TOURIST INFORMATION.
Directly to the southwest of City Hall, you notice a building. It looks welcoming, with an inviting glass facade and a sign above the entryway announcing it as the "TOURIST CENTER." It's a humble building with a receptionist's desk on the back wall opposite the entrance, empty magazine shelves lining the side walls, and a few spinning brochure racks full of blank pamphlets. Anyone is welcome to peruse the tourist literature, though they won't offer much information, being primarily filled with pictures of the surrounding area—City Hall, the park, a statue garden, and the surprisingly heavily-featured cemetery. There are a few sentences sprinkled throughout about basic offerings of the city, such as apartment complexes and office buildings, as well as a few maps with the same limited scope as the larger version on the wall behind the receptionist's desk.
The main feature of the tourist center is the interactive kiosk installed dead in the center, right in the middle of a few rows of uncomfortable chairs that fill the small room. It's noticeably in the way of any would-be foot traffic through the tourist center, and something about the technology seems a little more modern than the computer behind the desk or the landline phone on the wall. The kiosk is a tall silver rectangle, about average adult height, and the upper half is a screen welcoming visitors to touch it to activate the kiosk. If you were to touch it, the screen would come to life with simple dialogue inviting visitors to ask it their questions.
However, residents should note that the kiosk is only programmed to assist with exploration within the available areas of the city. It may not be able to answer every question, and tampering with the kiosk may result in unreliable or inaccurate answers!
The kiosks are styled after this kind of interactive directory and will display text in whatever language the player character speaks, with optional text-to-voice for characters who are not able to type. (For vocals, think of the flattest, least affected robot voiceover you've ever heard.) The kiosk is programmed to answer questions related to tourism in the city, and can be asked for food or lodging recommendations, directions to various shops and locations in the district, and basic information about the city itself. Characters are able to ask as many questions as they please, but should note that not all questions can be answered in full by the kiosk system and overloading it with questions may yield interesting results.
Attempts to hack the kiosk will result in a twenty-four hour shutdown to reboot the system. During the reboot, the kiosk will not be available for further questioning or hacking attempts. Should characters pry the kiosk casing open, they will find the insides completely empty of any mechanical, electrical, or computing components.
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NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK.
It's a brand new day, a mostly-sunny June morning. The sky is blue except for a few straggling white clouds, the sun is warm, and there's a welcome party being held at City Hall. Come on down!
There are quite a few activities set up in the plaza just in front of city hall, immediately to the northwest of the subway station. Although there is no one there to man it, there is a barbecue and accompanying table of foods–burgers and hot dogs that stay warm, ice pops in a bucket of ice that never melts, sides and drinks that never go stale. Towards the southwestern side of the plaza is a bouncy house shaped like a carousel ride, and no matter how many people enter at once it never seems to get full–isn't that fun? There are balloons and pinwheels decorating the picnic tables and chairs and a "WELCOME TO THE CITY!" banner hanging from the entryway of the City Hall building.
No music plays in the air, but is an old boom box tucked under one of the picnic tables, and to the right of the building's entrance is a raised dais containing the instruments belonging to a string quartet–although where the quartet is themselves, one couldn't say for sure. Still, they probably won't mind if someone takes over their instruments for a little while. There is also an electric keyboard for those inclined, and although it doesn't appear to be plugged in anywhere, it will still turn on.
Other knick-knacks and odds and ends offered by the organizers of the party include sidewalk chalk–partygoers may find it especially difficult to remove–bubble wands, and maybe even a few pairs of rollerskates hidden around for those who are especially interested in finding them.
The welcome party will be set up by sunrise and will stay through the entire weekend. Characters are welcome to eat the food, drink whatever they want, play music (if they brought a CD or cassette tape, or know how to play a stringed instrument) or play in the bouncy house. Any food or beverage consumed or decorations removed or destroyed will reappear when no one is looking.
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LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED.
The party continues inside City Hall, with a large room just off the main hallway being dedicated to the occasion.
Just like the tables and chairs outside, the tables inside City Hall are decorated with champagne glasses and balloons, and there's sparkly confetti dusted along the tablecloths and on the floor. This is where the alcoholic beverages are, bottles and glasses stored on a table toward the back wall. There is, of course, no bartender, but as long as you're of age you're probably welcome to pour yourself a drink, right? (And if you're not of age, well–who's going to know?)
There's also a large open space at one end of the room, clearly meant for dancing, although just like outside there's no music playing. But just because there's no music doesn't mean you can't dance, right? And the more you drink, the more you start to feel like dancing might be pretty fun. The party will go all night, so grab a partner and put your best foot forward!
Just like the party taking place outdoors, the indoor portions of the party will be set up by sunrise and will continue through the weekend. Inside is the more "adult" party, with tables for conversation and alcoholic beverages readily available. Characters are welcome to take glasses or bottles with them, but should they put them down anywhere outside, they'll be able to find their bottle or glass inside on one of the decorated tables. Characters do not need to get drunk in order to dance, but optionally may feel that drinking more makes them want to dance.
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WILDCARD.
The city is by no means small, and there are plenty of things for you to see. There's no rush in exploring, so feel free to take your time looking around and peering into various nooks and crannies and alleyways—and don't worry, you're not very likely to find anything peering back.
If none of the above prompts appeal, feel free to check out the Locations and Maps pages and write your own freestyle prompt using one or many of the available locations.
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citylogs2023-06-19 09:02 pm
Will Byers | Stranger Things
Chalking
[ It is maybe a little, tiny, minuscule amount embarrassing that Will hasn’t strayed too far anywhere without Steve since finding him but after the thoroughly creepy fortunes he’s feeling off about the whole experience. He could probably track Steve down easily even if he’s not over the hall if he could work out how the strange tiny computers actually work but he’s not the technically minded one, Dustin would probably have worked it out immediately. Besides even if he could work out the technology he figures Steve probably doesn’t need a fifteen year old shadow constantly and he doesn’t want to be annoying and… Okay maybe his anxiety is on overload and he could do with getting outside of the four walls he’s claimed as his own space.
So he’s decided to be brave about it and find out exactly what is going on at the city hall, except that it seems like everyone there is as puzzled as he is about the whole thing anyway and he’s going to need a moment to summon the guts to talk to anyone first.
There is however chalk here and it’s the first time he’s gotten his hands on any art supplies since his house got shot up by government agents so he grabs a few pieces and finds an empty piece of sidewalk. It’s supposed to be a small piece of art, just enough to soothe the anxiety but ends up becoming quite a large chalk mural of a dragon before he even notices that he’s managed to get chalk on his knees. ]
Let’s Get This Party Started
[ The scene inside is vaguely reminiscent of one of the most difficult nights of Wills life, uncomfortably Snow Ball-esque and Will is tempted to walk straight back out but surely somebody had to have done all of this and it’s worth a bit of a snoop around.
He’s been contemplating grabbing something alcoholic because really who’s going to catch him and can be found loitering near enough to the back table to see if he spots anybody refilling it as if they know what’s going on. He still has chalk remnants on his knees and a smudge of green along his cheek that he hasn’t actually noticed. ]
chalking!
And some draw.
This young man’s talented, at least, he thinks. A passing compliment, but one that never comes easily from Henry, at least not in a sincere manner. However, in Will’s enthusiasm to sketch chalk forms onto the ground, he’s come closer to where he stands, nearly bumping up against his shoe.]
You’re really trying to make that dragon come to life. [—he remarks, if only to make the other realize that he’s there.]
Re: chalking!
So when the man speaks Will takes the small anxiety spike, the rollercoaster drop, the ice cube down the spine, as nothing more than having bumped into someone while he wasn’t paying attention and plays off his instant fear response of touching his neck as an gesture of embarrassment by rubbing it.
Which does rise when he realises quite how much chalk is on his hands, and now the collar of his shirt. ]
It was meant to be smaller, [ Will stands up and oh god he’s really chalky, this is why he uses paint and brushes ] But it got away with me.
[ He wipes his hands on his jeans because they’re going to need cleaning off anyway and steps back to look at what he’s done ]
At least it’ll be interesting to see if it stays until it rains or if whatever’s controlling this place cleans it all away.
no subject
I can see that.
[That it got away from him, he means.
Henry eases himself into a walk, just around the perimeter of the artwork now etched across the ground in colorful swaths.]
Considering how hospitable this place has been to us so far? [In which case, Henry means that they haven't been very hospitable at all, being kidnapped and now trapped in an empty city.] I bet you can expect this to be gone overnight.
Which is a shame. Why a dragon?
no subject
Maybe I should stake it out, see if I can catch them clearing up. [ He’s only half joking. Equally he’s sure they’ll find a way to keep everyone from sticking around for the clean up. ] It’s too hospitable, I don’t like it. [ Sure it’s better than the upside down but he’s still not wholly convinced it isn’t going to be similarly terrible. Will furrows his brow and wraps his arms around himself, getting even more chalk on his clothes in the process - chalk which will have to be scrubbed off in the bathtub because he nearly lost Mikes shirt to the bizarre laundrette once, he won’t be risking that again. ]
And dragons are cool I guess, I used to really like a game about them when I was a kid.
no subject
You're right to be wary. Too much hospitality is just as suspicious as none at all. If not more so.
[This coming from a man who puts on a facade of smiles and politeness more often than not. Finally, his gaze tracks back up to Will.]
Really? What kind of game?
no subject
Exactly, I’ve been stuck in another dimension before and it was a lot less hospitable than here but… There’s something not right.
[ Will has to weigh up whether he really wants to get into it with anyone about his childish fascination with a stupid kids game. Even if his friends have gone back to it now. ]
Dungeons and Dragons, it was a table top roleplaying game, we used to play all the time and I guess thinking fantasy stuff is cool never left.
no subject
Sorry, Will. But maybe that means you get to wiggle out of talking about it.]
You were in another dimension? You said it was less hospitable, but was it anything like this one?
no subject
Yep! Monster kidnapping incident, but no, nothing like this place, it was a toxic, grimy, wet, vine covered hell version of my hometown. [ or was it hellish Hawkins because he wanted to go home almost as much as Hawkins has always been hellish on either side? Either way nobody needs to psychoanalyse that right now. ]
It had no food, no tech, nothing was clean ever and there was a really gross flower-faced monster that was going after people to use as baby monster incubators. [ it does not sound less horrifying when spoken about with the same tone one would use to talk about anything totally regular ] I got out but unless my mom finds a way to bust in here and drag me out again I have no idea how to leave here.
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(And that storm, in that strange place, that had lashed him around like he were just refuse on the wind -- unlike Will, Henry does not have the privilege of describing it as toxic, grimy, wet, or vine-covered. He was barely thrown into that awful place before he found himself on a train--)]
Your... mom saved you?
[Sorry, but this is so much to unpack right now.]
The first time, I mean, from that other place. How did she manage that?
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Yeah, my mom. And the chief of police. [ Nope not making it any better ]
They found a place where the fabric of reality was torn and climbed through. I’ve been seeing if I can find a gate here but no such luck yet.
[ he shrugs and shoves a piece of chalk aside with the top of his shoe ] Not sure how much it would help if we’ve all been pulled from different places but it’s better to do something than sit around.
no subject
And what are the signs of a “gate”? What she we look for?
no subject
Like a knife wound in the fabric of reality, all weird and orange glowy, usually with vines coming out of them.
Obviously I’ve had no luck here and I already checked a few buildings and the graveyard but it looks like a dead end anyway…
no subject
This place of yours really does sound unpleasant.
[The irony of this conversation.]
Though don't get too discouraged. Who's to say the same rules apply in this world, anyway?
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It was, calling it a hell dimension isn’t inaccurate.
[ and the worst part is your future, Henry. ]
Guess we’ll find out, since we’re stuck here for now. There has to be something.
Maybe they’ll send something out on those weird little computers telling us if we’re all just lab rats eventually.
sorry for the wait!
Oh, I hope not. I'd like to change things up for once.
no worries life slammed me with stuff again anyway
Were you a lab rat before here?
i shake your hand, my friend 🤝
Sort of. [Sort of a lie, too.] I worked in a lab with plenty of children who were lab rats.
Re: i shake your hand, my friend 🤝
My adopted sister grew up in a lab. I hope yours was better than the way she describes hers.
no subject
He senses a little tension, just a minute thing. He doesn't even have to be psychic for it. Because this? This is curious, sharpening his gaze just briefly.]
I guess that depends on exactly what your sister was there for.
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I don’t know the specifics, mom said she doesn’t like to talk about it and not to ask but it was bad, I think.
[ which is a half truth, because technically she did say she’d tell him later what she was forced to remember further than the very important Vecna fighting information and then refuse to speak to him for the rest of the van ride ]
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This, especially. This is a subject that interests him in a morbid way, the kind of way that draws him in because he's been there, and yes, it's not a great time, being a lab rat for a government that cares more for using you than treating you like a human being. (Ironic, really, given his own outlook on life.) But this young man seems to want to retreat from the subject, in a way he can't quite parse.]
Then I'm sorry to hear it.
[He says, and it's clear that he's deciding whether or not he wants to pursue the point. In the end, he decides on-]
Anything in the name of science, right? That's what some would say.
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And he genuinely doesn’t know that much about what El went through having missed all the talk of “Bad Men” due to being stuck in the upside down. Just that it was bad and that Papa or Brenner is a terrible person who seems to refuse to just fucking die already. ]
Anything in the name of science. [ Will parrots with an eye roll ] Including apparently mistreatment of children.
no subject
[The irony unknown to both: it was the same universe.
Ah well! Surely this will not be an issue later.]