[ Opening Mingle ]

[randomly_modding]

[Everyone will wake up suddenly, as if having drifted off -- while sitting upright in an uncomfortable office chair. In one hand they're holding the communicator, and in their lap is propped a clipboard with a job application (standard, looking something like this; it requests up to ten years of job history, ) and a pen. The waiting room is also fairly standard, except for being empty.]

[The communicator's lock screen reads, Complete the job application. Time limit, twenty-four hours.]

[There are magazines, fake plants, and computers. There's a staff lounge with food -- tupperware that might have belonged to some of these nonexistent workers, popcorn and cocoa packets, vending machines -- and restrooms. There are exits, but characters will be unable to use them... or make their own, or escape in any way.]

[So the characters are stuck here, until tomorrow morning. Set up a comment telling everyone what your character is doing, and thinking, whether they're obeying the task or not, at any time during the day. Then tag other people! Be sure to check back later in the week, when people are encouraged make threads for the evening as well as the day! Characters that have been claimed are also welcome at this point to join the community, and will be able to make their own posts, which can be tagged by anyone taking part in the event.]

Comments

[slim]

[OH GOD NO where to even start??]

[how about gaping at what just happened.] You can't--You're supposed to put money in it first!

[gestures all over the poor machine.]

[everwalking]

[puzzled, and he looks at it] Oh -- is that what that slot is for? You insert money into it, and the food -- comes out? [he doesn't have any money, so it's just as well]

So it's like some sort of... machine... vendor. [ :|a ]

[slim]

[looks at it too...]

Close. It's called a vending machine and you might've broken it. [sneaks a peek at that hand.] They'll probably make you pay for the damages, you know.

[everwalking]

[sob] [more debt] I just thought the door was stuck... [and then he sighs]

Well, they can add it to the list. [making himself be optimistic about it. what does it matter! he'll never pay it all off anyway. he probably won't even survive!]

[slim]

[raises his eyebrows wow he doesn't feel safe around you for some reason.]

You do this a lot? I mean, break things?

[everwalking]

Not on purpose, but I do have a hazardous line of work.

[so you're... not... going to want him to eat anything from this vending machine thing, are you]

[slim]

[if you hoover everything in this vending machine then scott will be extremely alarmed]

[BUT INTEREST IS PIQUED] Is it fine if I ask what you do?

[everwalking]

I'm -- or, I was -- [he falters a beat, then shakes it off] I'm an Exorcist. A Black Priest. I don't know if you'll have heard of us, but we protect people from monsters called akuma. [more or less. but he holds up his hand, as if in demonstration. see? this hand proves it somehow!]

[slim]

[nods, a bit more to himself than to the stranger.]

What makes them monsters? Do they--kill?

[everwalking]

Yes. [a smile, sad] They're the souls of the human dead, bound into machines and controlled by the Millennium Earl. They're then forced to kill for him.

Exorcists -- find those creatures, and free them from their suffering.

[it feels like a long time since it's been that simple. that good. he misses it]

[slim]

[silence on his end for a few seconds]

... That's okay, then. [a small pause] That's more than okay. You're doing really great things.

[everwalking]

[he gives the other boy a smile, a little bit grateful maybe, before hitching it up into the realm of genuinely enthusiastic] Sorry! It's something of a grim topic. [he lifts his hands, waving them as if to wave away the topic] Nothing a little snack can't--

[oh wait]

[slim]

[yeah]

[uh]

Maybe they'll understand if we explain that it was an accident.

[everwalking]

You know what, I take full responsibility. I will explain that it was my fault, and that I'll help them fix it or pay for it, or whatever they'd like. I'm sure they'll understand. [let him reassure you, lawful good friend!] When they arrive, since there doesn't seem to be anyone here at the moment.

[he will just borrow a few of these here bags of pretzels, and...] My name is Allen, by the way. Allen Walker. [smiling at him]

[slim]

[small smile in return which is kind of a Big Deal]

I'm Scott Summers. It's nice to meet you, Allen. Trapped in an office building and all.

[everwalking]

And it's very nice to have torn open this machine in front of someone who was willing to not hold it against me, Scott. [sheepishly]

[slim]

You didn't know and mistakes happen. [story of his life!!!]

[but yeah uh yeah]

[everwalking]

Where are they in use, anyway? The Americas? You sound like an American, but I've never really been. For all I know you have these vending machines on every street corner there.

[slim]

I'm not sure. I mean--I am from America. New York.

But I think they're popular now. I haven't really... checked. [since he jumped like twenty-something years into the future]

[everwalking]

I was in London just a few weeks ago. [huh. well] What's New York like? I've heard many things about it.

[slim]

It's nice. [except for the occasional villain-y threats] I'm mostly there for school. You should uh, visit one day.