tushanshu | Entries tagged with † alayne stone

[Hello folks, it's your friendly neighborhood gorgeous janitor. Except he's not looking so friendly, today. In fact, he's looking more serious than most people have probably ever seen him, here in Keeliai. When he speaks it's with a gravity that his words normally lack.]

Anton Shudder is no longer in charge of the Midnight Hotel.

I'm taking over.

[There's a pause, while he lets that sink in.]

Since Shudder has proven himself incapable of the running of the Hotel--or indeed, simple things like standing and walking, I find myself forced to keep him confined to a comfortable chair in front of the fire. With tea. And yarn.

He knits, did you know he knits?

[It should be noted that while the tone of the video has become decidedly less serious, Ravel's face has not.]

At any rate, I'll be taking over the day-to-day operations of the Hotel for the time being. Matters such as employment and pay will still go through Anton, obviously. Day-to-day functions should come to me, instead. Any present staff are encouraged to pitch in as you're able--God only knows you don't want me doing the cooking. Not unless the lot of you fancy grilled cheese or cold cereal.

[He pauses]

Was that it? Yes, I think that was it. Er. Carry on.

stonebird

(Alayne presents a rare sight. She is wearing the pants she uses for defense practice and her hair is braided simply so that it coils over one shoulder.)

It is difficult for me to forgo the proprieties and etiquette that I was taught in my world. I feel like I have found a balance since arriving on the Turtle. I am stronger than I imagined.

(And that is a wonderful feeling.)

I want to thank everyone who has been so kind and patient with me. I can honestly say I have never had better friends.

(She will always be wary of someone stabbing her in the back, but even that fear has lessened.)

Would you be amenable to attending a dinner party? All are welcome - even if we haven't spoken - and if you tell me your favorite foods beforehand, I will do my best to prepare them in time.

gistful

[When Anton turns on the video he looks a little ruffled. His tie is gone, jacket off, sleeves rolled up, and there's blood on his vest, for the observant. His expression is flat but with an edge of exasperation, and behind him ... Behind him is Skulduggery and Erskine. They're bound together with a five-foot length of chain, Erskine with a manacle on his wrist and Skulduggery with a manacle around his neck-bones.

[Skulduggery is missing his hat, and his suit is tattered. Erskine's in obviously clean clothes, but he's missing a jacket, he's limping slightly, his arm is in a sling and he has a spray-bottle. And they're arguing. Loudly. Anton's voice is raised to be heard over them and, perhaps notably, he keeps his hands out of view of the camera.]

Let it be publicly known that these two reprobates are grounded.

[He jerks his head at them without looking around.]

If anyone sees them on the streets while Erskine, that's the ridiculously pretty one, is not wearing a dog-collar, please punch them both and return them to the Midnight Hotel. If anyone finds them not in the company of each other, please, again, punch them and return them to the Midnight Hotel.

Rest assured that the damages they caused will be repaired at their expense and any loss of revenue reimbursed. We'll be by in the next few days to arrange this.

[Pause.]

Ah. Yes. Skulduggery, that's the idiot who's forgotten his skin, has lost his hat privileges. No hats for Skulduggery. Thank you.

[This broadcast is also available as action, for those staying at the Midnight Hotel.]

edgeoftheknife

Look, ah.

There's something I've been meaning to tell you, for... well, probably close to two hundred years, now. It's been on my mind a lot lately, and I think I need to just come clean about it.

So, here goes.

Anton?

You snore. A lot.

akito

[ there are quite a few things akito would like to address, but just the thought of trying to find the right words for it all is exhausting. so he keeps it simple, and focuses on what he wants to ask the most: ]

...The Foreigners have a resistance to the zhyris but not an immunity, right?

[ his voice is scratchy and he sounds tired, but otherwise doesn't sound all that bad. and it's totally not related in any way to his question. nope. no way. ]

edgeoftheknife

[The man in the video is gorgeous. True, there are dark circles under his eyes as if he hasn't slept well in weeks, but it kind of gives him that "I just stepped off a movie set and wow am I tired from being beautiful all day" look. If you've been around the Midnight Hotel at all over the past couple of weeks you've probably seen him there, shadowing after Anton Shudder like a lost puppy--which is pretty nearly the expression on his face most times as well. He looks lost.

He looks like he's forgotten what he came on here to say, as a matter of fact.

After a few more seconds he perks up, looking up at the camera instead of off to the side as he had been. When he speaks it's with an Irish accent.]

Right, hello. Ah, sorry about that. I seem to have misplaced my... brain, today. Anyway, I've met a few of you already, but for those I haven't, my name is Erskine Ravel. I also answer to "Grand Mage" or possibly "hey you."

[He gives a little two-fingered salute and a slight smile.]

I was hoping...

[He goes quiet, frowning.]

What was I hoping, again? I.... Mm, nope, it's gone. Ah well, if it was important it'll come 'round again. At any rate, I hope everyone's having a lovely day. Pay someone a compliment and don't forget to tip your waitress.

[The video abruptly stops.]

((ooc: possible spoilers, please mark comments as needed!))

bigdamnhiro

[Oh good, he's getting stage fright from a video message. But this is important, kinda, so he clears his throat and pushes through it, though it's obvious he's a little nervous. Maybe less nervous, as the message goes on and he gets more comfortable.]

So...I guess things have been pretty crazy lately, huh? [There's an awkward pause. He - was going to say something about that, but now he can't remember and he's not sure he had anything helpful to say anyway.] ...Yeah. Anyway. So, uh, I had a question for the mechanics and the engineers and whoever else tinkers with the local tech around here. At least, what tech there is in this city.

[Not without maybe a tiny little hint of ugh in there, but he's resigned to it, at this point.]

Would it help if there was someplace central you could go to get the parts and tools you need to work with, instead of hunting all over the city markets for them? Like, a one-stop shop for all your tech needs. Something like that.

[He shrugs.]

Lemme know what you think.

Also, if anybody needs any repairs done on small appliances or machinery, you should totally send me a message. I only charge a couple juulans an hour, with house calls included for free.

[Big grin, finger pistols. Sell it, Hiro.]

unetrustworthy

[Midii knew tensions were high right then, with the increase in thefts and the rising tensions. But she was beginning to think, with only sporadic grace periods in between, there would always be tension. Uncertainty. Like and Endless Waltz back and forth between War, Peace, and that unknown middle ground straddling the line between the two. Three steps in cyclical succession.]

[It was that thought that finally helped make up her mind about broadcasting. An idea that had first come to her weeks ago, and that had yet to wane. A surefire sign that she was ready to make her mind known publicly.]

I was wondering...

[It had been so long that her first words came out soft and hesitant. Nervous. Her thoughts weren't helpful at all to the current predicament(s) at hand.]

There are some of us left who still have a connection to the baby turtles. [No matter their current size, she would always think of them as the babies.] I know mine never fully went away. I can still sense Riva, even faintly. It makes sense that others can too.

What if...we all tried to reach out to them together?

I mean, I doubt we'd want them to come back if the current rumours are true. Not after what happened the last time. But...it would be nice to find out how they're doing.

[And then, before the signal comes out, one last statement. So soft, it was as if she were speaking to herself:]

I just miss her, is all.

stonebird

(Alayne looks conflicted. She scrunches her skirt in her hands, her fingers moving restlessly.)

I pray everyone is safe. I wish I were...braver. But if there is a need for someone to watch over those injured, I am volunteering.

(She is still the sort to run away from danger rather than confront it.)

Did anyone determine the cause for the destruction? Are we...

( ...going to war? No, once she says those words, bad luck will follow her like an unshakeable shadow.)

I know how to clean wounds and see that they heal properly.

merb

So when the information on this place said that people you know could appear... and then disappear... without warning? There could have been a subsection about it only lasting two weeks.

[ A silence, just a shade longer than a subject change would have necessitated. ]

What kinds of metals are commonly used in your worlds? I'm having some trouble finding comparable materials.

akito

Malcil-san and Berruz are the ones who attacked me- [ a voice similar to Akito's, but more boyish, can be heard in the background "Attacked?! What the fuck are you talking about?!" ] - but I was right when I said they were blackmailed! They aren't kedan - they need the substance to shapeshift so they can live peacefully with the kedan while hiding from the other Chihuelan, particularly Celaunn.

They also aren't responsible for any other muggings! Their supplier of the shapeshifting substance was withholding it from them unless they paid with a Foreigner's gem. Apparently the shapeshifting stuff is running out, or harder to get a hold of...

But the one responsible for ordering the attacks in the first place is either the supplier or whoever the supplier reports to! They used Malcil and Berruz as unwilling pawns, and who is to say it hasn't been the same for the others?

I only managed to find out after I informed the Metalworkers and Snakes about what happened. I told them to lay low and hide... I'm almost sure that I wasn't followed, either...

It isn't their faults! They only want to continue living peacefully!

I need to-

I-

This is so stupid!

[ rambling to himself mostly; clearly very upset about what might happen to the Chihuelans. ]

It must have something to do with... ... Because the Dust poisonings happened after, with older Dust... It probably isn't coincidence, but maybe it is...?

I have to talk to Zanru and Meisheng again- Heojin too, if I can contact him. I need to speak with all of them!

I... I- I'll be back later!

stonebird

(Despite using the console in the Hotel's lobby, Alayne has made herself as comfortable as she would be in her room. She is sitting at a table with pieces of paper placed around her. Three drawings are easily visible: one is a large wolf, another is an equally large hound with a deformed (or injured) face and the last is a bird in a cage. She moves her pencil over the sketch of the bird, adding shadows.)

Choose an animal for yourself. Then think of the animal others would choose for you.

Are they the same?

(She switches to the sketch of the wolf, adding shading there - particularly around its neck.)

If not, why?

(Also, thanks to her lacking her hair dye, the whole of Tu Shanshu can now see that her hair is auburn.)

irishthor

[The feed flickers on to show an up-close view of a man's torso, wearing a dark-coloured jacket and plenty of straps.]

Did I do it right...? [Comes the thick, Irish brouge of the man, before he shifts back, revealing his face in the process.] ...I'm assumin' that red light means it's workin'... If not, I probably look madder'n a frog in a sock talkin' to meself like this.

[Shay pushes a hand through his hair, scratching at his head, sighing.]

You all sure do give a man a lot to think through. I mean, Christ, I just got here'n yer talkin' 'bout turtles and consoles... Enough to drive a man t'drink.

[A pause.]

Speakin' of... if any o'ye fine folk could point me in the direction of where I could get a wee dram, it'd be most appreciated. There's gotta be a pub or a tavern 'round here somewhere... O'course, I don't have much in the way of local currency.

[The man sighs, leaning against the desk the console is on.]

This is gonna be a wee problem, isn't it?

((OOC: People are free to encounter him in the lobby of the Midnight Hotel.))

akito

Tony! Tony! I have the best idea!

[ so maybe Akito sounds a lot cheerier than usual, which is kind of strange. but given that his voice also sounds a lot scratchier and worn out than usual, it shouldn't be too difficult to guess that he's been - and still is - kind of sick. ]

I mean, I don't know if it's the best idea 'cause someone else might've tried it already and failed, but! But!

Since we can't actually tamper with the consoles without them blowing up into goo, and like... But we know they can be hacked into! Right? You remember!

So the consoles already have their own network and I'm pretty sure it's not hardwired ethernet y'know? Meaning it's got to be some kind of wavelength - not within basic radio range since we've already messed around with those! Oh! And we definitely have to upgrade the handsets, Tony! We're over a year behind on the tech now! We can totally make them smaller and less 1980's!

Um... Right! So, ah, the consoles have their own network that isn't hardwired but is running on some kinda frequency - I dunno if I could try analyzing it via Sound but... Right! That is, let's just find the frequency and tap into it! Building routers to hardness it and amplifiers to spread the coverage would be super easy!

Then just program the right communication protocols to keep console traffic out of the handsets, ne? We'd have to figure out how to let the handsets communicate with the consoles but not the other way around, unless it was an open connection with a bunch of security measures...

Wouldn't it be so cool, Tony? I mean we'd probably have to use magic or something because the consoles are like... Magical biotech not just biotech-biotech, but there are tons of people here who can do magic! Right? Yeah! So we should totally do it, Tony! As the handset inventor-creators it's our obligation to make them like... At least mid-90s! Ne?

[ throughout Akito's rambling his voice warbles and cracks; loses volume, or is cut off by a small cough to clear his throat. its owner sounds chipper, at the very least - practically swooning over the thought of working on tech upgrades. ]

Ahh~ It would be so awesome to have communication tech that wasn't super shitty! I miss my camera-phone...

stonebird

(Encrypted to Valdis)

May I speak with you privately about a certain matter...? (Her voice is prim, proper and to the point. She is hiding her hope in case she is destined for disappointment.)

(/)

What stories are common in your world? Were you raised with tales of adventure? Romance? Or tales meant for teaching?

(Books were an important part of her life at Winterfell - and she passed much of her time in King's Landing and the Eyrie with them as well. When Joffrey and Sweetrobin weren't bothering her, that is.)

Do you believe them true? I used to believe heroes existed and that all evil was punished. (Her tone is heavy with satire, though it is directed at herself.) Children are foolish.

looksfine

[A slight deviation from her usual method of transmission. Rather than taking a moment to provide debatably relevant exposition or attempt to explain her latest presence on the Public Network...she had only a single question:]

How is this...Valentine's Day meant to be celebrated?

[Aya understood Love. Far more than many would give her credit for. Far more than the Star Sapphires would have given her credit for, to be sure. She understood the sensations it could possibly elicit from a single individual. She understood the bonds between persons that could form.]

[But, most of all, she was just plain curious as to why somebody needed a single day to celebrate what should be celebrated all day, every day. As far as she knew.]

seismometrics

[There's a small girl onscreen. Tiny, pale, likely no more than 13, with a mass of heavy, dark hair and pale green eyes that spear outward from the feed.]

[. . . Though there's something off about that glare. It doesn't quite seem to focus like a glare should. And the screen itself is not quite centered on her; it cuts off her chin.]

[But there's certainly enough visible to say that she is decidedly Displeased.]

[And wet.]

I think I've gotten pretty tolerant of weird stuff going on around here. Bending suddenly getting yanked away? Managed. Invasion of the purring fluffy things? Whatever. Dream-sharing? Yeah, fine. Way, way messing up the timeline, until my-- . . .

[She cuts herself off there, though, her lips pressing together sharply. And when she pushes on, she lets that go.]

Forget it.

The point is, enough's enough. When I go to sleep in my own bed in Earth, I'd better darn well wake up in my own bed in Earth, not turn over and find myself tipping over into a fountain in the Water Sector. Whatever's going on, somebody had better speak up about it now, because I'm wet and I'm cold, and there's some kedan family living in my house, and I want an explanation now so I can smash the source into a pulp several times with a rock and get back to bed.

[A sneeze. But she looks no less fierce for it, jerking the back of her wrist across her nose.]

Start now.

stonebird

(A length of cloth is resting on Alayne's knees and she is busy stitching. The sound of thread being pulled through, tightened and then piercing the cloth again can be heard by the keen of hearing.)

Dresses of a Southern make are far more difficult for me to stitch. (Her pink lips purse and she bites off a thread with her teeth.) I fear, should the weather warm, I will be incredibly uncomfortable in wool. Yet silken fabrics are notoriously difficult to piece together. They leave no room for mistakes - even slight ones.

(Sucking on one of her fingers, her brow furrows. It isn't common for her to stab her fingers. Septa Mordane would know something is amiss with her. Yet her dear Septa is long dead.)

I heard some strange noises on the street. I'm certain someone grabbed my skirt, but I didn't stay long enough to look.

(Therein lies the problem.)

Could they follow me to my room?

gistful

This broadcast is to test the console now publicly available in the Midnight Hotel's lobby. Please respond in the manner of your choice to fully evaluate its functions.

wintershepherd

Hey everyone. The Welcome Center is coming along pretty well, and we've got all the structural things put back to rights. I still need to talk to the Metalworkers and ask what it'll take to get a couple consoles put in there.

The people who have arrived since we all got out of the Dreaming seem like they're being dropped all over. If you were one of them, can you reply and let me know where in the city -- or outside of it? -- you showed up? Just in case there's a pattern.

Has anyone had luck getting the kedan to hire them?

Tu Shanshu

[ console | video/action ] we get to carry each other

[Console] (Video) ❅ The Sixth

[CONSOLE] video; BACKDATED to 8 JUNE

[Console] Audio; OPEN

021 ✤ radio

[Console | Video/Action?] did I disappoint you (possible spoilers)

Network Message Version 1.0 ► Video; Console

[Radio]

[Console] (Video) ❅ The Fifth

PILOT'S LOG 1.03 ✈ AUDIO; CONSOLE

018 ✤ radio

[Console] (Video) ❅ The Fourth

1st Kill ~ Consoles / Video and/or Action [Hotel Lobby]

014 ✤ radio

[Handset] (Audio) ❅ The Third

[CONSOLE]: VIDEO

Video - 001

[Console] (Video) ❅ The Second

[console] video;

26 ❄ ( VIDEO )

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