(july intro log) WELCOME TO THE CONTAINMENT ZONE! (for real this time.)

[vestigemods]

JULY INTRO LOG

► PROMPT 1 ► WAKING UP

Whenever you're from or wherever you were, you awaken now with the mildest of headaches in-... oh, this is new. For some people, you wake in a cabin - in a bed, on the floor, amidst boxes in the basement - and for others, you wake up somewhere else entirely. Off in the woods. Between aisles in a run-down gas station. Lying on a branch ten feet up a local tree. Perhaps even on a leaky boat out on the middle of a lake. It's mid-morning, and across the nine square miles of containment zone, a little under two-dozen people are waking up just as you are. I'm sure you'll run into some of them soon enough.

This might be your first time waking up where you don't expect to be. If it is, consider yourself lucky to have missed what came before. For those have been through a Loop or three (or five or twelve), you'll find that waking this time feels different. It's as though you've woken from a dream - and that's what those memories feel like, trapped in the semi-tangible realm between dream and reality, though if pressed you can probably discern that they were undeniably real. (Or perhaps you can't - or perhaps some of the memories are missing altogether. This is hardly a precise science.)

Somewhere in your vicinity (in your hand, in your pocket, on your chest) is a smartphone, if you're able to recognize it as such. The models tend to vary, but they all share the capacity to connect to what seems to be an overarching network, able to connect to others with similar devices via text, voice calls, or even video messages.

But the phone is likely the least of your concerns, at least for now. More pressing is where exactly it is that you've awoken and whether or not you've woken up alone.

PROMPT 2 ► THE CABINS + LAKE

As many as a dozen cabins sit in the general vicinity of the lake, some along the shore and some a bit farther back in the woods. Perhaps you awoke in one, or perhaps you're stumbling into one after dragging yourself out of the lake or through a couple of miles of woods. Either way, you're in perhaps the best place you might have ended up. The cabin's amenities are sketchy but functional, and the kitchen is stocked with food...

And let's not forget about the pamphlets.

On at least a couple of nearby tables or countertops sit a handful of them, fanned for display. They're vividly colored, depicting what you might recognize as the landscape outside, and the title reads: THE CONTAINMENT ZONE AND YOU! Within these pamphlets, a conversationally cavalier voice explains a bit about the Containment Zone, which (as it turns out) you're stuck in right at this very moment.


"THE CONTAINMENT ZONE AND YOU", summarized


• Where am I?
  Earth. Well - an Earth. Definitely not your Earth. if that creates more questions than it answers, glance to your left and right and ask any follow-up questions to whomsoever seems least confused.


• Why am I here?
  To feed the elder gods with your death and/or suffering in order to prevent any more of an apocalypse than we already had.


• Can I leave?
  Voluntarily? No. Involuntarily? Probably not.


• What do you mean, 'death'??
  Oh, calm down. You'll come back.


• I have very important shit to be doing/people to be saving/weed to be smoking back home!
  Lucky for you: If you go back, we'll put you back right where and when you left off. You won't miss a thing.


• Isn't that how you break time!? I'm pretty sure that's how you break time.
  Only if you remember this place and/or what you've learned here when you get back. Which you won't.


• Supplies?
  Cabins and gas station.


• Cabins?
  Yours. Pick one.


• Lake?
  Safe. (For now.)


• Moon?
  Haunted.


• Who even are you?
  Call us the Technicians. Individual identities don't matter. We may give you sweets and toys but we're not your friends.


• Do you at least negotiate?
  We'll consider it. Depends on what you're asking for. And, of course, on what you have to offer.


• Wait! I'm (insert emotions) and have more questions!
  How unfortunate. Expect your next pamphlet in 4-6 weeks.




Well, that certainly is... something. Lots to discuss, lots to consider. If you're the get-right-to-business sort, that could easily occupy you for a good long while.

Alternatively: It's a hot day, and you've just ever-so-conveniently learned that the lake is 'safe (for now)'. Why not go for a dip to clear your head? The water is actually impressively clear, offering visual reassurance of the lack of abject horrors lurking below.

Those who do swim find that the lake is, as promised, mostly innocuous. 'Mostly' being the key phrase, as anyone who swims out close to the center will find it getting more and more difficult to stay on the surface. As if you're getting heavier and heavier, or your limbs are getting weaker and weaker. It isn't enough to drown you (probably), but you certainly might find yourself considering how peaceful it might be if you let yourself sink.

These thoughts are simple enough to push away in much the same way you might push through the heaviness of your limbs. One could consider it more a warning than anything: Even that which is 'safe' should be treated with proper caution. (Quick and senseless deaths are junk food to the elder gods - tasty but unsatisfying.)

PROMPT 3 ► THE GAS STATION

At the south end of the containment zone sits an old gas station, run-down and overgrown at first sight. It sits alongside a cracked asphalt road, one which (as you might discover) bisects the containment zone from the east wall to the west without a single other building in sight.

You may have woken up here, or perhaps you found it at the pamphlet's behest. Either way, it's a discovery that you'll thank yourself for many a time as throughout the next few months here, for reasons that become apparent the moment you step inside.

In sharp contrast with the outside, the inside of the gas station looks... well, like a functional gas station should. Floors and surfaces seem recently-wiped, shelves seem stocked and organized... It's enough that if you're familiar with gas stations as a concept, you might find yourself reflexively glancing around for an attendant.

But no attendant seems to be present. Just shelves and shelves of goods - perishables and nonperishables, first aid supplies and whatever else one might expect to find at such an out-of-the-way pit stop, all ready for the taking. You might even find an extra surprise. Oh, and let's not forget a nice array of THE CONTAINMENT ZONE AND YOU! pamphlets on the check-out counter, in case you missed them back at the cabins.

Maybe you encounter someone here - are they friend, or foe? Maybe they're as lost and confused as you are. Maybe they're reaching for that last fucking can of Spaghetti-Os and you're serious about your fucking Spaghetti-Os. At least one person is definitely waking up in a gas station fridge... Maybe you're lucky(?) individual who spots them and has to decide whether or not you've discovered a corpse where the soda should be. The world (or, at least, the gas station) is your oyster.

PROMPT 4 ► THE WOODS + BARRIER

The vast majority of the containment zone is covered in evergreen forest, populated with wildlife that look and act disarmingly normal. It may, in fact, be a nice quiet place to stroll in order to clear your head. While large swathes of the woods are moderately dense, there are a number of paths to make your way along should you choose to. Birds sing overhead, deer occasionally bound across the path ahead... If you didn't know any better, you might be able to forget that this isn't a normal stretch of woods somewhere not far from home.

But nothing in the containment zone is truly harmless. The blackberry bushes that line many a cabin (you remember, the ones that make your mouth and tongue go numb?) are out in force in the woods, and out here they're even more of an infernal menace: While the cabin variety only cause havoc when ingested, so much as a scratch from the woods variety's thorns will induce a tingling numb in the affected area that lasts for the better part of an hour.

And let's not forget the lovely field of "wildflowers" that definitely aren't not infested with poison ivy. It's a shame, really. The flowers themselves are quite pretty, an array of pastel blues and pinks and oranges. It's almost like a painting, if touching that painting happened to make you itch, burn, and blister for one-to-two weeks.

But why are we talking about flowers? What you're truly interested in is the containment zone barrier, aren't you? That's fine, you're bound to encounter it out there somewhere. It's invisible until you touch it, at which point a honeycomb pattern ripples out from the point of contact. As a general rule, the barrier gives back what it gets: Place your palm on it and you'll receive a faint uncomfortable buzz. Run headlong into it, and it will ricochet you multiple yards back into the woods.

The barrier stretches all the way around the containment zone without a single break or point of yielding. No further buildings can be seen beyond the barrier, nor any real sign of civilization at all save for the gas station's road stretching past the barriers and out of sight. The only thing of passable interest is the somewhat concerning tree sitting at the far end of the field across the street from saud gas station, at least two-hundred yards past the barrier. At this distance, it's a bit tricky to make out what flocks in the tree's branches. Those have to be birds... right?

► MOD NOTES ►

• This log takes place from July 4th onward, arguably through whenever the event goes up - though you're welcome to toss up your own logs in the meantime. I'm gonna troubleshoot the HTML to leave a space for IC dates, but I didn't want to waste any more time on that right now.
  
• Vestige is now open for business! You're welcome to post logs + network posts of your own, post memes on vestigechat, whatever you want.
  
• This log is functionally intended to be a tour of the containment zone for new characters and players, with dashes of mild horror or discomfort along the way. Don't worry: The actual horror is rolling in later this month. (I'm tagging this under 'event' anyway, just to keep track of it.)
  
• You can literally have your character wake up wherever you want within the containment zone, even if I didn't list it. Go nuts.
  
• It's worth noting: None of the cabins are recognizable as the precise one from the TDM loop, nor is the forest fog still present. The forest is recognizably the same flora/fauna, but that's about it.
  
• You're welcome to include a network post with your top-level (or to put it up on vestigenet as per usual) - but don't forget to consult the NETWORK: USERNAMES ARE FUCKY drop-down of July's Infopost before you do!
  
• Direct any and all questions at Trace on plurk/discord or (for slightly slower answers) this top-level.
  
• My deepest most heartfelt apologies for the lateness, I failed to factor in my own godforsaken attention span.
  

Comments

Nie Huaisang | OTA

[porndealer]

OUT OF THE CABIN INTO THE TREE: (for channellings)

[It's not like Huaisang has woken up not in his bed before. The amount of times he's dozed off while painting, waking up with ink smeared on his hands or face. Or even sitting beside the cage of whatever current pet bird he's got, listening to it sing or just admiring it late in the night. Now. A tree. That's different.

And terrifying.

He almost falls out of it immediately, the shriek of abject terror as he hugs one of the larger branches he's precariously laying on echoing through the surrounding area. It he weren't so high up he'd just climb down, but it's not that simple! Or maybe he's overreacting. Maybe it's not that high up, but as he peers down it looks like miles. Where in the hell was he and how did he end up UP here any way?! Cloudy memories try to clamor over one another in his mind, but he's too afraid at the moment to pay them much attention. Instead, with no care for his dignity, he'll cry out loudly.]

Da-ge! Da-ge save me!

[Someone please come help the mass of fancy robes stuck up in the tree, thank you.]


JUST A LITTLE PIT STOP:

[Sometime after his rescue from the very tall no good tree and a good amount of wandering around. He does end up separated from his new eccentric friend. The place he finds is unlike anything he'd seen before, but he can at least tell one thing. It's run down or looks it. With some caution he'll peer in through the many windows. Some boarded up and others broken or cracked. He... doesn't see anyone at first, so maybe it's safe to go in.

Maybe something inside will explain what's going on.

Pushing the door open to head inside a bell sounds above him and Huaisang is momentarily alarmed. Well, if there is anyone in here they know someone is here with them now. Clutching his fan in his hands tightly he steps as quiet as he can, not wanting to make anymore noise, looking around curiously. It's completely different inside. Unlike the outside it looks well kept in here, even if a lot of what he sees is a puzzle to him. There's so much to take in he's not sure even where to start, but something catches his attention, a pleasant smell, and an empty stomach carries him over to where it's coming from.

Anyone who happens in will see a young man in heavy robes standing before the hot food roller, contemplating if he should risk eating whatever these strange long things might be. They look like some strange longer version of a spring roll... look, maybe he can try just a nibble.]

u kno y i'm here

[channellings]

[alright, so, klaus has no fucking clue what whoever it is might be yelling about (yelling for? seriously, he doesn't know!) but despite everything telling him it could very well turn out to be some trap, he heads toward the voice anyway. they sound like they're genuinely in distress, so why shouldn't he at least go and check it out? if it turns out he was right, he'll turn tail and run back home or use his knives to handle the situation, no big deal—

but as it turns out, he's actually quite wrong and there is someone stuck up in a tree. how the hell did he get up there???

either way, as he steps closer, klaus's head tilts consideringly, an eyebrow raised with interest.] What are you doing up there, dollface? [oh yeah, he remembers the guy, he's got one of Those Faces.] And just how in the fuck did you do it? Because I gotta say, you sure got really high in all those clothes you're wearing.

a hero!

[porndealer]

[One of Those Faces, huh? What kind of face would that be? Okay, not important right now. Hearing someone call up to him, Huaisang looks down, which is not any less terrifying with someone below him either. He'll just cling on tighter to the tree, trying to make out who it is talking to him. Some wild looking man, crazy even-- but then he realizes he called him 'dollface' and it's like a slap in the face as those memories come back crystal clear.

Klaus? The fridge guy? Wait what's a frid-- NOT IMPORTANT!]

Don't ask me! I don't know, I don't knooow, just get me down!

[Is this the most pathetic sight Klaus has ever seen? No, probably not. He's no doubt looked at himself in the mirror when he's been stupid drunk and on drugs so. Yanno. A close second at least.]

I woke up here, I didn't do this myself!

ehhh hand teeter

[channellings]

[please, as if huaisang doesn't know what kind of face he has! and if he doesn't... well, that needs to be remedied far sooner rather than later. at least it might help that he's still got a messy bun tied in his hair, is still wearing his ridiculous leather and lace-up pants and fur-lined coat, but underneath that, he's sporting an outrageous graphic tee. his head tilts one way then the other, contemplative, like he's genuinely considering how huaisang got up there.

and yes, little guy, it's fridge shifu.]

Alright, alright, don't get your panties in a twist. [he huffs a long, suffering sigh, rolls his eyes and shuffles around underneath the branch huaisang's clinging to.] Gimme juuust a sec and...

Okay, you can let yourself drop now. [now that he's positioned just right and has his arms held out for catching.]

A H E R O

[porndealer]

[He do. Of course he do. He's seen his reflection before, but it's nice hearing other people appreciate his looks too, he works hard to be pretty. Fridge shifu looks mostly how his memories paint him, but the shirt is new. It's a whole lotta words that together don't make sense to him, but again. Not important.

What is important is Klaus standing under the tree with his arms held out like he'll just. Catch him. From a shorter height maybe, but from THIS high? Huaisang shakes his head, holding on tighter.]

Nonono- I'll die!

[Sorry for having no faith in you, Klaus.]

is he still a hero *now*?

[channellings]

[oh, for god's sake, how many things is he going to have to explain about this shirt? at least one word will be, uh, simple (???) enough. thank the fucking stars there's something else he can be distracted with at the moment because no, his shirt is not what matters here.

what does matter is huaisang not believing he'll catch him.]

Are you serious? I'm not going to miss or anything, yeesh!

[but alright, that's fine, there's more than one way to skin a cat.] Guess you're shit outta luck then, doll. [following the most nonchalant shrug he can manage, klaus does a neat heel-turn, waves over his shoulder and begins heading in the direction he'd come from.]

he is now fired from the position of hero

[porndealer]

[Huaisang is mid-stuttered retort when Klaus turns and waves at him. Wait. WAIT NO. He's not leaving him here is he?!]

I'll jump! I'll jump! Just don't leave me here!

[He's begging, don't leave. Please! Looking down at the ground again, Huaisang and all of his pride whimper and whines as he tries to work up the nerve to actually go through with jumping. If Klaus stays to help that is.]

*finally* god he's been trying to lose this title forever

[channellings]

[ah, there we go! and klaus stops mid-step, tucks both hands into his pockets then – after making sure he isn't still smirking – turns back around.]

See, was that so hard? Don't worry your pretty little head so much, I promise, I will catch you.

[he sashays his way back underneath the tree, holds his arms out, spreads his feet so they're shoulders-width apart, bracing.] If I don't, then you have every single right to, I dunno, punch me in the gut or something? Whatever you think will be a fair punishment.

Ffffffff

[porndealer]

[Klaus was doing better till he said "if I don't". Not words he wants to hear!]

If you don't catch me I'll die and haunt you!

[The threat is absolutely pitiful as he can't become a ghost anyway and it's said so pathetically. Terrible. Huaisang stares down at Klaus back under the tree and it takes a few more moments for him to work up the courage.]

Don't be a coward, Huaisang.

[He'll try a little self depricating hard love to attempt to make something happen, but in the end he just has to squeeze his eyes shut and pretty much rolls off the limb he'd been clinging to.

With absolutely no grace he'll fall from the tree screaming as he goes.]

[channellings]

[for the love of god and all that is holy, huaisang, if you don't jump— “if you don't catch me, i'll die and haunt you!” joke's on him, he hasn't had those powers in almost a whole-ass year now, but klaus chuckles anyway.]

Yeah, yeah, you wouldn't be the first!

[not like he's much help, standing there, the goddamn twig of a man he is, trying to convince this poor fool to let himself fall out the tree. little does huaisang know, the idiot's planning on either levitating himself up to catch or using the telekinesis to simply stop him mid-air just before he hits his arms then he'd scoop him up. whatever he's gonna do, he better decide fast, the guy's already let himself fall!

klaus pushes off his tiptoes, activating his telekinetic abilities at just the right moment to propel himself higher up, both arms stretching out aaand— nailed it, he catches huaisang right underneath his shoulders and the bend of his knees with far less effort than it has any right to be.

then, once he's able to, the prick has the audacity to say,] See? I told you so. [with the biggest shit-eating grin he can manage.]

[porndealer]

[It's honestly not even that high of a fall, but it feels like forever. Eyes squeezes shut expecting the pain of hitting the ground, or landing hard on Klaus and still pain. Just pain. What happens is he's caught rather effortlessly, not long after he flops out of the tree.

One eye peeks open, then both as he looks up at that shitty smirk.]

Wha-?

[Why are they so high up? Huaisang has a glance down and with a stuttering 'nonono' hugs his arms around Klaus' neck and looks anywhere but down. No thank you!]

You did, you did, now can we go down please?

[channellings]

[the fall would be enough to hurt like a bitch if someone were to just hit the ground, however, and that's assuming nothing breaks whenever they do make impact. it's truly a lot better (and easier) someone was around to help him out. even if the guy that did is a total asshole for making him jump despite having levitation at his disposal.

huaisang clutches his neck and instinctively, klaus's arms tighten as well, but he rolls his eyes at the panicked muttering.] Calm down, sweetheart, I've got you.

But yes, we'll go down now. [and so he begins lowering them back toward the ground, landing effortlessly on his feet, hold still firm around huaisang. whenever he wants down, klaus will, uh, set him upright but the vice-like grip needs to loosen first.]

[porndealer]

[Sweetheart, dollface and anything else Klaus has called him but his name. Maybe he'd be more put out about it if he were anyone but Nie Huaisang. While he does't get what they mean they don't sound insulting if there's that. There's a vague memory of the other man explaining it, but it's hazy.

Once they're down on the ground his hold lets up a bit and Klaus will let him down once it's obvious he's ready. Standing on his own two feet again feels a little weird for a second, but he'll fuss at is robes and fix his hair, tugging his bangs till they fall straight and perfectly in front of his face.]

I was lucky you came.

[Now he's all perfectly calm and relaxed, everything is fine. He's good. With a quick check to make sure he still has his fan, Huaisang then offers a little bow to Klaus.]

Thank you, Klaus, I would have been stuck forever if you hadn't come along!

[Unlikely, but sure okay. Huaisang then steps in closer and tilts his head a little.]

... how did you do that? You must have really good control over your spiritual power.

[channellings]

[he withdraws once huaisang is standing, both arms tucking underneath his chest, fingers clenching around his elbows. a gesture of defense (in case the little guy tries to punch him or something) and to show he's keeping his hands to himself rather than be even worse and scoop him back off his feet a second time.

while he's fidgeting with his hair and clothes, klaus flashes a grin, shrugs his shoulders then casts a sideways glance at nothing in particular.]

Nah. I mean, someone would've heard you eventually, I'm sure.

[as soon as huaisang bows to him, the only reaction he can manage is unlocking his arms and holding them out, hands waving dismissively.] No, no, you don't gotta do that. You're welcome, of course, but uh... seriously, it— it's fine!

[he instantly lowers his arms once huaisang lessens the distance between them, blinking thoughtfully, eyebrows arching at that remark.] ‘Spiritual power?’ Never heard it called that before, [he chuckles.] I justed used my telekinesis to make myself levitate.

[porndealer]

[Okay but what if no one had heard him? He'd have wasted away in a pile of thick robes to nothing. NOTHING! The logistic of it aren't important anymore though, he's safe on the ground once more and all is good for now.

His bow seems to fluster Klaus some so he'll try to remember not to do it anymore, but old habits die hard.]

If you insist.

[And now Klaus is using words that mean a whole lot of nothing to him. Don't mind as he fans himself as it's absolutely disgustingly hot right now.]

What's telekinesis? Levitate is the floating in the air right? Whatever it is it's amazing.

[channellings]

[well, that... would've been quite unfortunate. unlikely, but luckless no matter and at least they didn't have to take that risk! everything is completely, one-hundred-percent fine!!!]

I do! [but let's be honest: if huaisang wants to keep bowing, klaus will eventually stop bitching and let him do whatever he pleases.

smart, carrying the fan around, almost makes him wonder about the gas station and its contents.]

Levitating is floating, yeah. Telekinesis is the ability to move objects by mental power or other nonphysical means. [he waves the same hand, although it's more sheepish this time.] Aw, shucks, it's really nothing too fancy. The healing is way cooler-looking.

[porndealer]

[He will bow and you will accept it. Maybe. It could become endearing perhaps.]

Wait so not spiritual power? You use your mind? Whoa...

[That's neat. Probably kind of the same thing as using spiritual power. Does it come from having a golden core though? Hmmmm. Huaisang almost says something about how he can move things around too, but then Klaus says something about healing and he forgets entirely.]

Healing...? How so?

pit stop, because we need at least ten or fifteen different threads about food before this is over

[mannerless]

( and who strolls in the door (with a conspicuous ding of the bell dangling above it) but one wei wuxian, flute spinning idly between his fingers.

but that's where he stops short, brow knitting, nose lifting into the air to inhale deeply - because something smells inexcusably delicious. like bread cooked in fat, and maybe there's meat involved somehow? pardon him as he follows the scent, a vague ravenous 'hhhh' sound bubbling up in his throat, and he rounds the corner around the counter to find - )

Huaisang. ( a bright greeting grin, and he closes the rest of the distance between them to peer in at the rolling tubes now as well, examining them, picturing how they might taste. ) Of course you'd follow the smell of food. Shame on anyone who ever said you wouldn't survive on your own! Now how do we - ( get to the food, he wonders, palms setting on the glass (oh, that's warmer than he expected) in contemplation. it seems to open from the other side...

and so he's striding over to a gap in the wares (the attendant's register, not that such a thing means anything to him) and hops over the counter to the other side. ) Which ones do you want? ( the words are called over the top of the roller display, and don't mind him, grabbing one in his fingertips (carefully, after a couple of tries because it's hot) and eating nearly half of it in one ravenous bite. )

This entire game is actually just a local county fair and they're trying all the weird fried food

[porndealer]

[It's a good thing Wuxian wasn't anyone with bad intentions as his stomach has his attention diverted. It's not until his friend speaks up that he notices him, jumping a wee bit, but he manages not to look embarrassed. Instead he matches his grin, just happy to see a familiar face. His grin does falter when the words finish going into one ear and banging about in his head for a second.]

Wait- who said that?

[And a pout follows, annoyance tainting his tone.]

I'm not completely hopeless. [Questionable.] Huh? They all look the same, Wei-xiong. How does it taste? Here, lemme try too!

[Huaisang pushes up on tip toe to reach over the top of the display for one that Wuxian will hopefully fetch for him.]

basically

[mannerless]

( the question goes conveniently ignored (in part because he himself may have taken part in such conversations, at the time) in favor of peering into the end of the one he's eating. ) This one is spicy, some sort of white creamy goop with a layer of green, ( he explains, trying his absolute best without the term 'jalapeno popper' at his disposal. )

Oh, but this other one looks like beef? Or pork. It might be pork. Try it. ( they wouldn't be able to reach to to hand it off directly, so he'll set it on top of the display and let it roll down into huaisang's waiting hand. )

[porndealer]

[It's okay, he'd actually rather not know. Probably a lot of people would say that about him... which is probably fair, considering. If he doesn't hear it he doesn't have to think about it though.]

Is it good though?

[That's what matters most. It may have funny colors inside but does it taste good? It seems what Wuxian is giving him might be different and he'll catch it as it comes down to him, passing it from hand to hand, it's a little hot. Of course he blows on it some too to try and help with the heat, but eventually he just needs to take a bite. More like a nibble honestly. Have some awkward chewing as he tries not to burn his mouth.]

It's uhm- it's meat.

[Huaisang gets out around his awkward chewing, hand up in front of his mouth.]

It's not terrible tasting. I think I like it?

[A bit more blowing and he's having a bigger bite this time, nodding.]

At least it's not like that- that... whiz? Stuff? That gross orange stuff we tried.

[mannerless]

( it sure is meat, thanks huaisang. the assessment gets an eye-roll back behind the display, but fine, sure - it's beef-pork now as far as wei wuxian is concerned.

the final assessment seems to be 'i think i like it?' and 'at least it's not orange goop', which is not the enthusiasm he was hoping for (he rather likes his spicy creamy food tube), but he supposes he'll keep feeding this thankless man and his half-assed compliments. )

Incoming, ( is all he says before rolling a second one down the front of the display. this one he can at least identify as chicken, though he's cramming the rest of the spicy one into his mouth now so he can start in on a beef-pork tube next. )

[porndealer]

[Hey at least he thinks it's meat and not something else. In a strange place they've been kidnapped too who knows what could be inside their food. Hopefully it was beef or pork and not something nefarious. Maybe it was chicken, but it didn't taste like it.

And excuse me?! Thankless?! He is very thankful!

He's not even done the first one and Wuxian is rolling another one down to him and he'll catch it, the first one still in his mouth as he mumbles around it. One at a time please, Wuxian! He'll take yet another bite of the one in his mouth, trying not to straight up stuff his face if he can manage.]

Augh, it's good, but kind of dry. Is there anything to drink around here too?

[Huaisang will finish off his first roll before having a nibble of the next. Oh this one is definitely chicken.]

Any water? It's not as hot in here, but it's so hot outside, it's the worst.