hadriel_logs | [OPEN] November Lab Mingle!

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[OPEN] November Lab Mingle!

Who: Anyone at the Lab!
What: General Lab mingle for November.
Where: The Lab
When: From November 10th-December 9th. A new one will come out for next month then!
Warnings: Should be fine; individual toplevels will be tagged appropriately!

The Lab sits right around the clinic and shops on the west island and provides a laboratory workspace for the more scientifically inclined residents of Hadriel.

The original design of the lab is one large, open room; think of how an empty warehouse store might look, but at maybe half to a third of the size. The area is filled with tables, desks, chairs, and a whiteboard and chalkboard, wherein people have set up different stations and zones. The walls are full of shelves, many of which have been converted to cabinets over the years, that hold anything characters would like to populate them with.

In the center of the lab, a CRT monitor style supercomputer rests; it's been repaired a number of times, and despite looking clunky, it seems to still work and makes a horrible dial-up noise when turned on. It runs on it's own power source, a generator set up next to it that seems to run on some sort of magic and electrical source that keeps it chugging along. In addition, many of the stations house their own modifications; check the comments below to see specific changes and areas to the space itself.

Near the back, there are also a few, smaller rooms in the back: two supply closets and a slightly bigger closed-off kitchenette (it's got a Hadriel style microwave and fridge like the ones found in the apartments) and lounge space adapted from a side bedroom. There's a pull out couch that was dragged in there by the original creators as a god-given favor, so it does not match the other decor at all. There's also a staircase to the roof for... roof stuff, I don't know, whatever the hell you wanna do up there. Keep it PG-13, kids.

This is a MINGLE, so please create your own top-levels and tag around! Full details of the lab, supplies, and it's regular residents can be found on our community at

underfunded. Have fun!

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[Through all of Scott's sleuthing — "sleuthing" meaning he finally figured out how to work that weirdly outdated device he has for some reason — he found out where the lab was, and that there was a lab. So now there's some blonde asshole in white armor with baby blue accents, guns strapped to his back, and a weird future-y tattoo on his neck looking like an odd mixture of someone who can probably take care of himself and just a complete idiot.

He doesn't know where to go exactly so he's drawn to the center of the lab where he proceeds to squint at the CRT-ish monitor, almost as if he's in pain, muttering a "wow" under his breath.

Once he's remembering why he's in here in the first place he tries to catch the attention of whatever staff is nearby with an awkward little wave.]

— Hey, a moment of your time?

[Newt glances up from the cup of ramen he's slurping down at his desk. Yeah, he's eating right next to his horrible pile of monster chunks, what of it???

Oh, right. Somehow he always forgets that newbies come in with all the monsters on Door Day.]

What's up?

[He says it through a mouthful of noodles.]

[It looks like that wince is making a return, only it looks less like a "wow look at this outdated tech how far back in time am I" and more like "that can't be sanitary oh my god what are you doing?"

It only lasts for a second, though. He is eyeing those monster chunks with gross fascination while he speaks though. Ugh, Lexi would love this joint. For the monster parts...not the eating in unsanitary conditions part.]

Yeah, uh — not to interrupt your lunch or anything, but hypothetically...[it's not like he kept this a secret back home, but he still hesitates a bit. Who knows how people could react to what he's about to say here?]...say — hypothetically, remember that — I needed to find out if an AI that was previously kind of..."part of me?" [airquotes] is still...well, that. Who would I speak to?

[Newt is an idiot when it comes to social interactions, but even he is wise to the true meaning of "hypothetically" here. Anyone who stumbles this much and insists on the hypothetical twice in one sentence is definitely not talking about "their friend".]

Well, hypothetically, I bet I could figure it out.

[It's not his area of expertise, but what this guy's asking doesn't sound too difficult. Newt sets down his lunch and heads over, stepping around his, uh, this]

Are you an android or something? Cyborg? What's your story?

[Scott would be concerned if anyone did believe that, to be honest. Keeping things fairly light and taking away its seriousness is just what he does.

It turns out there is a lot here that's catching his attention, though. That...is that a shark with wings? Huh. Yeah, he's going to have to ask about that later. Seeing new species is still thrilling to him.]

Uh...[just give him a minute to remember he's having a conversation and not staring at weird aliens.] No, and no. Totally human.

See, I have this neural implant called SAM — Simulated Adaptive Matrix — and I don't know if it's offline or what, but I can't...hear him? Or talk to him. Annnd I've been told it's connected to me on a [here come the airquotes] "deeper level" but no one could actually tell me what the hell that means. Just that untangling him from me could kill me.

[He rubs the back of his head with a wince. How do you explain any of this, honestly???]

Also I just...feel different. It's crazy, but I almost feel like the implant itself is the problem and not its connection to SAM. But I also don't know what the hell I'm talking about which is why I'm here.

[Annnnd exhale. There.]

[If you're looking for new species, bud, you have definitely come to the right lab.]

Hm...

[Newt's experience with neural implants is... Well, okay, he has zero experience with neural implants. Technology hasn't quite advanced that far in his world, at least not yet. There's almost no point given the invention of Drift technology, but now that the Kaiju War is over? Yeah, neural implants probably aren't too far off.

But, whatever. Newt can figure it out.]

You've got to have a port or something for it, right? Like, I don't need to open up your skull to access the thing, do I?

[He's not about opening skulls of things that are still alive, so you might be shit outta luck there, bro. He'll come up with a Plan B if he has to, though.]

[Scott laughs nervously at the abruptness of that question.]

I was hoping you'd have a scanner or something. I'd like to keep my skull intact.

[Of course, judging by their general conditions his fears are starting to become realized...tech is probably not that great around here. But...a scanner...at least, right? Right???]

SAM links to my implants from SAM node, but uh, that's on a ship that's probably not here. Or, definitely not here. Sooooo...

A scanner? [Newt blows out a breath.] Yeah, I wish. Unfortunately our tech options are pretty limited, dude. That computer's the best we got.

[He motions to the supercomputer in the center of the room. It's more impressive than it looks with its old-timey CRT monitor, but still, it's not nearly advanced enough to be much help in this scenario.]

Are there any signs that the implant isn't offline? That seems likely if it's not functioning as normal.

That is incredibly distressing.

[There is literally no means to scan anything and if he thinks too hard on that thought he'll probably spiral into a mini panic attack so he just won't do that! If he's going to panic about anything it should probably be about the possibly missing AI in his head. Or not in his head, as the case may be.]

Uh, I don't think so? Normally I have my Omni-tool that would tell me if it's on or offline — ah, it's a holographic mobile device. [Just to keep the explanation short for now.] But somehow that didn't come here with me, so I have jack shit other than a really weird...[vague hand gestures and some squinting because what the fuck is he saying] absent feeling in my head?

[Like the implant isn't even there. But he wouldn't be able to feel that, would he?? No, that's dumb.]

No kidding.

[Not nearly distressing for the same reasons, though. Newt is just mad that he's having to rough it in Hadriel, like the baby he is.]

Bummer you don't have the Omni-tool. It sounds like a neat gadget. We probably could've used it around here.

[He'll take all the tech he can get. As for the rest of it, he cocks an eyebrow.]

Absent? Sounds to me like you've got your answer, then.

[Scott pulls a face, a little on the verge of looking like a child that was just told there was no more candy. Except this had to do with something integral to his brain and his job. His job that is to save his people from extinction in a totally new galaxy. Perhaps it's a little understated.

After a moment he huffs a sigh, arms crossing over his chest.]

...Yeah, that's what I figured. [He just really wanted to be wrong.] Doesn't hurt to check. Thanks for trying though, uh...

...What's your name?

[Newt can sympathize with the look, at least. He hates the utter lack of tech here too, buddy, even if his need isn't as dire.]

Yeah, sure thing. Sorry, dude. You could try asking one of the gods about it, I guess?

[He shrugs. Newt hasn't dealt with the gods much, but it seems like the next place to go if this is important to Scott.]

I'm Newt. You?

I'll think about it.

[Though if he can avoid some alien-beings-whatever they may be having to root around in his head he will. It's starting to look like he'll just have to do without SAM until he can get home. At least he's not dead.]

Scott Ryder. Just Scott's fine.

[Annnd he lets a pause enter the conversation as he takes a look around, and uh, now that that's over with he just has to ask — and judging by the way the question just blurts out of his mouth he's been waiting.]

So, what's with the shark-thing?

[Yes he'll start there.]

[Fair. Newt is hesitant about making deals with the gods too, though that's largely because he rarely finds himself in need of anything worth begging for.

Newt glances back toward his work station with a bit of a grimace.]

Oh, yeah, you been by the coliseum? Sure you have, you're new here. Monsters show up once a month with all the newbies, and I've been studying them to put together a bestiary. The stuff this month is, eh... Gross. Weird. Usually it's a bunch of one kind of monster, but this time it's all this horrible spliced creatures? I don't know what's up with that.

[Scott continues to stare at the shark hybrid as Newt gives his explanation.]

Oh, sure. Those things. I figured something went wrong on the teleportation side of things and smashed up a bunch of things that maybe should have come in...separate. Not that I've ever seen that happen before...

Unless those aliens — er, gods, did this on purpose, which is [He winces.]...a disturbing thought.

[Seeing as Alphys' desk is right next to the computer, her stuff is all over where he's walking. There's a smaller table with fine tools and a larger desk setup where notes seem to be strewn around, as well as etchings of what look like bits of rock. Alphys herself is just sleepily walking out from the kitchen space, mug of coffee in hand, when he finally gets her attention. Did you call for a 4 foot tall lizard with glasses? Probably not, but it's what you're getting!]

What, uh-- ohmygosh.

[Oh shit is that armor what is all that. Count her entranced. She hurriedly skitters past him to place her cup down so she can address him properly.]

Hey! Hi, w-welcome, are you new?

[And cue Scott's little double-take when there's a short lizard wearing glasses approaching. He most certainly wasn't expecting that, despite the various...species, he's been seeing so far. How far is Hadriel from the Andromeda galaxy, damn.

But he's getting the hang of this, seeing as it's part of his job description to interact with new species for the first time.

That doesn't mean he won't immediately start joking around, though.]

I'm getting that a lot, I noticed. I hope it's because people are realizing they've never seen me around and not because I look as lost as I feel.

[She's kind of gotten used to that reaction- the vast majority of people here have not seen a short lizard woman, or any lizard woman for that matter. Alphys has become accustomed to being the welcome wagon in two years, even if she's not confident she's actually good at it.]

Don't worry, it's n-not you! I'm just, uh, used to seeing certain people around here. Plus people tend to, uhm, come here when they're new or looking around for the first time.

[Since a lot of people who have been here a while just kind of know where they are.]

Are you okay? Did you make it out of the Coliseum alright?

[He's beginning to wonder if she's nervous around new people or just...is.

He offers her a smile.]

Oh yeah, not a whole lot of resistance from those, uh, things. Besides, I can normally handle myself. [Usually? Most times.] I found out about this place through that welcome guide thing — pretty handy. So handy, in fact, I thought maybe I'd be walking into a trap.

[He laughs, because he's joking, but he also low-key wondered if that were the case. Yet he came anyway.]

I'm Ryder, by the way. Scott Ryder.

[Oh, absolutely just is.]

Oh! Jeez, I didn't even know we were, uhm, even o-on the welcome notice. But no, it's-- really, it's just a lab! The only one.

[She's perfectly aware she's only making it sound more like some kind of deathtrap every second, so she hastily holds out a hand to shake. Her hand feels like snakeskin on the back, but with paw-like padding on the front, each finger ending in a little curved claw.]

I'm Alphys! Uh, Dr. Alphys. But Alphys is fine!

[Well, if it's a deathtrap he's already in it. No use in freaking out now.

He reaches out for a shake! He has shaken a lot of alien hands so it's not that odd. He's just grateful he's not embarrassing himself by completely screwing up some kind of alien-hand-shake.]

A pleasure, Alphys. You can just call me Scott. [He chuckles.] No one ever calls me that anymore.

["Pathfinder" this, or "Ryder" that. Ugh.]

Anyway, uh, I was wondering...what do you specialize in? I have some questions. AI questions. AI being connected to my brain questions...

[Believe it or not, this sounded better in his head.]

[Thankfully, she's not an alien! Or well, sort of not an alien? From the same planet as humans where she comes from at least. Once upon a time they lived together, so a lot of human customs feel familiar.

She nods at his name, trying to give him a smile, and pretty much doesn't worry about his nervousness. Science is something she knows how to talk about, sort of.]

Well, uhm, I do all k-kinds of studies. My specialty is in robotics and code, but uh, I've also done work on magic, and-- actually, I did once work on an AI in someone's head! Kind of!

[It's hard to explain. Let's go with 'Red Vs Blue is Wild' and leave it there.]

[Okay, all of that sounds familiar and nice except for the magic, which he's not going to touch right now! He couldn't even begin to comprehend, honestly. The way some things feel familiar and understandable and other things just make him feel like he's in a fever dream is really starting to weird him out.

He snaps his fingers.]

Yes, that. I have an implant that an AI called SAM can directly connect to in my head. Er, stuff and things happened and now he's part of me, but no one apparently knows what that means so I couldn't explain that part to you.

I can't communicate with SAM at all and I don't have the tool that would tell me if he's on or offline. I was hoping someone here might be able to help figure out what's going on with him.

[She tilts her head as he speaks, eyes directed to the ceiling as she drums her fingers on her chin, thinking hard.]

Oh yeah, that's-- that's complicated! I can see what I can d-do? How do you, uhm... is there hardware, or? What am I looking for, uh, I guess. Is it something I need to try and interface with...?

A scan would be ideal, but...something tells me you might not have the equipment for that.

[This is going to take some getting used to, how tragic.]

If there was a way you could interface with my implant, though...[He points to his temple.] That might help. I'm sure you'd be able to see if it's offline, or malfunctioning, or whatever the hell's wrong with it.

[It doesn't occur to Scott that maybe another goddamn universe is way out of SAM's range because screw that he refuses to accept that as a possibility. He's also not entirely sure about the whole, other universe, magic, shit anyway.]

[At this point she's just scrambling to hold onto terms here. Interface? Oh god, this is some sci-fi stuff and she is wildly underprepared.]

Uh... n-no, we don't, uhm. I'm sorry.

[Maybe she can figure this out another way.]

Well, here, let's talk through this a little. What kind of device is this? Is the whole, uhm, thing implanted in you, or just a c-connection? I know you said, uhm, he's kind of fused with you-- is that all of him? We don't really have a link to other worlds when the Door is closed.

[Scott's features flash with uncertainty for a moment, caught up on the last thing she said, so he focuses on that before he bothers explaining anymore.]

Okay, that — the whole "other worlds" thing. Just how separate our we out here? By entire systems? Galaxies?

[She lets out a bit of nervous laughter.]

Oh jeez, uh... well, it's hard to say, because, uhm... the city moves? Through star systems, but, uh, from what we can tell it's... an entire o-other dimension?

[Her voice ticks up into a squeak as her smile gets more and more strained, hands clasped together while she cringes for his reaction.]

[There's a noticeable pause and a worried furrow of his brows.]

I was afraid you'd say that.

[He holds up a hand as if to take back what he just said, his tone getting a touch concerned and slightly anxious.]

Actually, no, I wasn't — because "entire other dimension" was the last thing I would ever think of.

[She just laughs again, a nervous trill in her chest that probably does little to reassure him.]

I'm so sorry, uh, that's-- yeah, it's just a lot, it's s-so much.

[That's not helpful, but it is an answer?]

It's not as bad as it sounds though! Really, uh, this place can be really great, it's just... d-different. A lot different.

[Newt was looking forward to Door Day. It's been a while since he had something cool to dissect—the ogres were disgusting and waterlogged, and the flowers were highly awesome but not terribly complex or challenging. The rust monsters were the last monster of real interest, and those came in... what, three months ago? It's been too long since he had a good distraction.

This, though? He doesn't want this.

Maybe in some months past, he would've been excited to show up to the mayhem unfolding in the coliseum. Most of the monsters aren't exactly deadly, for one. That's good news for him. And, wow, what a selection. Studying all these creatures could keep him busy for years. They probably wouldn't contribute much to the bestiray given that there's no consistency, but that doesn't matter. It would be cool.

Watching all these Frankenstein-style creatures painfully shambling around, quickly overtaken by the city's fighters... It's just sad. Another disgusting product of the Door lashing out, probably. He spends maybe ten minutes in the coliseum before heading back to the lab. One cartful will do it for this month.

At his workspace in the corner, Newt can be found picking apart the corpses he's collected with much less verve than in prior months. There's a pile of various monster parts next to his dissection table, but at the moment he's working on a mostly-intact winged shark that he hates very much.

There is one positive to this month's horrible Door creatures though, and it's sitting on his desk in a cage: One living snake/ibis hybrid. It's angry that it's been captured apparenty, given that it keeps... squawking? It's more of a guttural hiss, like a bike horn that's got a hole in the rubber bulb.]

Yeah, yell at me all you want. I'm keeping you alive, you piece of crap.

[And to whoever's just overheard him grumbling at his new pet: Hi!]

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[OPEN] November Lab Mingle!

11/10 wastin' no time

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also dabs in here

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Newton Geiszler | ota