Mingle ∞ Log
No Lifeguard on Duty
Summary
What's going on?
An
unexpected heat wave in mid-June, coupled with the cycling shutdown of all air conditioning units in motels across the Blocks, has made the summer unbearable. Meanwhile, the ever-eager
storm chaser,
Felix Bjurstrom, has uncovered a
fancy resort with a pool in a diffusion zone only 1 hour out from Panorama. Lucky, right? Well...kind of. It's got some quirks.
When is this happening?
June 10 - 30
What should I know?
- This area is one of many diffusion zones that appear throughout the planet.
- A storm chaser is someone dedicated to studying the cosmic phenomenon in the Diadem. Felix is a pioneer in his field.
- A winding highway filled with old empty barrels will take you to the zone.
- Characters can travel with a friend to save on gas! Parking's limited, so it might not be a bad idea.
- At any given time, there's max several dozen visitors. Most work long hours, some are traveling through the diffusion zones, and others prefer not to risk the drive or waste precious gas, so it won't draw a huge crowd (but there's still a crowd!).
- This is a mingle rather than an event. Plot-heavy elements will be minor. The game's first proper event will be posted in July!
What does my character know?
- Having lost his phone, Felix will spread the word using good old-fashioned printed posters that he's put up around Panorama. A young woman is seen helping him. They appear to be close. Some say that's his daughter.
- Though the timing is impossible to predict accurately, Felix believes that due to this zone's unusual proximity to an anchor point, it has a high chance of persisting for 2-3 weeks.
- Directions are printed on the posters, though characters are also free to stumble across the zone by accident.
∞ Links ∞
Introduction
The resort looks like your typical upscale vacation spot: a beautiful pool, lovely cabins, and plenty of pool chairs. The sky is
perpetually nighttime and there are
two moons. One moon is smaller than its sister and glows purple. The other looks like the Earth's moon. The weather is
pleasantly warm. In fact, conditions are almost
too perfect.
Other
fluxdrifts are here, too, and you might come across them, all of whom are taking advantage of the pool. They'll converse superficially with you and will come and go randomly. You'll want to keep a close eye on your belongings. Other than cooling off, this isn't a bad place to start making connections. Life in the Diadem is better when you've got allies if not friends.
Just outside the resort is a
spacious parking lot, designed for visitors. Nobody's following parking rules so put your car anywhere it fits. If you get blocked in, well, that's a problem for when you leave.
At the end of June, the diffusion zone will flicker and morph into an unremarkable overgrown park, long abandoned to the decades.
Prompts
As you wander around, you discover deactivated androids in many of the poolside huts. These androids cannot be mistaken for any organic species: their chassis is metal, and their heads are shiny. Circuits and wires are visible. But each is dressed distinctly human in a way that borders on disturbing. You spot lipstick drawn on some of the metal faces, as though they're playing dress up...or as if they don't realize they aren't human. One android is frozen in place with a diary clutched in its hands. Another has a hairbrush for its nonexistent hair.
Something seems to have destroyed them—perhaps a powerful EMP wave that knocked them all out. All except one.
The Bartender
The poolside bar is at the eastern end of the resort. There are plenty of seats. A few are occupied by deactivated androids. The bartender is also an android and appears to be the only functional one in this place. He speaks with a modulated voice and has a neutral accent. He exhibits the following behaviors if you sit at his bar:
- Icebreaker. Whether you're alone or with a companion, he'll try to get you all to be friends, asking random self-generated icebreaker questions. He'll be visibly disappointed if you don't play along.
- Bartending. While cheerful, he can't make the correct drink: it's always too strong, incredibly weak, added salt instead of sugar, messed up the ice. He's obviously doing his best, but it's just not working. The harder he tries, the worse he performs until it becomes a comedy of errors with stuff falling over, ice dumped in your lap, champagne corks flying, and any number of slapstick mishaps. You can help him out by mixing the drink yourself.
If you're nice to him, he'll introduce himself as Thomas Lustras. He's happy to
tell you about his son. Strange, you think, but who says androids can't have paternal instincts? Yet, when the android takes out his wallet to show you a photo of his son—named Edward Lustras—the picture is that of a
human child, roughly 5 years old, in the arms of his
human father.
The driver's license in the same wallet confirms that Thomas is (was?) a real person. The picture on the license matches the human male in the photo. A half-scorched business card states that Thomas was a consultant at Outer Rim Resettlements. Thomas believes he's on a company retreat and wistfully declares he's eager to return home to his son.
Maybe don't look too closely. After all, this place will soon disappear. And so will he.
The Grill
It's not a vacation without a grill! Not a grillable item is in sight, though, so you'll have to rely on what you can bring out of Panorama. Some of the visiting drifters will pitch in to share, unloading hotdogs (some synthetic, others authentic, and some far past expiry), burger patties (same) and buns, and "kebabs" made of blocky frozen vegetable squares. The squares vaguely resemble corn, mushrooms, and pineapple. The texture is passable, like a flavor-infused block of tofu.
Fire up the grill and take turns grilling. You'll also have to manage the propane. The grill's also prone to sputtering out, requiring regular minor repairs to get it back up and going. Any loose bolts or screws can be taken out of the dead androids to replace the rusty ones in the grill. You're unsure if you should feel uncomfortable doing that or what, but it is a solution.
Parking Woes
Like any crowded event, the parking lot can get chaotic, and the lawlessness of the diffusion zones doesn't help. While some are happy to help barbecue, others are more interested in picking fights over who got to the parking space first. It won't take much for a fistfight to break out, and a knife fight isn't out of the question, either, though nobody'll be killed (this time).
You can let the troublemakers beat each other, or you can try to intervene if somebody who doesn't deserve it is getting harassed. Just avoid causing too much of a scene. Breaking noses is acceptable; gutting someone head to toe is not. There are Enforcers visiting the zone, and if you interfere with their nice pool time, they won't hesitate to haul away everybody involved and make you sit in jail for a few days.
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thediadem) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
diademlogs2025-06-08 10:11 am
henry creel 🕷️ stranger things
002: ICEBREAKERS
003: HANGING OUT
icebreakers!
[ Although being snapped at to invite herself into a conversation is a little weird, Nashua shrugs and acquiesces without offense. She's poured herself a beer, after giving up on Thomas's attempts, and was quietly lingering over a half-finished sketch of their androidian companion, pencil in hand, prior to this.
Oh, well. Thomas is odd and a bit pushy, but he's nice. He's programmed to be, after all. She answers with a smile. ]
I dunno. I guess being tall is pretty cool? My dad's tall, which is where I got it from.
[ "Fantastic!" Thomas says, eagerly pouring Henry some tequila. "Pizza or tacos?" ]
Tacos, I guess. [ Toying with her pencil, Nash decides to help Henry out. ] Hey, Tom? Can you get me some ice from the walk-in fridge?
[ "It would be my delight, young miss."
There's the faint, eerie sound of wheels whirring and hydraulics whooshing as he picks up speed. As soon as Thomas has rounded the corner, Nashua takes his place behind the bar and is pouring Henry some ice water. She even drops a little hibiscus-patterned paper umbrella into it before sliding it across to him. ]
no subject
That said, the mask slips back on, inches by inches, knowing the he cannot afford the same disregard for the woman who's aiding him. His blunt manner is smoothed down, and he offers her a purposefully apologetic-looking half-grin.
(She had seemed to be drawing something, which pulls Henry’s seeking gaze for a moment to the sketch, interest piqued. But he says nothing about it for now.)
His glass is finally being poured with the much-requested-water, which returns his attention, anyway. He takes it, appreciative of the coolness it radiates against his skin.]
Thanks. That was clever.
no subject
[ She smiles a curated customer service smile before returning to her seat on the other side of the bar. The jug of ice water is left within reach, in case he needs to fill up his glass. ]
Tom's nice, but he has no idea what he's doing. You can usually get away with helping yourself.
[ Why hadn't Nashua taken her own advice?
She hadn't wanted to hurt the android's feelings. ]
no subject
So you've already had some experience with his useless android?
[Okay, maybe the customer service smile and "useless" don't go hand-in-hand with each other, but it is probably the sincerest expression of his true personality as he continues to smooth out the wrinkles into its default shape.]
Fortunately, all I need is water. Not much of a drinker, myself. I wouldn't even know where to start.
(no subject)
002
While she isn't all that fond of the prying questions either, it seems that this man is in even less of a mood for them. And while it might have been a different story depending on the question asked, this is one she has an easy answer to.
From where Fern stands, having only just entered the room, she glances between the automaton and the man before she reaches for the leather sheath at her hip. She draws a dagger, but it's not in any threatening way. She isn't gripping it like she's going to stab someone with it, but instead she turns her wrist to let it lay flat in her palm as she shows it to both of them.
The blade sheens and glimmers, given that it's been silvered by a blacksmith. ]
This.
[ It seems she's taken the question rather literally, though this is also not a dishonest answer. Nor does she seem to find it strange at all that the best thing she received from her parents was a weapon. ]
no subject
Despite Henry’s uncharitable mood directed at the android that can’t manage something as simple as pouring him a glass of water, he has to admit, the blade draws his interest. He’s always been the sort of man to appreciate something deadly — and his artistic eye appreciates, too, the lines of it. The shine of the steel.
Thomas nods cheerfully, seemingly happy with that answer. The thing is, though, now Fern has also been officially been deemed a patron, too, and he asks:
What a fine piece of weaponry! Very excellent! So, miss, what can I get you from the bar today?
Henry’s face slowly falls back into his default: that little amicable grin of his, faintly amused. He quirks a brow and offers-]
Thanks. But it sounds like you might as well join me, now.
no subject
Thankfully she isn't running with it.When neither the bartender nor his patron seem to think anything odd about Fern's answer, she gives a firm nod and tucks the blade away. There's a time and place to draw it and she certainly isn't going to leave it out now that she's being invited to sit; as much as the "android" might wear at people's nerves, she doesn't see any reason in harming him.
If someone's truly that upset, they can simply walk away. ]
I... [ She hesitates. ] Just some water is fine.
[ If they both try to order water, will that make it better or worse? Thomas stares at them silently for a few seconds, as if he's trying to process that information, before he turns to the array of bottles behind him.
Fern, meanwhile, glances to the blond man and shrugs. She should hydrate herself, so she settles a few stools down from him. ]
It seems neither of us are in the mood for alcohol. [ After all, while it's dark outside, that's a constant here. It's actually closer to midday. ]
003: hanging out
Speaking of drowning, you'd think after a near-death experience, one would be more weary of being more than knee-deep in a body of water, but in this heat, the young doctor is of the same mind as Henry. He's floating on his back to stay cool and as he passes by Henry, he waves.]
Yo! You textin' someone?
no subject
With River, it seems like Henry can’t be bothered to plaster on his usual smile. He’s already seen the ugly side of him, and yet he remains obliviously undeterred, so what’s the point?
If there’s an irony in that he’s actually more honest with him than most, well, he chooses not to see it.
Instead, he flicks a glance at him as he floats nearer, then fights the urge to roll his eyes. And returns to his terrible attempts at texting.]
Trying to understand how this thing works.
[So yes.]
no subject
River lifts his neck halfway as if trying to peer up closer to Henry and his phone.]
Oh? So you're a decade or two backwards huh? No negative connotations intended bro, but that explains it.
[He plops his head back down with a hum.]
Then again, by my standards, the ones here are kinda clunky. Never know you miss a touchscreen until it's gone. Still...!
[and then he pushes himself up to his feet (sorry for any residual splash henry) to point to the other man's phone]
What task are you trying to execute right now? Just typing?
(no subject)
(no subject)
hanging out
What he didn’t expect, however, was to find someone already in this cabin. Searching - but clearly not for a nice chaise. Something underneath it, maybe. Brow raised, he doesn’t make an effort to hide his presence has he swings the door open.]
You lose somethin’?
no subject
Scoots over a little to check under a chair. Not even the hint of an old web-]
There aren't any spiders here.
[Bluntly. As if this should be a halfway decent explanation, and might also shoo away someone who doesn't care about the subject enough to hang around.]
I don't see how that's possible.
no subject
He observes the nerd for a second, weighing if he wants to involve himself in a stranger’s research(?) before chiming in,]
Yeah, there’s not a single spider in this whole dump. Can’t sense any of’em.
(no subject)
(no subject)
icebreaker... mfw there are specifically no spiders here
She could easily lie or refuse to answer, but frankly, she welcomes any occasion to speak ill of her "Mother." Bluntly, ]
A considerable amount of wealth and real estate.
[ Some might interpret that as a boast. They're welcome to. Her gaze on the bartender quietly intensifies. ]
The drink, Thomas.
HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM SPECIFICALLY!!!
Perhaps that did the trick, though, because the android seems to lose interest in the tequila and begins pouring Henry, instead, a glass of ice water.
But now, it also asks: And what will you be having?]
Ha. [Henry can't help himself.] So you're dragged into it now, too. Sorry about that.
[He's not really sorry, but what a pain.]
twice the spiders in the next zone i say
[ She prefers her conversations on the less vapid side, but in this world she truly can't have everything she wants. Who knows if she'll even have the drink she wants.
Thomas swings his torso around happily, knocking over a cocktail shaker with an arm. I agree. There are worse things than getting to know each other. Every friendship begins with a chat! ]
An iced tea, Thomas.
[ Please, back on the rails, Thomas. The android nods and grips for a glass.
Coming right up, miss! But first, a question for both of you! What was the name of your first pet? ]
you're right and you should say it
1/2
(no subject)
parking
One hell of an arrival, but a better solution than—
[She's cut off by the sudden shattering of the windshield, wincing briefly before continuing towards the Oldsmobile.]
That's the kind of dramatic effect I've come to expect from you. I didn't think—
[This time, she cuts herself off once she's close enough to see who's behind the wheel.
Oh.]
... sorry, I thought you were someone I know.
no subject
Interesting, though. Where he's from, there are so few that could do what he's just done (very rudely), to move a heavy vehicle and crack its glass with just a thought. It earns her a bit of curiosity, even if it's a tangential one.
As always, he offers her, a stranger, a mild grin. A very faintly quirking brow.]
Really? How strange to hear that. I used to think I was unique. [Mostly, anyway.] I don't mean to disappoint you.
no subject
[She gives him an easy smile, amused. If he had been Erik, she doesn't think the encounter was likely to have been a pleasant one, but he can certainly consider her interest piqued after that display of his.]
I'm sure you're still plenty unique. You're only the second person I've met who could move an entire car without lifting a finger.
[Folks like them aren't exactly a dime a dozen.]
Pretty impressive display, all told.
🕷️
wanda crouches down, hands on her knees, and looking over at him. she's wearing jean shorts, for the occasion, and a loose, red blouse, her flat sneakers black; her hair is tied up, but she doesn't doubt that henry would recognize her. the familiar push of his mind grazes against her own, like two cats bumping heads in greeting.
after no outward reaction from him because he's incredibly focused, wanda speaks up, voice quiet, )
...what are you looking for?
🕷️🕷️
He feels her presence, that nudge across his mind, and he acknowledges it in his own way. His own eyes are still focused on the dark corners beneath this table, or the neighboring chairs, quite clearly intent on finding something. As though the fact that he cannot find this something is untenable to him.
The fact that Henry doesn't immediately shoo away Wanda's presence, suddenly so close, speaks for itself, too. Already, a thread of comraderie woven between them, built on sameness if nothing else.]
Spiders. I can't find any.
🕷️🕷️🕷️
she leans in a little, following the trace of his own eyes, and starting to find it peculiar that there isn't a single web in these dark corners. )
Not anywhere in the resort?
( seems unlikely, but...
wanda thinks for a moment, before offering, )
Did you check the closet?
hanging out! (i'm sorry henry)
The same goes for finding a corner of the pool area less populated. As usual, it's a bit of a walk among the chairs with groups and individuals scattered across the lounge area until he finds a seat a few feet back from the water's edge. Just as he's done on other trips where swimming hadn't been involved or a break was needed from socialization, he retrieves the journal always with him and starts to write. There's a lot to record from the past few days and every bit as quickly he tunes out everything around him so as to not be distracted. Possibly a bit too well, as it turns out.
Focused as he is on his task and without the weight of things to be concealed that he'd carried for years, Sunday perhaps forgets to keep one further block in place in keeping those thoughts isolated to himself alone. A hazard of multitasking since even as he's writing in elegant script to finish one sentence his mind's already thinking of the next - and the one after, and so on. It's A Lot of Thoughts all at once Sunday is sifting through, especially if someone else can overhear them. ]
ehehe excellent
But there are times when he doesn't think to do it by default; he hasn't had a need for so long, that when he manages to find time alone, why would he bother?
Well, that was the first mistake he made. While he fiddles with his phone, trying to figure out how to even type a cohesive sentence in a span of less than five minutes, he hears, buzzing in his head-
A ceaseless river of thoughts. A mind moving from one notion to the other, flowing in the way it does via contemplation. Henry scrunches his brows, uncertain that he'd have come across a mind that could brush up against his own so thoughtlessly in a way — indicative of someone else, perhaps, with powers not unlike his, because he can hear them so clearly.
First and foremost, though, he sends his own thought careening out, like a gunshot in the figurative air:]