(Catch all) Ominous October Threads

[insinning]

Who: Sinclair and You.
What: Dungeon runs, trauma bonding etc
When: All throughout October.
Warnings: Gore, Emeto, Psychological horror in one thread, NSFW stuff in another

“I see now that the path I choose through the maze makes me what I am. I am not only a thing, but also a way of being—one of many ways—and knowing the paths I have followed and the ones left to take will help me understand what I am becoming.”

Comments

[ophidie]

[It isn't that she misses her job. She'd been lucky enough to find it and fortunate enough to maintain a persona well in front of strangers, but of all the things she misses about the life she no longer has, working at the cafe shouldn't be at the top of her list. It just turns out her list is very short.

She's just not sure how to respond to this level of appetite normally. It's so beyond anything familiar to her that even breaching conversation while Oriade pipelines food from boiling broth straight into his mouth. Her service voice is in full swing when she pops over to him with a tray full of smaller cups and shallow dishes, distant and polite.]

Would you like some sauces or sides to go with that? [Miharu's expression is a thin, silently judgmental smile that doesn't crack a fraction.]

[dissimulative]

[ Despite eating a lot, Oria's mouth is never so full to the point that his cheeks expand. He chews thoroughly and swallows like a normal person, but he never seems to stop eating.

When Miharu comes over, Oria's attention is immediately occupied by her. ]

Thanks!

[ He's been eating everything without sauce... maybe he likes the natural taste. Oria plucks some shallow dishes with the sauce to put in front of him. ]

But you should make some time to eat too.

[ He thinks she's been doing waitress-like things for everyone instead of eating... ]

[ophidie]

Oh, I'm getting in there here and there.

[She hasn't been playing waitress for everyone, especially given this wasn't her event to organize, but she has been keeping busy in a way that's kept her portions on the smaller side. Some habits from easting on a budget have carried over, now that times are lean within the game as well. So, to her, watching him eat is like watching a conveyor belt, precise and never sloppy but never once actually thinking about what's being brought into it.]

This is going to sound rude. [Because it is, without a doubt, a little rude, but she isn't about to downplay it or ignore it.] Do you need multiple consumables to heal a normal amount?

[dissimulative]

Hm?

[ Oria looks over at Miharu for a moment and then laughs. He doesn't seem offended at all. ]

Nope! One serving is enough to heal me! But will I feel full from it? No.

[ophidie]

I see. At least that's one thing that isn't glitched.

[...It isn't glitched, right? She's tempted to ask if his inability to feel full is a result of an issue with his sensors, even though that really would be veering into rude territory.]

Still, it's going to be a problem if this scarcity keeps up. Since this is a special occasion, you should eat what you'd like. Worrying can resume tomorrow, right? [It's enviable, sometimes, how easy it can be turned off.]

[dissimulative]

Yeah, but I'm not going to vacuum up everything in here. Everyone should eat as much as they want too!

[ Oria just smiles at her, still unoffended. ]

There is the issue with scarcity, but I think you can just ask the head admin to just make stuff for you. He can code things into existence, can't he? Especially for small parties like this.

[ He looks out to the others... There are quite a few people here that he likes so he'd definitely be roped into doing that. ]

Besides, stuff like this is nice. It boosts morale.

well since oria is doxing hien it has to be true

[ophidie]

Are you so sure about that? I think we're past the time for picnics at the beach.

[She doesn't know what to think of the head admin or his continued presence as everything collapses around them. If Vogel - Emil - or one of the others were to run off to ask him, she'd have to interfere, or at least caution them. No sense in writing a voucher for a debt that can't be paid.]

I am eating, by the way. [She'll pause to dunk a strip of improvised brisket and bring it to her mouth, just to demonstrate.] But I guess I don't just turn off and relax as easily as some others.

[No matter what she loses, she's never going to fully know how to be around people, is she?]

hehehe

[dissimulative]

That's fair. It takes time getting used to, if you want to be used to it at all.

[ He also sounds like he understands regardless of how carefree he seems. Oria seems pretty happy that Miharu is eating though ]

There's a reason for everyone, and that's fine. I just hope that you can enjoy yourself, even if just a little.

[ There's a lot of people here around her age--Oria's age too, so he feels like he's in high school again... ]

[ophidie]

[Truly nothing could be more mortifying than being forced to relive high school via a video game, but at least that isn't a sentiment Oriade voices so she won't have to dwell on it.]

I'll certainly do my best. I was invited, after all. [Though, a lot of people were, so it isn't as if she should hold any particular sense of self-importance about being included. Rather than obliterate her taste buds with very hot meat, she pauses thoughtfully while holding a new piece aloft.]

I probably would have turned it down outright only a few months ago. Even if we're still the same people... [She trails off. Are they? It seems some change was inevitable.]

[dissimulative]

Is it because you got to know some people better, so you accepted the invitation?

[ Going to a party where you don't know anyone can be pretty awkward, he's heard. Can't be him though. Please don't be like Oria and eat straight out the pot. ]

[ophidie]

[No, she'll be civilized and plate her selections, even if that also runs the risk of them getting cold while she's busy being cerebral.]

I'm sure that's part of it, [she says loftily.] We're also running out of reasons to decline invitations. I don't have work or classes occupying my time anymore. Would you believe someone who said they had other things to do?

[And there are other things that she knows about herself, that because there are people she's closer to no, the envy of looking in from the outside would slowly rot her the longer she dealt with it.]

[dissimulative]

[ Girl........ Oria looks at her after eating another piece of meat, fresh out the pot. ]

Have you like, considered refusing and just saying "I don't feel like going"?

[ophidie]

... Of course. I don't know if you read the room very well.

[There's just enough of a flinch that her back teeth grind together, and just enough time to say something sharp that isn't necessary. Of course, it very regularly isn't a case of not wanting to go.]

But I was actually busy, when I had other responsibilities. That's neither here nor there. I suppose the real answer to your question is I still don't expect a genuine invitation.

[dissimulative]

[ Oh?

Oh???

Oria looks at Miharu curiously because of her reaction and smiles a little more, laughing a bit. Unfortunately for Miharu, Oria would rather see her unrestrained. ]

Well, yeah. That's the thing. We don't really have other responsibilities like that anymore, since we can't do them even if we wanted to, so you can't use them as an excuse. Maybe if you planned on running some dungeons with other people or collect materials, then that's fair.

[ But that aside, it just sounded like they were just even more excuses. ]

People here are probably more genuine than what you're used to. So if you'd like to be invited to something like this again, I think it's fair to let the host know that it was a great party and that you hope to be invited again in the future. I'm sure the invitation to this one was genuine too.