sphererpmod: (Default)
Sphere Mods ([personal profile] sphererpmod) wrote in [community profile] thespherelogs2019-09-02 08:19 pm

Fourth Wall Month!

Who: Everyone and visiting Characters!
What: The Fourth Wall log!
When: The month of September!.
Where: All over.
Notes: If you have any questions about how this all works, please head over here to the Fourth Wall info post!.

Fourth Wall Log!
Company's coming!
So the Sphere is malfunctioning and there’s new arrivals here. In order to give them somewhere to sleep and rest, the Sphere has given them all temporary housing in dorm dome number two! That means sunken beds, three squares a day that are already prepared for you and clothing in the closets that just happen to be to your character’s taste. (And you know if they happen to die then you’ve got a nice space to Rez.) All and all it’s a nice little home base for people to have. There’s several common areas for mingling, and all though there aren’t individual rooms for the characters who are staying there, the domes also provide screens for privacy. Don’t worry, no one’s spying on you or something. Probably.

John (one of our resident NPCs here, who is a doctor and also a ghost but shush) knows the importance of family, and she knows how tough it can be when people arrive in a place they don’t know. The visitors haven’t really had the same experience as people brought in the traditional way, so John has stationed herself in the dorms with a sort of ipad thing, and she’s offering to take people’s information and to show them how things like the network work. She’s also there to hold hands and deal with any medical issues that these new arrivals may just happen to have. If people don’t want to talk to her, that’s totally fine! She won’t push. But she’ll also provide directions to places if people need them. Or at least point them in the general places that they need to go.

Speaking things out into the void.
This is a prompt for visiting characters to be able to put out a network post without actually joining the network community! Upon waking in The Sphere, each character (even temporary ones!) are fitted with a small golden circle behind their right ear. This is how they are connected to the network through a neural link. Touch and hold the button to create a broadcast of one of three types:
  1. Audio. Your character thinks audible words onto the network.
  2. Writing: Your character thinks text into the network.
  3. Video. Your character projects a broadcast of a video of themselves onto the network.
Replies are determined by the player. The network needs to be accessed by choice, so character broadcasts are not automatically beamed directly into people’s heads. The Sphere isn’t that rude.

Private messages are allowed by pressing and holding and pressing and holding again as you picture the person in your mind. This can be an image or a name, err more on the side of things being more accessible than less.

God let people have their pumpkin spice lattes, Karen!
It’s September, and that means that fall has hit the Sphere hard. Well, as hard as any place can be without having actual seasons or sunlight. So, in the artificial sun of the Sphere, what there is instead of colder weather and leaves changing is a new festival. The festival, which if you ask someone who’s been there for a while is in celebration of the most fall thing in the entire world: pumpkin spice. That’s right, there’s an entire festival just centered around pumpkin spice flavored things! Of course, the people of the Sphere do try and make an effort to invoke the spirit of the season, with large garlands of fake brightly colored leaves lining the street. The scents of pumpkin spice fill the air and there are small fire pits near Adirondack chairs that are clustered together with all the things to make s’mores.

For those not pumpkin minded, there are also a fair amount of apples picked from the Sphere orchards, and a few small knives. Some older women promise that if people can peel the apples in a long spiral and throw them behind them, then the peel will form the initial of the person that the thrower is destined to marry. Of course there is also bobbing for apples and pumpkin carving.

In both the merchant dome and the agricultural dome there’s massive tables brimming with enough pumpkin foods to make Harry Potter jealous. There’s all sorts of pumpkin baked goods, pumpkin ravioli, roasted pumpkin and vegetables and there’s even roasted meats with pumpkin sauce! There's also drinks of both the alcoholic and non alcoholic sort: pumpkin beer, pumpkin spice wine, pumpkin spice vodka, apple spiced whiskey and so on! At each place is a coffee cart with a poor overworked barista who is doling out every sort of pumpkin coffee, hot chocolate and tea imaginable including yes pumpkin spice lattes.

We're waiting for the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
There’s even a pumpkin carving contest in the agricultural dome! Pumpkins of different sizes ranging from small sugar ones to ones that could comfortably form a children’s fort are stacked around, and there are picnic tables set in newspaper and with things like knives and scoopers and nails and even drills for those people who want to remove the pumpkin guts or use them to do some carving. Everyone who participates receives a ribbon as well as a bag of toasted pumpkin seeds to take home.

They hope you really like pumpkin seeds. There’s a ton of them.

When the dark comes, people hunker down between the false stars above, with blankets all around them, the scent of pumpkin in the air. Flashlights and small lanterns are distributed by people, and when asked what’s going on, they’ll say that they’re waiting for The Great Pumpkin. Children whisper the name excitedly, and even some of the more inebriated adults do the same. Either way, at midnight the largest pumpkin rises above the crowd to gasps of shock and awe before it just magically changes into the types of candy and small toys that one would expect to come from an excellently stocked pinata.

The color of magical bounty.
In the rec dome, some magically gifted people have conjured up massive piles of dried leaves for people to frolic in. And when I say massive, I mean massive. It’s almost like an entire forest of leaves that’s thankfully free of all of the problems that come with jumping in leaves. With no animals in the Sphere, there’s not any of their presents hiding in the leaves and anything sharp hasn’t been created! Which means that it’s great for things like jumping in, burying things in and of course leaf fights.

If your character is missing nature, the area smells exactly how one would expect a late September walk in the woods to smell: it’s almost as if you’re there! The sunlight in the dome has also been altered a bit where the leaves are located, so it’s cooler, and a slight wind seems to be in the air, stirring the leaves every so often. It’s enough to encourage sweaters and scarves, that have been provided by people if they’d like them. The scarves and sweaters all seem to be of the handmade variety, and just the tiniest bit irregular, with one sleeve longer than the other, or the fringe on a scarf being slightly askew, that sort of thing. But they’re still lovely and soft and warm and smell of dryer sheets and leaves.

And we're flying, flying far beyond...
So the Sphere saw that everyone just loved the fireflies last month so this month it decided that what the city needs is to fly for real! So in the Rec dome, there’s a marked pad that people can step on that lets people fly around this particular dome for 30 minutes at a go using the same sort of controls that the communications behind your ear has! Press quickly once to go up and twice to go down. The clearance in the dome clocks in somewhere around 400 feet so there’s plenty of room for flying and even going up and touching the top of the dome and staring out into the abyss of water.

Be careful though because sometimes if you stare too long into the abyss, things just happen to stare back at you and then there are things in the deep water that you may not expect. Or that you might. Giant fish and squid may just find all this unusual activity quite interesting. But don’t worry the dome won’t crack. Guess what! You are now the fish in the aquarium for them! Or you know the bird flying past the cat in the window.

Wanna go to a real party? (CW: Mentions of drugs and alcohol.)
If people are looking for more illicit entertainment, and discreet inquiries are made, a passcode to the Black Market hidden behind some of the stalls is offered. The entrance is hidden enough that someone needs to be looking for it, and there is a rather large bouncer guarding the door and asking for the proper passcode. The passcode of the day happens to be I hate pumpkin.

Inside the black market is large, but much more dimly lit than the regular market dome. There are various pockets of people clustered under bright neon lights. The lights, someone confides to you, are code for what they’re offering. And nearly everything is on offer if a person has the ability to make a trade. Things from home, character skills and even favors tend to be the currency here, but watch out: the hawkers within are shrewd and sharp. If they make a deal with someone, it’s nearly always going to favor them. Eventually.

There’s also a large and loud party happening inside. Think of a rave with a large amount of people who happened to be a bit out of their minds. Drugs aren’t given freely here, they’re too valuable, but should someone want to figure out what they’re rolling on, eventually someone will ask or offer. The drug that they are currently using is called ‘self’ and it’s something that affects your character in an intensely personal way. For some, it’s an experience like your favorite cocktail mixed with vicodin, and for others it’s just like being drunk. For still more people, it’s like ecstasy without the side effects.

The drug has no physically addictive properties. It does however cause a hangover. The Sphere doesn't want to take all the fun out of imbibing too much.

photo inspiration

cantnotreport: (Default)

[personal profile] cantnotreport 2019-09-07 06:39 am (UTC)(link)
What makes you think that's not interesting? It sounds terribly important.
thegrifter: (Sometimes I can look innocent)

[personal profile] thegrifter 2019-09-07 06:57 am (UTC)(link)
[He grins, and it 100% comes across through the feed.]

Sister, I always get by on my good looks.
customplates: (aaron_027)

[personal profile] customplates 2019-09-07 07:01 am (UTC)(link)
[He smiles at that, nodding.]

Yeah, and he talks a lot more than I do, so...be prepared for that.

[personal profile] fancybroad 2019-09-07 07:02 am (UTC)(link)
Do you really believe Loki not responsible for any of the misdeeds he has committed?
lordmajestros: (Default)

[personal profile] lordmajestros 2019-09-07 07:04 am (UTC)(link)
Once I've worked out breaching its shield, I fully intend to.
lordmajestros: (pic#6228407)

[personal profile] lordmajestros 2019-09-07 07:05 am (UTC)(link)
I would never make that particular mistake.
lordmajestros: (pic#6228407)

[personal profile] lordmajestros 2019-09-07 07:06 am (UTC)(link)
This facility was built for a purpose. Does it not concern you what that might be?
lordmajestros: (pic#6228402)

[personal profile] lordmajestros 2019-09-07 07:06 am (UTC)(link)
Your petulance does you no credit, Charis.
doubled_speed: (Bring It On)

[personal profile] doubled_speed 2019-09-07 07:07 am (UTC)(link)
Not saying that. The Loki in my world sorta tried to feed my brother to a magic-parasite thing. So no, I don't think he's a good guy. I don't even believe all his story. But that doesn't mean he didn't deserve better.
doubled_speed: (Yeah I'm Out Of Here)

[personal profile] doubled_speed 2019-09-07 07:10 am (UTC)(link)
You're literally trying to kill us all.

[personal profile] fancybroad 2019-09-07 07:10 am (UTC)(link)
What would you have done differently?
doubled_speed: (Worn and Weary)

[personal profile] doubled_speed 2019-09-07 07:12 am (UTC)(link)
[There's the rub, isn't it? Tommy didn't have a good family, so he only knows a bad one when he sees it. He doesn't know what a good one looks like.]

Not my past. I don't have the 20/20 hindsight. Ask yourself how you could have helped him. You probably have answers.

[personal profile] fancybroad 2019-09-07 07:13 am (UTC)(link)
There are worse habits to have. [She chuckles lightly.]

Of course they have. [Why is she not surprised by either thing?] I am pleased, if not somewhat surprised, to know they are both helping people even in a strange land.
wasinnocent: (charis78)

[personal profile] wasinnocent 2019-09-07 07:26 am (UTC)(link)
[ She lets out a heavy sigh. ] You're exhausting. [ And after everything she's been through and seen, she doesn't have it in her to really fight him anymore. Not like she used to. Not when the last memory she has of him involved her plunging her swords into him. ] Why don't you finally finish things then? I won't even fight this time. It'll be an easy win for your justice.
itsnothingpersonal: (easycompany_009)

[personal profile] itsnothingpersonal 2019-09-07 07:27 am (UTC)(link)
Yes. Her name is Charis. She's a member of a race I've never heard of or read about in any tomes in the library.

[He does nod, though.]

It was fascinating, Mother, and enlightening if also daunting. Leaving this place isn't as simple as simply finding the exit.
lepidopterans: (pic#2722165)

Real Party

[personal profile] lepidopterans 2019-09-07 08:51 am (UTC)(link)
[ In a different life, before powers and X-Men, Betsy had spent quite a bit of time in places like this. As a young adult she'd had quite the wild streak. It almost came with the territory. She'd been a young woman in big cities pursuing a modeling career and that almost required a certain degree of partying. At least that's what she'd say. The truth had been much more simple: she'd enjoyed the dangerous nature of it.

That enjoyment of danger had never left her and it had been what had prompted her to investigate this place. She stayed away from the actual drugs of course, nobody wanted an out of control telepath in the Sphere. Drinks were another story. She was currently holding her second glass of whiskey while observing the party itself. ]


First time here, actually. [ She turned her head to face the man that asked the question. It wasn't really the worst line she'd ever heard, but it also was far from the best. ] What about you?
lepidopterans: (pic#2722044)

Wildcard

[personal profile] lepidopterans 2019-09-07 09:12 am (UTC)(link)
When she was younger Betsy had been much more of a social woman. In fact she'd even inherited membership to the Hellfire Club, one of the most well known upperclass clubs in her world. In fact it was there that she'd first interacted with a younger and less experienced Tony Stark. That part of her life felt like it was an entirely different person though. Now, Betsy was someone that had closed herself off to much interaction beyond the X-Men and her small circle of close friends. Perhaps it wasn't the most healthy way to live but very few people in the superhero business actually came out healthy.

Despite the activity around her she was mostly content to keep to herself and watch others and what they were doing. When she spotted a man off on his own scribbling in a notebook she found her curiosity somewhat piqued. It looked like she'd found someone else happy to just hide off in a corner doing their own thing and so she did the logical thing: she approached him.

"Isn't there a saying people say about all work and no fun?" She offered a tiny smile to him.

[ ooc: let me know if you're cool with her picking up on anything about him telepathically! She's nosy and rude. ]
lepidopterans: (pic#5110703)

Get Your Drink On

[personal profile] lepidopterans 2019-09-07 09:32 am (UTC)(link)
Betsy has never been the motherly type. In fact some people might claim she was the direct opposite. Her idea of interacting with the students included asking them whether or not she should just kill one of their enemies and putting them through training scenarios reenacting literal ancient wars. That didn't mean she wasn't going to judge Tommy for making a drink that looked like sugar with some coffee.

Judging was exactly what she was doing too and her expression didn't even try to hide it.

"How can you possibly drink that and not immediately die from the sugar rush?" Her tone was light, even revealing the slight hint that she was teasing him. "Why not just ask for a cup of sugar?"
unbrokening: (got286)

[personal profile] unbrokening 2019-09-07 02:08 pm (UTC)(link)
I presume it may be difficult.

Moving stories?
unbrokening: (got042)

[personal profile] unbrokening 2019-09-07 02:13 pm (UTC)(link)
I am Brandon Stark or Bran the Broken.

[ sans titles because that would be tiresome for someone they would mean nothing to. ]
Edited (i can write full sentences...) 2019-09-07 14:13 (UTC)
toivory: (it's my red lipstick)

[personal profile] toivory 2019-09-07 02:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes.

They're wonderful- mummers perform the stories, and they're recorded somehow so you can watch them whenever you wish! They've done it with drawings, as well. This world is unlike any we've ever heard of, Bran.
toivory: (i hate u dany)

[personal profile] toivory 2019-09-07 02:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Indeed there are.

At first, I'm sure they believed I was a relative of their friend, Tony Stark. I set them straight, but they're still helpful.
fromthelevee: (Default)

[personal profile] fromthelevee 2019-09-07 02:18 pm (UTC)(link)
I can deal with that.

Would you like me to track down some wine? Or anything to help with dinner?
stantheman: (Default)

[personal profile] stantheman 2019-09-07 02:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Well, he hasn't a clue about that, who knows what he'd think if he knew. ]

It's been like...a year. [ A little over a year now that he's been out of Derry between the Quarantine and the Sphere. But he guesses that in comparison to being all grown up really isn't that much difference in all reality. ]

She's kind of hard to keep out of anything she wants to be in. [ Stan smiles a little, so if it was trouble it was going to be trouble. But he was always going to try and be there for her. ]

It must be weird. I don't think I'd like to meet me... but I think it's a good thing for Bev.
fromthelevee: (Default)

[personal profile] fromthelevee 2019-09-07 02:52 pm (UTC)(link)
So you've grown a little.

[Just like himself, but taller.]

Sounds about right. I want things to be good for her. I don't know if it will change my past or not, but if I can help with her future, then I will.

I'm proud of her, though. She's amazing- as... as weird as this all seems.

Though I guess we know weirder.