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
no subject
Moreover, it is what he considers the most socially acceptable way to answer the question while also being truthful. Not that he believes Thomas would know, but G'raha Tia is not always the most convincing liar. No matter how long he spent perfecting the persona of the Crystal Exarch's villainy.
Her response is an understandable one. A difference in climate can be quite surprising. It immediately makes him think of Ishgard, trapped in an eternal winter. ]
I take it you used to more temperate climes?
no subject
They're both in the business of bending the truth for the question, anyhow. Propriety's going to win out over being completely honest, especially when honesty involves a centuries-old war and an apocalypse. Especially not with a very kind robot bartender who's very excited that they're answering his questions and making friends!
So. She takes a second to silently thank G'raha — whether or not he realizes — as the conversation moves to lighter topics. ] Yes. I had been warned appropriately, and my hosts were very accommodating, but I suppose I had been occupied with ... other matters. [ Like trying to sneak into a palace without getting caught. You know, normal things. ]
One can only hope I've learned my lesson since. [ If there are winters in Panorama, she will bundle up. ]
no subject
Being well-traveled is certainly a boon. Doubtlessly we can all benefit from your experiences.
[ And it is, indeed, difficult to disappoint Thomas with how hard he is trying. Especially as he triumphantly places a pair of suspiciously green drinks in front of them. ]
Ah...my thanks! Though, I do not believe we had placed an order--
It's a reward for playing along! Drink up and don't be afraid to ask for seconds.
no subject
... Ah. [ Lucina eyes the glasses warily before she puts on her best Polite Face™ — it'd be rude to not accept, after all — and she takes the drink in her hand. Pauses, as if doing so would satisfy Thomas and have him attend to ... literally anything else. It doesn't, of course. And she's not a coward, a simple oddly-colored drink surely won't kill her, which means there's no reason for her not to drink it.
She looks back up at G'raha. ] Oh, I was told early that there's a custom here that asks you to clink the glasses of your drinks against your companions. As a wish of luck, or a celebration of a job well done. [ So! She raises the glass. ] If you wouldn't mind?
no subject
Misery loves company and whatnot. The woman beside him seems to beholden to similar demands of decorum, for which G'raha offers a sympathetic smile. ]
A toast of sorts?
[ It's all in good fun, at least for now. His smile turns a tad warmer as he nods and raises his glass up to hers. ]
Then I shall gladly raise this glass to...good weather and lodgings for us both, Miss...?
no subject
That's neither here or there, though. She smiles. ] Lucina. It's a pleasure. And for you as well, ser—? [ Delaying the inevitable of tasting this drink for one more tag... ]
no subject
So, he turns back to this Lucina with a nod. A lovely name. ]
G'raha Tia. Simply G'raha, if you'd like.
[ He clinks the edge of his glass against Lucina's. ]
And the pleasure is mine.
[ Which is the last remotely charming thing he can say as he gently sips from said glass and then makes a horrified face. You can practically see the debuffs begin to stack. ]
no subject
But that's not this world. It is, unfortunately, just as rancid as it looks. Please understand she's doing her best to keep a perfectly polite face in these trying times, as unsuccessful as the whole endeavor is going. She carefully sets the drink back down on the counter, licking her lips as she tries to find the right words. None come. She licks her lips again. ]
... I see. [ Eventually. She really wants to ask for a glass of water, but she can't imagine that going well either. ] Well. [ Yeah. She clears her throat. ] ... Perhaps it's time for us to. Ah. Attend to matters elsewhere.
no subject
Y-Yes...
[ G'raha agrees, forcing a smile despite a strained face. ]
I do think I must excuse myself. It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Lucina. I pray that our next toast is...even more enjoyable.