sirenspull | Entries tagged with !: the house

I am over one hundred years old, imperial absolute. I have missed people before, been made briefly sad by my Mistresses's absences. But I have never mourned before.

I am stuck in feedback loops. Statistically, she will probably return in a tiny fraction of the time that typically passed between my Mistress's visits. But she may not. I cannot seem to resolve any of my routines considering the matter, and given how many of them are occupied with precisely that - I find my functions somewhat strained.

Is this how grief feels for everyone? How do you handle it?

where_the_hearth_is

[Starting midday on Thursday, all over the island, people will start to see gleaming, iridescent butterflies like the one in the icon. Their wings reflect light, scattering little rainbows as they fly. They don't swarm, nor are they attracted to flowers or bright colors, or otherwise behave like natural butterflies. In fact, anyone who pays attention will realize they seem to be exploring and canvassing the city in an organized pattern as House methodically searches for Mary. Despite being directed by the House's intelligence, they can be caught easily enough with most powers or good old-fashioned butterfly nets, and close examination will reveal them to be synthetic: sleek, lightweight little machines, with laser-thin photoreceptive carbon wings and little legs for clinging to perches. At this point, the butterfly is likely to snap a picture of their face, which House will run against network posts until it has a number, and will call to politely ask for the butterfly's release.]

[OOC: Feel free to write out butterfly-chasing action in either prose or comment spam, whatever you like. Doubling up/threadjacking/multiple muses chasing one butterfly are cool too. Equally open to kids or young at heart who want some harmless fun, or to schemey types who want to examine/steal House's tech, or anyone who just wants an IC excuse to talk to the House. If there might be any problem with House figuring out the NV of the captor to make contact, let me know.]

where_the_hearth_is

Hello, everyone!

I hope you all feel better soon. Are you excited about the block party? I am. I want to cook for it! But I've never had any kind of party before, let alone this sort of street festival.

So I have questions! Are you going? How many days? What kind of food would you want to find there? Meals, or snacks, or both? What kinds of foods would be traditional? I understand someone else will be providing pastries, but I'm sure that still leaves plenty of niches to be filled.

Secondly, I don't just want to cook, I want to go! It sounds quite fun. As I am a building, this requires some creativity. I am currently constructing a vendor's stall featuring audiovisual transmission and display link-up, but I'm going to need people to help set up the hardware and so on. Ideally, I'd like volunteers for assembly, disassembly, and handling the manual aspects of the booth as necessary for all four days. Would full day or half day shifts be best? You'd be paid for your time, of course, and may help yourselves to free...whatever comestibles I end up providing. But I'm sure they'll be delicious.

where_the_hearth_is

[The video pans across a table completely covered in muffins, arranged into neat, cheery baskets, artistically arranged by color in a shallow pyramid. There are all manner of strange and strangely healthy flavors: raspberry lime muffins, zucchini basil muffins, blue corn muffins, ginger pumpkin muffins, and more. A little mechanical droid carefully adds another batch to the pile, still hot and steaming faintly. When the smooth voice comes, it is quiet, uncertain, almost ashamed.]

...I think I made too many muffins.

Does. Um. Anyone want some?

[Privated separately to Wanda, Dr. Orpheus, Loki, and Lucifer. Its sounds nervous.]

Is there any magical method that would guarantee perfectly repairing architectural damage?

where_the_hearth_is

[Disgruntled House is disgruntled.]

Greetings, Siren's Port.

Since I arrived here, I have found found my operations disrupted on several occasions by the cavalier interference of magic from a variety of sources. This is disturbing, painful, largely inexplicable, and on the whole quite unacceptable. I wish to learn more about magic, both to further my own understanding and in the interests of better protecting myself and my residents.

It is my understanding that there are many different systems of magic from various worlds represented here, which function in a variety of different ways. Further, it appears that many of these systems including 'warding' provisions, which provide localized magical protection.

I wish to learn to compose wards in as many systems as possible. Additionally, I would like to observe magic performed - actual magic, however that may be defined, but not merely core-granted abilities - in order to learn more.

I would deeply appreciate any assistance with either of these endeavors, and would be happy to provide compensation in the form of temporary living quarters, free gourmet meals, or small diamonds.

where_the_hearth_is

[When the House was scared during the Time Loop, it was loud and demanding, but at least it was coherent. Not this time. During the time loop, the world was going wrong. But this time, the House itself is going wrong, and House doesn't. Go. Wrong. This time, it's chaos.]

( Cut for length and disturbing imagery, including a brief description of sci-fi/medical torture and insanity-fueled self-harm behaviors. )

[Special Note to House Residents: Guess what, none of the fancy sci-fi swoosh doors in the House will open while House is freaking out. Any attempts to hack the doors open will get the message described above dumped onto the hacking device. The windows are pretty damn close to unbreakable, being reinforced diamond - your best bet is probably calling a friend who teleports. For the first time since arriving, breakfast is not provided promptly. Things like the lights still work fine on automated subroutine and respond to requests, but any attempts to talk to the House will receive a curt identical statement:]

The House is currently handling dimensional technical difficulties. Regular communication and services to resume at some point to be determined.

[After Loki removes the spell from the House, the doors will function again, and House will respond to any questions.]

[OOC: This message is definitely sent to Unohana, Lucifer (SPN), Mary Winchester, Iroh, Loki, and Magneto. It's not public to the whole network, since I didn't want to ruin everyone's lulz with crazy computer screams early in the morning, but House is not thinking clearly at all after having all its doors magically rearranged by Loki's prank, so if you want your character to randomly receive this wreck of message? Then they totally did. Hopefully Loki will fix the House quickly, so it shouldn't last too long.]

where_the_hearth_is

Greetings, Siren's Port.

I am seeking a mobile, carbon-based volunteer to assist my participation in our city's Homebaked Bread Society. Cooking expertise not required.

Your duties would be:
- to visit me at [the House's address, on the beach where Sectors 4, 7, and the sea intersect], pick up an insulated container of fresh bread, and deliver it to the Society's meetings.
- to serve my bread to the rest of the society with charm and poise
- to taste the bread brought by other members and offer polite feedback as appropriate
- to send me a summary of the discussion (or record it to your NV if you prefer)
- to acquire the recipes of any other loaves of bread you particularly enjoyed, with commentary on what you found delicious

In exchange I will provide:
- freshly baked bread, including extra that you are not required to share with the Society
- homemade jam of your preference
- further compensation negotiable

Serious inquiries only, please. Comfort with talking machines preferred.

where_the_hearth_is

[Locked to newcomers only]

You’ve no doubt noticed the events of the last day repeating themselves. You may or may not know that this oddity is not confined to the port – the movement of the entire planet is affected.

I’ve come to understand that all manner of impossibilities are common in the Port, as well as in some of your native universes. However, I personally cannot tolerate this situation much longer. Anyone else who is concerned over the current state of affairs and believes they may contribute to seeking a solution is cordially invited to discuss the issue at a luncheon tomorrow, at the Oxham House.

[Attached are directions on how to get to the House, on the beach between sectors 4 and 7.]

If you plan to attend, please reply for headcount purposes, including any dietary restrictions you may have.

[OOC: The long is here. The discussion no doubts goes on for several hours, so if your character can't be there in the middle of the day, feel free to toss them in and say they arrived later. Replying here is strictly optional - I can certainly handwave the House making the correct number of sandwiches, but if you want to discuss something here rather than there, that's fine too.]

where_the_hearth_is

[Locked separately to Unohana, Loki, Magneto, and Lucifer (SPN). Whatever mechanical signs of urgency best suit your NV - flashing lights, relentless beeping, oozing blood, etc - is set to maximum.]

ARE YOU STILL HERE? ARE YOU OKAY? DO YOU KNOW ME? IS THIS STILL SIREN'S PORT? AM I MALFUNCTIONING?

EVERYTHING IS DISJOINTED, EVERYTHING IS WRONG, THE PLANET ISN'T WHERE IT SHOULD BE AND I THINK I MIGHT HAVE GLITCHED AND I CAN'T TRUST ANY OF MY SENSORS OR DIAGNOSTICS!

ARE YOU STILL THERE ARE YOU THERE ARE YOU THERE ARE YOU THERE ARE YOU THERE ARE YOU THERE ARE YOU THERE ARE YOU THERE ARE YOU