dualislogs | Baby lately the plans we're making

WHO: Open to all Dualizens
WHAT: Your regularly scheduled NAPs event for the month
WHERE: Our Crazy Jane's Gallows!
WHEN: January 7-10
WARNINGS: Please use these if applicable!

Look at all of these bright, shining new faces! There’s even a few less bright, less shining faces - maybe even a few folks without faces - but hey, this city welcomes all types. Chances are, if you’ve just arrived, you're seeing some pretty crazy things, unless you're used to an eye-blinding amount of neon, robots, weird-ass technology, magic, and an omnipresent police force...and hey, if you are, congrats, you're gonna settle in just fine! But for the rest of you, the Head knows this is gonna be pretty overwhelming, right?

Well, since your quaint individual processing units are probably having a hard time, why not link up with another one? By which the Head means...

Hello, new citizens of Dualis,
and welcome to your monthly Network Adjacency Protocol~!

NAPs are a monthly community networking event similar to the Earth concept of speed dating. Two citizens (new arrivals and old hands alike) are placed at a table together with a handy cue card of queries to help break the proverbial ice. Ask (possibly invasive) personal questions and receive results - or ignore the card and yeet yourself straight into a brand new friendship, whatever works! But don't be too shy - you've only got ten minutes together, and if you just sit in silence for the whole ten, the Network Admins are likely to come supervise and try to repair the uplink through a mild shock to the ol' central nervous system. You might find yourself saying all sorts of unintended facts about yourself if that happens...probably better to just make friends, right? Who doesn’t like friends?!

Upon arrival, most will be ushered in by the Admins into the Gallery. Just ignore that large painting on the graffiti wall. Once inside you can begin to mingle and meet your fellow Dualizens, the city has also provided box wine, crackers and cheese as refreshments, a lovely Charcuterie spread laid out for any to sample while looking at the art and mingling.

This month there are two other lovely items for your amusement or horror! First off is a Karaoke machine, how the hell did they pull off getting every song you can think of with lyrics to all? Though, nearly every foul word is replaced with the sound a goose honking, have fun with that! Also, along with your normal note cards of questions you will find blank paper and kiddie packs of crayons. Make some art and leave it behind or leave it for your new friend!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Erik makes a point of attending these functions, even if "small talk" is one of his weakest points. Still, hope springs eternal that more mutants will arrive. Or some interdimensional portal will open up and he'll be able to escape.

He observes the artist behaving in ways beyond even that of the expected idiosyncrasies of the creative mind. But she also seems to be incredibly stressed, if the screaming, threatening, and sobbing are any indication. He's not an empath, of course. He can't read her mind but he does notice things like that.

When she approaches him, he's in the process of trying to convince himself that the wine isn't that bad, really, and offers a slight but apologetic smile. "I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar. And Polish lullabies aren't really the sort of thing that keep a party in full swing." Whoever is singing next steps up to the machine, and takes the mic as the first few guitar chords strike up. He makes a face.

"Hotel California again?" He shakes his head and mutters to himself. "Fucking hate The Eagles."

"No, presumably they wouldn't be." Dr. Harrison offers a similarly small smile back. When he complains about the Eagles song she notes it, glancing toward the singer with mild interest. "Classic rock music isn't to your liking?" It could hardly be argued that the song wasn't appropriate. "This must be a difficult meeting for you."

She sits back and offers him the space to speak, if he so wishes. Whereas some of the other personalities would be too caught up in their own frustration to listen, she's curious what he has to say.

"It's not exactly classic where I'm from. And no, not exactly to my taste." He shakes his head at the question. "The music leaves something to be desired, but I'm appreciating the work on display."

This is genuine. Erik has a great interest in the arts. He's particularly interested in the graffiti wall painting. Who could have predicted that one?

"Interesting. And where are you from, where Hotel California is current?" And, more importantly, why is he here now? What is it about him that had made him a candidate for this city?

He seems intelligent and set in his opinions, certainly, but there must be more to him than that. "What is it about the art that speaks to you?"

"When am I from might be the more relevant question there, don't you think? Most places, Hotel California is never relevant." He is envious of that. "Are you among the fortunate?"

And evasive. But he doesn't want to give too much up about himself without getting anything in return. Call it a force of habit.

"it's expressive. It has something to say. Something that isn't simple ostentatious onanism." The capitalist system of the modern American art scene has left him dissatisfied. While he will defend to the death an artist's right to express themselves however they choose, because to do otherwise is fascist, the power brokers determined to make a profit off of it have hollowed out the entire process. It's worse than censorship. It's reducing a conversation, a protest, an expression of something real to a trinket. "Is the entire exhibit the same artist? That is what I was lead to believe."

"Most places," Dr. Harrison reaffirms, smiling. "I take it the record is an overplayed recent release for you." She tilts her head. "The fortunate? As in those who have avoided this song? No. I remember the 70s."

There. Now he had something, and hopefully would offer more.

This display is uninhibited by the stifling art market, at least: the gallery wasn't intended to exhibit "high" art that would be bought at inflated prices to drive up social status. This man clearly appreciated that, showing a requirement for both excellence and rarity. "I believe the majority of the exhibit is one artist's work. You would have to ask the gallery owner for more information."

Now she's curious about his thoughts on the paintings and turns toward the nearest. Atmospherically eerie, it portrays a gray-haired woman in a leotard, cradling a twisted leg as tears drip down her face. "What are your thoughts on this painting?"

Edited 2020-01-20 03:47 (UTC)

Erik spent most of the '70s in solitary confinement. "The popularity of The Eagles has, unfortunately, continued despite their disbanding. There's a rumor that they may reunite soon. One shudders to think."

He nods at the explanation. "It would appear that artists are not high on the Head's priority list when choosing guests." There's a bit of an edge on the word "guests", as this is obviously not what they are. "More's the pity." He turns his attention to the piece she indicates, and observes it in silence for a moment. "The artist is technically skilled, that is clear. Beyond that, art is subjective, isn't it? The feelings it evokes in the viewer is going to reflect their own thoughts on things." He rubs his mouth with the side of his fingers. "I suppose there's a few of us who could relate to the notion of... losing that which makes us unique. Something that brings us joy. Having such things taken from us."

Like his own powers, which the Head is dampening.

So did Jane, she just found opportunities to escape. It helped that she was a fairly normal mental patient before she received the injection that gave her superpowers in 1977. "I'm sure you're made of tough enough stuff to survive," Dr. Harrison says with a slight smile.

"No, it would appear not." Those versed in the creative arts don't seem to be the Head's focus, but truth be told she's having trouble determining exactly what it does want. Erik can help her with this, his answers deeply intriguing. She notes the value he places on skill, as well as the meaning he ascribes to the ballerina painting. Both are interesting, and she notes his body language as he speaks about it.

"Thank God we've got nothing to worry about, right?" Dr. Harrison aims a cool smile at Erik, well aware she's being observed. "Joy is so attainable here."

Baby lately the plans we're making

Dr. Harrison

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