(no subject)

[el_desheredado]

So I think that initial test went well. We got everyone in okay, we got everyone out with their limbs. Hope everyone had a good time. I know I did.

Now, for anyone who's getting really antsy about getting out, yeah, we've got some really good initial reads, but we're not quite at the stage where we can do too much else yet.

We had a lot of tethers and protections on everyone who sauntered in here over the last few days, just in case anything went wrong. It did all right, but we're hoping the protections didn't cause interference. We need to do some more research. We already know it's stickier with everyone who's already in the City on account of--hell, I'm just going to call it "contamination" for lack of a better word. You've got more City stuck to you so it's harder to get you out. Like likes like, you know? But the initial evidence is looking good and I think pretty much everyone saw the proof of that over the last couple of days. So know that we're working on getting everyone out who wants to get out and bear with us a little longer and we'll see about getting these doors swinging for everyone else.

Oh yeah, and I told you so.

Okay. So with that little announcement out of the way, we've got a couple of other things to deal with.

Seeing as not everyone is especially keen on leaving this place--and I don't blame you because, really, when it's not terrible around here, it's pretty great; I ended up here of my own free will, after all--there's some work to be done on patching things up.

You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. And, to be honest, we broke a lot of eggs. So now, to continue on with this really awful metaphor, we need to clean up the kitchen. (That means we need to clean up the City.)

And I'm sorry to have to ask you again, but we need your help. We don't have the same kind of forced-labor infrastructure that the "Deities" had. You really reaped the benefits of that, you have to admit, but that whole workforce was liberated too. This is your place and our place now, so the upkeep is going to be up to us.

What we're asking is for anyone and everyone who can lend a hand, wing, flipper, wand, hammer, or magic spell to please lend it. We've got a to-do list.

Here's what we've got so far:

• Cleaning the Waters of Fountain
• Refurbishing The Hall of the Missing
• Raising New Telephone Poles and Cellular Towers
• Boarding Up the Deity Building (fences, "Keep Out" signs< etc.)
• Painting and Plastering the 12 Apartment Buildings (also repairing broken windows)
• Replanting or Replacing Damaged Trees City-wide
• Building a Pavilion in Xanadu (picnic? music?)
• Repairing Broken Roads and Sidewalks
• Repainting Road Markings from Crosswalks to Stop Signs
• Rebuilding the Obstacle Coarse (behind City Labs)
• New Roof for The Orphanage
• Building a Second Lighthouse
• +Any Cityzen Requests!!!←

See that last one? We know what we've seen, but we know that we don't know what all you need fixed or repaired. So let us know and we can organize some teams to get it done. Need your windows fixed? We got it. Need a new roof too? Okay. Your whole store got trashed? Not a problem. Just tell us what you need.

And we're not going to ask you to work for free. We're willing to pay. If you can help, let us know, and we'll pay you back with something from home. Just tell us what. We can't bring too much, but we'll do all we can. It's not a bribe, it's fair payment and we hope it'll tide everyone over until we get things really settled around here to make everyone basically content.

In the meantime, if you can spare a little elbow grease, I'd appreciate it.

And before you even ask, yeah, you'll see me swinging a hammer out there too.

See you out there.

[ooc: Yes, indeedy! The Anonymous Movement needs your help to rebuild. This is the IC side of that OOC post. Feel free to comment to both, if'n you like!]

Comments

audio:

[charring]

I have a request. My shop, The Jasmine Dragon, got trashed by meteors. And the creatures inside. And then some of the rioters.

Anyone that helps with repairs gets free food.

audio:

[el_desheredado]

Consider it added to the list.

And, hey, free food. Who can turn that down?

Re: audio:

[charring]

Thanks. I appreciate it.

[valentineluke]

Second lighthouse, like the first, will be adjacent to the crossgate?

[el_desheredado]

Yeah, probably. We're still getting some sites sorted out.

[valentineluke]

Preferably none of which are my 'front yard'.

[hexuality]

Magic spell, you say?

[el_desheredado]

Sure did say that.

[hexuality]

And the Hall of the Missing needs some help?

[tangledintower]

I'd like to help out with replastering and repainting the apartments, if you still need help with that...

[el_desheredado]

Abso-freaking-lutely we still need help with that. It's kind of a major job.

[tangledintower]

Oh, good! If something needs painting, I'm your girl, and I'm glad to help out!

[Video]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

I'll help, of course. The Jasmine Dragon is my priority, but once that's done I can pitch in anywhere.

this comment not here buuuut...

[charring]

[She heard that and she loves him for it.]

[Video]

[el_desheredado]

We'll take you up on that offer, thanks.

[Video]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

Thought you might. So… when do I get to make my wish?

[video]

[hischair]

This is Captain James Kirk of the Enterprise, I'm sitting here with Captain Janeway of Voyager. I'm sure you saw my request for information last week. [ And didn't reply. That's noted, says the set of his jaw-line. His tone is casual but firm, deliberately opting for the civil response when he could so easily slip into a far more defensive direction. ] I would like to know on whose authority your people are withholding the capabilities to return to our respective realities and give us baubles for doing your chores when the technology could be far more productively harnessed by admitting equal access. You overthrew so-called gods, I don't think it's asking too much of you now to let the rest of us in on what that achieved. My crew have far more to offer than painting a fence, if compromise is what you want.

You can help us by letting us help you. If this ... concept, of sharing is too difficult to understand, allow me to be specific. The conditions you're laying down are far from endearing your cause. You're making it very hard for me to aid your progress if you're going to leave my hands tied.

[video]

[el_desheredado]

Yeah, hi. Okay, so, here's the deal, guys: the "deities"--fuck me, but we need a better name for them since that's one thing they weren't, but I'm not going to get into that now--had a pretty jumbled system in place for all the coming and going that goes on around here. Like, seriously, it may have been state of the art at one point, but so many of the setups in the thing are inelegant solutions to problems which shouldn't even be there in the first place. But...there they are.

So they've got this crappy, messed up system set up that we're now trying to dismantle so that you and her and everyone else can leave if you want or stay if you want.

Right now, if you tried to get out of here, you'd probably end up in someone else's world minus a thorax. Either that, or you'd get caught in the space between worlds and, just between you and me, you don't want to end up there for very long. Just trust me on that one.

So we're having to kind of rebuild their system which is, oh man, fan-fucking-tastic amounts of fun, especially when the thing is still firing off and bringing people like you in here. It's all pretty much not as planned right now. We're trying to set up safe and organized exit routes which won't kill everyone trying to get out and, at the same time, we're trying to cushion the landings of everyone falling into this place. You say your hands are tied, but our hands are full.

Okay, now for a little philosophy: we overthrew the previous overlords of the City because they were overbearing, dominating, cruel, thoughtless, capricious, and bound by their own system. They weren't the lowest of the low in their bureaucracy, but they were high enough to have oversight over the City but low enough to still be subject to the whims of their superiors. And, believe you me, those superiors could be fucking whimsical.

So we kicked them out. We overthrew them. Have we eliminated those superiors? No. But we have control of the City. And by establishing that control, now we and the people of the City are able to shape the whole of the place into what we want. We're not subject to the second-hand whims of the old overlords and their bosses. We're our own bosses now.

Yeah, it's going to take a little time to get everything worked out. What revolution doesn't have that long post-overthrow organizational period?

So right now we need people to, as you said, paint fences (hey, for the record? it's a lot more than that, okay, Los Capitans?) for the good of the people who will be staying here. Because if, as we suspect, an assload of people want to vacate the City, then we're going to be shorthanded after they leave. Are you following me here? Consider it a favor for those who're making this place their home. No obligation to help, but think of it as a favor in the course of the restoration of the City.

But if you've got more to offer, hell, lay it on me, pal. I'm glad to hear it.

[video]

[directives]

I understand where you're coming from, and we appreciate you taking the comfort and well-being of the citizens of this city into consideration while you begin to undergo a most difficult process. However, might I point out that there are people present who are experienced with a greater level of technology and theoretics whose talents could be put to use in assisting you directly.

There's hardly any sense to be found in making Albert Einstein play Tom Sawyer when there's something more he could be doing.

[her_waterloo]

[ Joan still doesn't want to really work with these people. She wants to find out what's going on. But hey, sometimes you have to get close to do that, right?

She wants to know what kinds of rewards they can provide. If they're real. So she decides to volunteer. ]

I'll help with the painting. You said something small from home... small like what? A necklace, a letter?

[el_desheredado]

Hey, thanks. That's perfect.

Yeah, something like that. Necklace, favorite shoes, particular scarf, certain hat, favorite copy of a book, that one photograph. Or a letter--yeah, I can definitely do letters. That's sort of my specialty. Not to brag or anything. But a letter can happen.

[butmyipod]

I know nothing about rebuilding stuff, but I can do some help with the painting?

[ Worth a shot, right? ]

[el_desheredado]

Perfecto. And there's other stuff that's gonna need to get done. This is just broad strokes for what needs doing. I mean, you can sweep the sidewalk or deliver water to whoever's doing the real heavy lifting. Every little bit helps right now.

audio;

[scalded]

How many trees need to be replanted and replaced?

audio;

[el_desheredado]

Like...a lot. I don't have my notes handy, but it's a non-zero number, greater than five but less than a thousand. Helpful, I know.