4th Wall Event

[travelagency]

Who: Various
What: 4th Wall Event
When: M12 D3-D5 (on Mar 7 - 15)
Where: Around Blackway and Blackstaff
Notes & Warnings: Please attach any warnings necessary to thread subjects. This does count for game canon. All 4th wall threads go here, and information is available on OOC and news. The game's navigation is here.


Welcome, ladies, gentlemen, intersexed, androgynes, robots, energy beings, and life forms of all kinds. I am Jeffers, your servant, host, and resort AI.

Let me extend gratitude to you all on behalf of the entire community for agreeing to come and render service in the wake of our unfortunate incident with spontaneously frictionless surfaces. Your assistance in rebuilding is greatly valued.

Visitors, I encourage you to speak with the other Imports. Imports, I ask you to help our guests enjoy their stay.

Please consult with any terminal or one of my android drone avatars if you have any questions that cannot be answered by the residents. I most sincerely hope you find your time at Blackstaff a pleasant one.

• For those of you who enjoy “fun” [Jeffers says as if he’s not sure that any of this really qualifies as fun in his book], Mr. Jellicles’ Emporium requires extensive repair. There are broken windows and bottles hither and thither, and do be careful of the broken glass; we wouldn’t want any further injuries. Broken arcade games must be fixed. Furniture repaired, or, if it is beyond hope, taken away. And small, colourful plastic balls are scattered asunder and must be gathered up to be relocated into a “fun cage,” but worse and far more deadly are the skiballs and bowling balls. I must insist no one drop one of those on one’s own or another’s foot


• The local restaurants require new food to be brought in. Because of the quarantine, food shortage is somewhat of a danger, therefore any food will do, but I for one would especially appreciate champagne and truffles. In addition, new dishes must be unpacked, furniture repaired, and cooking areas cleaned. I expect the cooking areas to be able to pass the most rigorous of health inspections once the cleaning is finished. Not that we have a ministry of health and safety here, but it is the principle of the thing.


• With the clinic having been overwhelmed by recent events, they are currently understaffed to handle the full scope of injuries. Assistance treating the wounded and the ill would be a very great help. Do note that only persons with appropriate physician or nursing qualifications will be able to assist patients with direct care. It would not be at all appropriate to have, for example, vehicle mechanics performing surgery. Unless perhaps the patient is a sentient robot car. Then the clinic will make an exception. Many other tasks are available for other volunteers who desire clinic duties, however. In particular, wounded patients may require assistance retrieving personal items, sending messages, or returning home. Furthermore, as always, the clinic would be grateful to receive donations of medicines from your homeworld


• The loss of friction created an extensive mess around town and I so dislike messes. I would like it very much if knocked over displays were righted, broken glass cleared, and disabled vehicles removed from the streets. Let’s have a nice, tidy village, shall we? Furthermore, some residents misplaced pets during the hullaballoo and would very much like them found and returned. (Not to mention the havoc stray beasts are having on the songbird population.) Shelves in various shops must be restocked with new, unbroken merchandise, and many storefronts and signs are in need of general repair.

---

And with Jeffers announcement to the population, the town was opened up to anyone willing to help. Some of the citizens who had tended towards suspicion towards imports for some time (an as-of-yet unidentified one took part in sabotage against the town) have changed their views and are now extremely welcoming, offering whatever they can to in return for the help they're getting from the visiting imports.

While the guests are here, they have free rein of the village, and even visiting the wilderness if they have a permit. First they must be instructed on how to defend themselves against the planet's hostile species. A guide is still recommended, but with the busy schedule one is not absolutely essential.

Comments

[truth_is_the_enemy]

Thanks, doc. I owe you one. Whatever your fee is, I'm happy to pay it.

[He slips the sample cup into his jacket pocket, which bulges and ruins the nice sleek line of his clothes, but it's better that than to walk around town carrying it openly and leaving people to wonder why he might need one.]

[athousandcurses]

Nodding, she took the bottle and the card, reading what it said. It made sense, even craftsmen in her day became famous for their work and had people seek out their creations.

But there is one thing that catches her attention in a more serious way. "Do you plan on visiting very many other worlds?"

[notthebattleship]

"In the near future. My husband is looking at other locations while I was sent here. There isn't as large of a population here, but more worlds are represented."

She stands silently, glancing over the other products. Now that Grainne seems satisfied with her pickings, Zhu Li isn't sure how to continue the sales pitch. At least she'll get the word out to lots of different people?

[athousandcurses]

"Then it is probably a good thing to warn you, some of the other planets and universes are not... very friendly." Grainne blinks at the other woman, then shook her head and started again. "I mean... some of them are deadly."

[notthebattleship]

"That's why he left with more security," Zhu Li replied with confidence. She reached behind her and pulled out a clipboard. "Are there any worlds we need to look out for in particular?"

[athousandcurses]

"If you come across any that are completely lifeless, as if some horrible catastrophe happened... it is better to turn right back around." Grainne had almost explained further on that, had almost said 'whose bodies look as if someone pulled their insides out' but she didn't want to scare Zhu Li too much. "No manner of curiosity is worth the risk of staying on those worlds.

[notthebattleship]

She doesn't react to that, apart from closing her eyes briefly as if it were a shrug. "There's no point in doing business on a dead planet. Varrick might find other uses for it eventually," she said matter-of-factly.

"I was told this world was dangerous, but so far, I haven't run into anyone or anything that tried to hurt me. We'll be fine."

[frontier_doktor]

"She looks very lively." He knelt down to give her his finger to play with, as well. "And kind of Niko, too. I've often noticed some rougher people to have a soft spot should you show them kindness."

[frontier_doktor]

It wasn't that he was unwilling to tell it, as he could talk endlessly about things. But there was so much of it that he didn't know where to start.

"They were good people, and I think it was the best thing that ever could have happened for them."

[athousandcurses]

She would say more, she really would, but Grainne found the words stuck in her throat. How could she even explain the horror of what was out there if someone hadn't already experienced it?

"This world is mild compared to what is out there. Please keep safe when you are traveling."

[athousandcurses]

"Did they stay there?" She didn't mean to pry, really. A small amount of water appeared, moving around the ground and carrying away debris with it. It moved with a mind of its own, seemingly, as it deposited the matter into a corner for easy removal.

I replied to this yesterday. I must have closed the window.

[frontier_doktor]

"Utrecht Visscher." If there was anything about him that didn't already betray his heritage, the way he said his name sealed the deal. He was heavy on the "r", the last name said somewhere between "fisher" and "feesher". He was mild and kindly, and if he was pulling a con he was certainly good at pretending to be the nervous, pliant sort.

[frontier_doktor]

"Yes, my sister and I were-" he stopped talking to watch the water move around, a brief look of bafflement crossing his face.

"Oh." He commented, distracted now, realizing she was the source and now following what she was doing with the water. Unless it was some odd water creature instead of her. That was possible, too.

[athousandcurses]

"Ah?" Distracted by his cut off, the water stopped moving too, and seemed to "hover" for a moment before relaxing and forming a normal puddle. "Is something wrong?"

[andiwillfollow]

Charon, having been in the middle of trying to lift up a large hunk of metal, let out what sounds like a sigh - hard to tell with him. But after a moment he drops the metal piece with a loud clang and moves to a stand, stepping over the metal to get out of her way and crossing his arms.

He nods his head. "Go on."

Nay worries, buddy!

[theugly]

Some sounds were easier to memorize than others. Tuco pursed his lips for a moment, throat giving a barely audible creak as he stopped short of trying to repeat the name. Instead, he settled a warm: "It's very good to meet you, friend."

Whether or not he realized it, that was an honest sentiment for once. Stopping for a friendly conversation had been a semi-calculated move, sure, but the doctor's generosity had dragged him away from that. He found himself actually liking the guy.

Not that he had any intention of hanging around though. With a broad smile, he stepped back and tugged his collar out, stuffing the card deep inside his shirt. "If you running out of time, head to Pugsy's one evening instead, okay?" He pulled the shirt straight again and flapped a hand over his shoulder. "Downtown," he added. "Enough hard work, a man's throat starts to dry up."

[timeshorizon]

I'm sure you'll will. [she's not sure why he would expect her to care even if he does. but with his help, they're able to lift the girl back onto the bed. Liv sighs in relief and picks the antiseptic back up. Narvin's right about one thing; she finally has the opportunity to apply it properly]

So what brings you to the clinic, anyway? Somehow I doubt they asked you here for your bedside manner.

[timeshorizon]

[Liv isn't any more sure what to think of the sight of a man in full armour than the girl is, but she isn't going to miss this opportunity] Thanks. [she leans in again with the antiseptic, quickly wiping down the scratches on the girl's arms and then daring to try her cheeks. the girl is crying, cringing, and shaking her head, but any time she thinks of doing more, she throws a glance at Felix and thinks better of it]

There. Now I can bandage you up and you can find your mother. [Liv turns to grab some bandages, trusting Felix's presence to make sure the girl stays in place]

[timeshorizon]

[Liv is, perhaps unfortunately, just as business-like]

I've known some people like that. [she puts her hands on the woman's shoulder, firmly pushing her down but addressing her at the same time:] This is the only way you're going to get the help you need. So unless you want to get worse, try to stay calm.

[frontier_doktor]

He almost blurted out that he couldn't get drunk, so it was useless for him to go. But he wasn't particularly good at being social and incredibly prone to craving friendship.

"I could do that. If you have a particular day, anyway?"

[theugly]

"Most days," he said, shrugging. "I mean, not a lot of exploradores want a guide after dark, so unless some other bullshit comes up..." He hesitated, then managed to look a little sheepish, like he was silently acknowledging how useless that was. "Okay, okay— tonight?" He nodded. "Sure. Tomorrow?" Another (smaller) tilt. "Yeah, probably."

"Just keep an eye out for a very handsome man sat at the bar." He flashed a toothy smile, before using his chin to gesture up to Visscher's hair, adding, "And if not, lucky for you, you're pretty easy to pick out, eh?"

[frontier_doktor]

At Pugsy's

As promised, a slightly built (but taller than Tuco) blond German showed up at the bar. The patronage wasn't foreign to him; rough and gruff types, people that he had encountered the like of when he worked aboard some of the stations he had, served during some disasters.

But that didn't mean they didn't make him nervous. For every thug with a heart of gold, there was a genuine asshole that just enjoyed being important and working his way up. In his opinion, life had provided him with half and half as far as temperament went, but that latter half was extremely dangerous when they put their mind to it.

Tuco seemed to be pleasant enough though (Ha... haha..... ha) and when he saw him he went over and perched primly on the chair beside of him.

[notthebattleship]

Zhu Li can tell that Grainne is still worried about her safety and decides that calming her down is necessary action.

"I've been through multiple life-threatening events. Most recently, I was nearly vaporized multiple times. And I lived out in the wilds for several weeks. I know how to watch out for danger."

[theugly]

As the seat was pulled out, Tuco grunted irritably and unhooked his foot from the chair leg, letting his boot heel thud against the floor. He glanced across then, face drawn into the not-quite-neutral expression of a man trying to gauge whether or not he should be glaring instead. He must have settled on not, because half a beat later he was grinning.

"Hey!" he cawed, reaching across to clap Visscher's arm. "Doctor Fish! You showed up, huh?" He sounded genuinely surprised. "...Who knew? I thought maybe you'd take one look at the, uh..." He stopped and waved back towards the entrance. Beamed with the blissful idiocy of the slightly drunk. "You want something to drink? Some, uh... some not-whiskey, right?" His eyes flicked over to the bottles behind the bar and he opened his mouth as if he were about to list every possible alternative.

[athousandcurses]

Mentally sighing, she gave up for the time being, and accepted Zhu Li's reassurance. Maybe nothing will happen. What are thousands in infinity, after all?

"All right. I wish you luck in your endeavors." And, as an added topic change... "I thank you for the gift. Is there anything I should be aware of when using the dyes?"