2025-06-13 - A Little Something New

Alan and Robin had plans to meet up and take a little bit of a tour of the Magical Studies Department, an area that Alan hasn't actually had a chance to see before. To be honest, he spends most of his time on Crescent Island and Fable Island and hasn't spent as much time in the actual park as most others. So, this is an opportunity for him. He's dressed for relaxing and wandering in a pair of faded jeans and a plain white button-down left open over a black tank top. There's no hiding the horns on his head that sweep back from his brow, but then, there's really no need to do so at the park. His employee badge is on, though, so that he can get around through the employee areas. It's outside the Magical Studies Department doors that he waits for Robin.

Robin doesn't wear much fancy in the way to work, not like the polo shirts before, but also not really what he wears to the club when he generally runs into Alan. Instead of looking like Acid Rock Sandman he's got a pair of baggy jeans that look like he's spent a time decorating the pant legs with a sidewalk chalk aquarium. He also is wearing a long black and white stripped sleeve on his right arm under a Opal in Sky tee, and a backpack with him; little puddles of colour left in his wake that fade.

Colour tinted fingers that look like they've been ink-stained by 13 colours sign to Alan with a bright grin <<You made it. I talked to the team and we got a sec ops and med ready to go with. >> There's a pause letting Alan answer before admitting <<Glad you wanted to go. Looking forward to this, I am. Yoooou have a preference or random guess?>>

Alan grins when he sees Robin walk up and gives an up-nod of his head in greeting. He listens, but as he does, his brow furrows just a little bit and there's some surprise that comes over his features. "Wait, what? Where are we going?" he asks, "I thought we were taking a tour of Magical Studies. Do you need security clearance to do that? And.... a medic?" He had perhaps misunderstood the invitation. "Are we going.. somewhere else?" That perhaps had not occurred to him during the initial conversation.

Robin chuckles silently and itches his temple before signing back with amusement << well in case we want to go inspect any of the worlds. Totally happy to show you around the department. Iiiif they're going to crack a door open I thought we might tag along. I'm hoping a little bit.>> He's not even apologetic about the surprise of that.

He gestures to the larger, round conference table in the middle of the space that branches off into many other office and work spaces. <<Knights of the Brown Table meet here. Not tons of us, but good for laying things out. You ever get to get down in the tunnels much? It's a tiny city. >>

There's definitely still some surprise there and obviously the wheels are turning in Alan's head as he thinks over that possibility but finally he nods and says, "Sure. I mean. Who would turn down the opportunity to go see a whole other world, right?" He might not have thought that's what they were going to do, but he seems game, if maybe the tiniest bit nervous about the prospect. He's a DJ, not a world explorer. Still, the idea is exciting.

When Robin asks about the tunnels, Alan shakes his head and says, "Nah. I mean, all my work is over on Fable. I'm actually not over here on the big island all that often at all. I've spent.. probably surprisingly little time here. And then, I went back to New York for a bit for a gig before I came back. So I was out of town for a month or so."

There's a bit of a half smile as Alan weighs that surprise out and gives a small, assuring nod of agreement in return. He does answer <<We'll have to give you more reason to.>> bit of a cheeky but honest answer, if not a little self-serving. He points toward the Magical Research Library to indicate where they are headed, backpack still on shoulder. Entirely interested he asks*<<You mentioned in part at the club. Where at in NY? What was the project?>>*

As they enter the library it is surprisingly comfortable given that it is underground. Books and journals are expected, but there is also some art on the walls, and in one corner there's a large table that looks a bit like a drafting desk, large, with a large page taped to it, secured, and to the left if one swivels is a desk that lights up; not unlike an animator would use, and still with layers of images stacked this time on a clear cell sheet.

<<This has been my gig. Working on documenting the tree and where things ended up. In case there's another location ever or some day. Little bit harder to do with a camera.>>

Alan smiles a little curiously over at Robin and says, "Yeah? Alright. I'm not going to argue with that." Slipping his hands into his pockets, he falls into step, letting Robin lead the way as he takes in the Magical Studies areas, the offices out in front, and then turns toward the library to head in that direction with him. The question about New York has him explaining, "Back in Manhattan. Staying with some friends there. A film project. Was good money, worth it to take a month off, at any rate."

He takes a look around the library as they walk in, noting its sparseness but the growing little collection of things that are accumulating there. He makes his way over toward the drafting desk to lean over it and look down at the surface, taking in what's there with interest. He's careful though to keep an eye out for when Robin starts signing though, always keeping him in his periphery so that he can focus on the signs.

"You think that might happen? That another thing like what popped up out here might pop up somewhere else?" He'd heard about it in theory but hasn't actually seen it in practice. People talk.

Robin nods with some level of certainty on that- if there is not a reason to abduct the DJ one will, apparently, be made. Robin is at least used to the process of putting his hands out there and then talking instead of signing before he knows he's in field of vision there. Right now there's a very impressed <<Wooooooooooow!>>

The backpack is set down next to the leg of the desk for now as he watches and listens about the movie. <<Things you get to say you've done when you're older. That's badass.>> Head tilting he wonders <<They have you acting or on sound design? I know it's 100 questions. I sued to build sets. I love this sort of thing>>

There's a sound of rustling and he unzips the bag the rest of the way so he can let his rabbit hop out. It scratches at one folded ear with a hind foot looking less interested in people conversation and more interested in a comfortable spot.

As for the question there's a shrug <<We got this far. What if there's another 'shipwreck'?>>

Alan just shakes his head a little bit at the wow and then laughs when Robin says it's something that he can say that he's done when he's older, a wry smile on his lips. As they take a look around the library, he eventually drifts away from the drafting table and turns his attention more back to Robin. "Acting," he says, but then after a moment adds, "It's.. probably not the sort of thing that you're thinking about," with a quick chuckle.

He watches as the little rabbit thing hops out of the backpack and crouches down to take a look at it a little closer, though he makes no attempt to pet it in any way. "Huh, you're a cute little thing," he observes. "These those little critters that turned up around Valentine's Day?" he asks. "I've seen a couple of them around."

"Guess that's true. I did watch the video where Cavendish and Waverly were explaining how all that went down. Crazy stuff."

Robin shrugs and shakes his head <<In fairness I didn't have anything specific in mind. Here.>> Cupping his hands together and then apart he produces in hand a skull that has Shakespere's facial hair and collar. He presents it as if there was lament and pontification- WOE! and sets it on the desk. <<There, in case it spans into the age before Rent. You're covered.>>

There's a wink before looking down at the rabbit getting a good stretch, still uneven grey and the size of a softball. <<V-Day rabbit yup. Good to have him when Spork is busy. Spork is a total cube of a dog.>>

Looking back he is curious about Alan's thoughts on what is a bit of a concern for him. There's a small, whelmed nod. <<To think it started with weird music and dreams of being chased through a doll house. Your thoughts on doors to other worlds opening up?>>

Alan nods when Robin says he didn't have anything specific in mind, though the production of the strange Shakespearian skull has him raising both brows and chuckling just a bit, unsure what to make of it. But he seems to appreciate it, for whatever it is. "Yeah, there's definitely no Shakespeare involved," he says, studying it for a moment once he straightens up from examining the rabbit. "A cube dog named Spork," he muses to himself. It's not really a question, just kind of idle amusement.

His focus returns to Robin as he wanders over to one of the reading tables and sits on it, pushing back to settle there and resting his elbows on his knees. "Can't say as I've ever dreamed about being chased through a dollhouse," he admits. "Though I have had quite a lot of super weird dreams." He then shakes his head, "I think this whole place is way beyond what I ever thought possible outside of being really high and floating the tide of a particularly good set. So why not doors to other worlds, I guess? I am still having a bit of a hard time wrapping my head around it, but after everything I've seen here, how could I say it's not possible?"

With a sigh, and a wry grin he pulls out his phone and flips through several things before he finds a pic of the bulldog with a headband that gives him bouncy alien antennae. He points. Spork, total unit of a dog. <<Dog saved me more than once. He's cool.>>

As for the rest Robin signs frankly <<Whatever gets a paycheck. I don't criticize others' art. Not off the table if you ever need temporary retirement from reality- dreamwalking. It's up there with a mushroom trip through the aquarium at times.>>

Reaching down he picks up the rabbit who has little legs and will try to pursue their long strides over to the middle table in the library there. He sets tiny bun on the table and grabs a large sheet portfolio book where he's been keeping some of the larger captured images so they can be photographed.

<<After I finish up some of these I'm hoping to go. Meant it. You should consider coming. You can not prepare for where it goes, we can only prepare to be surprised. So they say.>>

Leaning over, Alan takes a look at the dog on the phone and then nods his head appreciative, "That is indeed a cube of a dog." Then he straightens up a bit and nods in agreement. "Whatever gets a paycheck." But then he asks, "Dreamwalking? What's that? Admittedly, I haven't been to the aquarium yet, but I wouldn't be against that."

He watches as the little rabbit thing gets deposited on the table and only now reaches over to offer one hand toward it, only reaching to give its little ears a scritch if it seems amenable. Otherwise, he leaves it alone. Then he looks over at the portfolio, curious as to what might be inside.

"Oh," he says after a moment or two, "Yeah. I'm down. I didn't even realize that was a thing I could do, but sure. Can't imagine not wanting to go and check it out." He then asks, "How dangerous is it? Like on a scale from one to red shirt?"

Robin draws a little square in the air with his finger in agreement. There's some consideration and the definition on 'dream walking' is hard. His ink stained fingers hesitate with little trails of colour moving as he signs < <You sleep, you dream, but it's lucid in a way. Like a great illusion when you're asleep instead of awake; shaping the story with a guide, or maybe you're the guide and it is beautiful chaos. > >

He pauses looking a bit concerned, "Sometimes it just douses the fires so you can rest a minute.>>* His hand wobbles << I'm still working on it. You are welcome to come with me sometime when I fail my way through it.>>

The rabbit hops over and makes a chirp sound and Robin gives it a little scritch on his hindside. That's a stretch while Robin makes sure the rabbit is not on the actual diagrams. Looking to Alan he things about this question and shakes his head looking amused <<Your shirt isn't red. Nothing to worry about. The truth is we don't know cause each world is different. But we haven't had any big incidents I know of. It's why a medical and sec ops person go. Safety. I think they're going shortly though and I was thinking we could join them?>>

He pauses and asks with some amusement <<Does it count as asking someone out if you don't know where the hell you're going?>>

Alan listens as Robin explains dreamwalking and he nods slowly, taking that in. It's not something he's ever experienced before or knows much about but he seems to be willing to take it at face value. "That sounds pretty wild," he admits, clearly intrigued. Though when Robin mentions dousing the flames, his gaze flickers very briefly to what bit of the scarring he can see and then back to Robin's eyes, nodding just slightly. He gets the gist. "Sure," he says. "If you want the company, I'd go."

Glancing down at the rabbit, his smile's a bit crooked. It's cute. But then the topic of traveling to another world, not just soon, but imminently has him glancing down at his shirt and laughing just a bit. "No, guess I should be glad about that. But yeah, okay. If that's something that we can do, then I am too curious to say no." Even if he's a little nervous. Though Robin's question catches him a little off-guard and he laughs, "I think it still counts. I've never been asked out to a whole other world before."

With a cocky grin Robin upnods and signs back, <<Everyone promises the world but very few make the effort to give someone their own I notices>> When he signs 'world' with 2 W's encompassing a sphere there is what looks like a floating illusion of a cyberpunk planet of metal and yellow light with a forged ring orbiting it and little clouds of steam in the tiny atmosphere.

It hovers there for a moment and Robin watches Alan for a moment enjoying the thoughts within play out in his expressions. He takes a piece of paper and slides it under the planet on the table. <<You can name this one if you want. It doesn't exist yet so I don' think anyone will mind.>> A jest but also in part showing the processes.

<<I've been recreating things we need, guess, or have seen, awake or in dreams sometimes, and recreate a model and then make the model>> He finds the angle on the planet he wants turning the illusion before pushing it at the paper where it is now living as a 2D print. <<Now we can take a pic of it with digital media. This is us recording things now, but I like doing it. Lets people keep a memory longer>>

Alan smiles a little curiously, not entirely sure how to interpret what Robin says, but he watches as a world appears in front of him, brows lifting again in surprise. "Huh. And you just made that right now? That image?" He watches closely as the illusion is adjusted, turned, and then pushed onto the page to become a print. Shaking his head slowly he says, "I can't do anything visual like that. I can make music, create sound from nothing, though."

When Robin says that he can name it, he shakes his head and says, "I have no idea what I'd even name it. I'd have to think about it for a bit." He then asks, "So could you have a dream about that world and visit it in a dreamwalking?"

There's a small not from Robin, pleased with his knack but not bragging about it. <<I did. First time it happened was kind of wild. Sometimes I put music on and visually play with the vibes until there's something I like and then print it or paint it.>>

The grin returns picking up some energy to the signing <<I saw you. I think those ceiling vines really liked what you were throwing down at the flower power night.>> There's a silent chuckle before Robin pats Alan on the shoulder correcting and taping his temple <<You do. Make whole worlds not outside people's heads but in it. We should make that a project. You make the soundscape, I'll make the landscape.>> He points to the planet image and gestures with his hands 'bigger' or maybe huge.

As for Alan's question he nods after thinking about it and points to himself nodding and then points to Alan. <<I could. You could. Like sharing the screen your dreams are on with a friend. Make the dream go there, explore it. That doesn't require a security team- only a place where people won't trip over you while you're asleep.>> He says this while the rabbit stumbles on it's own feet trying to pounce the planet but going through it as it's image only right now.

Alan looks impressed as Robin explains the process by which he creates the images and then paints them or prints them, nodding his head along with the explanation. Though when Robin mentions the flower power night he laughs and shakes his head, "I wasn't even using my power then. That was just me DJing. I actually haven't used that ability in the club. It's been more of a private thing, just for me."

The idea of collaborating on some sort of project gets a smile though and he nods enthusiastically, "Sure. I'd be down to give that a shot. See what we can come up with."

"The whole idea that you can just do that is so trippy," he muses, thinking about creating a whole world, a whole soundscape to go with it, and then to be able to walk around in it. The fact that the rabbit stumbles through the image right when Robin is talking about tripping draws a laugh from him, then a quiet "Sorry," to the poor bunny.

Robin tilts his head to look at the rabbit in part concern and a bit boggled at the moxie on it for trying. Looking back to Alan he locks in to listen looking impressed using his hand to mimic one of the vines coming down from the ceiling to get its dance on. He grooves in place a moment to finally ask <<No shit? I thought that might have been you. Can you make music or words and things too?>> This has him very curious.

The smile relaxes finding shared enthusiasm for this collaborative project. <<Now all we need is someone who can fuck with the lights and we have a whole techie team. Mobile rave wherever we set camp.>>

At the bit of a compliment he rubs the back of his next looking a little bit proud of that. <<Thanks. It's helped me actually have conversations so instead of being ignored by 2/3 people it's down to 1/3 people who are too impatient to read.>> There's a bit of an eye roll having many instances in mind but he's not dwelling on that.

<<The trips to the other world I think they're keeping them to like fifteen minutes or something. Short. Safe. If we hate it we can bail back out the door. You take me out of m headspace like every Thursday. Least I can do to pay that back.>>

"Yeah that was all just whatever magic was going on in the club that night," Alan says. "It does random stuff like that pretty often. Can't take the credit for that one. It was just neat." Though when Robin asks if he can make music and words and things, he nods and tilts his head a little to the side, looking thoughtful. Then, music begins to play in the room.

The sound of Every Avenue's "Tell Me I'm a Wreck" starts to play as though someone had turned on a radio. Alan grins and bobs his head a little in time with the music, keeping the volume low so that they can continue to talk over it. The entire song plays out before it fades and the sound goes away.

He looks thoughtful and says, "I bet we know someone who can control lights, or make illusions, or both."

"Yeah, well, those who don't take the time are the ones who are missing out," Alan opines. "There's plenty of people who aren't really interested in listening or in other people when they can use their voices to do so, too." He can think of a couple of those, himself.

But then he nods about the trip and asks, "Do we need to like, go somewhere? Sign up? Let someone know we want to go? Or are they going to like, put out an all aboard who's going aboard type thing?" He does not know how this works.

Robin's expression relaxes as Alan talks about the random appearance of magic popping in and inserting its involvement while Alan's working. he's seen the dream fog, the plants, he and the ceiling made it rain together. It seems to make him happy that this is a regular occurrence. <<Sometimes early in the morning before we opened the gallery the pictures would move. Kinda nice having a workspace feel like it's happy to see you kinda.>>

His hands lower looking up and around looking impressed. He points up as if there were a speaker the sound if from, clearly knowing it's not as he points to Alan with a 'that's you?' gesture fascinated by he little addition. His head bops with it mouthing the words a bit, but a finger counting the beats.

The words of support though bring him pause; his hand rubbing at the back of his neck. Looking up to Alan he nods in the way that is agreeing while maybe still convincing himself of this too. The reminder that it happens to the vocal too gets a wry smile as he starts counting on his fingers with a bit of an eye roll. More up beat he shares <<Well yeah I mean this is all illusion. I can do that part. Be cool to collab though. Lights- tricky.>> He points upward. Those lights.

As for the trip he signs <<Arcane means of communing our wish to go.>> He points to his phone <<We text the group chat>>. So mystical, but he is also doing that now to volunteer them for the run.

"Yeah," Alan says "As long as everything stays friendly, I'm cool with flowers hanging from the ceiling and dancing vines. Thus far nothing's really bothered anyone and no one's gotten hurt. So long as it stays that way, I'm good with it." He nods about the pictures moving and says, "I'm not sure if I'd be ready for that before coffee. I'd forget they could do that and probably jump every time."

He nods when Robin points up and grins, "Yeah. I can play stuff that I've heard and know pretty well." But he nods when Robin mentions the lights being tricky. "Yeah, not my area. Not that I haven't helped rig actual lights before, but magic ones."

"Very mystical group chat," Alan laughs and lets Robin let people know that they want in if there's an expedition to go on. He is a mix of nervous energy about it and anticipation, both curious and looking forward to it, but also a little uncertain, as one might be when preparing to leave one's own reality.

Robin signs back trying not to laugh at the mental image of being startled awake by work plants <<Depending on your situation, it does save you money on the coffee. Could be a perk. See that? Coffee pun.>> He may never fully switch out of the habit of realizing he has something saved up; some just never entirely let it go as a habit.

The grin gets wide in amusement and mischievousness as the very mystical group chat is revealed. tap tap tappity tap the message goes through and the waiting for an update goes on. Curious he asks <<You- were a theatre kid? You strike me as a techie>>

Alan can't help a little groaning chuckle at the coffee joke but then shakes his head, "I wasn't a theatre kid. But I've helped hang up lights for shows I've DJed at, and hook up sound systems. You're right. I am more of a techie than a theatre kid." He reaches over to gently nudge the bunny who was getting very close to the edge back over toward the center of the table then gives it a little scritch behind the ears.

Robin makes a gesture of 'same' to him. <<"I used to be on set design. Actually how I got the job here.>> He pauses and rolls a look up waving his hind so-so. <<Not magical studies but like here-park here.>> This phone goes vvvvvvvt as the text comes in before he relays thr helpful news <<They're going to head out small team in a little bit and we are welcome to go. I cannot promise it'll have as good of food as New York does but if we are hungry after we can find something. It'll be lunch.>>

There's a pause checking in in Alan's latent nervousness about running through another world. A hand goes to Alan's shoulder with a reassuring squeeze <<Don't worry I didn't hear of anyone go missing yet. We'll either be okay, or at least together o complain about it but it should be fine.>> He jokes but the concern for him is now his concern.

"I figured," Alan says when Robin clarifies that he meant the park. "I got the gig because they needed another DJ for Paradise and I sent in some samples of my work and they dug it. Not that I wasn't doing alright in New York. I could have stayed there, but I needed a change of scenery, some new faces, and having something steady where I don't have to keep looking for bookings isn't a bad thing."

He's quiet while Robin takes care of his messages and he nods, "Yeah. Let's do it. No time like the present right? Seize the day. Hope it doesn't seize you." His smile is a touch wry, but he pushes himself up off the table and glances down at the rabbit, "Do we need to uh, find someone to look after your little friend?"

Robin looks down and picks up the small rabbit with both hands. He gives it a smooch to the top of the bun's head causing it to squnch up a bit before the ears come up again, the head, and it looks around again. With his free hand he signs, <<No shortage of people that will watch him for an hour.>>

There's a pause before wondering <<Parker wants to bring them to other words to see if they recognize their 'home' of origin. I'm worried magic won't cross the threshold. We can't leave the island. we don't know radius in other worlds if any.>>

Alan studies the rabbit thing and then Robin and says, "Should make sure that magic actually crosses back and forth before trying that. Just you know, to be sure. I dunno. I don't know if I'd risk it with a living thing." Though apparently letting people to go back and forth to test is fine. Of course, people can sign a waiver. Little magical rabbits don't get a whole lot of informed consent in the matter. "But yeah, let's see if we can find someone to look after'm and then let's check this place out. Do we know where we're going?" He's getting a little more excited than nervous now that they actually seem to be going.

Robin watches the bunny with a concern, slight but genuine. <<No.>> he agrees. <<Maybe someone with another self first we know will be okay. Or a pie.>> The wry smile returns. <<Cannot promise the pie will make it back.>> He flicks his fingers with an invite for Alan to follow him to the board. Some names and theory are crafted about worlds known and combination sequences they've yet to try.

<<These few are known. I think they are going to go pop into a new one today. So we can go on a new new one or something a little more certain if you're more comfortable with that. I haven't seen any of them yet but think it'd be neat to be there for a discovery.>> He points to World 0003 in the World Directory. <<Water and robots? Hope they are waterproof for the robots' sake. That's a combo of things.>>

"Yeah, maybe not a pie. No guarantee that will even make it across the threshold to the other world before someone eats it," Alan says as he follows Robin over toward the board and takes a look at what is written on it. He glances over the theories and information with interest. "Being there to discover a whole new one would be kind of neat. But then, going to one where people know what to expect sort of has its appeal, too." He is a little bit torn. Both have their pros and cons. Looking at the world with the water and the robots he studies what photos were taken closely. "That.. is very cool and yet terrifying. I would be afraid that the dome would bust and suddenly everything would be underwater." He gives a bit of a shiver. "Being under water like that would creep me out."

Looking over Robin nods to Alan with curiosity and asks <<You swim?>> Being under water is concerning but having element trauma is something he might be polling for. <<There's another one with boats too but a fun afternoon doesn't need to be a whole situation. I get it.>> There's a nod of encouragement to suggest it's not a big deal.

<<If we get to the other side of the door and it sucks we can nope out. We don't want anyone splitting the party. Something something safety and stuff. Let's go try the new one maybe. Ride the high of seeing something unseen for an afternoon.*>>