INTRO LOG - APRIL/MAY 18

[phantasmods]

Eventually, Charm starts herding people towards the parked exploratory drone, a few at a time, mostly people who have finished their noodles or other business. "It's almost nightfall at the Station," he says, "and with this many new arrivals, we're going to have to make multiple trips."

(For those who might ask, he also explains that they've chosen not to stabilize the noodle shop for the time being, as the other androids will almost certainly want to speak to Viella, and have no other way of doing so, due to the fact that they don't dream. Aside from that small region, the Fissure is largely stable.)

It in fact takes four trips total to get everyone to the Station. Those of you who don't fall asleep on the way there - the minute you hit stable reality, the inability to sleep vanishes, and most will be hit with a wave of exhaustion - will find that the Station Annex, a building off to the side of the main station, has been finished, at least outwardly.

By the time the first group arrives, the sun is dipping towards the horizon; by the time the last gets there, it's set, leaving a few pink-tinted clouds in the sky. The drones drop everyone off (and that is everyone, even though of you who have fallen asleep) on the observation deck, where those of you who didn't get your fill of noodles will find several buffet-style tables set up with...

...Pizza? Yeah, pizza, in damn near every variety you can think of, including a few things that only loosely fall under the heading of "pizza." Half a table is full of calzones of various varieties; another significant chunk is things that are just desserts in the general shape of pizza, including a couple of iced cinnamon pastries, a pair of brightly-colored "pizzas" made of canned fruit over cream cheese, and a two-layer cake that's just decorated to look like a pizza, with strawberry jam and round slices of strawberry 'pepperoni' sandwiching yellow icing. Finally, the last third of the third table is just three baskets of breadsticks with varying amounts of cheese and garlic, accompanied by two turrens of dipping sauce (one white, one red) and a tower of little plastic dipping cups.

(Those who opt to head directly to bed will find that the banquet gets packed up and moved back to the kitchens around midnight, though it stays warm under a stasis enchantment for roughly the next day before someone packs the remainder into the fridge.)

In the common room, meanwhile, the usual boxes of clothes and trading post sign are set up. Unclaimed rooms can be claimed by writing your name in on a list set up next to the boxes, on what seems to be a broken music stand with a large ROOMS AVAILABLE sign hanging from it. There is also a rather hastily assembled, hand-poked Braille version of the sheet (with the paper punched through in one or two places).

Those who go looking will find that the androids are somewhat more absent than they usually are after an expedition; save obviously for Charm, and Strange who arrives on the deck as usual not long after, you'll have to go looking. Considering the amount of the station you have available, they could be just about anywhere... But perhaps it'd be worth checking over in that new building...?

[Mod note: Strange is the only NPC with a top-level this round, but others may respond to your top-levels, especially in the Annex areas! Consider it a fun surprise. c:]

Comments

[myocordial]

[Not requiring sleep is pretty useful sometimes; despite being exhausted in his own way, Heart doesn't have any need to rest. Maybe it'd be better for him if he did, but listen, there's no danger he'll pass out or anything. Which is good, because despite being... cautiously optimistic about those present here, the feeling of suspicion is hard to shake.

So mostly, Heart can be spotted sort of off to the side on the observation deck, by himself. It might seem like he's just people watching, but then... it seems a little too tense for that. Especially when you realize he makes sure to keep an eye on the other Airlocked Champions. He does stop to look at the food for a moment, though he doesn't eat anything.

It's only a while later, as he's taken a seat, that it becomes very visibly obvious that he's tired. Especially considering the way he seems to be zoning out right now, a big change from how alert he's been so far.]

later

[founderinglight]

[Heart probably noticed Izunia crashed out in the corner of the deck some time ago. Long after most of the group is gone, he stirs and sits up, yawning and looking around.

...Cue an awkward, sleepy wave. Hey, Heart, hope you aren't waiting around to punch him because not today, dude, he's too tired.]

[myocordial]

[Heart sighs deeply as Izunia stirs, and at first deliberately looks the other way, as if deciding to ignore him. But that wasn't really gonna happen.]

Isn't that what beds are for?

[founderinglight]

Too tired.

[Are you implying that chairs are not for that, Heart?

Izunia just summons a cup of coffee to his hands out of habit, looks at it for a moment, and then dismisses it in favor of a different mug.]

[myocordial]

Oh, well, if you're that tired I can of course understand why you'd want to avoid a bed.

[...He really can't turn the sass off, at all. As Izunia summons that mug, he does raise an eyebrow briefly, but just shakes his head a little.]

[founderinglight]

[It's honestly whatever? He's too tired to deal with sass right now.]

Too far. This was closer.

[myocordial]

Hm.

[He's almost tempted to just leave it at that and go back to pretending Izunia isn't there, because let's face it, he's tired as well. Instead...]

...So how did things go with you two, anyway?

[founderinglight]

[Just. Points at his bruised to fuck jaw for right now before taking a chug out of his mug.]

[myocordial]

[Well, that gets a smile.]

Oh, that's a good hit he got on you! I was hoping that was his work.

Decided to just take that one, did you?

observation deck

[nojohnyouare]

[Mai, with two slices of pizza and a large bag of peas, nods in greeting.]

It's strange. They care.

[myocordial]

[He nods in return. So many fellow champions...]

Hm, it does appear so. I daresay they seem outright pleasant. [And god knows he'd immediately taken a shine to the androids.] It's quite a change, isn't it? No demands, no rules...

[nojohnyouare]

It's like... Not playing the game, just skipping to dead. No PIP. Exploring. People in charge... kind, but with hands tied. ...Though less angry than Rad. Did you ever meet her.

[myocordial]

No, I don't think I ever had the opportunity. But... you're right, it is like that, isn't it? Although my own experience with that is limited, considering things started falling apart pretty quickly by the time I arrived.

[Thanks to the void and all.]

Either way... I'll gladly take this over the alternative.

[nojohnyouare]

Mm. For now. ...Our old interns... Good people. You should talk to them. When we're home again.

[myocordial]

I might just, yes. When we're back. Which will hopefully be soon, because I think I've more than had my fill of being taken to places against my will.

[nojohnyouare]

[Mai nods in agreement.] Even if this is nice. ...Entrance exams.

[myocordial]

Ah... You have those waiting, do you? That's some inconvenient timing.

food is a location now

[daughterofthemark]

[Arianna on the other hand is one of those pesky needs-to-sleep types. She's pulled all-nighters before, but this has been considerably More than that, and it's not surprising that her lack of sleep is finally catching up with her.

So that's why she doesn't immediately turn around and great Heart when he comes near.

It's also why she's standing in front of a ham and pineapple pizza, in a cycle of staring at it for a moment, starting to wobble a bit, catching herself, and staring again.]

[myocordial]

[Princess spotted.

The lack of a greeting would've been enough of a tip-off by itself, because it's Arianna, but then seeing her state as well... Heart shakes his head lightly and walks up to her, putting his hands on her shoulders to steady her.]

I think that's enough of that. You're about at your limit, aren't you?

[daughterofthemark]

Hm?

[Arianna blinks, then turns to look at him.]

...Heart.

[...]

My apologies. Could you repeat the question?

[myocordial]

...No need, that's answer enough.

[Welp.]

I think it's about time you get some rest. You don't want to faint and collapse into the pizza.

[daughterofthemark]

I... I am fine! It is only... the sun only just...

[Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn.]

[myocordial]

Ah, yes, now you've convinced me. You're the very picture of energy.

[Arianna, hon.]

[daughterofthemark]

This is your fault. You... you spoke of sleep.

[She frowns.]

Did you?

[myocordial]

I mentioned rest, which you are going to go get, right now.

You humans do need that to live, you know.