subnautica | monolith revisited

Entry tags:

monolith revisited | mingle

One fine morning, a boyish voice broadcasts to everyone around base:

There's a lot left to explore inside the Monolith, so I'll be visiting it today. If anyone else wants to come along, feel free.

Once all interested parties are assembled and traveling arrangements sorted out, they're off to the Monolith! Given the length of the journey, this will be a real time investment. A one-way trip takes nearly two hours by flight. Traveling in silence? Boring. How should they occupy their time? Travel games? Joy rides in the Seamoth? Maybe even some old-fashioned chit chat??

Once they arrive, there's plenty to explore. With some sniffing around, they'll find a map revealing that the Monolith contains a cafe and common area, crew quarters, lab, med bay, and "special alien containment" room. However, it'll take some ingenuity to actually reach each area. And by ingenuity I mean bombs.

Which is why the group will need a demolition crew! Get to blasting those walls in logical places. Or illogical places. No one ever said it had to be a good demolition crew. With enough willful destruction, surely all of the the Monolith's secrets will be laid bare in no time.

(( Here are the full details on what can be found in the Monolith! Create your own topics and go nuts. ))

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I'm not attractive cute barista inexplicably interested in your screenplay, English.

[Get your own chocolate. Dirk is sipping his coffee very, very carefully. The bitterness is odd. He isn't sure if he hates it or kinda likes it. The smell is still amazing. He decides he'll just hold it up to his face and breathe it in a lot.

He does put the chocolate syrup bottle on the table so Jake can get it himself. Or Hinata can.]

Here, I'll do it...

[He might not be an attractive barista, but he has the feeling if he lets Jake do it, half the bottle of syrup will wind up in his coffee. But coffee syrups aren't something he's ever had around his home, so he frowns at it and just holds out the bottle, carefully squeezing out just a little bit into the cup.]

Just try a little at first to see if you like it, then add more gradually. That's... probably the right way to do it.

[If he gives Jake clear instructions, hopefully there won't be another incident. Assuming that doesn't somehow backfire on him, he'll move to pour his own coffee. Might as well, since it's there.]

[Jake huffs as he stirs the coffee around first by rotating it around in his hands.]

This isn't that kind of movie. [If anything it would be a really weird romantic comedy in which the lives of two exes trying to rekindle their flame connect to a barista looking for a purpose in life and then he probably plays Cupid for them and hilarity and touching life lessons about love and friendship ensue or something.

He'd watch that movie.

He also just zoned out while thinking up that movie but he does remember to try his drink. For a moment he stands there with it in his mouth before swallowing it and grinning, bouncing on his heels.]

Holy flipping Jesus's dessert pantry! You guys have to try that! It's like... um... it's so good? It's really, really good.

[He's devoting himself to his coffee now bye.]

[Dirk knows that Jake is making up the kind of movie it is in his head. Dirk knows that whatever Jake is imagining, Dirk would tear it apart once it hit theatres.

But at least Jake likes it? Dirk glances at his cup and then at Hinata.] I've never had chocolate more. Do you have a recommendation on if I should try it alone before I add it to coffee?

[What is the best way to experience Chocolateness?]

This isn't any kind of movie... but I'm glad you like it.

[This is real life guys?? Stop creating screenplays with him in them, he doesn't want any part of that!

But he just laughs quietly at Jake's enthusiasm, hunting around for creamer. Though... something like that almost definitely has to be expired, right? He doesn't want any sugar, just some cream. If he were any kind of half-decent barista he'd draw cute coffee art for them both, but alas.

But Dirk asked a question, right? Another... really sad question. Hajime pauses, bringing his free hand to his lips and giving it maybe more serious consideration than anyone really should.]

Um... I don't know if this kind of coffee syrup is the best way to try chocolate. Something like a chocolate bar would probably be better. But I guess... if you want to squeeze a little of the syrup on your finger to see if you like it, that would be for the best? Before putting it in your coffee, I mean. But even if you don't like it, it's not like we're going to run out of coffee or syrup any time soon.

[Jake listens with his mouth glued to the cup. Something he keeps wondering is if the new universe will have all these things. He kind of assumes so, even though he also thinks that's unrealistic. But a lot of things about their life are stupid, so it' be nice if the stupid worked out for a change to include something nice for a change.]

Grandma told me never to waste food. [He has no shame in quoting his grandma.] I'll drink it if Dirk doesn't like it!

[Dirk feels that Jane English is one smart lady. He agrees with her advice. But at the chocolate advice, he obligingly puts a drop of chocolate syrup on his finger and licks it off.

Compared to the cacao bean that Roxy gave Dirk, it's significantly more on the sweet side than bitter. Still interesting? They'll see if they can access a chocolate bar at some point. Either way, he sets it down because he knows they can't try all the things at once, but he thinks he'd like to try something else?]

I'll take a sip of Jake's and try something else in mine. He can have a sip of that to see if he likes it. [His head doesn't turn, but his eyes flicker to Jake behind the shades.] Does that sound all right to you, English?

[Look at that, Dirk is remembering to ask instead of just brazenly setting out his plan and insisting it's the best.]

We can always try the rest back at base.

Dirk has a good idea. You guys were messing with the vanilla earlier, right? That might not be a bad one to try. Or there's...

[He was going to start listing the different kinds of syrups, but there's too many different kinds. He just kind of gestures helplessly.]

...Pretty much anything you can imagine that people usually put in coffee. But yeah, I think this is definitely something we should try to find a place for in the base.

[It's still weird to find a coffee shop, but... hopefully this will make people happy, or at least, make being stuck underwater a little more bearable.]

[Jake takes his mouth off his cup to hand it to Dirk. They're in a coffeeshop AU so may as well hit the indirect kiss trope. That's his reasoning honestly. Plus, it tastes good. No one should be exempt from good tasting beverages.]

Vanilla is good. I'll try anything! I'm not picky. [Not that he could have afforded to be anyway.] Dirk has refined tastes. Pick something gentlemanly for him!

[Maybe Hinata really is a barista to Jake.]

[Dirk accepts the coffee and drinks from the opposite side. Sorry for you tropes, Jake. He gives a little nod, elated more by the newness than anything, and takes a second sip to secure the taste in his memory, then hands it back to Jake.]

I'm not a fuckin' gentleman, English. You're the only 1920s anachronism here.

[And yet. Dirk is still waiting for Hinata's pick? Make a syrup suggestion. They will Learn.]

G-gentlemanly, right...

[Apparently this is his life now, barista of the coffeeshop au he never asked for. But he's far from a coffee connoisseur no matter what Dirk and Jake might think of him, so give him a couple seconds to survey their options.]

There's... peppermint, white chocolate, rasp...berry? [Why.] Uh, toffee, hazelnut, pumpkin spice... Hazelnut might be a good one, I've had that before.

[Leave it to Hajime Hinata to pick the most normal of their options. But he picks up the bottle and offers it, in case Dirk wants to try it.]

But... can I ask you guys a question? If you don't mind. Why do you keep switching between first and last names for each other?

[Too bad, Dirk is a gentleman. Though as he listens to the list and he's already figuring out how many different syrups he could add to his when Hinata asks his question. What a weird question. Though even he knows what they do is a little odd.]

Oh, um... [He tilts his head slightly.] I just always called him this way. And he did the same, so it's not weird between us. I think I did it at first because it was more proper? I don't recall actually. [Jake smiles.] But I like it, so it's not changing.

[Dirk's eyes flicker over to Jake; his head barely moves, just the slightest turn. A minor re-angling of the shades.]

I feel the same way.

[Then his shades angle back and he takes the hazelnut bottle from Hinata. He adds a little to his drink, stirs it, and takes a drink.]

Good choice.

[Dirk offers his cup to Jake to drink.]

Edited 2016-07-26 22:21 (UTC)

[WAIT SHIT

Dirk yanks the cup back before Jake can touch it and sets it down on the counter. He quickly picks the bottle back up and checks the back.]

It's artificial. But maybe you shouldn't risk it.

[SURE IT CONTAINS NO ACTUAL NUTS, LET ALONE PEANUTS. BUT STILL! Even if it wouldn't be Just or Heroic so Jake would be fine.]

So you've been friends for a while, huh...?

[That's good to know. And while he'd like to ask more about that, Dirk's sudden movement startles him enough that he takes a reflexive step back, one hand coming up in front of his face.]

W-what? What is it?

[Another quick round of multiple choice in his head, then his eyes widen in comprehension.]

I-- crap, are you allergic?

[Oh my god everyone. Jake holds up a hand, smile a little scrunched up because please stop panicking.]

Golly gee. It's artificial so I'm sure it's fine? [Plus he really wants to try it. It's not like he gets the chance to try different flavours much anyway so he's going to be stubborn about this.] No need to bust a vessel over it, I promise.

[He is not panicking. He is calm. He is very very calm while he holds the cup and stares at Jake intensely.

After a long, judgemental moment, he holds the cup out.]

I will fuckin' stab you through the heart if you die from this, and it will be a Just death.

[DO NOT DIE IN FRONT OF HIM, JAKE.]

[Hajime immediately points at Jake as if that gesture might be enough to stop the other boy from taking the offered cup.]

No, that's wrong.

[...tbh he probably sounds ridiculous outside of a class trial setting.]

We don't know if there's any medical supplies nearby if something does happen. Unless you know without a doubt that whatever's in the artificial stuff is safe, there's no way we can risk it. I'll put something else in mine, you can both try that.

[Caramel? Caramel sounds safe.]

[Well he's used to Dirk threatening him for stupid things but he's not used to gun friend being so strangely strict?? Jake takes a moment to look between Dirk, then Hinata, then the cup, before he sighs and gives up with a huff.]

All right, all right. You both win.

[He sulks as he drinks his coffee instead of Dirk's. He'll just try it when they aren't looking. Then it's not like anyone would know if he dies stupidly.

[Dirk looks Jake dead in the eyes (behind shades).

And he drinks down the entire cup of coffee. Just tips his head back, and gulp, gulp, gulp. The Adam's apple bobs, the drink drains away.

He puts the empty cup on the counter. Then, pointedly, he washes it out and turns it upside down to dry.]

Caramel should be good.

[Suck it, English.]

[Gun friend is a pushover but there's some things he just won't abide. Friends potentially dying in front of him is right there at the top of a very short list.

He exhales a quiet sigh of relief when Dirk finishes his coffee, passing a hand over his eyes and moving back to find the caramel bottle. Crisis averted, or something. He'll squeeze a little of the caramel syrup into his yet-undrunk coffee and pass it over to Jake first in a kind-of apology.]

There'll be plenty of time for you to try all kinds of new things. You don't have to do it all at once, you know?

[Jake glares at Dirk. He's going to kill you someday, Strider. But he accepts the cup gratefully from Hinata.]

Sorry for the vagary but missing out on a myriad of quintessential human experiences really gets my goat sometimes.

[He takes a sip of the caramel coffee. Oh that's so nice and wait hang on. He takes a sip of his coffee then the caramel really quick. Oh that's good too. He knew chocolate and caramel were paired for a reason. He has to hand it back to Hinata quick before he drinks everything.]

But hey, lucky you! You've got two hot to trot students champing at the bit for any scraps of knowledge you can give us!

[Dirk is inexpressive in the face of that glare. ] Hazelnut isn't a quintessential human experience.

[What Jake does is interesting though. Chocolate and caramel. So there are infinite interesting combinations to try...

Dirk totally fails to remember that they're doing this entire barista roleplay thing and instead strides over to the coffee machine to try to make it work so he can make enough coffee for a peppermint drink. Someone please stop him.]

Sorry...

[He really does feel bad! Especially when it's only a "maybe," and he might be stopping Jake from enjoying hazelnut for no good reason, but listen. He has enough dead friends.

But he laughs at Jake's assessment of him, holding up both hands and shaking his head. You keep it, dude. Join your ex in overcaffeinating yourself.]

You're giving me too much credit, really. I'm sure there's a lot of other people who are way more qualified than I am at this kind of thing.

[Dirk... Hajime isn't going to stop him, though. Two cups of coffee is probably fine? Or, well... okay, no, he's thinking better of this plan. Maybe he should take that caramel back.]

Uh... you guys probably haven't had anything with caffeine in it before, have you...?

[Jake tilts his head. What has caffeine in it? Coffee. Soda but not all soda. Not all coffee, either, he thinks?]

Uh... not that I can think of? I've mostly had fruit and fish.

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