bakerstreet | An experiment gone wrong

An experiment gone wrong

THEY CAN'T HEAR YOU meme.

The glass, they said, is a one-way mirror and the room's soundproof. No one could hear through the walls. So it's safe, they said, to say anything about person sitting in the room you peer into; nobody will know what you divulge.

They lied.

Your character has been plopped down in a room, told nothing about what they're doing here.
Other characters have been asked their unfiltered opinion about yours, assured that what they say can't be heard.
Only your character can hear everything that's said — and respond, too.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Shantae? I used to dream of having the kind of life she does. Fight giant monsters! Save towns! Swash buckles! Look incredibly hot doing it!

But like... does she really not realize how sexy all those dances are? Look in a mirror...

[There's a small noise that sounds like the dial tone to a phone disconnected as Shantae huffed and pouted.]

... I mean I guess they can give people the wrong idea about me...

Aha! It was a setup! Thine ruse revealed!

Still not sure what the point was since I would have said all that anyway, but I'm onto you.

[ Nalili sounds very proud of herself for seeing through the meme. Any potential lesson about the value of having a filter goes unlearned. But back to the actual conversation: ]

The wrong idea how? They think you're being seductive?

[ info & permissions! ]

[In the other room, Lea sighs and shakes his head.]

Who's idea was this anyway? ...I bet it was Vexen's; seems like something he'd come up with.

What am I even supposed to say, though? I mean, I've never even met this 'Hermes' guy. Am I supposed to just make something up or something?

Edited 2023-11-28 05:38 (UTC)

[Oh, there really was someone there beyond the glass. Well, of course someone was there, that's how it worked, after all. He didn't expect to be able to hear them though.

Someone ought tell whoever was in charge here that this was a design flaw. He's making a note of that for later.]

I would prefer if you didn't.

It does strike me as odd that they would ask a stranger for their opinion on another stranger however, I can't imagine there would be terribly much for you to say.

[Lea hadn't expected Hermes to be able to hear him either. If that was true for every set of rooms things were likely to get really awkward really fast.]

I dunno, maybe that's supposed to be part of the experiment? Like to see how we react in an awkward situation or something? That could be why we can hear each other when as far as I know we weren't supposed to be able to.

I feel like while the premise may have some merit, it's... somewhat unethical? At least, to have it done like this. If nothing else the idea should have been properly communicated prior to any sort of agreement; after all, not everyone is equally comfortable with social matters, there should have been more communication between the researchers and the test subjects in order to avoid any potential overwhelming discomfort-

I apologize, that's... a little off topic. No, I'd consider the lack of soundproof glass a design flaw in multiple aspects.

I dunno... if we were expecting it, would it even work? I mean, if you tell someone you're going to be testing how they react in an awkward situation, they're probably not going to react the same way as they would if it was a surprise. I get what you mean though. I don't figure they'd put people who they knew had serious problems with it, but there's really no way to catch every potential trigger in advance.

And don't worry about it; not like we've got a whole lot to do while we're in here besides talk anyway, so conversation tangents are bound to happen.

Well of course some parts of the experiment would need to remain confidential until the end, but if nothing else it should have been stated that the experiment would be in regards to social interaction of some sort.

It's somewhat awkward, to have a conversation with someone you can't see. I feel as if I'm at a bit of a disadvantage, presently. My apologies if I'm... not exactly at my most charming because of it, I mean no insult.

None taken, and yeah that is a bit of an issue.

Hmm... Do you know what they use to make glass one-way like this? My thing's fire magic, see, and my control's pretty good, so I could probably burn off the extra coating without melting the glass, but I don't wanna try it if it's something that might be toxic.

[His tone turns a bit mischievous.]

Of course, if you're OK with it I definitely could just melt the glass or cut out a section of it so you could see me. I mean, you did say that the glass not being soundproof was a problem, so that'd give them an incentive to replace it.

[Either way, it'd be a chance to help the guy out while also sticking it to the people who put them in this situation and showing off a bit. Wins all around.]

I don't think property destruction would be the best idea.

[What, draw attention to this? Get in trouble directly?]

I'm sure it'll set off some manner of alarm, there could be fire hazards present...

[He is in fact going to sit here and list off everything that could possibly go wrong actually, yeah.]

[He prefers to think of it as 'aggressive redecorating'.]

No fire hazards on my side, or any that I can see on yours. And a little cutting flame isn't that much bigger than a candle's, so I doubt it'd set of any alarms.

[Also he knows that tone, sir.]

And if you're worried about getting in trouble for it, you don't have to. If the scientists in charge are watching this, then they know this is entirely my idea. Plus, if they were really against it, there's nothing actually preventing them from coming in here and telling me to stop it themselves. So since they haven't...

If the scientists in charge are watching this, they certainly will. And then you will be the one to face repercussions. I can't say I'm very comfortable with that either.

[It'd be in the service of just making him comfortable, not really a worthy cause if anyone was to ask him personally.]

It's no trouble, I've been in more awkward situations before, really. I'll adjust quickly. I don't believe I caught your name, by the way. I know you've already learned mine.

Eh, it wouldn't be the first time I've annoyed some scientists or gotten people mad at me; I was kinda a troublemaker as a kid. But OK, no unplanned lab renovations; I've got it memorized. We can always talk face to face once we're out of here if we want anyway.

[And he's gonna make sure they do, because Hermes strikes him as a guy who could really use a friend. Or at least someone to hang out with and talk to.]

And yeah sorry about the lack of introduction. My name's Lea; good to meet you. Well, as far as this can be called meeting anyway. Though I guess there's stranger ways to meet someone for the first time than being in an experiment together.

[There's actually a touch of laughter in his tone now as he answers]

This isn't a prison, I'm sure we can speak when we're through. It's only fair in the spirit of the experiment that we observe the rules for now. There will be plenty of time when we're done to speak properly.

All things considered, I've had stranger first meetings, certainly. Where are you from, if I might ask?

A world called Radiant Garden originally, though I haven't lived there for awhile. As a kid I thought it was a bit boring, even living in the capital- hence the troublemaking-, but it really was a great place to grow up. Nice and peaceful, lots of fountains, really beautiful stonework, and of course gardens. There were some big public ones, but almost everybody had flower beds or some other kind of plants at home too. We didn't have a whole lot of yard space though, so the ones my family had were mostly in pots and window boxes.

These days I'm living in a place called Twilight Town with some friends of mine. It's a really great place; kinda quiet, but after having a fairly crazy life for quite awhile, I can appreciate that a lot more. Not that I'm exactly done being adventurous or anything, but.... it's nice to have a home to come back to again at the end of the day.

How about you? Where are you from?

Edited 2023-11-30 07:44 (UTC)

[ Vivi swings his legs and contemplates his task. He's so short that he can't even reach the floor when seated on his chair. ]

...He looks nice. [ He turns his glowing, wide-eyed gaze towards the mirror, quietly observing the person there. ] ...He seems kinda sad, though...Is he okay?

[ He's very concerned about this!! ]

[Well that's definitely a child.]

It- Oh no, I'm-

I'm not, really! I'm fine. I am, you don't need to be concerned.

[Like he's gonna burden a child with anything, who put him in this situation why.]

It seems the glass isn't quite as soundproof as we were told, however.

...Yeah. It's kinda weird that they wouldn't check...but it's weird they'd lie about it if they knew.

[ It's All Weird.

AND HEY. HE KNOWS THOSE DEFLECTION TACTICS. HE'S NOT GONNA LET THIS STAND. ]

Well, I'm gonna be concerned anyway! Even if I don't need to. [ CROSSES HIS ARMS. ]

Every time someone says that nobody needs to worry about them, something big happens and then it turns out I should worry about them. So there.

Perhaps that was part of the experiment, though it seems... somewhat unethical.

[People can say some tremendously cruel things when they think they won't be heard. But, more importantly: he needs to deploy some higher grade deflection tactics clearly.]

Every time? Do you find yourself surrounded by people in some sort of distress often?

[NOT LIKE HIM. Clearly not distressed! Sad isn't destressed! He's also not sad!!! Just putting that out there!!!!! Lets talk about anything else actually!!!!!!]

I guess. I don't like it. [ He sounds like he'd be frowning, if Hermes could see his face. There's a distinct edge to his tone now that wasn't there before. ]

...It's just what happens when you're on an adventure. People get upset cause stuff gets taken away from them, or things they thought were okay or normal aren't actually okay or normal at all. [ He should know! He's had a few of those moments himself. Okay, more than a few. But it's just how it is sometimes. ]

But being sad even when bad stuff isn't happening is different. Cause then you're carrying it around with you and it hurts.

[He can't see his face (or indeed even the shape of him), but the voice does sound quite displeased, that much he can definitely tell.]

You're an adventurer of sorts? You sound so young... [Too young, in his opinion, that's a baby in there, that's a full child.]

Of course you'd meet all sorts of people on the road- But for it to be as tumultuous as that?

[Theft? Really? Are you sure about that?? He doesn't even actually know where to start about the whole 'things they thought were okay but aren't' thing, multiple thoughts are going off at that one but again... Child...]

... What is your name? If I'm to be speaking with someone about such serious matters, I should at least know what to call them.

[It's not deflection it's introductions. He's not deflecting ~~yet~~.]

[Just standing there with her arms folded, looking anywhere but the glass wall. She does not like this, sam-I-am.]

[For extra judgment points, feel free to combine with a first impression.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

An experiment gone wrong

Goro Akechi | Persona 5 franchise

Shang Qinghua | SVSSS

Ranma Saotome | Ranma 1/2 | OTA

Shantae | Shantae | OTA

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delirium | sandman | ota

ronan lynch | trc | ota

Maedhros | the silmarillion | ota

Sister Imperator, Prime Mover (1969) | Ghost

Morgan Jay Finnigan | OC | OTA

Birdie Lewis | OC | Vampire: The Masquerade | OTA

Dorian Storm | Critical Role | OTA

Rebecca Bluegarden | Edens Zero | OTA

cheng xiaoshi | link click

Sidney Prescott l Scream l OTA

Aziraphale | Good Omens

Hermes | FFXIV | OTA

/Tosses a redhead in

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Futaba Sakura | Persona 5 | ota

Yusuke Kitagawa | Persona 5 | ota

Qrow Branwen | RWBY | OTA

Lie Ren | RWBY | OTA

Marrow Amin | RWBY

Nanami Kento | Jujutsu Kaisen

Abe no Seimei | OC (modern day onmyouji)

Aubrey | Omori