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
Lucina glances back towards the direction of the cabins, as if she can see them again by just turning around ( she can't ). There's a little furrow of her brows by the time she turns around, facing G'raha once more. ]
I wasn't sure what to make of it at first. Now ... [ Her eyes flit over to Thomas again, who's apologizing profusely at another patron for making a drink ... without the drink. There's just ice in the cup and nothing else. ] I'm afraid I'm at even more of a loss. Do you think it's possible he's not aware of his current form?
no subject
I do.
[ He admits as he frowns lightly in thought. He brings one of his hands up, curling his forefinger at his chin as he considers. ]
Though with machines it might be hard to say how much might merely be programming rather than the presence of...self.
[ He's hesitant to say "soul", though the thought is there on the edge of his mind. ]
Would it be more or less unnerving to potential guests if the "help" were to see themselves as equally alive?
no subject
Here's the thing: these are definitely not humans, even if they had been acting as though they are. A strange mimicry she's still not sure what to make of, especially considering they're metal and not flesh. But they were — are, in Thomas' case — conscious. Maybe not breathing, not the way she does, but he spoke to her. Handed her a drink. If an android walks like a living being, and talks like a living being, then there's no reason for her to think he's not alive.
The problem, of course, is that the man she's speaking to now — who is very much living and breathing and presumably more aware of what an android is — is saying otherwise. Or at least, that's what she thinks he's saying. It takes her a moment before she can even entertain the possibility.
Then, the frown only grows before she quietly, carefully asks: ] ... Is he not? Alive, I mean.
no subject
After a thoughtful moment, G'raha admits with weak smile, ]
I may not be qualified to make that distinction.
[ But that's not because he is out of things to say. ]
What does not have a physical body may still be considered alive. What has a mechanical body, likewise, may be considered alive. [ He thinks of the Omicron and their unique, self-made evolution. He thinks of Otis, full of personality, of emotion, born of memory. ] I suppose a better way to put it would be ask if the memories Thomas claims to have are indeed his own, whether they be the result of clever programming or...someone else's.
[ The latter does not seem so far-fetched these days. ]
no subject
... So you mean to say that it's possible this body is impersonating Thomas, while unaware he is a... facsimile. [ How complicated. And disconcerting. Unfortunately, she doesn't get the chance to digest much more than that.
Thomas returns to their end of the bar, hands busy while he makes another drink ( it's not an edible shade of purple, godspeed to whoever gets this one ). You two look a little glum! Everything alright?
Oh! How about another question, hm? What's one place you've traveled that you never want to go back to? ]
no subject
To put it succinctly, yes.
[ Though before he can propose more details to the hypothesis, they are interrupted. G'raha straightens immediately, ears perking up at the question as he trades a glance at his companion. ]
Never?
[ Despite the fact he wants to continue his previous train of thought, G'raha does give the question a moment's consideration. Where would he not to go back? There are so many places he would like to re-explore, but... ]
Ah...I was gifted a surprise visit to an ancient metropolis once.
[ "Gifted" is certainly putting it kindly. ]
My accommodations were...wanting, to say the least.
[ Ahem. He turns once again to the blue-haired woman beside him with a curious expression, forcing a fast smile. ]
And you?
[ To entertain their bartender without drawing too much attention otherwise. ]
no subject
Fortunately, Lucina's (blissfully) unaware of the circumstances of said visit, and can only wonder what kind of accommodations he had. Or... the lack thereof, apparently. There's a curious glance over in his direction, questions forming that she won't voice just yet — prying feels... in appropriate.
The spotlight ends up back on her soon enough, anyway. ]
Ah, I would not go as far as to say I'd never want to visit again, but... a country at the north of the continent gets cold in the winter months. [ She thought she'd be okay, then she ended up having to stay there for longer than she expected. ] I was woefully unprepared for it.