sheets all on the floor just like an ocean ...

[headandhand]

WHO: All y’all!
WHAT: Your regularly scheduled NAPs event for the month
WHERE: Fort Pillowtown
WHEN: Oct. 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 juuuuust fine. But for the rest of you, the Head knows this has gotta 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 queries and receive results, or ignore the card and yeet yourself straight into a brand new friendship! 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?!

This month’s event is held at a new, super-comfy all-ages establishment called Fort Pillowtown. As the name suggests, it’s a large indoor space filled wall to wall with permanent pillowforts. There are a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, with each individual fort constructed of gauzy hanging sheets, strings of soft lights, warm blankets, plush toys, a mini television with on-screen menu for choosing movies to watch and video games to play, and yes, lots and lots of pillows. Snacks and drinks of all sorts are available for purchase, as are whimsical onesies and comfy slippers to wear. Board and card game sets are also available to borrow or buy. Sounds like a dream, right?

So pull up a pillow pile, get to know your new neighbors, and enjoy a well-earned and comfy chill-out session. And hey, if you end up napping at NAPs, rest assured that it’s absolutely allowed.

Comments

[sociallychallenged]

[Hank takes a moment to put on his shoes, grinding his feet down into the things, before he goes forward and kicks some of the blankets and pillows out of the way, making room so the wheelchair won't snag on anything as he pushes it out. He then takes up position behind Charles and starts pushing him forward.]

I'm Hank, by the way. Hank Anderson. Don't worry, last month was an ax-throwing bar. I can't tell whether it would have been more or less awkward to get around in.

Luckily, though, I will be happy to inform you no one ended up with an ax in their head.

[Since the guy seemed pretty bashful about tripping up on the sheet, Hank makes light of their other ridiculous NAPS just to hopefully take his mind off of it. Maybe it'll make him feel less out of place. Not that he can make anyone feel less fucking kidnapped, nor does he really want to because fuck that shit. But, you know, it's a shitty enough situation for someone without another gift of turd to drop in their lap.]

[axiomed]

[ his expression softens, touched. it doesn't matter how many times he sees genuine acts of kindness, charles is always heartened by them. ]

Well, I used to work in a school. I'm used to a little . . . chaos.

[sociallychallenged]

I can't even doubt it's ax-throwing levels of chaos. Kids are kind of like that.

[He does his best to think fondly back on Cole's special brand of childish chaos. It's still stained with sadness, but he's trying to get over the hurt. He doesn't want every thought of his lost child to be an aching one.]

[He makes it through the linen obstacle course to the door, makes sure the thing isn't gonna close on the two of them, and helps him out. He figures that once they're in a place that's a bit more reasonable he better let the guy have his agency and control over his chair, and just sticks his hands in his pockets.]

Did you get a job at the school here? I ended up manning the crosswalk at the nearest one to the dorms. You'd be surprised at the entitled people that just fuckin' rushed through- pardon the language.

[Normally he would not apologize for himself. But he's talking to a potential school employee and somehow that job is on another level of verbal moderation.]

[axiomed]

[ it is the sudden rush of sadness, the pain of loss that hits charles hard in the chest. his breath stutters, his expression slipping only a little. to cover up the stutter, charles clears his throat. ]

Ah, no. I'm — retired. I'm a receptionist?

[sociallychallenged]

[He hears the waver and there's some immediate concern for the guy, assuming he might be a little physically uncomfortable or something. So he pats his shoulder.]

Well, Mr. Receptionist. How about I walk with you for a bit on your way to wherever you're going? If anyone gives you any trouble I'll throw around my traffic cop clout and tell them they're double-parked.

[axiomed]

Right now, I'm just heading home.

[ charles gives a rueful smile. ]

But I'd never say no to some clout.

[sociallychallenged]

You're probably still in the place that I've been set up in, so I know the way. Since we get offered these speed-dating intro things each month.

You end up showing up with anyone you know?

[He asks idly as he moves alongside him.]

[axiomed]

Each month?

[ how unusual, for a place like this. charles rubs his chin, thoughtful before he blinks, responding to hank's question. ]

Ah — Well, it seems he arrived before me. Erik Lehnsherr.

[sociallychallenged]

Yeah, each month. I don't know when we're supposed to know each other well enough. Maybe after a year? [He shrugs, hands spread.]

It's something for people to do besides go to their bare minimum jobs, I guess.

[He's not met Erik Lehnsherr, nor does he immediately recognize the name. So he just nods.]

Yeah, I showed up before my partner.

[And then there's a happy, disgusting wave of love that follows that. Just gratitude to have someone he cares for around and relief that he's alright and all the joy he gets out of his company. He probably reeks of it like too sweet perfume.]

[The expression on his face doesn't change much except for the smallest of smiles.]

Lucked out there. I haven't run into anyone else.

[axiomed]

[ aww. charles does love this sort of emotion pouring out. he smiles. ]

Well, congratulations. It is such a relief not to be here alone.

[sociallychallenged]

Yeah, well. Hope yours is a good type and not a 'I wanna punch 'em in the face type.'

[Though Hank fully well knows that fuckers can be both.]

[axiomed]

Well, I have had to punch him a few times.

[ charles smooths the fabric of his pants. ]

But it was nothing he didn't deserve.

[sociallychallenged]

[He did kind of shove Connor into a wall not long after they first met 'cause he kept bugging him. So, you know.]

Good people can get past some punches.

[Says the cop, of all people, waving his hand like, 'That's nothing to worry about.']

[axiomed]

[ his lips curve, thinking of his last meeting with erik. ]

Yes. And things seemed to have smoothed over. Perhaps even happiness.

[sociallychallenged]

That good, huh?

[Well, at least some things turn out for the best.]

[As they go he can see one of the iterations in the distance. And for a moment? There's a bit of contempt for the robot. An inherent dislike for the bland, emotionless rule enforcement, that an algorithm could dare take the place of 'fairness' in any form of accuracy. A lack of empathy.]

[Before he remarks on it, he instead veers back to the previous subject.]

Think you're more likely to stay here or go home when this is done?

[axiomed]

[ that question catches him off-guard. ]

I — [ he swallows tightly. ] — I don't know yet.

[sociallychallenged]

It's alright. [He didn't mean to make the guy uncomfortable.] Place like this? It's too big a call to make right now, probably. Fucked up of me to bring it up.

[He wants to go home, for sure. But he knows he'll have to leave Connor alone for a month or so when that happens.]

[axiomed]

No, it's — I can't go home. So I'm . . . at a crossroads.

[sociallychallenged]

Sounds like a pain in the ass.

[A decision that large, anyway.]

Would asking why be too personal?

[axiomed]

[ charles drums his fingers against his chair rest. ]

No. Probably not. I was the headmaster of a school, but I found myself questioning my decisions and thought it was a good time to step down.

However, after doing it for so long . . . it has left me with odds and ends.

[sociallychallenged]

You know, it's okay to take what you learned and turn it back towards a new job. I mean, I get it if you're too doubtful too. And it's great you got out of a position you're uncertain of. But if there's shit you liked about it?

...Sorry, I'd just sorta quit my detective job in Detroit before coming here. It didn't feel right.

[Quit, in that he punched a fed in the face to give his partner time to find evidence that could save his life. The partner he ended up falling in love with. But even without the love, someone's life shouldn't have depended on solving a case, even if they were an android.]

But I still think I did a lotta good with it. It's probably the same for you, especially if you were lookin' out for kids. [And he's self-aware enough to question himself. He's not blaming some random face for his choices, and that says a lot to Hank.]

[axiomed]

[ charles smiles, touched once more. ]

Oh, I don't doubt the work. It's just a struggle to figure out . . . what to do now.

[sociallychallenged]

Think your friend can help you figure that out?

You know, if he's not being punchable.

[If Hank knew he'd been aggressive to his boyfriend, he might wanna punch him himself.]

[axiomed]

[ a small huff. ]

He has offered. And I took it.

[sociallychallenged]

Before or after this place?

[Because this place? Can throw a wrench into anyone's plans. He'd wanted to get Connor to Canada, take Sumo with them and start a new life there. This is where they're both at now, though.]