phantasmalrift | INTRO LOG

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:]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What is it? What's happened?

[...she asks, hugging her. She literally just woke up she has no idea what's going on]

You're alive. [Sniff. Her voice starts lowering down to its usual monotone.] I thought... I'm glad.

I... am glad that you are alive as well, Mai.

[Even if she has no idea why you woke her up to tell her this???]

...where are we?

Farm.

[Mai pulls back and reluctantly lets go.]

I found you passed out. So... I thought.

How did...

[...oh.]

My apologies. I should have heeded Heart's advice.

Tired? Do you have a room.

Yes, room forty-one. I left some of my things there.

[No sense in risking losing that stupid chess piece.]

It seems I underestimated how tired I was.

[Mai gets to her feet and offers a hand.]

Come. Rest.

[She takes it, pulling herself up as well.]

Thank you.

...I must have frightened you. My apologies.

[Mai gives a tiny nod but squeezes Arianna's hand.]

I'm glad. That you're safe.

[Arianna's hand squeezes back! OOOH MYSTERIOUS or not.

She's quiet for a moment.]

...I sometimes worry when I awaken and realize it is a Friday morning.

...[She nods again, looking at her sadly.]

Friday afternoon. I think, "I have to go and meet the new people." In restaurants. Or the beach. At home... We don't have a beach.

Edited 2018-05-03 04:17 (UTC)

[Arianna considers this for a moment.]

From what I understand, we may have new people to meet after all.

A lot of strangers. ...They seem nice. Mostly. What do you think.

I like them well enough. So far, everyone has been very friendly.

And concerned. Are we concerning?

[...]

I suppose we must be.

...Sorry.

[She starts to gently lead Arianna back to the building.]

I'll try. To be more friendly. Less concerning.

[Not that she has any idea how to do this.]