60

[cheerupemoborg]

[One of the things Hank really hated about Paradisa was just how backwards it was.

The City Royale, as quaint as it was, had virtually no technology whatsoever. Times like this he truly felt like a fish out of water, as this humble, vaguely pre-20th century feel was decidedly not his element.

If Paradisa wouldn't supply him with the stimuli he desired, then the residents would just have to suffice.

Parked on a bench in a fairly secluded area of town, he let his mind wander.

Literally.

Using his technopathy, Hank combs the town and castle, in search of... well, anything.]


ooc: permissions post, just in case!

Comments

Action - Feel open to backtagging?

[wizard_redfive]

[Back at the castle, Dairine is sitting with Spot, working on another research project.

It's a ways off, but Hank can probably sense two machines' presences. One computer unlike any other, that has an extraordinary amount of power behind it. And another that feels, well, only half like a machine. How odd...]

Sure!

[cheerupemoborg]

[Hank senses that, oh yes. It's enough to physically move from his spot and start trekking back to the castle, fresh questions popping up in his head.

Was this something new, or had he simply not it noticed before? Omly one way to find out...]

Yay!

[wizard_redfive]

[Definitely not new, though the machine-life portion of Dairine had been tapped down until recently.

He can probably find them without much difficulty. Dairine had camped out in the library, and was unlikely to be leaving anytime soon.]

[cheerupemoborg]

[Hank makes his way through the halls of Paradisa, eventually pinning down the source.

He doesn't go into the library, instead choosing to remain out of sight so that he can continue to investigate with his mind.]

[wizard_redfive]

[Fine, just be unsociable. Gosh.

There's a lot of mental activity going on in there, especially from Dairine. She's scanning through her books at a fast pace. Not superhuman fast but with quick-minded determination that rivals most students. Every once and a while, Spot offer her a suggestion, and she moves on to a new source.

Oh yes, there's a perceivable link between the machines' minds. Interesting, huh?]

[cheerupemoborg]

[That mental link opens up some interesting possibilities. A fellow technopath, here?

It's also a potential can of worms.

He needs to know. From outside the library, a loud clanking and whirring noise suddenly starts up.]

[wizard_redfive]

[Not quite. Try telepath that specializes in machine life-forms.

OK, yeah, that's close enough to technopathy.

Dairine looks up at the sound. A mechanical resident? Or is it an attack made by the castle? Either way, she's got to check this out. She puts aside the books for now and cautiously makes her way to the library door, Spot held in her arms.]

[cheerupemoborg]

[Should she take one step outside, Dairine will find... nothing. Nothing at all.

Unless she looks down.

Staring up at Dairine is some kind of robotic otter, head tilted to one side and it's beady red eyes staring at her with idle curiosity. Girls like cute things right? Meanwhile, Hank (sans one arm) will have retreated a respectable distance away, to observe from afar.]

[wizard_redfive]

[Dairine is used to looking down at certain friends (her mobile computers, Sker'ret, the microbes on Titan), so that’s the second place she checks.

She does indeed have a secret love of cute robots, but Dairine is still suspicious. Her sister Nita had met an otter-like species which later turned out to have dark intentions… an experience which sadly has tainted Dairine’s view of the creatures.

Still, it would be rude not to say hello. Dairine squats down to its level and smiles.]

Hey there. What’re you up to?

[cheerupemoborg]

[The 'otter' simply tilts it's head further, staring inquisitively.]

The Speech sounds like the listener's first language, but deeper.

[wizard_redfive]

[Dairine mimicks the motion, tilting her head in confusion. Did it not understand her?

She switches over to the Speech, that magical language that every being could (or should) understand.]

"What is your name?"

[cheerupemoborg]

[It jumps a little, not expecting to be addressed like that, and takes a few seconds to properly respond.]

"Henry."

[wizard_redfive]

[Dairine gives "Henry" an encouraging smile.]

"Nice to meet you, Henry. I am Dairine.

"Are you new?"

[cheerupemoborg]

"Oh, yes. Very new!"

[wizard_redfive]

"I see. Anyone give you the rundown yet?"

[cheerupemoborg]

"Rundown. What's a rundown? Is it tasty?"

[Hank Henshaw, master of cute disguises.]

[wizard_redfive]

[The cliché cuteness is too much. But Dairine is used to clarifying her meaning.]

It's a concise explaination, or in this case, an introduction to Cair Paradisa. Not tasty at all.

[cheerupemoborg]

"Oh... okay! So, Cair Paradisa is this place, huh?"

[wizard_redfive]

It's this building, yes. The name means "Castle Paradise." ...Not that it does much to deserve the title.

[cheerupemoborg]

"Why's that?"

[wizard_redfive]

This place can be very cruel. It steals people away from their home and separates you from the friends you make here. It also takes something from you, a "loss" so to speak. Your loss can be anything important to you: an item, memory, or ability.