[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

[tinflower]

[ Can he do all that? It's a good thing they keep talking, since Gorgug is trying to work all that out himself. In theory he could, and he wonders if he might be able to cheat with his new powers, if he got his hands on a gun. But there's a part of him that feels put off by the thought of duplicating a weapon that he's never made himself--like it's cheating, and doesn't give him that sense of achievement that comes from learning, from making.

The other stuff? That's fine, feels more achievable. But making a gun... ]

I... I can try and make something. [ It's less confident than before, but! ] I know some things about hiding signals and energy readings, but a gun is-- I've never done a gun before, but, I know how they work. I make bullets for my friends. [ 'She's a good shot'--so at least that implies that Alex does use a gun. ]

I'll see what I can make with what I have. [ He looks back, up at the sky above, lingering for a few seconds before returning to Setsu. ]

Focusing on signals would be easier... but I can work something out with Alex. I'll talk to her about it.

[backtostart]

[ That answers Setsu's unspoken question of where they would get ammo if they even had a gun. Internally, they kick themself for not finding the means to buy one on Earth.

Back in the world outside of Setsu's head, they nod in understanding. ]

Thanks. I'll leave it to you two to decide what's best, for the energy signals and for weaponry.

[ Ultimately, this is about Alex and her needs. But given his "with what I have," they have to ask: ]

Are there some supplies you're missing or running low on? I want to help you with this any way I can, so helping you find supplies would be the least I could do.

[tinflower]

I'll check. I stole a lot of stuff back on the last mission.

[ He says that like the positive it is! He got lucky! And he also doesn't actually keep track of what he has and ever needs, so, he'll do that. As soon as he figures out what he's doing.

But he also thinks he understands, maybe, the other implication here, and continues, ] But I'll tell you, if you do. I like Alex too. [ A beat. ] She'll be okay.

[ Reassurance attempt: made. He's not always so awkward at reassuring people, but this person cares a lot about Alex to be making the offer, Gorgug thinks. And it's nice to know that someone cares as much as you do. ]

She's tough.

[backtostart]

[ Stealing supplies back on Earth... Not the most moral choice, but Setsu doesn't bat an eye. When various goods here are hard to come across, residents need to do what they can for the supplies they need.

And they do need supplies, for cases like this. ]

... Yeah, she is. [ Setsu's shoulders relax, and they smile a little. Reassurance attempt: Success. ] We'll just be there to support her, too.

[ They feel a bit better now... They pat at the barrier gently. ]

I should let you keep working. If you need me, you can contact me anytime: My username is just "L T Setsu." [ Never mind that they forgot to actually give their name until now. ] I also gained the ability to restore things recently... I don't know how useful that is, though.

[tinflower]

[ Do they look better? ...admittedly, he should have maybe worked to make this welding mask's vision line wider, but it's okay. They might've believed him!

For now, he should try and remember that username; or maybe he'll remember it in his conversation with Alex. But that last offering does pique Gorgug's interest, who: ]

Restore? [ Huh?

That's a note of curiosity that is asking for more information! ]

[backtostart]

[ Speaking through both a barrier and a helmet sure is an experience. Setsu is looking up at his face, but they can't see it at all. ]

That's right. Speaking of supplies reminded me... The skill I received for that mission let me restore things to their original state after they were damaged. At least, as far as I'm able to with whatever parts still remain...

[ Their voice grows contemplative at the end. It's a pretty major drawback on a skill that, thus far, has just been a novelty for Setsu.

Regardless, they pick up their voice again as they continue (largely to compensate for the barrier between them). ]

Since you work with machinery, something like that might be useful to you, right? I don't really know much about all that, but since parts and tools still wear out or break over time, I thought I should offer.

[tinflower]

[ It would be useful. He has means of making repairs, but it's still time and energy, and some of his larger finds from the junkyard have been sitting on his to do list of fixing, pushed aside with the other to do list he has for his projects. ]

It happens, [ Gorgug says in agreement, nodding. ] Do you-- have you tried repairing rust? Making it... the way it was? Does that count?

[ Do they think it does? Do they want to try?? His van's got a lot of rust on it.... and magically-living barnacles. ]

[backtostart]

[ Setsu takes a moment to think of that, glancing off to the side. ]

I haven't tried it before, but it should be possible. Depending on what's already happened to the rust, all of the metal might not be there anymore...

[ Their voice, as muffled as it is through the barrier, is a little aggrieved. They haven't thought this much about chemistry since they were a student. ]

Sorry. All I can do is reverse what's happened. But once something is gone, it's...gone. [ Not one to despair, though, they lift their head and put on a more self-assured tone. ] So, in this case, I should go to wherever it is. Rust is delicate, so moving might make it flake off.

[tinflower]

[ Gorgug considers the way they speak, thinking about it. The way they apologise, mostly, and how this power (powers in general?) might be new to them. ]

Okay. It's a good ability-- I know it's... hard, or weird, having abilities, and... it's okay you can do that much. It's cool. I had to learn it too, for school. I can't fix what's gone.

[ Either. Is this also comfort? Perhaps it's unnecessary, but for Gorgug, the ability is a neat one. It's useful, and there's a lot of shit Gorgug has that it might be good for. ]

I'll invite you to my workshop sometime. Alex can come, if she wants. We can-- hang out? Talk about things, like this. [ Whatever this can be defined as: Alex's protection, Etraya's protection. ] I've got a corner with beanie bags we can sit on.

[ He can take visitors! ]