2021.08.07 Aether and Erebus Grand Opening

2021.08.07 Aether and Erebus Hackerspace - Grand Opening
Colombe holds an event to celebrate the Grand Opening of a new public Hackerspace.
IC Date	August 7, 2021
Players	Gloria, Kendrick, Lesley, Zago, Colombe, Silvana, Zelazny
Location	Aether and Erebus
Spheres	Vampire Camarilla Ghoul Corax Mage

,,,,,,

Take a look around. Do you feel the gorgeous freedom? Will you choose to fly to lands of grace?

This is your world now... the world of the electron and the switch. Take up the tools of your destiny. Or just play a board game, it's all good.

For the evening, there are complimentary refreshments at the cafe counter. And, for the adventurous --- there are numerous woodworking and electronics kits laid out on the Serious Work Table (look Electronics, and look Woodworking).

The space is decorated festively, with ambient lighting, and brightly-coloured balloons.

Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBLIdB33HOw&list=RDEMtLwQDpVIQomjV04t81ACQA&start_radio=1

Colombe stands next to the work table. Poised and polished, as people arrive, she is advising a small gathering crowd on the pros and cons of various sample kits. Her manner imparts an effortlessness, a sense of quiet ; she easily carries on multiple conversations without a single crease in her pale, patrician brow.

Gloria arrives in business attire. She smiles at Colombe as she approaches. "Congratulations. Should I be worried about a raid or is the title more of a catch phrase?"

There is a pretty good crowd in here for the grand opening of the space --- people are milling about, checking out the labs, and some, having finished, are sitting at the sofas and other social spaces, enjoying hot drinks and nibbling pastries.

Kendrick comes in not too long after Gloria does, looking around. He spots the kits immediately and heads that way, giving Colombe a polite nod and a smile, not interrupting.

Zago enters the space with a smile and a nod to Colombe. "Good evening," he says. "I was thinking of trying my hand at the little San Fran Dollhouse again. You're hosting, or I'd ask you to try out Funemployed with me."

Lesley walks in, looking about, hand on her bag, taking in the place, smiling at the music, and begins wandering, gravitating toward the bookshelves and hard documents , smiling and nodding to greetings and seeming to simply browse at the moment.

Colombe's attention is taken from the small group by the emergent Gloria --- her eyes take on a hawkish glint as she smiles to welcome the red-haired woman. "Definitely a catch phrase. Quite the rage for the better part of a decade, I think." She almost grins. "I won't rule out the possibility of raids. People do like to get into trouble, I find." That said, she smiles at Kendrick as he approaches the table, her expression softening. "Good evening. Please, select any kit that you like, and if you have any questions, I'd be happy to help." She is then engaged by the rather even more pale Zago --- she gives him a warm glance. "I can't wait to see what you do with it." This can mean many things. Still, she seems good-natured on the whole. In the meantime, she gives Leslie a warm smile and a nod.

Kendrick is pale too, dangit! Look at him. Needs to get out in the sun more. "Thank you," he says to Colombe with a smile. "These are neat. Can I try more than one? I like stuff like this." He does slide to the side to get out of the way while he talks.

Gloria chuckles. "Good I'd hate to have shaved my legs just to go off with a nice police officer. It's a lovely place. I like your interior designer."

Lesley runs a finger slowly over the multicolored Rainbow books, pulling one and replacing it with a nod, turning back from the bookshelf, heading to the kits, clearly favoring the Electronics, herself rather pale, but let's face it, 'Hackerspace' is not the kind of name that one associates with tanned people.

A sequence of brightly-coloured illusions swirl hypnotically on a large microLED TV mounted over the elevated platform, at the front of the common room, stimulating the senses, the mind, and the spirit.

Zago picks up the dollhouse kit, and gets ready to head over to the woodworking shop when the visuals begin on the TV. "Rad," he says, smiling at the display before he turns to bend himself to his task.

Gloria watches Lesley idly on her way to the electronics displays.

Colombe's eyes rest on Kendrick, her smile widening. She can handle the pale and, also, the kleptoid. "Absolutely. Take a couple. Have you seen the labs?" She directs Kendrick to the machine shop and electronics lab doors. Gloria's reply has her expression shifting to one of quiet puzzlement. "Yes. My designer... I sort of gave him free reign, but the art... those I chose personally." Ah, pride. She grins to Zago, and looks at Lesley, pleased to see her interests quietly breaking out.

Kendrick takes one electronic and one woodworking thing. That's all. He's being a good boy, actively resisting the urge to get one of everything. "I haven't." He follows her indication to the lab and then asks of Gloria, "Were we not supposed to shave our legs? Dammit." He's wearing jeans, so that will remain a mystery.

Gloria grins at Kendrick. "I mean this is California. You can be whatever kind of princess you want too. I know I do." You paged Kendrick with ‘Will people snipe if Zago spends blood, do you think?’

Lesley looks from the kits to the screen, watching the images and colors and back to the kits, lifting one and turning it to read. Digital Radio. She turns to look at the mention of shaving legs and smiles, listening before looking to the worktables. She moves in that direction as Zago gets to work on another kit.

"I think everyone can enjoy the feeling of a silky, smooth finish." Colombe offers with a slight grin. "That goes for legs and woodworking.

Zago loses one Magical Essence Zago loses one Magical Essence Zago loses one Magical Essence <---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Zago rolls Dexterity + Crafts + 3 vs 8 for 2 successes. 1 3 3 4 6 +9 +10 10 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Kendrick winks at Gloria and nods with a huge grin on his face. He wanders over a little ways out of the way to look over his new shiny toys that he still has to put together.

The terminally pale guy called Zago sets straight into the task at hand, carefully machining every individual piece in a methodical way, then painting, then joining and assembling. He appears absorbed, but not so absorbed as to be unapproachable. He just seems to be having fun assembling this little Victorian dollhouse.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Lesley rolls Intelligence + Technology vs 6 for 4 successes. 3 4 4 5 5 +6 +9 +9 +10 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

The workers at the cafe counter put out a fresh tray of treats: mini-croissant sandwiches, fruit, veggies, cheese, and crackers.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Kendrick rolls Dexterity + Crafts vs 6 for 4 successes. 5 +9 +9 +10 +10 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Colombe walks around the main room, watching as people get to work. Her presence is quiet, navigating the room with unerring purpose.

Gloria gets one of the dollhouse kits and sets up near Kendrick. "Hmm we have two things in common now," she says cheekily before setting to work.

Lesley sets down the box, looking at the workstation tools, then opens the box taking out and counting the pieces, laying them out, looking over the instructions, flipping through the little booklet, making sure everything is there, and starts working. Soldering and connecting. Fitting the clear plastic pieces with the electronics, "Hm, no, that-" She turns the piece around, and it fits, "Right." Continuing to work, seeming comfortable with it.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Gloria rolls Dexterity + Crafts vs 6 for 4 successes. 3 +7 +9 +10 +10 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Kendrick grins at Gloria and lays all his things out. Very methodically so. Each part is set so it's JUST apart from the one before it. "We both have shaved legs and some wood?"

Silvana steps in pausing as she looks around as if looking for someone in particular.

Gloria snerks. "Yes, quite fabulous." She speaks without looking at him. "I'm Gloria."

Zago is over in the woodworking section, dressed casual goth, calmly milling and painting what appears to be another San Francisco dollhouse. He looks around for a moment, spots Silvana, and waves her over.

Kendrick grins, maybe a little surprised that he hasn't been slapped yet. "Kendrick. Nice to meet you and I'm sorry. I've got a big mouth. I forget I'm in public sometimes." He gets to work on his wooden Eiffel Tower, taking his time, not in any rush at all, wanting to do it right rather than hurrying through it.

Gloria says, “I don't care if you're a pretty princess. I mean I'll tell you though, if you want to go full woman Id make sure you have both money and time to exercise. No point in paying top dollar to be a horrific mess.". She glues her first two pieces together. "See there?"”

Silvana spots the wave from Zago and smiles heading now in his direction. She looks over to the other people before she reaches Zago and leans to kiss his cheek "Ah, are you making me a better one?" she teases.

Lesley stands at the electronics Worktable, carefully connecting wires, and a numeric display. Fitting buttons on the circuit board, focused on what she's doing.

Kendrick grins over at Gloria. "I'll let you in on a little secret. I'm actually totally cishet. But thank you for the advice." He glances around at other people briefly and then starts gluing his own stuff together, nice and careful.

"It does look like it's coming together better," Zago replies to Silvana, his almost-New York accent more pronounced while he concentrates. "Trying a few different things. This time, it's gonna be white with blue shutters. Just come by to visit me? I plugged in that tesla coil you made, by the way. That thing is a work of art unto itself. Works great!"

Silvana smiles and nods "yes, well I build it" she teases with a laugh "Well a little birdy told me you were here so thought I see what you were up too" she tilts her head "Ah how many of these little houses you going to make and when do I get to keep one?" she looks over to the other people working before she looks back to Zago ``Anything else you want me to make you?"

Gloria chuckles. "You seem really up on the lingo to be straight but I'll go for that. What do you do when your not shaving your legs and building doll houses?"

Kendrick grins over at Gloria, though he does glance at Silvana briefly. "I run a flea market. Like a permanent one. Not a pop up. I work a little bit with the homeless in the area. What about you?"

Gloria says, “I'm a Forensic Examiner, I work the night shift so it's pretty dead." She beats a rimshot on the bottom of the table. "Not a lot of conversations going on."”

Lesley fits together the clear plastic box and connects a cord to the thing, looking at it. No smoke. She twists out a silvery tube and pulls the end, extending an antenna. sliding a side mounted slide down, she presses the red button, red numbers coming up on the display. Tapping a black button the numbers change and stop, pushing up the slider hissing comes from the back of the box, and voices as the speaker picks up some distorted signal, then quiets as she looks up and around.

"Well, a Geiger counter seems handy," Zago says. "And you should keep this one, it's probably going to be better than the last one. I learned a little from the first time."

There is a subtle transition in the music (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnrpKMXS1fY) --- the classical remixes shifts to a lo-fi trumpet, plaintively emitting an intro as the microLED display fades, and is replaced by a montage of black and white videos, depicting famous feats of engineering, famous hacks and heists, famous mavericks who changed the world: Tesla, Marconi, early video of Wozniak and Jobs, etc. Colombe takes to the elevated platform as the music swells --- as she begins to speak, the music fades out to a constant, throbbing beat in the background. Dressed as she is, in a denim dress, she looks young and fresh --- slightly at odds with her direct gaze.

Silvana looks towards the kits then at Zago "Sure if that's what you want. I can go put that one together" she grins "Are you sure, you aren't going to change your mind at the last moment again?" She lightly pats Zago as she heads over to go get the kit and work on it. She gives Kendrick a smile.

"Are you a creator?" Colombe begins with a question, her voice clear, pleasant, and commanding. "Do you learn best by bringing a vision into reality?" She steps down from the platform, still speaking over the music as she walks, thanks to the earpiece she is wearing. "Or are you a destroyer? Learning by taking things apart?" She smiles at people as she walks. "There is room for everyone here. Tools for everyone. A dream is just a dream until we make it manifest, after all. Nobody's vision should fade simply because they don't have the tools to make it real." That said, she doesn’t want to interrupt people for too long. “So please. Look around. Consider becoming a member. And don’t forget to register for the door prizes.” The music fades again, but this time to a more subversive playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJkF2Z1CviuQGUbxEKZGdmHjl2D7y0wQg

Lesley pushes the antenna closed and twists it back down against the box pressing the red button darkening the thing and disconnecting the power. Setting the new radio aside, she collects the remains from the Kit itself, taking a step back and looking down. Right. Finding the trash can she puts the leftovers from the kit in there, ducking under the worktable for a moment before popping back up. Listening to Colombe, she looks around, taking in a slow breath, as she listens, evaluating gaze going about.

Kendrick snorts at Gloria and nods, glancing around again to see who's doing what. "Probably better conversation than I get most days." He lifts his voice a little and sounds very much like some old granny. "What do you mean, twenty dollars? Back in my day, these were barely a dollar!'" He waves his hand a little in exasperation and glances over at the Beeping Leslie, giving her a thumbs up.

Silvana looks up from her work as she seems to be really concentrating. She looks over to Colombe as she speaks. She then glances to the others she came to share the table with and gives their work a curious look smiling before she goes back to working. She seems to be a pro as it takes her almost no time to actually build her kit.

Kendrick also stops chattering to listen to Colombe.

Colombe adds, as the music builds to a crest, "I will personally be giving a tour of the facilities in a few moments, for those who are interested."

Zago takes his time piecing everything together, until the dollhouse is complete. He rubs his hands together, satisfied. "That looks to be on the better side of things," he murmurs. "Just gotta let the paint dry." The finished product is striking, a bright white primary paint color, with a sapphire blue trim and shutters. He steps away, letting people look at it, making sure to fold up an index card and write 'WET PAINT' on it with a Sharpie, standing it beside the finished product. Then he'll go over to Silvana and look. "Wow, you're already done?" he asks, peering at the Geiger counter. "You'll never cease to amaze."

Silvana smiles at Zago "What can I say, I try" and then of course her phone buzzes and she takes it out to look at it and gives a little grumble with a sigh "I'm afraid I need to get going sadly" she pushes the finish product over to Zago before she stands "Do you need me to leave the car here?" she leans to give his cheek a kiss as she gets ready to leave. She smiles and waves to Colombe. So much for being social.

Lesley lifts the little box and looks at it, then to the bookshelf and around. She then turns and moves to the door prize registration and memberships.

Colombe inclines her head to Silvana, offering a parting glance. "Good evening, Ms. Bethancourt."

Zago takes the counter, feeling the weight in his hand with some curiosity. Then back to Silvana, he says, "I brought my truck. I'll see you soon!"

Zelazny is a walking cliche. Alternatively, he just came from work in a mechanics shop and forgot to change clothing. Arriving at the large, open area, he stops for a few moments to look around. He does not stop, though, as he looks around. No, he keeps going, with his head going up and back, looking left and right, looking at things and roof and walls instead of where people might be. Colombes' speech over the speaker system has him stopping before he walks into someone, though, as he listens.

Lesley registers herself, sets up membership, then collects her little radio, and turns, heading for the exit, moving around Zelazny.

Dangit. His social partner has departed. Crap. Oh well. Kendrick can always find someone else to chat with if he has to. And he WILL have to. Tours are good and he moves over in Lesley's direction, probably to chat her up too.

Once the paint is finished drying, Zago will pick up his creation and head out the door with it as the tour departs.

Colombe steps out of the limelight as the music rises, and approaches Kendrick, as Lesley departs, and offers, conversationally. "Member dues are on a two-tier system. For $10/month, you get access between 8am-5pm; for $25/month it's 24 hour access. Members have to supply their own materials --- that said, you can bring your own, or buy stuff through the cafe." She offers Zago a parting nod, and Zelazny gets a lingering glance.

Zelazny appears to be quite excited to be here, his face lighting up in a grin as he glances about the place. He starts to move, to do a little sidestep thing as he sees someone he thinks might be walking towards him, but only to end up stepping out of the way of no one at all (since that someone already stepped around him well enough!). He looks to Colombe once more, his face going blank for a few moments. He then ohs, nodding, "Oh, is that a .." he begins, saying something unheard as he makes a b-line for one of the computers.

Lesley looks to Kendrick as he approaches, and , looking down at her hands, she puts the small radio in her bag and looks to Kendrick, greeting, "Hello." Looking at Colombe, she nods, "Mm I set up the other one, um 24 hours." she says, one hand resting on her bag.

Colombe offers Lesley a pleasant smile, eyes going to the hand on the bag, before looking back. "Are you a hobbyist, or professional?"

Also, noting, Colombe keeps a sort of half an eye on Zelazny as he pounces on the workstation.

Lesley brushes some hair from her face and shakes her head, "Oh, no, I learned everything from books, I've never -ssstudied- or anything." She chuckles, and then stops talking.

"Seems like a pretty good deal," Kendrick says. "Month to month, no contract or anything?" He pats his back pocket to make sure that he has his wallet. Of course he does. Who doesn't? And he's a pretty empathetic guy, so other than a 'hello' he doesn't bother Lesley too much

Computers. What are they good for? Absolutely everything! Zelazny stops by the one he made a line for, staring a few moments before he begins to tap tap at the keyboard. And even though he appears to be highly enthusiastic about the thing, his handling of the keyboard is one finger at the time, one key at the time, "So cool.." he grins.

"No contract, that is correct." Colombe replies to Kendrick, offering Lesley a quick smile. Her accent is so polished, her body language so mild, as she speaks, she turns around to face Zelazny better, and doesn't skip a beat. "I was forced to study --- history, literature, the Classics. When it comes to technology I am self-taught as well. I think that is just what happens when you are passionate about something." She can't help but grin at Zelazny. "Are you self-taught as well?" She asks this of the enthusiastic spiky-haired guy.

Kendrick nods to Colombe. "Then I'll grab two monthly memberships before I leave," he says, glancing over at Zelazny, gaze passing over Lesley as he does. He always studies the quiet ones. Sorry, Lesley. Habit. He can't understand why people aren't chatterboxes like he is

Lesley nods, looking at Zelazny as he pokes the keyboard as Colombe looks to him and speaks. She smiles, moving back, starting to turn, then pausing, looking back to Colombe, "But, it's a great place here, very.. 'Hello' by Poe." She blinks and looks to her hands, "Old song, nevermind," Moving back more, pulling the social ripcord, "Mmkaybyyyyyeeee." One practiced sound as she walks out. To the doors and outside. Awkward.

"..actual keyboard.." Zelazny begins, but then silences as he lifts his head up. He turns his head around and blinks over to the source of the voice. There is that uncanny feeling that people get, when they just know someone spoke to them even if they were not addressed by name, "Hm? Someone say something?" he wonders, "I think I missed the question! His speech is fast paced, his words coming out in rather quick succession.

"One for you and one for a friend?" Colombe grins at Kendrick. "Don't forget to sign-up for the chance to win a door prize." She watches Lesley's cumbrous retreat until Zelazny speaks, and she glances at him, her expression part curious, part wry. Her attention is direct and unambiguous, however. "I asked if you were self-taught." This is said pleasantly, her eyes warm with amusement.

Kendrick nods. "My girl, yeah," he says with a grin. "I'll sign up for sure." DEALS FREEEE STUFF OMG WHAT HE LIVES FOR! He waves to Lesley and eyes Zel for a second or two to hear the answer.

And the question has Zelazny grow a very slow, but evident, expression of 'huh? type 'help' for help' sort of expression. As if the question was not understood at all. He lifts his right hand up as if to make a point in talking, but then lowers it, "Ah... self-taught in what regard?" he asks.

"Lucky girl." Colombe's gaze lingers on Kendrick, still quietly amused, but imparting a favourable appraisal with a well-practiced and decidedly mischievous mien --- nothing serious, just a little fun. Her eyebrows rise very slightly as she in turn tries to parse Zelazny, doing her best to give a meaningful response. "Self-taught, with regard to the use and creation of technical items and concepts."

"Oh, ah! I see! Well, yes, no.. not at all." replies the manic young man that is Zelazny, his face lighting up in that well-meaning sort of grin, "I was schooled by the finest teachers, from the moment I could walk. Poking my spanners into highly volatile machinery was all part of the equation when it was decided I was to be a technician!" he grins, "But I will admit, it did help a lot that I loved it, too!" he tries to sound conspiratorial at that point, "Only the best of the best got to graduate!"

Kendrick laughs softly and nods. "I'm the lucky one, but thank you." He glances over to Zel again. "What school?"

"Amazing." Colombe replies to Zelazny. She settles her hands on the table, leaning backwards to recline, nobly. "Prodigious luck. To be anointed as such, with knowledge and empathic caregivers who so quickly identified your interests."

Oh, he had to ask. Zelazny looks at Kendrick, "Hm? School? Oh, it was the.. ah.." he clears his throat once, coughing twice, "..school of.." he looks to the computer he was poking at, then to Kendrick and then to Colombe, "..it was a European school. Uh. Eastern Europe! Long gone after the iron curtain fell." he dismisses it, "Still a good school though!"

Kendrick eyes Zelazny and nods. "Cool. There are some pretty amazing schools over there. ETH, Ecole, Imperial College. All amazing places."

Colombe lets it slide, she is no doubt used to dealing with colourful characters, and plus, isn't it fun to get to know people slowly. "I have always wondered what it was like to go to an actual school. I was tutored at home. Though I suspect our curricula were both well-tailored, albeit to very different ends." She smiles. "Mine was light on mathematics and science, for example." She smiles at Kendrick. "I don't think I asked if you were self-taught --- or if you are a hobbyist or professional. I am thinking of hosting training events in the future --- now that we are talking about schools and education, I am getting some ideas."

"It was more of a hands-on school. Lots of practical work. Lots of high tech stuff." Zelazny nods his head quickly to this, "Plenty of theory, too! But I never felt happier than when holding a spanner and poking my hands into some hy.." he clears his throat, "..hyped up engine piece!" he grins, "I wouldn't call myself a hobbyist, either. I do hold quite a Professional job."

Kendrick nods to Colombe. "I'm mostly just into learning new things. I'm kind of a nerd. But I guess you could say that I'm self-taught. Most of my actual expertise is in video games." He grins a bit, nodding along with what he's saying. "I can wire up my own security system for my business and I can run a phone app, and Fortnight is my bitch."

Colombe's eyes rest with quiet amusement on Kendrick, her expression shifting to warm regard as she replies. "I'm sure you will find friends to play around here. And, there is a VR room --- prototype, but I have made a mental note to stash some headsets at the counter. Full body tracking and a virtual chat room can yield an entire evening of fun, in my experience. Rolling your own security system... that is dicey, unless you feel supremely confident." Zelazny gets another grin, because he's so darned enthusiastic, and also because it gives her time to consider her response, because the conversation is somewhat perilous. "A professional job." Blank silence. "With a spanner?" A slight grin.

"Oh, yes! Mechanical Engineering for a Government Contract!" Zelazny says by the side as he turns to move towards the thing-a-mabob where you sign up for both membership and the door prize! He pokes at it a few moments, then satisfied he did it right he grins over to Colombe, "And some Theoretical Physics, too. Never a dull moment in that place!"

"It sounds very cool." Colombe is intrigued, how can she not be? "My job is much more boring. I'm an investor." She gestures at the space at large. "This is my latest project. A bit of business, a bit of my passion." The event seems to be winding down, and as Zelazny signs up for the door prize, she finds herself being drawn away as more people have questions about membership, equipment use, and etc. She smiles at Kendrick and Zelazny before she makes her departure. "It was lovely meeting both of you. I hope to see you around."

Kendrick grins. "I need more friends. I'm very shy." he grins at Colombe and nods. "Aya and I will check everything out in the next few days for sure."

"I look forward to meeting her." Colombe offers to Kendrick before she moves off, into a sea of questioning humanity. Well, probably mostly humanity.