Movie Night!

[actualwizard]

Who: Anyone who wants to come watch Dinosaur movies
Where: The Movie Theater, Fourth Floor
When: Friday April 8th, 8pm
Rating: PG-13 for Raptors
Summary: Jurassic Park Movie Night
The Story:



As soon as people start showing up in the theater, a gentle song begins playing in the background. They will see the obvious screen on the back wall, but what's more, the seating is surrounded by prehistoric foliage. And in that foliage, stands a hand full of herbivorous dinosaurs. They seem to be grazing on the vegetation without a care in the world. If someone reaches out to touch, the holograms will destabilize as their hand passes right through them only to form back together once the disruption is gone. Even the vegetation seems to be a holographic projection along with the imitated grass floor and night sky. In the four corners of the room, set into the ceiling, are small domes that flicker ever so slightly as they cast and regulate the projections. The occasional T-Rex roar will echo in the background of the music, making the small herd of Parasaurolophus look up with a fright, then lower their heads back down.

The lights dim and the movie begins, the noise surrounding the holograms quiets as to not interrupt from the movies, only to return during the short breaks between films.

If you stray over to the refreshments table, thick brush and tall grass will conceal a deadly pair of raptors lurking. Appropriately themed snacks are set up on the table, including a few sweet treats courtesy of Darcy (including jello shots).

Occasionally, an unwary snacker will come to a fright as one or both of said hunters will pop out of the grass with a sharp, chittering cry. Lucky for the unfortunate victim, the jumpscare is all there is to worry about. The tricky little raptors will slink back down into the grass and lie in wait for their next victim. Don't spill your popcorn, its just an illusion.

You're welcome.

Comments

[slapfight]

...Yes. That's exactly what I said.

[gosh alistair keep up with her technobabble.] We didn't visit anything. "Wonderland" just occasionally changes its appearance to reflect whatever new "test" it's running on us.

[fatherlesskind]

[It's really not. And she should be careful calling other people incomprehensible.]

I was always bad at tests. [And following what short, green women are talking about, apparently.] So, let me get this straight. You think when it looks different we're still here? It's all just an illusion? And that the illusions are to test us?

[That actually sort of made sense. At least the first bit. If they were in part of the Fade or something like it then it would be possible for their surroundings to change, much like dreams could shift unexpectedly. Though how that could be used to test them is something she's going to have to explain.]

[slapfight]

More complex than a simple illusion, but essentially yes. [oh good. he gets it.]

[fatherlesskind]

[Don't go getting excited just yet-] That doesn't make sense. How does making us think we've gone to other places test us? And why bother testing us? We're already stuck here. How do you know that's what's happening and it's not something else entirely?

[slapfight]

Ugh! Think about it. They want to know our skills. By putting us in stressful situations, we're forced to figure out a way to deal with the new stimulus any way we can. You can't get accurate data just from observing us... watching pre-recorded earth entertainment.

[she waves a hand at the party set-up.]

[fatherlesskind]

I... guess. But why not just watch us at home? [Which would be creepy, yes, but would still let this mysterious 'they' see what skills their victims possessed without the need for kidnapping and everything else.] Or set up a tournament or something? There must be an easier way to do it than that. Than this.

[slapfight]

Clearly, because they want complete and utter control over every aspect of how we live. You can observe other lifeforms in their natural habitat, but the data collected would be different from what you observe when they're caged.

[SCIENCE!!]

[fatherlesskind]

You make us sound like wild animals. [Which might not be far off for some people here but the point remains.] And I don't see the point of it. What does anyone gain by watching us? What would they be looking for that they can't just take with their magic?

[He doesn't really expect her to have an answer - he's pretty sure if they knew what was wanted from them they'd be half-way to a way home. But she clearly has some ideas and they're not anything he'd have come up with so it doesn't hurt to ask.]

[slapfight]

To them, we might be.

[she sighs in exasperation, because yes. she does have an answer, and she's honestly annoyed that HE doesn't get it. it all seems incredibly simple to her.]

Research, dirt-for-brains! [she stamps her foot.] You can't just take data from people. You collect it. You analyze it. And maybe that's why people leave Wonderland- once we've been deemed fit for whatever purpose they intend to use us for, that's when we're removed from the confines of this... this... so-called Wonderland.

[fatherlesskind]

You're still not very nice.

[Not that there's any heat to the statement. She really is more amusing with her insults and her grumpiness and everything else. And he's interested in what she has to say this time.]

But research into what? Just what sort of purpose do you think they have for us? Because I can't think of anything that makes sense.

[Given they're all a pretty mixed bunch and there doesn't seem to be anything in common between all of them. Just look at the pair of them. They're nothing alike so what purpose could they possibly both be expected to fulfill?]

[slapfight]

Curiosity, potential slave labor. There's countless reasons, really.

[she's ignoring that "not very nice" comment, because damn you, she is a DELIGHT. and she's educating you so you can eat dirt. X(]

It would depend entirely on the type of race behind all of this. I can't form a detailed theory until I know more about these... Queens.

[fatherlesskind]

Ah- [She sure doesn't believe in breaking sort of bad news gently, does she? Slave labour? That seems a bit... unlikely, given there's no labour happening most of the time here. But it's not something he'd expect to be tossed out there so lightly either.

Fortunately, he's distracted by the next part of the lesson before he can say anything on that.]

What? Queens? Queens aren't a race. You do know that, right? Queen is just a title. We have a queen in Ferelden and she can't do all of this.

[Though it would be nice if Anora could just waltz in a send them all home. Assuming she'd let him go too and not leave him stuck here alone and out of the way.]

[slapfight]

[perfectly factual and blunt. that's peridot for you.

she stamps her foot again, an aggravated noise bursting forth from her.]

I know that, but I haven't seen them, so I don't know what they are exactly.

[fatherlesskind]

....People? I'm just guessing here but I think they might be people.

[He knows what she means - she's a small, green whatever and they do have other races in Thedas - but if she's going to be grumpy he's going to be difficult.]

Wonderland people but still people.

[Unless they are in fact demons. Which he's not entirely discounting.]

[slapfight]

People. [HOW DO YOU DEFINE PEOPLE. CHECK YOUR HUMAN PRIVILEGE, ALISTAIR. she doesn't even comprehend that he might be being obtuse to enrage her. oh, peri-peri.]

I shouldn't have expected anything less from a human. Comprehending the vast assortment of races in the universe is too difficult for your inferior brains.

[fatherlesskind]

[Wow. Wow. He's almost offended. Or would be, if he weren't enjoying himself so much.]

Oh, now it's an 'inferior brain' is it? That's just mean. If you're so smart you think you'd understand being nice to people.

[Or maybe cotton on to the fact he's just being an ass. But that wouldn't be any fun so.]

[slapfight]

[frustrated noises!!!]

You're as bad as Steven and not nearly as endearing about it!

[fatherlesskind]

What are you talking about? I'm endearing! I'm lovable and charming. You just haven't given me a chance yet.

[Look at this face. How can you not love it?]

[slapfight]

[she crosses her arms over her chest.] All right. For scientific purposes, I will give you this chance.

[fatherlesskind]

You- You will? [He's rather obviously baffled by the sudden offer. Honestly, he hadn't expected her to listen to him. Now he.... should actually take the chance and not be an ass, as tempting as that might be. Fine.]

Well. If we're starting over. [He extends a hand and smiles.] I'm Alistair. Pleased to meet you, miss-?

[slapfight]

Peridot. [it's for science. don't make so much of it.

she has no idea what a handshake is, so she just looks at his hand and then back at his face.] What are you doing?

[fatherlesskind]

[The science of friendship!]

Wait, your name is Peridot? Not- [Wait, no, he's breaking the fresh start rules there.

Dropping his hand back to his side Alistair rolls his eyes.] It's how people introduce themselves. You- You know, never mind.

[He's not going to try and explain handshakes. And he'll even be good and not try and convince her that it's customary as far as most humans are concerned to greet others with an absurd little dance or something. Look at how well behaved he's being!

Don't expect it to last.] Have you ever seen one of these movies before? They're amazing!

[slapfight]

[WHY ARE HUMANS SO BIG ON TOUCHING. ALWAYS WITH THE TOUCHING. she's quietly grateful he gives up on that and also that he stops himself from questioning her name. maybe he can actually be tolerable under the right circumstances.

she really does not expect it to last.] I'm still learning about Earth culture. It's... a work in progress. There's just too much to take in all at once.

[Especially not without her screens to give her things in easily understood simple facts that the average human seems incapable of limiting themselves to. doing it on her own is time-consuming.]

[fatherlesskind]

[It's a sign of love and affection and if she even needs to ask that question she clearly hasn't been hugged enough and should fix that.]

I know what you mean! Everything here is so different to my home. It's hard to get used to it all.

[Differences between their various places of origin make for good common ground at least and something safe to talk about.]

[slapfight]

[STEVEN HUGS HER INCESSANTLY.]

But you're.... [she squints up at him.] ..human. Surely the variations on different Earths can't be that disorienting. Everything here caters almost exclusively to a human mindset.