[open]

[tinflower]

WHO: gorgug thistlespring & you!
WHEN: late last month and first half of this month!
WHERE: around etraya, and even outside it!
WHAT: bots, music, available for plotting
NOTES\WARNINGS:

1; outside the bubble

[ There aren't many reasons to lurk around the border between Etraya and outside. There isn't a lot to see, except for the very odd tree, a large rock here and there, and also a green guy from time to time wearing a tin can on his head.

--wait now.

It's not really a tin can, but it might as well be. Close to a welders' mask, a particular half-orc takes Aurora-approved trips outside the barrier that keeps everyone safe, to do maintenance on those very innocuous rocks spaced out around different parts outside. Sometimes he has them flipped over, cross-legged and inspecting whatever the interior is inside; or maybe, he's even setting up a new one, and the 'boulder' can be seen standing on otherwise hidden legs, scuttling like a lobster, while Gorgug watches. If it has a head, it can't be seen.

And Gorgug, he doesn't know if he's being seen from the inside. But then, it's pretty weird to be outside, and maybe he will catch if he's being watched.

You know, unless someone wants to call out the weird, 6'7" lanky figure just hanging out around outside. ]

2; sneaky bot training

[ Other times, Gorgug is dealing with his projects inside Etraya. One such project is training his sneaky chameleon by going to different parts of Etraya with the 1 foot bot.

Most of the time, it's invisible, and it doesn't thrum with motor noise like an electronic creation. But perhaps your character has a sense for magic or unseen beings, or just feels like something is off in that cereal aisle or the Kwik Trip, or they heard something scuttling under their table inside the many cafes.

Or it could even be that you were moving through Nova City, filled as it is with cats, but there seems to be some other presence... a little scurrying thing, usually invisible, but sometimes coming out of invisibility to let it recharge that setting. But coming out at the wrong time, and a glint of something small but animal-shaped catches your attention. Thinking it's being sneaky behind a wall or trash can, but is it? ]

3; music/dance studio

[ Not too far from the hospital is a large boat--a building in the shape of a boat, to be exact, and titled 'the MAXIMUM' on the map on the earpiece. It's probably a weird enough sight whether you know what it is or not, worth checking out, or maybe even making use of its facilities inside: dance rooms on the first floor, an unmanned bar, and music rooms on the second.

And up on the second floor, in the open practice room, is sometimes Gorgug. Some days, he's practising on the drums; others, he's going through the music library available from consoles in the wall, which can be found in a few of the different rooms to play music.

He likes his rock, he likes his emo, and he lets the music play for the most part, a notepad on his knee as he lets it play. Head bopping, his expression inquisitive, thoughtful. Truly, listening to music is serious.

The problem is, the music is set to shuffle at random, and when Gorgug doesn't close the door to the room properly, sometimes the choices sure are choices.

(In Gorgug's defence, he is too confused to change the tracks immediately. What is this.) ]

4; wildcard

[ Want to investigate the set of buildings surrounded by a large, golden fence? There might be the sound of quacking coming from the inside, or the sight through the left open gate of Gorgug chasing after a robotic duck in a vest and propeller hat (a sad sight, as he keeps going "Noooo, stop running, come onnn", and doesn't actually speed up to catch it; or he can be found at the junkyard, making a trip out with his blue van to check for any new and useful junk.

Feel free to message me privately if you would like to make plans! ]

Comments

2

[rudelanguage]

[why, yes. yes Knife can perceive magic. they do it better with this funny hexed planchette they've got out, clutched in Antigone's small hand while the other's drawing with chalk on some concrete.

there's purpose to this besides staving off thinking and madness, honest! but...yeah it started as a means to staving off the thinking and risk of madness. whatever. necessity breeds innovation! and anyway what the FUCK was THAT.

yards away, she has a series of tents and things built up in and around a cluster of trees, and among them there are some tripwires and woven installations with dangling buttons and broken glass to signal trespassers, and it's that tinkling alert that has her swiveling her focus to peer through the planchette lens back in the direction of her tents and sees...

a rat?

no, that's a bug.

no, dumbass, it's a fucking lizard! it's gonna get into her stash!

growling, Antigone picks up a steak knife she'd had laying nearby and chucks it in the bot's direction.]

Piss off!!

[tinflower]

[ T-the bot's just a little guy!!! It's just a little guy trying its best!!!

Which means jumping back behind the tent it poked its head around before, now in high alert. Oh no, oh no, it's gotta hide! That means not staying behind this tent, but running--with much better speed than an actual chameleon, who don't run for anyone--across to one of the other tents. It ends up along one side, listening for footsteps, eyes searching its environment as it activates its camouflage.

It should just go... but it really wants one of those hanging buttons it saw as a prize, to show its master it did a good job! If it gets out alive... g-gulp!

Maybe the knife thrower already forgot it exists in 2 seconds... ]

[rudelanguage]

[little guy's trying it's best to get GOT!!

Antigone growls, scowling at where the knife landed, culprit-less, and gets to her feet to skulk over. she picks up the weapon and squints around, ears working to try and listen for a giveaway noise.

Someone's fucking with me, Knife thinks, getting anxious.]

If you don't come out, this is gonna go realllllly badly for you. Only warning.

1

[hyphanated]

[There aren't many reasons to lurk around Etraya's border, but there's also just as few reasons not to, so it was just a matter of time before An Zhe's curiosity brought him out here.

He...wasn't quite expecting to see rock lobsters out here though. Not that he's seen lobsters before. Maybe it's some new kind of creature? He's just gonna silently sit here and watch with great fascination from the other side of the barrier.]

[tinflower]

[ Behold the rock lobster scuttling on such small legs compared to its upper body. Rock lobster, just having a good time going around in circles--

before it hops, and turns to face An Zhe. ...without a face, that is, and it probably doesn't look like it's noticed An Zhe at all, and has just stopped. But Gorgug's device vibrates with an alert just as the bot stops, and he--with his weird welder helmet on--turns to his rectangular tablet-like screen to see... a guy. A little guy. And the feed is coming from the bot in front of him.

...

Gorgug looks back at the barrier, and finally sees them. Oh.

...

He gives one thumbs up. ]

[hyphanated]

[It's not difficult to hold a staring contest with an eyeless rock lobster, considering his natural form doesn't have eyes either. Gorgug's thumbs up does catch his attention though, and after a moment's pause, he returns the motion.

Does An Zhe know what a thumbs up is? Meh. Is Gorgug close enough to hear him? He's pretty soft-spoken, so he won't bother trying. He does sort of motion at the rock with his head though, as if to say, What is this?]

1

[leastdramatic]

[Jason has gotten into the habit going around Etraya while riding his motorcycle. Sure, it’s a way to survey for anything new or interesting but it’s also a way for Jason to relax or clear his head.

So he sometimes rides near the border even though he knows it’s unlikely an exit will open there. This time though, it’s hard to miss the tall, lanky green half-orc. Who’s… on the other side of the border?]

Gorgug?

[Jason’s wearing his motorcycle helmet and has his visor down but his confused tone still comes through]

[tinflower]

[ There aren't many green-skinned people around. And despite the welding mask covering Gorgug's face, he's got his hoodie tied around his waist for once, baring the skin of his arms, save for some gadgets strapped around his wrists and the gloves he usually wears.

And he's got a "rock in his arms", walking slow and carefully to get to his destination today. Or so when Jason catches him, who sounds like background noise than an actual name. Still, it gets Gorgug to stop, to turn his head.

Oh, uh, uhh- wait, doesn't he know that bike?

...

He puts a hand out towards the barrier in a 'wait' gesture (difficult, when you're carrying a lump of a bot), and then, give him ten seconds, and Jason's earpiece will go off. ]

Hey, uhhhh- are you looking at me right now?

[ His voice sounds exactly like it would trapped inside a weird helmet. ]

[leastdramatic]

[Jason nods, still staring at Gorgug]

Yeah. Didn't think I'd see someone on the other side. What're you doing?

2

[shadowsincryo]

Is someone there? [Being given brand new senses last mission has been a bit of a learning experience. At six foot six, Kaeya as a dragon pauses in mid-step and stops. He has been wandering the various parts of Etraya to train his senses to filter out what should be white noise.

His tail sways and he turns in a slow circle. Something glinted. He saw it. More over, he feels something off. He had to do this with elemental sight when he first got it.

Compared to last time they had a chat he does look a bit battered. As if he fought in some kind of battle and came out the other side.
Mostly fine.]

[tinflower]

[ Large thing. Master knows that large thing, the bot recognises. Large thing is a friend, a new form, its updated memory tells it--master always puts his friends faces into its memory. But even getting to know master's friends are scary, and especially when they're so big and could squish it even if it enlarged its size. Oh no, what does it do, what does it do?

Kaeya calls out, but the chameleon--in a very un-chameleon-like way--manages to scramble back out of sight, in a way more similar to different kind of lizards. Stuck, indecisive, what it does decide to do is to ping its master to open visual communications, to try and send a video feed.

...

...unfortunately, said master is currently in his workshop, headphones going, oblivious to the call trying to be made.

Chameleon bot is alone.

Oh no.

The bot keeps still, pressed near to the wall, listening and with its eyes darting in all directions, attempting to listen to if the large thing will approach. How is it meant to hide from a large thing? Go really small? Maybe it won't have to if tries camoflauging real nicely...! ]

[shadowsincryo]

[Hm. This is something he should probably check in with Gorgug about. He had mentioned defenses and well. Fresh from having more dumped into his mind, he has thoughts of budgets and expenses. He fires off a quick text to Gorgug.]

Gorgug, do you have a minute? I'm in Nova city and something feels off. I can still feel it right now. But I can't tell what it is.

3

[hasitsthorns]

[ After being given permission by Fabian, Rosie has taken to entering The Maximum like she would have Morgana Manor: unannounced. Although she does give a loud 'Heyo' to indicate she's here, she won't worry if someone actually hears it or not.

She's not here for a workout but she might seemed dressed like it in short nylon shorts with a saying on them. Her tank top is a simple, plain white with spaghetti straps while her hair is tied up in a high ponytail. A few stray curls have escaped thanks to the heat and humidity of summer, but she tried her best.

She is made for much colder climates, okay, and understands the simulation of seasons is necessary to some degree but why summer. It also doesn't help that she's lugging around a large acoustic guitar and case right now, but- Shoosh! It was necessary! After hearing the sound of music, she immediately beelines up that direction.

She reaches the room as a new, odd song begins to play. ] Huh, [ is all she says about it though. ]

Hope I'm not interrupting anything? [ He did look pretty focused. ]

[tinflower]

[ You know when a song dunks you...

honestly, Gorgug isn't sure if he dislikes it or not. He's definitely got a squint going on, but he's tipping his head from side to side now and then, but mainly? His attention is on the lyrics. This is a song about a mouse? ... he hopes Fabian isn't hearing this somehow.

Gorgug's focus redirects, however, when Rosie speaks up; who he hadn't noticed come in, but he looks other, some momentary surprise until he looks back to the music console. ]

No-- I'm trying to hear what the singer's saying in the chorus? [ ... ] I think she's calling herself the big cheese.

[ Obviously. Clearly! ]

[hasitsthorns]

[ That sure is a Thoughtful Squint. She lets him think (and feel) about it before he finally acknowledges her. ]

And an albatross? [ she adds, a tilt of her own head at that particular line. ] Do they eat mice, maybe? That'd be one way to keep on top.

3;

[laserguy]

[So, of course Scott had to come and see Gorgug's music studio after their conversation on the other Earth. Sure they managed to have some fun there, but he wants to see the place that he's made for himself. Honestly, the exterior really is cool and the mutant seems a little pleased as he steps inside, looking around the place for the half-orc.

And it's not too hard to find him, hearing the beat of music playing from the second floor. He's led by it, the teen walking up and getting closer and also now fully hearing the music that's being played and--]

Dude, what are you even listening to?

[Is that a chicken singing??????]

[tinflower]

[ This should be an embarrassing situation to be caught in by the Guy Who Once Called Him A Genius (Gorgug has never forgotten). But he's probably giving Scott the same look he's giving him back, which is: incredulous. ]

Earth music. [ This is Earth's representative, Scott. And Gorgug says, in somewhat disbelief: ] I downloaded so much weird shit.

[ Dude. Why is the internet filled with this? Why is Earth like this? ]

1

[backtostart]

[ Of course Setsu wants to call out to the weird, lanky guy hanging out outside the barrier—how many extremely tall, green men can there be here?

Though, Fabian didn't mention that he traveled outside the barrier... And is the "stuff" he makes robots?

To Setsu's credit, they wait until the rock safely scuttles along before waving their hand and calling out to him. ]

Hey! Gorgug, right...?

[ If it is him, there should have been a more reasonable opportunity to encounter him than when he was outside the barrier and Setsu was examining the perimeter. But that wasn't how things worked out, so now Gorgug's day is interrupted by some short, travel-dusty, blond person waving him down from inside the barrier and only belatedly realizing that he's probably working now. ]

...sorry. Is this a bad time?

[tinflower]

[ If there's one way to test his security bot is doing its job, its when Gorgug gets a buzz from the device on his wrist from the scuttling rock no longer scuttling, and instead directing... not a face, but a portion of its rocky exterior in Setsu's direction. Gorgug is oblivious of the new company until then, face mask-slash-helmet looking down at the buzz of his wrist piece, but also immediately redirecting upon hearing a voice--sorta vaguely through his protection, but he does move up closer to the barrier.

The waving down is an extra benefit, and seems to be good that he's moving over? Oh?

Once he stands at full height, Gorgug cocks his head at the figure, not recognising who he's looking at. Is this a bad time? Does this look like a bad time? That takes him a moment to consider. ]

...no? [ Is that the right answer? Gorgug doesn't sound very sure in his response, trying to figure out why they're asking, until: ] I'm not exiled. I'm meant to be here.

[ His voice is tinny with the face covering on, but it can be heard. ]

3

[reincarnesiac]

( Having been in the hospital extremely recently, Alex is... free now. There's a few apologies she wants to give to people she worried, and so ends up trying to track Gorgug down by his energy signal. It's a gentler exercise than she thinks anyone will understand: so much of it is meditative, and so she finds herself walking into a building she's studied from the outside before without coming inside.

She looks around a bit as she walks inside: dance rooms? The bar is self-explanatory. Gorgug's not on that level, however, and a quick check with her eyes closed indicates up. Like a thin but bright thread in her mind's eye.

Opening her eyes again, she heads up the stairs, music pouring out of a room down the way. She doesn't recognize the sound, and for a moment, doesn't understand the words. But they start to penetrate as she reaches the door and leans inside, knocking on the door frame. )

What does the fox say?

[tinflower]

[ Gorgug, from Alex's viewpoint, is a sight. His hands are on his head, not covering his ears, though he's holding one of his earpieces out in an attempt to understand without the auto-translator, like this might achieve some better effect.

It hasn't, but the intense stare in one spot of the room as he finds his eyes unnecessary. Sight will not help him, as it's not a question of what the fox sees.

Gorgug's head whips his face in Alex's direction when she speaks. A look of utter confusion meets her. ]

I don't know. I don't get Earth people...!

[ Why are they so... like this!!

He's never trusting torrents again! ]

2

[abit_ofboth]

[It's a fairly ordinary day for Loki. He's on his way out to get some groceries, another plan to try an new recipe for Hob (or perhaps it is more accurate to say for himself which he will inflict on Hob, but his partner so far seems to really like his cooking), when he stops by a cafe to have a tea and a croissant before starting his shopping.

It's about mid-morning and he's enjoying a nice earl grey when he thinks catches something out of the corner of his eye. Frowning, he glances over, but sees nothing. That doesn't mean it isn't there though. Loki is very attuned to all kinds of magic, but Etraya feels generally magical to him, so that doesn't necessarily stand out to him, but he would swear something was hiding in the shadows not two feet from his table.

Acting casual, he conjures up a book to read while taking another sip of his tea while really watching the area. Whatever it is, it will move again. Of that he is certain. He just needs whatever it is to think he's not paying attention.]

[tinflower]

[ Is Loki a premeditated target? No. But Gorgug is in this café with his bot for their intended purpose today.

Gorgug is keeping his head down, hoodie over his head, slouched--as if he would be inconspicuous in this environment, with his plant of treats and his hot chocolate. But where he is and is doing doesn't matter: it's about getting his bot to move without detection around people, close to them. How easy does it get away with it? Does it?

This is the scary test laid out for the bot made to do this. It uses its current place to stay camouflaged with its background, still as anything. There's magic in the seated individual with them, that much they can gather from their sensors, and so they know they have to be careful about what they do. With a gem brain, they could give too much away.

They wait for Loki to appear the most absorbed in his book, time meaning nothing for the bot, and then scuttle to the closest table near to Loki, waiting by the legs of the chair. Watching his feet, seeing if they're still or move. All he has to do is go in circles around them and then move out without getting caught.

T-that's not too hard, right? That's not hard! Oh, but they don't want to be kicked... gulp!

Slowly, ever so slowly, it will start to get closer to Loki's table...! ]

wildcard baby!!!!!!!

[maximumlegend]

Gorgug, what is this racket going on out here?

[ Fabian isn't coming from outside of the fence to check out all the quacking. No, considering he's coming from the boat-slash-house inside of it, it's likely that he could hear the robot and Gorgug's sad chasing even from inside there. It looks like it even interrupted Fabian in the middle of getting ready, since he doesn't even have his hair done yet - it's just hanging down rather than the way he usually pulls it up, having grown a little longer from their stay in this place and the lack of nice hairdressers here.

He doesn't even move to help. Yet, anyway. While Fabian is still trying to figure out what's going on out here, he's just standing on the front steps of the manor, his hands against his sides as he looks at The Situation. ]

wildcard!!!!

[tinflower]

[ What is going on, Fabian asks?

The saddest scene.

Behold, the sight of one metallic duck, rather cartoonish in its design, but a duck nevertheless. It has no real speed as it runs on rather decently, flapping its wings, a nice vest on that clashes completely with its spinner hat. It has one 'quack' sound, and it is sure spamming it as it runs along the front lawn of the manor.

With Gorgug following on it, not running as fast as he obviously could, but hoping that his cries will work. Any second now. ]

Noooo, come onnnn! Get back here, you stupid duck! Get here! No!

[ Any second now. But Gorgug does hear Fabian, stops with his head snapping in his direction. ]

The duck's loose! The duck is loose!

[ QUACK QUAAACCCKKK!!!! ]