[[a survey + eventual survey discussion closed post]]

[ravkanwitch]

As promised, there’s a new stack of paper on the welcome table in the main lobby; each sheet has many questions on it along with a cup of pens on the side and a brightly colored box with a large slot cut into the top of it. Nina’s ready for her new project. For most characters, if they don’t see this, a very charming and friendly Nina Zenik will be tracking them down with the sheet of questions and a pen eventually…

“MANSION SURVEY: Help us take stock and plan fun and activities!*

*answers are private to Nina and Susan only”

[[Please check out the Fun Mansion Questions tab in the Mansion Demographics spreadsheet and have your characters fill it out! Check the discord if you don’t have a link.]]

Comments

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh, absolutely," Susan agrees, making some more notes in her book, this time about competitions-slash-skill demonstrations.

[ravkanwitch]

"I suppose we could come up with a list of people to talk to about both things, then," Nina suggests. "Theater and also the competitions. We can split it up, too."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"And the remainder who have yet to complete the survey," Susan adds, trying to sort out who hasn't based on who has. Little John is definitely missing. Also, it seems, Ragnelle. But who else? She can't find one from Thomas in the stack... "How shall we use some of this information?"

[ravkanwitch]

Nina considers, furrowing her brow. "Is there a way to organize so that it's easy to look at later?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I suppose we might write the answers out again by question? Or we could create a table, to organize by both respondent and question... but the paper would have to be quite large."

[ravkanwitch]

"See, this is where you might lose me," Nina admits. "I'm not the best at organizing information. But please show me your organizational ways, if you'd like."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Here," says Susan, and takes out a sheet of paper to demonstrate. "In a table, you would make columns and rows. So we might list out everyone's names, and then have a column for favorite book, and favorite play, and favorite color." She quickly sketches out an example of this with the three surveys she has in front of her.

[ravkanwitch]

"Oh, I see," Nina says, watching what Susan's doing. "That way you can see everything in a single column."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Yes, precisely! Or we might present data in simple ways - for example, we could do counts of favorite colors or animals."

[ravkanwitch]

"Sounds great," Nina says easily, "I could definitely help with something like that."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Of course you could." Susan sits back a little, giving Nina a good once-over. "How would you like to use this information?"

[ravkanwitch]

"The skills we can definitely use if something else happens, like the undead... " Nina considers. She gives Susan a wry smile. "Everything else, all of the favorites, we can use after those things happen to cheer everyone up."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I wonder if we mightn't use it to set up - oh, I'm loathe to say a chore chart," says Susan. "But opportunities for productive tasks, so that those who feel adrift here have more purpose to their days."

[ravkanwitch]

Nina is thinking as well. "Something like that would be great-- but also, some sort of messaging system, maybe? That way, if one of the monthly events happens, we can alert everyone to it."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Like a telephone? Or a broadcasting system, like the air raid sirens?" Ah! Susan has reached Janet's survey. She reads it eagerly, but affects an aura of nonchalance as she does. Being a badass bitch - yes, that rather does sound like her.

[ravkanwitch]

"I'm not sure what any of those are," Nina says, cheerfully.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Telephones are stationary machines that allow you to phone - that is, signal, I suppose - any of the other telephones by dialing - entering - in essentially an identification number. The one you're trying to reach will make a ringing sound to indicate to anyone there that you should like them to pick it up so you can speak," Susan says, glancing up from Janet's survey so that she doesn't get distracted. She supposes that the Mansion is small enough that they mightn't need a switchboard. "Air raid sirens and broadcasting systems just carry a voice or a loud, disruptive sound over a loudspeaker, and it's loud enough that all might hear it. I wonder if SecUnit might repurpose some of its machines to help with a communication system?"

[ravkanwitch]

Nina nods, understanding most of this. The Lantsov King and David had been experimenting with a lot of technology when she left Os Alta and while telephones and broadcasting systems aren't in her lexicon, it sounds like a great advantage to have. "That all sounds very sensible. We're just missing the technology, right? Then SecUnit would be our best bet."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan, in glancing away from the survey, has had her eye snag onto something. Not sure I was built like that, in Janet's strong handwriting. A queer feeling settles over her, and one that she can't seem to describe. Relief, that she won't have to chase down a definition a whole second time? No, that sounds wrong. Oh, but she can't name this one, either; all she knows is that her jaw is set and her chest feels hot.

Nina is talking. Nina is talking, and Susan is being rude. She blinks, then closes the survey and sets it aside. "I'm sorry," she says. "Say that again?"

[ravkanwitch]

"I'm just agreeing that SecUnit would be our best bet," Nina says, gently. "Everything alright?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Fine," says Susan, firmly. "I shall speak to it about our options."

[ravkanwitch]

Nina's not going to press any further. She gives Susan a small smile. "It looks like we have a lot on our hands, but I'd rather stay busy than-- well, not be."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh, agreed," says Susan, latching onto the topic. She makes a little face at the pile of surveys. "We ought to have asked about favorite chores, too. I know I said we oughtn't do a chore chart, but wouldn't it be lovely if there was someone here who just really enjoyed washing-up and laundry?"

[ravkanwitch]

Nina also makes a face. "Not me. Or cooking."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"They're not my favorite, either." Though Susan had been pleased to find that cooking was more palatable with a partner, when she and Laertes baked together.