Open log + video

[droptheious]

WHO: Varian and you!
WHERE: His labyrinth then outside the Zodiac apartments
WHEN: 1 May
WHAT: Alchemy boy arrives
WARNINGS: Some PTSD in the arrival log.



Varian doesn't recognise the alchemy lab he's wound up in - he's not even sure how he got here. He remembers that weird, uneasy being watched feeling the night before, but that's nothing new. People watch him plenty. Then he went to sleep and found himself...here. The one good thing is that Ruddiger is here too, the raccoon perched on top of his shoulder and chittering anxiously. He wanders around the space, finding upturned flasks of strange, green liquid or broken automaton parts and the realisation that something is deeply wrong starts to settle in his chest.

"H-hello? Um- anyone there?"

He stills for a moment, chewing his bottom lip, waiting for an answer. When one doesn't come, he starts walking again and recognises more and more of the discarded experiments around him. It's like someone put together the worst museum in the world and it consisted only of his failures. Varian's...pretty used to having nightmares about the darker sides of his past, but it's never been like this before.

His anxiety has already been slowly rising, but the second he walks into a man encased in some sort of crystal, it spikes up exponentially. His breath catches in his throat, his eyes wide. He's DEFINITELY experienced this in his nightmares before and it hurts every single time. He backs away from it, into the opposite wall, where he slides down onto the floor, squeezing his eyes shut and covering his face with his hands. Ruddiger slips down to sit in his lap, trying to pat his arm reassuringly, but to little avail.

"Nonononono, not again!" he tries to even out his breathing, but he's not doing a good job of it. "Wake up, wake up, wake up!!"



VIDEO - UN:NOT SET

[Once he's free from his labyrinth and has been shown the way to his new apartment (which is a wild concept, a little house inside a building???) Varian has decided to check out the strange pocket communication device. Ruddiger is behind him, rummaging through the garbage as he stands outside the Zodiac apartment building. Not that anyone can see this, because Varian has his thumb over the camera. So there's just audio and the occasional flicker of light as his hand shifts. ]

Okay, so, apparently I fell through some sort of trans-dimensional rift and now I'm here. I've got some questions I really need answering and apparently, this little device allows me to talk to other people who are similarly trapped in this world. Right? Right. SO!

One - Can someone explain what this electricity thing is? How does it work? How does it generate light? Power? If you can't explain it, can you point me in the direction of a library where I can learn this for myself?

Two - Bouncing off from one, what's with the horseless carriages? I've built automatons in the past, so I'm assuming they run on some sort of internal device, but I've never seen anything like it before in my life. What fuels them?

Three - Where can I get alchemical supplies? My backpack usually has plenty in but I've got nothing for some reason. Is there an apothecary around here somewhere? Equally, does anyone know a good lab space I can use? I have my kitchen in my...home? But I really do need a better space for my future projects.

Four - Speaking of, I have experience in building trans-dimensional portals. I'm going to try and get the supplies needed to figure a way out of here. This is a very different world to what I'm used to, but I'm sure I can figure it out.

Five- Who is Denny? Does-does he own the brightly coloured tavern? They won't accept silver or gold coins there and I need to feed my raccoon. I guess I need to speak to this Denny for that? How do I get in touch with him?

Okay, that should be it for now. I'd appreciate any help you can give me...assuming this thing even works.

Comments

[laminae]

This isn't the first time Fern has been in a scientific lab before, but this one is a whole lot more ominous and a whole lot less candy-filled than Bonnibel's. Which might make some strange sort of sense, since the last few things he remembers, in order, are:

1. Finn throwing that nightmare potion on the ground, and waking up in that creepy shared dream with Bonnie, Finn, Jake, and Gumbald.
2. Gumbald proceeding to ditch him, just like every other father figure in his life.
3. Stumbling into some kind of maze covered in green webbing that felt far too familiar for his liking.
4. Stumbling into a weird city that looked a whole lot like the ruins he and Jake used to explore, but a lot less ruin-y.
5. Stumbling into this place.

He's had a day and frankly, he's getting very tired of it. So with his sword out he starts poking at broken automatons, ready to pick a fight with the first one that shows any sign of life. He's on edge, ready to throw down and start wrecking the place up, even lifts a fist up to bring down on some stained glass beakers -

And hears a voice that's wholly unfamiliar to him. Squinting suspiciously, Fern lowers his hand and follows it to its source.

Well, that isn't Finn. Or Jake. Or... anyone he ever remembers knowing. It's some kid about his age, looking like he's freaking out, and a raccoon, and Fern immediately assumes he has something to do with whatever is going on.

"Dude, what the skronk is this place?? If you're on Finn's side you're about to get jacked up!" He exclaims, because clearly threats are the way to go here.

[droptheious]

Varian has been trying to keep his face in his hands, in a desperate attempt to block out the nightmare he's been reliving. He'd always woken up by now, jarred awake by his own night terrors. But it isn't happening now, everything is still solid and real and not like a dream.

It's the unfamiliar voice that drags him out of his panic spiral. Because his nightmares have never had anyone talk to him unless they were Corona citizens berating him. Or his dad pleading for help. He certainly always recognised them- and they never used words he didn't understand.

He lowers his hands to stare at the...green?? GREEN??? Guy, Ruddiger tensing a little in his lap, turning to growl at the potential threat to his human. Varian himself blinks a few times.

"...I don't know any Finns?" an honest response, really. "I don't know what...jacked up or skronk means either? I don't- I just woke up here. I thought this was a nightma..."

Nope. No he can't ignore it, he has to say something.

"Are you made of grass?"

video; un: imahoot

[traaaaaash]

[ Eda rolls her eyes a little, but starts rattling down answers, counting them down on her fingers. ]

One, electricity is made of tiny invisible particles that are everywhere. Two, they're fueled by stuff people take out of the ground. Three, oh, it gets interesting now -- 'cause you might find something in my shop! Four, good luck with that, buddy. Five, Denny is an eldritch monster who operates the taverns. You have to make a blood sacrifice to speak with him.

[droptheious]

...Invisible particles? What are they made of? What's their scientific makeup? Also, what do they pull from the ground? There's a lot of stuff in the ground.

[Eda EXPLAIN your knowledge!!! But the shop IS good news!]

You have an apothecary? I really need...well, everything! Where are you based?! And I don't need luck for the portals, just supplies. The science is sound. ...Mostly.

[There's a long pause here.]

...Yeah no, I'm not gonna do that. Where else can I get food here?

text; un: GoldenGuard

[cardinalrule]

[Hunter is going to go ahead and disregard all of that because it isn't relevant - new human arriving, blah blah blah - except for one very, very, very important remark that's grabbing him.]

TRANSDIMENSIONAL,PORTALS
,,,,,,,,
YOU CANMAKE THEM??/

[droptheious]

[Oh hell, text. He has no idea how to change to this so it's just more covered-up video here.]

Sure! I made one back home, I'd have to alter it a little in order to get the trajectory right for leaving this dimension, but I'm pretty certain I can do that.

Video; un: zapbamboom

[incendiarize]

Oh, okay, oh man, lotsa questions and I am your guy.

First of all, sup! I'm Arthur, local science nerd, library cryptid, and member of the seer club. Prophecy outlook for the month is bad, by the way, keep your wits about you! You can swing by my library anytime and I can help you find whatever you need.

Okay! First question! IDK [yes he said the letters aloud] what your knowledge base here is, the oversimplification is tamed lightning. It's a secondary power source so we kinda have to derive it from doing other stuff! How much do you know about atoms and subatomic particles? I could go on all day.

Second, those are cars! They use internal combustion engines, burning oil to go, but some of 'em use electricity instead!

Three! Alchemy?? You're a real deal alchemist, like lead into gold kinda deal? Oh man, we have got to talk science, this is so cool!

Uh, where were we, four, I got nothing for four, I'm from here, but five! Nobody knows who Denny is but he's suspected to have something to do with the god of wine and madness, which tracks. Did you go to the void Denny's? There's others.

[He maybe got progressively less helpful, but he tried!]

[droptheious]

Yes, great! Thank you.

Nice to meet you, I'm Varian. And you...can see the future? That's- that's a thing that can happen here? That's...concerning. But glad to hear about the library, I'll do that!

...Eye-dee-kay? [Aruthur, don't do this to him, he doesn't know what internet slang is.] I don't know a lot about those, but I'm excited to learn! I mean, being able to make light without any candle or oil is amazing!!

OH! OH! Okay, that makes so much more sense now! So they can use oil. That's clever!!

[There's a pause and his thumb moves, only because he's setting his phone on the ground, sitting down and pulling out a notebook from his backpack to take NOTES!! This is important!!!]

I sure am. I don't really do the lead into gold thing- but I have a lot of chemical compounds and various inventions to my name. And YES, oh my god, you have no idea how good it is to be able to talk science to someone. The only person I can really do that with back in my home dimension is Rapunzel and she's busy being a princess.

[It's kind of a FULL-TIME JOB at this point, and he's learned not to be a salty shit about it. After all, she's getting ready to take over the kingdom sooner rather than later. She has more important things to focus on. ]

I'm not sure on that one. It had bright lights and lots of little seating booths? I tried to get some food for Ruddiger but they said I didn't have money they'd accept. Is there a difference between them? Are they all run by this...maybe god?

[He tried his best and that's what matters!]

Text; Un: Hikari-VI

[whiteshroud]

I've heard it's impossible to know who Denny truly is. It is unknowable.

[droptheious]

[He's still chugging along with his obscured-by-thumb video, sorry Jun, he hasn't figured out how to switch between modes yet.]

...That's not helpful. There has to be information about him somewhere, right? He- he can't just be a mystery.

[a_cute_batata]

There is still so many questions she has right now, and its enough that Luz is on edge, trying to look like she's dealing when in reality she's as lost as ever. Luckily for her, there's someone here who's having a worst time than she is, and that helps her forget her horrible, awful, confusing troubles. Yay for distractions!

She followed the voice and saw it was a boy, looking about Hunter's age, but definitely scared out of his mind. The place where he was cowering was not a fun place either, but she wasn't about to let that make her a quivering mess when she had plenty of other stuff to freak out about.

"Hey, hey! Kid, calm down. Take a breath. Uh, this place is pretty awful, but you can just leave! You just get here too?"

[droptheious]

Varian glances up sharply at the sound of an unfamiliar voice- confusion growing with it being attached to an unfamiliar face. Ruddiger glances between them, chittering softly.

"I don't-" he tries to push the panic down. "What is this place? Who- who are you? What do you mean just got here? I- isn't this a dream?"

action - labyrinth

[madebyhumans]

[Mewtwo hates whatever place she's found herself in - it's a bit more... medieval-looking than the lab she remembers being raised in, but she can tell what it is. She's eager to leave, but the man trapped in crystal catches her attention. How... odd? She almost reaches out to touch it, when she hears a frantic voice behind her.

And turns to see... another child? She turns her attention away, crouching down at his level. It's probably not as comforting as Mewtwo intends it to be.]

Calm yourself. This place is made up of your memories.

[droptheious]

[Varian really wasn't expecting the voice in his head- that's not what tends to happen in these nightmares. Ruddiger is already making panicked noises and clambering onto this head, clinging tightly to his ears. So Varian lowers his hands from his eyes.

And sees...something crouched right in front of him.

That's not even vaguely human-shaped.

And okay he might be screaming a bit.]

OH MY GOD, WHAT ARE YOU?!!!

video, un: Mariposa

[nonmagical]

Denny's isn't a person, it's just the name of a restaurant! I've never been there before, but I heard the food is okay?

There's a lab at my high school, but they're pretty strict on what you can do there.

[droptheious]

Oh! So it's...not named after a person? It just...has a person's name? I never got the chance to try the food.

[There's a pause of consideration.]

There's a school here? What sort of school? Are you like...nobility or something? To-to get an education?

Video: UN: Wishforsunshine

[onebadapple]

I am afraid I can't help with most of those answers, but I can help feed your raccoon, if you would like?

[droptheious]

Yes!!! Please! Thank you, I don't want him going hungry.

[He doesn't care about himself going hungry, he just wants to make sure Ruddiger's okay!]

I really appreciate this.

video; un: kreideprinz

[phanerozoic]

Your finger is covering the camera, so I can't see you.

[ helpful! probably. anyway if varian is looking at the screen now, he'll probably see that the image of albedo on the screen has his brow furrowed, almost as if there's something not-quite-right. ]

You're an alchemist?

[ that is definitely a question, although he sounds. vaguely unsure. like the word has a certain kind of weight to it that he's not quite sure how to process it.

sorry, varian, it seems like albedo is focusing only on that one question and not anything else that he asked about, but then again, albedo figures that there are some other people who have probably gotten to him first. ]

[droptheious]

Wait, what? [This IS helpful, you're a bud, Albedo! He moves his hand and a teenager who is somehow gangly but short comes into focus. ] Oh, I missed that! That's the camera? So it means you can see me?

[He's just gonna tap it a few times before moving onto the matter at hand.]

Sure am! I've been one as long as I could hold a test tube. I'm the Royal Engineer of Corona.

Voice; un: Koromaru

[whatsamada]

One - It's a telephone, it allows you to talk to others without having the need to be in person.

Two - Are you talking about a car? It's fuel from the ground that allows them to move.

Three - Uh...I'm not sure but you can ask around and see if it will help?

Four - If you need any help, let me know because I need to get back to my world as soon as possible!

Five - I'm not even sure myself. It's supposed to be an American thing where you can eat as much as you can? I'm not really familiar with American culture so I can't say anything?

[droptheious]

[Right to the point, thanks, Ken, you're the best.]

One - Right, right, I got this part- it had a book with it, I'm still confused about how it's powered though. That's...not something I have back home.

Two - What fuel? There are so many minerals in the ground. So many!!!

Three and Four - Yes please! I can give you a list of supplies, the big thing at the moment is timber and a few essential chemical compounds. Also tools, I don't have any tools right now.

Five - Huh. I'm not either. I'm from Corona, and also... definitely a different time period to here, which I guess means I time travelled? I'm still trying to figure it out.

Labyrinth

[neverbreaks]

Luisa had actually been on her way back to Stardew Valley when she had noticed the maze open up in the Spirit Realm. It had been a while since she had seen one appear, and she had entered without a second thought, knowing how much trouble these mazes could be.

The strange devices and apparatuses make her feel just a bit uncomfortable, but she doesn't have time to really take them in before she hears a panicked voice echoing across the walls, and she hurries to try to find the source of it, eventually coming across a figure curled in on himself against the wall.

"Hey, hey," she says, carefully coming closer and kneeling down beside him. "Can you hear me?"

[droptheious]

Varian has been trying his best to burrow into his own hands, to force himself into wakefulness so he can stop having this awful, awful nightmare. Ruddiger looks at Luisa, hitting anxiously at her, a little on guard, wanting to protect Varian from...whatever the hell is going on here.

Varian stills at the sound of her voice- it's not familiar to him and that's not a normal part of his nightmare process. He shifts his head a little, to peek around a hand at her. Nope. That is not a person he knows.

"I don't- yeah, yeah I can but this... are you part of my nightmare? That's- you're new."

video; un: bewitching

[hexposition]

[For someone with a username like she's got, Emma is actually pretty unassuming when she pops up on screen - a smiling teenage girl who would probably be pretty if not for the fact that she dresses like some unholy combination of a grandmother and a pocket-protector wielding nerd.]

Oh, hello there! I'm not "trapped" in this world, per se, but I am a resident, so I hope I can help answer your questions!

So, for question one... I could attempt to describe it to you, but [frankly Emma's player has no idea how it works it's fucking magic okay] that would take ages, so it's probably just easier to point you in the direction of a library. If you plug in [insert address here] into the "Maps" application on your new device, it should be able to provide you directions!

For question two, those are cars! You are correct, they run on an internal engine. Many cars are powered by internal combustion engine using gasoline as a fuel, but cars powered by electricity are becoming more common these days.

Question three, alchemical supplies - it depends on what you require, but I imagine most of what you need will be located in Undertown. You can get there by going to the far end of the entertainment district. Most people will tell you there's nothing but an abandoned subway, there, but people like us can enter Undertown.

Four isn't really a question, but I do wish you the best of luck!

And as for five... this world uses a different form of currency than the one you are used to. Try to find something called a "pawn shop," you should be able to sell your coins and exchange them for the currency of this world. In order to earn more currency, you should probably look into acquiring a job or somehow selling your wares.

As for Denny's itself... I do not know precisely who Denny is, but that is a restaurant, and the staff inside will serve you. However, I do not imagine they will enjoy having your raccoon in there. You'd be better served heading to a grocer and simply purchasing ingredients.

If you need food for either yourself or your raccoon in the meantime, though, do let me know! I do have some experience in preparing food for animals. [In fact, there has been a calico cat seated in her lap this entire time, looking quite content. Emma tilts down the camera so Varian can see, then tilts it back up.] We do have a fair number of cats at my residence, but if you can keep your raccoon from chasing them, I can't imagine we'll have much of a problem. Most of them are quite shy.

[Wow, that was a lot of rambling.]

I hope all of that proved helpful!

[droptheious]

[Honestly, that's an A+ combo, no better!]

Wait so you're...a native? I guess that stands to reason, any dimension is bound to have some sort of lifeforms inhabiting it rather than it being completely barren.

[Enjoy your new "lifeform" status, Emma! ]

Excellent, thank you! I'll do that- [there's some shifting going on] oh wow, look it really does open up a map, that's amazing! That's so much easier than a paper one! I'm gonna do so much research in the library now I can find it.

[He's gonna go LIVE in there.]

Right, right. I think I need to read up more about these. They seem like pretty convenient modes of transport. Probably less moody than horses are.

Undertown, got it! It's...interesting that only select people can get to it. Is it due to this ...app maybe? Like it gives us special privileges?

[Obviously she has all the answers here, obviously.]

We have pawn shops in my time, but okay, yeah. I can see what my gold and silver are worth for this period. And once I've got a lab set up, I can definitely make things to sell!

Well, that's rude. He sits nicely at the table and everything, do people not like raccoons here?

Oh wow, thanks! Ruddiger doesn't chase cats. He has some beef with a horse, but he isn't here so you should be good.

That was very informative, thank you!

video; un: signorvespa

[prontissimo]

[ Have an obviously facetious and sarcastic fourteen-year-old recording as he walks along some street in town, waving one hand in and out of the camera frame as he gestures dismissively in rhythm to his singsongy cadence. He's tossing his gaze around playfully from looking at the camera pointedly and avoiding "eye contact" at choice lines; all just a natural, charismatic rhetoric about him — albeit perhaps a little odd to be so cocky right off the bat, despite offering help, but even from first impression, cocky or not, he has a certain je ne sais quoi... ]

One — maaagic. Two — also magic. Three — no clue what you're talking about. Four — Still no clue. And five — they want stupid papers. But, lucky for you, I have stupid papers! So I'll help you feed your thing. And you. If you want. Yeah? ...Benvenuto, eh?

[droptheious]

[Oh shit. Oh no. Varian recognises this sort of fourteen-year-old immediately because he was this sort of fourteen-year-old. He kinda just stares at the screen for a moment, before clearing his throat and continuing onwards.]

...I really don't like how many times magic is being used as an explanation here.

[Magic is the WORST.]

What are...stupid papers? What do the stupid papers look like? And...thanks, yeah. I'd appreciate that, I don't want Ruddiger to go hungry. And I guess I could eat.