He sounds entirely too casual about this conversation. "The Agrii have added some kind of mind-altering agent to this food. Based on the sequence of events, I'm going to have to assume it was the candy."

His eyes narrow on Lauri-Ell with curiosity. "...Which you've had, right? I saw you eat one of the blue ones."

[kree_soldieress]

"Yes, I did," she agreed rather immediately. Why would she even need to lie about that? "I do not believe the Agrii would do that to us."

[quark_assassin]

Dustin shrugs. "It doesn't really matter what you believe," he says blithely. The yellow candy may have made him friendlier and more energetic, but it has done absolutely nothing for his bluntness. "The evidence points to that being the case. It could just be that they prepared a food that doesn't affect their biology at all but does weird things to us - I wouldn't be surprised if the effects are completely unintentional. It would make more sense, honestly. They don't seem malicious, just kind of dangerously ignorant."

[kree_soldieress]

Ignorant. Well, there's that. She does seem a bit sad to hear that though.

"Or perhaps they don't understand us? Maybe this is something they normally eat and assume we understand it?"

[quark_assassin]

"That would be the ignorance, yes," Dustin says around another mouthful of mashed potatoes. "It's like if they ate hallucinogenic mushrooms with their meals instead of portobellos, and decided that the substitution would be harmless. Speculation, of course." He shrugs again with a lopsided grin. "Maybe it is intentional and they're just having a laugh. I dunno. At least the effects seem mild and not fatally toxic, eh?"

[kree_soldieress]

"I do not think they are toxic. I feel fine. Normal even."

She doesn't notice she's being far more accommodating and honest, so it's really a minor thing for her.

[quark_assassin]

"Really?" Dustin says, leaning forward to look at her closer - checking the dilation of her pupils, looking for any flush of her blue skin. Maybe he's getting a little too far into her personal space, but Dustin seems blissfully oblivious to such things. "I wonder if the blue ones are a control. Or maybe they don't have as marked of an effect on non-Agrii biology. Have you only eaten one?"

[kree_soldieress]

"Yes, only one," she agreed, frowning as she took a step back. Space was something that was needed. "You make me uncomfortable when you are so close."

[quark_assassin]

"Oh." Dustin obligingly leans away, although he doesn't look at all dissuaded. Instead his attention pivots back to his nearby bag of candy. "Well, only one way to find out then!"

He reaches in, sifts out a blue candy, and pops it in his mouth. He gives it a few thoughtful chews before his nose crinkles.

"...I don't think I like that one," Dustin admits with a twisted frown, gulping it down with some effort. "It's like...chocolate licorice, but sour? What flavor is this supposed to be?"

[kree_soldieress]

"I believe it is an alcohol," she said, thoughtful as she watched him. "How do you feel?"

Science was clearly difficult.

[quark_assassin]

Dustin mouths an "oh" of understanding. "I've never had any alcoholic drinks before," he explains earnestly. "So I guess that makes sense. I hope it doesn't affect me like they would - I don't like the idea of what drugs would do to my brain. I'm kind of weirded out at myself for feeling so...casual about trying more of these candies, actually. It doesn't seem right. But I guess that's the drugs talking?"

There's a few seconds of pensive silence, Dustin staring at the table while his eyes dart around in deep thought. Then he sharply glances back up at Lauri-Ell.

"--It's a lot easier to speak my mind, I think," he continues. "I mean, I felt that way after the yellow candies, but this is unique somehow. I'm having a hard time isolating the differences."

Probably because Dustin already never lies; the compulsion to do so would normally still be there, quietly censoring him from giving out too much detail, but now even that's gone. He's just an open book and is pretty okay about it.

[kree_soldieress]

"Perhaps they don't do anything?" she said, because she was confused by his insistence. "Are you sure there is an issue?"

[quark_assassin]

"You might be right," Dustin considers with a tilt of his head. "I tend to overthink things a lot, so I might be looking for a diagnosis where one doesn't exist. Oh well."

Then he glances around, eyes narrowing in on the opened bags of candy that others have in front of them.

"I suppose they could be a control flavor, or simply use non-reactive ingredients," he ponders. "Here--try a yellow one. I can't tell if anyone else has eaten them and I need a second data point."

[kree_soldieress]

A second data point. That sounds like experimentation. Lauri-Ell frowns.

“I am not comfortable being used as an additional data set. Should we find another?”

[quark_assassin]

Dustin's mouth works for a few seconds in silence. The yellow candy has made sure that his good mood won't waver, but he can't help but see the obvious parallel between his motivations and his adopted mother's in this moment. The blue candy ensures that he explains his conflicted thought processes for Lauri-Ell's benefit.

"Sure - I don't blame you," he eventually says, blinking owlishly at her. "I wouldn't want to be, either. Happened enough times back home to me that I should know better. We can probably get away with just observing everyone else and documenting how their behavior changes based on their own choices, rather than influencing which candies they decide to eat."

[kree_soldieress]

“Yes,” she said with clear relief. This would be better. “I was already the subject of science before. I would not like to be the sole focus of it once again.”

[quark_assassin]

Dustin nods in understanding, absently splitting his focus now so that he can get to observing the others at the table. "Me too," he explains, voice casual and a little distracted. "Basically for as long as I can remember. Lots of medical trials. What were they up to with you?"

[kree_soldieress]

Oh no. Lauri-Ell wants to hug him, badly. But she dare not.

“I was genetically engineered,” she said, still under the influence of the blue. “Created from the DNA of two great scientists and warriors.”

[quark_assassin]

"Huh," Dustin huffs, eyebrows raising as his gaze flicks back to Lauri-Ell. That nagging feeling that he should be feeling something else sits in the back of his mind, but all of that is overwhelmed by more positive emotions - curiosity, primarily. "And I guess the scientists that initiated your program wanted to keep a close eye on you while you grew up, yeah?"

[kree_soldieress]

“That is not correct. Both were dead by the time I was created. Through one of them I have a half human sister, named Carol. Her I have come to know.”

But she sighed further because there were things about her birth that troubled her.

“I did not ‘grow up’. I was in a gestation tube, then put into stasis for accelerated growth and education.”

[quark_assassin]

Dustin listens attentively, his eyes widening the more Lauri-Ell elaborates. "Sounds a lot like what they were doing at the research facility Omega used to live in," he notes. "Practiced. Were you the first?"