TYPE
Now what?
V.I.S.I.O.N
Vancouver Institute of Science & Innovation:
Other-Natural Department
DATE: Monday 09 January 2040
TIME: 06:45 A.M.
LOCATION: V.I.S.I.O.N - Central Plaza - Food Court
The whole point of the exercise was to simulate a day in the life of the average student. Dr. Lavoie had thought this an inspired idea, and had retained that conviction right until she had suggested it to Novikov - thinking that he would perhaps grunt and return to his afternoon nap. Instead however, he had decided to descend from his Palazzo and - at first - accompany them during the exercise, now it seemed, choosing to orchestrate it. She had thought that perhaps they should only do a ‘simulation’ - meaning they would visit each of the points and facilities directly after one another, inspect the area, and move on. He however, decided that the only way we are ever going to know that everything is really working, is to actually do an actual day in the actual life of an actual student. Meaning, to the chagrin of the finance department, the entire facility was to run live. Food was to be prepared. All ablutions made to work perfectly and be tested. All facilities tested in full by teams of workers and other staff - costing the Program an exuberant amount for wasted resources.
The thought alone, as it ran through her head, had her pinching the bridge of her nose, the two pills she had taken less than a minute ago failing to postpone the rapidly approaching headache. With every moment that passed she wanted more and more to just call off the day and retire to her rooms. The near constant bitching of a nearly one-hundred year old Russian man in the background did nothing to help her mood. Maybe the electricity they wasted for the day could of gone to frying him instead.
“Cadence! The food? <an exaggerated retching sound> If you can call it that. What is it? We are paying so much! Could we not get them some real food? I’ve seen astronauts with more gourmet shit than this!” Dr Lavoie scrunched her eyes closed tightly and groaned, not bothering to answer him. Instead, Sir Richard Leowyn - a tall, charming man with a voice as soothing as hot chocolate had on Christmas morning - opted to assuage Novikov.
“I assure you sir, our research has found that ‘Chicken Nuggets, Pizza and Burgers’ are well within the general expectations one might have should one enroll within an equally comparable advanced place of study such as this. Given that we offer a variety of vegetarian <another choking retching sound from Novikov> options, we are well within the bounds of expectations.” The man cleared his throat, while continuing to eat his nuggets dutifully with a fork and knife, sipping a cup of ‘herbal bubble tea’, pointing toward a particularly large piece of chicken and motioning towards the Director, “Just so.”
The notion was seconded by Mr Gao Sheng, who quickly swallowed a bite of his pizza, before raising a concerned hand for attention. “I would normally complain about the fact that we are offering such fatty foods for breakfast, but the American students were adamant that we not undermine their cultural heritage and tendency towards fast foods during all meals.”
Maybe to another man, the combined approval of two distinguished members of the Program might have persuaded him. But this was not another man. Cadence winsed, knowing it wasn’t enough, wasn’t nearly enough. Before she could even managed to open her mouth to try and bolster their defences, Novikov had managed to organise whatever thoughts he might have had, and reignited his offensive.
“Equally comparable! You want us to be on par with some cheap State University that pregnant teenagers send their kids! Tell me, Sir Richard, where in Oxford is the one that can turn into a lava monster? Tell me, Mr Sheng, where in Harvard is the literal suit of fucking sentient metal? We are not comparable! I put money into this thing, I want a return on that.” Cadence rose up to answer.
“Sir, surely. This is but but foo-” Before she could manage to finish a thought he continued.
“And the cheese!? If you could call it that. It is plastic. In my home town we would use this cheese to wrap up real cheese for the winter! And they put it on everything!? Where is the Borscht? Where is the Beef Stroganoff? The Sweet-and-Sour Cabbage?” His irritated voice seemed to pick up even further, carrying over the vast open atrium. Before the conversation could escalate further, the Chief of Security, Sofia Lindgren contributed her opinion on events.
“Perhaps, Director, now is not the time.” Her hand pointed to a large gathering of workers forming a line towards the food collection point, “It appears we are holding up the line.” Novikov sighed, as the only person among these failing sycophants he actually managed to respect urged him onward. He took his brightly colored tray piled high with pancakes slathered in bacon grease and with some local Canadian maple syrup on top, a cartened apple fruit drink and a small box filled with peanuts - before leading the small party over towards the seating area.
They had barely sat down when he started to complain about the seating. This trend continued for the remainder of the day, and only ceased around 15:00, when he got bored and told them to finish on their own. The whole event seemingly pointless with nothing to show for it except the broken hearts of lunch ladies and the finance department. One upside of the morning was that after hours of complaints, headaches and endless amounts of moaning, the Director, ever hard to read simply stated that he thought the place was “Brilliant.” Whatever the hell that was supposed to mean after his performance.
As Cadence, Richard, Gao and Sofia sat outside in one of the shaded garden walkways, each with one of the complimentary fruit juices dispensed by a number of vending machines, they all took a breath, lounging back on the ergonomically designed benches. Cadence was the first to speak, the rest waiting for her as she was the closest thing to a leader (administratively competent leader) they had at the moment.
“While this might have felt like a massive waste of time, energy and money… which it was, let’s be honest - I want to say thank you to you lot. We would not have managed to put all of this together without your input.” She nodded at them solemnly, her tone undercut somewhat by the slurping noise coming from her juice box. Sofia nodded in turn, her own grape juice spent already. Casting the box to the side - a good few hundred feet - she grabbed the second of many drinks piled next to her.
“Yeah. You would not have. You’re right.” She then proceeded to continue devouring her second drink. Richard smiled at her quirks, before adding.
“What I think our dear colleague might mean to say, is that we are aware that we have added our own particular brands and skills to this establishment - but let us not forget the great efforts you have gone through <His eyes move almost imperceptibly towards the central tower where Novikov’s office is> in order to secure this wonderous opportunity for not only the youth of this world, but for all those as we are.” He looked over towards Sofia, as if wanting her to validate his interpretation, finding that she was staring off in the distance at some birds that were fighting over her discarded juice box. He looked over towards Gao who nodded in approval.
“Yes! I cannot agree more. We have so many amazing candidates for this season. Did you all see the application for the Telepath - just like Hogan! Beyond that we also have one that can bend light! Can you imagine what research we can do if we could employ his potential skills!” The oftentime quiet and reserved man seemed to light up at the prospect of research that may be done in the future. Cadence took the compliment with grace, nodding towards Gao.
“Yes. And we have so many more I can’t wait to meet. One week lady and gentleman. Before the year will truly start. One week to go.” She sighed, finally coming to terms with the fact that all of her work has finally seemed to pay off. Sir Richard, ever the gentleman, arose for his seat, juice box in hand.
“Indeed. I look forward to working with you all in the months to come. A toast to our success, perhaps?” His arm outstretched itself, waiting for any comers. Cadence smirked at the man, knocking her own against his before Gao and finally, after some prodding, Sofia did as well. “To success.” Came the Doctor’s voice through the assembled group, a cacophony of slurps filling the morning air.
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[First post Requirements: Please have your character move down from their dorms towards the Central plaza. You can spend a few posts getting to know your Dorm mate or other students over breakfast, who you will have been living with or interacting with over the last weekend. The starting date is Monday the 16th of January 2040, around 6:45 - The Instructions to meet in the Plaza were sent to you via your VISION Communications Tablet - signed by the Director himself, whom some of you may have seen in passing over the last weekend running around the facility.]
