The Hearth is not a cafeteria. There are no silver trays filled with slop that is dropped onto plastic trays; there are no lines, no lunch ladies in hairnets, no cheap plastic benches. That is not an atmosphere proper for the Chosen of the gods -- and, more importantly, neither Hera nor Demeter would have any of that processed crap under their watch.
No. Instead what the Hearth serves is more like an old fashioned boarding school dinner. There are currently 12 tables of various size filling the room, with seating for more than just the new recruits, though at this time, it seems only they are attending. Perhaps each of the tables represents one of the Olympians, but there are no signs separating them out: seating is as desired. They can choose where to go, who to settle beside, strangers or familiar faces.
Once people are seated, staff -- led by that same middle-aged, dark-haired woman with the friendly smile -- comes out of the kitchen with trays laden with food. Tonight it is simple fare: herb chicken, potatoes, platters of fresh vegetables that must come from somewhere local. There is still-steaming bread and a tall pot of simple soup with lentils in it, a mix of vegetarian and meat-based dishes -- served alongside water and lemonade and, of course, a clean and light red wine. No one asks for IDs; it's only wine, after all.
None of the food is complicated or fancy, but all of it is perfectly cooked. Kitchen staff would have it no other way.
People can sit and eat and talk -- and, if conversation should run dry, there are also large multi-faceted beach balls on every table, with a different question on each side:
If were an animal, what would you be? If you were ruler of your own country what would be the first law you would introduce? If you had a warning label, what would yours say? Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without? What would you do if you won the lottery? If you could go on a road trip with any person, living or dead, who would it be? If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to? What is the worst gift you have ever received? What is the best gift you have ever received? Have you ever had a nickname? What did you want to be when you were small? What would you sing at Karaoke night? If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? If you could live anywhere, where would it be? If someone made a movie of your life, what genre would it be? Would you rather spend a weak in a space station or an undersea lab? Would you rather be blind or deaf? Do you believe there's life on other planets? If you were running for office what would your campaign slogan be? What flavor of ice cream best describes your personality?
One Chosen can toss it to another at any time, to get a quick answer and spur some new interaction, getting to know each other better.
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This is a very simple, self-directed ORP!
Please start by choosing a table, and every time you post, put which table number you're settled at at the top. This way, you can simply interact with the people at that table, separating this large ORP into many smaller ones, in a way!
After that, you can talk, or eat, discuss anything you'd like, get to know each other better, or you can toss the beach ball to someone else at your table, and force them to answer a question.
Have fun!
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 7:17 pm
Table 8 - Dahl
Dahl's hunger drove him out of his room. He wondered if, somehow, he would be able to find times to eat not inundated by people. Despite his job - his previous job, he reminded himself with a frown - he never was good around people in a casual setting; there was no clear-cut role for him here. He settled at one of the tables: not in the corner, not too near the front. Unobtrusive.
And was greeted by a giant beach ball sitting in the middle of the table. Idly, he spun it with one finger. "Cute, I guess."
"Who, me?" Asher dropped down opposite him, elbows settled easily on the table and eyes sweeping out over the room. It wasn't a bad table, certainly, and there was attractive company across the way. He smiled, a smile with a sideways lilt that mocked Dahl, Asher, and everyone else in the room as well. He'd changed for dinner, his other shirt dusty and dirty from an exploration adventure -- and this was just slightly less casual, a bright splatter of color from his shoulder wrapping down around his side.
He reached, immediately, for whatever food was closest and started putting it on a plate. "I know it."
the semblance of unity
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 7:26 pm
Table 8 - Dahl
Dahl nearly startled as the other man sat down, taking a moment to peer past the ball. After a quick up and down and a smile, he sat back. "Mm, you could be." Food did seem like a good idea, and Dahl followed suit, although he spent a bit of time looking and choosing.
After a moment, he rolled the beach ball towards Asher. "Suppose it's for team building? I'm Dollfa- Dahl. You?"
and be blue
The Semblance of Unity
Predestined Victim
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 7:28 pm
Table 8
and be blue
the semblance of unity
"And we know you know it, now. Thank you for clearing that up, we were worried you didn't appreciate yourself." Mal, when he took a third chair at the table, had finally given up on his suit jacket. In only the button down shirt, with the collar undone and his hair a mess from running his fingers through it, and sleeves rolled up, he looked more like he was likely to be fun.
"What's on the beach ball?" He nodded at the ball as he picked a dish, served himself, and then lifted his eyebrows at the other man-- not the talker. "Want some? Veg, I think."
and be blue rolled 1 20-sided dice:
5Total: 5 (1-20)
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 7:33 pm
Table 8
"Asher." He caught the ball easily and turned it in hand, slow, to read what it said on the nearest face.
"What would you do if you won the lottery?" The question prompted a snort out of him; he set the thing back down to focus on his fork, instead, stabbing a brussel sprout off his plate to shovel it into his mouth, instead. Asher looked like he needed it. "Didn't we all win the ******** lottery here anyway?"
"Let's see," a voice said, from somewhere behind Mal -- Ewan sat down with a seat between he and the other Zeus chosen, picking up the pitcher of lemonade. He was still in the same clothing he'd been in, but there was a very expensive-looking set of headphones around his neck. Music poured out of them, a very quiet thrumming sort of sound.
and be blue
the semblance of unity
xelhaspixiestix
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 7:44 pm
Table 8
Mal nodded at Ewan, pushed a dish toward him slightly after he'd put vegetables on his own. "Ewan, right?"
He added what else he wanted to his plate and then tipped his chin at Asher. "So what would you do if you did win?"
and be blue
the semblance of unity
phoenix kiss
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 7:46 pm
Table 5
Marisol gave a quick glance around on the room as she selected a table to sit down at. There wasn't anyone at it yet but she was sure that would change as the other new chosen began to felt the pangs of hunger. And she rather looked forwards to seeing who would join her.
Until then, she ran a palm against the beach ball. Idly skimming the questions, she figured, if nothing else, they'd provide an ice breaker.
fluorescein
here you go
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 7:48 pm
and be blue
the semblance of unity
phoenix kiss
"That's right," he said; he stood up a little, to pull the platter of savory looking herb chicken towards him -- he carved pieces off with a surprisingly deft hand. He offered the platter around before taking some of the pieces onto his plate. "I've had plenty of time to think about this question."
Asher heaved out a gusty sigh, like he resented having to answer the question -- but he took a moment, all the same, chewing on a piece of chicken, to consider his answer genuinely.
"Depends on the lotto. But I'd probably start by buying an apartment in Chelsea..."
the semblance of unity
xelhaspixiestix
phoenix kiss
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 8:00 pm
Table 8
Mal hummed. "Chelsea where?" It was an interesting reaction; a lot of people did not immediately think of buying a place to live free and clear. A lot of people picked ridiculous things, or said investments if they already owned a place.
It told him that Asher probably didn't own property, and if he did, he didn't love the place.
After having missed out on the tour, he left his outercoat strewn across his bed before leaving for the welcoming dinner. A sniff of coffee beans to clear his nose of scents, he was excited to scope out the mingling Chosen ones. Pausing behind an ingenue of table 5, he deftly scooped the beachball with one hand before cocking a hip to the table and palming it with both hands. Spinning the ball until it landed, he read the question while simultaneously pointing it at Marisol.
"If you had a warning label, what would yours say?" Spry all around, he waited with all the patience of an ocean.
anemosagkelos
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 8:09 pm
and be blue
the semblance of unity
xelhaspixiestix
"It's what I'd do. Buy a house somewhere. On an island, maybe." A slow smile, it pulled up one side of his broad mouth. "And a fast car with a good sound system. Everything else would be cake after that."
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The Semblance of Unity
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 8:10 pm
Table b - Dahl
He waved away the vegetables with a smile and listened to the rather lively conversation. "You don't have to win a lottery to own an apartment.I'd rather win a prize that wasn't money, perhaps."
