Trash Squad Day 1 - SPEED DATING

[chinhotta]

Alright, kiddos!! Gather up in the cafeteria for your first event!

[ The cafeteria tables are arranged differently now, long tables pushed to the edges of the room and filled with finger foods and drinks, and the center of the room open except for a bunch of tall, small round tables which are empty except for a stack of cards, but about the right size and height for two people to put drinks on as they stand around.

Vanilla is also standing on one of the tables with a bullhorn. ]

We're starting with a classic! Speed dating! You'll have five minutes each round! When the horn goes off, that's your cue to switch it up and talk to someone else! If you need some conversation starters, try one of the questions on those cards!

...Or don't! You can do whatever you want, I'm not your mom. I'm going with 'uncle' for now!

( The structure here is pretty casual:
- Make a top level
- Tag some people! Optionally, start off with a question from the deck of suggestions!
- Thread! You can ask more questions if you want.
- Try to keep threads around 10 comments from you maximum. This isn’t a hard limit, but assume a bullhorn goes off around there to signal a switch.
- Pace yourself, kids, this runs until Thursday. )

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SUBMIT YOUR HOT OR NOTS HERE by Thursday, 6pm PST!

Comments

[slice_of_life]

[she nods]

Even if it doesn't, well... there's a lot of bad things that can happen besides murder.

--Though, maybe there's the most obvious pain that would be inflicted on us when the game ends: the pain of going home and losing our new friends...

[artisticliberty]

The borders of time and space may deter us, but they cannot separate us forever. I for one would not allow such a thing to keep me from someone I truly loved.

[slice_of_life]

...Really?

[artisticliberty]

Of course. It may take years, but I could not be satisfied with simply giving up and resigning myself. No, not anymore.

[slice_of_life]

That's... very romantic.

[blushes, looking down]

[artisticliberty]

Is it?

[he chuckles]

Some may call it delusional to think such a thing... but I would still be hopeful.

[slice_of_life]

There... could be ways.

I think... just... wanting that... it's... very passionate. That even if this time came to an end, there'd still be... meaning.

...

[artisticliberty]

Yes. I believe we must endeavor to suffuse these moments with meaning, somehow.

[slice_of_life]

[nods]

...May I ask your name? I'm Yuri.

[artisticliberty]

My name is Kitagawa Yusuke. It is a pleasure to meet you, Yuri.

[slice_of_life]

Thank you... I feel like I've learned a lot about you already.

...Do you mind if I check my tablet? I'm curious...

[artisticliberty]

Go ahead. Though the title they have chosen for me is an odd one.

[his is "ultimate poser". and for the heck of it, he'll check his tablet, too]

[slice_of_life]

[reading!]

Ultimate... Poser?

[her lips can't help but purse a little.]

That's... not flattering. I'm s-sorry.

[artisticliberty]

The title should be "Ultimate Artist", but I cannot change it. I have tried.

[slice_of_life]

I'm sorry.

They shouldn't... it's wrong to mock you like that...

[artisticliberty]

I have been mocked for worse things, but at least this one is harmless. It is likely a reference to my ability to draw a variety of poses.

[pause]

Or perhaps to that incident at the church.

[slice_of_life]

...Church?

... [she's curious now]

Do you mind if... I ask?

[artisticliberty]

I was experiencing artist's block and attempted to paint a new subject. The essence of which was anguish, so my friend and I went to a nearby church for research. Many artists over the centuries have painted the crucifixion of Christ as an agonizing, sorrowful topic, so I thought it was a good place to start. We attempted some poses, but none of them felt quite right, and our actions... gathered the attention of a priest, who suggested we not disturb the congregation. In the end, I had misunderstood the subject entirely, but it was a good experience overall.

[slice_of_life]

[...]

...I...I'm not particularly religious, but... I think that's to emphasize... sacrifice...

[artisticliberty]

That was what the priest said, too. I am not a believer, so my understanding comes from art, not from religion.

In any case, that is the explanation behind my title.

[slice_of_life]

I-I understand, but... the symbolism of the crucifixion of Jesus is... complex and nuanced. The 'anguish' felt by him was something he knew he had to do to be a sacrifice... it wasn't merely... torture... M-Maybe a real believer could explain it better, but I do write poetry so I'm familiar with... imagery.

A-Ah... I mean... p-please understand. I agree, I have... absolutely no right to tell you what to d-draw, or do any art with at all, or how to interpret it, even, b-but...!

--But perhaps for the purposes of your ex-exercise, you would have better found inspiration from... The Scream?

[artisticliberty]

It's true that The Scream is a classic modern piece of art depicting the artist's tormented soul, but I felt that if I drew inspiration from already-existing art works that my own would become too derivative--so I chose a more general subject.

[he waves his hand]

The issue at the time has since been resolved, so it is not a concern anymore. However, your observation indicates that you have more than a passing interest in art. Is that correct?

[slice_of_life]

A-Ah...

[she looked down, guiltily... feeling bad for bringing it up.]

Oh, yes! I d-do. I'm a... um, I... write. I'm a writer.

[pause]

I guess you could say... all of my work is derivative...

[artisticliberty]

Nonsense. There is an element of the artist in all works they produce, and I imagine the same is true of writers. There are long days of practice ahead of both of us.

[which is about when the buzzer goes off]

[slice_of_life]

[she starts to reply, but that's when the horn goes off.]

Ah, that... that means we have to stop, doesn't it?

I-I'm sorry... it was just becoming interesting...