JANUARY MINGLE

[etrayamods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: January 17th - January 23rd
WHERE: Etraya
WHAT: The arrival of newcomers and some new construction!
NOTES\WARNINGS:

⏵ arrival ⏴ Welcome to Etraya! Arrival goes as expected - characters awaken on hospital beds and are offered an explanation of their situation: that they have arrived in the city of Etraya, and they are their world's only hope. They are welcome to wander the hospital if they would like to - the upper floors are mostly empty, full of pristine hallways and numerous rooms filled with supplies, cots, and things one would expect from a relatively average 21st-century hospital. A coat rack is situated by the doors leading out of the hospital, covered in warm clothing that fits the new arrivals just right - whether it's to their preferred style or not is something else entirely. Some of them appear normal enough. Others? Well. Looks like someone was trying to improve on last month's designs. Outside the windows, the grass is covered in a couple of inches of loosely packed snow. We hope you enjoy your stay. ⏵ passion for fashion ⏴ As the newcomers find themselves leaving the hospital as per their usual arrival, they will find that not too far from it is a small boutique. Newly added, just as they have been, though they lack the context to know this. Companion bots will encourage them to go in and meet the particularly unique bot inside, dressed to the nines in line with the fashion the boutique itself is offering. While small, it's clearly been decorated to emphasize the loose era and taste of the particular fashion it's advertising. The building itself is also petite, and made to feel more personal rather than a commercial experience. It has a single dressing room, and outside of it has an area with mirrors where one might take in their lovely visage from nearly all angles. There is a little waiting area with seating in the front, for those who are not being molded through Theobold's vision, or simply waiting for whoever is. The tastes and aforementioned era of this little establishment is decidedly Victorian, with a bold splash of neon trimming, cog-like adornments, and other accessories that brighten up the otherwise neutral fabrics typically used in the style of dress. Theobold, as he has named himself and will not let anyone forget, has taken to a three-piece suit, a deep emerald in color, with a black vest, and matching black gloves. He will take it upon himself to judge each person's attire (which he will unabashedly hate), then restyle them into something more along his tastes (even if it takes him a while, he will find something you don't ruin). There are, of course, many different combinations to pick from, all hearkening to a very loud style of dress that seems as much neon as it is punk or steam. One might even name it steampunk with a splash of neon. Neon Steampunk? Something like that. An interesting combination to say the least, Theobold insists as much. This is, of course, not simply limited to newcomers, though they will likely be exposed to this boutique more quickly than the others. Any who come near the general area of the hospital (thus the boutique) will find themselves being encouraged by the other bots to come inside, and they will likewise be judged and restyled to Theobold's tastes—which are as bright as they are bold. He really doesn't take no for an answer, though he can't truly stop anyone from leaving any more than a pushy grandmother fussing over her grandchild's clothes might. He has obviously discovered his passion, why not indulge him? ⏵ trending or treading ⏴ After enjoying the privilege of being restyled by Theobold, he will also insist that you take the outfit for a spin around the city! See what people say, take note of how many looks you catch, how many eyes are on you. He wants to hear about it as well, clearly to validate his own artistry, and who can blame him? Does not every artist strive to hear a little bit of praise for their hard work? Do they not yearn for recognition from the public? Theobold may be a bot, but he is also an artist honing his craft! His boutique is not above critique, though he hopes the critique isn't too harsh... Should one indulge him, telling about what others thought, he will gladly gift the outfit to the wearer. A humble act of his endless generosity! Or if they fancy another outfit of their own taste from his boutique, then that will suffice as well. Even if it breaks his heart that you don't like the outfit. No, no. It's fine, really. It's perfectly okay. Everyone has their tastes, and yours just happens to stab him in his mechanical heart. He'll get over it. In time. Probably. ⏵ leaving tracks ⏴ Companion bots have taken to building train tracks, as well as what appears to be a train station, in the South Eastern island of Etraya. The area is, for the most part, blocked off from Etrayans. After all, it is a construction zone, and the companion bots are ever vigilant with safety. At least they try to be. However, if people wish to lend their aid in the construction, well, they won't necessarily stop them. However they will assure them that they are not in need of assistance, and might intermittently remind those especially helpful Etrayans of that fact. Those who wish to simply watch the construction may do so, but nothing especially interesting is going on beyond the mystery of what this these tracks and the station might be for. Besides a train, of course. After all, since when has there been any mention of a train? Asking the companion bots about it will yield little results. They won't be able to give any further details besides the obvious: when this is done, it will be for a train. It seems even they might not know the full extent of what this entails, or maybe they cannot say. Regardless the reason of their lack of explanation, it seems patience might be the key to the answer. ⏵ NOTES ⏴ Some may notice that in the area Gorgug's friend had gone exploring outside of the environmental bubble, there is a message written on a massive piece of fabric, which is tied to two large rebar poles. The message is in an alien language, but the earpiece will automatically translate it: DID YOU THINK YOU WERE THE ONLY ONES? On the bottom of the fabric are four vertical lines. Every Friday, a vertical line becomes crossed through with a horizontal one. For all questions relating to this log, please refer to the mod queries comment. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ. ⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Comments

[hexcope]

[He wordlessly takes the newest bundle of clothes, which is a good sign that he doesn't seem to be complaining right away. With the final bout in the dressing stall, he comes out in exactly the outfit Sevika gives him, the only modification Jayce makes being the long sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Everything clings a little tightly, but he’s used to that, since most of his normal clothes do.

He’s silent as he stands outside the stall, lips pursed like he doesn’t want to admit it, but…]

…It looks good.

[ascarylady]

Don't sound shocked. I wasn't entirely fucking around with you.

[ Only partly fucking around with him. Her gaze flits over him in the new set of clothing and even she'll give a nod. Yeah, that does look good. ]

Add a few tattoos and some dirt and you'd at least make people look twice before realizing you're from Piltover.

[hexcope]

Your way of saying I look cool, right?

[He recalls for a second how he's seen her stand around when she's clearly trying to look cool herself, and he mimics the pose- crossing his arms, leaning back against the wall with one of his feet propped up against the wall.]

[ascarylady]

"Cool"? What are you, Talis? Twelve?

[ Oh, no, he is not mimicking her. She can't even do that right now, she has one arm! ]

[hexcope]

[He tries to give a look like he's smugly appraising her like he knows she's done before, doing his best devil-may-care smirk. The expression doesn't suit him at all- the slight gap between his front teeth, the way he can't mask the sincere glint in his eyes, obviously pleased at how he's annoying her. He can't even hold it for long before whatever he was attempting to convey fades into something earnest.]

So what would you call it then?

[ascarylady]

[ Don't laugh. Sevika isn't going to laugh. Do not laugh. He is doing such a bad job at pretending to be her. He's too soft for it. Aw, fuck, fine, she'll at least give him that same smirk, only it's hers, and therefore it suits her perfectly. ]

I don't call it anything. It's just me.

[ Sevika being Sevika. ]

[hexcope]

[He knows he almost won her over there, but she managed to shut it down. Damn.]

The Sevika look. Just need a bottle of something horrible and a cigar to complete it.

[Which should be obvious is a joke.]

Guess I need to give my press tour with this on if I want to keep it.

[ascarylady]

You forgot the last part of completing my look: get an arm blown off.

[ Similarly a joke but also a reminder. Even with the stylish cape from the snazzy white and neon pink outfit she's sporting, it doesn't disguise the missing arm as much as her usual cape. ]

Although you might want to skip that. [ Two arms are nice to have. Anyway. ] You know, I really doubt the robot can stop you if you wanted to leave with it and anything else you wanted. These things are pushovers.

[ Sad Theobold noise in the background. Hello? He's still here? He's been here the whole time? Why is Sevika so mean to him? Poor fella... ]

[hexcope]

I know it’s just his programming, but it doesn’t feel right to upset him.

[He gives a glance toward where Theobold is there, upset and disgruntled at the same time. Jayce gives an apologetic wave, but otherwise goes back to ignoring him.]

And I think I’ll keep my arm where it is.

[A few thoughtful seconds later, and he puts his hands on his hips.]

I could make you a new one, you know. If you wanted it.

[ascarylady]

[ Theobold receives nothing but a roll of her eyes from Sevika. No apologies whatsoever from her, and that's how it'll remain. Damn thing needs to keep its "visions" of fashion to itself. Around this time, she's considering ditching the outfit for her old duds again, assuming Jayce was about to leave, but then...

He could what? Sevika stops as she's turning to head to the dressing rooms and looks back. Her suspicion is immediate and obvious. ]

Why? Do you even have experience with prosthetics?

[hexcope]

I built my mother prosthetic fingers when hers had to be amputated from frostbite. I know it’s not a whole arm, but I could draw up some blueprints.

[Hands behind his back now, defaulting to good boy pose because he lost a little bit of confidence when having to cite his (lack of) experience.]

[ascarylady]

Okay, but that doesn't answer the first question.

[ Why? Why offer to design her, someone he knows is a criminal, an arm? ]

[hexcope]

Because... you want two arms again?

[Is this a test.]

[ascarylady]

[ Jayce... ]

Sure, but what's in it for you?

[hexcope]

I get to build an arm?

[What's the problem here. Do you want the arm or not?]

[ascarylady]

[ No. There's a catch. Isn't there? ]

That's it? You get to build an arm?

[ Oh, she hates how confused she sounds right now. ]

[hexcope]

You don't have to say yes.

[Making him feel kind of stupid for offering!!]

[ascarylady]

I haven't said no, either.

[ Calm your tits, hammer man. ]

I'm only trying to figure out your angle. You build me an arm, and what? I owe you? You hold it over my head? People don't just offer something like that on a whim.

[ Unless you're Jayce Talis, who might, in fact, offer something like that on a whim. ]

[hexcope]

Would it make you feel better if I added terms?

[Because now he's feeling like adding some just so she stops acting so suspicious.]

[ascarylady]

No. It wouldn't.

[ Because she has a suspicion that he would try to be snarky about it, irritating her to no end. ]

If you're serious, then...

[ Should she? She doesn't care so much about pissing Jinx off than she is making Silco suspect her of being a traitor for simply accepting anything from a Piltover councilor. However, there's one last reason— ]

I admit I'd be curious to see what you have in mind, but can I think about it? I tested the whole "asking Aurora for shit" thing, and she gave me back my old chemtech arm. Only it's still broken, and I didn't think to request my tools back, too.

[ ...which means she can't try to get it working again just yet. Annoying. ]

Still, it'd be a shame to not at least try fixing it first. I've put a lot of work into it over the years.

[hexcope]

The one with the sword?

[He didn't forget.]

What kind of tools do you need? I've found some good quality ones here and there.

[He's been hoarding them. Because of course he has.]

I could help, but I don’t know anything about chemtech.

[Even trying to get a look at Jinx’s work with it went so catastrophically bad, he had to enlist Viktor to disarm it.]

[ascarylady]

Yeah, the one with the sword.

[ Heat blade, even, but she won't go into detail. The last thing she wants is for Jayce to think he can nerd out about mechanics and engineering with her. ]

You need a few specialized tools when working with the internals of a prosthetic like mine, although the outside casing is more standard. Unfortunately for me, the problem is definitely internal.

[hexcope]

How specialized?

[He's going to lean against a wall for real now, beginning to run through what he'd need to get this sort of project rolling.]

I'm going to ask for my forge. Custom-built tools shouldn't be too hard, if you know what they're supposed to look like. I'd need to see the arm too, of course.

[He's tapping his mouth with his fingers in thought.]

Glass can probably be repurposed from somewhere, shaped with forge heat... But for rebalancing of chemicals, I'd need to call in help.

[Viktor, obviously.]

[ascarylady]

[ Is this really happening? Jayce Talis, the golden boy of Piltover, is going to take a look at her poor, broken arm. Sevika still isn't sure how to feel about it. ]

I could draw out the plans for them. Just don't expect them to be perfect. I'm a mechanic at best, not an engineer.

[ She fixes what already exists and leaves inventing new things to others. ]

I could bring those and the arm by once you have your forge. [ Okay, she might want to see it. A little. ] Kind of pointless to do so beforehand. I'd say let me worry about any chemicals, though. I'll definitely know more about that part than you.

[ Especially since she'll have to request some shimmer from Aurora. It was inevitable. At some point, she would have to ask. May as well be for her arm. ]

rip

[hexcope]

As long as you get the important parts down. The style of the tip of the head on a screwdriver, for example.

[And really, as long as he sees the arm, he can figure out what tools might be needed from there. A bit like seeing half a puzzle and trying to recreate the missing pieces, but not impossible. Plus, he likes the little bit of challenge it would provide.]

Fine by me. Just run whatever tests you want with it out of my forge.

[And maybe he can watch, with a pen and notepad.]