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.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thediadem) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
diademlogs2025-06-08 10:11 am
no subject
[ It doesn’t take him terribly long to change. He’s quick about it, not bothering to check the mirror until he’s mostly dressed, and the starburst of scar tissue marring his torso is covered by orange floral print. There are some things he simply would rather not confront.
He pokes back out of the washroom soon enough, now fully dressed, sunglasses pushed up to rest atop his head. ]
Take what you like. I’ve no use for it.
no subject
[Verso doubts that's it. Emet-Selch might be a fine swimmer, for all he knows; he's kidding.
When Verso emerges from the closet, it's apparent he's found a pair of shorts, an airy linen shirt, and... that retro swimsuit. Striped, just like in canon.]
Oh, you're looking very... bright.
no subject
If you are so enthused, I will happily throw you into the nearest body of water myself. But I will not be joining you.
[ Don’t ask him again!!! ]
Yes, I am aware. I am rather short on things that actually fit. [ He’s too damn tall! ] This seemed to be the least offensive thing I could find.
Have you any other criticisms to offer?
no subject
Yes, you are taller than most. [Verso, who is used to being the tallest in the room, is still a shortie compared to him.] But that wasn't a criticism. It's not a bad look — certainly different than what I'm used to seeing you wear.
[You know, monk-core. Verso strides next to him and past, into the washroom. His turn to change. No peeking.]
Is everyone from your world so tall, though?
no subject
[ Which has… definitely happened more than a few times. It was really starting to wear on his patience.
He steps aside to let Verso into the washroom, continuing to idly poke through forgotten luggage with no real goal in mind. He does find a beach bag to shove his things into. ]
No. Some are taller. Others only come up to my knees, if that.
no subject
Well, speaking of his fit. He eventually emerges.]
All types of races where you're from, then?
[He is wearing that striped one-piece swimsuit. You know the one. He's also wearing an airy, loose linin button-up, currently unbuttoned. And flip flops.
Someone's ready for a swim.]
no subject
Quite a few. From the mighty dragon to the diminutive lalafell, and all else in between.
[ It wasn’t always that way, but where Emet-Selch came here from and where he originated are two very different beasts.
Verso’s outfit earns him a once over and little else. They are all attempting to beat the heat, and Verso’s selection of wardrobe is less visually offensive than his own. ]
Found something for swimming after all, I see.
no subject
He doesn't ask. No shade to falafels, but dragons will be the mention that truly arches a brow from Verso.]
You have actual dragons?
[He's going to walk over and fetch a beach bag; something to fold his Expedition uniform into. The vibes are so clashing.]
And yes, I'm not going to waste the opportunity. When's the next chance I'll get? For an actual clean pool to swim in. You should consider it, too, just because of that.
[If not just swimming, then just... enjoying the free food and drinks.]
no subject
Aye. Do you not?
[ Asked so casually, like it’s just expected of other stars to have dragons, even though he well knows that some don’t. Most don’t. ]
I would sooner pay a visit to the bar than go swimming, if it is all the same to you.
no subject
Not in the traditional sense. There was a large, flying serpent Nevron that might be the closest thing — it'll kill anyone who gets even remotely near it. So, dragon-like in violent tendencies, anyway.
[He shrugs and slings his beach bag over his shoulder.]
I'd never turn down drinks, either. Want to grab one together first?
no subject
[ The word is a new one to him, though it’s clear that Verso obviously understands what a dragon is. ]
You are extremely determined to tag along. [ Tch. ] Fine, if you must.
[ TO THE BAR. ]
no subject
[He smiles at that like it's a little inside joke. ([Redacted] would kill him for it.) But Verso says it all lightly enough, so clearly(?) it's not that big of a deal(????).]
What? Is my company that unwanted?
[TO THE BAR. The ever-diligent android Thomas awaits them, though the bartender will wait for them to be proper seated before plying them any real attention.]
no subject
Just because I gave you a ride the one time– [ and fought off a bunch of raiders together, and- ] –that does not make us friends. I find you tolerable at best, so do try not to push your luck.
[ Which is maybe a compliment?? Take it as one, Verso. ]
no subject
[Yeah. He called you friend, anyway, so deal with it!
Anyway! He takes a seat at the bar. Thomas sidles up, eager as ever.
Good evening, friends! What can I get for you?]
Oh, give me your best wine; surprise me if you have to. What about you, Monsieur Emet-Selch?
no subject
[ Emet comes with built-in auto-translate so he just kind of narrows his eyes at Verso, his usual sour expression becoming more so for a second. Call him what you want, French man. He doesn’t have to agree!!
He gives a dismissive wave of his hand. ]
Wine will suffice.
[ And hopefully it’s not too much for the bartender, who scurries off to fetch it. What will he bring back? Who knows! ]
no subject
[(This if, of course, a lie. Verso rarely thinks anything kind about himself these days, but it certainly takes no effort to say that he does.)]
Though I guess charm doesn't mean much to someone digging their heels in against it from the start. Oh, eh bien, I can't hold it against a fellow wine enthusiast.
[Cue Thomas, who soon returns to the bar, offering them both wine glasses. Good start! But then, unfortunately, he cracks open two cans of... something interesting and begins pouring.]
...Er.
[The best the house has to offer! he chirps, happily.]
no subject
I somehow sincerely doubt that.
[ A sideways glance at Verso. ]
The fellow may be malfunctioning.
no subject
[And yet Verso finds curiosity nagging at him despite it all, and he can't help himself: before trying to fix the problem, he wants to know exactly what's been poured into their glasses, and he grabs his by the stem and takes an experimental sip.
Oh, the face he makes. So scrunched up. So displeased.]
Eugh, that's... Ah. Try it, Monsieur. What an acquired taste.
no subject
[ Unlike some people, he’s not going to torture himself with something strange and sour. ]
You are free to continue to torture yourself if you like.